Photos by Tom Rivers
Marguerite Dixon of Albion looks forward to St. Patrick’s Day every year. She loves to dress in green for the holiday. On March 17, she sprayed her hair green, wore about 50 buttons celebrating the day, and was decked out in green, including for her purse and shoes. She is pictured with her husband Ralph at Flyway Farms in Medina, where they visited a maple farm owned by Terry Laubisch.
MEDINA – Every spring and fall, the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company has traditionally raffled off guns as a fund-raiser.
But those events may be over after the state passed a new gun control law, the SAFE Act, in January. Gary Williams, a long-time volunteer for the company, said Shelby is looking at other fund-raisers.
He would like to invite Josie Waverly, a country music singer from Hilton, to the community as a benefit for the fire company. However, the fire hall isn’t the best venue for a concert, he told Medina school officials during a March 12 Board of Education meeting.
“We could have it in our hall, but people would enjoy it more if it was in the auditorium,” Williams said.
Jeff Evoy, the district superintendent, said school facilities can be used by the public. But he wouldn’t support a Waverly concert in June, when the school calendar is so packed.
“My biggest concern is June because it’s such a pressure-cooker,” Evoy said.
Williams spoke with Waverly’s manager and there are dates open in July. Evoy said he would support a concert that month. Shelby may have to pay the school for the cost of custodial services and assure the district it has insurance for the event.
Waverly was in concert March 1 at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, performing music from Patsy Cline. Williams said Waverly should appeal to people of all ages.
ALBION – Orleans County residents lacking dental care can now access services at a discounted rate. Eight of the 12 dentists in the county have agreed to reduce their fees for uninsured residents.
The county has partnered with Health Economics, a Rochester firm, to offer the program. Residents will pay $36.50 for an individual card annually or $52 for a family program. That goes towards the administration costs.
It’s the second partnership the county has reached with an outside company to make health care more affordable for residents, Legislature Chairman David Callard said.
In 2009, the county started offered prescription drug cards through ProAct Inc., a subsidiary of Kinney Drugs. That program saves residents without health insurance about 36 percent on prescription drugs, according to the county.
Callard said he would like to partner with a company to secure eye care discounts for uninsured residents.
He expects the county and Health Economics will start pushing the new dental discount program in April. A list of participating dentists and the discounted rates for services will be available on the county website, www.orleansny.com.
Eric Lintala, director of business development for Health Economics, said residents should save about 30 to 40 percent in dental services through the program. Dentists will benefit with new patients who likely had been avoiding dental care because of the costs, Lintala told county legislators on March 13.
The dental discount program has been endorsed by the New York State Association of Counties. Several counties have joined with Health Economics in offering the discounts. Residents can cross county borders to use their cards if dentists are members of the program.
“We’re trying to get people access to the dentist and promote good oral health,” Lintala said.
MEDINA – Pressure from the state to raise standards for all students is poisoning the learning atmosphere for students and teachers in Medina’s special education program, the Board of Education was told on March 12.
Jennifer Bansbach, a special education teacher, said two dedicated colleagues have resigned this year due to the unreasonable expectations. The state is requiring many of students classified with learning disabilities to take the same tests as students in regular education. That is setting up the students in special education, who often learn at different rates, for failure, said Bansbach, the special education chairwoman for grades kindergarten through 5.
“I’m philosophically opposed to having special ed kids go on the same path as regular ed kids,” she told the BOE.
Many parents reluctantly agreed to have their students classified for special education, but they did so believing the curriculum could be adapted to meet their children’s needs, Bansbach said.
“Now there are fewer or no options to modify the curriculum,” she said. “The kids are failing. You feel the frustration of the parents and the kids.”
New York this year moved to a new “Common Core” standard, trying to boost classroom achievement. The added rigor is backfiring for many special education students.
“There is really a fine line in breaking the students’ will to try,” she said.
Medina BOE member Chris Keller, an Albion teacher, said state legislators and the governor have done a disservice to spec ed students. He said State Sen. George Maziarz and other state officials should visit special education classrooms, to see the education process for themselves. Bansbach said spec ed students’ needs and abilities should be treated individually, not grouped with all the others.
Jeff Evoy, the district superintendent, told Bansbach she has the support of the BOE and administration. He bemoaned the business approach being taken towards education.
“Kids aren’t widgets,” he said.
Keller said the state should back up the push for more standards with more money, especially for districts like Medina and Albion that have high poverty rates. Albany should fund universal pre-K and kindergarten for poorer districts, Keller said.
“It’s a lot easier to crucify teachers than to address the problem,” he said. “It’s all about poverty, but they would rather beat on teachers.”
Photo by Tom Rivers – This sign will be used by Concerned Citizens of Orleans County to stress that residents’ annual garbage collection fees are about three times what they spend in taxes to support The Villages of Orleans, a county-owned nursing home.
ALBION – A group of Orleans County residents opposed to sale of the county nursing home are going to press their case to the public, the county Legislature, and may even use the court system to stop a possible sale.
Concerned Citizens of Orleans County met for the first time on March 12, following the Legislature’s Feb. 27 decision to form a non-profit local development corporation tasked with finding a buyer for the 120-bed site in Albion.
“We will have a presence at Legislature meetings, and we’ll be working to organize our friends and neighbors,” said Gary Kent, a member of the group and a former county legislator.
He was joined by about 30 other residents in the meeting March 12 at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The group already has prepared signs noting that garbage collection in the county – at $185 a year – is about three times what the average taxpayer will pay in 2013 to support The Villages of Orleans.
Chris Loss intends to be a vocal opponent to the nursing home sale. Her late mother, Jean Bistoff, received better care at The Villages than she did at a privately owned nursing home.
“There were major differences in the care,” Loss said.
The county has budgeted for an $825,000 deficit for the nursing home in 2013, and that includes using $1.6 million in reserve funds. Legislature Chairman David Callard worries the taxpayer subsidy for the nursing home will jump once the reserve funds are depleted. Taxpayers could be paying to $2 million to $4 million annually towards the nursing home in the near future, he said.
Concerned Citizens say taxpayers owe it to the senior citizens to maintain The Villages as a publicly owned facility. And Loss is skeptical about the grim fiscal prediction from the county. Reimbursement rates and other state and federal support could be increased, softening the local share for the nursing home, she said.
“They’ve floated these numbers before,” she said about the prediction for big deficits. “They don’t know what the shortfall will be. I’m willing to have my taxes go up. We owe it to our seniors.”
Photo by Tom Rivers – Wendi Pencille, owner and handler of Humphrey, poses with the dog at the Medina school administration office. Humphrey has been visiting classrooms for the past 18 months.
MEDINA – When the 125-pound Landseer Newfoundland dog debuted at Medina Central School about 18 months ago, Kelly Linnan admitted he was a skeptic the dog would be a good fit with elementary students.
But Humphrey, a trained therapy dog, has made Linnan, a school counselor, a devoted fan.
“It is amazing what has occurred with this program,” Linnan told the Board of Education on March 12. “He gives unconditional, positive regard.”
Humphrey attended the BOE meeting and seemed happy to lounge on the carpet by his owner and handler Wendi Pencille, a member of the BOE.
Pencille brings the dog to school for about three hours every Thursday. He gets excited when Pencille pulls out his red bandana, which he wears around his neck, signifying he’s a trained therapy dog.
“He’s a trusted friend to the kids,” Pencille said. “There’s an emotional comfort.”
Some of the students will sit down and read a book to Humphrey. Others will snuggle up beside him.
“He loves the attention,” Pencille said. “He thinks he’s at the spa.”
Pencille, a wildlife rehabilitator, took classes with Humphrey at Ebbtide Kennels in Holley to become a trained therapy dog team. She is working to have three other dogs – a Saint Bernard, a German Shepherd, and another Landseer – trained as therapy dogs. Humphrey also is gaining certification for disaster relief.
Pencille volunteers when she brings Humphrey into the school. She sees the impact the dog has on the students.
“It’s very comforting for the kids,” she said. “A lot of kids have high stresses at home and school.”
Photo by Tom Rivers – Peter Troy, author of “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You,” discusses his book at Hoag Library in Albion on March 8, part of a three-day visit in the area. About 100 people attended the author talk in Albion. Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties have organized “A Tale for Three Counties” the past 11 years, the second-longest running program of its kind in the state.
ALBION – The meeting room was packed with nearly 100 people to hear author Peter Troy discuss his novel, “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You.” The big crowd for the March 8 event at Hoag Library shows just how popular “A Tale for Three Counties” has become.
The community reading project is a partnership among 19 public libraries in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, as well as Genesee Community College and other sponsors. The program just wrapped up its 11th year, the second-longest community reading project in the state and 10th longest in the country, said Susan Rudnicky, library director at Hoag.
Other communities will pick a book to read, but the author typically doesn’t join for a discussion. With the “Tale,” Troy and past authors meet with readers in Batavia, Perry and Albion or Medina. (The Tale discussion in Orleans County used to be at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, but Albion’s new public library now can accommodate a big crowd. The two libraries expect to take turn hosting the event in the future.)
“It has a really loyal following at this point,” said Catherine Cooper, Lee-Whedon library director. “Meeting the author adds a dimension and enriches the experience.”
The program has expanded from its infancy to a partnership with GCC, where 21 classes read the book. Troy praised the three counties for putting on such a vibrant program.
“You can’t beat this,” he told the crowd at Albion.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Peter Troy, author of “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You,” signs a copy of the book for 10-year-old Megan Smith during an author visit March 8 at Hoag Library in Albion. Megan is the daughter of Jason Smith, superintendent of the Lyndonville school district.
The Tale committee tries to pick up-and-coming authors. Troy’s debut novel is set in the Civil War and tells the story of an Irish immigrant named Ethan, a photographer and soldier. Other characters include a refined Spanish woman and two slaves.
Tom Zangerle of Medina has read all 11 Tale books since the 2003 debut of “Peace like a River.”
“I absolutely look forward to it every year,” he said. “Everybody has time on those dull gray days of winter to sit down and read a book.”
Photo by Tom Rivers – Margo Bowerman, a 4-H program coordinator in Orleans County for 13 years, is leaving the county to take a 4-H staff development job in Minnesota.
KNOWLESVILLE – From her days as a kid showing animals or preparing projects for the 4-H fair, Kerri McKenna said she could always count on encouragement and direction from Margo Bowerman.
Now as an adult, McKenna has been working alongside Bowerman in the 4-H office for almost a year. McKenna has developed a deeper appreciation for Bowerman’s skills and dedication, working with 300 4-H youths and about 100 adult leaders.
Bowerman also stays in touch with the 4-H’ers long after they age out of the program, continuing to serve as a mentor when they go to college or enter the workforce.
“It wasn’t just for me, she did it for all the 4-H’ers,” McKenna said. “She’s had an immeasurable impact.”
Bowerman ended her 13-year career with the Orleans program on March 8. She is taking a job in Minnesota, supervising 4-H staff there in 17 counties.
“She has always been supportive and encouraging,” McKenna said. “She could handle anything thrown at her.”
Bowerman organized many events for the 4-H’ers, and was influential in the annual 4-H showcase, the week-long fair in late July. She restarted the annual 4-H animal meat auction at the fair.
She was honored by the Orleans County Legislature during a Feb. 27 meeting, when the group presented her with a “special recognition award.”
“Your deepest dedication to youth and adults through Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension is priceless,” Legislator Ken Rush said. “You have instilled confidence, leadership, and citizenship to our youth and have organized the volunteer program to a huge success.”
Bowerman said budget uncertainties with the Extension in New York state were a factor in her decision to leave. She praised a committed team of leaders in Orleans County for building a strong youth program.
Press Release: Soil and Water Conservation District
Nine Orleans County farms, a dairy and eight cash crop operations, have been approved for $290,402 in state funding for conservation work in the Oak Orchard Watershed.
The grant will cover 75 percent of the costs to buy seeds and plant cover crops over three years. The cover crops will reduce erosion and soil loss on valuable crop land, said Dan Schuth, manager of the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District, which applied for the grant on behalf of the farmers.
The cover crop takes up nutrients in a plant, preventing them from becoming diluted in water and washed away. When the cover crop is killed at planting time for the cash crop, the nutrients are returned back into the soil, he said.
After the three-year grant period, farmers will be expected to be familiar with planting cover crops and will carry on the process unassisted, Schuth said.
The grant comes from the state Department of Ag and Markets’ “Ag Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program.” Soil and Water is working on a similar grant application for farmers in the Sandy Creek Watershed.
“Farmers are great stewards of our land and depend upon it for their livelihood,” Schuth said. “They understand the need for soil conservation and clean water on a very personal level. Grants such as this help keep farms profitable, while furthering our interest in a better environment for future generations.”
Albion Town Board members may be against a controversial new state law about gun control, but the board has decided not to come out formally opposed to the legislation approved in January.
Many upstate New York counties, including Orleans, have gone on the record opposing provisions of the SAFE Act and the lack of public input in the legislation.
While most counties have passed resolutions against the law, few towns have done so, said Councilman Matt Passarell.
“It’s a county-and-above issue,” he said during the March 11 Town Board meeting. “It’s more symbolism than substance.”
Town Councilman Jake Olles agreed the resolutions from the counties and towns are “more symbolic.” But he said the state should hear from the local governments that the SAFE Act “infringes on our rights.”
The legislation has been criticized for being open to interpretation, for requiring seven-magazine rounds when few currently exist in New York, for requiring documentation of all ammunition sales in the state – “a significant unfunded mandate on business.”
Olles said the state already had tough gun control laws. “We don’t need new ones.”
Resident Dawn Allen urged the board to formally oppose the legislation.
“It makes a huge statement if every layer of government opposes it,” she said. “The more governments that adopt it, it makes a statement to New York State.”
Olles and Councilman Daniel Poprawski voted to oppose the legislation, while Town Supervisor Dennis Stirk voted against opposing the SAFE Act. Passarell and Councilman Tim Neilans abstained from voting.
Photos by Tom Rivers
Albion Middle School students performed “Schoolhouse Rock LIVE” on March 8-9. The show is based on Saturday morning cartoons that taught a generation about civics, grammar, science and history.
ALBION – The Town Board said it will spend up to $1,000 for flowers in downtown Albion and other spots in the village.
The board made the decision March 11 at Town Councilman Matt Passarell’s suggestion. The board in February discussed contributing $10,000 to the American Wind Symphony’s three-day visit to Albion in mid-June. But village officials have decided against hosting the symphony, citing the $20,000 cost, and short notice in finding host families for 45 musicians and working out other logistical issues.
Passarell said some of that $10,000 should be directed to the Albion Main Street Alliance, which has been soliciting funding for the flower project. The town gave AMSA $10,000 annually the previous three years, but ended its contribution in 2013.
Town Supervisor Dennis Stirk supported the $1,000 for flowers. He told the flower committee, headed by Lisa Stratton, to send vouchers to the town hall.
“Submit a bill for up to $1,000 and we’ll cut you a check,” he said.
Town Councilman Jake Olles suggested flowers be expanded outside the downtown district. But Katelin Olson, AMSA director, wanted to check with the village Department of Public Works first. She didn’t want to commit the DPW to watering the flowers without village officials’ permission. The DPW waters most of the downtown flowers.
The leader of a three-county tobacco prevention program asked Albion town officials to reinstate a no-smoking policy on town property.
The town follows a state law, banning smoking inside a public building, but Albion allows it outside on town property and inside highway vehicles.
Kevin Keenan, program coordinator of Smoke Free NOW, addressed the Town Board on March 11, asking the town officials “to send a strong message to the community about community health.”
Town Supervisor Dennis Stirk said a no-smoking policy would be unenforceable because of all the people who attend court on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We can’t control court people,” Stirk told Keenan. “You’re going to have people smoking in the parking lot.”
Councilman Tim Neilans made a motion for the board to reverse a decision from last year. Neilans said smoking should be banned on all town property, including highway trucks.
Highway Superintendent Jed Standish objected, saying he would be targeted with that policy.
“You’re isolating me from everybody else,” he said. “You’re remodifying it to me.”
But Neilans persisted, saying the truck is town property and Standish could have passengers who would be subjected to the smoke.
Standish said he always drives by himself. Kennan interjected that many towns have banned smoking inside municipal-owned vehicles because employees change over time. Kennan’s group works in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties and is funded by the state Department of Health.
Smoke Free would pay for no-smoking signs on town property, and Keenan said the group could have staff at court, offering smoking cessation programs.
“Seventy percent of smokers want to quit,” he said.
Keenan and his organization were called “the tobacco Nazis” by resident Jake Walters.
The board could pass a policy that allowed people to smoke in their personal vehicles, while banning smoking in public places, Keenan suggested. Neilans said that would be acceptable to him, but he was adamant there shouldn’t be smoking in town trucks.
Councilman Dan Poprawski said he supported a smoking ban, but not in the town truck. However, when it was time to vote on the resolution, banning smoking in the trucks and all town property, Poprawski, Neilans and Passarell all voted in favor of it.
With the three votes in place, Stirk said the issue should be tabled a month so it could be studied more.
Neilans and Passarell said the resolution shouldn’t be tabled when it already had three votes. But town attorney Robert Roberson said a tabled motion takes precedence.
Resident Gary Katsanis suggested Passarell and Councilman Jake Olles meet before the next meeting to draft the language for the policy, which board members agreed would be helpful.
“You need to write up a resolution so you know what you’re voting on,” Katsanis said.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Lakeside Health System officials met with about 40 people on March 5 in Albion, detailing the Brockport hospital’s recent financial losses, which are forcing a reduction in 56 inpatient hospital beds. Lakeside is working with the state to keep the emergency room open.
ALBION – Lakeside Memorial Hospital in Brockport, a popular choice for many Orleans County residents for health care, has reversed its intention to close its emergency room after hearing many concerns from the community and the state Department of Health.
Lakeside announced in mid-February it planned to close the ER and all 61 inpatient hospital beds. In a revised plan to the state DOH, Lakeside will keep the ER and five of the 61 hospital beds. Lakeside would like to have the changes in place by May 1, interim CEO Jim Cummings told about 40 people during a March 5 meeting at Hoag Library in Albion.
“We’re happy to put out this new and improved message,” Cummings told the crowd at Albion. “We credit the communities for voicing their concerns.”
Lakeside has suffered steep losses in recent years, mainly due to a decrease in inpatient care, Cummings said. About five years ago, Lakeside averaged 35 inpatient beds a day, compared to the current 22. Losses at the hospital are threatening the viability of the entire Lakeside system, which includes diagnostic services, and the 120-bed Beikirch Care Center nursing home.
Cummings said he expects to see more small hospitals reduce inpatient beds and possibly close their ERs. Lakeside and Medina both recently closed their birthing wings to cut costs.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Lakeside Health System Interim CEO Jim Cummings, left, and Leon Gossin, senior director of finance, discuss a plan to cut inpatient hospital beds at the Brockport hospital during a March 5 meeting at Hoag Library in Albion.
“The community hospitals are all losing a great deal of money,” Cummings said. “The state doesn’t have enough money to prop up all of these hospitals.”
The restructured Lakeside will be stronger financially, and should ensure the organization will continue for years to come, he said.
But it will be a different Lakeside. Cummings said he expects patients will still be able to access many services as the hospital shifts to an outpatient diagnostic and treatment center.
“There is a crisis in this country in the cost of healthcare and this outpatient model that is developing is less expensive,” Cummings said.
The move to keep the ER will save many Orleans ambulances from longer trips into the city, occupying those rigs for two to three hours.
Several of the residents at the Albion meeting, including Ron Ebbs and Cheryl Mowatt, told Cummings their families were treated well by Lakeside. They praised the care at the hospital.
Cummings said he regrets the changes at the hospital will result in job cuts of many dedicated employees.
“We have a staff that is second to none,” he said.
Press Release: Scott D. Hess, Sheriff
An Albion woman is dead following a one-car crash late yesterday afternoon, March 5, in the Town of Barre.
The incident occurred shortly after 5:30 P.M., in the 14300 block of Maple Street, just west of Oak Orchard Road (State Route 98). Jacqueline A. Dingle (Age 60 & sole occupant), was operating a 2006 Chevrolet sedan & travelling west on Maple Street, when her vehicle crossed the center line, ran off the south side of the roadway, and sheared off a fire hydrant.
Dingle was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at approx. 6:30 P.M. It is believed that the accident was precipitated by some type of medical issue.
The incident was investigated by Deputy T.N. Tooley, assisted by Lieutenant R.E. Perry.
The investigation now shifts to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester.
