By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Charles Price
Charles Price took these photos of a Snowy Owl last Sunday on Route 63, north of the village of Lyndonville. Price captured the owl in flight. Orleans Hub has posted a lot of Snowy Owl photos the past month, but we haven’t seen too many of the owl in action.
This has been a historic, record-breaking winter. And I’m not talking about what feels like near-constant cold.
Snowy Owls have appeared in big numbers, perhaps the biggest migration in a half century, according to bird and wildlife experts.
The owls with luminous yellow eyes are showing up in Western New York at open fields and airports. The owls generally don’t migrate below Canada. This year they have been spotted as far south as Cape Hatteras, N.C.
Dan Mawn of Holley took this photo of a Snowy Owl near the Genesee County Airport on West Saile Drive in Batavia.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Erie Canal, between the Ingersoll and Main Street lift bridges in Albion, is a staging area over the winter for barges, dredgers, tug boats and other Canal Corp. equipment. This photo was taken Friday morning, from the Main Street bridge looking east.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for 9 p.m. today until 6 a.m. Monday for several Western New York counties, including Orleans.
The Weather Service has cancelled a wind chill advisory. The winter weather advisory also includes the counties of Niagara, Erie, Genesee and Chautauqua.
There will be snow combined with gusty winds. About an inch of snow is forecast with southwest winds at 25 to 35 miles per hour.
It looks like another cold spell in the coming days. Monday’s high is forecast at 18, followed by a high of 7 on Tuesday and 10 on Wednesday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2014 at 12:00 am
‘Whenever he was doing something it was all-out and it was for the kids.’ – Wayne Burlison on Kent Knappenberger
Photo courtesy of the Grammy Foundation – Kent Knappenberger
When Wayne Burlison did his student teaching at Westfield Academy in 1999, Kent Knappenberger made an impression.
Knappenberger is the Westfield teacher who is being honored this weekend with the first-ever Grammy Award for a music teacher. He was picked from 30,000 teachers who were nominated for the award across the country.
Burlison, an Albion elementary instrumental teacher, remembers Knappenberger and his dedication to students.
“He had a steel drum band and the kids did heavy metal,” Burlison said. “The general music students played in the bell choir. I saw things as a college student that I didn’t think you could do in a public school.”
Westfield is a tiny school in Chautauqua County. Many of the Fredonia music majors did their student teaching at Westfield.
“Mr. K” was well liked by students and the other music teachers, Burlison said.
“He had this enthusiasm,” Burlison said. “Whenever he was doing something it was all-out and it was for the kids. He didn’t want any glory.”
Burlison said strong school music programs excel from the efforts of several teachers, working together. That was apparent at Westfield, Burlison said.
“It really does take a team to educate kids musically,” he said. “At Westfield, they were definitely a team.”
Knappenberger has been a music teacher and choir director at Westfield Academy for 25 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Fredonia and a master’s degree in music education, harp performance and literature from Eastman School of Music.
Burlison has been rooting for Knappenberger, who was one of 10 announced finalists. He has been widely interviewed in Western New York and national media in the past week.
“He has a little less hair and a lot more beard,” Burlison joked about the honored teacher.
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.
Nominations for the second annual Music Educator Award are now open. The deadline to nominate a teacher is March 31. Click here for more information.
Click here to read an interview with Knappenberger on Grammy.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 January 2014 at 12:00 am
Hawley wants governor to apologize for comments about ‘extreme conservatives’
Photos by Tom Rivers – State Sen. George Maziarz credited Gov. Andrew Cuomo for pressing for tax relief, but Maziarz said the governor needs to provide some relief to local governments that are paying for state-mandated programs. County Legislator Don Allport is at left and State Assemblyman Steve is at right.
GAINES – State legislators said the atmosphere in Albany has changed under Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who seems serious about bringing tax relief to state residents and businesses.
However, some of that relief will be in the form of an election gimmick, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said during a Legislature Luncheon on Friday.
The governor, who is seeking re-election in November, wants a $350 state rebate to arrive in the mail for Middle Class families in October, Hawley said.
The governor has proposed $2 billion in tax relief to residents and businesses. State Sen. George Maziarz said that is quite a difference than 2009-10, when the state under Gov. David Paterson pushed through $14 billion in new taxes and fees. The new taxes under Paterson “were the dark days of Albany,” Maziarz said.
One of those taxes by Paterson, a tax called the 18-A utility surcharge, was supposed to expire after four years, but Cuomo has allowed it to continue, Maziarz said.
According to National Grid figures, the utility tax costs a typical large business $30,000 a year, $540 for a typical small business, and $55 per year for an average household. “It’s the most onerous tax,” Maziarz said.
He is chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. Maziarz wants the 18-A utility surcharge rescinded in the upcoming state budget. The tax generates about $500 million a year for the state. If it was gone, there would be more job creation and investment by businesses, he said.
The state legislators commented on a number of issues during the luncheon, which was attended by about 75 people at the Village Inn.
‘Extreme conservatives’
Hawley took issue with the governor’s comments on a radio show about a week ago, when Cuomo said “extreme conservatives” don’t have a place in New York.. He defined them as pro-life, anti-gay marriage and pro-assault weapon.
“Governor, we’re New Yorkers, too,” Hawley said.
The governor needs to represent all of the residents, including those from low-wealth school districts, those who support the right to bear arms and those with conservative social viewpoints, Hawley said.
“Governor, we do matter,” Hawley said. “That’s the diversity of the state. Hopefully we’ll be hearing form him soon with an apology.”
Cuomo said his comments were directed at candidates, saying “extreme conservatives” don’t have a place for a state office in New York.
Maziarz, as an elected public official in the state government, said he is a conservative who views marriage as only between a man and a woman. He called the governor’s remarks “very disappointing.”
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley urged the governor to come to Western New York and apologize for comments about “extreme conservatives.”
Mandate relief
The governor has failed to push through any significant mandate relief for local governments, which are forced to provide some programs and services by the state, the legislators said.
“We implemented 2 percent property tax with the promise we’d untie the hands of the locals,” Hawley said. “But again that hasn’t happened.”
Cuomo and the Legislature have not worked to rein in program costs, especially the $60 billion annual Medicaid program, Hawley said.
He would like to see some the program’s costs reduced and county share in the program eased.
“The cost is unbelievably phenomenal,” he said.
Maziarz said one easy way to reduce the costs would be to bar EBT cards from being used at casinos and strip clubs.
Both said they want residency requirements before people can access benefits, and the state should do drug and alcohol testing for people on public assistance.
Hawley and Maziarz agreed the state should have reached a deal on mandate relief before imposing a property tax cap on the local governments. The local municipalities, without relief from the cost drivers from the state, will be forced to slash non-mandated services and eat into their reserve funds to stay under the 2 percent cap.
Population loss
The eight Western New York counties, including Orleans, all lost population between 2000 and 2010. Upstate has sluggish growth overall, while the country is seeing robust growth.
The loss of people pulls money out of the community. That includes retirees who head for other states, including the less tax-oppressive Pennsylvania, said Ken Pokalsky, vice president of government affairs for the New York Business Council.
“An astounding amount of income is leaving,” he said. “We’re losing a lot of wealth. A lot of people are leaving when they enter retirement.”
The legislators said less taxes and a better business environment would lead to more jobs and opportunities for people to be in the state.
Fracking
Hawley and Maziarz both said they support fracking, but they think New York may have missed the opportunity due to endless studies and delays by the governor and the Legislature.
The industry has had a transformative impact in Pennsylvania and other states. The price of natural gas, however, has fallen and companies may not be pushing to invest in new areas right now.
Fracking could have been a huge boon to the state, particularly along the economically depressed Southern Tier, Maziarz said.
“It could have created a lot of jobs and economic development,” he said. “I think we may have missed the boat on that one.”
Broadband
The two legislators say there are working with local officials and Congressman Chris Collins for rural Broadband to be accessible in rural pockets of the county where there currently isn’t service. They said Collins may have an announcement soon about a Broadband initiative.
“It’s good for our children,” Maziarz said. “It’s the wave of the future.”
Casino in Henrietta
Hawley and Maziarz don’t support a new casino in Henrietta that would be run by the Seneca Nation of Indians. The Senecas haven’t submitted a formal proposal for the casino, but a developer said the tribe is talking about the project.
Marcia Tuohey, a former County Legislature chairwoman, now sits as the county’s’ representative on the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. board of directors. WROTB owns Batavia Downs, which returns some of its profits from a video gaming center to Orleans and 14 other counties, as well as the cities of Rochester and Buffalo.
A casino in Henrietta would be devastating to the Downs, Tuohey said, and may mean no money would be shared with the member counties.
Hawley and Maziarz said the region may already be saturated with casinos, video gaming sites and Lotto games.
“It would just a redistribution of the same money from one area to the next,” Hawley said about the Henrietta casino.
‘Common Core is a typical one-size-fits-all approach generated by big government bureaucrats.’ – Congressman Chris Collins
Press release, Congressman Chris Collins
Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) will host a telephone town hall on Common Core this Monday. The new educational standards are currently being implemented in New York State.
Common Core is widely criticized for forcing students to learn skills necessary to perform well on tests as opposed to actually learning critical material. Collins recently met with parents, students, educators and school board members to discuss ongoing concerns with Common Core.
“Common Core is a typical one-size-fits-all approach generated by big government bureaucrats,” Collins said. “My office continues to be contacted by parents and educators with serious concerns about how Common Core is effecting students and learning in the classroom. I want to bring people together from across New York’s 27th Congressional District to have a conversation on this important issue.”
New York State adopted Common Core standards in 2010.Across the country, 45 states have begun Common Core implementation, but recently ten states, including Massachusetts, have started to rethink or delay their participation over growing concerns from parents, educators and students themselves.States were incentivized to participate in Common Core by the federal government through grant money available as part of the American Recovery and Restoration Act (federal stimulus).
“The federal government knew financially strapped states would jump at the chance for extra aid and sign-up for Common Core,” Collins said. “As implementation begins, people are starting to wake-up to what Common Core is really all about.I am hopeful this telephone town hall will allow people to learn more about Common Core, share their concerns, and hear how other states are approaching these new regulations.”
Collins’ Common Core telephone town hall will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday. To participate, email Collins by visiting his website at chriscollins.house.gov/contact/email-me, enter your contact information and put “TELETOWNHALL” in the message subject line.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2014 at 12:00 am
Charles Nesbitt
ALBION – Charlie Nesbitt, the area’s State Assemblyman for 13 years, will return to the Assembly chambers on Monday to receive an award.
Nesbitt, a Barre resident, was elected in 1992 and served until late 2005. He left Albany as leader of the Republicans in the Assembly. He resigned and was appointed president and commissioner of the state Tax Appeals Tribunal.
Long before he joined the Assembly, Nesbitt was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. In August, 45 years after he served in Vietnam, Nesbitt was awarded a “Distinguished Flying Cross.”
On Monday, the Assembly will recognize him for the distinctive honor. Speaker Sheldon Silver and Minority Conference Leader Brian Kolb both insisted on carrying the bill that will honor Nesbitt, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said today during a Legislative Luncheon at The Village Inn.
Nesbitt received the “Distinguished Flying Cross” based on his actions on Nov. 14, 1968. That day Nesbitt and his crew members were told an American soldier was stranded in enemy territory in the jungles of Laos, across the border from Vietnam.
Another helicopter had been hit with a rocket and crashed. The crew needed to be rescued. Nesbitt flew a helicopter in and got out everyone, except one gunman, John Grimaldi, who was separated from his crew.
Nesbitt took the recovered crew members back to safety, and then returned to enemy territory to find Grimaldi.
“Charlie took it upon himself to say, ‘We’re gonna go back and get him,’” Jim McKenzie, Nesbitt’s copilot, said on Aug. 24, when Nesbitt received the award at the Clarion in Batavia.
The crew spent 9.2 hours in the air, including 3.5 hours exposed to enemy fire.
“He was in the jungle and we could see him, but we couldn’t get down to get him,” Nesbitt said on Aug. 24.
An onslaught of enemy fire and tiny landing areas made the task difficult. Nesbitt and his crew refueled twice, and the group finally was able to rescue Grimaldi.
The medal citation notes that Nesbitt “flew aircraft in hostile enemy territory on three separate occasions while drawing enemy fire to accomplish the rescue of soldiers and crew members downed by enemy fire. His valorous actions were an inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – There are a lot of frosted windows in Orleans County today. I took this picture this morning looking out one of the windows in my house in Albion. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory through Saturday at 7 p.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Orleans County and Western New York through 7 p.m. Saturday. There will be blowing snow with visibility as low as a quarter-mile at times.
The advisory begins at 2 p.m. today for Orleans, and the following counties: Wyoming, Genesee, Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.
Southwest winds are expected to reach 20 to 30 miles per hour Friday afternoon with gusts to 45 mph possible. As much as 2 to 4 inches of snow is possible through Saturday, the Weather Service said.
The temperature is forecast to peak at 16 degrees today and reach a high of 25 on Saturday. It will drop to 4 degrees on Saturday night.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport said he is fully behind the push to sell the county-owned nursing home, saying the site will be better run by a private company and will spare county taxpayers an annual deficit in the millions. He is speaking at a Legislative Luncheon today at The Village Inn.
GAINES – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport didn’t mince words today when asked questions during a Legislative Luncheon organized by the Chamber of Commerce.
About the push to sell the county nursing home, a sale that could be acted on next month: “I am completely in support of this sale,” he told about 75 people at the luncheon. “I’m adamantly against government being involved in the healthcare system. The private sector does it better.”
Allport said the nursing home could ring up a $3.4 million deficit this year. The 120-bed facility is a burden on taxpayers, he said.
If a three-person local development corporation votes next month to accept a purchase offer for the nursing home, the deal isn’t done. The sale needs to be reviewed by the state Department of Health, and that could take a year or more.
Once the sale is final, Allport said county taxpayers “will see a significant cut in taxes.”
The Villages of Orleans will also go on the tax rolls, perhaps boosting the village, town, county and school district assessments by $5 to $10 million, Allport said.
The switch to a private owner should ensure the site stays opens for years to come, he said. The county can’t afford the steep losses. He expects the service will improve under a private operator that is focused on nursing home care.
“Give it to someone who knows what they’re doing,” Allport said. “Because government doesn’t.”
Allport of Gaines was the county’s representative during the Legislative Luncheon that included state legislators George Maziarz and Steve Hawley. (They’ll be featured in a separate article.)
‘Oh Lord, help us if we go down the road and a New Yorker ever becomes president.’ – Legislator Don Allport
Allport was critical of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature for enacting a property tax cap about three years ago that did not provide significant mandate relief for local governments. Mediciad and eight other state mandated programs account for more than 100 percent of the county property tax bill, Allport said.
He was asked about whether Cuomo is jockeying to run for president, and whether that would be good or bad for the county.
“I don’t think America is foolish enough to put someone in that position who lied about mandate relief,” Allport said.
He also said the governor took an oath to uphold the Constitution and violated it by pushing through the SAFE Act, which Allport said infringes on Second Amendment rights.
In New York, Democrats have a major enrollment edge over Republicans for state-wide offices. New York is still a high-profile state, and many of the political talking heads speculate Cuomo’s policy pushes are aimed for a higher office.
Allport said he worries for the country if Cuomo or another liberal Democrat was elected U.S. president.
“Oh Lord, help us if we go down the road and a New Yorker ever becomes president.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2014 at 12:00 am
Jamie Dimon closed the doors on Albion in September
A company that dismissed more than 400 workers when it shut down its site in Albion last year paid its chief executive officer $20 million in 2013.
Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s CEO, has been paid $70 million the past five years, The New York Times is reporting today.
Chase took over the former Washington Mutual in 2008 and ran a call center for about five years before the company decided to close the Albion site in September. Chase received a generous tax incentive plan that largely spared the company from paying local property taxes during that time.
Village officials have reached out to Chase to provide some community development money. Nothing is official yet, but I’m told the village leaders are optimistic Chase may send some money to Albion.
If the company sent $500,000, or 2.5 percent of what it paid Dimon, it could make an impact in this village of about 6,000 people.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2014 at 12:00 am
The late Susan Reynolds dropped off quilts, pillow cases and gas money for shelter residents
Photos by Tom Rivers – A reading room at a domestic violence shelter in Orleans County has been dedicated to Susan Reynolds, a volunteer and supporter of the shelter and its residents. Reynolds died on Oct. 27.
At least once a month for two years, Susan Reynolds arrived with gifts – gas money, toiletries, quilts, pillow cases and hand-stitched bags.
Reynolds, a retired school counselor from Hilton, had a heart for the residents at a domestic violence shelter in Orleans County. She was active in two quilting guilds and she convinced the members to donate gifts to the shelter in Orleans. (The Hub isn’t disclosing the location.)
“No one was as dedicated as Sue,” said Margie Aldaco, the shelter’s administrator.
Reynolds died on Oct. 23. Last Saturday Aldaco and PathStone dedicated the reading room in the shelter in memory of Reynolds.
“What a loss,” Aldaco said about Reynolds. “We’re so sad. She never wanted recognition for anything. She wouldn’t even take a tax receipt. I just felt an overwhelming need to recognize her.”
Reynolds considered volunteering and giving to shelters in Monroe County. But the Brockport resident turned to Orleans County.
“She felt the larger cities have more resources and get more help,” Aldaco said.
Margie Aldaco, administrator of the safe dwelling in Orleans County, stands by a room dedicated in memory of Susan Reynolds.
Aldaco has worked there for 10 years. When she started there were three employees at the site. Now it’s just Aldaco. PathStone has been forced to cut back due to budget constraints.
The shelter has three apartment units for families to stay up to 90 days until longer-term housing can be secured. The safe dwelling provides privacy, court advocacy, Internet computer access, a support group, transportation and other services.
Aldaco works with battle-scarred residents, connecting them to support in the community. Many of the residents in the shelter have suffered physical, emotional and mental abuse.
“Sometimes they are more broken from the verbal abuse than the physical after so many years of being told you’re worthless,” Aldaco said.
Aldaco secured a new grant that pays for pet care. Often women and families in abusive situations will not leave because they worry about their pets. PathStone has a grant that will pay for pet boarding at the Olde Dogge Inn.
Aldaco welcomes “serious, committed volunteers” for the safe dwelling. For more information, contact her at 589-8733 or 1-866-314-SAFE.
