By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Town Hall will be open on Saturdays beginning in May, closed on Wednesdays except for court
Photo by Tom Rivers – Richard DeCarlo, a former Gaines town supervisor, returned to the Town Board this year after being elected town councilman. He took the oath of office on Tuesday as town councilman.
(CORRECTION: The current hours for the Town Hall are Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. An earlier version of this story said the current hours were 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Friday. The new hours beginning May 1 will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The building will be closed on Wednesday except for town court, beinning in May. There will also be Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.)
GAINES – The Town of Gaines has been approved for a $16,100 state grant for its court system. The funding through the Justice Court Assistance Program will be used for equipment and other resources for the town court, Town Supervisor Carol Culhane said.
The town sought the maximum $30,000 grant, and received more than half that. It didn’t receive funds for security improvements, Culhane said.
The Town Board is taking steps to improve the safety of the building and court employees. The town hired the Wendel firm to prepare cost estimates for renovations to the courtroom and Town Hall.
Court meets on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. and Culhane and board members said court is an “uncomfortable situation” for other town employees in the building.
“The chaos on Wednesday is something to behold,” she said. “We’ve had an outcry from the public.”
Board members debated this week whether the Town Hall should be closed on Wednesdays, except for court. That would ease some of the parking issues for employees and residents using the building for non-court issues.
The town will have town clerk hours on Saturday mornings. Board members wanted to make the change right away this month, but decided to wait until May 1 because tax bills that were just sent listed town clerk hours for the five weekdays.
The board decided to wait until May 1, after tax season, to implement new hours for the town clerk, including 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The town clerk will have hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays beginning in May with no hours on Wednesdays.
Culhane said Gaines will join three other towns in the county with Saturday hours: Carlton, Clarendon and Murray.
The Town Board made a series of appointments for 2016, including:
Andrew Meier as town attorney to be paid $7,800 for the year;
Culhane as budget officer for $2,000;
Lynne Johnson as bookkepper (no salary listed);
Town Clerk Jean Klatt as official registrar for $932, and water collection clerk for $6,309;
Highway Superintendent Ron Mannella will also serve as water superintendent for $18,294 for the year;
Marilynn Miller was appointed to a five-year term to the Zoning Board, where members are paid $25 per meeting;
Michael Grabowski was appointed to a three-year term as town representative to the Orleans County Planning Board and will receive $25 a meeting;
First Niagara as official depository;
The Daily News of Batavia as official newspaper for carrying public notices.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
BATAVIA – Ed Fancher is honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest award given in the Rotary Club. Fancher receives the award on Friday evening from Kevin Crosby, Rotary district governor for 7090, which includes 69 clubs in Western New York and Canada.
Fancher’s wife Christine and Don Bishop, left, also were part of the award presentation at Terry Hills Golf Course during a holiday party for Rotarians in Orleans and Genesee counties.
Bishop, a long-time Albion Rotarian, listed Fancher’s many acts of service to the Albion community and Rotary Club. Fancher, the executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, is a past Rotary Club president. He also was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow before and is now a two-time honoree.
He helps runs the annual St. Patrick’s Ham Dinner, sets up and takes down the hot dog stand at the Strawberry Festival, serves as treasurer of the Orleans County Fishing Derby and budget consultant for the annual Rotary golf tournament, and also is communications chairman for Club Service. He volunteers with many other Rotary activities.
Fancher has three grown children and last month became a grandfather for the first time.
File photo: Ed Fancher puts hams with brown sugar and pineapple on top in the oven with help from Bruce Landis on March 12 during the St. Patrick’s Ham Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.
Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications merger will result in more broadband availability in NY
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled the tenth signature proposal of his 2016 agenda: dramatically expand and improve access to high-speed Internet in communities statewide.
Earlier today, the New York State Public Service Commission voted to approve the merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, which will dramatically improve broadband availability for millions of New Yorkers and lead to more than $1 billion in direct investments and consumer benefits.
The Commission’s merger requirements will deliver broadband speed upgrades to 100 Mbps statewide by the end of 2018, and 300 Mbps by the end of 2019. This benefits two million Upstate broadband customers. The highest speed offered by Time Warner Cable north of New York City is 50 Mbps so customers will experience significant speed upgrades.
The merger conditions further require that Charter offer high speed broadband to 145,000 unserved customers who currently have no high speed broadband at all.
Additionally, the state issued a $500 million solicitation today for private sector partners to join the New NY Broadband Program, which will greatly expand Internet access in all regions of the state, with a focus on unserved and underserved areas. The program will deliver access to high-speed Internet to every New Yorker by the end of 2018.
“Access to high-speed Internet in New York shouldn’t be limited by your zip code,” said Governor Cuomo. “Broadband is crucial to driving growth, improving our education system, and connecting New Yorkers to the 21st century global economy – so ensuring that every household has access to high-speed Internet has never been more important. The merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications will result in a historic investment in New York’s Internet landscape that improves quality, reliability, speed and affordability for all New Yorkers. Alongside our New NY Broadband Program, we are bridging the digital divide for underserved communities and guaranteeing our position as a national leader in opportunity, cutting-edge technology and innovation.”
Broadband is an essential component for creating and sustaining economic opportunity throughout New York State, by connecting businesses with consumers and markets around the globe. While New York’s broadband landscape has seen substantial improvements over the past four years, many households still lack access to high-speed Internet.
The PSC order approving the merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, together with the New NY Broadband initiative, will significantly increase broadband availability for millions of New Yorkers across the state.
Time Warner Cable-Charter Communications Merger
In 2014, Governor Cuomo signed into law legislation that strengthened cable merger review standards. The law requires cable companies seeking merger approval to demonstrate to the PSC that the transaction is in the public interest. After five months of extensive review and significant public input pursuant to the terms of the 2014 statute, the PSC approved the merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications with a comprehensive set of conditions, subject to further review by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The merger provides New York State with approximately $1.1 billion in direct investment and consumer benefits. Under the terms of the agreement, Charter Communications will improve high-speed broadband access in rural and urban communities, provide more low and moderately-priced Internet service packages to consumers and deliver free broadband Internet access to community centers in underserved areas.
Highlights of the decision include:
Increasing Internet speed to 300 Mbps [$305 million value]: The Commission will require Charter Communications to upgrade its system to deliver at least 100 Mbps statewide by the end of 2018, and 300 Mbps by the end of 2019. (Currently, the highest speed offered by Time Warner Cable north of New York City is 50 Mbps).
Expansion of Broadband to Unserved and Underserved Homes and Businesses [$355 million value]: The Commission will require Charter to install line extensions that will bring high-speed broadband to 145,000-plus unserved and underserved homes and businesses. These conditions will make 100 Mbps service available to virtually all customers in Time Warner’s and Charter’s current franchise areas.
Affordable High-Speed Broadband for Low-Income Customers [$250 million value]: The Commission will require Charter to create a new low-income broadband program with minimum speeds of 30 Mbps at $14.99 available for 700,000 low-income households.
Pricing of Video and Stand Alone Broadband [$125 million value]: Charter will offer broadband products that will lower consumers’ bills. Charter’s business model provides all customers nationwide access to a standalone broadband product of 60 Mbps at $59.99 a month. This provides a benefit to Time Warner customers currently subscribed to slower and more expensive products.
Customer Service Improvements [$55 million value]: The Commission will require Charter to invest $50 million to improve customer service and achieve a 35 percent reduction in the rate of cable customer complaints in five years. Charter’s failure to meet this goal will trigger up to $5 million in additional investment.
Free Broadband Connections and Service to Community Centers in Underserved Areas: The Commission will require to provide free connections and ongoing broadband service to 50 community centers such as schools, libraries and other locations serving the public in underserved areas.
Job Loss Prevention Provision for Customer Service Employees: Charter must commit to no net job losses in customer-facing employees (e.g. at call centers and walk-in centers) in New York State for four years.
Most-Favored State Clause: The Commission will require Charter to adhere to a most-favored State provision that requires it to ensure that its offered standalone products and services in New York must be equal to, or better than, any key commitments made or offerings in any other State.
New NY Broadband Program
The New NY Broadband initiative will invest $500 million to deliver access to high-speed Internet to every New Yorker by the end of 2018. Today’s solicitation reflects input from a Request for Information issued in 2015 that sought feedback and input from providers, elected officials, consumer groups and other relevant stakeholders.
The initiative is a public-private partnership that will bring “last-mile” broadband services to New Yorkers and significantly expand connectivity in the most remote regions of the state. Phase one of the RFP Grant Guidelines and Application Questions are now available on the New York State Broadband Program Office’s website.
Central components of the program include:
New access to broadband at speeds of at least 100 Mbps; 25 Mbps in the most remote areas of the state.
Public-private partnership with a required 50 percent match in private sector investment targeted across the program.
High priority for projects that most improve broadband Internet access in underserved areas, including libraries and educational opportunity centers.
Applications will be chosen through a “reverse-auction” process, which will award funding to projects bidders seeking the lowest state investment.
Auctions to be held within each Regional Economic Development Council region to ensure statewide allocations of funding.
Applications may be submitted through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application Portal beginning Tuesday, March 1, 2016, and are due on Friday, April 15, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. Applicants must be able to complete projects by December 31, 2018. Subsequent rounds of funding will be announced throughout 2016.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled a new proposal for his 2016 agenda – a Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Competition designed to reward local governments that take real steps to make living and working in New York State more affordable.
The competition will challenge counties, cities, towns and villages to develop innovative consolidation action plans yielding significant and permanent property tax reductions. The consolidation partnership that proposes and can implement the greatest permanent reduction in property taxes will receive a $20 million award.
“We’ve made tremendous progress over the past five years to make New York more affordable, and this year we are going to keep that momentum going from the ground up,” said Governor Cuomo. “This competition will help local governments find innovative ways to reduce costs and lower taxes for their constituents – which will make it cheaper to live, work and thrive in their communities. This is about building a stronger and more prosperous New York over the long haul, and I am eager to help our local partners across the state move forward.”
This would be the largest direct incentive ever offered for communities to work together to share services, cut costs and lower property taxes. This will be part of $70 million in this year’s budget to incentivize local government consolidations, reorganizations and efficiencies that result in the taxpayer savings.
For years, local property taxes in New York have been among the highest in the country, negatively affecting New York’s economic competitiveness and the quality of life for its residents. Between 2000 and 2010, property taxes grew at an unsustainable rate – more than double the rate of inflation.
In 2011, the governor enacted the Property Tax Cap. As a result, property taxes have been held to an average growth rate of approximately two percent during the past three years, less than half the rate of growth over the previous 10 years.
The cap was strengthened in 2014 with a property tax freeze program that encouraged local governments and school districts to comply with the tax cap and develop approved government efficiency plans to reduce costs. A new Property Tax Relief Credit was created in 2015 to progressively target an additional $1.3 billion in property tax relief for New York homeowners over the next four years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 January 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Orleans County officials have been working for four years to identify locations in the county without high-speed Internet and to lay the groundwork for bringing the service to rural homes and businesses.
County officials believe those efforts put the county in a good position to receive some of the $500 million in state funds that Gov. Andrew Cuomo says will expand the service throughout the state by 2018.
“We’ve proven the need,” said Lynne Johnson, an Orleans County legislator who has headed local efforts to expand broadband. “(Today’s announcement) is a positive shot in the arm.”
Orleans and Niagara counties have worked together mapping areas of need, and developing requests for proposals from companies. The state today said it will seek RFPs from companies to bring the service to 10 regions.
Johnson was part of the conference call today with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. The state will seek bids from companies with a goal to serve the most homes at the lowest cost.
Johnson said she is optimistic Orleans County will be in the first round of the funding. However, she said many areas have been pressing the state and Internet providers for better coverage.
“Other counties have as dire need as we do,” she said.
In addition to the $500 million in state funding, a merger between Time Warner and Charter Communications comes with a directive from the state Public Service Commission to install line extensions that will bring high-speed broadband to 145,000-plus unserved and underserved homes and businesses. The merged company also needs to upgrade the system to increase service speeds.
Johnson and Chuck Nesbitt, the county chief administrative officer, say they are grateful the issue is on the governor’s agenda.
“We applaud the governor for making money available,” Nesbitt said.
The initiative is a public-private partnership that will bring “last-mile” broadband services to New Yorkers and significantly expand connectivity in the most remote regions of the state.
Central components of the program include:
New access to broadband at speeds of at least 100 Mbps; 25 Mbps in the most remote areas of the state.
Public-private partnership with a required 50 percent match in private sector investment targeted across the program.
High priority for projects that most improve broadband Internet access in underserved areas, including libraries and educational opportunity centers.
Applications will be chosen through a “reverse-auction” process, which will award funding to projects bidders seeking the lowest state investment.
Auctions to be held within each Regional Economic Development Council region to ensure statewide allocations of funding.
For more on the state’s broadband program, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 January 2016 at 12:00 am
File photos by Tom Rivers – The LaMont family celebrated 200 years of farming in Gaines during a party on Aug. 15. The family was recognized on Thursday as a “Century Farm” by the New York State Agricultural Society.
GAINES – Two farms that have been neighbors for more than a century were honored by the New York State Agricultural Society during its annual meeting in Syracuse on Thursday.
The LaMont and Kast families were both recognized as “Century Farms.” The LaMonts have actually been farming for two centuries. Josias LaMont started the family farm in 1815, when he bought 140 acres at Lattin Road and West Transit Church Road.
Roger and George LaMont are the sixth generation of the family to farm. The brothers have both been industry leaders in the apple business.
The Kast family dates back to 130 years of farming in Gaines. The farm today is owned by David and Kathy Kast, and their sons John and Brett. They attended the celebration on Thursday in Syracuse with David’s father, Stanley, 98.
Kast Farms is diversified with fruit, vegetables and grain.
David said the two families, Kast and LaMont, have been long-time friends and neighbors on Densmore Road.
“It was nice to see the neighbors received awards,” Kast said this afternoon.
The NY Ag Society is expected to send photos from the event.
A 140-foot-high wind turbine for Kast Farms on Densmore Road stands tall as the sun sets last July.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Henry, the dog formerly known as Tiny Tim, is pictured outside his home in Buffalo on Saturday. The dog was shot on Dec. 2, 2014 and had his back left leg amputated. These days he is full of spunk and loves going to the dog parks.
BUFFALO – Kathy Smith got the call on Dec. 2, 2014. A dog, a small beagle, had been shot. He had been on the loose and a family in Yates had been leaving out food and water for him.
Smith, the animal control officer for Orleans County, found the dog on Countyline Road. His back left leg was blown off and bleeding.
Smith still doesn’t know if the dog was purposely shot or if it was accidental. Despite his injury, he seemed to be doing OK. He also was a young dog, only about 2 years old. Smith believed he could survive. She drove him to a veterinarian in Henrietta that night and the dog’s wound was cleaned and he was stabilized.
“He was definitely reaching out to us for comfort,” Smith recalled. “He had a wonderful sweet attitude.”
Smith knew emergency surgery would be costly so she opted against it that night. The next day she called Joette McHugh, president of the Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter. McHugh was vacationing with her husband Bill at Disney World in Florida.
McHugh was optimistic several hundred dollars could be raised for the surgery. McHugh made a plea on her Facebook page for assistance for the dog. She said the people that had been feeding him in Yates called him Jack. But McHugh didn’t think “Jack” would stir people to give during the holidays when money is tight.
Her husband suggested the name, Tiny Tim, the popular character from “A Christmas Carol.”
“It was Christmastime, and if we were going to ask for donations, Jack wasn’t going to do it,” McHugh recalled. “So he became Tiny Tim.”
‘Tiny Tim’ has endured much in his short life.
Tiny Tim would go viral on social media, and the donations started to pour in. There was far more than was needed for his surgery. There was money for post-op care, to be neutered and other expenses for the dog.
“His care wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the community and the volunteers,” Smith said. “The community was a great helping raising money for the operation and his post-operative care.”
Mary Neilans, a veterinarian in Albion, did the surgery on Dec. 3. Tiny Tim was at the Orleans County Animal Shelter on Route 98 in Barre later that day. McHugh said the dog was able to walk and run. He didn’t show too many ill effects.
Buffalo CARES Animal Rescue reached out to McHugh after seeing her Facebook posts about Tiny Tim. The organization provides longer-term care for animals with injuries.
Tiny Tim spent a few days in the “cat room” at the animal shelter. He would go to a foster home for about five weeks in the Buffalo area while he healed from the surgery. He was in a home with a woman who had two other beagles.
Tiny Tim was listed for adoption by the Buffalo CARES. “I am a very sweet and fun little guy,” according to Tiny Tim’s entry on Buffalo CARES. “I am a spunky beagle around 2 years old. I was found right before Christmas and had to have my back left leg amputated but it hasn’t slowed me down. I run, jump and am able to go up and down stairs just fine!”
Marisa Bartolotta, a recent college graduate working in New Orleans, was checking Buffalo CARES website in January, looking for dogs with disabilities. Her parents, Carmen and Renee Bartolotta, had to say goodbye to their long-time dog, Buddy, the day after Christmas. That dog was blind.
Mrs. Bartolotta didn’t think she was ready for another dog so soon after Buddy’s death.
“My heart was broken,” she said. “I didn’t think I could go through that again.”
But Renee and Carmen watched a video of Tiny Tim. He looked very mobile despite missing his back leg. The family has long loved beagles and they responded to the notice on Buffalo CARES.
Carmen Bartolotta takes Tiny Tim, now called Henry, for a walk on Saturday by the family’s home on Villa Drive in Buffalo near Kenmore.
Buffalo CARES wanted a home where the dog would have someone around 24-7. Both of the Bartolottas work full-time: Carmen is a machine operator for Steuben Foods and Renee works as a secretary for the Erie County Health Department in downtown Buffalo.
But Carmen’s parents live close by and they could watch the dog during the day.
Tiny Tim came by for a home visit and the Bartolottas felt a connection. Tiny Tim even got along well with the two cats: Walter Knoncat and Teddy Roosevelt. Tiny Tim snuggled up to Mr. and Mrs. Bartolotta.
On Jan. 22 last year, the dog joined the family. He was named Henry.
The next day, Mr. Bartolotta was bringing in the garbage and had Henry on a leash. Mr. Bartolotta bumped the garbage can and it let out a racket. Henry was startled. He slipped his collar, and to Bartolotta’s surprise, bolted.
Bartolotta couldn’t catch up to the three-legged dog. The family drove looking for Henry, and Facebook posts soon went up seeking help in finding the dog. Those Facebook posts would be shared hundreds of times and soon dozens of volunteers were combing neighborhoods and posting Henry sightings.
“He ran from people, not towards people,” Bartolotta said.
For two days, Henry was out on the streets. He was remarkably fast and fleeting.
But finally he was cornered near Lincoln Parkway by the railroad tracks. He ran into a truck bay and was scooped up. He was brought to his new home and promptly went to sleep for about two days straight.
The Bartolottas got a harness for taking Henry outside for walks. He most enjoys going to dog parks where he has freedom to run. He keeps up with the other dogs, and goes up and down steep embankments. Most people can’t tell he is missing a leg because he moves so fast.
“He stands up for himself, even against the boxers and pit bulls,” Mr. Bartolotta said. “He gets mad if the other dogs knock him over.”
Henry has a fully fenced in back yard at the Bartolotta home. When he wants to go out, he goes to a sliding door and rings a bell.
He enjoys lounging on the couch. During the workdays, the Bartolottas drop Henry at Mr. Bartolotta’s parents. They have a special chair for Henry by the window. They open the curtains and let him watch the neighborhood. One family member is a Buffalo City School bus driver. She will pull up by the house, with a bus full of students, and the kids will wave to Henry.
The dog has become a star in the neighborhood. The Bartolottas are grateful he found a way to their home.
“He’s so lovable and so sweet,” Mrs. Bartolotta said. “He came into our lives at a very difficult time for us (with the loss of Buddy).”
Henry is much loved by Carmen and Renee Bartolotta and is very popular in his Buffalo neighborhood.
When the Bartolotta daughters, both in their 20s, are home on break, Henry is very excited to see them. The daughters will take him on jogs in the neighborhood, and Henry dictates a fast pace.
“He’s super active,” Mrs. Bartolotta said. “He doesn’t want to go for a walk, he wants to go for a run.”
Henry – Tiny Tim – remains a special dog for Kathy Smith and Joette McHugh. He is featured as the March dog in a calendar to benefit the animal shelter.
“It was so heartwarming to see so many people come together for this little dog,” McHugh said. “It makes you feel good.”
She has become friends with the Bartolottas and they share frequent updates on Henry.
McHugh and Smith said there are other “extreme cases” where animals are abused or injured and need lots of care. McHugh recalled a cat that was stepped on by a cow and needed a leg amputated.
The county shelter will try to save the animals when possible, Smith said.
“We have a lot of wonderful dogs like Tiny Tim that have sad stories and then have wonderful outcomes,” Smith said.
Joette McHugh holds a calender to benefit the Orleans County Animal Shelter. Tiny Tim is featured for March.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – Dennis Vacco, an attorney helping the Town of Somerset fight a proposed wind turbine project, speaks on Wednesday outside the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Somerset Town Supervisor Dan Engert is to the right of Vacco.
NIAGARA FALLS – Three retired pilots and former high-ranking officials have written a joint letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other state officials, expressing concern about a proposed wind turbine project in the towns of Somerset and Yates, and the impact of tall turbines on the the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
“The future of the NFARS, its current and potential military usefulness, could very well rest on the decision made by your administration on this proposed project,” according to the letter from W. Robin Pfiel, Col. USAF (ret.), John J. Higgins, Col. USAF (ret.) and Thomas Keough, Col. USA (ret.). The trio served in high-ranking capacities as a former commander and vice commander of the 107th Airlift Wing, and the former vice commander of the 914th Airlift Wing.
U.S. Rep. Chris Collins and State Sen. Robert Ortt also have voiced concern that the turbines, which could peak at about 600 feet high, could cause problems for flights and radar from the base in Niagara Falls.
“If the base were to lose its competitive advantage in the area of encroachment, its position with the next BRAC would be seriously compromised,” the trio of commanders/vice commanders wrote in their letter. “A decision to permit the APEX project will create estimated 5-10 full time jobs. If the next BRAC were to recommend and succeed in closing the NFARS the cost will be nearly 3200 jobs!”
The letter was shared with media on Wdnesday when Save Ontario Shores members gathered at the Air Reserve Station with Daniel Engert, Town of Somerset Supervisor, and Dennis Vacco of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, special counsel to the Town of Somerset. Somerset officials are fighting the project, which could include up to 71 turbines.
Apex Clean Energy is the developer for the project. Taylor Quarles, development manager for Apex’s Lighthouse Wind, said the company is confident it can address any concerns with turbines and their impact on the Air Reserve Station.
Apex will detail the size, location and turbine manufacturer of all turbine sites in the next step of its application, expected to be submitted in the summer, Quarles said today. The company has submitted a preliminary scoping statement, which Somerset, Yates and SOS officials say is vague on details.
Quarles said Apex will address any concerns with the Air Reserve Station, Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense. Apex will do studies that will be reviewed by the FAA, DOD and other interested parties in the project.
“The studies will have information so reasonable decisions can be made by the regulators,” Quarles said.
In the letter, the former Air Force Pilots identified three areas of concern with the turbines on the Air Reserve Station:
1. “The current C-130 operations maintain a number of low level training routes (generally 500 feet above ground level (AGL), but as low as 300 feet AGL, on some routes. These routes depart NFARS on a common departure path, in a northeasterly direction. In the area of the lake shore, east of Wilson NY, the individual routes commence with a turn in various directions, as per the routes design. Additionally, there is an established high speed route, established primarily for fighter aircraft, that is in the same general area; and it is also cleared down to 300 feet AGL.”
2. “As the Air National Guard in its MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) mission, it is intended to station MQ-9 aircraft at NFARS. Their mission would have the RPA depart NFARS, proceed to Lake Ontario, and fly up to the Fort Drum ranges, utilizing the existing MOA and restricted area over Lake Ontario. After the mission it would return to back to NFARS and would transit the area of concern in its recovery to NFARS.”
3. “The intended development area is in the flyway of migratory birds. We are concerned that a westerly shift in the flyway, as a result of the wind turbines, could heavily impact flight safety at NFARS.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency already has received several phone calls from businesses interested in the downtown rental subsidy program.
The agency is developing guidelines for the program and expects to have it ready by the end of the month, said Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development for the EDA.
The state approved $200,000 for the EDA last month in small business programs. The money comes from the federal government through the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation.
That includes $60,000 for downtown rental subsidies. The EDA wants to target start-ups or businesses doing expansions for the program. To be eligible, the businesses need to move into a downtown business district in one of the four villages.
The EDA ran a downtown subsidy program before and about $20,000 was directed to businesses in the four village downtowns. The EDA started that program in 2009 and offered a maximum of $3,000 a year to help small business owners with their rent if they locate in the Albion, Medina, Holley or Lyndonville business districts.
The EDA hasn’t settled on a maximum amount for each business in the program. The specifics of the downtown subsidy program are being developed.
The grant also includes $100,000 for microenterprise grants/low-interest loans. That money will be available to qualifying small business owners who complete the 10-week small business training program through the EDA. Barone said the qualifying criteria is being reviewed. When the details are finalized, the program will be presented to the public, she said.
More than 400 entrepreneurs have completed the Microenterprise Assistance Program since 1999. The 10-week program gives an overview on taxes, record keeping, marketing, organizational skills, accounting and insurance, leadership and assists participants in developing a business plan.
The $200,000 overall grant also includes $30,000 for program delivery costs and $10,000 for grant administration expenses.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2016 at 11:40 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – Firefighters work to put out a fire at the corner of Bennetts Corners Road and Fourth Section Road (Route 31A) on Wednesday night.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 9:30 p.m. The house at 4507 Bennetts Corners Road is owned by Geoffrey Whittier, who had it on a land contract to residents who recently moved in, a town official said. The residents weren’t in the house at the time of the fire. A neighbor managed to let the pets out of the house.
Firefighters said there were no injuries and the fire is under investigation.
Tim Adams, a Fancher-Hulberton-Murray firefighter, cuts through the metal roof. He uses ladders so he doesn’t slide off the roof. Not only are the metal roofs harder to cut through, but they are also slippery, firefighters said.
Tim Adams, left, is joined on the roof by Joseph Morlino, a F-H-M firefighter. They were working to cut through the roof to help ventilate the house.
Firefighters also work on the back of the house, which sustained damage.
Fran Gaylord, a Holley firefighter and deputy fire coordinator for Orleans County, operates the ladder truck for the Clarendon Fire Company. It was about 20 degrees out while firefighters worked to put out the fire.
Route 31A was closed to traffic near the Bennetts Corners Road intersection.
Dave Knapp, a fire investigator for the county, said he would check the heat source in the house to see if that was the cause. He said fires often happen once the cold weather hits and furnaces and fire places are used after sitting idle for months. He urged residents to make sure their chimneys are maintained and cleaned.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A Medina man faces less severe charges and a lower bail after he allegedly stabbed an Albion teen multiple times on Oct. 24.
Michael B. Collier Jr., 23, of East Oak Orchard Street was originally arraigned in Orleans County Court on Nov. 2 on second-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Judge James Punch set bail at $100,000.
Collier has a lengthy criminal history despite being only 23, Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard said in court on Nov. 2. He has two prior felonies, three misdemeanors, two parole revocations and a prior failure to appear in court.
The November arraignment was to set bail. Collier was arraigned in court again on Monday following a grand jury indictment. The grand jury opted not to charge him with criminal possession of a weapon. The victim of the crime has rebounded from his injuries, the DA’s office said.
Collier on Monday was arraigned on second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old from Albion 10 times on Oct. 24, with one of the wounds close to the victim’s heart.
Collier pleaded not guilty to crimes on Monday in County Court. He is represented by attorney Michael O’Keefe, who asked that bail be reduced from $100,000 “so (Collier) can get out and earn a living.”
Punch, citing less serious charges against Collier, agreed to reduce bail to $50,000.
In other cases in County Court:
Two men from Lyndonville admitted to their roles in growing and possessing marijuana.
Nathan Brege, 23, of Cape Drive and his neighbor David Tower, 36, of Cape Drive pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, which carries a maximum punishment of up to 1 ½ years in state prison. As part of a plea deal they won’t be sentenced to more than a year in jail.
Neither Brege or Tower has a substantial criminal record, Judge Punch said in court.
Tower said in court the marijuana plants were grown in his yard. Both he and Brege said they watered and helped the plants to grow. The plants were seized and weighed more than 6 pounds at a lab in Niagara County.
The two will be sentenced on April 11 at 2 p.m.
A man who has been in prison since Aug. 27, 2012 was assessed as a level 2 sex offender. Ivan Borgyan, 33, allegedly had sexual contact with a 2-year-old girl. He has been in the Mohawk Correctional Facility, serving a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison for first-degree attempted sexual abuse.He could be released Feb. 16, 2016.
Punch said Borgyan had sexual contact with the victim under clothing, and has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, while not accepting responsibility for the crime.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Gaines Town Supervisor Carol Culhane said the State Department of Agriculture and Markets needs to accept liability, not the town, if someone is hurt from the wind turbine at Watt Farms on Route 98. The town has pushed to have the turbine moved away from a U-Pick area and farm market.
GAINES – The Gaines Town Board says the state Department of Agriculture and Markets ignored public safety in insisting that a 154-foot-high turbine at Watt Farms be allowed to stay near buildings and a U-pick area for the public.
The Town Board on Tuesday approved a formal resolution that was critical of Ag and Markets for “immoral conduct” with the turbine issue at Watt Farms. The Town Board asked the Attorney General to conduct an ethics review of Ag and Markets staff with the Watt turbine issue and similar matters.
The Town Board in its resolution says that Ag and Markets has undermined public safety, and issued letters and a determination “that falsely represented the facts in the case.” The resolution also states town officials sought to meet with Ag and Markets staff several times to discuss the issue and Ag and Markets refused “in order to hide their immoral conduct.”
A State Supreme Court judge ruled last month the turbine doesn’t have to be moved, reversing the judge’s decision from about a year before. Ag and Markets hadn’t issued a final order before Judge James Punch’s first decision in December 2014.
Ag and Markets said forcing the Watts to move the turbine, at a cost of $20,000, would unreasonable and unnecessary, according to an order on Jan. 14, 2015 from Richard A. Ball, commissioner of Ag and Markets. He sent the letter to town officials, telling them they needed to comply with the Agriculture and Markets Law.
The issue has been in the courts for more than two years with the first lawsuit filed by Mary Neilans, Watt’s neighbor. She is now on the Gaines Town Board and abstained from the vote on Tuesday.
Town officials have insisted the proper procedures for issuing a permit for the turbine were not followed and a proper setback distance away from public areas were not established by the former Planning Board. The Town Board dissolved the Planning Board about two years ago and shifted those responsibilities to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Ag and Markets in its order last January said the town didn’t use the proper setback distance. Gaines determined the setback distance by multiplying the 154-foot turbine by 1.1 for a 169.4-foot setback minimum. Gaines officials said the turbine needed to be moved at least 169.4 feet away from the farm market, train ride course and designated U-pick areas.
Ag and Markets suggested the setback from “human-occupied buildings” be five times the rotor distance or five times 23.6 feet, which would be 118 feet for the Watt turbine. Ag and Markets based that suggestion from the recommendation by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority or NYSERDA.
Town Supervisor Carol Culhane said the board adopted the resolution on Tuesday to shift liability from the town to the state in case anyone is ever hurt by the turbine.
“Ag and Markets created the liability,” Culhane said. “That’s the purpose (with this resolution) putting it on them, not on us.”
The resolution from Gaines also calls on the State Legislature to require Ag and Markets to comply with the State Administrative Procedure Act in issuing determinations regarding the validity of local zoning laws, and calls on the State Legislature to make amendments to Ag & Markets preventing the department “from ignoring public health and safety.”
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 6 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Kendall Supervisor Tony Cammarata is sworn in to a second term in office by Town Justice Debbie Drennan. Cammarata’s wife, Sharon, holds the Bible.
KENDALL -Town Board members held their 2016 organizational meeting Tuesday evening. Newly elected Councilperson Barb Flow, Councilperson Margaret Lynn Szozda and Supervisor Tony Cammarata all took their oaths of office, officiated by Town Justice Debbie Drennan.
During his remarks, Supervisor Cammarata said he is “honored to serve” Kendall again as supervisor. In the coming year, he noted that, “New water districts will be our priority,” and added that a joint meeting will be held Jan. 13 at the Hamlin Town Hall regarding the distribution of assets from the former Hamlin-Kendall Water District.
Newly elected Councilperson Barb Flow was appointed to fill a vacancy on Town Board in the summer of 2015 after retiring as Kendall’s long-time recreation director.
Kendall Town Justice Debbie Drennan officiates as Kendall Councilperson Margaret Lynn Szozda takes the oath of office. Szozda was re-elected in November. Councilperson Barb Flow holds the Bible.
She was elected to the post in November. Councilperson Margaret Lynn Szozda and Supervisor Tony Cammarata were re-elected in November.
Additionally, council members approved a long list of appointments and designations including the appointment of Andrew Meier as town attorney; the appointment of Patrick Bolton as chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals; the reappointment of Andrew Kludt as chairman of the Planning Board; the reappointment of Michelle Werth as director of Youth and Adult Recreation; the re-appointment of Heather Koch as town historian; the re-appointment of Eileen Grah as Town of Kendall librarian; and the re-appointment of Paul Hennekey as code enforcement officer.
Newly elected Town Councilperson Barb Flow takes the oath of office while her husband, Vince, holds the Bible.
Town Board meetings will be held the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Kendall Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd., and work sessions are scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. and the Saturday preceding the third Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m.
The salary schedule for 2016 includes: Supervisor – $8,400.00; Councilperson (4) $3,120.00; Town Clerk – $28,428.00; Code Enforcement Officer – $11,400.00; Superintendent of Highways – $49,750.00; Justice 1 – $7,725.00; Justice 2 – $6,600.00.
LaBella Associates of Rochester was appointed the engineering firm for the town. Margaret Lynn Szozda was appointed deputy supervisor and Tony Cammarata was appointed budget officer.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, and State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, are both critical of President Obama’s gun control plan announced on Tuesday.
Here is a statement issued by Hawley:
“President Obama’s Executive Action to increase background checks and toughen licensing requirements for firearms sales is misguided, ignores the democratic process and is the wrong approach for many areas of the country, including Western New York. While I agree that gun safety is a salient concern, rushing through new requirements and stipulations is contrary to our country’s principles of democracy and populous support.
“It is a poor reflection on our state’s leadership that Gov. Cuomo has praised Obama for abusing Presidential Powers. Gov. Cuomo has a lackluster record on properly vetting important issues as we saw with the SAFE Act and minimum wage. No executive should be abusing his authority as a way to side-step a Legislature that, in large part, does not support these initiatives.
“President Obama’s actions place a heavy financial and social burden on law-abiding firearm owners in exchange for pursuit of his ideological agenda. Western New York is filled with legal firearm owners who love to hunt, target shoot and buy, sell and trade firearms. Furthermore, rural citizens use firearms for home protection, especially in places where police are many miles away. The founding of our nation and the 2nd Amendment are inextricably linked and should never be suppressed in exchange for one man’s political pursuits.”
Ortt posted this statement on his Facebook page:
“Our 2nd Amendment rights are non-negotiable.
“The President has once again displayed blatant executive overreach to implement a radical policy. His past attempts at restricting the rights of gunowners and law-abiding Americans failed in the Legislature and are bound to fail in the courts for one simple reason – as Americans, we have a deep passion for the Second Amendment rooted in our U.S. Constitution.
“We do not believe that the Constitution is outdated. In fact, millions of peaceful gunowners today rely on the rights inherent in the Second Amendment for recreation, sport, and family protection. We need look no further than New York, at Governor Cuomo’s SAFE Act, to see what happens when liberal extremists push a hurried, deeply flawed agenda onto a law-abiding citizenry.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Wreaths were set by veterans’ gravesites at Boxwood Cemetery.
MEDINA – Two years ago, Boxwood Cemetery took part in Wreaths Across America, a nationwide effort to recognize deceased veterans during the holidays.
There were seven veterans’ graves with wreaths and colorful red ribbons in late 2013, the debut of the program at Boxwood. It grew to about 20 graves in 2014 and last month it reached 60.
“They really look nice out there,” said Kathy Blackburn, volunteer coordinator of the program at Boxwood. She also is a member of the Boxwood Cemetery Commission.
She would like to see 100 graves have wreaths next year and eventually all of the veterans’ sites in the cemetery.
The wreaths cost $15 each and are ordered online throught the Wreaths Across America website (click here). Local vetetrans’ organizations participated in a service at Boxwood on Dec. 12.
“This was our third year and it just keeps growing,” Blackburn said. “We hope to cover more of the cemetery next year.”
For more information, give Blackburn a call at 585-734-5801.
For two days, Henry was out on the streets. He was remarkably fast and fleeting.
