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Smooth sailing for Albion, Medina budgets

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Virginia Nicholson, long-time Medina BOE member, not re-elected

Photo by Tom Rivers – David Bertsch of Carlton casts a ballot in the new optical scan voting machines, which were used for the first time today by the school district. Shawn Liddle, the district’s assistant superintendent of business, was on hand to help people use the machine.

ALBION – School district residents gave strong support for Medina and Albion school budgets today.

Albion’s $33.3 million budget today passed 294-79. The budget includes a 1.5 percent tax increase and will cut five positions.

Residents also supported a school bus reserve proposition that would create a reserve for buses not to exceed $4,821,000. That passed 305-69. The district plans to take $440,000 from the reserve to go towards new buses.

A proposition to collect $654,000 for Hoag Library was approved, 264-109.

Residents also returned Margy Brown, the BOE president, to a second five-year term. She received 338 votes. Resident Linda Weller also was elected to her first five-year on the BOE with 257 votes.

“I have really enjoyed the opportunity,” Brown said about serving on the BOE. “I enjoy keeping it about the kids and not agendas.”

The district will need to adjust to new teacher and principal evaluations, increased “Common Core” standards, and new nutritional requirements in school lunches. And Albion will need to do so without straining local taxpayers, Brown said.

“There will be the challenge of keeping the district financially stable while still providing opportunities,” she said.

Medina’s $33.8 million budget also gained strong support with 577 in favor and 148 opposed. The budget won’t raise school taxes and will restore some staff and modified sports.

Residents also approved, 552-170, a proposition to spend $200,000 to purchase one 66-passenger bus and two 30-passenger buses. Another proposition to establish a capital reserve account for up to $2.5 million was approved, 572-137.

There was a five-way race for four seats on the BOE. Long-time incumbent Virginia Nicholson was not re-elected. Residents re-elected Wendi Pencille and John McCarthy to three-year terms, while newcomer Lori Draper also was elected to a three-year term.

David Sevinski was the fourth-leading candidate and will receive a one-year term.

Albion and Medina both ended voting at 8 p.m. I’ll check back on the other districts after polls close at 9 p.m.

Medina will replace downtown trees

Posted 21 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Press Release, Medina Tree Board

MEDINA – Ten years ago, when downtown Medina was ripped up for a road reconstruction project, old mature trees were removed and replaced with new trees in tree pits in downtown sidewalks.

Those new trees have never developed as expected, said Chris Busch, the Tree Board chairman.

“The existing trees included a couple varieties of crab apple, flowering pear, and a few other miscellaneous species, none of which were growing as would normally be expected and none of which were providing the desired impact in the streetscape,” he said.

So those trees will be taken out and replaced beginning Wednesday morning with several larger shade trees which would provide the desired canopy effect. The larger trees will eventually require selective pruning and shaping, but the overall effect will be stunning, Busch said.

The village worked with Tree Board consultant Andy Pleninger of Urban Forestry LLC of Palmyra to study the tree pits and make recommendations for the bigger trees.

The crabapples and other trees being removed from the Main Street site will be replanted in one of the local village parks.

Busch said the benefits of having a healthy green canopy in a business district are both multiple and tangible, and an underdeveloped canopy is literally robbing a business district of potential profits. Many studies have shown that the greening of business districts increases community pride and positive perception of an area, drawing customers to the businesses.

Pleninger made several species recommendations, with the Tree Board eventually settling on two- ‘Prairie Pride’ Hackberry and Skyline Honeylocust – both of which are trees that can thrive under tough urban conditions.

“In a relatively short number of years,” said Pleninger, “the shade trees will begin providing more environmental benefits such as shading the sidewalks, moderating temperatures and wind speeds.”

Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said a healthy, green canopy is important in a successful business district.

“These new trees will soften and compliment our historic streetscape,” Meier said. “They will dramatically enhance the walkability of the district.Whether the realize it or not, people tend to enjoy being in a well-landscaped business district.”

The Village of Medina is a Tree City USA and a multiple Tree City Growth Award recipient.

GCC will start food processing tech program

Posted 21 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Press release, GCC

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has received a $238,719 State University of New York “high need” grant to help GCC establish a new Food Processing Technology program.

The program is expected to begin in fall 2014. It will prepare students to work in the rapidly growing food processing businesses located throughout the Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming region. The program will be the only one of its kind offered at any of SUNY’s 30 community colleges.

The grant, which will be paid over three years, will provide seed money for the program, said Dr. Rafael Alicea-Maldonado, dean of Math, Science and Career Education. In addition to helping the College fund a new faculty position, the grant will enable GCC to upgrade a microbiology lab to meet the needs of the new program.

Food technology jobs in the GLOW region and across Upstate New York are being created every year, Alicea-Maldonado said. They include jobs such as storage specialists, regulatory experts, safety experts, logistics and transport specialists, packaging specialists, plant operations managers, quality control technicians, account representatives, production supervisors and many others.

GCC’s new program will offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. The 63-credit program consists of courses in food processing technology, sanitation, hazard analysis, operations management and food labeling. It also consists of business courses, biology, chemistry, physics and statistics, microeconomic theory, as well as English and liberal arts courses. All students in the program will complete a supervised internship in a real-life work setting.

Albion PD will step up seatbelt enforcement

Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Press release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni III

ALBION – Village police will be stepping up its efforts to enforce seat belt use beginning today until June 2 as part of a state-wide initiative.

The Albion Police Department is using a $779 state grant from the state Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to have extra officers on duty during the next two weeks. Officers will be doing road checks and patrolling throughout the village to enforce seatbelt compliance.

The leading causes of fatalities in motor vehicle accidents continues to be speeding, not wearing seat belts and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, said Police Chief Roland Nenni III.

“The safety of our streets continues to be one of the number one goals of the Albion Police Department,” he said. “We will continue to strive to make our community safe.”

The Police Department for the past two years has won the Automobile Association of America’s Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award.

“This award shows the commitment and dedication the officers of the Albion Police Department have for the safety of our motorists and pedestrians,” Nenni said.

Fishing for data on Lake Ontario

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Scientists from the Great Lakes Observing System were at Point Breeze on Saturday to send an autonomous underwater vehicle into Lake Ontario. Dick Anderson, a Point Breeze resident, sent us these photos of the AUV. The GLOS sent the vehicle into the lake for four hours to gather data about water temperatures and water quality. The GLOS is based in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Kendall kicks off concerts on Wednesday

Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Press release, Kendall Park Committee

KENDALL – The new community park across from the elementary school will kick off a season of concerts on Wednesday.

The Kendall Community Choir will perform patriotic and American folk songs in the 45-minute concert that begins at 7 p.m. The choir will perform in the park’s gazebo, which was built last year.

Veterans and current military members will be recognized with a special song. Local Boy Scouts will present a huge American flag.

The concert is free and is expected to be the first of at least one a month. The Kendall Park Committee is working to line up more performances for the summer.

“It’s a nice gathering place for the community to come,” Nadine Hanlon, a park committee member, said about the new gazebo and park. “It’s also a chance to showcase our beautiful community choir and some of our student performers.”

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket to sit on.

Drunk driver, burglar both sentenced

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Carlton burglar and Albion woman with a history of drunk driving were both sentenced to either jail or prison today.

Kenneth Martin II, 24, of South Academy Street in Medina was sentenced to five years in state prison for second-degree burglary and petty larceny. Martin was charged after allegedly breaking into a Carlton home on Oct. 1 and stealing jewelry. He allegedly broke in the next day with an accomplice Joshua Gang, who stole guns from the house.

Martin has an earlier conviction – third-degree burglary on April 13, 2009.

“He has a horrible record,” County Court Judge James Punch said in court today.

District Attorney Joseph Cardone asked that Martin be required to pay back $10,639 to Erie Insurance and another $6,020 in damages that wasn’t covered by insurance.

Punch will determine if Martin pays all of that or if it’s split with Gang, who pled guilty to his role in the crime.

“You take no responsibility for what you do and you’re constantly blaming others,” Punch said before announcing Martin’s sentence.

The judge also sentenced Lisa Foggett, 53, of Oak Orchard Road in Albion to a year in county jail after her sixth alcohol-related driving charge. She pled guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

“You are an extremely dangerous criminal,” Punch told Foggett during her sentencing. “It’s a miracle you haven’t killed somebody.”

Hawley says 1,050 local residents signed petition opposing SAFE Act

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Tells Cuomo that law ‘trampled’ gun owners’ rights

ALBANY – More than 1,000 local residents have signed a petition in past 2 ½ months opposing new state gun control legislation, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said today.

He advised Gov. Andrew Cuomo that 1,050 people signed the petition. Hawley asked the governor to re-examine the process for enacting the law and allow his constituents to make their voices heard.

The county governing bodies for nearly all upstate counties, including Orleans, have formally gone on the record opposing the SAFE Act. Orleans has asked the governor and state Legislature to repeal it.

Hawley and many of the county governments say Cuomo and the majority of the Legislature rushed the law into passage in January without feedback from the public.

Many of the provisions of the law are confusing and open to interpretation, Orleans legislators said. The group in February also criticized the law for prohibiting firearm magazines with more than seven rounds, when most magazines have 10 rounds. Gun owners will have to acquire new magazines or alter their existing ones.

Hawley is critical of the way the law was approved without input from New York residents.

“Their voices were not heard during the hurried passage of this law,” he said. “They deserved to be heard then and they deserve to be heard now. I urge you to repeal this law and come to the table, not only with members of the legislature, but with law enforcement officials, mental health professionals and, most importantly, the concerned citizens of our community who have the most at stake when it comes to the laws of our state.”

Hawley sent a letter to the governor today, telling him the SAFE Act did not protect the safety of New York families, but instead “trampled” the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers.

Holley village budget raises tax rate

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – Village property owners will pay 3.2 percent more in village taxes this fiscal year, and the tax rate will climb from 60 cents to $13.94 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The village will collect $728,339 in taxes to support the general fund – the village office, department of public works, fire department and police. That’s up from the $705,656 in 2012-13. The village fiscal year begins June 1.

The tax rate will increase 4.5 percent from $13.34 to $13.94. The rate exceeded the tax levy growth because Holley, like the villages of Albion and Medina, is seeing its assessed value decrease. Holley’s overall value dropped nearly $700,000 from $52,904,663 to $52,251,478. The shrinking assessments mean there is less assessed value to spread out the tax levy, which puts more strain on property owners.

Mayor John Kenney is optimistic the situation will improve in Holley. The village has received a $250,000 Main Street grant from the state to provide matching funds for building improvements in the Public Square.

Holley also has a grant to identify ways to improve brownfield sites, underutilized properties that are either contaminated or suffer from that stigma. The Brownfield Opportunity Area steering committee will meet 7 p.m. June 6 at the Community Free Library.

“These grants will have a positive impact on our village,” Kenney said.

Albion recognizes honor graduates

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Aaron Kirby, 2009 graduate and PhD student in physics, gives keynote address

Photos by Tom Rivers – Aaron Kirby, a 2009 Albion graduate, addresses Albion honor graduates during the Academic Honors Convocation Dinner tonight at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Faith Bentley is congratulated by Albion High School Principal Leslie Stauss and Superintendent of Schools Michael Bonnewell during a dinner for honor grads.

ALBION – While growing up in Albion, 22-year-old Aaron Kirby said he learned life is often what you make of it.

He was a top student in the classroom, and was active in the music and sports programs. He was an Eagle Scout who enjoyed time on the farm. His parents, Dennis and Wendy Kirby, sponsored two families from war-torn Kosovo, families that moved to Albion.

“There’s tons of stuff going on in Albion,” Kirby told Albion honor graduates tonight. “You just have to find it.”

Kirby was picked as the keynote speaker for the 38 students with cumulative grade point averages at 90 percent or higher. He graduated May 12 from the University at Buffalo with a mathematics and physics major. He is now a doctoral student at UB in physics.

Kirby heaped praise on his upbringing and the opportunities at Albion.

Aaron Kirby, a doctoral student in physics at the University at Buffalo, urged Albion graduates to have confidence and take the important first step.

“Albion has given me the tools and allowed me to have exceptionally varied experiences,” he told more than 200 people at the Academic Honors Convocation Dinner at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Kirby has recently taken up rock climbing, a sport that requires patience, efficiency and passion. It also demands confidence.

“You have to take the first step,” he said.

He urged graduates to strike the right balance of confidence. Too little is fear and too much is arrogance.

Board of Education members took turns at the podium with Kevin Doherty closing the two-hour event.

“Albion has tried to help you to be the very highest you,” Doherty told the honor grads. “Be the highest and best you.”

Thirty-eight students who will graduate with cumulative grade point averages at 90 percent or higher are pictured for a group photo.

The honor grads include: Kyle Appleman, Brooke Bensley, Faith Bentley, Carly Burris, Ryan Castrechino, Samantha Covis, Brandon Doyle, Erika Edwards, Rebecca Flanagan, Alissa Francis, William Grimble, Trevor Hadick, Jackson Hamilton, Hannah Hapeman, Xiao Mei He, Brandon Hennekey, Samantha Johnson, Joyce LaLonde, Julia Lawrence, Kirsten Liddle, Sili Lin, Dustin Lockwood, Mary Martin, Cady Messmer, Tanisha Moyer, Tyler Neilans, Alison O’Hearn, Sarah Papponetti, Michael Patterson, Alan Quintana Aragon, Christopher Reed, Alessaundra Rivera, Roland Sanford, Gretta Smith, Taylor Soule, Tiffany Standish, Abigail Thaine and Jacob Tynan.