By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2016 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – Sandra Shaw, director of the Community Free Library in Holley, holds one of the new puppets at the library’s puppet theatre. The puppets can be borrowed by patrons.
The library has added a puppet theatre, dress-up station, tool bench, veterinary clinic and other stations for children to play that are free of electronics.
Before George Maziarz retired on Dec. 31, 2014, the state senator directed $6,300 to the library in Holley. The library has used those funds for its children’s library, creating a more inviting space with fun things for children, Shaw said.
“Everything now is electronic,” Shaw said at the library in the Public Square. “We’re trying to get the to use their imagination.”
This toy kitchen is part of the new play stations in the Children’s Room at the library. The kitchen has shopping carts, plastic food and dishes.
If children are worried about an sick stuffed animal, they can take it to Doc McStuffin’s Veterinary Clinic.
“Play is the work of children,” Shaw said. “There are lots of studies being published showing the relationship between opportunities for play and the development of reading and learning skills. We have books, so we decided to expand the play opportunities for children. They can play, then find books in the library related to what they were playing.”
The costume closet gives children a chance to transform into different characters and roles.
Shaw thanked the library’s board of trustees and their families who came in on a Sunday in January and put the play centers together.
There is more to come. A new castle entrance way, to be created by artist and retired teacher Larry Dabney, will be added as part of the grant funds from Maziarz.
“No longer will they just be walking from one room to another,” Shaw said. “Now they will be entering a world created just for them.”
When the castle is completed, the library plans to have a ribbon-cutting celebration for the community, complete with a puppet show, face painting, and other events.
ALBANY – State Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda), chairman of the Senate’s Mental Health and Developmental and Disabilities Committee, led a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Wednesday focusing on the programmatic and financial impact of the governor’s proposed budget.
Senator Ortt asked state agencies overseeing mental health, developmental disability services, and substance abuse about the impact this year’s budget will have on services across the state.
Ortt joined members of the Senate and Assembly as well as service providers in expressing serious reservations over the Governor’s push to increase the minimum wage from $9 to $15 per hour. The Executive Budget includes only a 0.2 percent ($2.4 million) statutory Cost of Living Adjustment increase while a minimum wage increase will result in $270 million additional costs for just one year. Downstate workers make, on average, $10.78 per hour while Upstate workers average $9.75.
“It’s the height of hypocrisy and poor leadership to see a governor propose a 67 percent minimum wage increase for the entire state while allocating no funding for the workers providing critical services to our most vulnerable population,” said Senator Ortt. “If the state is unwilling or unable to fund this increase, how can we expect small businesses, family farms, and non profits to do so? And if the governor goes through with this proposal, what is our plan when disability service providers inevitably become insolvent – who will take care of the 130,000 individuals in this state with developmental or intellectual disabilities?”
File photo – State Sen. Robert Ortt addresses a group in Barker in December.
The hearing included testimony from executive agencies, representatives and community advocates.
First to testify was Office of Mental Health (OMH) Commissioner Ann Marie T. Sullivan. Senator Ortt outlined priorities in the field of mental health, such as the need for additional housing options in Western New York as well as services for children. He opened the questioning by seeking further details on plans to close the WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center in West Seneca and transfer the patients to Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
“I’ve heard from more than 6,000 former patients, family members, and workers across Western New York who have grave concerns over the proposed merger of Western New York Children’s Psychiatric with Buffalo’s adult psychiatric facility,” Ortt said. “Until we hear a clinical explanation for why this move is necessary and see investments made in community programs for children battling mental health issues, we should not move forward with this.”
The hearing also included testimony from New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Acting Commissioner Kerry Delaney. Senator Ortt thanked her for working with him over the past year on the state’s Transformation Panel to address significant issues, such as transportation, housing, employment, and services. He noted the true challenge will be in implementing the recommendations to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities, their families, and their providers.
“I still hear from families every day concerned about where our state is headed with these critical services,” Ortt said. “Aging parents don’t know where their disabled children will live when they’re no longer able to care for them. Hard-working individuals with disabilities worry about whether they’ll keep their jobs as the state moves to phase out sheltered workshops. And families and service providers are nearly unanimous in their frustrations with the state’s lack of answers, inadequate transparency, and burdensome regulations.”
Ortt also touched upon an additional $15 million in START funding across the state, $120 million for new OPWDD services, and transition to managed care.
Another key speaker was Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, Commissioner of Office of Substance Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Gonzalez-Sanchez discussed the state’s growing heroine epidemic and subsequent questions focused on that topic. Ortt, a co-chair of the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, discussed the need for an all-encompassing approach.
“The dangers of heroin and opioid abuse have spread to communities across our entire state, which is why it’s critical for us to listen and respond,” he said. “We need to engage individuals across the entire spectrum of this epidemic – law enforcement officials, addicts, family members, and experts in the treatment, insurance, and medical communities. This will allow us to continue our efforts to boost prevention and recovery while cracking down on drug dealers.”
In the coming weeks, Ortt said the Senate will present and pass its own budget. The State Senate and State Assembly will also hold joint committee meetings as they, along with Governor Cuomo, negotiate the final elements of the budget, which is due March 31.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 3 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
HOLLEY – Eager listeners at the Community Free Library in Holley enjoy the story of “Gretchen Groundhog: It’s Your Day” during the children’s story hour this morning.
Delia Bush-Greanier, also known as “Miss Dee” read several groundhog-related story books to the children, just a day after Groundhog’s Day.
Punxsutawney Phil, the famous Pennsylvania groundhog, did not see his shadow on Tuesday. According to Groundhog Day lore that means it will be an early spring.
Comptroller cites Holley for ‘moderate fiscal stress’
Photo by Tom Rivers – The sign in front of the Holley Elementary School lists upcoming activities at the district.
By Tom Rivers and Kristina Gabalski
The state comptroller’s office has put out its annual assessment of school district’s fiscal stress and Holley was cited at a “moderate” level.
Other districts in Orleans County didn’t have a designation, but the comptroller’s scoring system gave the districts points for either fiscal or environmental stress, in some cases both.
Holley accumulated 48.3 points for fiscal stress, the most of any one the five districts in Orleans County. Albion had the second most with 20 points.
Both districts moved money out of the general fund, drawing attention of the comptroller’s office. Holley gave money back to the taxpayers, which reduced taxes, and also paid down debt, said Sharon Zacher, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.
Holley Central School District issued a statement on its Facebook page saying, ” from a financial standpoint, the district is and continues to be in good financial condition.”
In an interview, Zacher said the district’s finances and cash flow are in good condition.
“The district chose to pay down additional debt and reduce the tax levy,” she said. “As a result, the district fund balance and reserves were significantly lowered causing the calculation for fiscal stress to rise. A portion of district reserves were moved to account for the capital project that was voter approved in December 2014.”
Albion moved money from the general fund to a capital reserve fund. District voters in May 2015 approved a $14.3 million capital project. The district has to pay a 9 percent local share, $1,286,000, and it has that money in a reserve fund.
“We transferred funds from surplus to a fund that was set up for that purpose,” Shawn Liddle, Albion’s assistant superintendent for business, told the Board of Education on Monday. “We’re well below any designation for fiscal stress.”
The comptroller’s office based its fiscal stress report on five categories for school districts: year-end fund balance, end-fund balance, operating deficits, cash position, and use of short-term debt and fixed costs.
Kendall was given a fiscal score of 6.7 percent (no designation), and Lyndonville and Medina were given a 0 percent fiscal stress score.
The comptroller’s office also scored districts on environmental stress. None of the Orleans County districts were designated, but they were assigned points in the comptroller’s indicators, including property values, enrollment, budget votes, graduation rate and free & reduced priced lunch.
Lyndonville scored the highest at 26.7 percent for environmental stress, followed by Albion at 20 percent, Kendall at 13.3 percent, and Holley and Medina both at 6.7 percent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Regular unleaded gas was selling for $1.99 a gallon today at the Crosby’s in Holley. I didn’t think I would ever see gas fall below $2 again.
In December 2014, just over a year ago, gas was selling for about $3 a gallon. In the spring 2014, the prices were closer to $4 a gallon. Prices nationally on average went over $3 per gallon in 2010 and did go below $3 until December 2014.
AAA reported on Monday that the average price for regular unleaded gas in the U.S. was $1.783, while the average price in New York was $2.054. AAA says gas prices are their lowest since January 2009.
John DeFilipps was recognized in Albany on Tuesday during the annual legislative conference for the New York State Association of Counties.
DeFilipps, a Clarendon resident, was elected to the Orleans County Legislature in November 2013, and was re-elected to another two-year term this past November.
He graduated from NYSAC’s County Government Institute, an educational program established by NYSAC in conjunction with Cornell University. The Institute provides an educational program for county elected and appointed officials, to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of county officials. The Institute allows the public officials to engage in informed, constructive and civil discussions on the current challenges they face as public servants.
“The County Government Institute’s vigorous curriculum prepares county leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the intense demands of local government leadership today,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.
DeFilipps joined the County Legislature following 12 years on the Clarendon Town Board. He owned a convenience store and gas station in Clarendon for 10 years before joining the Town Board. He worked 28 years at General Motors in Rochester before retiring about nine years ago. He also helped develop the Red Rock Ponds RV Resort in Murray.
DeFilipps is on the Orleans Economic Development Agency board and he said the agency has the county well positioned for new businesses and expansions with shovel-ready sites. DeFilipps is an at-large legislator from the east side of the county.
He said the NYSAC program improved his knowledge of government and he met people with innovative thinking.
“It has made me a more effective representative,” he said.
The Institute’s curriculum includes extensive course work on government ethics, building consensus in a political environment, principles of county budget and finance, and public sector labor/management relations. The courses are supplemented with electives, training sessions, and continuing education courses designed to support county leaders in serving their constituents to the absolute best of their ability.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photos – Joe Willis (center), pastor of the First Baptist Church, is presented a certificate of appreciation last February by Larry Montello (left), commander of the American Legion in Orleans County, and Steve Goodrich, a past county commander.
HOLLEY – Veterans and church members will gather at the First Baptist Church in Holley on Sunday to remember four chaplains who gave up their lives to save civilian and military personnel as the SS Dorchester sank on Feb. 3, 1943.
The four chaplains gave up their life jackets when they were none left for others on the ship. The chaplains sang hymns and prayed together as the ship sank.
Larry Montello, the commander of the American Legion in Orleans County, wants to keep the story alive and remind the community – 73 years later – of the sacrifice by Methodist minister the Reverend George L. Fox, Reform Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Ph.D.), Roman Catholic priest the Reverend John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America minister the Reverend Clark V. Poling. All of the chaplains attained the rank of first lieutenant.
“This is history we shouldn’t forget,” Montello said. “They laid down their life for others.”
The service will include reading the biographies of each of the chaplain, lighting candles, placing wreaths, and playing taps.
The memorial service for the four chaplains will be part of the regular 9:30 a.m. service at church on Geddes Street. The Honor Guard will be there at 9 a.m. The service is open to the community and will include refreshments after the service.
The Legion has been doing the memorial service for the chaplains for about seven years, and tries to have it in a different church in the county every year. However, the Legion is back at First Baptist in Holley because Montello said the church was so welcoming last year with a big turnout.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A barn on East County House Road in Albion is pictured on Sunday.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo is forecasting gusty winds up to 45 miles per hour tonight and through Wednesday for Orleans, and parts of central and western New York. Today is forecast for a high of 41, followed by a high of 57 on Wednesday.
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville School District and the We R 3C character education program will be featured on WXXI television at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
The “Need to Know” program, hosted by Helene Biandudi Hofer, will present We R 3C’s approach to character education. Teachers and students from the Lyndonville were interviewed in November. The piece will include segments of a We R 3C lesson.
We R 3C, Inc. presents a holistic approach to character education and development as it relates to “pro-social behavior” and bullying. The foundation of organization’s work mirrors Jean Piaget’s stages of Cognitive Development and Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development.
Specifically, the focus is on the movement from the Egocentric Stage, whereby individuals place a higher value on their own wants and needs then they do on the wants and needs of others, to the Concrete Operational Development Stage, which includes the elimination of egocentrism and allows an individual to understand another person’s perspective whether they are in agreement or not.
The core of the We R 3C curriculum promotes values, respect, kindness and compassion and recognizes the definitive responsibility of the individual to the well-being of the community and reciprocally, the community’s responsibility to the well-being of the individual.
“We R 3C is a groundbreaking way to help our students develop good habits and reinforce the strong character traits that the Lyndonville community is known for,” said Lyndonville Superintendent Jason Smith.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion firefighter James Fisher is on the Albion ladder truck while flames shoot out of the top of the house at 364 West Park St.
A chimney fire caused significant damage to the home of Brian and Debbie London. Firefighters were dispatched to the site at about 6:30 p.m. No one was injured in the fire.
The Londons are well known in Albion and they have lived in the house for about 20 years. They are well liked by their neighbors, said their next-door neighbor, Tim Lindsay. Mrs. London owns Bloom’s Flower Shop in Albion. Her husband is an electrician and a fishing guide.
Albion firefighters Charlie Monacelli, right, and James Fisher are in the ladder truck, trying to let out smoke and ventilate the attic. Several area fire departments responded to the scene.
