By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 January 2016 at 12:00 am
GAINES – The wagon in front of Tillman’s Village Inn is covered in snow in this photo taken on Thursday.
The big snowstorm hitting New York City and the Mid-Atlantic region isn’t doing much in Orleans County.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency this morning for New York City, and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange counties.
In addition to the State of Emergency, MTA bus service will suspend operation in New York City at noon today, and remain suspended until further notice, the governor announced this morning.
The storm is predicted to bring 18 to 24 inches of snow by Sunday. Heavy winds with speeds between 30 and 40 mph are expected, with gusts as high as 55 mph, contributing to whiteout conditions and power outages. Coastal flooding remains a concern along parts of Long Island.
In Orleans County, there may be an inch of snow today with a high of 23 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Sunday is forecast for a high of 31, followed by a high of 38 on Monday, and 42 on Tuesday.
The wagon by Tillman’s Village Inn is pictured with Fairhaven Treasures in back at the corner of routes 98 and 104 in Gaines.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 23 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Historical Society recognizes what is becoming a lost art
Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Winners of the 2016 Clarkson Historical Society Handwriting Contest display their certificates. Seated, from left: Emma Lenhard, Quest School in Hilton; and Carli Kirkwood, Byron-Bergen Central School. Standing, from left: Louie Conte, Kendall Central School; Aubrey Hammill, Erie, Pa. (Aubrey’s grandmother lives in Brockport); Christina Bishop, Oliver Middle School in Brockport; and Madison Marsh, Holley Central School. Not pictured: Jacey Donahue, Byron-Bergen Central School; Kennedy Jones, Holley Central School; Dakota Thompson, Holley Central School.
BROCKPORT – Orleans County students were well represented in a local cursive handwriting contest.
Students from both the Kendall Central and Holley Central School Districts were among winners honored Saturday afternoon at the Clarkson Historical Society’s Second Annual Handwriting Contest. The award ceremony was held at the restored Clarkson Academy on Rt. 104 just east of Clarkson Corners.
January 23 is John Hancock’s birthday (2016 marks his 279th) and Clarkson Historical Society President Mary Edwards explained that the national “Campaign for Cursive” group has chosen his birthday to celebrate cursive handwriting as his signature is, “the boldest on the Declaration of Independence.”
Madison Marsh, a 9th grader at Holley Jr./Sr. High School, accepts her award for second place in the High School division in the Clarkson Historical Society’s 2016 Cursive Handwriting Contest. Clarkson Historical Society President Mary Edwards looks on.
The Clarkson Historical Society holds summer camps and hosts field trips each year for local students and has emphasized teaching cursive handwriting – quickly becoming a lost art – during these events.
Edwards said Campaign for Cursive reached out to Clarkson regarding holding an event on National Handwriting Day and the cursive writing contest was born.
Winners this year include Louie Conte from Kendall Elementary School, who took second place in the 4th and 5th Grade division. Holley Central School took all three places in the High School division – First Place going to Kennedy Jones, second place going to Madison Marsh and third place going to Dakota Thompson.
Thompson and Jones were unable to attend the award ceremony due to a conflict, but will be presented with their prize on Sunday.
Winning entries were displayed at the Clarkson Academy Saturday afternoon. Those taking part had to write out the sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Students at Kendall Central and Holley Central took four of the nine awards.
Louie Conte, a student at Kendall Elementary School, accepts his cursive handwriting award from Mary Edwards, president of the Clarkson Historical Society during ceremonies at the Clarkson Academy.
Marsh, a 9th grader who lives in Clarendon, says she “loves to write in cursive,” and was inspired by her English teacher, Suzanne Lepkowski, who has a poster about cursive hanging in her classroom.
“It made me want to get into the habit of writing in cursive,” Marsh said.
Louie Conte, who lives in Kendall, said he “just started writing in cursive this year,” and he also enjoys it.
Conte was the only young man among the winners this year and Mary Edwards commended the Kendall School District for their submissions.
“Kendall is doing a really great job,” she said.
The Clarkson Historical Society received 140 entries this year and Edwards encouraged those attending to continue to work on their cursive handwriting skills.
“It’s like your fingerprint,” she said. “No one else can write exactly like you.”
She said learning how to sign your name is part of growing up and being able to sign your name in cursive “will distinguish you in the coming years. It’s a wonderful accomplishment.”
Town of Clarkson Historian Leanna Hale (left) and Clarkson Historical Society President Mary Edwards discuss the importance of cursive handwriting prior to presenting awards Saturday afternoon at the Clarkson Academy on Route 104 in Clarkson.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley says raising the minimum wage to $15, after recently hiking it from $7.25 to $9, would be “ludicrous” and damaging to the economy.
GAINES – The governor’s push to raise the minimum wage to $15 dominated the discussion at the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon on Friday.
The governor would like to implement the higher wage for New York City by 2018 and then the rest of the state by 2021.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the luncheon and she said the higher wage would lift people out of poverty and put $15 billion more into the economy.
She said the state is offering $300 million in tax credits to help offset some of their costs with the higher minimum wage.
But that isn’t a good trade for businesses, having to spend $15 billion more to get $300 million back, said Ken Pokalsky, vice president of The Business Council of New York State.
Ken Pokalsky, vice president of The Business Council of New York State
Pokalsky said New York City could better absorb the increase. The city has experienced 14 percent job growth since 2000. However, Pokalsky said upstate has only had 2 percent job growth since 2000 and Orleans County has declined by 10 percent with jobs.
“It is a very soft labor market,” he said during the Legislative Luncheon attended by about 100 people at Tillman’s Village Inn.
The state just raised the minimum wage to $9. It was $7.25 three years ago, but would more than double from $7.25 with the governor’s push.
“This is a huge problem,” Pokalsky said. “It’s an issue of real concern to us.”
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said a $15 minimum wage would force businesses to eliminate positions and not hire people looking for work.
“The real minimum wage is $0,” he said. “It’s a ludicrous proposal.”
Hawley, owner of an insurance company, said the higher minimum would force him and other people, who pay well above the current minimum wage, to also raise their pay. Hawley said the governor should let the market dictate salaries.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul stopped by the Legislative Luncheon for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce on Friday at Tillman’s Village Inn.
GAINES – New York State is making billions of dollars available for upstate infrastructure and economic development, bringing attention to a part of the state that had been largely neglected by state officials for many years, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said at an Orleans County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday.
The governor’s proposed budget includes a multi-year plan with $22 billion for upstate roads and bridges, another $750 million for economic development through the regional economic development councils, and a cap on Thruway tolls until at least 2020, with tolls eliminated for agriculture vehicles.
Hochul said Cuomo’s efforts in his five years as governor are paying off with a shrinking unemployment rate and rising job numbers. She said the unemployment rate in Orleans is down from about 9 percent to 5 percent with Cuomo as governor.
“The governor has done an amazing job,” Hochul told about 100 people at the Legislative Luncheon at Tillman’s Village Inn. “He has been making up for years of neglect.”
Orleans County has received some of the funding through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council. Municipalities, businesses and organizations apply for the funds, with the council directing dollars to projects that will create and retain jobs.
Albion and Holley have both received grants through the NY Main Street program, and Medina was just approved for that grant.
The latest announcement in December included $600,000 to the Orleans Economic Development Agency for a new building in the Medina Business Park; $335,000 in a Main Street NY grant for Medina; $220,000 grant for Bent’s Opera House stabilization, facade improvements, asbestos abatement and interior renovations at the three-story building in Medina; $200,000 to the Orleans EDA for microenterprise support; $126,210 for the chapel restoration at Hillside Cemetery in Holley; $40,000 for the Kendall-Yates-Carlton Local Waterfront Revitalization Program; $36,000 to Orleans County for a law enforcement shared service and efficiency study.
The state also approved $1.5 billion in an Upstate Revitalization Initiative with three regions getting $500 million. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes region which was awarded $500 million last month.
Hochul said the funds will create many economic development opportunities for businesses and communities.
“The $500 million is a once-in-a-lifetime grant,” Hochul said.
She likes the governor’s approach, where regions need to develop plans for economic growth.
“The old way there was a pot of money that went to those who were politically connected,” she said.
She highlighted other parts of the 2016-17 proposed budget from the governor:
An increase in the Environmental Protection Fund from $177 million to $300 million;
An overall state budget that limits the budget to an increase of 1.7 percent;
$250 million in support for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the state, predominantly in upstate;
$500 million to dramatically expand and improve access to high-speed Internet in communities statewide;
$200 million to revitalize upstate airports;
$100 million for downtown revitalization, funds that would be available to villages and not just cities, Hochul said.
“It’s ambitious,” she said about the governor’s budget. “The governor views no challenge is too great. He’s not afraid to challenge the status quo.”
Hochul arrived at 1:30 p.m. for the Legislative Luncheon and went through a PowerPoint presentation on the governor’s budget. She missed comments from State Sen. Robert Ortt and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who said the governor and state Legislature need to direct more dollars to upstate projects and communities.
Hawley said many of the big projects announced in the governor’s budget were directed at New York City, including a new airport to replace LaGuardia, a $3 billion transformation of Penn Station, and a redeveloped Javits Convention Center at an estimated $1 billion.
“Pieces get thrown out all the time by downstaters,” Hawley said. “But the bridges on the canal, where’s the money? The Lake Ontario State Parkway, where’s the money?”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2016 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke at Hoag Library on Feb. 18, 2015, touting a $500 million plan to expand broadband Internet access throughout the state. The expanded broadband was part of the governor’s budget proposal and “Opportunity Agenda” a year ago.Hochul visited all 62 counties in the state last year.
GAINES – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will have its annual “Legislative Luncheon” today, and is expected to be joined by New York’s lieutenant governor.
Kathy Hochul is scheduled to address the Chamber crowd at 1:30 at Tillman’s Village Inn. Hochul will be the highest-ranking state official to address the Legislative Luncheon, which goes back about 20 years.
Hochul plans to outline Gov. Cuomo’s 2016 State of the State Agenda. Hochul has been highlighting that plan in stops around the state.
She is a familiar face in Orleans County after representing the area in Congress until being defeated by Chris Collins.
The luncheon is also scheduled to include remarks from State Sen. Rob Ortt, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Orleans County Vice Chairwoman Lynne Johnson and a representative from the Business Council of New York State.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is promoting Samantha Roskowski, left, from administrative assistant to executive director. She is pictured with Kathy Blackburn, the executive director the past three years. Blackburn will stay on with the Chamber as director of special projects, managing grants for the organization.
GAINES – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will have a new executive director on Feb. 1. Samantha Roskowski has already proven to be dedicated to the organization with an attention to detail and commitment to many programs, said the outgoing executive director, Kathy Blackburn.
Roskowski has been working as administrative assistant for the Chamber the past 2 ½ years. She has stepped up in many roles for the organization as its lone full-time employee.
“She has taken on one job after another,” Blackburn said after today’s Legislative Luncheon at Tillman’s Village Inn. Roskowski was the main organizer of the event, coordinating with elected officials, including staff for Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Blackburn was praised for leading the Chamber the past three years. It was supposed to be an interim assignment for about 6 months but Blackburn stayed, helping the Chamber administer a facade grant program for houses and businesses in Medina.
She will stay on as special projects director, managing that $100,000 grant program this year as well as a $335,000 NY Main Street grant awarded to downtown Medina for renovation of mixed-use buildings.
“The Chamber is a lot healthier now than when she came on as executive director,” Cindy Robinson, former board president, said about Blackburn.
The Chamber has about 200 members, and Roskowski said she wants to grow the membership to 250 to 300 members.
More members would give the Chamber more clout and resources to promote local businesses, and organize seminars and other special events on their behalf, Roskowski said.
Blackburn said the Chamber could also be stronger if the county government provided some funding and if it allowed the tourism department to work out of the Chamber.
“We would like to have tourism out of our office,” Blackburn. “We could work in conjunction. We are one of the few Chambers without government backing or tourism promotion.”
The Chamber’s next big event is the Home and Garden Show on April 16-17.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Senate leader picks Randy Atwater, president of Barker Central School, for board reviewing Lighthouse Wind
YATES – One of the two local residents who will serve on siting board for the wind turbine project in Yates and Somerset has been named.
Randy Atwater, president of the Barker Board of Education, was appointed by John Flanagan, majority leader of the State Senate.
However, the other local resident was to be named by Carl Heastie, speaker of the State Assembly. But Heastie didn’t act on the matter, an “abdication of his duties,” said State Sen. Robert Ortt.
It will now fall on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to pick someone for the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment. That board will review the proposed Lighthouse Wind project, which includes up to 71 wind turbines in Yates and Somerset.
“The speaker of the Assembly chose not to do his job,” Ortt said today following a Legislative Luncheon at Tillman’s Village Inn.
Flanagan was charged with picking one of the members, based on four submitted names from Ortt. The local state senator passed along four names of people nominated by Niagara County officials and Somerset Town Supervisor Dan Englert.
Besides Atwater, Cathie Orr, Thomas Staples and Robert Damon were nominated. Orr has been one of the proposed wind project’s loudest critics.
The Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment includes five state officials and two people from the local project area. State Assemblyman Steve Hawley passed along to Heastie four names of people from Yates who were submitted by Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard, and John Belson, the Yates town supervisor until Jan. 1.
The four nominated from Yates include Russell Martino, Cynthia Hellert, Glenn Maid and Jeffrey Oakes.
Hawley said he called Heastie’s office several times to press him to name one of the board’s members, but Heastie didn’t act before the deadline.
Hawley and Ortt have been critical of the loss of “home rule” on the project, with the final decision on land use made by the state instead of a local board. As part of a new Article 10 process, the decision for siting large-scale energy projects in New York rests with the Siting Board.
The five state representatives include the chairman of the Department of Public Service, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, commissioner of the Department of Health, chairman of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the commissioner of Economic Development.
“I’m against this process,” Ortt said today.
The Siting Board wouldn’t be officially convened until Apex Clean Energy submits a final application for the project in Yates and Somerset. Company officials say they are working to submit that application this summer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Ashley Ward – This photo, taken approximately in 1983 during the Lyndonville Fourth of July Parade, shows Ashley Ward’s grandson Alan with a 13-foot-long fiberglass salmon.
MEDINA – Orleans County’s biggest fish is making a comeback.
A 13-foot-long fiberglass salmon used to be in parades in the 1980s, promoting the Orleans County Fishing Derby. Al Capurso acquired the giant fish on a trailer and parked it by the Bait Barn on Route 279 in Gaines.
The fish was there for about 25 years. Capurso has given the fish back to promote the fishery in the community.
File photo by Tom Rivers – Here’s how the fish looked in 2013 when it was by the Bait Barn.
Medina students led by teacher Todd Eick are working to restore the fish to its original luster. The fish had been painted reddish brown with the words “Go Fish.”
Students will paint the fish a shiny silver, refurbish the fiberglass and put in on a new mount. The county’s sportsfishing promotion department is buying a new trailer so the fish can be taken in parades and moved around the county, said Mike Waterhouse, the county’s sportsfishing promotion coordinator.
Money from the World Fishing Network, which named Point Breeze the “Ultimate Fishing Town” in 2013, will be used towards the project.
“We’ll get it done and get it up to snuff,” Waterhouse said.
However, the fish might not be ready until 2017, or it may make its new debut this year.
The fish was originally used to promote the Orleans County Fishing Derby. It was created by Chuck Wind of the Medina Rotary Club, said Ashley Ward, a long-time coordinator and volunteer for the derby.
The Medina, Holley and Albion Rotary clubs used to work together running the fishing derby. The Albion Rotary Club has been running the derby each August since 1984.
This year’s derby will be from Aug. 6-21. There are usually about 700 entrants with grand prize $4,000 for the biggest fish. For more on the derby, click here.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 21 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Sixth-grade members of the Kendall Elementary School Student Council stand behind their new “Buddy Bench” as they explain its meaning and function to members of the Kendall Central School Board Wednesday evening at Kendall Jr./Sr. High School.
KENDALL – Sixth-grade members of the Kendall Elementary School Student Council presented a new “Buddy Bench” to Board of Education members during their meeting on Wednesday.
The new bench will be a place for students to sit who are looking for a friend.
“The Buddy Bench is for children feeling lonely or sad, or who want to make new friends,” the students explained.
Student Sara Mattle even wrote a poem about the project which was inspired by Christian Bucks, a second grader in Pennsylvania:
“We made it with some tools, some screws and a wrench.
So when you’re feeling lonely, you can have a seat on the buddy bench.
And then a friend will come, and ask you to play.
Then you and that new friend will have fun all day!”
Advisors Amy Leone and Vicki Spurr assisted the students with the project.
“The teachers talked about it and presented the idea to (Principal) Sharon Smith and (Superintendent) Julie Christensen,” Spurr said. “We felt it was something we needed.”
The bench is painted in a bright and welcoming shade of red and will be located on the elementary school playground. It will be installed in the spring.
“Thank you for all the work you have done,” Superintendent Christensen told the students.
The Buddy Bench will be dedicated with a plaque in memory of the father of Principal Sharon Smith, who said the students are already working to raise funds for a second Buddy Bench.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Judges say Lighthouse Wind PSS not deficient
Photos by Tom Rivers – Three administrative law judges met at the Barker Fire Hall today to decide some issues with the proposed Lighthouse Wind project. The judges include, from left: David R. Van Ort and Sean Mullany of the Department of Public Service, and Richard A. Sherman from the Department of Environmental Conservation.
BARKER Three judges decided today that Apex Clean Energy wasn’t deficient in its preliminary scoping statement filed Nov. 23 and subject to hundreds of comments.
Somerset, Yates and Save Ontario Shores leaders have been among the critics of the PSS from Apex, saying the company didn’t provide specifics on the size of wind turbines, the exact locations and the turbine manufacturer.
The judges said the PSS wasn’t intended to have “precise” information, but instead to begin the public engagement process. The sizes, locations and other issues can be addressed if the application moves forward, the judges said.
Dan Spitzer, an attorney for the Town of Yates, said the town and residents are hampered in offering a meaningful critique and assessment of the PSS with so many unanswered questions.
Apex wants to build up to 71 wind turbines in Somerset and Yates that could be up to 620 feet high.
Yates and Somerset are among the parties that asked the PSS start over with Apex being forced to provide more details. But the judges denied that request today during a meeting in the Barker Fire Hall. The judges include David R. Van Ort and Sean Mullany of the Department of Public Service, and Richard A. Sherman from the Department of Environmental Conservation.
James Muscato, attorney for Apex Clean Energy, said the company is working to provide “robust” answers to questions about the project.
The trio of judges also made a decision on how to divvy up $70,350 in intervenor funds. That is money provided by Apex for municipalities and citizens groups to review the PSS. State law requires the company to provide $350 in funds for every proposed megawatt. Apex is proposing a 201-megawatt project.
The judges asked attorneys for Somerset, Yates and Save Ontario Shores to explain their estimates for expenses. The three entities identified about $140,000 in expenses, however there was only $70,350 from Apex for the review.
The judges met behind closed doors for about 20 minutes to determine how to split up the funds.
“There is just not enough money to go around, so obviously we’re going to have to make adjustments,” said David Van Ort, one of the judges.
Somerset will get the most: $40,350, followed by $20,500 for Yates, and $9,500 for Save Ontario Shores.
Van Ort told the three groups to work together to get the “biggest bang for the buck.” He also said attorneys could reduce some of their costs for postage and printing by using electronic mail.
Somerset officials identified up to $95,550 for reviewing the initial Preliminary Scoping Statement. That includes the expense of attorneys, engineers, an ornithologist to study the impact on wildlife, an expert on raptor migration to study the impact on wildlife, a real estate valuation advisor to study the potential impact on real estate values, and an audiologist to study the potential adverse health effects caused by the proposed project.
Attorneys and representatives for Yates, Somerset and Save Ontario Shores meet in the Barker Fire Hall after today’s meeting. Dan Spitzer, an attorney for Yates, is in center facing camera.
Yates identified $26,381.25 in costs for legal and engineering services, and Save Ontario Shores sought $19,430 to focus on acoustics, electrical issues, viable alternatives, water resources, biodiversity, and wildlife impacts. SOS has hired environmental attorney Gary Abraham.
Even though the judges approved the intervenor funding today, Van Ort said the two towns and SOS will need to submit bills with an explanation of the services provided. Each disbursement will be subject to review and approval by the judges.
Apex has until Feb. 11 to respond to “several hundred” comments on the PSS. After those responses, Apex officials said they look forward to more formal conversations about the project with the community and state agencies, said Taylor Quarles, development manager for Lighthouse Wind.
Jim Muscato, an attorney for Apex, told the judges and about 100 people at today’s meeting that the company is working to address the comments on the PSS.
“We want to provide full and robust and meaningful responses,” he said.
