Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Ella Trupo is the Fairy Godmother and D Johnson is the coachman in Albion High School Drama Department’s production of Cinderella on Friday night. There are two more shows today at noon and 7 p.m. in the Middle School Auditorium.

In this scene, the Fairy Godmother uses her magic to transform a pumpkin into a carriage. She sings, “It’s Possible.” The Fairy Godmother also used magic to turn small animals into horses to pull the carriage and transformed Cinderella’s dress into an elegant gown for the Prince’s Ball.

The production caps off a busy season of school musicals in Orleans County. All five districts performed full-length shows in the past two weeks.

Mallory Kozody is Cinderella and Zack Baron is Prince Christopher. They dance at the ball. Christopher reluctantly participated in the ball, not expecting to fall in love. But he feels a romantic connection with Cinderella.

Kozody and Baron are both seniors and have been in the Albion musicals since middle school.

Cinderella’s mean stepsisters are played by Mallory Ashbery, left, as Grace and Julia Button as Joy. Grace is pulling Joy’s hair. Grace is often itching her arms and Joy has a very obnoxious laugh. They are shown singing “Stepsisters’ Lament.” They are both jealous watching the prince dance with a beautiful, but oddly familiar girl.

Sawyer Brigham plays Lionel and has big news to share with the villagers: the prince is giving a ball. Lionel is the servant of Prince Christopher and his parents, King Maximilian and Queen Constantina.

Al Hand is Queen Constantina and unleashes a long scroll of invited guests for the prince’s ball, which the prince (Zack Baron) is not happy about. He agrees to attend only if his parents then let him pursue love on his own terms. Gideon Pask, left, is King Maximilian.

Mallory Kozody spins as Cinderella’s rags and transformed into a sparkling gown.

Phoebe Allen plays Stepmother who has a crush on Lionel, who heads throughout the kingdom with a glass slipper after Cinderella bolted at the ball after the clock struck midnight. After the Stepsisters’ feet didn’t fit the slipper, Stepmother wanted to try.

‘Rather than eliminating fluoridation, addressing the pressing dental care shortage should be the community’s priority’

ALBION – Oak Orchard Health has issued a statement urging the Village of Albion to keep fluoride in the public water supply.

“Oak Orchard Health expresses significant concern regarding Albion’s potential decision to discontinue community water fluoridation, which directly affects 15,000 residents,” Oak Orchard said in the statement. “With Orleans County already experiencing a critical dental care shortage and located in what is called a ‘dental desert’ – only one dentist is available for every 4,370 people – many individuals, particularly those who are underinsured, are left without essential dental services.”

The Village Board is having a public hearing at 6 p.m. today about discontinuing fluoride. The Albion water treatment plant provides water for about 15,000 people in the Village of Albion, and towns of Carlton, Gaines, Murray, Albion and Barre.

“Water fluoridation has been proven to reduce dental decay by more than 25% and remains a highly cost-effective preventive solution,” Oak Orchard said. “Recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the top ten public health achievements of the 20th century, its removal could exacerbate oral health inequities. Rather than eliminating fluoridation, addressing the pressing dental care shortage should be the community’s priority.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Meleana Mengs played the role of Flounder, an eccentric seagull, in the Albion Middle School production of Little Mermaid on March 14-15. Flounder is singing “Positoovity.”

The high school will be doing Cinderella on with shows at 7 p.m. on Friday, and noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Sophie Kozody is in the role of Ariel, a mermaid princess, and a group of seagulls help her to get her balance after she turns into a human. The seagulls include Meleana Mengs, Emmaline Gailie, Olivia Bruski, Zyann Pore, Maci Conn and Nadalee Ryan.

Tatiana Morales plays Ursula, the a villainous sea witch who offers Ariel, her niece, the chance to become human for three days. She will need to win the kiss of her true love Eric, and then she can stay human. If she fails, Ursula gets her soul. During the three days, Ariel won’t be able to use her voice. Ursula sings, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

Sophie Kozody as Ariel agrees to the deal with Ursula and signs the agreement.

Annabella Dusham plays the role of Sebastian, a red Jamaican crab and a servant of King Triton. Sebastian’s main song is “Under the Sea.”

Brian Kozody, the associate director and husband of director Carrie Kozody, played Chef Louie. The production had a shortage of male performers and Mr. Kozody and also teacher Bruce Pritchett took on roles. Mrs. Kozody said she hoped their performances would encourage more boys to be in the musicals.

Louie is preparing a meal for Prince Eric (at right, played by John Vivas) and his advisor, Grimsby (played by Adelynn Hawkins). Eric and Ariel meet and have a romantic connection.

Bruce Pritchett as King Triton is angered when he learns his daughter has been on the surface of the water and reprimand her. He thinks humans are only savage fish-eaters.

Nicole Loney plays the role of Flounder, center, who is Ariel’s best friend. Flounder, a tropical fish, regularly embarks on adventures despite a cowardly demeanor.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board will have a hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday on discontinuing flouride in the public water supply.

The hearing will be in the board room at the Village Office, 35 East Bank St.

“After reviewing various studies and multiple sources of information, the Village of Albion has decided to begin the process of eliminating the addition of fluoride into the drinking water supply, due to the number and severity of risks associated,” the village posted in a notice.

The Albion water treatment plant provides water for about 15,000 people in the Village of Albion, and towns of Carlton, Gaines, Murray, Albion and Barre.

The village recently had a new building constructed to more safely store fluoride. The village started adding fluoride to the water again in 2024 after a 2 ½-year break while waiting for the new building.

The American Dental Association backs having fluoride in water because fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by rebuild and strengthening the tooth’s surface or enamel.

Amy Sidari has owned Albion dance studio for 28 years

Photo by Tom Rivers: Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, was an enthusiastic participant in the Albion Strawberry Festival Parade on June 10, 2023.

ALBION – Amy Sidari will take a final bow on April 5 as owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy in Albion.

Sidari has owned Gotta Dance for 28 years, turning the site on 28 West Bank St. into an entertainment hub with dance and piano classes, and cabaret shows and other live entertainment.

Photo by Bruce Landis: Amy Sidari is grateful for teaching dance locally for 38 years, including 28 years as owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy.

Sidari wants to be more available for her grandchildren and other family members. She said Gotta Dance has been very rewarding, but also all-consuming.

“I am grateful I was able to give as much as I could to the community I love,” Sidari said. “Hopefully, I have impacted them in some way.”

The Cabaret at Studio B will operate through this summer for shows that are already scheduled.

The business is for sale and she is hopeful someone will step forward to continue the site for dance or other entertainment to benefit the community.

“My prayer is for a ready, willing, and able buyer who will serve the community I love,” Sidari said.

The final recitals for Gotta Dance with be in the middle school auditorium on April 5 at noon and 6 p.m.

“I personally thank you for the opportunity to work with your family and to love each of you,” Sidari wrote in a letter to her dance families. “Our studio has proven to be more than a business, it is a community unto itself.  Think back to all the opportunities to learn and grow we have been given. Reminisce about our many cabaret shows that have brought laughter and exceptional entertainment to our community. Always remember the lesson of being a good neighbor shown many times over and over in the benefit variety shows we performed to help those in need. Yes, we have accomplished much on this journey.  I cannot wait to see what you will achieve in the next chapter! God bless each of you!”

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library is seeking community-minded individuals to fill two open positions on the library’s board of trustees. The elections will take place on Monday, May 5, with the annual meeting to follow at 7 p.m.

To be eligible, candidates must reside within the Hoag Library service area (Albion Central School District). The available positions are for a four-year term and a two-year term to fill a vacancy.

Petitions and instructions are available at the library’s Circulation Desk during regular business hours. Completed petitions are due by Monday, April 7, at 7 p.m.

Hoag Library encourages individuals with a passion for public service, education, and community engagement to consider this rewarding opportunity.

For more information, please contact Hoag Library at (585) 589-4246 or visit the library.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Teanna Church of Holley heads to the finish line ahead of Barbara Sauer of Buffalo in today’s Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K.

They were among 75 finishers in a race that is in memory of an Albion elementary music teacher who passed away at age 36 from colon cancer on March 26, 2014.

Laura Strutz served as the announcer after the race when the awards were handed out for the top three overall in male and female, and the top three in each age group. The cafeteria in the elementary school hosted the awarded event, which included refreshments.

Strutz urged men to get checked for colon cancer if they are 45 or older, or 40 or older if they have a family history with colon cancer.

Wolfpack Multisport organizes the race in Albion and also will be doing the Strawberry Festival 5K and 8K on June 14. Wolfpack organizes about 20 events in the Rochester and Syracuse areas.

Lindon Morici won the award for fastest female int he 5K and her two daughters were the top two finishers in the fun run. Morici is shown with daughters Winter, 6, at left, and Summer, age 9.

Screenshot

Medina firefighter Adam Fisher, left, heads towards the finish. Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson, right in a photo looking through a tree, also completed the course that is slightly longer than a 5K at 3.17 miles.

The distance symbolizes the 3 months and 17 days Burlison lived from when he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer until his death on March 26, 2014.

The top three male finishers include, from left: Jose Miguel Silva, winner in 18:19; Brad Kingdollar of Clarendon, third in 20:39; and Joe Silliman of West Seneca, second in 20:06.

Wayne Burlison’s wife Lisa addresses the runners at the start of the race. “He was an incredible man of integrity, faith and perseverance who loved Jesus, family, music and running,” she said about Wayne. Burlison’s son Adam completed the course today.

She is recently remarried to Tom Wink, left. Bert Gallmon, Wolfpack Mulitsports owner, is at right. Mrs. Wink and Gallmon both urged people to get checked for colon cancer.

Proceeds from the race help continue a scholarship in Burlison’s name that goes to a graduating senior with a passion for the arts, who demonstrates perseverance and overcame challenges.

Sponsors for today’s race included Silsby Family Dental, Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals, Albion Agencies Insurance, and Dubby’s Tailgate.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library in Albion, holds one of the buttons that were given away today on the 125^th anniversary of the library opening.

Albion’s public library was called Swan Library from 1900 to 2012, and then became Hoag Library when the new library opened at 134 South Main St.., increasing the size from 6,000 square feet to 14,600.

The first library was chartered by the state on Dec. 21, 1899. Swan Library opened March 17, 1900 in a former mansion on 4 North Main St. The library was named for its benefactor, William G. Swan.

The new library that opened in July 2012 was named for Albion native Maurice “Mo” Hoag and his wife Courtenay who gave $1 million towards the library, which is legally the Hoag Library of the Swan Library Association.

Library staff meet two young patrons by the ox statue which is on display as part of Orleans County bicentennial this year. Brothers Mikey Madison, 11, in blue shirt and Timmy Madison, 8, were happy to try some of the cookies given out for the library birthday. The treats were compliments of the Friends of Hoag Library. The library also had a contest to guess the jelly beans in the container held by Mikey.

The staff pictured include, from left: Michael Magnuson, Adult Services librarian; Betty Sue Miller, director; and Elizabeth Haibach, assistant director.

“For 125 years, we’ve been a cornerstone of the community — a place for stories, learning, and connection,” the library posted on its social media accounts. “From books to programs, local history to friendly faces, we’ve grown alongside Albion, and we couldn’t have done it without you!”

30 of 42 prisons reopen for legal visits today

File photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans Correctional Facility, a medium security men’s prison on Gaines Basin Road in Albion, will resume legal visits inmates today.

ALBION – The state is resuming legal visits at 30 of the 42 prisons beginning today. That is the first time for legal visits after a strike at the prisons started about a month ago.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision declared the strike over a week ago, and said 2,000 corrections officers had been fired after not reporting to work on the March 10 deadline.

The strike started on Feb. 17 at Elmira and Collins, and by the next day spread to most of the other prisons, including Albion and Orleans.

DOCCS said legal visitations for incarcerated people and their attorneys returns today at Orleans, Wyoming, Wende, Attica, Collins and 30 prisons in all.

Albion Correctional, a women’s prison, is listed to reopen for legal visits in the next 1 to 2 weeks but a specific date is to be determined. Albion is among nine prisons to have legal visits resuming in 1 to 2 weeks. Three prisons – Bare Hill, Sing Sing and Upstate – are “indeterminate” for when visits will resume.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kyler Preston steers the Batavia Pedal Party down Main Street in Albion for the Sip N’ Stroll. The pedal bar and a bus helped move people to the 15 stops at the event, where registration was at Dubby’s Tailgate and many of the stops were in the downtown.

The Albion Merchants Association organized the event and sold 362 tickets. There was a big increase in men attending the event. Organizers tried to expand the offerings from more than wine to cater to the men. There were also tastings of ciders, beers, meads and other drinks.

Christin Cady pours wine from Lake Ontario Winery and Cidery which is based in Hilton and Webster. She was set up at Brushstrokes Studios.

The crowd makes its way into Brushstrokes to sample some of the alcoholic beverages.

This family from Albion attended the Sip N’ Stroll together. They are pictured at 39 Problems. Pictured from left includes Thomas St. Pierre Jr., Brooke St. Pierre, Ashleigh Barnard, Richard Barnard III and Edwina St. Pierre.

Circle B Winery in Elba served fruit wines at Arnold’s Auto Parts. From left include Circle B staff member Ashley Roesch and co-owner Ingrid Bowen. The winery has been in business for six years has 22 varieties with no sugar added. From right include two friends from Medina, Sandy Thaine and Loretta Smith. They said they enjoy trying the different wines at the Sip N’ Stroll each year.

These retired Holley teachers and coaches, Dan Goodwin (right) and John Grillo, try wine inside the Downtown Browsery. It was served by Riley Kibler of Main Street Winery in Arcade.

These friends, many of whom are in a zumba class together, met up for the Sip N’ Stroll. They are shown inside Tinsel and the Lockstone. From left include Mollie Radzinski, Maggie Martin, Tina Neal, Heidi Peterson, Brenda Griffin, Angie Wolfe, Julie Sanford and Carolyn Williams.

They group said the tasting event showcases many of the businesses in the downtown while giving friends a fun outing together.

“We have a lot of nice spots,” Wolfe said the businesses.

The group hopped on the pedal bar after the stop at Tinsel and then crossed the bridge over the canal.

Vendors, sponsors welcome to be part of festival on June 13-14

Photo by Tom Rivers: Panek’s Pickin’ Patch and the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council are shown at last year’s Strawberry Festival parade on June 8. The event had a theme, “Out of this World,” to help celebrate the solar eclipse and northern lights phenomenon. This year theme will be, “Celebrating 200 years along the Erie Canal.”

ALBION – The 37^th annual Albion Strawberry Festival on June 13-14 is embracing a bicentennial theme for the Erie Canal and Orleans County.

The canal was completed from end to end in 1825, going 363 miles from Buffalo to Albany following eight years of construction. The canal transformed New York into the empire state and brining lots of commerce to Orleans County, especially the first century of the canal.

Orleans County also was established in 1825, when the county split off from Genesee.

The upcoming Strawberry Festival has a theme, “Celebrating 200 years along the Erie Canal.” Becky Karls, the coordinator of the festival committee, said that theme also celebrates 200 years of the Erie Canal, Orleans County, the Presbyterian Church which marked 200 years in Albion last year, and other local municipalities and organizations that have reached that milestone.

She encourages parade participants and arts and crafts vendors to tie into the theme if possible.

Karls said she is excited for some new changes in the festival, as well as the return of many popular mainstays.

New to the festival will be the Shriner mini cars in the parade at 10 a.m. on June 14. There will be expanded kids’ activities in the Family Fun Center, as well as more food vendors, Karls said.

The trackless train also will be back after missing last year’s Strawberry Festival. There will be several musical acts, a car cruise-in, the 5K/8K race, big parade, turtle race and many other events, Karls said.

“I think it’s going to be spectacular,” she said.

The website for the festival has online applications for vendors and sponsors.

Karls said the festival has an active committee working on the event. The committee leaders include Mark Johnson, Business/Information/Raffle vendors; Trevor Thaine, Craft/Artisan/Farm Market vendors; Mike Bonnewell, Parade participants; Jeff Holler, Food Booth vendors; Taryn Moyle, Family Fun Center; Bill Pileggi, Music/Bands Festival performers; Val Pettit, School Royalty/Artwork; and Becky Karls, Turtle Race Tickets/Car Cruise In/Other Info–Festival Chairperson.

Their contact information is on the festival website.

Karls also announced the committee picked Tom Rivers to the grand marshal of the parade for his nearly 30 years of covering the local news as a reporter/editor and also for leading the effort to have a monument built last year for the 15 victims of the 1859 bridge collapse in Albion.

ALBION – The Keitel Road underpass in Albion will be closed to traffic for about a month for work on the concrete walls, Albion Highway Superintendent Michael Neidert said today.

Genesee Valley Transportation Company owns the bridge. It rebuilt the concrete walls on the Butts Road underpass in 2019.

GVT will start work next week on the Keitel Road underpass to rehab the concrete. Neidert advised north/south traffic to instead use Densmore Road.

‘Today, we can finally say this work stoppage is over and move forward towards making our prisons safer for all, supporting our correctional staff, and recruiting the correction officers of the future.’

Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans Correctional Facility is shown on Feb. 28. Corrections officers went on strike at Orleans, the Albion Correctional Facility and nearly all of the 42 prisons in the state.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today provided an update on the future of New York State’s correctional system following the end of the 22-day illegal work stoppage, creating a path to recover, recruit and rebuild the system moving forward.

The end of the strike follows four attempts at an agreement between DOCCS and NYSCOPBA that seriously addressed concerns regarding safety and compensation. More than 10,000 security personnel are currently working at correctional facilities at this time, answering the call of duty to protect their colleagues, their communities and the individuals in their custody.

Over 6,000 National Guard servicemembers continue to be deployed to maintain safety and security alongside the security and civilian staff. The Governor also signed an executive order barring the hiring into State service of individuals who are participating in the wildcat strike.

“My top priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers — and I have been working around-the-clock to end this illegal work stoppage and restore safety in our correctional system,” Governor Hochul said. “We have taken unprecedented steps to protect public safety, and I am grateful to the National Guard and DOCCS personnel who stayed on the job, going above and beyond to protect their fellow New Yorkers. Today, we can finally say this work stoppage is over and move forward towards making our prisons safer for all, supporting our correctional staff, and recruiting the correction officers of the future.”

When the illegal walkout began, Governor Hochul deployed significant public safety resources to ensure the safety of civilian DOCCS personnel, Correction Officers who remain on the job, the incarcerated population and the surrounding community. The Governor mobilized more than 6,000 National Guard servicemembers across the State to staff prison facilities and authorized additional compensation for National Guard in recognition of their critical work.

On Saturday, DOCCS and NYSCOPBA reached the fourth and final agreement to end the illegal walkout. Despite not meeting the 85 percent return threshold, the State is recognizing components of this agreement as well as the March 6th agreement in full. Components of the agreements that the State will honor include:

• Allowing the Commissioner of DOCCS to exercise his existing discretion under the HALT Act and continue the temporary suspension of the programming elements of the HALT Act for 90 days from the date of the MOA.
• Minimizing and working towards eliminating 24-hour mandatory overtime.
• Establishing a committee to analyze each facility’s staffing and operational inefficiencies with the goal of providing more relief to existing staff.
• DOCCS shall not issue notices of discipline under the collective bargaining agreement for an employee who engaged in the strike so long as the employee returned to work by the deadline.
• Reiterating rescission of the 70/30 memo.
• Immediately reinstating the health insurance of any returning employee.
• Continue to pay the 2.5 times overtime rate originally established by mutual agreement on February 20, 2025, for 30 days from the date of the MOA.
• Allowing employees to purchase health insurance covering the full State share and employee share to the first day of AWOL/terminated health insurance.
• Establishing a committee comprised of representatives of NYSCOPВА and DOCCS and other parties to present recommendations to the New York State Legislature regarding changes to the HALT Act.

Any employee who did not report to work yesterday will be terminated, with about 2,000 termination notices going out. Governor Hochul also signed an Executive Order establishing a policy barring the hiring into State service of individuals who are participating in the wildcat strike and recommending their removal from the Central Registry of Police and Peace Officers for cause, which would prevent them from being hired as a Police or Peace Officer in state and local jurisdictions.

Attention now turns to the future to support staff at correctional facilities and recruiting the correction officers of the future. New York continues to expand efforts to increase recruitment and hiring of new correction officers. This includes:

• Supporting correction officer trainees at New York’s Correction Officer Academy
• Introducing Article 7 language in this year’s Executive Budget to amend the public officers law, in relation to residency requirements for certain positions as a correction officer, allowing recruiting from other states which would greatly expand the number of potential applicants.
• DOCCS has contracted with OGS Media Services on a large-scale social media recruitment campaign that includes a multi-channel approach including social media, multicultural digital, streaming audio, video and static ads to better familiarize the public on DOCCS mission. The campaign went live in February 2025 targeting upstate NY community college campuses and military bases.
• DOCCS Statewide Recruitment Unit has been running Recruitment Centers in various locations and currently is operating Recruitment Centers in the Destiny USA mall (Syracuse) and Champlain Centre mall (Plattsburgh).
• DOCCS launched an advanced placement initiative to attract applicants with Correction Officer experience into our Correction Officer ranks at a pay rate commensurate to their experience.
• In February 2025, the DOCCS Recruitment Unit collectively attended a total of 157 career fair and table events across colleges, high schools and community events.
• In July 2024, the Department launched “CNY200”, a regional hiring incentive promoting direct placement of Correction officer recruits to vacancies – a program that has been expanded to eight counties.
• The DOCCS recruitment team launched a new initiative to increase DOCCS applications into the NYS HELPs program, by collecting electronic resumes at career and community events and disseminating them to the facilities in their regions.

2,000 COs who remain on strike terminated

Jackie Bray (left), commissioner of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello speak during an online news conference this evening.

ALBANY – A three-week strike among corrections officers in state prisons is over, the commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner announced this evening.

Daniel Martuscello, the DOCCS commissioner, said 10,000 security staff – corrections officers and sergeants – are on the job today. That compares with 13,500 the day before the strike started. Martuscello said 2,000 COs have been terminated. They had until 6:45 a.m. today to report to work.

“The strike is over,” Martuscello said in an online news conference this evening. “After 22 days of this illegal strike, the governor and I are happy to report it is now ended.”

Martuscello and Gov. Kathy Hochul set a threshold for 85 percent of the workforce to report to duty today to meet conditions of a memorandum of understanding. The workforce is below the 85 percent, but Martuscello said he and Hochul will agree to the terms of that agreement.

“It’s time to recover, rebuild and recruit,” he said.

Some of the terms include a committee to review the HALT Act, which focuses on dealing with inmates in solitary confinement. The striking officers wanted the HALT Act rescinded, saying it has made prisons far less safe for staff and incarcerated people. The HALT Act has made it more difficult to punish inmates for breaking prison rules and harming staff and other incarcerated people, striking COs said.

The committee will include representations of the COs’ union, DOCCS and other parties and will make recommendations to the State Legislature about the HALT Act – Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act.

The HALT Act will be suspended for the next 90 days for programs within the prison, Martuscello said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Many of the corrections officers and sergeants were on strike at Orleans Correctional Facility and Albion Correctional Facility. These signs shown Feb. 28 outside the Orleans Correctional Facility stated the COs’ displeasure with the working conditions and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

DOCCS also will commit to 12-hour shifts as it works to rebuild staffing. Corrections officers on strike said there was too much mandated overtime, with some officers required to work 16 to 24 hours. The goal is to avoid 24-hour shifts, Martuscello said. Officers will be paid an additional $100 if they volunteer to work overtime on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

COs and sergeants will be paid a 2.5 overtime for 30 days from March 6.

DOCCS will be working on a better system to screen mail for contraband.

Officers and sergeants who returned to work by today’s deadline will not face discipline for being on strike. Because of the Taylor Law, the staff were not legally allowed to go on strike.

The commissioner thanked the 6,000 National Guard members for their work in the prisons during the strike. They will continue in a “security posture” and will be drawn down as staff return to work.

DOCCS will launch an ambitious recruiting effort. Part of that includes a $1,500 referral bonus to staff for recruits who complete the academy and on-the-job training and then another $1,500 if they complete a 52-week probationary period.

“I want you to know I heard you,” Martuscello said in comments addressed to the COs and sergeants. “Your safety, your family, your work-life balance are important to me. I’m committed to continuing to listening to your voices as we move forward.”