Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Three vehicles were involved in an accident on Route 31 at the Eagle Harbor Road intersection, a scene of many accidents over the years including one with no injuries on Sunday night.

“This has always been a dangerous intersection,” Albion Fire Chief Rocky Sidari said at the scene at about 3:30 p.m.

None of the people involved in the accident had serious injuries, Sidari said.

Albion firefighters were there sweeping shattered glass and debris off the road. Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance transported two very young children as a precautionary measure.

State Police and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department were also at the scene.

A state trooper carries a Teddy bear to a small child involved in a three-car accident this afternoon in Albion.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – An Albion High School senior was driving on Crandall Road at about 1:35 p.m. when she lost control of her vehicle and it flipped.

Logan London was able to climb out of the vehicle without injuries after her seat belt was cut. She was trapped inside the vehicle.

The wind has blown snow from tall snow embankments into the road, a problem on many north-south roads in Orleans County.

State Police and the Albion Fire Department responded to the scene.

Logan is pictured hugging her mother Vicki London after Logan climbed out of the upside-down vehicle.

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A dryer fire filled an apartment house with smoke tonight at 120 West State St. Firefighters put out the fire, which didn’t cause much damage to the house owned by Chris Kinter.

Firefighters from Albion and Barre were called to the scene at about 9:30 p.m., and encoutnered lots of smoke coming from the building. They also removed clothes that were on fire from the dryer.

Barre firefighter Nic Elliott sets up a fan to air out the house. Temperatures are only in the single digits.

Albion firefighter Charlie Monacelli shovels snow away from the vents in the house.

File photo by Tom Rivers – The Albion Village Hall is a historic building at the corner of Platt and East Bank streets. The Village Board on Wednesday approved a formal resolution, asking the State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo to direct more state aid to villages.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature and Albion Village Board both passed formal resolutions on Wednesday, calling on state government leaders to update a formula for sharing aid to villages, towns and cities.

Right now, 90 percent of the $714 million in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities goes to upstate cities, about $277 per capita for city residents compared to only $7 for residents in towns and villages.

The resolution approved by the Village Board says the current AIM formula is a form of “state-sponsored economic discrimination” for villages, because those residents pay for a myriad of services with little state aid, resulting in high property taxes for villagers.

Albion passed the same resolution as the Medina Village Board on Monday. The issue is gaining momentum in Orleans County with several municipalities passing resolutions that are forwarded to the governor and local state legislators. The Albion Village Board also is sending its resolution to Carl Heastie, the new speaker of the State Assembly and a Bronx resident.

The village is challenged with a shrinking tax base and many needs, from dilapidated housing and decaying infrastructure, while trying to meet the public needs for police, parks, water, sewer and other services.

The County Legislature joined the push for state aid with its own resolution. Legislators said the revenue-sharing formula – intended to ease property taxes – has not been updated in at least 30 years.

The state should boost the AIM funded by 50 percent and share more with towns and villages, the Legislature said. That state aid would be an effective way to knock down the local property taxes, according to the resolution.

The formula should factor population, population density, poverty and public safety services, and should also consider tax-exempt property within a municipality’s borders, legislators said.

The current formula is not targeted to communities based on economic and demographic factors, and “fails to accurately reflect the fiscal need and capacity of recipient cities, villages and towns,” according to the county resolution.

County officials raised the issue with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul last week when she visited Albion. David Callard, Legislature chairman, said he is optimistic Hochul can push for a change in AIM funding with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“She can bring it closer to the governor than maybe anyone,” Callard said.

The Legislature chairman said an increase in state aid is critical for the local governments, especially during a time of 2 percent tax caps.

“The time has come when we need to help our villages and towns,” Callard said.

ALBION – The Village Board voted on Wednesday to seek bids from manufacturers for a new fire truck that would replace two vehicles for the Albion Fire Department.

The department wants to replace a pumper from 1974 and a smaller truck used to respond to motor vehicle accidents. That truck from 2004 has extrication equipment.

The fire department wants a new fire truck that is a pumper and also has extrication equipment. That will save the department in maintenance costs and also reduce some manpower needs, fire department leaders told the Village Board on Wednesday.

“This will be an all-around truck,” said Harry Papponetti, a past chief for the AFD.

He outlined the plan during Wednesday’s Village Board meeting. He handed the board a 160-page document with specifications for the new truck. The department won’t know the cost of the truck until bids come in, but Papponetti said he expects it will be about $500,000.

It will take about 8 months to a year for the truck to arrive once the board makes a decision on accepting a bid. That vote could happen in June.

The village wouldn’t have to start paying on the truck until the 2016-17 budget. By that time some existing debt for fire trucks will be reduced. The new debt payment will likely be less than what the village is currently paying, especially if the payments for the new truck are stretched over 10 years, said Steve Lanning, a member of the fire truck committee.

Papponetti said the department expects to get another decade of use out of a pumper from 1992 and a ladder truck from 1995. He praised the work of village mechanics, Dusty DeCarlo and Ray Smith, for giving the fire trucks such an extended life.

DeCarlo and Smith served on the truck committee along with Papponetti, Lanning, Dale Banker, Rocky Sidari, Jeremy Graham, Jeremy Babcock and Ron Armstrong.

Photo courtesy of the Santa Claus Oath Foundation – Charlie Howard portrays Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He served in the role from 1948 to 1965.

ALBION – The community that was home to the first school for Santa Claus will again see a big crowd of of red suit-wearing jolly old elves.

Albion will be hosting a Santa Claus conference in April, and about 450 Santas are expected from April 16-18, Carol Culhane advised the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday.

Culhane, the Gaines town supervisor, has helped set up the event with Phil Wenz, a Santa historian who has portrayed Santa in Illinois and the Midwest for about three decades.

Wenz wanted to bring the conference to Charlie Howard’s hometown. Howard established the first Santa Claus School in 1937. He ran it on Phipps Road until his death in 1966.

The school has since been moved to Midland, Mich., but it still bears the name of Charlie Howard, who remains a revered figure in the Santa world.

The Santas will use the Albion Middle School auditorium and gym for most of their events and conference, Culhane said.

Many of them will also be part of Peace Garden dedication at April 19 at Fairhaven Treasures at the corner of routes 98 and 104 in Gaines.

County Legislature Chairman David Callard praised Culhane for helping to organize the event.

“Things of this nature draw people to Orleans County,” Callard said.

Besides starting the Santa Claus School, Howard portrayed Santa during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City from 1948 until 1965.

ALBION – The Village Board tonight approved bringing back a K9 for the Albion Police Department.

The Albion PD has been without a drug-detecting dog for several years. The previous K9 handler, Joe Fuller, retired last year.

Robert Wagner, an Albion police officer, will be the new handler. He will train with the new dog, to be purchased in a few weeks from a breeder in Pennsylvania. Wagner and the dog will train for 14 weeks with the Rochester PD and should be in service with the Albion PD this summer, Police Chief Roland Nenni said.

The department has $11,000 towards the dog and training, which includes $6,000 in donations and $5,000 from a drug forfeiture account through the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.

The police department already has a vehicle to transport the dog from Fuller’s tenure, Nenni said.

“This will be a big asset for the police department, which has a long history with a K9,” Nenni said.

The dog can track down suspects, detect drugs, help officers’ collect evidence, and help in many other ways, including public relations.

“A K9 can save us a lot of personnel time and also save a lot of lives,” Nenni said.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The water storage tank on Route 98 in Gaines is part of Albion’s water distribution system.

ALBION – The Village of Albion is the main municipal water provider for central Orleans County, but the village faces increasing pressure from much-larger spreading systems in neighboring counties.

The Monroe County Water Authority supplies water to parts of eastern Orleans and the Niagara County Water District supplies part of western Orleans, including the Village of Medina. Those water organizations try to lock water customers into long-term contracts.

Albion has historically had agreements with its town customers for no more than five years. The village now wants to follow the example of Monroe County Water Authority and secure 40-year commitments.

The issue was raised during a joint meeting on Monday between village and town of Albion officials.

Albion Town Supervisor Matt Passarell said he is open to a long-term deal with the village, which has a water plant in Carlton that treats water from Lake Ontario. Passarell said he wants to support the village and assets within the county.

The current deal with the village expires in May, giving the town time to consider a new contract.

The village and town are also discussing having village employees maintain the town water lines.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A woman driving this vehicle walked away from the accident and wasn’t injured, Albion firefighters said. The woman was headed east on West Countyhouse Road, just west of Eagle Harbor Road, when she hit a patch of snow in the road and lost control of the vehicle.

Albion firefighters Greg Marston, left, and Stan Farone responded to the scene soon after the 1 p.m. dispatch call. Sheriff’s Deputy Dean Covis also responded, as well as other Albion firefighters and Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance.

BARRE – The federal government has approved a $692,000 funding package for a new water district in the Town of Barre, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced this morning.

The Town of Barre will receive a $384,000 loan, along with a grant of $308,000 to construct a new water main, valves and hydrants that will extend clean water access to residents on Eagle Harbor, Route 31A and Long Bridge roads. Those residents currently have contaminated private wells, Schumer and Gillibrand said.

The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program.

“With this funding and low-interest loan, the Town of Barre in Orleans County will now be able to make crucial improvements to its water district without passing the entire financial burden onto local taxpayers,” Schumer said. “This water main expansion is a wise investment in infrastructure that will enhance access to clean drinking water, which is vital to the town and its residents’ long-term health and prosperity.”

USDA Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Program provides loans and grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas.

“This is a major investment for Barre residents, and those who are looking to move or open new businesses in town,” Gillibrand said. “Access to safe, clean, and sustainable water is imperative and I am pleased this federal funding will be going to provide residents with access to that basic necessity. Continuous improvements like this one protect the health of our families and help spur growth and longevity in our communities.”

Photos by Yvonne Newbould

ALBION – Local Girl Scouts in the Cobblestone Service Unit had a “World Thinking Day” celebration on Saturday. Girl Scouts participated in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries.

Pictured in the front row, from left, include Daisy Troop 82007 members: Emma Martino, Leah Pawlak, Kylie Sue Allport, Julianna Newbould, Aubrey Gannon, Peyton Nolan, Kendall Newbould, Neveya Barnes and Emma Snitzel.

The back row includes Brownie Troop 82127: Riannon Newbould, Julia Fuller, Autumn Flugel, Abrielle Shuler, Liana Flugel, Sophia Albanese, Sarah Thom and Julia Knight.

The activities through World Thinking Day we designed to promote peace through partnerships. In this photo, Brownie Abrielle Shuler helps Daisy Julianna Newbould with friendship knot pin.

Riannon Newbould shows some of the international flavors the Girl Scouts tried.

Girls work on good luck hands and international peace signs.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A section of South Main Street in Albion has been blocked off this afternoon after a minor accident involving three vehicles near the intersection at Beaver Street. Albion firefighters and police have been at the scene since about 2:10 p.m.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul touts a $500 million plan to expand broadband Internet access throughout the state during a stop in Albion at Hoag Library today. The plan is part of the governor’s budget proposal and “Opportunity Agenda.” Hochul also shared details for boosting the economy, fighting poverty, enacting educational reforms, mitigating property tax increases and adopting new ethics reforms in Albany.

ALBION – David Callard said it was “historic” day for Orleans County today when Kathy Hochul, the state’s lieutenant governor, visited the county. Hochul didn’t just make a quick stop and deliver a speech.

She sat down in the conference room at the legislative chambers in the County Clerks Building before giving her speech. She wanted to hear from county officials and other local leaders about issues in the community.

Callard is the Legislature chairman. He has been on the County Legislature for more than 20 years. Seldom does a lieutenant governor stop in the county. Hochul’s successor, Robert Duffy, didn’t make any official stops in Orleans the previous four years. Duffy lived close by. He is the former Rochester mayor.

After giving a half-hour speech at the library, highlighting Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal, Hochul also stopped for a tour of CRFS, a site with 600 employees in Albion. (Hochul also stopped at the Village House for about 20 minutes with the Orleans Hub editor to discuss issues in the community.)

Callard appreciated that Hochul wanted to hear from many in the community.

“This is probably a first when the lieutenant governor has visited the county and also visited with the Legislature,” Callard said. “We have a very good rapport with the lieutenant governor.”

Hochul represented the county as part of a seven-county Congressional District. Hochul, a Democrat, lost a close election to Chris Collins in a Republican-dominated district in November 2012. She said she is thankful to Gov. Cuomo for giving her the opportunity to return to public service.

She noted that she was in Orleans County 52 times during her 18 months in Congress. She said she sees “tremendous opportunity” in Orleans with the Erie Canal, “charming downtowns” and a historic flavor that could draw more tourists and small businesses.

David Callard

During her visit with the local officials, Callard said the group pushed for Broadband funding for the county, better maintenance of canal bridges and state roads, more regulation for “zombie houses,” where properties are foreclosed by banks but left in limbo. Those houses, often left to rot with no contact person, have devalued nearby properties as well, Callard said.

Callard and Eileen Banker, a trustee for the Village of Albion, also asked Hochul to look into the disparity of state aid between villages and similar-size small cities.
The villages only get about $7 per capita in state aid while small cities typically get $100 to $150 in aid per capita.

“It’s disproportionate,” Callard said.

The county officials would like to see the state assume more of the Medicaid cost, easing that burden from county governments, which would result in lower county property taxes, Callard said.

Orleans and Niagara counties have been working together to bring high-speed Internet access to underserved rural pockets of the counties. Internet providers have submitted proposals for the work.

The cooperative effort between the two counties over the past few years comes at an opportune time when the governor wants $500 million of the $5 billion in bank settlement funds devoted to Broadband.

Cuomo wants Internet download speeds available at 100 megabits per second. Nowhere in Orleans County does that speed currently exist. According to state data, all but 6 percent or 2,383 of the county’s 42,883 people have access to Internet service with at least 6 megabits per second.

The governor wants the faster Internet service in place state-wide by Jan. 1, 2019, which will be a “major undertaking” especially in the mountainous rural areas, Hochul said.

“The governor is committed to give our businesses, our schools and our people a competitive advantage,” Hochul said.

She visited the county today after being invited by Callard during a recent Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council meeting in Rochester. Callard was pleased to see Hochul seize the chance to connect with local officials and present the governor’s policy initiatives.

“She has been and is a friend of Orleans County,” Callard said.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There were a few protestors on Main Street in front of Hoag Library in Albion today when Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul visited and discussed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal.

These protestors from New York Revolution stated their opposition to New York’s gun control law known as the SAFE Act. Shawn Lembke, leader of New York Revolution in Niagara County, holds the sign saying Cuomo should go to prison.

New York Revolution members today were protesting the SAFE Act and also the governor’s plan to provide $25 million in college assistance to undocumented immigrants.

Orleans Hub will have more on Hochul’s visit to Albion.