LYNDONVILLE – Otto, the new K-9 for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, met with the Adventure Scouts from Lyndonville on Tuesday. Otto was joined by Deputy Jeff Cole, the dog’s handler.
Deputy Cole and Otto demonstrated commands and how sensitive Otto’s nose is by finding a few hidden items. Deputy Cole also reviewed correct practices if one of the scouts were ever lost, how to approach a police dog and handler, and answered questions about their training.
Deputy Tom Marano joined Cole and Otto, and Marano answered questions about being a deputy and some of the different types of calls he answers while on duty.
The scouts are learning about different facets of their community including law enforcement, safety personnel and other important people they may come in contact with as they grow up.
Along with the visit from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the scouts have made toys from upcycled T-shirts and treats for PAWS (People for Animal Welfare Society) in Albion and are working on a free community soup luncheon.
Otto, a German Shepherd from Holland, joined the Orleans Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 13. On Tuesday, he met scouts from Lyndonville.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 January 2017 at 1:40 pm
Jim Simon
YATES – Town Supervisor Jim Simon is again declining any pay for his role in leading the Yates town government.
Simon took office on Jan. 1, 2016 after being elected in a write-in campaign against incumbent John Belson. Simon declined the $8,000 salary for the position in 2016 and is also refusing any pay this year. Simon also said no to $1,500 for his work as budget officer.
Simon, who works as dean of the GCC campus centers in Albion and Medina, sees a busy year in 2017.
The town expects to open construction bids in the spring for an extension of the town-wide water district. The project for Ward and Goodwin roads covers the last stretch of Yates without public waterlines.
The project will serve 12 residences east of the Village of Lyndonville. Ward and Goodwin are between Alps and Platten roads, and west of the Ashwood hamlet.
Simon said the project could cost $500,000 in “a worst-case scenario.” Yates has $100,000 set aside in a water district reserve. The town plans to borrow the remaining costs in a low-interest loan.
Simon was elected in November 2015 on a platform against the large wind turbines proposed by Apex Clean Energy. Apex continues to work on the application.
Simon has been picked to serve on the Renewables on the Ground Roundtable, which next meets in Albany on Jan. 27. That group includes representatives from government, energy companies, agriculture, environmental groups and other business leaders. The group was formed to make recommendations to the state which has set a goal of getting 50 percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030. Meeting that goal would likely require a rapid build-out of solar and wind power across New York.
Simon said he brings a voice that “home rule” should be preserved, that communities should have a say in their own land use.
“Shouldn’t a community decide for itself how to build a sustainable future?” Simon said on Thursday, following the Town Board’s annual organizational meeting.
Simon also has been picked to serve as chairman of the Western Orleans Comprehensive Plan Committee. That group includes representatives from the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates, as well as the villages of Lyndonville and Medina.
The group will next be meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Shelby Town Hall. It is planning to send a survey to about 6,000 residents in western Orleans soon to get their opinions on land use, opportunities and concerns for the community.
The local governments will work to update zoning laws and maps for the community to guide desired development. The western Orleans comprehensive plan was last updated in 2001.
The Town Board approved several appointments during Thursday’s organizational meeting, including:
Webster, Schubel & Meier of Medina for legal services at $7,500 for the year; Dan Wolfe as fire and building code officer, and also as zoning enforcement officer; Patricia Laszewski as assessor; Lynne Johnson as town bookkeeper and water bookkeeper;
Dawn Metty as Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board clerk; Gary Daum as ZBA chairman; Don Melfi and Jim Taylor as ZBA members; Roger Wolfe as water district superintendent and cemetery superintendent; Wes Bradley as youth agency representative; Michelle Harling as registrar of vital statistics; Dawn Metty as deputy registrar;
John Donald as dog control officer; John Riggi as deputy town supervisor; Dawn Metty as town historian and deputy town clerk; David Hydock as deputy highway superintendent; Susanne Sanderson as court clerk; Eric Harling as court bailiff;
M & T Bank and the Bank of Castile as official depositories for the town;
The Daily News of Batavia as official newspaper to publish the town’s legal notices, and Lake Country Pennysaver in Albion and Orleans Hub in Albion to carry additional advertising.
The Town Board also set the following as salaries and wages for 2016:
Highway superintendent at $64,180; Town clerk, $43,286; Supervisor bookkeeper at $14,700; Water superintendent at $13,658; Town justice at $8,500 for the year; Cemetery superintendent, $5,330; Town Board members, four at $3,259.75 each; Water bookkeeper at $3,100; Deputy highway superintendent, $2,550; Historian, $600; and Town supervisor at $0.
The hourly rates include: Highway motor equipment operator, $24.00; Code enforcement and zoning officer, $21.96; Court clerk, $15.19; and deputy clerk, $11.75.
The mileage reimbursement for town officers and employees using their personal vehicles was set at 53.5 cents per mile.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 January 2017 at 9:36 am
LYNDONVILLE – The school district for the first time will recognize an “Educator of the Year” at the end of the school year.
The district is accepting nominations from students, parents, former students, administrators, teaching colleagues and other members of the community until Feb. 10. (Nomination packets are available at the school district’s main office as well as on the district website www.lyndonvillecsd.org.)
Three finalists will be chosen from the pool of nominations.
The number of nominations a teacher receives has little to do with selecting a finalist. When nominating a teacher, it is important to highlight examples that illustrate the candidate’s dedication, knowledge, and skill as a teacher, as well as their ability to go above and beyond what is expected inside and outside of the classroom, the district stated.
Upon verification that the nominated teacher meets the required criteria, two additional letters of support will be needed to complete the nomination process. These should come from peer groups different than that of the nominator. Cover letters are included in this packet.
An impartial selection committee will choose the Educator of the Year. The committee will include the former Educator of the Year (after initial year), a high school student council member, an elementary leadership club member, a PTSA representative, one representative from each area (Elementary, Secondary, and K-12 Specialty Teacher), a Board of Education member, an administrator, and the superintendent.
The winner will be announced annually, at the regular meeting of the Board of Education in June. The Educator of the Year will receive a $1,000 district grant, as well as a plaque commemorating the achievement. The grant may be used for any educational initiative or project within the winner’s school, classroom, program, or department.
Eligibility requirements and criteria for Educator of the Year includes:
The nominee must be a current teacher within the Lyndonville school district.
The nominee must have completed 4 years of teaching at Lyndonville.
A nominee for Educator of the Year should be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.
The nominee must have a strong sense of values, integrity and professional ethics.
The nominee must actively collaborate with colleagues, administration, parents and families.
The nominee must play an active role in the school community, and demonstrate innovative 21st century skills and continuing professional growth Have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School wants to stay connected to its community. So, it’s making it easier than ever to reach district leadership with its recently launched cloud-based communication solution, Let’s Talk!
“With social media channels and online conversations compounding chatter at the bus stop, on the corner, and in our schools, it can be difficult to feel confident that we fully understand our community’s views and priorities,” said Jason Smith, district superintendent. “That’s why we launched Let’s Talk!, making our administrators easily accessible and giving our entire community a voice in district decision making.”
Let’s Talk! is a two-way, online communication solution that helps school and district administrators identify opportunities for engagement, spot potential crises, and build stronger relationships with parents, teachers, staff, students, and community members.
It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Users simply open the Let’s Talk! tab at www.lyndonvillecsd.org and select a topic to start a conversation. They may submit anonymously, or leave their contact information for a personal response.
Lyndonville’s Let’s Talk! page invites comments, questions, and suggestions about key topics like special education, transportation, technology, capital projects, athletics, and events, and provides a place to reach both district schools, the superintendent’s office, and the Board of Education.
For more information about Let’s Talk!, contact Lori Lamay at (585) 765-3101
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2017 at 11:34 am
LYNDONVILLE – School district residents will vote on Feb. 13, determining whether a proposed $10.7 million capital project will go forward.
School officials will have a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday (Jan.9) on the project. That meeting will be at the Lyndonville Middle-High School Library on Housel Avenue.
The project includes many improvements at the Housel Avenue campus, and doesn’t include any work at the now closed former elementary school.
Lyndonville already has its local share of the project set aside in reserve funds so no additional local money will be needed to pay for the project, said Jason Smith, the district superintendent.
The projects identified include roof work, new air-conditioning (currently only 1/3 of school has AC), interior renovations (including removing a wall and adding two classrooms), lighting improvements, and site work that will add parking spaces and improve traffic flow. It will also add a clearly designated drop-off spot for parents taking their children to school.
The athletic fields will also be improved with drainage, new dugouts, fencing and electric service.
Voting on Feb. 13 will be from noon to 7 p.m. in the auditorium lobby at the school.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 December 2016 at 9:37 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature made it official on Wednesday, passing a formal resolution against industrial-size wind turbines within 40 miles of a military installation.
Congressman Chris Collins has introduced the “Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act” in an effort to ensure that any new wind turbines located within a 40-mile radius of a military installation will be deemed ineligible for renewable energy tax credits.
The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday followed Niagara County Legislature in supporting the legislation introduced by Collins.
The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station employs over 2,600 people and contributes over $200 million a year to Western New York’s economy, Collins said. Many of the employees live in Orleans County, said Legislator Lynne Johnson, R-Lyndonville.
She said the “Wind Turbine Encroachment Act” would help protect the Niagara Falls installation “from any future closure attempt.”
Apex Clean Energy is proposing to construct about 70 wind turbines that could peak at over 600 feet. The turbines planned for Somerset in and Yates would be at least 25 miles from the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
Apex said the turbines wouldn’t have a negative impact on the base. The company has been consulting with the Department of Defense and Niagara Falls Air Force Reserve Station regularly “to ensure that any concerns regarding the base’s operations are resolved before the project is built,” Cat Strumlauf, Public Affairs Associate for Apex, said on Nov. 29 when Collins announced Wind Turbine Encroachment Act.
Two Yates officials – Town Supervisor Jim Simon and Councilman John Riggi – thanked the Legislature for supporting the legislation pushed by Collins.
Simon said the Niagara Falls base has a long history with changing aircraft and missions.
“The debate on the Air Reserve Station is ongoing,” Simon said, calling the site a “critical asset” for the community and country.
Riggi said the Collins bill would help keep “encroachment” away from the base. Riggi said he worries the tall turbines could give the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) a reason to shut down the base in the future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2016 at 9:43 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has a resolution on the agenda Wednesday, supporting Congressman Chris Collins and his proposal to keep industrial-size wind turbines away from military airfields.
Apex Clean Energy is proposing to build about 70 wind turbines that would reach about 600 feet high in Somerset (Niagara County) and Yates (Orleans County).
Collins on Nov. 29 introduced legislation that would curb the installation of wind turbines in close proximity to military installations, such as the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Niagara Falls.
Collins worries the turbines would have a negative impact on the Air Reserve Station, perhaps jeopardizing the site in the future when its up for review.
“This air base employs over 2,600 people and contributes over $200 million a year to Western New York’s economy,” Collins said on Nov. 29. “Massive wind turbines built in such close proximity to military installations, such as the ones being proposed in Western New York, can negatively impact a base’s potential new missions and its future operations. I will do everything in my power to ensure the viability of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.”
Congressman Collins introduced the “Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act” in an effort to ensure that any new wind turbines located within a 40-mile radius of a military installation will be deemed ineligible for renewable energy tax credits. Full text of the legislation can be read by clicking here. A companion bill was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator John Cornyn, R-TX.
The Niagara County Legislature already has passed a resolution in support of the “Turbine Encroachment Act,” and the Orleans County Legislature has a resolution on the agenda for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Orleans resolution says the turbines would be “a navigational hazard” that would harm the mission of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
Losing the base would be an economic hit for the region and also could reduce the “military readiness of the United States,” according to the Orleans resolution.
Apex Clean Energy said the turbines would be more than 25 miles from the Air Reserve Station. Their proximity is a “non-issue,” the company said.
“Apex Clean Energy takes the safety and readiness of our military very seriously, and we work closely with the Department of Defense and its services to ensure our wind energy facilities do not adversely impact military missions,” Cat Strumlauf, Public Affairs Associate for Apex Clean Energy, said on Nov. 29 after Collins issued his news release.
Apex has been consulting with the Department of Defense and Niagara Falls Air Force Reserve Station regularly “to ensure that any concerns regarding the base’s operations are resolved before the project is built,” Strumlauf said.
LYNDONVILLE – Leah Gerety (pictured at left), a member of the newly formed Lyndonville Leo Club, helps elementary students line up for eye exams at the school.
Members of the Lyndonville and Medina Lions Clubs worked together on Nov. 29 to do complete vision screenings for 75 students in grades K-8 in the Lyndonville Central School District.
Lyndonville Lions Lynne Johnson and Bruce Schmidt, along with Medina Lions Jim Hancock and Christine Thompson, examined the eyes of the children in the Lyndonville school nurse’s office.
The students were escorted to and from the eye exams by Lyndonville Leo Club members Leah Gerety, Hunter Fuller, Tyler Coyle, Dustin Solomon, Tamara Huzair, Sawyer Wilson, Chris Clark, Shantel Benedict, Faith Chaffee, Allyson Deslatte and Savannah Poler. The Leo Club includes high schoolers who do community service projects.
Results of eye exams with specific findings were sent home with the students along with a letter encouraging a full eye exam. The Lyndonville Lion’s Club will assist families, as needed, with the full eye exams and/or with securing glasses if necessary.
Lyndonville Lions Club members Bruce Schmidt, back left, and Lynne Johnson are joined by Jim Hancock of the Medina Lions Club while the club organized an eye-screening event on Nov. 29 at Lyndonville.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2016 at 9:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – A boy looks at some of the Christmas trees that were lighted this evening in Lyndonville. There are 61 trees decorated by community residents and organizations.
This is the fourth year Lyndonville has displayed the decorated trees at Veterans Park. There were 26 trees in 2013 followed by 43 in 2014 and 54 last year.
Local organizations, businesses and residents pay $30 to sponsor a tree, and then they have to decorate it.
Santa Claus arrived at 5 p.m. and flipped the switch to light up the trees.
The trees will be lighted each evening until just after New Year’s.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2016 at 8:58 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Santa Claus waves to a crowd on Main Street when he arrived by horse-drawn sleigh at 5 p.m. today for Lyndonville’s community Christmas celebration.
Santa meets the crowd with Wes Bradley, emcee for the event which included Christmas caroling and the lighting of 61 Christmas trees at Veterans Park.
A crowd waits at Veterans Park for Santa to flip the switch, lighting up the trees decorated by community organizations and residents.
Santa is joined by Teri Woodworth, the village clerk, at the “North Pole Electric Company,” which had a switch to turn on the power for the lights.
Santa also met with children inside the Village Hall. Here is Santa greeting Zachary Barnum, 5, of Lyndonville, who asked for a remote-control Monster Truck. Teri Woodworth, the village clerk, is in back as one of Santa’s helpers.
Elijah Kingdollar, 5, of Yates asked Santa for a camera and suction boots.
Santa also met with Grayson Buffin, 1, of Lyndonville.
Before Santa arrived, the Lyndonville High School chorus sang Christmas carols in front of the library.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 December 2016 at 9:55 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: Lyndonville last year had 54 trees decorated by the community at Veterans Park. This year the celebration has grown to 61 trees. Santa will stop by the park at 5 to flip a switch, turning on the lights.
LYNDONVILLE – In 2013, Lyndonville started a Christmas event where trees would be decorated by community members and then lit up at Veterans Park.
Lyndonville saw the tree display in Oakfield and its success in bringing the community together and adding a festive display for the holidays.
The first year Lyndonville had 26 trees decorated, and that grew to 43 in 2014 and then 54 last year. Today there will be 61 trees lit up. They will be displayed at the park until just after New Year’s.
Local organizations, businesses and residents pay $30 to sponsor a tree, and then they have to decorate it.
The lights will be turned on for the trees today at 5 p.m., when Santa arrives.
Teri Woodworth, the village clerk, helps coordinate the event. She isn’t surprised to see it grow each year.
“This is a very strong community,” she said. “We’re a small community, but people come out and stand for what we’re about it.”
The Christmas in Lyndonville began at 8 this morning with a community breakfast at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. There are events throughout the day, including horse-drawn sleigh rides from 2 to 4:45 p.m., caroling at Veterans Park from 4:30 to 5 p.m., Santa’s arrival and tree lighting at 5 p.m., visit with Santa at Village Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and a Christmas choir LaLaPalooza at the Presbyterian Church.
Visit VillageOfLyndonville.com to see the full schedule.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2016 at 8:19 pm
Company responds to Congressman Collins’ proposed legislation to ban federal tax incentives for projects near military installations
(Editor’s Note: Apex Clean Energy sent this response to Congress Chris Collins continued statements that the proposed Lighthouse Wind project could jeopardize the Niagara Falls Air Force Reserve Station. Collins issued a press release today that he has introduced legislation that would eliminate federal tax credits for wind turbines if they are located within 40 miles of a military installation.)
Here is the statement from Cat Strumlauf, Public Affairs Associate for Apex Clean Energy:
“Apex Clean Energy takes the safety and readiness of our military very seriously, and we work closely with the Department of Defense and its services to ensure our wind energy facilities do not adversely impact military missions. Related to Lighthouse Wind, we have been consulting with the Department of Defense and Niagara Falls Air Force Reserve Station regularly to ensure that any concerns regarding the base’s operations are resolved before the project is built.
“Lighthouse Wind has received a letter directly from the DoD Siting Clearinghouse stating the project is ‘unlikely to impact military testing or training operations in the area.’ More recently, a top official at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS), confirmed that the base’s new KC-135 mission makes the wind turbines a nonissue for the base. According to the military’s own experts, Niagara County residents can be confident that Lighthouse Wind will pose no current or projected mission impact on Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, which is more than 25 miles from the Lighthouse Wind project area.
“While Apex is expert in the development of wind energy projects, we believe it is appropriate to trust the expertise of the DoD Siting Clearinghouse, as well as that of local military experts and advisors, to assess the potential risk of wind energy projects to their own bases. We believe our professional national security experts are doing their duty and acting in the best interest of our nation, the communities in which they operate, and our armed forces.
“Any structure over 200 feet proposed throughout the country is required to undertake a rigorous system of review by the DoD and FAA required prior to construction. Lighthouse Wind is in the pre-application phase, and as such has not proposed specific turbine models or heights as of yet. When this final proposal is made, the DoD and FAA will have the chance to weigh in again with their approvals through these review systems.”
File photo by Tom Rivers: The 400-foot-high wind turbines in Sheldon, Wyoming County, are pictured in October 2015.
Press Release, Congress Chris Collins
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) today introduced legislation that would curb the installation of wind turbines in close proximity to military installations, such as the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Niagara Falls.
Recently, Apex Clean Energy has proposed a plan to build 70 turbines amid farms and towns throughout Niagara County. The impact that this plan may have on the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station has raised significant concerns from local residents and lawmakers.
“I cannot condone any activity which puts the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station’s future operations and viability at risk,” said Congressman Collins. “This air base employs over 2,600 people and contributes over $200 million a year to Western New York’s economy. Massive wind turbines built in such close proximity to military installations, such as the ones being proposed in Western New York, can negatively impact a base’s potential new missions and its future operations. I will do everything in my power to ensure the viability of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.”
Congressman Collins introduced the “Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act” in an effort to ensure that any new wind turbines located within a 40-mile radius of a military installation will be deemed ineligible for renewable energy tax credits. Full text of the legislation can be read by clicking here. A companion bill was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator John Cornyn, R-TX.
“Our military installations are crucial to the security of our nation,” continued Congressman Collins. “This legislation ensures that military installations like the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station can fully operate without potential interference from wind turbines, some of which can be as tall as 600 feet.”
“The Department of Defense has been increasingly engaged to express either reservations or objections to potential wind projects across the country, on the basis of military readiness issues and conflicts with military radar systems,” said Dan Engert, Somerset Town Supervisor. “The Lighthouse Wind project in Somerset is very poorly sited for a number of reasons, and I do not think it’s in our government’s best interest to expand wind energy at the expense of military readiness. I am very grateful that Congressman Collins and Senator Cornyn recognize this impact and have introduced legislation in both chambers that will force corporate wind developers to site projects far and away from military installations, like the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.”
“I fully support Congressman Collins’ proposed legislation to protect military installations from encroachment from industrial wind turbine projects,” said James Simon, Yates Town Supervisor. “The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station has a positive economic impact on the Town of Yates. We are fortunate that the skies above the Town of Yates not only have unrestricted airspace for low flying military aircraft and drones, but also provide unimpeded radar coverage for national defense.”
“We are grateful to Congressman Collins for taking the initiative to propose legislation that will work to protect the future of our air base and the thousands of families and workers who rely on its continued operation,” said Pamela Atwater, President of Save Ontario Shores. “Save Ontario Shores pledges its full support to this proposed legislation and we look forward to its enactment.” Save Ontario Shores is a local group that was formed to address the concerns relating to the health, safety and welfare of Town of Yates and Town of Somerset taxpayers and residents, in regards to the Lighthouse Wind project being proposed by Apex Clean Energy.”
Congressman Collins has previously taken steps to address this issue. In December 2015, Congressman Collins authored a letter to the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration officials expressing concern about a proposed wind turbine project along the Lake Ontario Shoreline. Full text of the letter can be read by clicking here.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School received a $4,000 grant from best-selling author James Patterson to support its school library.
In addition, Scholastic Reading Club will match each dollar of Patterson’s donation with “bonus points” that teachers can use to acquire books and other materials for their classrooms.
“We are grateful for James Patterson’s commitment to school libraries, the Scholastic Reading Club’s dedication to the next generation of thinkers and this grant, which will allow Lyndonville to expand the enrichment opportunities in our library,” said Superintendent Jason Smith.
The grant money will be used to add new technology to the elementary library program. Third- and fourth-grade students have already begun to reap the benefits of this grant through the purchase of a 3D printer. Students have learned how to design on the technology using Tinkercad.
In addition, Lyndonville will purchase Lego Mindstorm sets that will allow students to learn about robotics and create several Raspberry Pi stations to allow our students to learn some basic programming and computer design.
Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club announced in March 2016 that Patterson would donate $1.75 million for school libraries nationwide in the second installment of his School Library Campaign. As part of an ongoing effort to keep books and reading a number one priority in the United States, selected school libraries will be receiving grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Since the grant program’s launch in 2015, Patterson has donated $3.5 million to school libraries nationwide, with all funds are being personally donated by Patterson.
“I’ve made it my mission to underscore the vital role reading plays in children’s lives, and the need to sustain school libraries is at the heart of that mission,” Patterson said.
In the first-ever partnership of its kind, Patterson joined forces with Scholastic Reading Club to administer funding applications to their network of 62,000 schools and 800,000 teachers. Schools entering were asked to share the story of their school library, including past efforts to make improvements and “great ideas to help create a brighter future.”
Patterson personally read and selected the winning recipients of the grants. Based on past winners, school libraries across the country have been using this funding to purchase new books, add bookshelves, make improvements to their catalog systems, and expand their programing.
Click here to see the 407 recipients of the grant funds.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Ward Dobbins is pictured inside H.H. Dobbins in this photo from September. Dobbins is working on a 10,300-square-foot expansion to accommodate a larger packing line.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2016 at 8:21 am
LYNDONVILLE – A business that packs about 1 million bushels of apple each year is moving ahead with a $5 million expansion that will include a new packing line with the latest technology.
H.H. Dobbins (Empire Fruit LLC) will put a 10,300-square-foot addition on its complex at 129 West Ave. The added space will accommodate a new state-of-art packing line that can detect internal and external blemishes on fruit.
Right now, Dobbins has workers on the packing lines that sort fruit that doesn’t quite look perfect. The new packing line will have a defect sorter that quickly scans for exterior imperfections in fruit. Another big advantage to the technology will be seeing problems inside the fruit, such as water coring, that aren’t detectable to the human eye, Ward Dobbins, the company owner and chief executive officer, said in an interview in September. (Orleans Hub featured him in article in September because he was honored by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.)
Dobbins said the new line won’t displace workers. They will instead be packing boxes and bags of fruit. The new line will increase the volume from 140 bushels packed per hour to 900 bushels, Dobbins said.
The expansion project is estimated to cost $5 million for the new equipment, machinery, fixtures and furnishings, as well as construction of the new space.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency has approved a sales tax abatement that will save H.H. Dobbins $220,864 in sales tax. That is an exemption on the 8 percent tax on an estimated $2,760,800 in taxable purchases of equipment and materials. The EDA board of directors approved the incentive on Nov. 10.
That is the only tax break Dobbins will receive from the EDA for the project. The company isn’t pursuing a property tax discount with the project.
This is the second recent significant expansion and investment by Dobbins. The business last year opened a new 26,240-square-foot controlled atmosphere storage building on Millers Road, about 2 miles from the main packing house on West Avenue.
That $3.4 million project boosted Dobbins’ on-site storage by 300,000 bushels of apples. The CA also acts to put apples “to sleep,” allowing them to be stored for many months, sometimes up to a year.
H.H. Dobbins was started in 1905 and under the leadership of the fourth-generation owner, Ward Dobbins.
Dobbins is working to have the new packing line in production by next harvest season, EDA officials said.
