By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 12:13 pm
Soldier from Albion was killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009
Jason Johnston
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is seeking to have a section of Route 31A named in honor of Jason Johnson, a soldier from Albion who was killed in combat in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Dec. 26, 2009.
Johnson was a specialist and paratrooper with the U.S. Army. He was 24 when he was killed. He is the only soldier from Orleans County killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan during the War on Terror.
The Legislature last June sought to have Route 98 in Orleans County named for Johnston. The State Legislature and Go. Hochul need to give their approval.
The County Legislature on Tuesday rescinded that resolution from last year because 98 already has been named the “Veterans Memorial Highway.”
The Legislature now is asking the state to name the Route 31A corridor between Powerline Road to Route 98 in Albion in memory of Johnston.
Legislators asked State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley to take up the issue in the Legislature.
Johnston is survived by his parents, Brad and Jenny Johnston; and his sisters, Carrie, Heather and Holly; and several nieces and nephews.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 11:20 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: County Legislator Don Allport speaks during Tuesday’s County Legislature meeting. He opposed seeking another two-year extension to an extra penny on the local sales tax.
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport wants the sales tax to be 7 cents in Orleans County, instead of 8 cents.
Allport said cutting a penny from the sales tax would save people more than $5 million a year on expenses in the county. He thinks those savings would be injected back in the local economy, helping businesses and ultimately leading to even more sales tax revenue.
But none of the other county legislators are willing to take that chance. They worry not having that extra penny in sales tax could lead to a dramatic increase in property taxes or a reduction in local services.
The state gets 4 cents for every taxable sale while the county also receives 4 cents. The county used to get 3 cents, but it was raised to 4 cents on June 1, 1993. The county needs State Legislature’s permission every two years to keep the 4-cent tax.
That permission comes due this year. The County Legislature on Tuesday voted to start the process for the state to renew the sales tax by an extra penny. It would extend the 4-cent local share to Nov. 30, 2027.
The county takes in about $23 million in sales tax a year. That extra penny is worth nearly $6 million.
If the county lost that revenue – $5.75 million – it could translate into a 29.2 percent property tax increase, going from $19,639,000 in the tax levy for 2025 to $25,389,000.
Allport, however, thinks the county would see more sales tax with residents spending more at businesses because they would have more money in their pockets.
“This was supposed to be a temporary tax,” Allport said about the extra penny in 1993.
But those temporary taxes never seem to go away, he said.
“If that $5 million was put back in the local economy the businesses could use it,” Allport said. “The residents could use it. People would put it back in the local economy.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 10:05 am
Issue could ultimately go to public referendum
Photo by Tom Rivers: Debbie Berry, a retired chief clerk for the Surrogate Court in Orleans County, speaks on Tuesday against a district court in Orleans County. She said the 10 local town courts are serving the people well.
ALBION – Orleans County legislators, with two dissenting, are reviving a push for a district court in Orleans County.
The issue was going to a public referendum last November but was pulled when county officials were notified of a procedural flaw. In order to bring the issue to a public vote, the county first needs approval from the State Legislature with its support of a District Court.
County legislators, in a 4-2 vote on Tuesday, passed a resolution requesting the State Legislature to establish a countywide district court in Orleans.
“This is just the first step,” said Legislator John Fitzak, R-Carlton.
He supported the resolution along with Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, R-Lyndonville; Legislator Bill Eick, R-Shelby; and Legislator Ed Morgan, R-Murray.
Legislators Don Allport, R-Gaines, and Fred Miller, D-Albion, opposed the resolution.
Miller said there was significant opposition to the proposal during public hearings in May and June last year from local town justices and town officials, who say the current system is cost effective and responsible to the community.
The local Magistrates Association said a district court would ultimately be more costly, even if the state takes on the salaries of the judge, clerks and security.
Allport doesn’t have confidence the state would assume the costs of a district court. Even if it does initially, it could push the expense to the county and towns if the state is feeling a budget crunch in the future, Allport said.
“This is not the correct time to approach the state on this,” Allport said, citing what he said are $40 billion in budget shortfalls in Albany. “I’m not sure there is a right time.”
Fitzak said the vote to request state support is another step in a process that could be drawn out. He and Johnson said it is unknown if and when the State Legislature would vote on the issue.
“I wouldn’t hazard a guess on the timetable,” Johnson said.
She said a district court would be beneficial to the county in many ways, offering a streamlined system with full-time hours that would benefit people in the court system.
She cited a report from local officials looking at the costs of the local court system. Joe Cardone, the now retired district attorney, helped push the issue and prepare the report.
Cardone, during public hearings last year, said state aid should cover most of the cost of a district court. The county would provide the facility with the state is expected to cover the salaries for judges, clerks and security.
Cardone said having the cases be handled by a full-time court would move matters more expeditiously through the courts system. He said it would be a savings for the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender and law enforcement by having a centralized court, rather than a patchwork of 10 town courts.
Legislator Ed Morgan said county residents will get a vote on the issue if the State Legislature backs the proposal.
“The Orleans County taxpayers will have the final say,” Morgan said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 8:38 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Craig Lane on Tuesday was appointed as Orleans County’s new commissioner of the Department of Public Works.
ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Public Works has a new leader. Craig Lane on Tuesday was named the new commissioner of the DPW, which oversees two divisions, highways and buildings and grounds for the county.
Lane has worked for the DPW for about four years following a 20-year career in Air Force where he was a logistics readiness officer.
Lane was hired as a motor equipment operator for the DPW. He was named deputy commissioner about two years ago and has been interim commissioner after John Papponetti left the DPW.
Lane oversees about 30 employees. The Highway Division is responsible for overseeing 196 miles of county highways, 64 county bridges, the fuel farm and snowplowing for the county parking lots.
The Buildings and Grounds Division is responsible for 20 buildings with 28 departments which include preventive maintenance, new construction and refurbishing along with a crew of janitorial services.
“It’s busy,” Lane said about the DPW. “I spent most of my formative years as a civil servant so this is a natural fit.”
Lane is a Clarendon native. He now lives in Gaines. He is president of the Holley Rotary Club, and serves on the Gaines Planning Board and is a commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.
High winds and blowing snow have made for dangerous driving conditions
Photo by Ginny Kropf: This large limb blew off a tree on Gwinn Street, between West Oak Orchard and the entrance to Wise Middle School, about 3:30 this afternoon. Power was out on West Avenue, Gwinn Street and parts of Maple Ridge Road.
Press Release, Sheriff Chris Bourke
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has issued a travel advisory for all of Orleans County until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
We are recommending essential travel only. Please use extreme caution if you must travel. High winds along with blowing and drifting snow have produced dangerous driving conditions throughout Orleans County.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s 911 Communication Center has handled 16 trees down on houses or across the road, 6 utility poles down, 12 vehicles off the road, 6 motor vehicle accidents and one house fire in a short period of time this afternoon. National Grid is reporting over 600 homes without power currently.
The National Weather Service Buffalo has issued a high wind warning until 6 a.m Tuesday morning. Winds will be 30 to 40 mph winds with gusts to 70 mph. with additional snow expected.
Provided photos: Agri-golf will be featured at the Orleans County 4-H Fair July 21-26 at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.
Posted 25 January 2025 at 8:18 pm
Press Release, Robert Batt, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair committee annually attends the NYS Association of Agricultural Fairs convention. This year held in Syracuse from Jan. 17-19 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Hotel.
Highlights from this year include:
The major entertainment we’re bringing in this year includes Agri-golf, The Amazing Bubble Factory, and Aim High Canines Dog Show.
All three will have shows throughout the fair, with Agri-golf being open for all to play for free throughout the day, except during tournaments.
Fair Committee member Natalie Ricci meets a representative from Aim High Canines Dog Show.
Bands and music are also still being booked for the fair with Vinyl Recovery planned to play the Orleans Hub Stage on Saturday night. The fair is also looking for buskers interested in performing at the 2025 Fair from July 21 to 26.
The Amazing Bubble Factory also will be making its debut at the fair in July.
NYS has announced grant funding for the Agricultural Fairs Advertising, Promotion, and Education Program (AFAPEP) which has been awarded to all fairs and will support up to $10,000 for the promotion of our fair including advertising costs, unique educational exhibits or other promotions that enhance and encourage visitor participation and appreciation of agriculture and domestic arts.
Fair volunteers and CCE staff attended workshops including Marketing and Promotions of fairs, Succession planning, Self-Care as you Fair, Emergency Response during Festivals, Fairs, and large events, and other topics. The team also workshopped several new contests which will premiere at the fair including a basketball free throw challenge, rubber duck throwing contest, and disc golf tournament.
The Amazing Bubble Factory also will be making its debut at the fair in July.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 January 2025 at 2:56 pm
Meeting on Saturday at Hoag Library will go over initiative to help celebrate county’s bicentennial
Photo by Tom Rivers: This ox painted with an Orleans County Fair and agricultural theme is shown in Albion’s parade on Dec. 14.
ALBION – The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee is urging artists and organizations to be part of public art project featuring fiberglass oxen.
The oxen bodies can be painted in themes celebrating the local community as part of the county’s 200thanniversary this year.
A first ox was painted during the Orleans County 4-H Fair last July. The ox then was featured during the Medina Parade of Lights on Nov. 30 and then Albion Christmas parade on Dec. 14.
The Town of Clarendon has since bought an ox body. The Bicentennial Committee also is planning to purchase an ox and have it painted to be displayed on county property in Albion. The Friends of the Orleans County Marine Park also is pursuing an ox and artist to have a painted ox at the County Marine Park in Carlton.
The Bicentennial Committee will have an informational meeting at noon on Saturday at Hoag Library in Albion to go over the costs of acquiring an ox statue and having it delivered. The ones at the Fairgrounds and for Clarendon were bought from a manufacturer in Texas and then shipped by FedEx.
Each organization, business or municipality that acquires an ox will need to work out a contract with an artist to paint the ox body.
Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward painted the ox at the fairgrounds. That ox will be at Hoag for artists and others to get a close look at.
The committee also will be available to try to connect organizations with artists and help brainstorm themes for the oxen.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2025 at 7:10 pm
Stitched blocks in honor of all 10 towns will be done for bicentennial celebration on April 15
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kathryn DeMarco works on a quilt block celebrating “Family” as part of a bicentennial quilt created by volunteers from the Town & Country Quilt Shop at 10 East Bank St. in Albion.
Demarco also made and sewed the block for “Kendall” where she lives. A group of volunteers met today to sew blocks for all 10 towns in the county. There also are spaces for three other blocks and the group decided to have those dedicated to Farming, Faith and Family.
Carrie Standish of Albion sewed the block for Albion. She works as a secretary at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES and said she was happy to be part of making the quilt for the county’s bicentennial.
“To be involved in something so special and unique is an honor,” Standish said.
This shows the pattern for the quilt, which will be 70 inches by 70 inches when it is complete. The quilters are working to have the project done by an April 15 bicentennial celebration being planned at the Orleans County Courthouse.
There will be a border on top saying Orleans County, and a border on the bottom saying 1825 to 2025.
The quilt is expected to be on display at several sites in the county this year.
Tara Thom, owner of the Town & Country Quilt Shop, is show at the quilt shop with the volunteers in back. Thom opened the quilt shop in 2017.
She discussed the bicentennial quilt with County Historian Catherine Cooper. The design has been in the works for about nine months. Today was an exciting day for the quilters with many of the blocks sewn together.
“We’re all from Orleans County and we wanted to help celebrate the bicentennial and highlight our pastime,” Thom said about the quilters.
The quilting team today included Thom of Gaines, Kathyrn DeMarco of Kendall, Sue Landis of Barre, Carrie Standish of Albion, Brenda Radzinski of Gaines, Gayle Ashbery of Carlton and Catherine Hooker of Middleport who is a Medina native.
Catherine Hooker said they wanted a quilt that looked like one from 1825, with some modern elements. The design is like one from 200 years ago, she said, but they used machine embroidering for the town names and the years they were established.
The different blocks will be connected with star patterns. The quilters will use appliqué for the Orleans County name, and the years 1825 to 2025.
“We wanted it to look historic and present,” said Hooker, who is retired as an operations manager from the FMC Corporation in Middleport.
She is pleased with how the quilt is coming together.
“It’s been a wonderful experience and it’s a way of giving back,” she said. “It’s working with other people, and it brings joy to see what we can accomplish as a group.”
Sue Landis works on the quilt block for Clarendon. She also sewed the block for Barre. Landis has been an avid quilter since she retired as a Spanish teacher from Albion Central School in 2017.
Kathryn DeMarco places the “Family” block on the quilt. She said the three “F” blocks of farming, family and faith highlight three enduring cornerstones of the community.
DeMarco also was a key player in the quilt block patterns that have been displayed on many Kendall barns.
Provided photo: Staff from the Orleans County Department of Social Services took part in #WearBlueDay to raise awareness of human trafficking in our community.
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Social Services
ALBION – This past Saturday was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, aka #WearBlueDay, and the Orleans County Department of Social Services (DSS) took part as the whole team wore blue on Friday. DSS oversees the Human Trafficking & Safe Harbour programs within Orleans County.
“One of our very best tools in battling human trafficking is to raise awareness of the issue, educate people on red flags and let people know of the help available to them,” said Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner of DSS, who serves as the Human Trafficking & Safe Harbour coordinator for Orleans County. “Wear Blue Day is a great way to bring attention to these issues.”
As part of this effort, Dr. Stumer put together the FAQ below on human trafficking.
What is Human Trafficking? According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.
What is the difference between Human Trafficking & Safe Harbour? The Human Trafficking program within Orleans County supports adult survivors of trafficking & exploitation, ages eighteen years of age and older. The Safe Harbour program supports survivors of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) under 21 years of age. Both Human Trafficking and Safe Harbour are not limited to sexual acts but also include labor trafficking/exploitation.
Are there acts of Human Trafficking and/or CSEC within Orleans County? Human Trafficking, and CSEC, is everywhere; therefore, it is important to be educated on risk factors. “If you see something, say something.”
What is the largest risk factor in Orleans County? According to New York State Community Action Association in 2023, 14% of Orleans County population lives in poverty. This percentage, along with housing shortages in Orleans County, puts our community at risk for survival sex. Survival sex is sex in exchange for basic needs such as money, food and housing.
What is the largest misconception of Human Trafficking and/or CSEC? The largest misconception is that human trafficking involves kidnapping. Human trafficking is not human smuggling. Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion (manipulation) to get another person to provide labor or commercial sex. Anyone with access and power can be a trafficker and anyone can fall prey to traffickers; therefore, it is important to be educated on red flags
What is the Lilypad? The Lilypad is Orleans County’s Safe Harbour program that is dedicated to educating & empowering Orleans County youth on healthy relationships. The Lilypad reviews red flags and risk factors and enforces “if you see something, say something.” For details on The Lilypad please email safeharbour@orleanscountyny.gov.
How can I get my youth involved in the Safe Harbour Program? Please contact our Human Trafficking Liaison (Heather) at 585-589-7000 or email safeharbour@orleanscountyny.gov.
How do I learn more about awareness events on this topic? Please contact Heather at safeharbour@orleanscountyny.gov to be added to our email list.
To report activity that you suspect is related to human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center’s 24/7 hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Front row, from left: Amanda Nash, Alyssa Thomas, Jillian Peracciny, Becky Manfreda, Wendy Cruz, Alishia Foss, Jami Allport, Riki Lake, Trishia Allen, Marcy Boyce, Corey Winters and Kristine Mostyn. Back row: Valerie Wells, Quinton VerCruysee, Bryce Wilson, Nick Wetherwax, Ryan Lasal, Michael Weller, Abby Smith, Aeddon Cayea, Kevin Neureuter Jr., Tyler Baker, Jodi Fisher, Candace Casey, Alana Palone, Randy Heslor, Tim Ingrassia and Marissa Bell.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2025 at 7:31 pm
ALBION – A new class of the Leadership Orleans program kicked off a year of learning about the county and themselves with a two-day opening retreat on Thursday and Friday.
There are 28 members of the class representing several sectors in the community, including agriculture, education, human services, government, business and volunteerism
The program aims to build the “citizen capital” of the community, helping develop leaders who are educated on the many facets of the community.
The class in the opening retreat at Hoag Library did many ice-breaker activities to get to know each other. They also learned about their individual strengths and weaknesses, their personality types and how that shapes their decision-making and tendencies.
Skip Helfrich, executive director of Leadership Orleans since the program started in 2018, discusses different leadership styles during the opening retreat on Thursday. Some of those styles include dominant controller, cautious analytical, influencing promoter, and steadfast supporter.
The class meets monthly, building leadership skills and gaining knowledge, experiences and meeting people from many different sectors in the community. The class will spend different days focused on agriculture, non-profit organizations, government services, small and larger businesses, law enforcement, tourism, arts and culture, community health and economic development.
The group typically visits about 40 sites around the county and hears from about 50 presenters.
The program receives a stipend from the county, and there are many sponsors of programs throughout the years. The class members also pay tuition to be in Leadership Orleans.
This year’s class members include:
Trisha Allen, project director for UConnectCare Behavioral Health Services in Albion
Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern
Tyler Baker, technical resource manager for Lake Ontario Fruit in Albion
Marissa Bell, social scientist for U.S. Department of Energy
Marcy Boyce, office manager for Arc GLOW in Albion
Candace Casey, coordinator of work-based learning at Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby
Aeddon Cayea, deputy director of United Way of Orleans County
Wendy Cruz, manager of ACT, a program of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Jodi Fisher, program director for GO Art!
Alishia Foss, resource specialist for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Randy Heslor, production supervisor for The Print Shop in Medina
Tim Ingrassia, operational excellence manager for Baxter Healthcare
Riki Lake, logistics/finance for CHPC in Medina
Ryan Lasal, director of programming for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Becky Manfreda, assistant superintendent of instruction for Albion Central School
Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina
Amanda Nash, transportation director for Western New York Energy
Kevin Neureuter Jr., director of IT for Orleans County
Alana Palone, clinic administrator for Orleans Community Health
Jillian Peracciny, public information assistant for Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Abby Smith, literacy director for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County
Alyssa Thomas, clinic/SPOA coordinator for Orleans County Mental Health Clinic
Quinton VerCruysee, equipment operations manager for Orchard Dale Fruit Company in Carlton
Michael Weller, library assistant at Hoag Library in Albion
Valerie Wells, volunteer in Lyndonville community
Nick Wetherwax, senior director technical solutions at Info Advantage Inc. in Rochester
Bryce Wilson, farmer with Panek Farms in Albion
Corey Winters, director of Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
Photo courtesy of Matt Holland: Some of the graduates of the fall 2024 Microenterprise Assistance Program gathered for their graduation on Jan. 2. Pictured from left include Clarissa Gallup, Katie Sommerfeldt, Nyan Kaminsky, Molly Preston, Haley Black, Mark Hungerford, Donnie Rench, Vanessa and Jasser Cervantes. Others in the class include Brent Dahlhaus, Lionel Heydel, Chad Pike, Shannon Fair, Kelsie and Benjamin Stahl, and Nyan Kaminski.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2025 at 1:06 pm
ALBION – A new group of entrepreneurs has completed the 10-week Microenterprise Assistance Program offered by the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
The class included 14 graduates, which brings the total to 558 people who have completed MAP since it started in 2002. More than 200 have started a variety of businesses in the county.
The 10-week program covers topics such as legal requirements for starting a business, forms of ownership, business plan development, taxation for sole proprietors, marketing and advertising strategies, bookkeeping and record keeping, banking essentials, pricing goods and services, and cost analysis.
The graduates for fall 2024 include:
Brent Dahlhaus, restaurant/ property management
Haley Black, owner of Rise and Grind coffee shop in Albion
Lionel Heydel, owner of I-Chef NY in the restaurant and catering sector
Chad Pike, owner of Tavern on the Ridge on Route 104 in Gaines
Shannon Fair, owner of OMNI Construction
Vanessa & Jasser Cervantes, J&V Agrotech in Agriculture (Hydroponics)
Donnie Rench, New York Skies, a photography and events business
Clarissa Gallup, floriculture agriculture
Kelsie and Benjamin Stahl, craft items
Katie Sommerfeldt, KT Drainage Consulting
Mark Hungerford, maintenance construction
Molly Preston, Preston’s Farms
Nyan Kaminski, Cedar Hill Farms – agriculture and animal feed
A new class will start in the spring. MAP coordinator Matt Holland said he expects applications will open next month.
He told the EDA board of directors this morning there will be some tweaks in the program, including more local entrepreneurs as guest speakers.
The class size of 14 seemed ideal, allowing each person personalized attention and a manageable group size to network with each other, Holland said.
Provided photos: Nadine Hanlon, left, Orleans County Clerk, administers the oath of office to Julie Woodworth of Lyndonville as Orleans County coroner.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 10 January 2025 at 7:54 am
ALBION – The swearing in of Dr. Julie Woodworth of Lyndonville as coroner makes her only the second woman to serve as coroner in Orleans County.
Woodworth took the oath of office on Wednesday from county clerk Nadine Hanlon. Woodworth was elected in November. She succeeds Charlie Smith, who retired after 30 years in the position. She serves with chief coroner Scott Schmidt, Rocco Sidari and Dr. Tom Madejski, the coroners’ physician.
A woman serving as coroner is not that unusual, according to Schmidt.
“Dr. Ruth Barrett, a pathologist at Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital in Albion, was a former deputy medical examiner in New York City before coming to Albion, way before my arrival here in 1982,” Schmidt said. “She assumed the duties of coroner and also acted as the unofficial medical examiner for the county, often doing her own autopsies at the hospital to determine the cause and manner of death.”
Schmidt said he is excited to have Woodworth joining their team of coroners in Orleans County.
“She brings a vast amount of experience as a registered nurse to the position, which will be helpful in determining whether or not a cause of death is of a natural nature, along with the understanding of underlying mechanisms of disease and illnesses,” Schmidt said. “That knowledge, along with her personal skills from dealing with people in crisis is a perfect fit for understanding what this job is all about and for being a voice of calm and reason during an emotionally charged and most difficult time in peoples’ lives.”
Woodworth has been a nurse since 1987, obtaining her PhD from NOVA Southeastern University in Florida in 2019. She has worked at DeGraff Hospital in Tonawanda, in Newfane, Medina Memorial and most recently has been teaching at Niagara County Community College, now SUNY Niagara. She has held positions in all departments, including supervision.
She is the first nursing faculty member of SUNY Niagara to get a PhD and the only person there who ever got the Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award. This is the highest award given by SUNY and is based on teaching competence consistently demonstrated over multiple years at the graduate, undergraduate or professional levels. Contributing to her selection were articles she published in the Peer Review Journal on her service in the college community and teaching skills.
Julie Woodworth, center, is congratulated by Charlie Smith, left, who retired as coroner after 30 years, and her husband Mark, after she was sworn in as coroner on Wednesday.
Three years ago Charlie Smith, a nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital and an Orleans County coroner, asked her if she would be interested in running for his position when he retired at the end of 2024. He explained intently what was required and she decided she could run for the position and retire from college if she won.
“I started going on calls with Charlie, and he gave me great mentoring,” Woodworth said. “I also received information from Scott and Rocco.”
She has given up her position as a professor of nursing, but will stay on as an adjunct professor, and she continues at Medina Hospital per diem.
In addition, Woodworth has joined the company her husband Mark works for, Schaeffer Manufacturing, where she will be an independent sales person selling grease, oil and hydraulic fluid.
“This allows me to be flexible to go to cases when I’m called during the work day,” Woodworth said. “I feel a path has been laid for me. I’ve worked in surgery, so that has prepared me. And to be offered this opportunity to serve as coroner came at the right time to allow me to retire. There must have been a reason.”
Schmidt said Woodworth joins several other women coroners in the area, including Karen Lang, a registered nurse and long-time coroner in Genesee County; Laura Goodlander, a Niagara County coroner; and Dr. Nadia Granger, chief medical examiner in Monroe County.
Schmidt was first elected to the position in 1990 and immediately joined the New York State Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. He has attended all but three bi-annual educational conferences of the Association and just completed 16 years as their president. He is one of the instructors for the mandatory Coroner 101 Class, which Woodworth will be attending in the spring in Glen Falls.
“I’m proud to say I am author of the bill which became law in 2017 making the class mandatory for all newly elected and appointed coroners,” Schmidt said. “I am now working on a continuing education bill for coroners, which is currently getting some language revisions.”
Schmidt concluded he is looking forward to working with Woodworth, as she already has a wealth of knowledge from having worked with Charlie Smith, who Schmidt called “a great colleague, friend and public servant.”
“Charlie’s overall experience as an RN, Mercy flight nurse and a firefighter made him a well-rounded coroner, with access to many assets to help him with his investigations,” Schmidt said. “Julie has some of that experience and she also has my 34-plus years of experience as coroner, as well as the eight-plus years of Rocky Sidari to assist her in the proper technique of medicolegal death investigations, which she will have to follow as a coroner, and to also properly fill out the new electronic death certificates in tandem with Dr. Thomas Madejski, Orleans County’s coroners’ physician. I’m confident she’ll do a stellar job with it all and I welcome her to the team.”
ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Social Services’ Safe Harbour Program is holding a poster contest for students in grades 7-12 to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking. The theme is “Spot the Signs – Stop the Traffick.”
Posters must be 8.5 by 11 inches and should include red flags, vulnerabilities, warning signs and myths about sex trafficking. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Feb. 15 and must be brought or mailed to Orleans County DSS, 14016 Rt 31 W, Albion, NY 14411, attention Heather Jackson.
The first prize winner will receive a VR Headset; second prize is a bin full of multiple items; and third prize is a pair of Beats Solo 4 headphones.
The Safe Harbour program is designed to be a safe place for young people between 12-18 years of age. In addition to providing education and awareness, Safe Harbour provides lessons in life skills to promote a strong foundation to help children launch into their future.
For more information on the poster contest or the Safe Harbour program, please contact Heather Jackson at 585-589-2837 or email heather.jackson@orleanscountyny.gov.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2025 at 11:13 am
Howard is first woman to serve as county’s top prosecutor
Photos by Tom Rivers: Susan Howard, the new Orleans County district attorney, signs the oath of office next to County Clerk Nadine Hanlon after a brief swearing-in ceremony this morning in the Orleans County Courthouse.
ALBION – Susan Howard was sworn in as district attorney this morning in a brief ceremony in the Orleans County Courthouse.
Many of the law enforcement officials, county department heads and staff of the District Attorney’s office attended the ceremony.
Howard succeeds Joe Cardone as DA. He served in the role for 33 years. Howard was Cardone’s first assistant DA since 2011. He told a crowd at the swearing-in that he has full confidence in Howard as she takes over as district attorney, the county’s top prosecutor.
“It is an historic day in Orleans County with our first woman district attorney,” Cardone told about 30 people at the swearing-in. “Susan, I know you are prepared to do this job. It is a very difficult job as you well know from many years already. I know you are prepared to discharge the responsibilities of district attorney and do justice for the people of Orleans County.”
Howard won a Republican primary in June against John Sansone and was unopposed in November for the general election.
Susan Howard says the oath of office, vowing to support the constitution of the United States, the constitution of the State of New York and to faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of District Attorney of Orleans County, according to the best of her ability. Howard’s sister Judy Schult holds the Bible while County Court Judge Sanford Church administers the oath.
Howard became a lawyer in 2004. She didn’t go to law school until she was 33. Before that she was a paralegal and a caseworker with the Department of Social Services.
Her father, the late Richard Schult, owned the Lakeland restaurant at Point Breeze. He also worked at Kodak and flipped houses. He often reached out to a lawyer for advice, Howard recalled in an interview in June.
Howard said she wanted to be that person who could help people through a problem. It wasn’t until she did an internship at the DA’s Office that she turned her attention to being a prosecutor. After that experience in 2000, she said she found her passion as a lawyer.
Susan Howard is congratulated by County Court Judge Sanford Church after she was sworn in as the county’s new district attorney this morning.
She said she is ready to get to work and is proud of a team of full-time assistant DAs. That includes Daniel Punch as the first assistant DA. Punch, the son of retired County Court Judge James Punch, has worked as an assistant DA the past 13 years in Erie County.
He welcomed the chance to return to his home county. His father was the DA before becoming the county judge.
“This is my hometown and I wanted to work with Sue,” Punch said after the ceremony. “It’s an opportunity to do good in Orleans County.”
The other full-time assistant Das include Alex Eaton and Katie Buckley. Eaton worked as an intern in the District Attorney’s Office with Howard. He has been working for the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. He is married to Joe Cardone’s daughter, Rosalind.
Buckley was working out of the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office.
“It’s a strong team,” Howard said. “We will hit the ground running.”
Photos by Marsha Rivers: Susan Howard gets a photo taken with her successor, Joe Cardone, after the swearing in ceremony at the Orleans County Courthouse. Susan Howard is pictured with current County Court Judge Sanford Church, left, and retired County Court Judge James Punch, who also is a former district attorney for the county.