Photos by Tom Rivers: Emily Cebula, director of Yates Community Library in Lyndonville, said libraries have continued to provide important services to residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is speaking at Wednesday’s Orleans County Legislature meeting.

ALBION – The four public libraries in Orleans County are asking county legislators to keep them in the budget, during a time of fiscal stress for the county.

Orleans County official worry that sales tax revenues will be down, as well as state reimbursements, pressuring legislators to find ways to reduce costs. Legislators are working on the 2021 budget that will likely be adopted in late November or December.

The county currently provides $10,087 to the four libraries – Albion (Hoag Library), Holley (Community Free Library), Lyndonville (Yates Community Library) and Medina (Lee-Whedon Memorial Library).

The libraries for years have been asking for $1 per resident, which would be $42,883. The current allotment amounts to 23.5 cents per person.

“We are not asking for an awful lot of money but we are providing an awful lot of services to our community,” said David Schwert, a member of the board of directors for Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

Schwert said the local libraries function on a “shoe-string budget” and utilize many volunteers to provide services and run programs for children and adults.

Ginny Hughes, a trustee for the Yates library, said the libraries provide more than books, online access, meeting rooms and many other programs and services.

Ginny Hughes, a trustee for the Yates Community Library, asked legislators to keep money in the budget for libraries. Lisa Erickson, assistant director for the Nioga Library System, is at left.

The libraries are “a measuring stick of a community” for people and businesses that are looking to move into Orleans County, Hughes said.

“In this very difficult time please continue to support our libraries,” Hughes said.

Tom Bindeman is director of the Nioga Library System that serves Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties. He said the state has cut aid to Nioga by 27 percent. Nioga will be looking at layoffs and reduced services.

The county allocations are especially critical in light of the state reductions, Bindeman said.

He praised the libraries for retooling during the pandemic, and offering more online services. The libraries are seeing an increase in downloadable books and magazines, Bindeman said.

Many of the sites have also boosted the strength of the wireless signal in their parking lots so more people can access the internet, especially in the library off hours.

Bindeman also said the libraries have been helping people fill out the Census. Orleans County has lagged behind other nearby counties in Census participation. Bindeman said Nioga funding from the state is partly tied to the local population count. He urged county legislators to help promote the Census.

“Anything you can do to get the word out,” he said. “If you go down (in population), our funding also goes down.”

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The Villages of Orleans hasn’t had any new Covid cases since late May

Photo by Tom Rivers: The flag is lowered in this photo from May at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, out of respect for the victims of Covid-19. The state has had more than 25,000 people die after contracting Covid-19, including 30 at The Villages.

ALBION — The state has fined The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center $20,000 for its response to Covid-19. The fine is based on an inspection at the Albion nursing home in May.

The Villages is one of 23 nursing homes in the state that have been fined for failing to provide proper infection prevention and control measures.

The fines of the nursing homes ranged from $2,000 to $50,000. The $20,000 fine at The Villages was the seventh highest in the state, according to a report from The Buffalo News.

At The Villages in Albion, 89 residents tested positive for Covid-19 and 30 died after getting it. The 120-bed facility hasn’t had any new confirmed cases since late May.

The state Department of Health inspected The Village son May 9 and said there was a threat of “immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.”

The Villages corrected the failings according to a follow-up inspection on June 15.

DOH inspectors on May 9 said facility staff weren’t following proper infection prevention and control measures. One example included certified nursing aides and licensed practical nurses entering and exiting a room of a person with Covid, and then entering rooms of other residents without Covid.

The staff “passed breakfast trays, assisted with the residents’ meals and provided hands on care without wearing PPE and completing proper hand hygiene,” according to the DOH report.

The DOH said personal protective equipment wasn’t readily available to staff. Several employees told DOH there wasn’t adequate PPE for workers. DOH reported the director of nursing showed DOH staff a PPE storage room that had 1,000 surgical masks, 88,500 gloves, 600 powder free gloves, 480 N95 face masks, 1,950 gowns, 308 face shields, 19 pairs of goggles, 1,900 surgical masks, and 100 pairs of booties. The DON told the DOH inspectors that that only she and the assistant director of nursing had keys to this storage room.

The Department of Health also reported that many nursing home employees, including agency staff, did not seem educated on infection control policies, standard/droplet precautions and Covid-19.

“If employees are not following the proper measures for infection control, there is a risk for transmission and spread,” the DOH said in the inspection.

To see the report, click here.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator Skip Draper present a proclamation to Sheriff Chris Bourke on Wednesday, proclaiming this week as “Sheriff’s Week.” Bourke is joined by several staff in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature issued a proclamation on Wednesday declaring Sept. 20-26 as “Sheriff’s Week.”

In Orleans County, Sheriff Chris Bourke oversees an office that includes county police services, a marine division, the county jail, dispatching 911 emergency services, communication systems, animal control, and serving and executing civil process and victim protection orders for our courts.

Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said local residents respect law enforcement and treat them with reverence. That was apparent to her during a Sept. 11 memorial service in Albion.

“Today, sadly, our law enforcement community is under assault across the country,” Johnson said. “But not here in Orleans County. We respect you.”

Bourke, during the Legislature meeting on Wednesday, said he is honored to serve as the county’s sheriff.

“These are tough times but we will get through it together,” he said.

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10 businesses will be at site to take applications, answer questions

KNOWLESVILLE – There will be a first-time drive-through job fair today in Orleans County.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. People should enter the fairgrounds for the job fair from Taylor Hill Road, not Route 31.

The following local companies will be at the job fair: Western New York Energy in Medina, Saint-Gobain ADFORS in Albion, H.H. Dobbins in Lyndonville, Takefrom in Medina, Oak Orchard Health, Pride Pak in Medina, Velocitti in Medina, Orleans Community Health, ATB Staffing and Imagine Staffing.

The event is organized by the Orleans County Job Development Agency. People should bring an up-to-date resume. They also need to stay in their vehicles and wear a mask.

Another drive-through job fair is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Fairgrounds.

People interested in learning about or applying for local jobs will be directed to drive through a barn where the businesses will be stationed. Potential applicants should have resumes ready to provide to business representatives as they drive through.

For those wishing to find out more details about a particular job or for those businesses that want to interview on the spot, an additional barn will be designated for cars to park so there can be more conversation and exchange of information.

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United Way of Orleans County has been notified it has been awarded a $55,000 grant from the Western New York Covid-19 Community Response Fund, according to United Way executive director Dean Bellack.

Several months ago, Bellack organized a committee of representatives from a range of sectors and organization types, including United Way, Arc of Orleans/Genesee, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Orleans County Adult Learning Services, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Orleans County YMCA, Boy Scouts of America/Iroquois Trail Council, Praising Kids Daycare, Project Liftoff, Claims Recovery Financial Services, Takeform, Orleans County Job Development Agency and representatives from Orleans County Legislature, Orleans County Economic Development and Orleans Microenterprise Assistance Program.

United Way was the lead agency for this collaborative of county stakeholders, which requested $55,000 to implement a planning process for a county wide solution bridging the digital divide, increasing residents’ digital literacy skills and increasing access to employment opportunities, according to information from Bellack.

County Legislator Ken DeRoller was a member of the committee.

“This grant allows us to jump start a proactive planning process to access solutions, to move Orleans County into the 21st century,” DeRoller said. “Digital Access is the equivalent to having electricity 80 years ago.”

This money will enable the county to hire a consultant through a six-month planning phase to establish an “Orleans Digital Literacy Education Initiative.”

“We will have to work feverishly to gather information from all areas, including schools, farmers, corporations, etc. and hire a consultant to put together our proposal for the next round of funding,” Bellack said. “This consultant will look at all areas and identify all the gaps in the county.”

Bellack praised Robert Batt at Cornell Cooperative Extension, who was the county’s key in consolidating the information into the white paper that was awarded the funding.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A giant American flag is held high over Main Street in Albion from the ladder trucks of the Albion Fire Department and the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

The county held a remembrance memorial service of the 19^th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States.

David Wells, a Marine Corps veteran from Medina, was part of the Honor Guard during the service at the Courthouse Square.

Several law enforcement officers attended the service, including, from left: Sgt. Dave Foeller, Deputy Jeff Cole and Investigator Shannon Brett of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said that in the hours and days after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, “America came together like never before.”

She recalled seeing American flags out on “house after house, street after street.”

The country was united in mourning the loss of life and in its response to terrorist attacks.

“There will be no forgetting September 11^th,” Johnson said. “It is burned into our souls – those graphic pictures, the smoldering ash, and the endless funerals. We must hold on to our remarkable capacity to mourn those we have lost, be they friends, family or total strangers. Honor the value of all lives. They mattered on September 11^th, so must all lives matter today.”

The service was held by the Sept. 11 monument at the Courthouse Square.

There were about 200 people who attended the service, including this group of local firefighters. During the terrorist attacks 19 years ago, 343 New York City firefighters were killed. There were also 60 police officers and eight paramedics who died in the attacks.

Scott Schmidt

Scott Schmidt was the keynote speaker and one of the organizers of the observance. Schmidt spent three weeks with a federal team – U.S. Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team – and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones. He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero.

Schmidt, the county’s chief coroner and a local funeral director, urged people to not let the daily stresses distract them from remembering the loss of life on Sept. 11 and the response that followed. He recalled how the community came together to prayer and in person with friends and family. The community and country was “one” in its mourning.

“Today on the 19^th anniversary of one of the most tragic days in the history of our nation, we will never forget the attacks on our freedom,” Schmidt said. “We will never forget those who have fought for our freedom in years past and in present day.”

Dale Banker., the county’s emergency management director, shared a timeline from 19 years earlier. On Sept. 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., the North Tower was struck in New York City. At 9:03, a plane hit the South Tower. At 9:37, the Pentagon was struck. At 9:59 p.m., the South Tower fell. At 10:07 a.m., Flight 93 crashed in rural Shanksville, Pa. At 10:28 a.m., the North Tower collapsed.

Three local pastors – Aleka Schmidt of the Albion First Baptist Church, Susan Boring of the Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church and Susan Thaine of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion – sing “We Will Be a Shelter for Each Other.”

Al Pulcino of Holley plays Taps from the steps of the Orleans County Clerks’ Building. In front of his are members of the Honor Guard, Randolph Wells at left and Steve Johnson.

Dan Anderson and Eric Delano fire their guns during a rifle volley during the service. They are both from Medina.

Don Snyder, a chaplain with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, said he is thankful for first responders and other volunteers who serve the community.

This group of law enforcement officers attended the service. Sheriff Chris Bourke is at far left.

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Businesses seeking to fill job openings totaling 1,000 in Orleans County

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Job Development will have two drive-through job fairs this month at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The job fairs will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29. Each 10 businesses are expected to be available.

Orleans County currently has 1,009 job openings, said Kelly Kiebala, the Job Development director.

People interested in learning about or applying for local jobs will be directed to drive through a barn where the businesses will be stationed. Potential applicants should have resumes ready to provide to business representatives as they drive through, Kiebala said.

For those wishing to find out more details about a particular job or for those who businesses would like to interview on the spot, an additional barn will be designated for cars to be able to park so that further conversation and exchange of information can take place while remaining in the vehicle.

Masks and sanitizer will be available for any individuals attending who may not have their own, as masks will be required at all times.

Participating businesses will be posted on the Orleans County Job Development Facebook page as soon as they are confirmed. Pride Pak, Imagine Staffing and H.H. Dobbins have committed so far.

The first 10 businesses to request participation will be provided space. There is no cost to participate, but businesses will have to provide their own tables, chairs, etc., as well as enough staffing for both locations (so a minimum of two representatives).

All questions may be directed to Orleans County Job Development by calling 585-589-2772 or emailing ocjda@orleansny.com.

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