ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board would like to see the final plans for a proposed 22,000-square-foot addition to the County Administration Building.

Municipalities tend to be exempt from getting local reviews and approvals from other municipalities for building projects. While the county doesn’t need Planning Board approval, members of the board said a review could result in a better project.

“I truly believe when we have these discussions, and sometimes they are vigorous discussions, that we get a better product in the end,” said Ron Vendetti, a member of the board representing the Village of Holley.

Planning Board Chairman Brian Napoli brought up the issue during Thursday’s Planning Board meeting.

“They’re expanding the building,” Napoli said. “Shouldn’t we see the plan?”

The 17-member Planning Board reviews projects around the county for new buildings, additions, zoning changes and other land use matters.

“It’s kind of a double standard,” Napoli said. “They make zoning ordinances for everyone else.”

This rendering from Wendel shows a proposed 22,000-square-foot addition to the County Administration Building.

Vendetti, in his role as Albion code enforcement officer, said some recent projects in the village were exempt from his input, including projects at the school district and the new bus garage on county-owned land on West Academy Street.

Having another professional look over the plans could save significant money later if a mistake is caught before construction, Vendetti said.

“There is a lot of experience and expertise on this board,” Vendetti said. “I think we put a better product out when we sit here and talk about it.”

The Orleans County Legislature has approved a maximum bond of $10,063,881 for an addition to the County Administration Building on Route 31, behind the nursing home. The Public Health Department, Board of Elections and other county offices will be relocated to the new addition.

Jim Bensley, director of the county’s Department of Planning and Development, said he would talk with county legislators about having the project go before the Planning Board for a review.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The fall 2017 class has graduated from the Orleans Microenterprise Assistance Program. About 500 people have now graduated from MAP since it started in 1999.

Pictured, front row, from left: Diane Blanchard, MAP coordinator for the Orleans Economic Development Agency; Delanda DeLucia, dog grooming business; Beth Schorer, owner of Beth’s Freshly Started Sewing Box; Patrick Dishaw, Mold and Radon Assessment Services; Joe Nelson, Alana Monska and Jason Monska, A & J’s Bakery and BBQ Catering.

Small business advisors Dick Pettine, Jon Costello and Sam Campanella; Amanda Mrzywka, co-owner of Navarra’s Farm Market; Joan Navarra-Mrzywka, “Joaney Baloney” food truck at Navarra’s Farm Market; Felicia Viloria, considering a hot dog stand; Sara Mathes, owner of Sassy Girls Sparkle; Linda Suhr, IPA beer and wine retail store; Joshua Fisher, JJ Contracting; and Ben DeGeorge, owner of the Arnold Gregory Office Complex, where the class meets and there are offices for small businesses. Not pictured: Kerry Rosenberg, dog wash business.

The 10-week gives small business owners tips in marketing, handling stress, computers, legal issues, bookkeeping and taxes – all factors that are key to running successful businesses. They also must complete a business plan. The graduates are now eligible to seek low-interest financing for up to $30,000 from the Orleans EDA.

The Orleans Economic Development Agency has run the program since 1999, with classes in the spring and fall.

The class is held at the Arnold Gregory Memorial Complex in Albion. The graduation program was Tuesday at The Village Inn.

The EDA is preparing for the spring class which starts in April. There are spots available. Contact Diane Blanchard, MAP coordinator, at (585) 589-7060.

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FEMA expected to reimburse municipalities for much of their expenses in fighting flood

File photos: Jason Hardenbrook, a Kendall Highway Department employee, picks up a sandbag on May 5. Highway workers teamed with inmates from the Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica to fill and stack sandbags. Kendall should be reimbursed any overtime, fuel and out-of-pocket costs for its response to the lake flooding this year.

WASHINGTON, DC – The decision by the Trump Administration to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for the New York State southshore counties could result in more than $2 million collectively to the lakeshore towns of Carlton, Kendall and Yates, as well as Orleans County.

The three towns and the county collectively spent about $250,000 for overtime, diesel fuel, and other expenses with filling and moving sandbags, said Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director.

The flooding and erosion from the high lake waters also caused $2.5 million to 14 sites that are publicly owned in the county, Banker said. That includes infrastructure and municipal property.

The disaster declaration doesn’t include damage to residential and commercial properties.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will review the records submitted by the municipalities and should issue reimbursement checks, Banker said today.

The FEMA declaration so far includes the southshore counties of Jefferson, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne.

The declaration releases FEMA public assistance and hazard mitigation funds to cover emergency work, repairs and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, as well as make long-term improvements to reduce the impact of future disasters, U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer said in a news release on Monday.

Sandbags are stacked by the Kendall Town Hall on May 5.

“This is a massive and well-deserved shot in the arm for many lakefront counties that we fought long and hard to secure,” Schumer said. “It will provide federal funds for many counties hit hard by the relentless lake flooding, but we will keep up the pressure until we secure the same support for both Monroe and Cayuga Counties. Residents along Lake Ontario dealt with record-high lake levels and it has caused them to close businesses, caused damage to homes and eroded shoreline protections.”

“This Major Disaster Declaration for New York State is an important step to help the communities near Lake Ontario recover from the record flooding this past year,” Gillibrand said. “This designation unlocks important FEMA funding to repair damaged infrastructure and helps ensure that the Lake Ontario shoreline is better protected against future flooding. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that the residents hurt by this severe flooding have all the resources they need to fully rebuild.”

Schumer and Gillibrand explained that, with this disaster declaration grant assistance will be made available to state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, to reimburse costs incurred for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities. This funding is available on a cost-sharing basis; FEMA generally covers 75 percent of the eligible costs for permanent and emergency work.

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File photo by Tom Rivers: Congressman Chris Collins gets a tour of Green Harbor Campground and Marina on July 5 from co-owner Barb Anderson. The campground in Carlton was badly flooded by the high water from Lake Ontario.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Collins

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) commended the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approving the disaster declaration for flooding along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

This flooding has been attributable to the failed Plan 2014 that leaves the south shore of Lake Ontario in danger of historic erosion, Collins said. The congressman has been working closely with the Trump Administration to make sure this declaration was a priority amongst requests for other devastating disasters across the country.

“We have witnessed awful devastation along the shoreline and have stayed persistent in our fight to secure federal assistance,” said Collins. “My constituents desperately need this support and I thank the Trump Administration for its commitment to Western New York.”

Federal funding is available to the State and to tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the flooding in the counties of Jefferson, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

“Today’s news means that those impacted will have access to the wide-ranging disaster assistance FEMA can provide, but we will continue working with the Administration to make sure new IJC commissioners will be appointed to put an end to Plan 2014,” added Collins.

Collins has met with both President Trump and Vice President Pence, sharing his concerns about Lake Ontario’s shoreline flooding, the IJC and Plan 2014. Staff from the Collins office and the White House have been working closely since the request for a disaster declaration was issued to make sure this funding was secured. Monroe County remains under review and Collins will continue to work toward a resolution. Collins has received support from state and local leaders in highlighting these needs.

“We are very pleased with the FEMA declaration being made.  Hopefully, this will be the last time we need a declaration for these reasons,” said E. John DeFilipps, Chairman of Orleans County Legislature.

“This is great news for Niagara County and its lakeshore residents that have sustained serious property damage along our shoreline,” said William Keith McNall, Chairman of Niagara County Legislature. “Niagara County sincerely thanks Congressman Collins for his several trips to view lakeshore conditions and property damage through the last several months.  Niagara County recognizes and appreciates Congressman Collins’ persistent and unending efforts in trying to attain this funding that is so important to lakefront communities, for which Niagara County is very grateful.”

“I know I speak for lake-shore residents, small businesses, and local governments when I thank Congressman Collins for his hard work to ensure New York gets the federal resources it desperately needs for flood recovery. As lake levels recede, we’re still fully assessing the damage. FEMA aid will be a critical step as we help devastated home and business owners and as we rebuild our communities,” said State Senator Robert Ortt.

“FEMA’s decision today is a monumental step for our communities who have been living with the damage done by Lake Ontario’s flooding since last winter. While the damage was certainly unparalleled, this funding will undoubtedly help NY State continue helping those in need. I commend FEMA for its decision and I thank Congressman Collins for all of his hard work during this time and in making this funding a reality,” said Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

“FEMA’s approval of the disaster declaration for flooding is very welcome news to the residents and businesses that have endured the devastation of the extreme high water levels of Lake Ontario’s south shores. I applaud President Trump for his action and Congressman Chris Collins for his tireless advocacy on behalf of these communities. I will continue to work hard fighting for the necessary funding and resources to make our shoreline communities whole,” said Assemblyman Mike Norris.

“Congressman Collins has led our NORA (Niagara Orleans Regional Alliance) fight from day one for our Lakeshores, to Washington, and back through Albany. These monies are desperately needed to offset the horrendous expense incurred by this man-made disaster created by the IJC. We thank you Congressman Collins.” said David E. Godfrey, Niagara County Legislator and Lynne M. Johnson, Orleans County Legislator in a joint statement.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – David Kusmierczak of Medina stands with the color guard during the Veterans Day observance at the County Veterans Service Agency, 13996 Route 31 West. Veterans and community members stood in the freezing cold to remember and honor the sacrifices of veterans.

The program today included short speeches by veterans who have served in wars since World War II. This photo shows Vietnam War veteran Ray Smeal at the podium.

The 105 mm howitzer in front of the Veterans Service Agency office was used in the Korean War. That cannon was dedicated at the site on July 27, 2003, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.

Nancy Traxler of Waterport served 27 years in the Air Force, including a tour of duty in Afghanistan. She said she enjoyed working with other soldiers on missions.  She works as a veterans service officer in Orleans County. Traxler said her current role keeps her active with veterans and connected to the “military family.”

Steve Goodrich, commander of the American Legion Post in Lyndonville, also served 10 years with the U.S. Navy as a corpsman. During Desert Storm he worked out of a Naval Hospital in South Carolina, and collected and sent 2,400 units of blood to the battlefield.

Joshua Fleck of Holley served 20 years in the military including a tour in Iraq. He said soldiers and veterans look out for each other.

“I miss it everyday,” he said about his time in the military.

Matt Passarell, right, and Mike Donahue were part of the Honor Guard at today’s ceremony in Albion.

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The winner of the 2017 Orleans County Tourism Photo Contest has been announced. Peggy Barringer of Albion took the winning photo this year – “When the Sun Goes Down…at the Point” – on Sept. 21 at Point Breeze, showing a fisherman and a sailboat in silhouette at sunrise.

Barringer also won the contest in 2016 with a photo of lilacs in bloom at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Dennis Button of Albion came in second with “Memorial Day Cemetery” at Mount Albion. Elizabeth Carpenter of Waterport was third with a photo from the top of the tower at Mount Albion, looking above the tree line towards the county courthouse in Albion. “

Judging was tough as there were 25 photographers who submitted 85 images that captured the essence of Orleans County – from rainbows & sunsets to waterways & wildlife, said Lynne Menz, the county’s tourism director.

A jury of 15 was asked to rank their top 10 picks with the following criteria to consider:

• Does the subject have a Tourism draw?Is this an interesting attraction worth travelling to? Is it current?

• Quality: Is the photographer skilled in using interesting design elements such as depth-of-field, perspective, texture, symmetry or contrast? Is this image “Magazine Cover Worthy”?

• “Only in the OC”: Is the image iconic to Orleans County or could this picture be taken anywhere?  Does it represent Orleans County’s character?

• The WOW Factor: Does the image spark a positive emotion in you?

• The I-GOT-IT! Factor: Was the photographer in the right place at the right time?

View the Top 15 entries by clicking here.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Sarah Gatti, a planner in the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development, was named the county’s “Employee of the Year” today.

ALBION – The Orleans County “Employee of the Year” enjoys working with data and creating multi-layered maps to helps residents know the zoning and other characteristics of their property.

Sarah Gatti is a planner with the Orleans County Department of Planning and Department. She joined the county 2 ½ years ago and has worked on numerous projects, including the consolidation of the county’s agricultural districts into one county-wide district. That effort involved three mailers to property owners – 1,000 letters each time.

Gatti sent the letters and had categorize the results. The county-wide district has made the ag districts more efficient and much easier for farmers to manage, especially when the land in multiple districts, said Jim Bensley, director of the Planning and Development Department.

He also praised Gatti for creating “Map Orleans” – a free-, intuitive, on-line mapping tool on the county website. It allows the public to see aerial views of all parcels in the county, and see, in graphic form, information about legislative representatives, zoning districts, bus routes, garbage collection days, and lots of environmental data.

“It’s a wealth of knowledge for current and prospective residents and developers,” Bensley said in a letter, nominating Gatti for employee of the year.

She also generated a workbook for the County Emergency Management Office to help with documenting the flooding that occurred along the Lake Ontario shoreline this past spring on both private and public land.

The county’s Planning and Development Department is working on a comprehensive plan update in western Orleans County. The department has sent out surveys and is compiling that feedback. Gatti, again, has been instrumental in the effort, Bensley said.

Gatti, in her first year on the job, also created a map of local farm markets and produce stands.

Bensley praised Gatti for tackling many of the tasks “with remarkable speed and precision.”

Gatti was picked employee of the year by a committee in the Employee Assistance Program. The committee chose from employees of the month, including October 2016, Danielle Champeney (social services); November, John Rich (public health); December, Julie Papalia and Jennifer Hazel (social services).

January 2017, Connie Ferris (public health); February, Scott Dugan; March, Sarah Gatti (planning); April, IMA employees in social services, Mary Barnard, Marilea Greean, Julianne McGrath, Julie Papalia, Christine Pask, Angel Slick, Jennifer Szalay and Lisa Thrash; May, N/A; June, Amberlyn Robinson and Liz Milazzo (social services); July, Patricia Eick (emergency management); August, Elizabeth Liebert (mental health); and September, Rose Michaels.

Provided photo: Sarah Gatti, center, is congratulated on her award by, from left: County Legislator Ken DeRoller, Legislator Lynne Johnson, Personnel Director Jack Welch and Legislature Chairman John DeFilipps.

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File photo by Tom Rivers: Joe Gehl, a Korean War veteran, is shown with the Honor Guard during the Albion Strawberry Festival parade in June 2015. Gehl will be one of the speakers during Saturday’s Veterans Day program.

ALBION – The Veterans Day program in Orleans County has usually included several speeches from local and state politicians.

The event on Saturday won’t include any remarks from political figures. This time the program exclusively features comments from veterans.

The service is at 11 a.m. outside the County Veterans Service Agency, 13996 Route 31 West.

Earl Schmidt, the Vetetrans Service Agency director, will give the welcome and lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Brad Smith, an Iraq War veteran from Albion, will give the invocation.

There will then be short speeches from veterans who served in the current wars to a veteran who fought in World War II.

The lineup of featured veterans giving speeches includes Henry Wagner of Holley, World War II; Joe Gehl of Albion, Korean War; Ray Smeal of Medina, Vietnam War; Steve Goodrich of Lyndonville, Desert Storm; Joshua Fleck of Holley, Iraq War; Nancy Traxler of Waterport, Afghanistan War.

The Veterans Day observance will also include a rifle salute from Color Guard members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War.

Refreshments will be provided by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The public is welcome to attend the ceremony.

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Outside-village residents would see about $2 increase in tax rate

Photos by Tom Rivers: Paul Bishop, associate principal with the Center for Governmental Research, goes over a list of options for law enforcement services in Orleans County during a meeting Wednesday at Hoag Library in Albion.

ALBION – A committee looking at law enforcement options in Orleans County said one way to increase efficiencies would be to dissolve the village police departments and have the Sheriff’s Office assume the service in the villages.

That would result in a significant tax reduction in the village, $6 to $8 per $1,000 of assessed property in Albion and Medina, while raising the county taxes about $2 per $1,000.

There were two public meetings on Wednesday about the study. A steering committee that includes local law enforcement leaders and elected officials has been working with CGR in Rochester to examine the costs of local law enforcement and see if there are ways to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.

Orleans County municipalities spend about $6.5 million annually for law enforcement with road patrols and other services. About half of that is spent at the Sheriff’s Office. The Village of Albion spends $1.36 million, Medina pays $1.3 million, Holley spends about $300,000 and Lyndonville pays about $30,000 for a part-time officer.

There are 52 full-time officers or deputies in the county, 21 part-time. That doesn’t include State Police.

Paul Bishop, an associate principal with CGR, has been working on the study with a steering committee since August 2016. He presented five options for law enforcement in the county during the two public meetings on Wednesday.

About 60 people, including many law enforcement professionals and elected officials, attended the meeting in Albion. There was also a meeting later about the report in Holley.

Abolishing village police departments would require a referendum at each village. Bishop said the police unions will likely fight the changes and elected officials may not embrace them, either.

“It becomes a community issue to decide what you do moving forward,” he told about 60 people at a public meeting at the Hoag Library. After the 5:30 p.m. meeting in Albion, Bishop and the committee then had a 7:30 p.m. meeting in Holley to go over some of the options in the report. (There is a 5:30 p.m. meeting Nov. 15 at Medina High School Auditorium and a 7 p.m. meeting on Nov. 21 at Lyndonville High School Auditorium.)

Here are the five options presented by the committee:

• Status Quo – No changes with village police departments continuing to be the primary patrol in their villages. The costs will continue to rise, collectively increasing by about $1 million every 5 years, Bishop said.

“The burden on taxpayers, particularly in the villages, will increase,” Bishop said.

• Expanded Collaboration – The remaining departments remain intact but share resources for evidence storage, central booking and holding, and training and tools.

Pete Sidari, an Albion village trustee, raises his hand to ask a question. Sidari said some “hidden costs” may mean the projected savings won’t be as high.

• Villages Scale Back – Albion and Medina both have two officers on night shifts, and Holley has one officer committed overnights. However, there are few calls between 2 and 8 a.m. on weekdays. One option would be for Albion and Medina to have only one officer working during that low-call volume five days a week. Holley could not have an officer at those hours. There are existing resources to help the villages with the Sheriff’s Office and State Police during the overnight.

That would save Albion and Medina about $100,000 a year. The savings wouldn’t be very dramatic in Holley because that department covers many of its shifts with part-time officers.

Kevin Sheehan, a former Albion village trustee, said having only one officer on duty puts the officer at risk. He said he favors paying for two officers at all times, even during the overnight, to improve safety for the responding officers.

• Villages Contract with County – The villages could abolish their departments and contract with the Sheriff’s Office for dedicated patrols and service within the villages. Bishop said residents would notice little change, but would see about $250,000 in savings in the Village of Albion, for example, and about $200,000 in Medina.

The staffing levels could all remain the same. Because deputies at the Sheriff’s Office are paid less than the Albion and Medina police officers, that’s where the villages would see a financial savings, Bishop said.

With the contract option, some higher paid supervisors at the village departments could be reassigned as investigators or in other positions that pay less.

Holley and Lyndonville, because they use part-time staff, would actually have to spend more if they contracted with the Sheriff’s Office because deputies are full-time with benefits.

In the contract option, the villages would pay for patrol cars and capital costs. The villages would still bear much of the expense of the operation, but the law enforcement officers would be county employees managed by the sheriff or an official in the Sheriff’s Office.

“We’d be giving up our ownership and have very little say,” said Pete Sidari, a trustee on the Albion Village Board.

If Albion was able to see a $250,000 savings in the contract option, that would represent about a 10 percent tax cut.

Paul Bishop stands near a slide that shows a breakdown of each law enforcement entity in the county.

• Single Agency – If the Sheriff’s Office did all of the local law enforcement, the headquarters would be in Albion with zone offices in Medina and Holley. Medina and Holley could lease the space to the county or offer the substations for free as an incentive for a law enforcement presence, Bishop said.

Each zone would have a lieutenant, and the the number of law enforcement officers would remain the same as today. Bishop said residents would see little change in service. The current Albion, Medina and Holley police would have expanded patrols to just beyond the village lines where there is a lot of commercial activity. The patrols would ultimately be focused on demand for service, which would still likely be concentrated at the villages.

The steering committee expects there would be improved service and response times with no municipal boundary constraints. There could also be better training and specialization with the county-wide force as the single entity.

There would be a tax shift with this option, with the villages seeing about $3 million in costs moved to the county. That would have a dramatic impact on the Albion tax rate, dropping it from near $18 to about $10. In medina, it would fall from near $18 to about $11, and Holley’s would fall from about $16 to $11. Lyndonville wouldn’t see much change in its rate, which is about $14.

The county tax rate would increase about $2. So the village savings should factor in their high county taxes. In Albion, where the tax rate would drop about $8, the total impact would be about a $6 decrease in the tax rate because of the higher county taxes. For a homeowner with an $80,000 house, that would represent $480 in tax savings.

Bishop said the county might want to ease so of that tax shift so it doesn’t hit the outside-village residents so hard. The county could stop sharing sales tax with the villages or reduce it.

The four villages collectively receive $379,265 in sales tax out of about $16 million in the county.

Any changes that result in abolishing a village police department will be subject to a public referendum, and many more public meetings, Bishop said.

CGR did a survey of the attendees at the meeting to see how many would be interested in a single law enforcement entity for the county. There were 60 people in attendance, and many were elected officials or law enforcement officers. About 60 percent said they were interested in the single entity.

“This is just the start of the conversation,” Bishop said.

To see the report from CGR, click here.

BARRE – The Town of Barre, which had the only three-person race for town supervisor in Orleans County, led the 10 towns for voter turnout during Tuesday’s election.

In Barre, 48.4 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. Sean Pogue, Robin Nacca and Cyndi Van Lieshout all were on the ballot to be town supervisor. Pogue won and will succeed Mark Chamberlain, who is retiring from the post.

Carlton had the second highest turnout at 47.0 percent. The highway superintendent race was the most hotly contested in Carlton with highway employee Kurt VanWyke defeating his boss, David Krull, for the top job.

Kendall, which had a hard-fought race for town clerk with Amy Richardson winning re-election, had the third highest turnout at 44.8 percent, above Murray and Gaines which had fierce battles for town supervisor.

There were five towns that topped a turnout of 40 percent. The county rate was 38.2 percent on Tuesday (8,693 voters out of 22,739 registered).

The last local election was two years ago and the turnout then was also 38.2 percent. The race for sheriff highlighted that election. Two years ago Yates topped the towns in turnout at 50.2 percent. That was the election when Jim Simon won town supervisor in a write-in campaign, defeating the incumbent. Simon was unopposed on Tuesday.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Sandy Church, center, is pictured with his wife Diane Church and Charlie Nesbitt, the former state assemblyman, during a celebration at the Black North Inn.

Orleans County voters picked Sanford Church, an Albion attorney and the county’s current public defender, to be the next county judge.

Church received 57 percent of the vote against Tonia Ettinger, an Orleans County native who currently works an attorney for the Legal Aid Society in Rochester.

Church received 4,564 votes to 3,419 for Ettinger. Church had the Republican line and Ettinger ran with the Democratic and Conservative lines.

Church follows James Punch, who retired after nearly 27 years as the county judge. Church, during a victory celebration at the Black North Inn, said the court has been running well and doesn’t need any major changes.

“The court system isn’t broken,” he said. “I’m confident I can keep it going.”

Church was backed by the Orleans County Bar Association and numerous attorneys who live and work in the county.

“He certainly had the backing of the legal community and that tells you something about what the people who have to practice in front of him think about him,” said Charlie Nesbitt, the former state assemblyman who helped Church with the campaign.

Nesbitt has known Church for many years and said the newly elected judge has the perfect temperament for a judge. Church is low-key and weighs the facts, Nesbitt said.

“He is almost perfectly qualified to be the judge,” Nesbitt said. “He has experience in all of the courts and he has a judicial temperament.”

Ettinger was grateful for the chance run in the election and give county residents a choice for the 10-year position.

“Thank you – two small words that hardly seem sufficient,” she said in a statement. “Thank you to Allen Lofthouse (Conservative Party Chair) and Jeanne Crane (Democratic Party Chair) and all the members of both committees for believing in me from the start. Thank you to the two parties for coming together in pursuit of a common goal.

“Too often in elections there is no choice. I am proud, honored and grateful to have been the one to offer the voters a choice.  Thank you to my fiancé Paul, my son Blake and the rest of my family, especially my mother for always inspiring me to stand up for what I believe in even in the path of adversity.

“Thank you to my friends, both old and new, for encouraging and supporting me along the way. Thank you to the people who have fought and continue to fight protecting our right to vote. Finally and most importantly thank you to the voters of Orleans County. I could not have made it through this journey without your support. I am incredibly inspired by the complete strangers who offered their support and those that registered to vote for the first time to vote for me. Thank you.”

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Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower

ALBION – This past Saturday the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office once again participated in the National Prescription Take-Back Event that was sponsored by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

The collection event yielded over 773 pounds of unused medication and sharps. All of the collected medications were transported by the Sheriff’s Office to a designated incineration facility for destruction.

The prescription take-back event has been very successful in Orleans County and to date the Sheriff’s Office has collected over 5,600 pounds of unused medications and sharps. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will continue to support future collection events with the purpose of safely disposing unused medications and to reduce the potential for criminal diversion.

In addition, The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Medina and Holley Fire Departments for supporting this initiative by allowing the sheriff’s office to use their facilities as collection locations. We would further like to thank the Drug Free Communities Coalition for providing volunteers at each collection site and the Orleans County Public Health Department for assisting with advertising the event.

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