By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 3 July 2016 at 12:00 am
Eileen Sorochty of Albion shows off the blooms on one of the clematis vines which grace her home garden in Albion. Her garden is one of six featured on this year’s Garden Path Tour on July 16.
Orleans County Master Gardeners will host their 2016 Garden Path Tour on July 16, featuring six gardens, mainly in Albion and Medina.
Master Gardner Eileen Sorochty is helping to organize the event and her garden in Albion is one of the six “Garden Stars” included on the tour.
Sorochty’s garden surrounding her home on East Avenue is a mix of relaxed borders and beds which feature spring bulbs, perennials, flowering shrubs, and garden art and ornaments. Additionally, Sorochty grows vegetables and has plantings devoted to attracting and hosting butterflies as well as other pollinators.
The house she lives in is her childhood home, and some of Sorochty’s mother’s plants – including iris and a clematis – are still part of the garden.
A bright red Monarda or Bee balm blossom in Eileen Sorochty’s garden welcomes pollinators.
She grows heirloom tomatoes which she calls, “different and tasty,” as well as vegetables completely new to her like bok choy.
The garden features a small patio pond and solar night features and Sorochty says she is working towards all organic gardening practices and a new composting system.
Other 2016 Garden Stars are Sharon Sugar, who is a neighbor of Sorochty’s. Her garden is child-friendly with play equipment, a pond garden, outdoor rooms and seating areas.
The mostly shaded garden of Sharon Sugar in Albion features several outdoor seating areas and a rose garden.
The English gardens of Brandi Zavitz on Center Street in Medina feature perennials and a pond; Ruth Shewan’s country garden on West Shelby Road in Medina includes perennial beds and a greenhouse. A memorial garden honors the Native American relics said to be buried on the property.
Ann and Stephen Bunch’s garden on Howell Parkway in Medina is a relaxed English garden that is bird-friendly. Additionally, the Bunch’s have many trees and a Pagoda garden.
Jeannette Riley has an eclectic garden at her home on Braley Street, by the canal in Albion. It is filled with re-purposed glass/metal/gates/doors/ knobs and more. Riley grows perennials and flowering shrubs and her garden features a mini guest house with a patio.
Eileen Sorochty uses an old wooden wagon bed for a fairy garden. She stores the elements indoors during the winter.
“You can start where ever you want, we will have a map of the gardens for you,” Sorochty says regarding the tour.
The Garden Path Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine on July 16. Tickets are are available at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension – 12690 Rt. 31 in Knowlesville. Call 798-4265 for more information. Tickets are also available the day of the tour at any of the featured gardens. Sorochty requests that you bring correct change for tickets if purchasing day-of. Participants will receive a hand-stamp to show that they have paid and will have their names entered in a drawing for a gift certificate from Sara’s Garden Center in Brockport.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – This photo last Sunday shows a soccer field at Albion with yellowed grass. Many of the lawns, crops and vegetation are suffering with a shortage of water so far this growing season.
The United States Drought Monitor on Thursday announced that nearly all of Orleans is in “moderate drought” conditions. Niagara, and portions of Erie and Genesee counties also are considered to be in “moderate drought.” Many other counties in New York are considered “abnormally dry,” according to the Drought Monitor. (Click here to see the map.)
The Orleans County did get some rain late this afternoon when a severe thunderstorm briefly passed through the area.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 June 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A steering committee studying law enforcement services in Orleans County picked the Center for Governmental Research in Rochester as a consultant on the project.
CGR will be be paid about $74,000 for its work over the next year, presenting options for how law enforcement could best be provided in the future, whether with the current model of three village police department plus the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office or perhaps a full takeover with the county providing the service without the village police.
“We will be looking at multiple options,” said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.
Transitioning from village police departments to a county-only model would require several public referendums. Nesbitt said the committee may consider a phased in approach.
The committee wants to keep the public aware of the initiative, and get feedback from the community, Nesbitt said.
There has already been efforts by law enforcement agencies to share, including Albion and Holley using the same police chief with Roland Nenni.
There may be opportunities for joint training, shared equipment and other projects. CGR will work with the local law enforcement agencies collecting data on services, and will analyze ways for the service to best be provided in the future. The firm has a May 2017 to complete the report.
CGR has done many studies for shared services and consolidation of government agencies, including the report that looked how the Village of Medina could be dissolved.
The steering committee for the law enforcement study includes four village mayors – Dean London of Albion, Brian Sorochty of Holley, John Belson of Lyndonville and Michael Sidari of Medina; Orleans County legislators John Defilipps, Lynne Johnson and David Callard, who are members of the county’s Public Safety Committee; Police chiefs Roland Nenni of Albion and Holley, and Chad Kenward of Medina (represented during Wednesday’s meeting by Lt. Todd Draper); Sheriff Randy Bower; County Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt; union representatives including Jeff Gifaldi of the OC Deputies’ Association, Dave Mogle for the Albion police, and Brian Marsceill of the Medina police; and community members, Cindy Robinson (president of the Medina Business Association) and Dan Monacelli (principal of the Albion Middle School).
A state grant for $36,000 was approved for the law enforcement shared service and efficiency study. The county is paying the other $38,000.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 June 2016 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – The Orleans County Legislature approved hiring the Wendel firm to design an addition on the County Administration Building on Route 31, behind The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved an agreement with the Wendel firm to design an addition on the County Administration Building, new space that could be used for relocated county offices and perhaps as a meeting room and offices for the Legislature itself.
The Legislature on April 27 announced that is was considering new construction on the County Administration Building at 14106 Route 31 West.
The Legislature on April 27 authorized paying Wendel $30,000 for a feasibility study for an addition to the County Administration Building.
The county may shift several offices to the addition, including the Board of Elections and Public Health Department, which is leasing space from Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services.
Comprehensive purchased the former county nursing home for $7.8 million in January 2014. The county has been leasing space from Comprehensive for Elections and Public Health because those offices are part of the nursing home complex.
The county could also shift information technology (currently in Treasurer’s Office), the legislative chambers (in County Clerk’s Building), the county’s administrative office (also in Clerk’s Building) and create large multi-use rooms to accommodate training for large groups, conference rooms and offices.
The Legislature last week approved paying Wendel up to $70,000 to design the addition to the Administration Building. That scope of work not only includes designing the building, but determining parking and circulation needs, site access, utility service requirements, energy efficiency and sustainability requirements, and other analysis of the site.
David Callard, the County Legislature chairman, said in April that moving Elections and Public Health from leased space will free up money that could go towards the addition, perhaps making the project cost neutral to county taxpayers.
Callard said he and county officials have looked at existing buildings, including sites in Albion’s historic downtown, but those sites wouldn’t improve efficiency of the county government operations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 June 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A steering committee that will study law enforcement services in Orleans County will meet today at 7 p.m. and is expected to pick a vendor to assist with the project.
The committee will meet in Conference Room C of the County Administration Building on Route 31, and will interview two consultants interested in working on the study.
The county received a $36,000 matching state grant for the law enforcement shared service and efficiency study. The county is paying the other $36,000.
The committee will include police chiefs and elected officials from the four villages and Orleans County, which all provide police services. The steering committee and a consultant will explore the efficiency of current local law enforcement operations and compare them with alternative policing models, including the potential consolidation of all local departments into one.
County officials have set May 2017 for completion of the report with recommendations and alternatives for the community.
The study will look at the operations at the Sheriff’s Office, and the Albion, Medina and Holley police departments. Lyndonville also has a part-time officer.
There may be opportunities for shared administration, joint purchasing and other initiatives that would keep the existing village police departments. Or the committee may suggest the village departments be dissolved with a county-wide force taking the lead.
If the villages dissolved their police departments, it would provide significant tax relief for villages. However, county taxes would likely then go up.
Holley has talked before of dissolving its police department and Medina, as part of a failed dissolution proposal last year, said a town-wide force in Shelby and Ridgeway could be created.
County Legislature Chairman David Callard has said he wants to be proactive in looking at policing services and not be caught off guard by a village that dissolves its force, expecting the Sheriff’s Office to assume village road patrols and calls.
The study will look at alignment of current compensation and benefits agreements, determining the costs of a combined police force. The committee will look at potential obstacles to consolidation and provide guidance to overcome those obstacles, according to the county’s Request For Proposals for the study.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 29 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
ALBION – The Orleans County Veterans Service Agency held an Open House Monday afternoon at its Albion office. Those attending were able to meet Director Earl Schmidt, administrative assistant Mary Jo Syck and volunteers from the Joint Veterans Council Veterans’ Van Transportation Service.
Additionally, information was provided on benefits and services available to veterans and their families and dependents. The office has undergone renovations recently which include making it handicapped accessible.
The Veterans Service Agency provides veterans in Orleans County with state and federal veterans benefit counseling and application services. Director Earl Schmidt says he will be able to take these new tri-fold display boards to events around the county, such as the 4-H Fair, to help inform veterans of the services the office can provide.
The office is located at 13996 Route 31 in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Chuck Baker of Medina tries to make contact with a ham radio operator outside the area on Saturday. Baker is president of the Orleans County Amateur Radio Club, which has 42 members.
The club is joining ham operators from throughout the country in the annual Field Days event, where ham radio operators try to make contact with other operators. The Orleans club has won awards in the past for making contacts from operators in all 50 states.
The event started at 2 p.m. Saturday and continues until 4 p.m. today. Within the first five hours on Saturday, the Orleans operators had made 300 contacts.
The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club is holding the event at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, 14064 West County House Rd., Albion. This photo shows ham radio operators, from left: Mike Moriarty of Medina, Ed Weider of Medina and Chuck Baker of Medina.
The Field Days are also a chance to introduce the public the amateur radio. The ham radio operators have a license to operate a ham radio from the FCC. Each operator has a call sign, and must take a test.
The Orleans club meets the second Mondays each month at 7:30 p.m. at Emergency Management Office. The club welcomes more members. It currently has several members outside Orleans in Niagara, Genesee and Monroe counties.
George Lloyd of Brockport, left, takes a turn at the radio. The operators will give visitors a chance to be on the air during Field Days.
The Orleans County Club is about 65 years old. For more information about the club, click here to see its web site.
(Editor’s Note: Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard delivered these remarks during the June 22, 2016, Legislature meeting.)
Every year it seems that the Empire Center for Public Policy puts out a list of the highest tax rates in the state – and every year the citizens of Orleans County are treated to a rehash of news articles highlighting certain parts of the study and scolding local officials, whether they be village, town, county, or school, for their role in achieving that dubious ranking.
Most recently there was an article on village taxes within the county reporting them among the worst in the state. What is lacking in this news article, however, was the whole story.
Villages are constantly being ranked regardless of size. Given that premise – one benchmark that is always used is the Top 20 Property Tax Bills on Median-Value Homes. That list has never included an Orleans County village, but that is never mentioned. Or more significantly, included in the report, but is never mentioned in articles, is that the county taxes paid per capita in Orleans County are the SECOND
LOWEST of the 57 counties in New York State. Again – the second lowest taxes paid per person in New York State.
People tend to be negative without acknowledging all of the facts. This is something the state government does all the time when deriding the counties. The town of Ridgeway is a solid 816th out of 932 for towns in taxes per capita. The Medina School district is also very solid at 625th out of 702 for local spending per pupil among school districts. Even the Village of Medina’s 238th out of 557 in taxes per capita doesn’t seem so earth shattering considering the high level of services.
Let’s face it; casting blame without an acknowledgement of all the facts is something we get plenty of from people in Albany. We don’t need to do it here as well. It would be responsible to cite those other stats as they give a fuller picture.
Orleans County pays over $16,000,000 to the state in unfunded mandates- our entire tax levy. But articles and the critics constantly disregard that fact, and seldom if ever criticize the Governor and the New York State Legislature for the property taxes at the county level alone and even more at the school level.
According to every academic study ever undertaken on the subject, the fundamental differences between New York State and the other states in the country boil down to two basic things: 1) the way New York State funds Medicaid and 2) the way New York State funds education. Sure we have lots of other over-regulation and taxation issues beyond those two. But, those are the really big ones.
New York is the only state in the country to require a significant local share of Medicaid be paid by the counties and the average state funds two-thirds of public education through income taxes while New York State funds about one-third. It’s really that simple.
Indeed the village governments of Orleans County face tremendous challenges, not the least of which is the high property tax rates. The dissolution efforts in the Village of Medina, though rejected by Medina residents, if nothing else, forced a conversation, a necessary conversation.
In some areas of our local governments, we are doing business in the 21st century on 20th century terms. In some cases, we are holding on to old ways of doing business that could be changed for the betterment of the community at large. This isn’t to say that people are wrong for feeling that they want to hold on to their village, or their town, or their school district.
What it does tell us, is that it’s time for us to challenge ourselves, people on both sides of the argument, east and west, north and south. Challenge ourselves to take a hard look at what we are doing and ask ourselves “If given a clean slate, would we build our service delivery models the way they are now, or completely different?”
Inevitably, we are going to find areas where we can build a better mousetrap together. We have the ability to fix what ails us to some degree. We can work with our friends and neighbors and make changes that will raise all boats. We can realign service models, adjust cost centers, and change the landscape profoundly.
If we are going to seek honesty about mandates and education funding from the state, we also need to be honest with ourselves. This is a conversation that should take place in earnest and should seek solutions that remove Orleans County and its villages, towns and school districts from such a list forever.
Apologies to those that believe the answer is to complain that the county should give away more sales tax. The answer to this challenge is not to have the taxpayers of the county surrender cash to the village governments, to throw at their existing service models, buying them time until the inflation and expense curve catches up with them again as some suggest.
The answer is change. Change that we can all buy into that alters the equation. It requires compromise. It requires faith. And, it requires casting off old notions of provincialism.
Truth be told about sales tax, when examining statistics from 2013 on New York State Counties, there are 14 counties under 50,000 in population like Orleans County and four in the Finger Lakes Region, of which we are a part. Orleans County ranks as the fourth highest for the percentage of sales tax shared.
However, two of the 14 counties have cities (Cortland and Montgomery) that are able to preempt and capture much larger shares of the overall revenue. Dropping those two counties lifts Orleans County to number two in the state among small counties without a city in terms of sharing sales tax, second to Schuyler County, the home of Watkins Glen International Speedway.
Delving further into those same statistics, it’s evident that eight of the 14 counties do not share sales tax revenue at all, zero percent. So, the majority of small counties in New York State do not share sales tax. Orleans County is the only county in the Finger Lakes Region under 50,000 in population that actually shares sales tax revenue.
The local law enforcement community in Orleans County is about to embark on a comprehensive study of the way we are doing business. Orleans County and our partners, the Villages of Albion, Medina, Holley and Lyndonville, along with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, and all the law enforcement unions in the county have agreed to undertake a process to look at new service models and explore
what can be done.
There are ways to change the way we do business that could guarantee that our communities are never negatively reported on the annual list put out by the Empire Center again.
This is going to be hard and it will require that we work together. This legislature is bound and determined to make positive change for all within our county. We can begin to say goodbye to the dark cloud over our heads. Those that offer only criticism and opposition absent of solutions will be forgotten. This legislature will be remembered for leading and making a difference.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Rob Doyle, principal auctioneer and appraiser for Absolute Auctions and Realty, seeks bids for the former Lyndonville Pennysaver Market. The property sold for $1,000 to Jonathan Daniels of Waterport in the Orleans County tax foreclosure auction on Wednesday.
The Pennysaver Market closed three years ago. The property had $37,945 in back taxes.
The county sold 41 properties for a $324,200. The properties collectively carried $497,914 in back taxes. The auction didn’t cover the back taxes, resulting in a net loss of $173,714. (Winning bidders have to pay the current year’s taxes on the properties.)
Several of the houses in the auction sold for less than $1,000.
Frank T. Pietrzak, auctioneer for Absolute Auctioneers, seeks bids for house at 134 West Bank St. in Albion. It sold for $300 to Phillip Newbould of Kendall.
Business sites also didn’t command much money. A site in downtown Medina at 333 Main St., next to the Starlite Cleaners, sold for $200 to Demetrios Bitsas.
The former S.A. Cook Furniture Factory, where there was a small fire on Monday, sold for $100 to William Grathouse III of Holley. The 70,600-square-foot building is located at 525 East Ave.
In Kendall, a 3,584-square-foot building in the downtown at 1841 Kendall Rd. sold for $400 to Phillip Newbould of Kendall. One of Holley’s attached row buildings in the downtown also was up for sale. The site at 89 Public Square fetched $100 from an online bidder, The Eaton Agency in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
One property was in command. An apartment complex at 218 Linwood Ave. in Albion sold for $100,000, the highest bid of the day. Brad Bokman of Albion bought the site.
The auction drew a crowd of bidders and some curiosity seekers to the Elk’s Club on West State Street.
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower announced that 8 children from the county are attending the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute’s 2016 Summer Camp.
The Sheriffs’ Summer Camp is designed to provide a solid recreational program combined with the development of a sense of good citizenship. This will mark the 39th year of the camp’s operation.
The Sheriffs’ Summer Camp, which is located near Penn Yan in Yates County, is supported by the Sheriffs’ Association Institute’s Honorary Members through their contributions and annual dues. This year the camp will accommodate over 900 deserving boys and girls from across New York State.
“This is a great opportunity for our county youth and I personally thank Orleans County residents for donating and making this possible,” Bower said.
The camp program provides an opportunity for children to go away for a week during the summer. These are often kids who normally wouldn’t have that chance.
“The primary objective is to create positive interaction between the kids attending camp and the Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs who participate in the camp programs,” Bower said. “We have found from experiences during the first 38 summer camps that the kids develop a renewed respect and understanding for the men and women who enforce the laws. The deputies become their friends and in some cases substitute parents for a week.”
Throughout the week-long stay, the children observe special exhibits and demonstrations presented by Sheriffs’ Offices from across the State. Included in these presentations are D.A.R.E. presentations, boat and bike safety programs, law enforcement equipment and technical demonstrations and even a talent show just for fun.
Upon completion of their stay, all children will be awarded a diploma for their participation in a program of “Good Citizenship and Law Enforcement Studies.”
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Shoe Tree is pictured Saturday at dusk at the corner of Foss and Lakeshore roads in the town of Yates.
The Shoe Tree is one of Orleans County’s quirky attractions.
It’s going to be hot today with temperatures forecast to top 90 degrees in Western New York. The Weather Channel has issued an extreme heat alert for today, urging people to have liquids readily on hand in order to stay hydrated during periods of high heat.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also has issued an air quality alert for today for Western New York, including Orleans County.
The DEC warns that there will be high levels of ozone. The alert is in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” The DEC said in an advisory.
“People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.”
Monday will also be hot with temperatures again forecast to top 90 degrees.
The highs will then fall back into the 70s, with a high of 77 on Tuesday, 73 on Wednesday and 72 on Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – A new class graduated from the Microenterprise Assistance Program on Tuesday. The group includes, front row, from left: John Gonzalez of Medina, Andre Mitchell-Hurlee of Rochester, Judy Richardson of Albion, Amanda Smith of Barre, Jeff Cole of Kendall and Brian Allis of Hilton. Back row: Diane Blanchard, Microenterprise Assistance Program manager; Sam Campanella, business advisor; Dick Pettite, business advisor; Tara Thom of Albion; Samantha Marchincin of Rochester; Justin Weese of Albion; Candi Schutrum of Medina; Sarah Nolan of Medina; Jodi Sugar of Albion; Karin and Tim Menz of Lyndonville; Christine Falbo of Holley.
ALBION – Another class of entrepreneurs has graduated from a 10-week small business training program, bringing the total graduates to 435 since the program started in 1999.
A 10-week class gives a new group of entrepreneurs tips in taxes, marketing, legal issues, handling stress, computers and bookkeeping – 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 Economic Development Agency. The EDA also has additional assistance to help the new business owners. The EDA is offering downtown rental subsidies for entrepreneurs to move into the downtown business districts in Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina.
Jeff Cole accepts a certificate for completing the MAP class from Dick Pettite, one of the class’s business advisors. Cole is looking to start a Christmas tree and berry operation in Kendall.
Businesses can seek $3 per square foot annually if they move into the downtown. The EDA is capping the subsidies at $4,500 a year, the maximum for a 1,500 square foot space.
The EDA also has $100,000 in grants to share with small businesses (5 or fewer employees) that need working capital, equipment purchases or inventory. The grants are capped at $15,000 per recipient.
The subsidies and small business grants has created added interest from entrepreneurs to look at the downtown business districts, said Diana Blanchard, director of the Microenterprise Assistance Program. She said 18 people have already applied for the 10-week class in the fall.
Karin Menz of Lyndonville accepts her MAP certificate. She is starting an online snowmobile track stabilizer business.
The spring 2016 graduates include: Jody Sugar (dog grooming business); Christine Falbo (hearth/fireplace business); Jeff Cole (JC’s Trees and Berries); Tara Thom (Town and Country Quilter); Sarah Nolan (party supply store in Medina); Candi Schutrum (Happy Guru Loves Me/Lotions); Karin Menz (Snow Trackers/Snowmobile Track Stabilizer online business); Brian Allis (grower of hops); John Gonzalez (flipping homes); Judy Richardson (Italian deli/bakery in Albion); Justin Weese (small engine repair or deli); Amanda Smith (bakery/crafts/deli in Barre); and Samantha Marchincin (social media for musicians).
Photo by Tom Rivers – Chuck Nesbitt, chief administrative officer for Orleans County, is pictured outside the County Clerks’ office this afternoon. He is in line to be president of the New York Association of Counties.
ALBION – Orleans County Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt was elected last week to serve on the executive committee of the New York State Association of Counties as 2nd Vice President.
NYSAC is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate, advocate for, and serve member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.
“I am honored to be elected to serve on the NYSAC Executive Committee by such a distinguished group of county leaders from across the state,” Nesbitt said. “There are many common challenges that we face as we move ahead and I look forward to assuming my new role on the NYSAC board as 2nd Vice President, and to doing my part to address issues going forward.”
Nesbitt has served as the Orleans County chief administrative officer for the past decade and has been an at-large member of the NYSAC Board of Director since 2014. He was elected as the president of the NYS County Administrators’ Association in 2008 and has served in that capacity since then.
As Chief Administrative Officer, Nesbitt acts on behalf of the County Legislature and works closely with Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard to implement county policy and overseeing the activities of all county departments. He also serves as the county’s budget officer.
“Orleans County is extremely proud of our Chief Administrative Officer being elected to the NYSAC Executive Committee as 2nd Vice President,” Callard said. “This is a great testament to our commitment to NYSAC and our shared cause as well as Chuck Nesbitt’s dedication to bringing a new level of professionalism to the Orleans County government. NYSAC is a first class organization that does a tremendous job fighting for counties and we think Chuck will be a real asset in the fight.”
Nesbitt said he expects the association will continue to press state legislators and governor for mandate relief, easing the burden on counties to pay for state programs.
He said NYSAC has been an effective advocacy organization for counties, and the group values the opinions from counties of all sizes. He will assume presidency of NYSAC in September 2019 after serving as second vice president, first vice president and then president-elect.
“Chuck is a highly regarded county leader, and his experience will provide added value to the deliberations of the board,” said NYSAC President William E. Cherry, the Schoharie County Treasurer.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 6 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Orleans County 4-H member Lauren Becht (standing back to camera) models her satin prom dress. The halter-style dress featured a sheer overlay of light purple fabric.
NEWFANE – Orleans County was represented at the 2016 Western District 4-H Fashion Revue held Saturday at the Van Horn Mansion in Newfane, Niagara County.
Emma Mathes, Naomi Haberger, Lauren Becht and Peggy-Jo Gabalski were selected for the annual district event following the Orleans County 4-H Clothing Revue held in early April.
Emma Mathes sewed a brocade cobalt blue skater dress, Naomi Haberger sewed a purple print sundress with pockets edged in large white ric rack, Lauren Becht sewed a deep purple satin prom dress and Peggyy-Jo Gabalski embellished a purchased cotton/wool blend sweater with hand-felted Easter egg designs.
Participants in the 2016 Western District 4-H Fashion Review pose Saturday on the staircase of the historic Van Horn Mansion in Newfane, Niagara County.
Orleans County 4-H member Naomi Haberger (standing at center) models her purple print sundress Saturday during the Western District 4-H Fashion Revue in Niagara County.
4-H’ers from Niagara, Chautauqua and Wyoming counties also attended the event which included a Fashion Revue Show, lunch, and an educational program on the historic Van Horn Mansion, built by James Van Horn in 1823.
The historic Van Horn Mansion in Newfane, Niagara County, was the site of this year’s Western District 4-H Fashion Revue. Four Orleans County 4-Hers were chosen to take part.
The home was the first brick house built in the Town of Newfane and the site of the first town meeting in 1824.
Van Horn built the first grist mill in Niagara County and later a woolen factory. The home was donated to the Town of Newfane Historical Society in 1985 and opened for tours in 1992 following an extensive restoration effort.
Following lunch, participants learned about the history of the Van Horn Mansion from a member of the Town of Newfane Historical Society and toured the restored home and gardens.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Michael Santoro, an inmate in the Orleans County Jail, has been drug-free for about nine months after four years of using cocaine and heroin. He is pictured with Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson, left, and Sheriff Randy Bower.
ALBION – Scott Wilson has worked 20 years in the Orleans County Jail. The jail superintendent has seen the repetitive cycle with many inmates coming in for drug offenses, or drug-fueled crimes such as burglaries. They are in jail often for a few months to a year, and then are released only to commit new crimes because of the strong pull of their addictions.
Wilson said these residents never quite get control of their drug demons, leading to years of criminal conduct and time in the county jail at taxpayer expense.
“Right now there is a very high recidivism,” Wilson said Thursday at the jail on Platt Street.
A new program has started this week in the county jail to help break that pattern of drug addiction and crime. The jail will offer Vivitrol, an injection that blocks the effects of opioids, a powerful narcotic. (The drug manufacturer is making the first injection available for free at the jail.)
The Sheriff’s Office has teamed with the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to have Vivitrol available for six months after an inmate leaves the jail. The monthly injections when an inmate is released from jail will likely be covered by health insurance programs at $800 per injection, Wilson said.
GCASA also will have counselors to help released inmates transition into the community. GCASA recently opened transitional housing for residents fighting addictions. That transitional shelter is next to the GCASA offices on Route 31 in Albion. That site puts addicts in a supportive community where they are urged to stay drug-free.
Sheriff Randy Bower, Wilson and GCASA staff will screen soon-to-be released inmates to determine if they will be in the new Sheriff’s Transitional Addiction Management Program or STAMP.
The Orleans County Mental Health Department also is part of the new effort. Wilson and Bower said three other counties in the state offer transitional programs for addicts. Bower believes Orleans is the first to have both addiction and mental health services available for inmates.
“These are people who made a mistake and can’t quit,” Bower said. “These are people from our community that come to our jail. We need to give them the best opportunity to not come back to us.”
Bower said he is pleased to see the support for the program from jail staff, GCASA, Mental Health and other county officials. Bower said more services have been needed in the jail to help drug-addicted residents. Bower said it will ultimately save taxpayer money, should reduce crime, and improve the lives of addicts and their loved ones.
Michael Santoro will be released from the jail in two months. He is serving a six-month sentence for attempted burglary in the second degree. Santoro, 23, grew up in Medina.
He said he was addicted to heroin and cocaine for four years. He tried to quit by using prescription narcotics such as Methadone and Suboxone, which are used as painkillers. Santoro said he still had powerful drug cravings when he used Methadone and Suboxone.
He was constantly thinking about his next drug fix until he entered a drug treatment late last year and received a Vivitrol injection. Vivitrol took the cravings away by blocking the pull of opioids. Santoro said Vivitrol has been a key in helping him stay off drugs.
“I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be clean,” Santoro said Thursday while in the jail. “But you have to want it.”
Santoro admits he was a mess last August when he entered the jail after being arrested for a break-in in Ridgeway. Santoro was down to 140 pounds.
“Addiction, it destroys you mentally, physically and spiritually,” he said.
He went through withdrawal in jail, spending 55 days behind bars before entering a 28-day drug treatment program in Buffalo. That was when he was given Vivitrol to help fight the addictions.
“It was the first time in four years I didn’t go mentally insane,” Santoro said. “I could go all month without thinking about drugs. It worked wonders for me.”
Santoro now weighs about 180 pounds, up 40 pounds from last August. He is enrolled at Erie Community College and wants to be a drug abuse counselor. He moved to Cheektowaga because he said he needed to change his surroundings to not fall back into the trap of addiction. (Last month he was sentenced for the attempted burglary and has two months left in jail.)
Wilson and Bower see Santoro as a success story. They want to him to be an example to other addicts, to show the turnaround that is possible in fighting addictions.
Bower said an addict needs to hit rock bottom, and want to change. He will personally interview people who want to be in new program through the jail.
The sheriff and Wilson, the jail superintendent, said the program will be modified as they see what works and what needs improvement. Bower said the addicts now have the support services in place to help them when they are released from jail.
“The big thing is the hand-off from when they leave the jail,” Bower said.
