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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2024 at 9:46 am
GO Art! welcomes more support for cultural site at fairgrounds
Photo by Tom Rivers: Gregory Hallock, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, speaks on Oct. 29 about a plan for a new cultural facility at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The building is planned for the west end of the Fairgrounds near Taylor Hill Road.
KNOWLESVILLE – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has raised $11,725 from 187 donors so far towards the schematic drawings for the GO Barn! cultural center at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
“These contributions came from grassroots efforts, including checks, cash donations, and online contributions,” said Gregory Hallock, the GO Art! executive director. “It represents significant community support and the dedication of individuals across Orleans and neighboring counties.”
GO Art! is seeking $150,000 towards the final designs for the project, which are needed so GO Art! can pursue grants and other funding.
GO Art! is planning a major fundraiser, The Wells Barn Legacy Fundraiser, to boost donations. In the meantime, Hallock said there is a strong committee of volunteers to help raise additional funds to fill the gap. These efforts will include promoting ticket sales for the fundraiser.
If GO Art! doesn’t hit the fundraising goal soon, Hallock said the organization is prepared to utilize lines of credit to keep the project on track.
“However, maintaining the availability of these funds is crucial, as they are often used to cover upfront costs for our reimbursable grants,” he said. “By minimizing reliance on credit, we can ensure that our broader programs and operations remain unaffected while still advancing the GO Barn! project.”
Rendering by Red Green Design: The three-story building would have the look of a barn, with the silo having an elevator and stairs to access the three floors. GO Art! said the facility would boost arts programs, agricultural education and entrepreneurial initiatives.
GO Art! is actively seeking volunteers, “go-getters” and community influencers to join this effort. Those interested in helping can contact Hallock directly at ghallock@goart.org.
In the meantime, GO Art! is making a year-end push to encourage additional contributions. Donations can be made online at goart.org/gobarn.
“We welcome all levels of support to bring this project closer to reality,” he said.
The fairgrounds is an ideal location for the cultural center, located between Medina and Albion, Hallock said.
“It will be a dynamic cultural community hub designed to bring arts, agricultural education, and entrepreneurial opportunities together under one roof,” he said.
GO Barn! would serve as a vibrant space for a wide range of arts and educational programs, with workshops spanning fine arts, culinary arts, horticulture, fiber arts, and more, Hallcok said.
The building would have flexible or adaptable space that could be used for many things. Hallock and Go Art! envision two art galleries, artist studios and a residence where artists could bunk instead of driving home in the wee hours of the night. Hallock would like to the building to be used for many art forms – culinary, folk, horticultural, literary, visual, muli-media and more.
Hallock said the site would likely be built in stages. He said a July 2025 start is possible with the project’s target completion in July 2028.
He listed the following potential new programs:
Fiber arts and crafts; culinary arts; horticultural and agriculture programs; art and design classes; animals and fiber arts; health, wellness and social programs; technology and innovation programs; performing arts and music classes; film and digital media classes; woodworking classes and workshops; crafts and do-it-yourself classes; sustainability and eco-classes; business and entrepreneurship classes; collaborative and community projects; educational and community events; bar and beverage service; event space rentals.
The facility would be accessible and inclusive to all community members, Hallock said. The GoBarn would have hands-on programs in arts, agriculture and sustainability that would provide workforce readiness. Hallock said GO Art! wants to partner with local schools and organizations in “fostering a lifelong learning environment.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2024 at 10:04 am
2% raises approved for elected officials, management in county government
Photo by Tom Rivers: Janice Grabowski and Mike Mele, election commissioners for Orleans County, are shown in September when the county introduced new voting machines for the presidential election.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has reappointed the county election commissioners. Janice Grabowski and Mike Mele were reappointed to two-year terms until the end of 2026.
Grabowski has the backing of the Democratic Party Committee while Mele has the support of the Republican Party. Both will be paid $22,539 and $22,990 in 2026.
The tow say they work well together and saw the county transition to 28 new voting machines this past presidential election, replacing ones that were 15 years old. They also have led the county through nine days of early voting, in addition to the general election and primary votes.
In other action from the Dec. 17 Legislature meeting:
• Approved an agreement for the Mental Health Department to accept $48,022 in opioid settlement funds.
• Approved 2 percent in compensation increases for management and elected officials the next two years.
Some of those salaries for 2025 include $20,421 for Legislature chairwoman, $15,441 for vice chairman, and $13,614 for the other five legislators; $137,622 for county attorney; $95,268 for county treasurer (plus $1,750 longevity bonus); $99,273 for director of personnel; $125,111 for public defender (and $49,484 stipend); $92,655 for real property tax director (plus $500 longevity bonus); $125,111 for sheriff (plus $2,000 longevity bonus); and $110,949 for social services commissioner (plus $2,000 longevity bonus).
• The Legislature authorized an agreement for $35,000 with Benjamin J. Bonarigo, PLLC and Kristie L. DeFreze, Esq. to be the assigned counsel administrator. There is also $6,000 for services of an administrative assistant.
• The Legislature authorized an agreement up to $20,000 with Kenneth Spohr for investigative services in the Assigned Counsel Program.
• Accepted a $142,513 grant from the Division of Criminal Justice Services for Criminal Justice Discovery Reform for the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office.
• Approved an agreement with Ron Bierstine of Kent as sportfishing coordinator at a cost of $45 per hour, not to exceed $15,000 for the year.
• Approved an agreement up to $21,000 with Lynne Menz Designs of Kent to provide designs services of tourism promotional materials, such as county travel guide, display ads and other marketing materials requested by the Tourism Department.
• Approved paying $27,744 to print the 2025 County Travel Guide Bicentennial Special Edition with Freeport Press of New Philadelphia, OH, to be paid out of 2025 I Love New York Matching Funds.
• Authorized creating and filling a full-time tourism assistant in the Tourism Department.
• Approved the following three-year appointments to the Orleans County Planning Board: Daniel Strong, At-Large Central; Darryl Sanford, At-Large Central (Alternate); Brian Napoli, At-Large West; Tom Keeler, Town of Barre; Wes Miller, Town of Barre (Alternate); Chris Kinter, Town of Albion; Kevin Parker, Town of Albion (Alternate).
• Appointed Russ Martino of Lyndonville and John Becker of Kendall to the County Board of Ethics, which consists of five members with staggered terms.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 December 2024 at 1:43 pm
Overall the 10 towns, 4 villages remain at same level since 2001
Charts: Orleans Hub with data from Orleans County Legislature.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has set the sales tax amounts for the 10 towns and four villages for 2025.
Overall, the towns and villages collectively remain at $1,366,671, the same amount they have received since 2001.
But in 2025, there is a slight shift to the villages by $4,014 or $383,407 to $387,421. Most of that increase is for the Village of Albion – up $3,077 to $162,169.
The county uses a formula in determining the village share by dividing the village taxable value by the town taxable value. In Albion, which completed a village and townwide reassessment in 2024, the village assessed value increased a bigger percentage than the towns’, resulting in a slight boost in the local sales tax.
That was also the case in Lyndonville, where Yates and the village completed reassessments in 2024. The village share went up $1,566, while Yates is down by $1,566.
In Holley and Medina, where there weren’t town-wide reassessments in 2024, the village share shrunk – down $530 in Medina and $98 in Holley.
The previous year, Shelby and Ridgeway completed town-wide reassessments that resulted in an $8,114 sales tax shift for Medina in 2024 – from $152,046 to $160,160. But next year it will creep back by $530.
The majority of town and village boards in 2023 passed resolutions asking the County Legislature to increase the sales tax to the municipalities, but the Legislature opted against that in the 2024 budget, citing other rising costs for the county.
The towns and villages didn’t make much noise about the issue in 2024, and Legislature has again kept the sales tax at $1,366,671.
The county takes in about $23 million overall in local sales tax. After big increases in recent years, the sales tax revenue was lagging behind for much of 2024, compared to 2023 levels. The county did see growth in the third quarter and was $150,000 ahead of the 2023 levels after the third quarter.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 December 2024 at 9:18 am
Organization was dropped as line item in 2025 budget
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Cobblestone Museum, a National Historic Landmark on Route 104 in Gaines, is a caretaker of many artifacts from throughout the county.
ALBION – The Cobblestone Museum, which was dropped as a line item in the county’s 2025 budget, will get $3,000 in funding from the county’s contingency fund.
The museum was in the 2024 county budget as a line item for $3,000. But county officials said the museum didn’t submit the paperwork for a formal request for funding in 2025, resulting in the museum being excluded in the budget. (The museum made its request through Fred Miller, a county legislator.)
The museum received $3,000 from the contingency fund in prior years. During a Dec. 17 meeting, the Legislature approved the $3,000, although Legislator Don Allport, R-Gaines, opposed it.
Allport has consistently opposed county funding for the museum in most recent years. He said the organization didn’t follow the proper process and he said the county shouldn’t be contributing to non-profit organizations.
“This is setting a precedent,” he said.
The other six legislators approved the funding for the museum, which expects to start construction on an expanded visitor center this year.
The county’s total budget includes $99,092,747 in spending, a 7.1 percent increase from 2024 that increases taxes by 1.95 percent.
The county allocates some funding to different agencies that provide services in the community.
Here are the funding amounts for 2025: Soil & Water Conservation District, $100,500; GO Art!, $4,000; Cornell Cooperative Extension, $240,000; four public libraries, $10,087 collectively; Orleans Economic Development Agency, $200,000; and Mercy Flight, $5,000.
The Sportsmen’s Federation used to be in the county budget and typically received $1,000 a year through 2023. It was dropped to $0 in 2024 and wasn’t allocated any funding for 2025.
The neighboring county of Genesee gives more to its museum and agencies that provide services in the community. Genesee has 58,388 people, compared to 40,343 in Orleans County.
Genesee has 44.7 percent more people, and nearly doubles the spending in Orleans County – $190,415,199 budget compared to $99,092,747 in Orleans.
Here are the amounts Genesee gives to some of the agencies in the community: Holland Land Office Museum, $38,554; libraries, $53,680; Soil & Water, $173,851; Cornell Cooperative Extension, $408,613; and GO Art!, $7,500.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 December 2024 at 2:19 pm
He has served in role while working as nurse supervisor at Medina Memorial Hospital, volunteering as Ridgeway firefighter
Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, right, presents a “Special Recognition Award” from County legislature to Charlie Smith in honor of his 30 years as a county coroner. Smith is retiring from the role on Dec. 31.
ALBION – Charle Smith is leaving his office as county coroner with praise from county legislators and his colleagues.
Smith on Tuesday received a “Special Recognition Award” from the Orleans County Legislature for his 30 years as coroner.
Smith started as a coroner on Jan. 1, 1995. He typically handled 20 to 25 calls a year where he determined the cause and manner of death, and then prepared the death certificates. He also generally did another dozen calls a year that were phone releases with hospital nurses where the death was not unexpected.
“You always responded with empathy and afforded dignity to the decedents, family members and others involved in these situation,” according to the award from the Legislature. “Although a challenging role, you have represented Orleans County and assisted many families during a difficult time.”
Smith said the job of coroner has been “interesting and challenging.” A coroner needs in-depth medical knowledge. Smith graduated from Buffalo General School of Nursing in 1975. He also has attended many trainings through the NYS Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners.
“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve the people of our county,” Smith told county legislators on Tuesday when he was presented with an award.
County Legislator Don Allport reads a proclamation declaring Jan. 19-25 as “Medico-legal Death Investigations Professionals Week.” He presents it to from left: Chief County Coroner Scott Schmidt, incoming coroner Julie Woodworth, and retiring coroner Charlie Smith.
Coroners are typically called to a scene when a person dies who isn’t under direct care of a doctor or at a nursing home.
Smith served in the role while working as a nurse supervisor at Medina Memorial Hospital and as an active firefighter with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company. He will continue with the hospital and fire company after retiring from coroner.
Smith has worked at the hospital for 35 years, and has 52 years with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company. He also worked two years as a flight nurse with Mercy Flight.
Scott Schmidt, the county’s chief coroner, said Smith has been “a pillar of the community” doing a “yeoman’s job” as coroner.
Julie Woodworth, a nurse who has worked with Smith at Medina Memorial Hospital, will take his spot as coroner beginning Jan. 1. She was elected on Nov. 5.
She praised Smith’s ethics, dedication and service.
“Charlie’s decades of service have been defined by professionalism, compassion and an unwavering pursuit of truth in the face of adversity,” Woodworth said.
Smith said he plans to spend more time with his wife and family, and also expects to go on more fishing, hunting and camping trips.
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.”
