‘Human trafficking can happen to anyone, but certain populations are disproportionately at risk, including people affected by prior abuse or sexual violence, poverty, and unstable living situations or homelessness’

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Fred Miller, right, presents a proclamation from the County Legislature last week to Teresa Elam-Zwifka, Director of Child & Family Services for the Department of Social Services (left), and Heather Jackson, a senior caseworker at DSS.

The Legislature issued a proclamation declaring January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Legislators highlighted human trafficking which is a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion or when a person induced to perform such an act is not yet 18 years old.

Legislators also said trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

“Human trafficking is a public health issue and crime affecting individuals, families, and communities across generations, in every state and territory across the United States, exploiting the most vulnerable among us and weakening our collective well-being,” the proclamation states.

People can be trafficked in person and online, and in industries such as restaurants, cleaning services, construction and factories, legislators said. People can be trafficked by strangers or someone they know, including partners, parents and other family members.

“Human trafficking can happen to anyone, but certain populations are disproportionately at risk, including people affected by prior abuse or sexual violence, poverty, and unstable living situations or homelessness, as well as those systemically marginalized and underserved,” legislators stated in the proclamation.

12 percent gain led Greater Niagara Region; Residents urged to be ambassadors for Orleans County

Photos by Tom Rivers: These fishermen try to catch trout and salmon on Oct. 21 at Johnson Creek in Lyndonville near the dam. Fishing is Orleans County’s top draw for visitors.

MEDINA – Orleans County experienced 12 percent growth in visitor spending in 2023 compared to the previous year, the biggest gain among the five counties in the Greater Niagara Region, according to a report from Tourism Economics.

Orleans has been stepping up its promotion efforts and the work is paying off, Tourism Director Dawn Borchert told about 125 people during the Legislative Luncheon on Friday at Bent’s Opera House. The event is coordinated by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. Niagara County was right behind Orleans with an 11.7 percent gain.

Dawn Borchert, the county’s tourism director, talks about the county’s bicentennial and shows the cover of the new tourism guide. The cover includes a photo of 1906  “Old Home Days” in Medina, the Seneca Chief canal boat in Medina, a harvest luncheon at Hurd Orchards in Holley, and two fishing buddies. Brian Stratton, the canal commissioner for the state, is at left.

In Orleans County, the visitor spending totaled $42 million in 2023. That breakdown includes $3 million for lodging, $8 million for recreation, $15 million for food and beverage, $6 million at retail and service stations, $1 million in transportation, and $10 million for second homes used for income, according to the report.

The totals for the five counties in visitor spending in Greater Niagara Region include:

• Erie, $2.423 billion
• Niagara, $1.082 billion
• Genesee, $140 million
• Wyoming, $71 million
• Orleans, $42 million

Orleans County’s biggest draw is fishing, and anglers trying to catch trout, salmon and other fish accounted for an economic impact of $28 million in 2017, according to a survey by the DEC. With inflation factored in that impact is now about $34 million a year, Borchert said.

The county is promoting more than fishing. This year’s tourism guide is hot off the presses and arrived Friday. It was distributed to many people at the legislative luncheon. The guide celebrates the county’s bicentennial in 2025.

There are 35,000 copies that will be distributed at Thruway rest stops in New York and Pennsylvania, and airports in Buffalo, Rochester and Niagara Falls, as well as trade shows. The guides also will be available in the county at local businesses, libraries and the tourism office at the County Office Building.

The guide was bumped up by 12 pages to 60 to celebrate more facets of the county on its 200^th anniversary. It highlights all 10 towns and four villages, as well as agri-tourism, art galleries, campgrounds, the Erie Canal, history and heritage, marinas and yacht clubs, prominent local memorials and monuments, local trails, parks and the wildlife refuge.

Borchert said revenue from the county’s bed tax has helped increase promotion efforts. That bed tax money is used to match state funding from I Love NY.

The county imposes a 4 percent “bed tax” on lodging. That revenue has been increasing.

• $51,002 in 2018
• $58,424 in 2019
• $58,438 in 2020
• $79,102 in 2021
• $111,013 in 2022
• $119,003 in 2023

County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said tourism promotion is a factor the county and local residents have some control over, unlike any of the mandated programs and policies from the state and federal governments.

Many visitors describe Orleans County as “cozy, charming and under-the-radar,” Johnson said.

She would like to raise Orleans County’s profile, and she welcomed residents and businesses to be part of that and serve as Orleans ambassadors in their conversations and social media posts.

“Through your friends, your social media accounts, your business networks and elsewhere, let’s be sure we all invite people to visit Orleans County and enjoy all we have to offer,” Johnson told the crowd at the luncheon.

Fire chiefs urge county to work on new EMO site

File photo by Tom Rivers: The emergency management office was built as early 1960s bomb shelter. It has a leaking roof and a shortage of space. The building is 8,000 square feet – 80 by 100 feet. Most of the structure is underground. It isn’t handicapped accessible and doesn’t have enough space for the emergency management office, said Justin Niederhofer, the EMO director.

ALBION – Orleans County officials have downsized the plans for a new emergency management office, seeking to reduce the expense from an estimated $10 million to an estimated $2.3 million.

The lower price would be covered entirely by state and federal grants and would give the emergency management office and first responders a modern facility for offices and training.

The County Legislature on Tuesday approved a $6,000 contract with Vanguard Interiors and Design of Buffalo for structural design and interior layout of the Emergency Management Office at 14064 West County House Rd. in Albion.

Justin Niederhofer, the county’s EMO director, said the new facility will be “bare bones” but will still be a much-needed improvement.

The county was awarded a $2 million grant from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Aug. 18, 2023 towards the project, the maximum in federal funding towards the facility. Orleans also has been awarded $600,000 towards upgrades of the EMO site.

The county is looking to spend $2.3 million towards the new building. Some of the grant funds would also go towards demolition of the existing site. That 8,000-square-foot building – 80 by 100 feet – was built as an underground bunker in the 1960s.

The new facility would have offices for the EMO staff, space for training, a classroom and a backup 911 dispatch – “the bare essentials,” Niederhofer said.

‘The current building dating from the early 1960s is cramped, dilapidated and unsuitable for the operations of the EMO staff and for fire service training classes.’ – Orleans County Fire Advisory Board/Orleans County Fire Chiefs Association

The County Legislature received letters of support for a new EMO this month from the Orleans County Fire Advisory Board/Orleans County Fire Chiefs Association, Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company and Carlton Volunteer Fire Company.

“The current building dating from the early 1960s is cramped, dilapidated and unsuitable for the operations of the EMO staff and for fire service training classes,” wrote Robert Freida, chair of Orleans County Fire Advisory Board/Orleans County Fire Chiefs Association. “For too many years the plan to modernize this facility has been ignored or cancelled as it has been the previous two years. The fire service in Orleans County has a rich history and being mostly volunteer, saves the taxpayers an enormous amount of money.”

Freida sent his letter on Jan. 21. He urged the county to set aside some of its own funds to make the project a reality.

“We understand that county finances are limited for a project such as this, but we implore you to earmark funds in addition to the $2 million provided through Senator Gillibrand’s office, to construct a modern facility that is long overdue,” Freida said. “We are not asking for anything extravagant, just a good quality construction that can be utilized for training and emergency operations for the next several decades.”

Freida, the fire chief at Clarendon, also sent a letter from the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company in support of a new EMO site. In that letter, Freida cited the following benefits:

1. Improved Training Opportunities: “An advanced training facility with modern technology would provide hands-on, realistic scenarios for responders to practice and refine their skills.
2. 2. Enhanced Collaboration: “A larger, modernized space would accommodate multi-agency exercises, fostering improved coordination among fire, police, EMS, and other critical partners.”
3. Community Preparedness: “The facility could also serve as a resource for public education, offering community members training in CPR, first aid, and disaster preparedness.
4. Recruitment and Retention: “Volunteer membership is at an all-time low not only county and statewide but nationally. A state-of-the-art training facility demonstrates the county’s commitment to emergency services, which can attract and retain highly qualified personnel.”

In the Jan. 13 letter from the Carlton Fire Company, Fire Chief Seth Dumrese and President David Bertsch said the 1960s’ building is inadequate for the emergency management office and for training for first responders.

“The building needs improvements and has for years and it would not be feasible to spend more money on the current building,” Dumrese and Bertsch wrote in their letter. “There is not enough room for many of the training classes/programs needed by our personnel or enough room for an emergency operations center if the need arose. We would respectfully request that constructing a new Emergency Management Office be a priority in 2025 for the Legislature.”

Soldier from Albion was killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009

Jason Johnston

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is seeking to have a section of Route 31A named in honor of Jason Johnson, a soldier from Albion who was killed in combat in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Dec. 26, 2009.

Johnson was a specialist and paratrooper with the U.S. Army. He was 24 when he was killed. He is the only soldier from Orleans County killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan during the War on Terror.

The Legislature last June sought to have Route 98 in Orleans County named for Johnston. The State Legislature and Go. Hochul need to give their approval.

The County Legislature on Tuesday rescinded that resolution from last year because 98 already has been named the “Veterans Memorial Highway.”

The Legislature now is asking the state to name the Route 31A corridor between Powerline Road to Route 98 in Albion in memory of Johnston.

Legislators asked State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley to take up the issue in the Legislature.

Johnston is survived by his parents, Brad and Jenny Johnston; and his sisters, Carrie, Heather and Holly; and several nieces and nephews.

Photo by Tom Rivers: County Legislator Don Allport speaks during Tuesday’s County Legislature meeting. He opposed seeking another two-year extension to an extra penny on the local sales tax.

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport wants the sales tax to be 7 cents in Orleans County, instead of 8 cents.

Allport said cutting a penny from the sales tax would save people more than $5 million a year on expenses in the county. He thinks those savings would be injected back in the local economy, helping businesses and ultimately leading to even more sales tax revenue.

But none of the other county legislators are willing to take that chance. They worry not having that extra penny in sales tax could lead to a dramatic increase in property taxes or a reduction in local services.

The state gets 4 cents for every taxable sale while the county also receives 4 cents. The county used to get 3 cents, but it was raised to 4 cents on June 1, 1993. The county needs State Legislature’s permission every two years to keep the 4-cent tax.

That permission comes due this year. The County Legislature on Tuesday voted to start the process for the state to renew the sales tax by an extra penny. It would extend the 4-cent local share to Nov. 30, 2027.

The county takes in about $23 million in sales tax a year. That extra penny is worth nearly $6 million.

If the county lost that revenue – $5.75 million – it could translate into a 29.2 percent property tax increase, going from $19,639,000 in the tax levy for 2025 to $25,389,000.

Allport, however, thinks the county would see more sales tax with residents spending more at businesses because they would have more money in their pockets.

“This was supposed to be a temporary tax,” Allport said about the extra penny in 1993.

But those temporary taxes never seem to go away, he said.

“If that $5 million was put back in the local economy the businesses could use it,” Allport said. “The residents could use it. People would put it back in the local economy.”

Issue could ultimately go to public referendum

Photo by Tom Rivers: Debbie Berry, a retired chief clerk for the Surrogate Court in Orleans County, speaks on Tuesday against a district court in Orleans County. She said the 10 local town courts are serving the people well.

ALBION – Orleans County legislators, with two dissenting, are reviving a push for a district court in Orleans County.

The issue was going to a public referendum last November but was pulled when county officials were notified of a procedural flaw. In order to bring the issue to a public vote, the county first needs approval from the State Legislature with its support of a District Court.

County legislators, in a 4-2 vote on Tuesday, passed a resolution requesting the State Legislature to establish a countywide district court in Orleans.

“This is just the first step,” said Legislator John Fitzak, R-Carlton.

He supported the resolution along with Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, R-Lyndonville; Legislator Bill Eick, R-Shelby; and Legislator Ed Morgan, R-Murray.

Legislators Don Allport, R-Gaines, and Fred Miller, D-Albion, opposed the resolution.

Miller said there was significant opposition to the proposal during public hearings in May and June last year from local town justices and town officials, who say the current system is cost effective and responsible to the community.

The local Magistrates Association said a district court would ultimately be more costly, even if the state takes on the salaries of the judge, clerks and security.

Allport doesn’t have confidence the state would assume the costs of a district court. Even if it does initially, it could push the expense to the county and towns if the state is feeling a budget crunch in the future, Allport said.

“This is not the correct time to approach the state on this,” Allport said, citing what he said are $40 billion in budget shortfalls in Albany. “I’m not sure there is a right time.”

Fitzak said the vote to request state support is another step in a process that could be drawn out. He and Johnson said it is unknown if and when the State Legislature would vote on the issue.

“I wouldn’t hazard a guess on the timetable,” Johnson said.

She said a district court would be beneficial to the county in many ways, offering a streamlined system with full-time hours that would benefit people in the court system.

She cited a report from local officials looking at the costs of the local court system. Joe Cardone, the now retired district attorney, helped push the issue and prepare the report.

Cardone, during public hearings last year, said state aid should cover most of the cost of a district court. The county would provide the facility with the state is expected to cover the salaries for judges, clerks and security.

Cardone said having the cases be handled by a full-time court would move matters more expeditiously through the courts system. He said it would be a savings for the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender and law enforcement by having a centralized court, rather than a patchwork of 10 town courts.

Legislator Ed Morgan said county residents will get a vote on the issue if the State Legislature backs the proposal.

“The Orleans County taxpayers will have the final say,” Morgan said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Craig Lane on Tuesday was appointed as Orleans County’s new commissioner of the Department of Public Works.

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Public Works has a new leader. Craig Lane on Tuesday was named the new commissioner of the DPW, which oversees two divisions, highways and buildings and grounds for the county.

Lane has worked for the DPW for about four years following a 20-year career in Air Force where he was a logistics readiness officer.

Lane was hired as a motor equipment operator for the DPW. He was named deputy commissioner about two years ago and has been interim commissioner after John Papponetti left the DPW.

Lane oversees about 30 employees. The Highway Division is responsible for overseeing 196 miles of county highways, 64 county bridges, the fuel farm and snowplowing for the county parking lots.

The Buildings and Grounds Division is responsible for 20 buildings with 28 departments which include preventive maintenance, new construction and refurbishing along with a crew of janitorial services.

“It’s busy,” Lane said about the DPW. “I spent most of my formative years as a civil servant so this is a natural fit.”

Lane is a Clarendon native. He now lives in Gaines. He is president of the Holley Rotary Club, and serves on the Gaines Planning Board and is a commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.

High winds and blowing snow have made for dangerous driving conditions

Photo by Ginny Kropf: This large limb blew off a tree on Gwinn Street, between West Oak Orchard and the entrance to Wise Middle School, about 3:30 this afternoon. Power was out on West Avenue, Gwinn Street and parts of Maple Ridge Road.

Press Release, Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has issued a travel advisory for all of Orleans County until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

We are recommending essential travel only. Please use extreme caution if you must travel. High winds along with blowing and drifting snow have produced dangerous driving conditions throughout Orleans County.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s 911 Communication Center has handled 16 trees down on houses or across the road, 6 utility poles down, 12 vehicles off the road, 6 motor vehicle accidents and one house fire in a short period of time this afternoon. National Grid is reporting over 600 homes without power currently.

The National Weather Service Buffalo has issued a high wind warning until 6 a.m Tuesday morning. Winds will be 30 to 40 mph winds with gusts to 70 mph. with additional snow expected.

Please stay safe!

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.

More information about the painted oxen should be available soon on the County’s Bicentennial page.

Modern Disposal Services will be collecting garbage a day later for its Orleans County customers this week.

Today’s service will be collected on Tuesday, while the rest of the week is on a one-day delay, the company announced on social media.

Tuesday’s collection has been moved to Wednesday, with Wednesday’s on Thursday, Thursday’s on Friday, and Friday’s on Saturday.

“We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work together to keep our neighborhoods safe,” the company said.

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.