Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These pictures of leaves are from my yard following an overnight frost last week.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a high wind warning for Orleans, Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming and Monroe counties from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. on Sunday. Southwest winds will be 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 mph, according to the Weather Service.

The forecast also shows the chance for snow on Monday and Tuesday. However, it will warm up for the Thanksgiving holiday with a high of 49 on Wednesday and 56 on Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued Lake Effect Snow warnings, through Monday morning, for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

The forecast calls for up to six to twelve inches of snow in Chautauqua County and eastern Lake Ontario region. While heavier snow amounts will be confined to the Chautauqua Ridge and Tug Hill Plateau, localized bands of heavy snow will make driving conditions dangerous due to slick roads and low visibility, the governor’s office said in a news release today.

“With snow and strong winds on the horizon for parts of the state, I am urging New Yorkers to be prepared and stay safe,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement today. “We are actively monitoring these storms, but New Yorkers should also take appropriate precautions now, especially if they will be traveling. Roads may become hazardous, and I strongly encourage everyone to take their time and drive responsibly.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Earl Schmidt addresses the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday after he was appointed to serve as new director of the Veterans Service Agency, replacing Paul Fulcomer, who is retiring.

ALBION – The new director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County served 23 years in the military, including combat in both the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

Earl Schmidt of Ridgeway has worked the past 3 ½ years as an accredited veterans’ service officer with the Niagara County Veterans Service Agency. He will start on Dec. 7 as the director in Orleans County.

The County Legislature appointed him to the job today. He will succeed Paul Fulcomer, who has served in the position for 13 years.

“I wish to continue what has already been started with the Veterans Service Agency and I wish to strengthen it,” Schmidt told county legislators today.

Schmidt served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army National Guard for 23 years, retiring as sergeant first class; reconnaissance platoon sergeant. He earned 17 medals including a Bronze Star.

He is active with the American Legion as a service officer, the VFW and sits on the VFWNYS Department service officer’s committee as well as a member of the Iraqi Afghan Veterans of America.

Schmidt, during his comments to the County Legislature, recited a quote from Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1865: “Let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

Schmidt said Lincoln’s words “are the backbone of all that I do.”

He will make helping veterans access their benefits the focus of the Veterans Serice Agency. He said the rules and regulations change frequently, and he is happy to help veterans work through the bureaucracy.

“There are benefits they may not even realize,” he said. “The laws change on a fairly consistent basis. My goal is the maximum benefit in the shortest amount of time.”

Schmidt and his wife Catherine have four children. He was welcomed today by legislators, including Legislature Chairman David Callard, who said the new director is a great addition.

“He’s very passionate about veterans’ issues and I’m sure his energy and dedication will make an immediate impact for our Orleans County veterans’ community,” Callard said.

Photos by Tom Rivers – A new class graduated from the Microenterprise Assistance Program on Tuesday. The group includes, front row, from left: Amanda Wolford, Justin Froman, Jenny Rae Siplo, Christine Heideman, and Linda Benz. Back row: Shaun Swanson, small business advisor Dick Pettine, Michael Klepp, Rion Pawlak, Janell Thompson, Charlene Washington and Diane Blanchard, MAP manager.

ALBION – A 10-week class has given 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.

The Fall 2015 class of the Microenterprise Assistance Program graduated on Tuesday with a celebration at Tillman’s Village Inn. More than 400 entrepreneurs have completed the program since 1999.

“I want to say, thank you for having the courage and tenacity to step up and own your own business,” Paul Hendel, chairman of the Orleans Economic Development Agency, told the new MAP graduates.

The program is run through the EDA with classes in the fall and spring. Graduates who complete business plans may pursue low-interest financing up to $30,000 through the EDA.

“The sole proprietor is the backbone of the economy in Orleans County, New York State and across the whole nation,” Hendel said.

The fall graduates include: Linda Benz, consultant for office management; Justin Froman, road kill removal; Christine Heideman, gourmet cupcakes; Michael Klepp, The Plant Man; Rion Pawlak, vapor shop (plastic cigarettes) or food truck; Jenny Rae Siplo, Flower Well; Shaun Swanson, Filmwell Studios; Janell Thompson, Marva’s Clothes & Beauty Supplies; Charlene Washington, 3 Twice (information technology); and Amanda Wolford, retail.

Klepp has been running his “Plant Man” business for 27 years, providing horticulture advice and training. The West Shelby resident, 44, is considering whether to build a barn on his property for teaching programs – “anything garden related,” he said.

He also is thinking about growing his business and adding an employee. The MAP class helped him look into the future, calculating expenses and needed revenue.

Jenny Rae Siplo, 24, of Holley started her floral design business in May, providing flowers for weddings, events and florists. The MAP class helped her to plan for growing the business.

Jenny Rae Siplo accepts her certificate for completing the 10-week MAP class from Diane Blanchard, manager of the program.

Janell Thompson opened Marva’s Clothes & Beauty Supplies on Sept. 1 on East Bank Street in Albion. Thompson said the MAP class has been an “eye opener” to create a business plan and tailor the store’s hours and products to customers.

She is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. She decided to close on Monday and open later in the day after hearing from customers and noticing shopping trends.

She sells clothes, shoes, perfume, hair products, and homemade jewelry. The store is named in her mother’s honor.

“The store is something my mom always wanted,” Thompson said. “It was her dream.”

Justin Froman, 32, of Albion read a news article about two years ago, detailing how municipalities try to get rid of roadkill. Froman read that article and saw an opportunity for a business.

Next year will will start his venture where he will pick up deer and other dead animals along roadways. He will then compost them. He is looking for his first contract and hopes to start the business in January.

Rion Pawlak accepts his certificate for completing the MAP class.

Rion Pawlak has two business ideas: starting a food truck that he can take to events and locations in Orleans County and beyond, and also opening a Vape Shop with plastic cigarettes and vaping supplies.

Pawlak, 34, said the MAP class helped him to research and understand regulations and insurance with owning a business.

“The biggest thing the class gave me is confidence,” he said.

He expects to be in business by next summer.

“I’m taking the winter to get the finances together and to build an unstoppable plan,” Pawlak said.

ALBION – After several months of effort, Orleans County officials have put together a tentative budget for 2016 that keeps the tax rate at $9.89 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The $64,435,941 budget plan filed Friday reduces spending by $579,325 from the $65,015,266 in 2015. In 2014, the last year the county owned a nursing home, the budget was $79.8 million. That year the tax rate was $10.11.

The county’s workforce has shrunk from 416 full-time and 164 part-time positions in 2014 to 318 full-time and 89 part-time for 2016.

County officials have pared other departments, and negotiated health insurance deals where employees pay more towards insurance. That has resulted in costs for salaries and benefits below what the county was paying in 2012 for non-nursing home departments, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.

He is also the budget officer and filed the tentative budget on Friday, before the Nov. 15 deadline. The County Legislature is expected to discuss the budget during its 4:30 p.m. meeting on Wednesday. The Legislature will also set a public hearing on Wednesday for the budget.

The tax rate will be unchanged, but the county will take in a slight increase in taxes. The tax levy will increase by 0.7 percent from $16,209,165 to $16,323,150. Property taxes represent about 25 percent of the revenue for funding the budget.

Sales tax also represents about a quarter of the revenue for the budget. After budgeting for no increases in 2014 and 2015, county officials are going to recommend another $250,000 in sales tax to $14,035,000.

“Weak gas prices and continued economic uncertainty causes us to look at this number with a great deal of caution,” Nesbitt says in his message with the tentative budget.

State reimbursements are also big revenue sources for the budget, but Nesbitt said the state has been slow with its share of the money, which often forces the county to use its reserve funds.

With the nursing home’s “enterprise fund” being closed out last month, some of those funds (over $2 million) will likely stay in the county’s fund balance to provide a bigger cash flow cushion. Some of the enterprise fund will also be set aside for workers’ compensation claims and a self-insurance fund.

The budget also accounts for a drop in welfare expenses as caseloads decrease and the county has more success with welfare fraud. There will also be a slight drop in community college expenses from $1,740,000 to $1,700,000 (county pays a third of tuition costs for residents from Orleans County).

Funding for agencies includes:

$232,500 for Cornell Cooperative Extension (requested $254,966) – $225,000 in 2015;

$166,500 for Economic Development Agency (requested $166,500) – $170,000 in 2015;

$77,500 for Soil and Water Conservation District (requested $85,000) – $75,000 in 2015;

$10,000 for four public libraries (requested $42,883) – $10,000 in 2015;

$5,000 for Mercy Flight (requested $5,000) – $5,000 in 2015;

* $5,000 for Friends of Mental Health (requested $5,000) – $0 in 2015;

* $3,000 for GO Art! (requested $5,000) – $3,000 in 2015;

* $1,000 for Sportsmen’s Federation (requested $1,000) – $1,000 in 2015.

File photos by Tom Rivers – Ken Strickland, an investigator with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, competes in a new donut-eating contest at the fair last July. He competed against 4-H’ers and 4-H volunteers. Every contestant ate more donuts than Strickland. Deputy Jeff Cole also competed in one of the heats.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair is getting some international attention for its first-ever donut-eating contest held during the fair in late July.

The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) has awarded the contest first place (fairs under 100,000 in attendance division) in the Competitive Exhibits (participatory contest) category of its annual contest program.

“This is the first time our fair has been recognized with an IAFE award and we’re all very excited,” says Robert Batt, Orleans County 4-H Youth Development Educator.

The award will be presented at the IAFE Convention in Las Vegas Nov. 29-Dec. 2.

“Brandon Johnson will attend to represent our fair as he has for the last three years while looking for new exciting entertainment,” Batt said. “Our entry will also be put on a flash drive and shared along with all other winners with all member fairs in attendance at the IAFE annual convention.”

According to the IAFE website, the contest program awards, “display the level of professionalism we strive to uphold in the industry.”

The IAFE represents more than 1,000 fairs around the world.

Jason Clark, center, and Morgan Seielstad compete in a donut-eating contest. Contestants were challenged to eat six doughnuts.

The Donut Eating Contest was sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts, which provided the donuts for the event. The event included heats involving three participants at a time who went head to head with a local law enforcement officer from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department to see who could consume the most donuts during a set period of time.

Participant and audience reactions were excellent, fair officials reported in their entry form for the award.

“Many people have already commented that they plan to participate again next year and we have a small number of sheriff’s deputies working on plans and strategies for next year,” the entry states.

The awards and convention bring recognition to the Orleans County 4-H Fair, and also help local fair planners make the Orleans County 4-H Fair an even better event.

“These awards allow our fair members to not only compete for top honors in the respective division, contest, and categories, but also give fair representatives the opportunity to network,” the IAFE website states. “Having the ability to learn from one another in the fair industry is priceless.”

Robert Batt agrees. “Hopefully Brandon (Johnson) comes back with some more news about potential acts and a thumb drive full of great ideas for us to think about.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The power has stayed on in Orleans County since fierce winds began whipping through the area on Thursday. This photo shows the American and POW/MIA flags by the Post Office in Albion on Thursday afternoon.

Dispatchers say trees or large branches have fallen since Thursday on West Road in Carlton, Hulberton Road in Murray, and Lyndonville Road in Ridgeway. Dispatchers say there have been no power outages from the wind.

Orleans and much of Western New York are under wind advisory until 3 p.m. today. Today is forecast for a high of 47 degrees with a chance of rain and the possibility of snow overnight.

Saturday will have a high of 43 with chance for rain/snow. Sunday will reach 56 and be mostly sunny, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Powerful winds are expected through Orleans County and much of Western New York today. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Orleans and much of WNY from 10 a.m. today until 1 p.m. on Friday.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo is calling it “a once in a 10-20 year storm system.” The storm will push northeast across the Upper Great Lakes today before making its way across Eastern Canada tonight and Friday, the Weather Service posted on its Facebook page.

“This cyclone will generate strong to potentially damaging winds across our region in the process, with the highest winds expected late today and tonight,” the Weather Service said.

The area will see winds from the southwest of between 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph, and gale-force winds out on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, the Weather Service said.

The strong winds will make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles, and could bring down trees and power lines, resulting in power outages.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This tree stands in front of the DAR House on North Main Street in Albion on Monday.

There may not be too many leaves left on the tree after high winds are forecast to hit the area on Thursday and Friday.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Orleans County and much of Western New York from 7 am. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday. Winds are forecast to be 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 55 mph.

“This is expected to be a prolonged wind event with the strongest winds peaking from late in the day Thursday through Friday morning,” according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Provided photos/Orleans-Niagara BOCES – Trevon Robinson of Medina, left, takes down Tyrellis Atkins (Medina) and Brent Oliver (Medina) starts a maneuver on James Ward.

Press Release
Orleans-Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Students in Steve Browning’s and John Marotta’s Security and Law Enforcement program have been learning takedown and defense moves.

Retired Western New York police officer Joe Follendorf, who is an internationally recognized defensive tactics and firearms instructor, has been coming to the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center to show students how to protect themselves from being overtaken by a criminal and how to get the upper hand in a physical confrontation.

“We are very thankful to Mr. Follendorf for coming to work with the class,” says Mr. Marotta. “He has a very distinguished career as an Assistant SWAT Team Commander, Firearms Training Officer, Physical Force Instructor and adjunct academy instructor.”

Mr. Marotta says he and Mr. Browning have been teaching their students how important it is to know how to stand and get leverage when a suspect attacks them.

“They have to know that if the suspect gets the upper hand he could potentially kill you,” Mr. Marotta says. “To know these tactics could make the difference between life or death.”

Teacher Steven Browning shows Raeanne Lefever (Newfane) and Lindsay Fulwell (Medina) a takedown.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Randy Bower, right, and Chris Bourke celebrate late on Tuesday night after Bower won the sheriff’s election. Bourke, a lieutenant in the Sheriff’s Department, is Bower’s choice to serve as undersheriff.

HOLLEY – Randy Bower celebrated a stunning victory for Orleans County sheriff on Tuesday night with many of his co-workers who are dispatchers, deputies, and corrections officers at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.

Bower, 50, has been a public safety dispatcher for 29 years. On Jan. 1, he will be the new Orleans County sheriff, succeeding Scott Hess who is retiring.

Bower topped Tom Drennan, 3,951 votes to 3,507, with Don Organisciak getting 847.

Drennan has been chief deputy for nine years and a 23-year member of the Sheriff’s Department. He ran a campaign on “Experience Matters.” He had support from past sheriffs and key leaders in the law enforcement community and Republican Party.

Bower had the backing from most of the deputies and the unions in the department. They wore red shirts, “Bower for Sheriff,” and they were highly visible at community parades and events in support of Bower.

“I think the people are ready for a change,” Bower said after the results came in Tuesday night. “Now we have to go to work for the people of Orleans County.”

Bower gained more momentum after forcing a Republican Primary and winning by 21 votes over Drennan on Sept. 10. Bower also had the Conservative Party line.

Randy Bower and his supporters had a big presence in Lyndonville during the Fourth of the July parade.

Drennan stayed in the race on the Independence and Reform lines, while the Democrats backed Organisciak.

Bower said he will be the “People’s Sheriff.” He said he reached across party lines, including to Democrats, and attended numerous community events the past 10 months. He intends to keep up that pace in the community.

He recently met with church leaders at predominantly black congregations, including the Royal Church of God in Christ in Carlton, Glad Tidings Baptist Church in Medina, and The Lord’s House in Waterport.

Bower was joined by Lt. Chris Bourke, Bower’s choice for undersheriff, at many of the community events and church visits.

“We felt these are people who feel ignored and we want to reach out to all people,” Bourke said at the Bower election headquarters at Hickory Ridge Golf Course. “All people in the county should be involved in the process.”

Bower and Bourke have worked together for nearly 30 years. When Bower decided to run for sheriff, courting town and county Republican Committee members in the spring, he reached out to Bourke for undersheriff.

They ran as a team. Bourke said he was confident Bower could be an effective sheriff back in the spring when they began the campaign. Bower’s work ethic and optimism over a grueling campaign has Bourke even more confident the new sheriff will be a a strong leader.

Bower named team leaders for the campaign, and challenged them to get 21 people out to vote on Tuesday. The goal was originally 20, but Bower raised it to 21. That was his margin of victory in the Republican Primary.

Randy Bower leads a meeting of supporters in August at the St. Mary’s Athletic Club in Albion.

Bower led frequent campaign rallies, but they were also work meetings, where he gave tasks to his campaign volunteers and discussed his strategy for sharing the campaign message and getting out the vote.

Dennis Piedimonte, an election commissioner, has known Bower since he was a kid. Piedimonte was impressed with Bower’s skills during the campaign.

“He is organized,” Piedimonte said. “He knows how to motivate people.”

Bower has been paralyzed from the waist down since he was in a car accident at age 18. He hasn’t let the accident keep him from an active life.

He said he lives a blessed life with his wife Robin and their two grown children, Jessica and Jacob.

Bower said during the campaign he loved his job as a dispatcher. But he felt compelled to lead the department. His plan includes more community policing, particularly for the rural schools in Kendall and Lyndonville.

Bower also said he will push for drug treatment programs in the county jail. That message connected with many residents, Bower said, because so many families have felt the pain of a loved one battling drug addictions.

“We got to help them,” Bower said Tuesday night. “They are our people.”

Bower is a high-energy person, who led a turnaround as Holley’s girls basketball coach a few years when his daughter played. The team went from winless to the playoffs.

Bower said he has support from the employees for his vision for the department. Many of the deputies, corrections officers and dispatchers actively campaigned for him.

“We’ll set a pace,” Bower said. “They know my philosophy and they’ll work for me.”

Bower had a busy Tuesday, driving to all 10 towns. When he got out of his vehicle, he said many passing motorists waved and gave him honks of support. He was warmly greeted with handshakes while making stops throughout the county.

Jim Halstead, a retired deputy, worked with Bower for 20 years. Halstead said the department will rally behind Bower.

“He’s going to be an outstanding leader,” Halstead said. “He’s not going to be distracted by the pride thing.”

Halstead also worked with Bourke, who was Halstead’s shift supervisor. Bourke is a respected manager in the department, Halstead said.

“He makes you feel like you’re working with him,” Halstead said.