New ‘DMV DRIVES’ system expected to be activated in February
Press Release, Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon
ALBION – Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon today announced the county Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office will be closed on Wednesday, December 3, and will close early on four other Wednesdays over the next few months.
The closures are necessary for staff members to train for the new state DMV modernization project.
Specifically, the staff is training on Phase I of the new NYS DMV DRIVES operating system that is planned to go live in February. The new system is expected to enhance efficiency, customer service and security in the handling of motor vehicle transactions.
Beyond the December 3rd closure, the limited DMV office hours are:
Wednesday, Dec. 10, closed from noon to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 7, closed from noon to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, closed from noon to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 11, closed from noon to 4:30 p.m.
“These statewide DMV changes are a significant upgrade to our current system and given the small size of our staff, the only way to efficiently complete the training in time for the launch of the new system is to close the office,” said Hanlon. “We very much appreciate the public’s understanding.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 November 2025 at 8:27 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jim Nudd, left, and Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, hand out free turkeys to veterans on Friday. Here, Albion American Legion commander Brad Rouse gets his free turkey.
ALBION – Orleans County veterans received 125 free turkeys for Thanksgiving this year, thanks to support from the Pfc. Joseph Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program.
Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, and retired veteran Jim Nudd handed out the turkeys on Friday.
One of the first to get his free turkey was Brad Rouse, commander of the Albion American Legion, who praised the give-away program, funded by the Pfc. Joseph Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program.
“This is an excellent program,” Rouse said. “I also picked up one for my vice commander, Bob Gilsinan. We will probably cook both of them for veterans in the Legion.”
Mroz said in total they handed out 1,000 pounds of turkeys. They also do a ham give-away at Easter, passing out 100 hams to veterans.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2025 at 3:12 pm
Provided photos
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke announced that Julie Vendetti, a long-time dispatcher, is the new communications coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office.
She succeeds Allen Turner who retired in October after a 33-year career with the Sheriff’s Office. Vendetti’s appointment is effective Oct. 28.
“I am confident that all members of our agency will work with Julie Vendetti to ensure that she has a smooth transition into his new role,” Sheriff Bourke said.
The Sheriff’s Office has 10 full-time dispatchers and four part-timers that receive about 40,000 calls for service each year. The dispatch center handles calls for fire, EMS, ambulance, police/law enforcement, animal control, and the coroner’s office.
Dispatchers also handle other non-emergency calls that brings the total call volume to about 61,000, Bourke said.
“The communications coordinator is responsible for assisting the sheriff with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the many operating platforms that make the 911 center work,” Bourke said.
The center is currently doing a $1.1 million mandated upgrade to the Motorola/Vesta/Frontier 911 phone equipment as well as the computer-aided dispatch. The upgrade includes a new report management system (RMS), the sheriff said.
“The 911 center is an extremely important component to public safety and is the lifeline to our residents in Orleans County,” he said.
Allen Turner was celebrated by many of his co-workers, retired sheriffs and other law enforcement personnel during a retirement party last month.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2025 at 3:56 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: This historical marker dedicated for a Revolutionary War hero was unveiled on April 14, 2021. The marker highlights Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer who provided critical aid to George Washington in securing American independence. The marker notes a farewell tour in 1824-1825 to honor Lafayette, who traveled on the Erie Canal from Lockport to Rochester in June 1825 to great fanfare. This marker is located by the Erie Canal in Albion in between the two lift bridges.
ALBION – The state has given Orleans County $15,000 to help commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026.
The New York State 250th Commemorative Commission sent Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper a letter on Nov. 7, thanking the county for partnering with the state Education Department in commemorating the American Revolution and also the “Unfinished Revolution.”
Cooper said she expects to have a committee in Orleans County to help direct how the county will spend the $15,000 and be part of the commemoration.
She has been leading an effort this year for the Orleans County Bicentennial, highlighting important dates, events and citizens since the community’s founding.
None of the Revolutionary battles were fought in Orleans County, but several soldiers from the war settled in Orleans County. Some of those soldiers, who are buried at local cemeteries, will be spotlighted next year, Cooper said.
People interested in being on the committee can reach out to Cooper by email at Catherine.Cooper@orleanscountyny.gov or call her office at (585) 589-4174.
New York State 250th Commemorative Commission wants to do more than celebration the period of American Revolution and the formation of the United States. That Commission wants to recognize ongoing efforts to reach the goals expressed by the nation’s founders. New York has been a significant force in those movements, including such iconic, historic stories as serving as the routes for the Underground Railroad, the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, the labor movement, and the LGBTQ+ rights movement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on May 14 last year when the state named members of the Commemorative Commission.
There are numerous existing sites and battlefields associated with New York’s role in the American Revolution, all of which are vital to telling this part of the history of the nation., the Commemorative Commission writes in a guide to observing the 250th anniversary.
“The Founding Fathers wrote, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,’ as the guiding principles of a new nation,” the Commission states. “New Yorkers continue to lead in efforts to expand these ideals to include everyone. This part of the Revolution continues.”
For more information on the NYS 250th Commemorative Commission, click here to see a field guide on the commemoration.
The state’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution isn’t just based on the country’s founding in 1776. NYS wants to highlight other significant movements, including the push for women’s rights. This photo shows three statues in Seneca Falls of prominent women’s suffrage leaders.
The statues “When Anthony Met Stanton” depict the chance encounter in May 1851 in Seneca Falls that forever altered the struggle for women’s rights. Amelia Jenks Bloomer, depicted in center, introduced Susan B. Anthony, left, to Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
The friendship that was forged between Stanton and Anthony gave direction and momentum to the 72-year struggle for women’s suffrage which was culminated on Aug. 26, 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution. Neither woman lived to see women’s suffrage become a reality. When Anthony Met Stanton was gifted to the Seneca Falls community by the Governor’s Commission Honoring the Achievements of Women on July 18, 1998.
Veterans Service Agency Office will be closed for event at Medina VFW
Press Release, Orleans County Veterans Service Office
ALBION – Orleans County Veterans Services is teaming up with GO Health to host a Veterans Health and Benefit Fair on Monday, November 17.
The fair will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the VFW, located at 216 E. Center Street in Medina. The Veterans Services Office on Route 31 will be closed Monday as staff will be working this event.
The event is open to all veterans. Representatives from GO Health and Veterans Services will be on hand to discuss healthcare resources and benefits available to veterans. Free food and drink will be provided.
“We are always looking for ways to support our veterans and by teaming up with GO Health for this event, we can offer information on a wide variety of health and benefit programs available to the veteran community,” said Nik Mroz, Director of Veterans Services. “While we asked for preregistration, any veteran who missed that deadline is still welcome to attend and bring a guest.”
(Left) The book includes a tribute to Melissa Ierlan of Clarendon who has repainted more than 50 of the historic markers, often welcoming local students to help in the process of scraping off paint, and putting on a base coat before Ierlan puts on the final coats of blue and yellow paint and does painstaking process of painting each letter. She delivered one freshly repainted marker on Oct. 29. This was the marker for the Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse which was built in 1832. (Right) Tim Archer, an Albion teacher, praised Ierlan for being “a tireless doer” in taking on so many of the projects.
By Ginny Kropf and Tom Rivers
GAINES – An updated book about historical markers in Orleans County features about 100 of the markers around the county.
Catherine Cooper, the county historian, compiled the book of markers, as well as historical tidbits from each of the 10 towns and four villages. She pushed to get the project done in 2025 as part of the county’s bicentennial.
“Historic Markers of Orleans County New York” is a revised guidebook from the 2001 original. That book, “Historic Markers Erected During the 20th Century in Orleans County New York,” was produced by then Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin and Neil Johnson, the village of Albion historian.
“To date, historic roadside markers document significant events in Orleans County history,” Cooper said. “These blue and yellow signs are easily recognizable, but sometimes difficult to read as we speed by.”
Cooper, during the Oct. 29 book unveiling, told her audience she suggested keeping a copy of the book in the car so the text on these markers – which enriches our connection to our surroundings – can easily be referred to.
The new book has the same design and layout as the first publication, Cooper said. It is organized by towns and has a chronology at the beginning. The signs cover the complete range of Orleans County history. Many of the signs refer to “firsts,” such as “first church,” or “first school,” since these were significant achievements at the time.
Other signs refer to people who made a difference, such as the sign for Col Ezra Brainard of Holley, who is credited with developing the idea of a triangular-shaped truss bridge construction during the early years of Erie Canal construction. Erie Canal bridges still feature truss supports, Cooper said.
Provided photos: Catherine Cooper, the Orleans County historian, holds a copy of a book featuring the historical markers in Orleans County. Cooper did a book launch during a presentation on Oct. 29 at the Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse, which is the meeting place for the Orleans County Historical Association. Bill Lattin introduced Cooper and commended her efforts during the Oct. 29 presentation.
The book includes 105 historical markers. The Village of Albion has the most markers with 22, followed by the Town of Gaines with 19. The Village of Lyndonville has the fewest with 2, with the Town of Albion (outside the village), the next fewest with 3.
Here are the numbers in the other municipalities: Barre, 4; Carlton, 7; Clarendon, 7; Holley, 8; Kendall, 4; Medina, 9; Murray, 6; Ridgeway, 7; Shelby, 5; and Yates, 5.
This latest book is dedicated to Melissa Ierlan of Clarendon, who has repainted and repaired 54 of the historic marker signs. Tim Archer, retired Albion Social Service teacher, commended Irelan’s generosity of spirit and the enthusiasm she has passed on to student volunteers.
The back cover of the book features the poster created by Carol Culhane for the Orleans County bicentennial. The 58-page book also has a list of the 36 veterans’ memorials in the county.
Copies of the book are available for $15. They can be purchased at the Cobblestone Museum, Hoag Library, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, Murray-Holley Historical Society and Author’s Note in Medina.
Bill Lattin spoke at the Oct. 29 book unveiling. He said historic markers are the “tip of the iceberg” in providing information about some of the important local sites.
“The historic markers are not just an arsenal of facts, but a living continuum through which we may better understand our lace in the world in which we live, much to our ‘tangible benefit,’” Lattin writes in the foreword of the book.
Photo by Tom Rivers: On May 27, 2024, on a rainy Memorial Day, the Holley community dedicated a new historical marker for the 9 “Holley Boys” who were killed during the Vietnam War. Those young men include: John P. Davis, age 30: David Duane Case, 20; Ronald P. Sisson, 23; Howard L. Bowen, 20; Gary E. Bullock, 24; Gary Lee Stymus, 26; George Warren Fischer Jr., 23; Paul Scott Mandracchia, 18; and David States, 21. This marker is much larger than the typical historical markers. It I located in front of the old Holley High School.
Since the 2001 book by Lattin and Johnson, about 30 more markers have been added to the Orleans County landscape.
The oldest marker was installed in 1913 as a tablet erected in front of the County Clerk’s Building in Albion. That marker told how the site previously was home to the Phipps Union Female Seminary led by the school’s founder, Caroline Phipps Achilles.
The early markers in the county were typically funded by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the State Historic Marker Program. More recent markers were spearheaded by local or historical agencies, Cooper said. And since 2012, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation has supported many of the markers.
Cooper thanked local highway departments for installing many of the markers, and volunteers who have repaired and repainted them, notably Melissa Ierlan of Clarendon, Dan Mawn of Holley and Larie Vagg of Albion.
The book of historical markers helps to understand Orleans County, which formed in 1825 after splitting off from Genesee County.
“Two hundred years is a short time in the span of history but a significant period in human terms,” Cooper writes in the foreword of the book. “The landscape is completely different. Lifestyles have changed dramatically in that time. It is the thread of history that connects us through the constant and inevitable change. Historic markers serves as guide marks along the way.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2025 at 9:30 am
Spending, up 1.2%, reaches $100 million for first time; Budget faces pressure from many fronts
ALBION – Orleans County officials are proposing a budget that would raise taxes by 2.6 percent in 2026.
The $100,261,320 proposed budget was filed on Friday by Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer and also the budget officer.
Jack Welch
The budget tops $100 million for the first time. Spending is up 1.18 percent from the $99,092,747 in 2025 to $100,261,320.
The tax levy, what the county collects in taxes, increases by 2.60 percent or by $500,000 from $19,639,000 to $20,139,000. The tax rate is proposed to increase by 1.63 percent from $7.91 to $8.05 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The County Legislature will have a public hearing on the budget at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Orleans County Legislative Chambers, 14016 Route 31.
“In recent years, I have raised concerns about how the Orleans County budget is influenced by ‘VUCA,’ meaning volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity,” Welch said in his budget message. “Unfortunately, these dynamics have not changed, and as such, the county remains under tremendous budget pressure.”
The spending plan doesn’t exceed the state-imposed tax cap. Welch said “a tremendous amount of work” by department heads, legislators and the budget team kept the tax increase at 2.6 percent and not much higher.
The budget is seeing a big increase in 730 competency restoration for people deemed unfit to stand trial. Those costs totaled $57,209 in 2023 and have already exceeded $1 million this year. The county has budgeted $1.5 million for the “730” costs in 2026, which is up from the $500,000 in this year’s budget.
“This trajectory is simply not sustainable and must be addressed by the New York State Legislature,” Welch said.
The budget also faces a nearly 21 percent increase in New York State retirement costs, due to a lower stock market evaluation on march 31, 2025, Welch said. The retirement costs are one of the nine state mandated programs which now account of 115 percent of the tax levy, Welch said.
“At the same time, we have made significant strides to reduce costs,” he said. “For 2026, with the agreement of our unions, we have changed our medical coverage from Highmark to NYSHIP’s Empire Plan. This change resulted in 6 percent decrease in our budgeted health insurance costs. We have also continued our efforts to increase the hours in the work week for most of our employees from 35 hours to a 40 hours per week in an attempt to refrain from hiring more workers to cover the mandated services we are required to provide.”
The county also is projecting a $1.6 million increase in the local sales tax revenue. This year the sales tax receipts have been strong, nearly 8 percent ahead of 2024.
“As we present this to the Legislature, I am confident our proposed budget maintains core county services and programs in the most cost-effective manner possible, complies with the New York State property tax cap and provides funding for prioritized projects and programs while avoiding fiscal stress,” Welch said.
The budget keeps funding at the same levels for organizations providing services in the county including:
Cornell Cooperative Extension at $240,000; Orleans Economic Development Agency at $200,000; Soil & Water at $100,500, four public libraries to share $10,000; Mercy Flight at $5,000; Council of the Arts at $4,000; Cobblestone Museum, $3,000.
The budget includes $8,566,052 for capital projects:
Highway – $7,446,143 ($7,060,509 from state and federal governments)
Local bridge and culvert repairs, $50,000
Patch and seal county roads, $150,000
Highway reconstruction, $2,668,458
Eagle Harbor Knowlesville culvert, $865,000
Bridge Project #2, $2,375,500
Groth Road bridge replacement, $1,337,185
Buildings and grounds – $610,000 (all county cost)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 November 2025 at 8:25 am
Orleans approved for $1.75 million for Public Safety Building roof, upgrades
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Public Safety Building, which opened in 1998 at a former furniture store building, was approved for $1.75 million for roof repairs and other upgrades.
The federal government shutdown is over after 43 days after the House of Representatives followed the Senate in voting to keep the government funded. President Trump then signed the budget bill on Wednesday evening.
Congressman Joe Morelle of Rochester, a Democrat whose district used to include part of Orleans County, voted against the bill.
He issued this statement on Wednesday night: “Today I voted NO on the funding deal because it fails to do what matters most: bring down the crushing cost of health care for working people.
“The Republican majority continues to be more focused on fulfilling Donald Trump’s whims and pleasing their billionaire donors than on making Americans’ lives better. Once again, the President has used fear, hatred, and cruelty to get what he wants.
“At its heart, this budget fails millions of American families who now face massive increases in their health insurance premiums. Mr. President, how are they supposed to survive that?
“There is a long way to go, and we must find a bipartisan solution before it’s too late.”
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, a Republican whose district includes Orleans and about a dozen other counties, supported the bill, which passed 222-209.
She highlighted $1.75 million in the bill for Orleans County for repairs to the roof at the Orleans County Public Safety Building and other upgrades to the building on Route 31 in Albion.
Tenney issued this statement: “After weeks of senseless disorder and delay, the House has finally taken action to reopen the government and deliver stability to families, small businesses, and our troops.
“This shutdown was entirely avoidable. Democrats manufactured a crisis to damage President Trump’s America First agenda while federal workers went without pay and essential services were disrupted. Their partisan games hurt the very people they claim to represent.”
“House Republicans delivered a clean CR to fund the government and pay our servicemembers. Democrats blocked every effort and used hardworking Americans as political leverage. Only after weeks of using the American people as leverage did they finally accept nearly the same terms we offered from the start.”
Tenney highlighted these projects in her district FY26 Community Project Funding and general appropriations process:
City of Oswego Police Department — $1,000,000 towards a new police station, to enhance public safety operations.
Orleans County Public Safety Building — $1,750,000 for critical safety and security improvements.
Town of Torrey Water District #2 — $2,050,000 for resource and infrastructure upgrades, expanding clean water access for residents.
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station — $16,110,000 for the new Combined Operations Airfield Facility.
Fort Drum — $9,500,000 for the design of the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Addition and $8,300,000 for the design of the ORTC Transient Training Barracks.
“These projects will strengthen public safety, expand access to clean water, bolster our national security, improve troop readiness, and deliver meaningful results for our region,” Tenney said. “While Democrats wasted weeks playing politics, House Republicans remained focused on getting things done for the American people and for Upstate New York.”
ALBION – In response to the recent stop to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit payments due to the federal government shutdown, Orleans County Emergency Management, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health), the county Department of Social Services, and the Orleans County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) have collaborated to create a new online, one-stop hub to help residents find free or affordable sources of food.
The hub also provides links to 211NY, CODE BLUE, and additional county social services and mental health resources.
The COAD, which is a coalition of local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, government agencies, and volunteers, recognized the growing need for a single reliable information source for residents. The group worked closely with the various COAD partners to develop a single location where residents can find information regarding food pantries, food drives, and free or reduced cost meals.
“This initiative reflects the county’s and COAD’s shared mission of strengthening community resilience,” said Lynne Johnson, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature. “By pooling resources and expertise, Orleans County is ensuring that residents know that help is out there and available to everyone.”
Residents, by clicking here, can access the resource center and explore the various options available to them.
“The halt to SNAP benefits has placed an added burden on many families across the county that are already facing economic challenges,” said Justin Niederhofer, director of Emergency Management. “This issue is impacting over 10 percent of our residents, so our goal is to ensure that every resident knows where to turn to get the help they need.”
Holli Nenni, commissioner of Orleans County Department of Social Services, wanted to remind SNAP recipients that any available SNAP benefits that remain on the SNAP EBT card are still available for use.
“Recipients can check their card balance online at ebtEDGE.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399,” said Nenni. “And, of course, we will release any updates from the SNAP division of the Office of Temporary and Disability as they become available.”
Provided photos: From left include Sheriff Christopher Bourke, Employee of the Year John Doyle, and Director of Personnel Katie Harvey.
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Personnel
ALBION – The EAP Committee is tasked to recognize employees of the month. This is a very important and a very special occasion when fellow county employees are recognized for not only their service to the citizens of the county but to recognize those individuals who go above and beyond their duty.
The EAP Committee receives nominations from fellow employees and department directors and then the nominations are reviewed and discussed by the committee and a selection is made.
The employees of the months for the past year were:
• October 2024 – Craig Lane (Department of Public Works)
• November 2024 – Bert Mathes (Department of Public Works)
• December 2024 – Kathleen Bates (Office for the Aging)
• January 2025 – Cynthia Walter (Social Services)
• February 2025 – Dawn Hazel (Mental Health)
• March 2025 – Audra Fisher (Emergency Management)
• April 2025 – Maria Strathearn (Social Services)
• May 2025 – Dustin Wells (Sheriff)
• June 2025 – Shelby Willis & Page Smith (Sheriff-Dispatch)
• July 2025 – Samantha Lawson (Social Services)
• August 2025 – John Doyle (Sheriff)
• September 2025 – Gerald Bentley (Sheriff-Dispatch)
Employee of the Month attendees include from left: Craig Lane (Public Works), Bert Mathes (Public Works), Kathleen Bates (Office for the Aging), Dawn Hazel (Mental Health), Audra Fisher (Emergency Management), Maria Strathearn (Social Services), Dustin Wells (Sheriff), Shelby Willis (Sheriff-Dispatch), Page Smith (Sheriff-Dispatch), Samantha Lawson (Social Services), John Doyle (Sheriff) and Gerald Bentley (Sheriff-Dispatch). They were recognized at the Fairhaven Inn.
From this pool of candidates, a Department Head must make a recommendation to a separate committee to determine the Employee of the Year. The committee takes into consideration the service that an employee has performed before choosing the Employee of the Year.
Throughout the past year, our employee of the year has shown exceptional dedication to keeping the public, county buildings, staff, and visitors safe. His proactive approach, professionalism, and commitment to public safety have strengthened the sense of security for everyone in our community and workplace.
His attention to detail and quick actions have helped prevent incidents, reduce risks, and create a safer environment across our county. His calm and professional presence brings confidence and reassurance to all who interact with him.
This employee demonstrates consistent service, awareness, and dedication. His work to protect the public, county employees, and our buildings reflects both outstanding skill and a strong commitment to the safety of those who rely on them each day.
The Sheriff’s Office and Orleans County appreciate his service to the department and the community. His interactions with the public are thorough and professional. Qualities that make him deserving of this award.
I am pleased to announce this year’s Employee of the Year is John Doyle.
Cooper said she expects to have a committee in Orleans County to help direct how the county will spend the $15,000 and be part of the commemoration.
ALBION – In response to the recent stop to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit payments due to the federal government shutdown, Orleans County Emergency Management, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health), the county Department of Social Services, and the Orleans County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) have collaborated to create a new online, one-stop hub to help residents find free or affordable sources of food.
