ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board wants to support a concrete batch plant in Albion but planners said they need to see more information before casting a final vote.

David Hill of Gasport wants to put a small concrete plant at the southwest corner of West Countyhouse Road and Route 98 in Albion. Hill would have a storage hopper and gravity-fed discharge truck loading tower with an 85-foot antenna.

His site plan includes entrances on West Countyhouse Road and Route 98, as well as 12 parking spaces for employees and a 4,200-square-foot wood framed building.

Planners said they support the concept of the project, but they wanted to see a stormwater management plan before a final vote.

Dan Strong, the Albion code enforcement officer, said that issue could be resolved with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the project review shouldn’t be held up by planners. Hill said he didn’t want to spend $10,000 for an engineer to work on the plan if the Planning Board wouldn’t support the project.

Joe Sidonio of Murray and other planners said the board likes the overall concept and plan for the project. However, the board wouldn’t be doing its due diligence if it voted to support the project without the stormwater management plan, said Marty Busch, a board member from Medina.

The board voted that the application was incomplete because there wasn’t a stormwater management plan.

Hill owns a construction business that uses concrete. He expects his company will be the main user of the concrete. He intends to make the product available to other contractors and customers.

The proposed Transit Concrete would develop about 2 acres of a 14.7-acre site. Most of the property would keep the existing vegetation.

Hill estimated about 12 trucks would go back and forth to the site each day, which would be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week, except for Sunday.

Ron Vendetti of Holley, a Planning Board member, thought it would be better to eliminate the driveway for Route 98 and have trucks enter and leave a single driveway on West Countyhouse Road.

Strong didn’t see a problem with another entrance on Route 98, which Strong said already is a main truck route to and from Albion.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature again gave a unanimous vote for the repeal of the SAFE Act on Wednesday. The Legislature opposed the gun control measure soon after it was passed by the State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January 2013.

County legislators say the legislation makes criminals out of law-abiding gun owners, and also has imposed financial burdens on counties and gun owners. The SAFE also “does not increase the safety of the public,” according to the resolution approved on Wednesday.

Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to local state legislators, Gov. Cuomo, local towns and villages, and InterCounty of Western New York.

The Legislature was praised by Mattie Zarpentine of Holley, regional director for New York Revolution, a group that formed after the SAFE Act was passed.

Zarpentine said 52 out of 62 counties have gone on the record to oppose the SAFE Act, which she said is unconstitutional and an infringement on Second Amendment rights. Orleans County is the only county to have the Legislature and all of the town and village boards formally oppose the SAFE Act.

“Orleans County residents should be extremely proud of our strong stance in support of our Constitutional rights,” Zarpentine said during Wednesday’s Legislature meeting. “Those resolutions sent a very clear message.”

She was joined by about a dozen New York Revolution supporters at the Legislature meeting.

“Here we are, nearly two years after the passage of that resolution, unwavering in our resolve to fight tyranny,” Zarpentine said in an address to the Legislature. “What we understood about the SAFE Act back then has proven true: It has done nothing to make us any safer. It has only managed to infringe upon the freedom of the law-abiding citizens of New York.”

County Legislator Don Allport, R-Gaines, echoed those comments, saying the state government has been “overbearing” in the SAFE Act, limiting residents’ right to bear arms.

File photos by Tom Rivers – Volunteer firefighters move hoses to get ready to battle a fire in Carlton on Route 98 on Jan. 23.

GAINES – Orleans County needs more firefighters, especially for the calls during the morning and early afternoon, when many of the firefighters are working their full-time jobs, said Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director.

“There is a serious shortage of firefighters in the county,” Banker told town and county officials this evening during the Orleans County Supervisors and Legislators Association. “It’s not critical at this point.”

But he worries there won’t be enough firefighters for speedy responses for some calls. There are 12 fire departments in the county and Banker said they all could use more volunteers, and not just for fighting fires and assisting at car accidents.

The departments need people to direct traffic, serve as bookkeepers and help in other roles.

“There’s a job for everyone to do,” Banker said. “We really do need help countywide.”

Dale Banker (left), the Orleans County emergency management director, is at a fire scene in Carlton on Nov. 7. He is talking with Marty Zwifka, a deputy fire coordinator.

Banker said the training requirements have become more onerous for the volunteers. It’s now a 104-hour training commitment to become a basic firefighter. And the training books are $70 each.

Banker has served in the local fire service for 40 years, beginning as an explorer at age 15 with the Albion Fire Department. He started as EMO director in July, replacing Paul Wagner who retired after 14 years.

Banker said the firefighters and other emergency responders received a big boost last year with a new radio system.

He also is pleased with the success of a youth group for Holley students, where they learn firefighting skills under guidance of the Clarendon, Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray fire companies. The program has about a dozen teens on track to become firefighters.

Banker said Albion, Carlton and Barre would like to start a similar program, mentoring Albion students. Banker said those type of programs can help develop a new generation of firefighters.

He asked the town and county leaders to spread the word about the need, and how the local fire departments can find spots for willing community members.

County Legislator Lynne Johnson praised Banker for his work since becoming EMO director.

“He’s come into the job and he’s dove into it,” she said.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has gone on the record several times the past two years, stating its opposition to the SAFE Act, a controversial gun control measure approved by the State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo in January 2013.

With a new legislative season beginning in the state capital, and with Gov. Cuomo starting his second term, county legislators plan on again stating their support for repeal of the “Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement” Act. Two state senators, Michael Nozzolio and Katherine Marchione, have already introduced legislation in the State Senate to repeal all of the legislation or parts of it.

The County Legislature will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the County Clerks Building at 3 South Main St. An agenda for the meeting includes a resolution that supports repeal of the SAFE Act.

The resolution states the County Legislature supports the Second Amendment and the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Other reasons the Legislature cites for supporting the repeal of the SAFE Act include:

The lawful ownership of firearms is a recreational benefit to residents through hunting and target shooting, along with an economic and environmental benefit for the region with several locally owned and operated gun/sporting businesses.

SAFE Act legislation was “rushed” into passage in January 2013 and the legislation will have a detrimental effect on hunters, sportsmen and legal gun owners, creating a hostile environment both for them and for the sale and manufacture of legal firearms.

The legislation prohibits the sale of firearm magazines with a capacity larger than seven rounds and few or no low-capacity magazines currently exist for many firearms commonly used by law-abiding citizens.

“The legislation fails to offer little meaningful solutions to gun violence and places undue burdens where they don’t belong, squarely on the backs of law-abiding citizens.”

Many parts of the SAFE Act place an unfunded mandate on the local Sheriff Departments, County Clerk’s Office and County Judges.

There will be significant financial impact on the county due to the approximately 4,850 Orleans County pistol permits that will have to be renewed requiring additional manpower and computer systems.

Requiring gun owners to verify ownership of certain types of firearms every five years, in addition to registering them on permits that also must be renewed every five years, is “unnecessarily burdensome” to the residents.

“This legislation effectively treats countless New York State law abiding gun owners as criminals.”

Photos by Tom Rivers
The Lenten season kicks off tomorrow with Ash Wednesday. For 40 days many Christians will try to give up some indulgences, including gorging on richer, fatty foods.

With a day before the start of Lent, some churches served up pancakes this evening as part of “Shrove Tuesday,” also known as “Fat Tuesday” in New Orleans.

In the top photo, Kevin Doherty at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion has pancakes on the grill as part of a church dinner.

The Episcopal church will host Lenten lunches in Albion starting next Wednesday through the Easter season.

Georgia Thomas works in the kitchen during a pancake dinner at the Millville United Methodist Church. Millville and Knowlesville United Methodist churches are part of a merged congregation with two church locations. The Knowlesville site will serve fish fries on Fridays up until Easter. The first one is this Friday.

The Presbyterian Church in Medina hosts Lenten luncheons on Thursdays with churches in the Medina area taking turns preparing the meal.

Cathy Rosenberg pours maple syrups into bottles as part of the pancake dinner at the Millville church, which served 97 meals this evening.

Photo by Tom Rivers  – The front doors at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion were closed on Sunday when the church cancelled its service due to the extreme cold.

Today brings a record-breaking freeze. The minus 10 degrees overnight outside the Buffalo Niagara International Airport broke a record of minus 8 set in 1904, The Buffalo News reported.

In Orleans County, it was minus 5 in Albion at 7:30 a.m. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning until 10 a.m. today. The wind chill could feel as harsh as minus 25 degrees.

The temperature should reach 7 today, before falling to minus 2 for the overnight low, the Weather Service said. Tuesday it should “warm up” to a high of 17.

With no travel advisory, some dedicated faithful attend Mass, church services

Photos by Tom Rivers
This couple walks along the sidewalk on West Park Street after attending Mass at Holy Family Parish in Albion this morning.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is one of seven historic churches at the Courthouse Square in Albion. Only two of the churches, St. Joseph’s and Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, are open today.

The front steps at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church were shoveled this morning for Mass.

The Catholic church normally has about 120 people attend Sunday morning Mass. There were 48 people in the pews this morning for the 8 a.m. service.

“Forty-eight people came out,” said Father Richard Csizmar, pastor of the parish. “That really is something.”

There were another 105 people who attended Mass on Saturday evening.

Csizmar said there is typically one Sunday a winter where the weather is so treacherous that few people make it to church. Today was unusual because Bishop Richard J. Malone told Catholics in Western New York they were excused from their church obligation due to the brutal cold.

The doors at the First Baptist Church in Albion have been bombarded with snow.

Csizmar was impressed with the turnout this morning, but he didn’t want parishioners to put themselves in danger by coming.

“You hope people will use good judgment,” he said.

Csizmar lives next door to the church. He said priests in other parishes have to drive many miles, sometimes leading Mass at two or more churches.

Helen and Ed Wilkins were among the 48 at Mass this morning. It was minus 4 degrees when they drove into Albion just before 8.

“We just like being here on Sundays,” Mrs. Wilkins said. “It was sparse but we did our duty. You need your faith.”

Pullman Memorial Universalist Church resembles an igloo this morning with all the snow and ice.

Pullman Memorial leaders watched the news to see if there was a travel advisory in Orleans County. There wasn’t, so Pastor Lee Richards and Board President Gaye Smith decided church would go on at 11 a.m.

Richards drove to Albion from Rochester and Smith travelled from Kendall. They said the roads weren’t too bad, but the temperature is very cold.

Smith was determined to get to Albion for a church board meeting that started at 9. There was a quorum of board members as the church plans a wine-tasting on March 21, mulls a roof repair project, reviews grants and works on other church business.

“We have a lot going on,” Smith said.

Richards said he would be reluctant to ever cancel a church service. If there was a travel advisory, the church may have closed for today.

“Church is important,” he said. “There’s no two ways about it. People need an opportunity to connect.”

Today is forecast for a high of minus 2 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. for Orleans and several other WNY counties. Wind chills could fall to minus 30 today.

A motorist drives south on Main Street in Albion this morning. Traffic is very light with the area gripped in a deep freeze.

The following churches are closed on Sunday due to the severe weather forecast for Sunday morning:

Albion Free Methodist Church

Albion United Methodist Church

Barre Center Presbyterian Church
Carlton United Methodist Church

Christ Episcopal Church in Albion

Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church
First Baptist Church in Albion

First Presbyterian Church of Albion
Gaines Carlton Community Church

Light of Victory Church in Albion

Lyndonville United Methodist Church

Medina United Methodist Church

Next Steps Ministry in Albion

Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina

United Methodist Church of the Abundant Harvest in Knowlesville and Millville

In addition, Catholics in Western New York are urged to exercise caution when it comes to attending Mass on Sunday.

“People need to use their best judgment when it comes to venturing out into subzero temperatures, brutal wind chills and heavy snow,” Bishop Richard J. Malone said. “For those reasons, Catholics will not be held to the Sunday Mass obligation. It is also important that we comply with local travel restrictions and advisories that may be in place.”

Any churches that will be closed on Sunday are welcome to send notice to Orleans Hub by text or phone at (585) 590-2870 or by email at tom@orleanshub.com. Include a contact number for verification purposes.

Photos by Tom Rivers – The cross at the Oak Orchard Assembly of God on Ridge Road in Medina stands tall by the church. This photo was taken on Thursday.

At least two churches in Orleans County have cancelled Sunday morning services due to the deep cold expected on Sunday.

Temperatures are forecast to be below 0 with wind chills at minus 35 degrees. That has prompted the First Baptist Church in Albion and Barre Center Presbyterian Church to cancel services on Sunday.

Aleka Schmidt, pastor at the First Baptist Church, said on Facebook that church will be closed on Sunday “due to unsafe weather conditions.”

The Barre Center church said “severe weather” prompted church leaders to cancel the service and postpone a Valentine’s brunch.

Catholics in Western New York are urged to exercise caution when it comes to attending Mass on Sunday.

“The safety and well-being of everyone is paramount,” Bishop Richard J. Malone said. “People need to use their best judgment when it comes to venturing out into subzero temperatures, brutal wind chills and heavy snow. For those reasons, Catholics will not be held to the Sunday Mass obligation. It is also important that we comply with local travel restrictions and advisories that may be in place.”

Any churches that will be closed on Sunday are welcome to send notice to Orleans Hub by text or phone at (585) 590-2870 or by email at tom@orleanshub.com. Include a contact number for verification purposes.

The cross stands out in the white snow by Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Russ Martino, chairman of the Orleans County Health Facilities Corporation, speaks during this morning’s meeting to dissolve the corporation. Martino is pictured with the other two directors, Richard DeCarlo Sr., left, and Richard Moy.

ALBION – An organization that formed about two years ago to sell the Orleans County-owned nursing home voted to dissolve today.

The Orleans County Legislature formed the Orleans County Health Facilities Corporation on March 7, 2013. The entity was tasked with selling the 120-bed Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility.

The Legislature transferred the nursing home to Health Facilities Corporation, which then sold it for $7.8 million to Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC. That entity became the owner on Jan. 1.

The county intends to use the sale proceeds to pay off the debt from a $10 million renovation and expansion of the nursing home in 2007. About $7 million remains in that debt. Paying it off will spare the county about $900,000 in annual debt service payments, Chuck Nesbitt, the county chief administrative officer, said today.

County officials will discuss how to use the remaining funds from the sale. It may go to replenishing the county’s fund balance, which Nesbitt said has taken a hit with sales tax revenues off about $360,000 from budget in 2013, the expense with a recent murder trial, and some less-than-expected state reimbursements.

Russ Martino, a former Yates town supervisor and retired Lyndonville principal, served as the LDC’s chairman. He is pleased with the sale price and the transition to the new owner.

“It has really work out smooth,” he said. “Everything I’ve heard has been positive.”

He is pleased to see most of the employees have been retained and Comprehensive Healthcare Management has recognized seniority of the county employees, and hasn’t made the workers start all over based on work experience. Albion Central School also is continuing to operate an alternative high school program at the nursing home, where students do internships with nursing home staff.

Martino served on the LDC board with Clarendon Town Supervisor Richard Moy, and Richard DeCarlo, the former Gaines town supervisor.

Martino said the group didn’t face the ire of the public as it worked on selling the nursing home.

“We didn’t get beat up,” Martino said.

For much of 2012 and ’13, many residents protested the sale of the nursing home. Many residents and nursing home employees picketed on Main Street during County Legislature meetings.

Legislature Chairman David Callard attended the meeting today to dissolve the LDC. He thanked the three-man volunteer board for overseeing the nursing home sale.

“You did a very professional job,” Callard said.

Nesbitt served as president and CEO of the LDC. He said the county continues to assist the new owners with minor transition issues at the nursing home.

“We’re helping them to understand the various nuances of the facilities,” Nesbitt said. “Things are going pretty well overall.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – This fire hydrant at the corner of East State and Platt streets in Albion is among the many that could use some shoveling to make it more accessible in case it was needed by firefighters.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office would like to caution residents and snow plow contractors that it is against the law to plow snow into public streets or roadways.

Section 1219 of the New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law specifically prohibits placing glass or other injurious substances on streets or roadways. Subdivision (a) of that same section includes SNOW as an “injurious substance.”

If you are pushing snow out of a driveway and across the public street or roadway – Subdivision (b) of that same section requires you to remove ALL the snow from the street or roadway IMMEDIATELY.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with all local fire departments, would like to encourage all residents to adopt a fire hydrant. Each time you’re removing snow from your driveway and/or sidewalk, take a few moments to also clear the snow away from the nearest fire hydrant.

When fire strikes, time is precious! By shoveling out that hydrant, you provide a valuable and necessary service to your fire department, your community, your neighborhood and yourself.

ALBION – With the sale of the county-owned nursing home complete, a three-person local development corporation will dissolve on Friday.

The Orleans County Legislature formed the Orleans County Health Facilities Corporation on March 7, 2013. The entity was tasked with selling the 120-bed Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility.

Russ Martino, a former Yates town supervisor and retired Lyndonville principal, has served as the LDC’s chairman. The Legislature also appointed former Gaines Town Supervisor Richard DeCarlo Sr. and current Clarendon Town Supervisor Richard Moy to the group.

It accepted a $7.8 million offer from Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC. That entity became the owner on Jan. 1.

The Orleans County Health Facilities Corporation will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the Orleans County legislative chambers in the County Clerks’ Building, 3 South Main St., Suite 2.

‘We Are Called To Rise’ gets strong reviews

Photos by Tom Rivers – Margaret French leads a book discussion on Monday evening at the Yates Community Library.

LYNDONVILLE – Each winter for the past 13 years book lovers in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties have read the same book and met to discuss issues raised in the novels.

“A Tale for Three Counties” culminates with a visit by the author in each of the three counties in late March. The book discussions have started, with Yates Community Free Library hosting the first one in Orleans County on Monday.

The readers gave a strong endorsement to “We Are Called To Rise,” a book by Laura McBride. She will be in the area from March 26-28 for book discussions, including March 27 at 7 p.m. at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

McBride’s book focuses on an immigrant boy whose family struggles to assimilate. A woman wrestles with an imploding marriage and a troubled son. A wounded soldier also recovers from an injury.

These are some of the themes and characters in the book, which is available at local libraries and bookstores.

“We were amazed by the book,” said Emily Cebula, director at Yates Community Library.

Members of ‘The Renegade Readers’ meet on Monday to discuss the latest Tale for Three Counties. Yates Community Library Director Emily Cebula is at left and Jason Smith, Lyndonville Central School superintendent, is in the back corner.

Despite the heavy themes and tragedies early in the book, Cebula said McBride has a hopeful message at the end.

Additonal book discussions in Orleans County are scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Hoag Library in Albion; 1 p.m. Monday, March 2 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina; and 7 p.m. Monday, March 2 at Community Free Library
in Holley.

For more information, click here.

Cebula and other members of the Renegade Readers have been meeting monthly for 6 ½ years to discuss books. Usually the dozen members don’t pick the same book. They may pick an author or genre. When they meet they share in a potluck and may recommend books they’ve read.

“It keeps it lively,” Cebula said.

Jackie Reynolds enjoys the format, where the readers aren’t committed to the same book.

“I like the other people’s suggestions,” she said. “It might be for books I’d never read.”

Orleans County’s unemployment rate rose from 6.8 percent in November to 7.1 percent in December, according to the State Labor Department. That 7.1 percent rate is actually 1.2 percent lower than the 8.3 percent rate for the county in December 2013.

The 1.2 percent difference is one of the bigger gains in the state among counties. However, Orleans is still much higher than the state unemployment rate of 5.7 percent and the national rate of 5.4 percent for December.

Orleans County had 17,000 people working in December and 1,300 unemployed. That compares to 17,400 in December 2013 and 1,600 who were unemployed.

In the four-county GLOW region, Orleans has the highest unemployment rate. Genesee was at 5.6 percent in December, followed by Livingston at 5.9 percent and Wyoming at 6.5 percent.

Tompkins County had the lowest rate in the state at 3.5 percent while the Bronx was the highest at 9.3 percent.

Photos by Tom Rivers  – Snow falls at the Main and State Street intersection in Albion at about 8 p.m. today with the First Presbyterian Church in the background.

Snow-weary Orleans County should brace for more of the white stuff. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Orleans from 10 a.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Orleans, Genesee and Livingston counties could see 9 to 13 inches in the storm, according to the Weather Service.

That breaks down to 2 to 3 inches Sunday, 3 to 5 inches on Sunday night, 2 to 4 inches on Monday and 1 to 2 inches on Monday night.

A winter storm warning is issued when severe winter weather is expected. Heavy snow and/or ice will cause hazardous driving conditions, the Weather Service said.

“If you will be traveling in the warning area you should choose an alternate route if possible, or you should use extreme caution if travel is unavoidable,” the Weather Service said. “If you lose power and plan on running a generator make sure that the generator is located outdoors and is properly ventilated.”

The Weather Service also said space heaters should be properly ventilated and used only if they are operating properly. Make sure snow does not block exhausts and fresh air intakes for high efficiency furnaces and water heaters.

Snow falls by a traffic light on Main Street with the Orleans County Courthouse in background in this photo from about 8 p.m. today.