By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2015 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2015 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2015 at 12:00 am
‘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.
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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2015 at 12:00 am
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 February 2015 at 12:00 am
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.
Contributed Story Posted 5 February 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Employees at the Orleans Correctional Facility delivered food to Community Action on East State Street on Wednesday.
The following are pictured: Dan Passarell (kneeling), a teacher at the men’s prison. Back row, from left: Richard Lugo, corrections officer; Willie Thompson, corrections officer; Carol Cornacchilo, offender rehabilitation counselor; and Kelly Montes, offender rehabilitation counselor.
Employees held a competition at the facility among four unions in December and January to see which union could give the most. The management confidential union or administration led the way, with other donations from teachers, corrections officers, counselors and CSEA workers. Altogether there were 188 pounds donated.
The donations come a good time for Community Action, which sees giving drop off after the holidays, said Anni Skowneski, case manager for Community Action. She said the food would be given out at Community Action sites in Albion and Holley.
The Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Foundation has approved three mini grants to local organizations.
The GCASA Foundation was established in 1992 to support the work of GCASA, a substance abuse treatment, prevention and residential services provider in Genesee and Orleans counties.
“GCASA Foundation is committed to supporting the work of GCASA and other grass roots organizations in our community,” said Foundation Board President Kathleen Maerten. “Annually, GCASA Foundation sets aside money to provide agencies with needed funding to further their efforts in making our community a safer, healthier place to live and work.”
This year’s three recipients provide crucial services to individuals and families in the two-county area. The Mental Health Association in Genesee County, Crossroads House in Batavia and Christ Church Community Kitchen in Albion each received $200 mini-grants.
“We receive many requests for funding and find it challenging to limit our mini-grant program,” said John Bennett, GCASA executive director. “The work done by this year’s grantees impacts many of the people we serve at GCASA.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 February 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Theresa Schmackpfeffer and her great-granddaughter Kelli Dingle, 7, arrange pies and other desserts at a fund-raising dinner for The Arc of Orleans County today.
The Arc is serving up chicken and biscuits at the Nutri-Fair site at 16 East Academy St. This is the first time the Arc is having a chicken and biscuit dinner as a fund-raiser. Meals will be served until 7 p.m.
Greg Canham emerges from the kitchen with four take-out dinners ready.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 February 2015 at 12:00 am
Governor didn’t include aid runs for each school district
Photos by Tom Rivers – The front entrance to the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion includes giant crayons with guiding principles such as a “Loyalty.”
School leaders across the state in January usually are given some sense of what their state aid will be for the following school year.
The governor presents a budget in January and that document includes “runs” for each school district, the projected state aid for the following year. Usually during budget negotiations the State Legislature will push for an education funding increase over the governor’s numbers.
So the governor’s proposal typically is a worst-case scenario.
This time there are no numbers from the governor for the 2015-16 school year, which local school officials say makes preparing their budgets a greater challenge.
“Withholding of state aid figures is truly unprecedented and very disappointing as it places school districts in a very tough spot as we continue to be held to all of the deadlines established by the state with respect to local budgets but we are also unaware of our state revenue projections,” said Robert D’Angelo, superintendent at Holley Central School.
D’Angelo and the Board of Education will work on a 2015-16 budget, assuming the district’s state aid will be unchanged. If there is an increase for Holley through the state budget process, D’Angelo said district leaders will discuss how to apply an increase in state aid, if there is one. Holley also will reach out to local state legislators for their help in getting solid data from the state.
The governor and State Legislature have passed four straight on-time budgets after a generation of late budgets, some not getting approved into the summer, long after the April 1 state budget deadline.
Michael Bonnewell, Albion’s school superintendent, remembers when districts had to prepare budgets based on “guesstimates” from the state.
“It’s like the old days,” Bonnewell said.
Cuomo is pushing for changes in teacher evaluations, and he is using the state budget to pressure the Legislature to go along with his proposal.
Cuomo wants state assessments to count 50 percent towards a teacher’s evaluation. Currently, those tests account for 20 percent of the teacher’s score.
He has proposed a 1.7 percent education funding increase if the Legislature does not approve the teacher evaluation changes, and a 4.8 percent increase if the changes are adopted. He hasn’t released data for individual districts, as was done in the past.
Bonnewell said districts can’t assume a 1.7 percent increase as a worst-case scenario because Cuomo ties some of that increase to grants, which are not given uniformly to all districts. Bonnewell said there may be a chance some districts will see an overall aid drop.
Holley Central School recently completed renovations at the junior-senior high school.
The 2014-15 state budget gave the five school districts in Orleans County – Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina – a 5.1 percent increase, from $65.98 million to $69.33 million.
Jeff Evoy, Medina Central School superintendent, sent a letter to the governor last week, saying the district has been put in an “impossible” position as it tries to craft a responsible and effective budget.
Evoy said the governor’s aid numbers are a critical piece of the budget process. The district’s audit and finance committee uses that data to develop the budget with input from school stakeholders.
“This vital process cannot proceed, however, without an expected state aid distribution baseline, as we are left without enough information to predict revenue for the upcoming year,” Evoy said.
Lyndonville will work on a school budget, knowing the district may not get a state aid increase. Jason Smith, the district superintendent, said Lyndonville could use some reserves and fund balance to make up for static state aid. The district will work towards a budget with “minimal increases” to the local taxpayers, Smith said.
Smith has some doubts about the governor’s push to have assessments count 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation, mainly because not every teacher has students who are tested that way.
Right now, the standardized tests from grades 3 through 8 Math and ELA count towards teacher evaluations.
“How is he going to account for every other teacher in districts that do not teach 3-8 Math or ELA?” Smith asked. “Furthermore, the 3-8 tests in math and ELA were never designed to be viewed as pass/fail type tests, but rather, a tool that districts can use to gauge student progress toward meeting the Common Core standards.”
Smith said he doesn’t favor the governor’s push to make the tests count so heavily on a teacher’s evaluation.
“I do not support it because of the sheer fact that is not comprehensive and lacks details, and really, the research is very unclear as to how much weight should be attributed to student scores in overall teacher evaluations,” Smith said.
State aid accounts for 60 percent of the Kendall Central School budget. The district wants to go to work on the 2015-16 school budget but “we can’t responsibly develop a budget or involve our communities in a process which could be based on faulty assumptions,” said Julie Christensen, the Kendall school superintendent.
Julie Christensen
Kendall has seen a $5.5 million reduction in state aid through a Gap Elimination Adjustment since 2008. The district, and others in the state, have pushed the governor and State Legislature to restore that funding. Many districts were forced to tap reserves, lay off staff and cut programs due to the funding cuts.
“It is time for the governor and our legislators to address this inequity and fully fund our schools,” Christensen said. “It’s their constitutional obligation.”
The governor and Legislature also passed a tax cap in 2011. School districts use the governor’s aid projections to formulate our tax cap calculation and the proposed tax levy is due to the state by March 1, Christensen said.
“It is impossible to establish a proposed tax levy without having a clear sense of our projected state aid,” she said.
Christensen sounded some of the same concerns raised by Smith of Lyndonville, in regards to the teacher evaluation proposal from the governor. Christensen said 70 percent of Kendall teachers do not receive a state growth score.
The remaining 70 percent of staff, according to the governor’s proposals, would receive a score that measures one year of academic growth, Christensen said. “How do you measure one year of growth in physical education, art, music?” she said.
Most districts in the state already had “rigorous, thoughtful, productive teacher evaluation systems” in place, Christensen said, long before Race to The Top and the mandated Annual Professional Performance Review process. New York City did not have those standards in place, she said.
“To hold all school districts hostage to disingenuous evaluation standards that does not support staff, students and administrators is incredulous!” she said by email. “Teachers are not numbers!! They are dedicated, committed, hardworking professionals and should be treated as such by our Governor, the State Education Department and others in political positions.”
She called Cuomo’s Opportunity Agenda “a travesty to the education profession on many levels.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Orleans Hub held a reception at Hoag Library this evening to recognize the Hub’s Outstanding Citizens for 2014 and the “Person of the Year.”
We announced these award winners in late December and wanted to have a reception to recognize them. About 60 people braved the bad weather for the reception.
Orleans Hub picked volunteer firefighters as the “Person of the Year” for their endless commitment to the community, helping in times of need.
The following are pictured, front row, from left: Peter Hendrickson, fire chief for Holley Fire Department; Jim Tabor, president of Carlton Volunteer Fire Company; Valerie Childs, a director with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company; and Adam Ehrenreich, captain with the Lyndonville Fire Department.
Back row: Clarendon Fire Chief Jon DeYoung; Howard Watts, assistant fire chief with Shelby Volunteer Fire Company; Devin Taylor, captain with East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company; Gary Sicurella, president of Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company; Mike Schultz, Kendall fire chief; Jeremy Graham, assistant chief for Albion Fire Department; and Jonathan Higgins, captain with the Medina Fire Department. Jerry Bentley, fire chief for Barre, planned on attending but needed to work plowing roads.
For more on the 2014 Person of the Year, click here.
The Hub also presented certificates to the Outstanding Citizens of 2014. The group includes, front row, from left: Melissa Ierlan of Clarendon, president of the Clarendon Historical Society; State Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Jim Hancock, Parade of Lights organizer in Medina.
Back row: Erik and Marlene Seielstad, leaders of the 4-H robotics and Legos program; Kim Corcoran, leader of the Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies; Al Capurso, pioneer enthusiast; and Bilal Huzair, leader of a food dispersal program in Medina.
For more on the Outstanding Citizens and why they were selected, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2015 at 12:00 am
660,825 pageviews topped previous record by 22.1%
Photo by Tom Rivers – A referendum to dissolve the Village of Medina drew lots of traffic to OrleansHub.com in January.
Five people were injured in a two-vehicle accident on Jan. 24 at the intersection of Gaines Basin Road and West Countyhouse Road.
Orleans Hub had a big surge in traffic in January with 660,825 pageviews, which obliterates the December 2014 record of 541,216. That is a 22.1 percent increase or 119,609 more from the previous record.
The online news site also averaged 6,650 unique daily visitors for the month, which broke the December record of 5,650 by 17.7 percent or 1,000 “uniques.”
There were with several stories and community issues proving popular with readers, including the dissolution vote on Jan. 20 for Village of Medina residents.
The dissolution topic drew a lot of traffic to Orleans Hub, especially to our letters to the editor section. One of those letters was in our Top 10 for most viewed articles. Medina Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich wrote a letter, giving his reasons for why he opposed the village dissolution. (Residents rejected dissolution by a 949-527 vote.)
Here are the Top 10 stories for the month in terms of pageviews or “clicks.”
Mike and Cheryl Wertman also continue to do a great job covering local high school sports. This photo from Jan. 14 by Cheryl Wertman shows Lyndonville’s AJ Buckland looking to shoot against Holley defenders Zach Vaccarelli (15) and Corey Winter (25). Lyndonville lost to the Hawks, 46-41.
Contributed Story Posted 31 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Provided photos
The Iroquois Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America held its annual Cub Winter Fun Day on Jan. 17 at Letchworth Park’s Trailside Lodge.
There was a snowball throw, Iditarod race, nugget run, a tug of war, tube race and other events.
Pack 3062 from Holley placed in all seven competitions with one first place, two second place ribbons and four third place ribbons.
Pictured include, front row, from left: Lilly Moore, Gabe Lindsay, Tyler Moore, Damian Frazier, Miguel Pulcino, Ethan Gonzalez, Dawson Arnold and Braden Read.
Back row: John Patt, Hunter Smith, Ronald Thorn, John Kuhls and new Cubmaster Wayne Thorn.
Cub Scouts in Medina in Pack 28 and 35 had fun in their annual Pinewood Derby today at the United Methodist Church.
State decides against extending expressway westward towards Orleans County
SPENCERPORT – The State Department of Transportation will have a public hearing on Thursday at Spencerport High School to discuss its plan to improve the safety of the Route 531 terminus.
The DOT estimates it will cost $14.2 million to upgrade the current terminus at Route 36. The project won’t extend the expressway west towards Orleans County.
There will be an informal open house on Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Spencerport High School cafeteria area. Project displays will be staffed by the project team to describe the status of the project and collect public input.
A formal public hearing will start at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. A short presentation will outline the alternatives that were studied for the project including engineering, traffic, environmental, and right-of-way aspects and the basis for selecting the preferred alternative. Oral comments will be recorded and written comments will be received.
This project is a direct result of the Route 531 Extension Study that was concluded in 2009, DOT officials said. It was determined that the expressway would not be extended and Route 31 would not be widened.
However, the information collected during the study indicated that spot improvements to improve safety and reduce congestion at the existing Route 531 terminus as well as along the Route 31 corridor.
Since this new project was initiated to address the needs at the terminus, the DOT has looked at several possible alternatives and measured them against the purpose and need statement. Each involves a significant change to how the intersection at Route 531/36 and 31 operates today.
The preferred design alternative consists of a conventional four-legged, at-grade, signalized intersection at Route 531 and Route 36. The Route 531 to Route 31 transition would be just south of existing Route 31, along the existing eastbound on-ramp.
Route 531 would connect directly to Route 31 and would transition from a four-lane expressway to a two-lane rural arterial west of Route 36. The main through movement that currently turns right onto Route 36, then left at the proceeding Route 31 / Route 36 signalized intersection would continue straight along Route 531 to Route 31.
Route 31 would be widened to add a center median to separate the eastbound and westbound travel lanes from where the “new” Route 531 lanes tie into Route 31 all the way to just east of Gallup Road. Former Route 31 would be transformed to a cul-de-sac approximately 2,000 feet west of Route 36, which would continue to provide access to the residential homes located on the north side of Route 31. A continuous two-way left turn lane between Gallup Road west towards Salmon Creek Road would be provided to ease travel at intersections.
The DOT expects to open construction bids in the summer 2016, with construction to start that fall and be complete in the fall 2017.
For more information on the project, including renderings of the site improvements, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – James Sunser, president of Genesee Community College, addresses the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday. There are nearly 1,000 GCC students from Orleans County currently enrolled in courses.
ALBION – Genesee Community College is adding new courses that better fit employment needs in the community and the college will also build two new structures to improve services for students, GCC President James Sunser told Orleans County officials this week.
He provided some data on GCC’s reach into Orleans County. The college has 959 students from Orleans, including 164 at the Albion campus center and another 100 at the Medina center. There are 427 high school students in Orleans County taking GCC classes.
The college has a $169.1 million economic impact in the four-county GLOW region, including $25.6 million in Orleans County, Sunser said at Wednesday’s County Legislature meeting.
This spring GCC expects to start site work on two new buildings at the main campus in Batavia. The college is also working to create a scholarship endowment for students in Orleans County.
“There’s a lot going on,” Sunser said. “It’s a very exciting time.”
Renderings courtesy of GCC – The proposed Student Success Center would provide a one-stop destination for students and first-time visitors to GCC, and “second-career” students.
The two new buildings will cost about $20 million to build with the state contributing $10 million and Genesee County $7 million. The GCC Foundation has raised $4 million towards a $5 million goal that includes the capitol projects and scholarships.
The building projects include a 9,000-square-foot “Student Success Center” and 43,000-square-foot “College and Community Event Center.”
The Student Success Center will include student support services to boost student achievement and retention, Sunser said. The vacated space for some of these services at the William W. Stuart Forum will be renovated for classrooms.
The Student Success Center will also help alumni with job placements and to look at job retraining possibilities.
The College and Community Event Center will include a field house that will be available for conferences and trade shows.
The new “College and Community Event Center” will be next to the college’s athletic fields. The building would include classrooms, coaching facilities, food service facilities as well as a wellness center.
The building would have public floor space that could be used for student gatherings, trade shows, community exhibitions, athletic competitions and charitable events.
Sunser said the Orleans County community is welcome to help with the fund-raising towards the capitol projects and scholarships. There will be a kickoff campaign for Orleans County from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 12 at The Village Inn, 14369 Ridge Rd. The event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, call 343-0055 x 6244 or email pabrown@genesee.edu.
Sunser noted the college has developed several new degree programs in response to business needs in the community. About 25 students graduate each year in the vet tech program and they have a high placement rate, he said.
Other new degrees include programs in food processing, agri-business, heath sciences, STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) initiatives, expanded tourism and hospitality, and enhanced mathematics.
GCC and Erie Community College are partnering on a new degree with nanotechnology.
