Legislature also weighs expanding senior tax exemptions

ALBION – The new Orleans County tax bills that come out in January will no longer list taxpayer costs for the nursing home, state-mandated programs and other general services.

The Legislature voted last week to go back to one line item for the tax bills. The break-out was confusing to residents, said Legislator Lynne Johnson.

The county also expects to close on the sale of the nursing home by the end of the year, meaning there shouldn’t be county taxpayer subsidies for The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in the future.

The Legislature in 2011 voted to have “Truth in Taxation” on the tax bills, trying to highlight key cost drivers in the county tax bill. Legislators say they will continue to raise awareness on the impact of state mandated programs on the county budget. State programs such as Medicaid, indigent defense and several others account for more than the county’s total tax levy of about $15 million.

The Legislature also is considering expanding the tax discounts for lower-income senior citizens. Seniors who earn less than $19,200 are eligible for discounts on their county taxes. That level hasn’t been changed since 2007. The new level would be increased by $2,000.

The Legislature held a public hearing on the issue last Wednesday and set a second hearing for 4:25 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Paul Lauricella, vice chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party, said the county should work to giving every resident a tax break, not just a select group.

“I feel for the seniors,” Lauricella said during the public hearing. “But when you do these target groups everybody else pays the difference.”

Right now the county offers 50 percent off for seniors with household incomes up to $13,500. The sliding scale exemption drops to 20 percent off for seniors with annual incomes between $18,300 and $19,199. It’s 0 percent for seniors with incomes at $19,200 or above.

The new proposed schedule includes the following percentage exemptions:

50 percent off for incomes up to $15,500
45 percent off for incomes between $15,500 and $16,499
40 percent between $16,500 and $17,499
35 percent between $17,500 and $18,499
30 percent between $18,500 and $19,399
25 percent between $19,400 and $20,299
20 percent between $20,300 and $21,199
0 percent after $21,200

ALBION – A 40-year-old inmate in the Orleans County Jail was found dead today, Sheriff Scott Hess said.

Juan Muriel-Gonzalez from the Bronx was found dead in his cell by corrections officers after he failed to respond to the lunchtime chow call, Hess said.

There were no immediate signs of foul play. Muriel-Gonzalez was taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester for autopsy. The Sheriff’s Department, Medical Examiner and the New York State Commission of Correction will be investigating the death, Hess said.

Muriel-Gonzalez had been incarcerated since June following his arrest for promoting prison contraband in the first degree. He pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree during an Aug. 24 court appearance, when he admitted to mailing prescription narcotics to his ex-wife, an inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility.

Gonzalez faced a maximum sentence of 2 1/2 years in state prison. He was to be sentenced on Nov. 17.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature was presented an official 9-11 flag on Wednesday from Larry Montello, commander of Medina’s Butts-Clark American Legion and also the coordinator of 9-11 memorial events in Orleans County.

The flag given to the Legislature was the first one to fly in front of the courthouse about four years ago. Montello, left, presented the flag to David Callard, Orleans County Legislature chairman.

Montello thanked the county for supporting a 9-11 memorial near the flagpole in front of the courthouse. Callard commended Montello for heading the memorial events every 9-11.

ALBION – People wondering what it’s like to live in poverty, and face the fears and frustrations for parents struggling to make ends meet, are invited to a poverty simulation next Friday.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee will host the event on Oct. 3 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Batavia First United Methodist Church. The agency is hosting the event for the first time to try to raise awareness for poverty issues, said Ed Fancher, Community Action director.

At the simulation participants will assume the role of a low-income family member living on a limited budget. The experience is divided into four 15-minute sessions, each of which represents one week in which participants must provide for their family and maintain their home.

In the two rural counties alone, there are about 12,700 people (including over 4,000 children) who live below the poverty line, Fancher said.

“We think this will be a good way to have a conversation about poverty,” Fancher said about the simulation.

Local poverty is most concentrated in the villages of Albion and Medina, and the city of Batavia, Fancher said.

About 50 people have already signed up for the poverty simulation. Fancher welcomes more participation, including from elected officials. People interested in the simulation, should call 589-5605 and ask for Fancher or Nathan Varland, director of Housing and Support Services for the agency.

Community Agency will follow the simulation with a poverty awareness dinner at Batavia Downs on Oct. 3.

Nationally, Orleans ranks more in middle of pack

File photo by Tom Rivers – A study that measures household income, unemployment, obesity rates and other factors says Orleans County ranks in the bottom half of the country.

A study that looks at 3,135 counties across the United States puts Orleans County below average at 1,894 based on a ranking of quality of life issues.

However, when comparing counties in New York State, Orleans would be the sixth hardest to live out of 62 counties.

The New York Times used six criteria for determining the rankings for an article called, “Where Are the Hardest Places to Live in the U.S.?”

The report is based on ranking the median household income ($50,113 in Orleans), education or percentage of residents with at least a bachelor’s degree (15.8 percent in Orleans), unemployment rate (10.4 percent), disability rate (1.3 percent), life expectancy (78.3 years) and obesity (41 percent).

In New York state, five counties ranked worse than Orleans, including Fulton County (ranked 1,992), St. Lawrence (2,048), Oswego (2,052), Cattaraugus (2,064) and Montgomery (2,149).

In Montgomery, the median household income is $42,830, more than $7,000 less than in Orleans. Montgomery tops Orleans with a 16.1 percent college educate rate, ties with a 10.4 percent unemployment rate, has a higher disability rate (2.1 percent), a similar life expectancy at 78 years and a slightly lower obesity rate at 39 percent.

The upstate counties that are in the worse shape or considered the hardest places to live are a long ways from the bottom of the heap nationally. Consider Breathitt County in Kentucky, ranked 3,129 of 3,135 overall. That county has a median household income of 23,049, a college education rate of 10.2 percent, an 11.9 percent unemployment rate, 11.5 percent of adults on disability, a life expectancy of 71.4 and an obesity rate of 47 percent.

Six counties in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky are among the 10 hardest places to live in the country, according to the report.

Six of the top 10 counties are in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. New York state has six counties in the top 200, including Tompkins at 170, Saratoga at 129, Westchester at 98, Rockland at 96, Putnam at 66 and Nassau at 63.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Before the United States launched air strikes tonight against ISIS in Syria, a few people held a peaceful protest at the edge of the Courthouse Lawn near Main Street this afternoon.

Diana Dudley, top photo, holds up a sign stating her feelings about the military intervention.

Dennis Seekins also held a sign against the military involvement. Lee Richards (right), pastor of the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church and his wife Louise Wu also joined the demonstrators.

The U.S. military launched air strikes against the Islamic State in the northeastern Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State’s self-declared capital. The U.S. was planning to attack as many as 20 Islamic State targets in the operation, according to the Associated Press.

ALBION – The three-person local development corporation that was formed to sell the county-owned nursing home will meet Thursday for the first time since Feb. 6, the day the nursing home was sold to Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC for $7.8 million.

The sale isn’t final until the state Department of Health gives the final OK. That is expected before Dec. 31, said Russell Martino, chairman of the Orleans County Health Facilities Corporation.

The County Legislature voted in 2012 to transfer the nursing home, The Villages of Orleans, to the Health Facilities Corporation. That group then worked with a firm, Marcus and Millichap’s National Senior Housing Group in Chicago, that specializes in nursing home sales.

The LDC board of Russell Martino, Richard DeCarlo Sr. and Richard Moy on Feb. 6 accepted the $7.8 million bid from of Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC. That company also recently purchased three Catholic Health facilities in Buffalo.

The $7.8 million will more than offset the remaining debt following a renovation of the nursing home about five years ago. County officials also say the sale will relieve the county from taxpayer subsidies for the operating deficits at the site, deficits officials feared would grow to $2 million or more annually.

The public meeting Thursday will be at the at Health Department’s building, 14012 Route 31 West. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m.

“This is just to catch up on where we are,” Martino said about the meeting.

The Orleans County Democratic Committee is keeping its leadership team. The Democrats met on Wednesday and re-elected Jeanne Crane to serve as the party chairwoman.

Other leaders, all re-elected unanimously, include: Tracy Jennings, vice chairwoman; David Green, vice chairman; Agnes Recco, secretary; Sandra Walter, treasurer; and Janice Grabowski, elections commissioner.

The Democratic Committee is looking for members for town committees in Ridgeway, Yates and Murray.

The group also will be seeking candidates for next year’s town and county elections.

Marsha Rivers

Press release, United Way of Orleans County

MEDINA – The United Way of Orleans County has named Marsha Rivers as its new executive director. Rivers will replace Lisa Ireland, who in recent years led the merger of the Eastern and Western Orleans United Way chapters and successfully ran multiple fundraising campaigns.

Ireland is headed to the Rochester Institute of Technology to serve as the director of donor relations and stewardship within the Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

Rivers, a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, brings 18 years of communication and fundraising experience to the United Way.

After serving her alma mater for 12 years in admissions, alumni relations, marketing and public relations roles, Rivers returned to work in Orleans County, serving as executive director of the Care Net Center of Greater Orleans and, through the end of September, development director for Hospice of Orleans.

“In Marsha, we have found a well-qualified professional and also a person who is passionate about Orleans County,” said Bill Hungerford, United Way Board chairman. “She’s the perfect fit for the job.”

Hungerford continued by thanking Lisa for her terrific service. “Lisa was a great leader for us the last three years. She brought her passion, energy, enthusiasm and empathy to the underserved in Orleans County. We thank Lisa for her support, leadership, and guidance over the past years and wish her the best as she continues her professional career at RIT.”

Rivers has also served as president of the Human Services Council of Orleans County and is an active volunteer at the Villages of Orleans.

She starts her United Way tenure at a busy time, as the annual campaign begins Oct. 9. Last year, UW set out to raise $325,000 in support of more than 20 local agencies, including the Arc of Orleans, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Christ Church Community Kitchen, and YMCA and many others. This year’s goal will be announced at the kickoff event next month.

Photos by Sue Cook – Anni Skowneski takes the plunge first as ice water is dumped over her head.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – In the last few months, people worldwide have been doing the Ice Bucket Challenge and today Community Action in Orleans County got in on the action.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a viral marketing campaign for the ALS Association to raise awareness of ALS, a lethal neurodegenerative disorder also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. The challenge involves a person filling up a bucket with ice water, they get someone to film them, then they challenge other people to do it followed by dumping the water over their head. A person can opt out by donating money.

It’s become very popular to make a video of the challenge and still donate money to the cause. Several celebrities have joined in the challenge including Liam Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr. As of Friday, the ALS Association has raised $112.4 million dollars which will go toward patient care and research.

“We had this brainstorm that we would gather as many staff together as possible to do this Ice Bucket Challenge,” said Annette Finch, director of community services for Community Action. “We felt that being in the community and being community-minded, we should do something for another charity.”

Theresa Price reacts after the ice bucket is dumped on her head.

On a chilly Saturday morning 10 employees from Community Action in Albion took the challenge together. (Click here to see the video.) The group challenged all other Orleans County transportation services to do do it, too, and lined up in front of a Community Action bus during the challenge to drive the point home.

“This is just to show awareness of ALS and how severe it can be,” said Theresa Price, a Head Start employee. “A couple years ago I didn’t know what it was until I did a walk with my niece. She explained it to me and what it is. This is to show awareness and get it out there how serious this is.”

Community Action will be making a donation to ALS through the Community Action Angels in Action fund in the near future, though they have not determined an amount yet. Many of the participants will also donate on their own as well.

“I’m very proud of the staff for coming out on a cold, rainy Saturday to do this for charity,” Finch said. “That’s what we’re all about here.”

The group raises their arms and lets out a victory cry after completing the challenge together.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Tammy Yaskulski, the branch manager for Five Star Bank in Medina, paints the dining hall at Christ Church in Albion. The church hosts the community kitchen every Friday, providing hundreds of meals.

Yaskulski was one of nine members of the Albion Rotary Club doing service projects in the United Way’s Day of Caring. Rotarians were also doing yard work and projects at Community Action and Head Start.

“I want to help the community,” Yaskulski said.

Employees at Baxter Healthcare in Medina and CRFS in Albion also helped paint the dining hall and kitchen at Christ Church. Sandra Walter, a CRFS employee, paints a wall in the dining hall.

“It is Sept. 11 and I can’t think of a better way to honor those people, the firefighters and police officers, than to come out and give back,” Walter said.

In this photo, Missy Gibbs, right, from CRFS and Sherry Quazi from Baxter paint inside the dining hall at Christ Church.

Provided photo – Lisa Tombari and Madhusharee Gnanasambandan, both employees at Baxter Healthcare, work on a landscaping project outside the Marshall Road residence for the Arc of Orleans County.

About 50 volunteers were out doing service projects through the “Day of Caring” by the Orleans County United Way. This is the second annual Day of Caring with the event scheduled on Sept. 11.

Volunteers also worked on projects at Camp Rainbow in Ridgeway, the Hamilton Street residence for The Arc, the Stork Street residence for The Arc, the day hab site for The Arc at the former Grammar School in Albion, Hospice of Orleans in Albion, a Habitat home in Medina, and the Cooperative Extension fairgrounds.

‘Law enforcement is a brotherhood. We’re all brothers and sisters out there and when something like this happens it hurts.’
Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

Police officers from every department in Orleans County attended the funeral in Rochester today for Daryl Pierson. About 1,000 law enforcement officers were at the funeral at Blue Cross Arena.

Pierson, 32, died a week ago when he was shot by a man wanted on a parole violation. That man fled from police after a traffic stop.

The contingent from Orleans County included eight officers and Police Chief Roland Nenni from the Albion Police Department, three officers from the Sheriff’s Department, one from the county jail, two officers from the Medina Police Department and four officers from the Holley PD.

“Law enforcement is a brotherhood,” said Nenni, chief of the Albion PD. “We’re all brothers and sisters out there and when something like this happens it hurts.”

One Albion police officer Kyle Edwards worked with Pierson at the Rochester PD before Edwards transferred to Albion about four months ago. Jeff Cole, a deputy with the Sheriff’s Department, attended the same police academy class with Pierson.

Nenni said the funeral for Pierson was “very touching” and a great tribute to the 8-year veteran of the RPD.

The funeral was also a reminder of how dangerous the job can be for police officers. Nenni said officers in Albion and other departments in Orleans County often have to apprehend parolees.

“We come in contact with parolees a lot,” he said. “It could have been any one of us.”

The officers attended the funeral on their own time.

“We wanted to show our respects,” Nenni said.

27 pieces of artwork are for sale to raise money for art scholarships

Photos by Tom Rivers – This painting was done by Christine VerSteeg of Kendall and is on display in Bindings Bookstore in Albion. There are 27 paintings in the Palettes of Orleans.

ALBION – The Chamber of Commerce has organized a public art project for the second straight year. Artists created 27 paintings on canvas that are displayed at local businesses.

The Palettes of Orleans project will conclude with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 2 at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, 10609 Ridge Rd., Medina.

The community is welcome to submit bids for the artwork. The proceeds will go towards art scholarships at each of the five school districts in Orleans County.

“We have a lot of really nice pieces,” said Samantha Roskowski, coordinator of the project for the Chamber of Commerce. She also painted a canvas on display at Creekside Florist in Medina.

Five Star Bank in Albion displays this painting by Connie Maines.

The Palettes of Orleans debuted last year with 70 paintings on palettes. This year the numbers were reduced and the format was switched to an 11-by-14-inch canvas.

The list of participants includes:

Albion
Arnold’s Auto – Mark G.
Bloom’s – John Hewitt
Bindings Bookstore – Chris Versteeg
Knight’s Pride – Kim Martillotta-Muscarella
Hazy Jade – Connie Mosher
Orleans County Chamber of Commerce – Ed Rosko
Orleans County Farmers Market – Kim Nesbitt
Tillman’s Historic Village Inn – Sue Wells
Five Star Bank – Connie Maines
Marti’s on Main – Kim Martillotta-Muscarella

Kendall
Partyka Farms – Amanda Wilmier

Medina
A Lily & A Sparrow – Glenda Gross
Apple Blossom Florist – Connie Maines
Ashlee’s – Brandi Zavitz
Blissett’s – Kim Martillotta-Muscarella
The Book Shoppe – Jen Scott
Case Nic Cookies – Nicole Tuohey (also sponsored by OC Farmers Market)
Creekside Florist – Samantha Roskowski
C&H PC – Clara Lake
Della’s Chocolate – Jen Scott
East Center Stop N’ Shop – Jim Nicholson
English Rose Tea Shoppe – Patricia Worrad
Lakes Wine N Spirits – Clara Lake
Leonard Oakes Estate Winery – Eric Valley
Orleans County Farmers Market – Kim Nesbitt
Roberts Farm Market – Todd Eick
Rosenkrans – Mrs. Hamm
Vision 2000 – Glenda Gross

Andrew Cuomo and his running mate, Kathy Hochul, have about 60 percent of the state-wide votes with 55 percent of precincts reporting. That is enough for the Associated Press to declare them winners.

Cuomo and Hochul faced spirited challengers in law professors Zephyr Teachout for governor and Timothy Wu for lieutenant governor.

Hochul, a former member of Congress whose district included Orleans County, campaigned hard in New York City in recent weeks. Neither she or Cuomo made an appearance in Orleans during the campaign.

Orleans is hardly Democrat country. Republicans have about a 2 to 1 edge in enrollment. Voting today in the Democratic primary was particularly meager with 248 voting for Cuomo, 119 for Teachout and 36 for Randy Credico, a comedian and activist. There are about 5,500 registered Democrats in the county so today’s vote totals – 403 – was less than 10 percent of the Democrats.

Hochul had a bigger majority in Orleans than Cuomo. She received 297 votes to Wu’s 103 or 74 percent of the total. Cuomo received 61 percent of the Orleans vote.

Hochul issued this statement at 11:04 p.m.:

“I am sincerely honored that Democrats from every corner of this state have put their faith in me to be their nominee for Lieutenant Governor. As a proud daughter of Buffalo, I have a deep gratitude for the support and encouragement they have shown to me. And I would also like to thank Tim Wu for running such a spirited campaign.

“I congratulate Gov. Cuomo, who has once again shown that he is the choice of all New Yorkers. His accomplishments over these past four years have been nothing less than extraordinary, and his vision for the future of our state is exactly what we need to keep New York moving in the right direction.

“New York has made so much progress under the leadership of Gov. Cuomo. From creating jobs to cutting taxes, to getting government to function once again, we have turned this state around, and this November, we will continue our march forward.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Robert Ortt, mayor of North Tonawanda, is pictured on Monday speaking at a pro-gun rally in Albion. He defeated Gia Arnold today in a Republican primary, getting 71 percent of the three-county vote.

NORTH TONAWANDA – Robert Ortt won a decisive victory in a Republican primary today against Gia Arnold of Holley.

Ortt, the North Tonawanda mayor, received 71 percent of the vote from Republicans in three counties, 4,927 votes to Arnold’s 2,007.

Ortt received 78 percent of the votes in Orleans County, 829 to Arnold’s 229.In Niagara County, Ortt had 3,998 votes to Arnold’s 1,154. The district also includes a portion of western Monroe County, where Ortt received 100 votes to Arnold’s 24.

He now has the Republican, Independence and Conservative lines for the Nov. 4 election against Johnny Destino, a Niagara Falls attorney running as a Democrat.

They are vying for the seat currently filled by George Maziarz, who opted not to seek re-election.

“I want to thank everyone who contributed to this victory tonight,” Ortt said in a statement tonight. “We won this race the same way we will win in November – with grassroots campaigning, taking our message directly to the voters of Niagara, Orleans and Monroe Counties.

“Albany is broken and we need a proven public servant to fight on behalf of the residents of the 62nd Senate District. As a combat veteran and mayor of my hometown of North Tonawanda, I have dedicated my life to public service and am committed to fighting for the values of my community.”

Ortt, 35, said he will work to reduce the cost of government and help create good-paying jobs.

“I will commit myself to standing up for your constitutional freedoms, something I swore to do when I put on the uniform of a United States solider,” he said. “Tonight is only step one. Tomorrow we continue to take our message to every corner of the 62nd Senate District to ask for their support in sending a combat veteran and chief executive to Albany.”