ALBION Two weeks from today Orleans County will transition to a new $7.1 million emergency communications system. The “cut-over” is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 28.

At that time, the county will switch from a 22-year-old analog system to a digital system. There will be better reception and coverage throughout the county, said Paul Wagner, the county’s emergency management director.

The project is adding three new transmission towers – at Route 31A by the Clarendon highway garage, in Albion on Countyhouse Road by the Emergency Management Office and in Shelby on Route 31A by the Medina water tank. That will improve coverage, especially at the outer edges of the county where there have been gaps and unreliability in reception.

Firefighters and police often voice complaints about drops in coverage at the eastern and western ends of the county.

The emergency communications system includes 1,100 radios for police, firefighters, Probation officers and other emergency responders. The project includes 390 new radios while the others are being reprogrammed for the new system.

The upgrade also includes emergency communications equipment at the dispatch center and a backup location. Wagner said the analog system will continue as a standby in case there are any glitches with the new system.

A new map – “Route 98 has it all!” – connects attractions along Route 98 from downtown Albion going north to Lake Ontario.

About 20 businesses and attractions are noted along the Route 98 corridor, starting with Arnold’s Auto Parts a block off 98 on West Bank Street and ending at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse.

The map highlights restaurants, fly shops, gas stations, an art gallery, gift shops, farm markets, marinas, lodging and historic sites, such as the Pratt Opera House and the Cobblestone Society Museum.

“We’re trying to connect the waterways and the historic attractions,” said Judith Koehler, who worked on the project for the Albion Main Street Alliance. The organization partnered with the Western Erie Canal Alliance in the project.

The map will be distributed beginning today in other canal communities, including Lockport and Lyons. The map will also be available at several locations in Orleans County.

Koehler pushed to have the map ready for the start of the canal season and she met that goal. The canal opened this week for its 190^th season. Koehler said Albion wants to connect its canal and historic enthusiasts to tourists at the lake, and vice versa.

“This will be a reciprocal partnership,” she said.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Brooke Pontillo was elected this morning as the new president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. She is pictured outside the Chamber office on Main Street in Albion.

ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce has a new president who is committed to helping local businesses become stronger.

Brooke Pontillo, a senior account executive for Toshiba, has been working in the county for 16 years. The Batavia resident has Orleans as her sales territory.

“The people of Orleans County have been so good to me and Toshiba,” she said this morning.

The Chamber has 350 members. It has nearly $27,000 in the bank. Pontillo credited Kathy Blackburn, the Chamber’s executive director, for leading the organization to a stronger financial position.

A growth in members as well as revenue from events is making the Chamber healthier, and putting the group in a position to do more for the community, said Cindy Robinson, the outgoing president. She served in that role for three years.

Last month’s Home and Garden Show, for example, netted $5,579 for the Chamber. The event at the fairgrounds attracted 3,500 to 4,000 people over two days, Blackburn said.

Last year the Chamber debuted a public art project, the Palettes of Orleans. It included 73 paintings by artists that were displayed at businesses. The artwork was auctioned off in October and some of the proceeds are being directed to each of the five school districts in the county for art scholarships. Each district will receive $250.

The program will be capped at 50 paintings, and this year they will be on 11-by-14-inch canvasses. Artists have a July 1 deadline to complete the paintings.

The Chamber today also elected Mark Merithew of Apple Blossom Florist in Medina as vice president. Brett Hill of Albone & Hill Plumbing and Joseph Organiściak of Sandbox Union were elected as new members of the board.

“We had another year of growth with new events, new members and new board members,” Robinson said during the annual meeting. “The board is moving in the right direction.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – About 75 bikers gathered by the Orleans County Courthouse this afternoon and then left on a 50-mile motorcycle safety and awareness ride. The event was orgranized by the Orleans County chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education.

Chuck Persons, president of ABATE in Orleans County, urges bikers to be safe on the roadways. He is speaking from the top of the courthouse steps.

Murray Highway Superintendent Ed Morgan, one of the speakers at the rally, said local roads are in “deplorable shape” after a brutal winter. Morgan was representing State Assemblyman Steve Hawley at the rally. Morgan credited Hawley and State Sen. George Maziarz for a state funding boost to help fill potholes.

Chuck Persons addresses a crowd of about 75 bikers before their 50-mile ride through the county today. The ride ends at the VFW in Medina.

Adam Tabelski, a representative for State Sen. George Maziarz, spoke at the rally and praised the ABATE chapter for its push for safety. Tabelski urged other motorists to take extra care for the motorcycles on the highway. “Look twice, save a life,” Tabelski said, quoting a popular ABATE sign.

Motorcyclists listen to speakers in front of the courthouse.

Photos by Tom Rivers – The lift bridge in Knowlesville is limited to one lane and a 6-ton weight limit. It is among several in the county that aren’t equipped to handle heavier traffic.

Orleans County officials thought their push for more state resources for canal bridges would get more attention if town and village leaders are joined the rallying cry.

The towns and villages are responding, and passing resolutions asking for more state funds to keep up the bridges. There are 25 state-owned canal bridges in the county, including seven lift bridges. (The village of Medina owns the Glenwood Avenue bridge.)

Twelve of the 26 bridges have been declared “functionally obsolete.” Another six are considered “structurally deficient” by the state Department of Transportation.

Two are closed – Brown Street in Albion and Hindsburg Road in Murray. The Knowlesville lift bridge is limited to one lane and 6 tons. Other bridges have reduced weight limits below 10 tons, including Transit Road in Albion at 9 tons, Allens Bridge Road in Albion at 7 tons, Presbyterian Road in Albion at 5 tons, and Groth Road at 9 tons in Murray.

The county has a report about the bridge conditions at orleansny.com. It used state DOT data from bridge inspections to create the report.

Most of the bridges are about 100 years old. They were installed when the canal was widened in 1909 to 1914.

The County Legislature has passed two recent resolutions seeking more state attention for the bridges. The first resolution expressed the Legislature’s growing concerns about the limited access due to closed bridges or reduced weight limits.

That forces longer trips for school buses, fire trucks, tractor trailers and big farm equipment, hindering public safety and commerce in the county, legislators said.

The Beals Road bridge in Ridgeway is pictured during the winter. The bridge is one of 12 of the 26 canal bridges in the county declared as functionally obsolete by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Town Boards at Barre, Clarendon, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby all have passed resolutions stating their concern about the limited access with the bridges. The Medina Village Board also joined the effort with a formal resolution on Monday.

Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said the issue is particularly hard on villages that have several of the canal bridges. The village would like to see the governor and state develop a bridge plan to better maintain the spans over the historic waterway.

“Hopefully the governor pays some attention,” said Mark Irwin, a village trustee.

The Legislature also passed a resolution in March calling on the state to not raid a fund that was supposed to be dedicated for road and bridge work. If that fund wasn’t diverted for other purposes, county legislators said there would be more state resources for infrastructure.

Residents and taxpayers pay billions in taxes and fees into the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund. They pay through highway taxes, motor vehicle taxes and fees, petroleum business taxes and other fees. However, county legislators said more than 75 percent of the funds or $1.6 billion was diverted to other agencies in the last state fiscal year.

The County Legislature passed a resolution urging the governor and State Legislature to develop a multi-year plan for the fund to meet the infrastructure needs for bridges and roads in the state.

The towns of Clarendon and Shelby have passed formal resolutions supporting the issue.

Bruce Good’s Lotto win proved popular with Orleans Hub readers. It was our most viewed story of April.Orleans Hub on April 16 was the first to report Good won $300,000 on a scratch-off ticket he bought at Fischer’s Newsroom in Albion. (Click here to see “Albion man wins $300K in Lotto.”)

“I hit the mother lode,” Good told Orleans Hub. “It’s a game changer. It’s nice to know there will be a nest egg for retirement and that I can help out some friends and family if they need it.”

Our other top stories for the month, ranked 2 through 5 include:

“Lyndonville ranked as one of best high schools by U.S. News” on April 22 (Click here).

“16 face drug charges after arrests in Albion and Carlton” on April 1 (Click here).

Photo by Tom Rivers – Orleans Hub was quick on the scene when this fire broke out in Eagle Harbor at about 1 a.m. on Easter.

“Fire engulfs Eagle Harbor home” on April 20 (Click here).

“3 Albion sisters hurt in Ridgeway crash” on April 12 (Click here).

Palette project, $200K grant program on agenda for 2014

File photo by Tom Rivers – Stacey Kirby created this palette, which was on display in Bindings Bookstore in Albion, during last year’s Palettes of Orleans. The Chamber of Commerce plans to do the effort again this year.

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will elect a new board president on Wednesday, and at least two new members are expected to join the board.

The Chamber will have its annual meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday at its office, 102 North Main St., Suite No. 1. The meeting is open to the community, but the Chamber would appreciate an RSVP by calling 589-7727.

After two years of leading the Chamber, Cindy Robinson of Medina is expected to step down as president and be replaced by Brooke Pontillo of Toshiba, the current VP. Mark Merithew of Apple Blossom Florist is expected to become the vice president. Brett Hill of Albone & Hill Plumbing and Joseph Organiściak of Sandbox Union have agreed to join the board.

“We have a younger generation stepping up that believes in Orleans County, that wants to come back and raise their families here,” said Kathy Blackburn, Chamber executive director.

The Chamber plans to announce it will continue the Palettes of Orleans public art project this year. The program debuted last year with 73 palettes on display in businesses throughout the county.

The Chamber also is administering a $200,000 grant program from an anonymous donor that provides matching grants in Medina for building improvements at homes and businesses.

Press release, Sheriff Scott Hess

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess is pleased to report on another successful Prescription Drug Take-Back Event, which was held this past Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Here in Orleans County, a total of 406 pounds of unused prescription medications was collected.  According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, residents in the eight counties of Western New York surrendered 11,255 pounds of unused prescription medications during the four-hour collection period.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is proud to participate in this event, held twice during each year, in collaboration with the DEA, the Orleans County Health Department, and the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse.

The next event will be held this fall.

Candidates have submitted petitions to run for volunteer positions on the Board of Education at the five school districts in Orleans County.

Two of the districts will have contested elections, while two have lone candidates seeking a single open position. Holley has three candidates for three spots.

Monday was the deadline for the petitions. The election is May 20.

Here is the rundown for each district:

ALBION – Four candidates are running for three positions: two five-year terms and one one-year term.

Kevin Doherty and David Sidari are both finishing five-year terms. They are running again. Marie Snyder, another incumbent, had a break from the BOE but was recently appointed to fill a vacancy from Melissa Osburn.  Her term has one year remaining. Snyder will be on the ballot.

Wendy Kirby also is running for the BOE. The top two vote-getters will get the five-year terms while the candidate with the third most votes gets the one-year term.

HOLLEY – Three candidates are running for three positions, with the top two candidates getting three-year terms and other receiving a two-year term.

John Heise, the former BOE president, is running again after choosing not to a year ago. Other candidates include incumbents Robin Silvis and Salvatore DeLuca Jr.

Another incumbent, Norman Knight, has opted not to seek re-election.

KENDALL – Lucille Welch has decided against seeking re-election after 10 years on the board. Chaley Swift is the lone candidate to file a petition to run for the five-year term.

LYNDONVILLE – Incumbent Susan Hrovat is unopposed in seeking a three-year term.

MEDINA – There are five candidates seeking four positions on the Board of Education.

The top three candidates will receive three-year terms while the candidate with the fourth most votes gets a one-year term. The one-year term will fill Rosalind Lind’s vacant position.

Three incumbents – Christopher Keller, William Keppler and David Sevenski – are seeking re-election. Other candidates include Renee Paser-Paull and former BOE member Virginia Nicholson.

Press release, NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association

ALBION – A correctional officer at the Orleans Correctional Facility saved a 48-year-old inmate who cut himself several times with a sharp metal can lid in an apparent suicide attempt.

The incident occurred on April 16 at approximately 8:15 p.m. The inmate, whose name is being withheld, approached the officer while he was sitting at his desk. He told the officer he needed to speak with someone from the Office of Mental Health and that he was going to kill himself.

The officer told the inmate not to move and that he would get help. The officer went to notify the sergeant on duty about what was unfolding when the inmate ran out into the dayroom. The officer quickly followed and observed the inmate holding the metal can lid.  The officer immediately called for a response on his radio and activated his radio emergency pin.

He ordered the inmate to drop the lid to the ground. The inmate refused, and with the can lid in his right hand he began to swing it wildly as a weapon, striking himself in the right arm, face and head several times.

The officer ordered him again to drop the weapon but the inmate refused. While bleeding, he raised the lid in a threatening manner towards the officer. The officer grabbed the inmate by his arm to try and get him under control. He was able to pull his arm into his body and break free from the officer.

The inmate then ran into the bathroom and into a stall where he tried to flush the lid down the toilet. As he came out of the stall the officer ordered him to get on the ground, which he did. The inmate was handcuffed and taken to the facilities medical unit to be treated for several small lacerations.

The officer sustained some minor abrasions and exposure to blood. He was treated at the facility.

The inmate is serving a 20 year to life sentence for Robbery 1^st and Robbery 2^nd after being convicted in 1997 in New York County.

“The quick actions by the officer last week at Orleans Correctional Facility should be commended,” said Mike Dildine, Western Region Vice President for NYSCOPBA. “He certainly saved the inmate from inflicting serious physical harm onto himself during an apparent suicide attempt. Situations like this, with inmates who have mental health problems, are unpredictable. Our members are trained to react quickly and appropriately while protecting themselves and the inmate as well.”

Courtesy of Genesee County EDC – A rendering shows a build-out of the 1,250-acre STAMP site in the town of Alabama.

ALBION – A mega-project 1 mile south of the Orleans County border could provide significant benefits to Orleans and the Western New York region, economic development officials said.

A contingent of officials will address the Orleans County Legislature at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, updating Orleans officials on WNY STAMP (Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park).

That 1,250-acre site is in the town of Alabama. STAMP will accommodate nanotechnology companies including semiconductor 450mm chip fab, flat panel display, solar manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing.

Genesee County Economic Development Center officials have been working on the site for nine years. It received a huge boost in the new state budget with a $33 million commitment from the state. That has local officials thinking there must be companies interested and ready to build at the site.

Long term, the STAMP project would likely employ nearly 10,000 workers on site and the total regional employment, including supply chain and construction trades, would likely exceed 20,000 to 50,000 jobs, according to GCEDC.

Orleans County legislators are scheduled to hear from Raymond Cianfrini, Genesee County Legislative Chairman; Steve Hyde, president and CEO of the Genesee County EDC; Tom Kucharski, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise; and Mark Peterson, president and CEO of the Greater Rochester Enterprise.

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers of the County Clerks Building and the public is welcome to attend.

“This will be a game-changer for the entire community,” Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said.

He sees the Medina community as being a primary beneficiary of the project. It is one of the closest population centers to the site. He expects many of the workers to live and shop in the Medina area.

“We’re an easy drive up 63,” he said.

Locations also added for April 19 drop off

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will once again participate in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative on April 26.

Residents can drop off unused prescriptions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following collection points:

Orleans County Public Safety Building, 13925 State Route 31, Albion

Holley Fire Department, 7 Thomas St., Holley

Medina Fire Department, 600 Main St., Medina

This is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orleans County Health Department, and the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse (GCASA).

This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications for safe & proper disposal. During this cycle we have added one-hour “early-bird” drop off on Saturday, April 19, with times and locations as follows:

Lyndonville Fire Department and Shelby Fire Dire Recreation Hall from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Carlton FD Recreation Hall and Barre Fire Department from 11 a.m. to noon

Kendall Fire Department and Clarendon Fire Department from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Special thanks to all fire departments for assisting us with this event.

Communities host celebrations throughout Orleans

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Youngsters ages 7 to 9 run to get Easter eggs during an egg hunt this morning on the Courthouse lawn in Albion.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee organized the event that included about 1,000 eggs.

Community Action will have another egg hunt in Holley today. Participants should gather at the Eastern Orleans Community Center at 1 p.m. for the event.

Nathalie Holmes, who is almost 2, picks up an egg with her father Doug Holmes. He is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion, which hosted some of the egg hunt activities this morning.

There were also egg hunts in Medina, Lyndonville and Kendall today.

The Easter Bunny made an appearance inside the Presbyterian Church. Jaxson Reamer, 6 months, of Lyndonville sat on the bunny’s lap. Jaxson was at the event with his mother, Maranda Reamer, who is a volunteer with Community Action.

Tweety Bird joined the Easter Bunny in visiting with children. Autumn Rhoades, 3, of Medina was happy to meet the bird. Autumn is joined by her aunt Jenia Rhoades of Medina.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association presented a $1,000 check today to the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council to help the group buy a van to transport veterans to medical appointments.

Erin Fuller, left, is president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association. The group raises money with fundraisers and through contributions from its 23 members.

Fuller is standing with, from left: Paul Fulcomer, chairman of the Veterans Council; Lt. Chris Bourke; and Sgt. Dean Covis, treasurer of the Deputy Sheriff’s.

“We decided it was a worthy cause,” said Fuller, who served in the Marine Corps.

The Veterans Council has six vans that it uses to take veterans to medical appointments. Three of the vans have more than 100,000 miles. The group is pictured in front of a recently acquired van with about 23,000 miles. Fulcomer is hopeful more donations will come in to replace one of the older vans.

“What better way to help the veterans who have served our country,” Bourke said.

The Veterans Council acquires and owns the vans, and the VA pays for the gas and maintenance. The service is free to veterans.