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.

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).

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.

Photos by Sue Cook – Bruce Sidari holds up a hand transmitter, which usually transmits only a couple of miles, but can be boosted with a repeater device to reach much further. There is a repeater at the Orleans County Civil Defense Center, which is connected to the very tall antenna on top of the building.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club is encouraging new participants in ham radio. The group held a presentation at the Orleans County Health Department on Wednesday to explain the hobby to the public and provide a starting point for those interested.

“There’s so many aspects of ham radio you can do cheaply or more expensively depending on the way you want to go with it,” said Terry Cook, Club President.

There are over 7,000 ham radio clubs and over 2 million amateur radio operators worldwide. Every operator around the world has a unique call sign, which is the ham radio version of a phone number.

The Orleans County Club is around 60 years old. The original call sign for the group (WA2DQL) used to belong to Albion dentist Doctor Jackson. When Jackson passed, the club took over his call sign in honor of his memory. The club has 35 members, but there are close to 50 people in Orleans County that are radio operators.

“You can have a lot of fun at this hobby and not know anything about technology,” said Program Manager Bruce Sidari.

The club doesn’t want people to be intimidated by the technology. Radios can be purchased inexpensively and can offer a gateway into further education with very minimal effort.

To receive a license to operate a ham radio with a call sign, a person must take a test. Someone seeking a license would attend a four-hour class and then take a test at the end to receive the lowest license level of technician. They learn the basics and regulations to be able to operate a radio. Other more advanced classes can be taken to become licensed further by the FCC to allow for use of different frequencies.

These are QSL cards. They are sent out as a confirmation of a conversation over ham radio or as a reminder that the call signal on the card would like to continue contact with the recipient. Some of the cards in this photograph are from Germany, the Azores, Russia, Wales, Japan and Chile.

Anyone young or old can become an amateur radio operator. The Radio Club wants kids to become involved because it’s a great skill to have, despite other modern technology like the internet being so prominent. It can help with learning other skills like robotics or basic electronics.

“If there’s anything we love, it’s to see kids interested in amateur radio,” Sidari said.

Anyone can benefit through ham radio, whether from the communications aspect or studying other cultures by speaking directly to a person from another country.

Ham operators are especially important during emergencies. When Hurricane Katrina brought down communications systems in Louisiana, ham operators were able to help emergency crews and to pass messages from family members in different areas. Locally, when the a snowstorm struck in October 2006, the ham operators helped with emergency calls until normal operations could resume.

The signals are nearly instantaneous by traveling at the speed of light, which is 186,000 miles per second. Some operators like to bounce Morse code signals off the moon as a personal challenge. The moon is 238,900 miles away. The signals take about one and a half seconds to arrive at the moon and then travel back in another one and a half.

Many astronauts are ham operators and communicate as they pass over various landmasses. The club showed a video of astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock communicating with the United States and Mexico as the International Space Station passed over North America.

Besides hand transmitters, other simple, but more powerful radio equipment can be purchased for people who want to dabble in the hobby and not commit to costly equipment.

Amateur radio operators can also have far reaching capabilities. Operators with the right equipment can reach out to anywhere in the world that has an operator that answers back. The local Radio Club has spoken to many countries. The operators from most countries frequently speak a little English to communicate at least briefly.

The club also participates in several contests throughout the year. On the fourth Saturday in June is Field Day. The club sets up two radio stations at the Orleans County Emergency Management Center and competes against other groups around the world to try and contact as many other operators as quickly as possible in a 24-hour period.

Another major event the group participates in is the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse. The event is a contest with the goal to contact as many lighthouses in a day as possible.

The group will be having a meeting this coming Monday and would love for people to come see what they do, whether to observe or start on the path of becoming an operator. The club holds meetings every second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Orleans County Emergency Management Center located at 14064 West County House Road in Albion.

For more information, visit the OCARC website.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The organizers of an Ultimate Fishing Challenge trip for Vietnam War veterans discussed the initiative with the County Legislature today. The group also brought along the trophy from last year when Point Breeze won the Ultimate Fishing Town through the World Fishing Network. The group includes, from left: Eileen Banker, chief of staff for State Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Mike Waterhouse, county sportsfishing coordinator; Gayle Ashbery, Carlton town supervisor; Paul Fulcomer, director of Orleans County Veterans Service Agency; and Sharon Narburgh, owner of Narby’s Superette and Tackle.

ALBION – The Ultimate Fishing Town will be giving Vietnam War veterans the Ultimate Fishing Experience on June 25.

On that day at least 11 charter boat captains will take Vietnam veterans who live in Orleans County out on Lake Ontario for the chance to catch a big Chinook salmon and other fish.

The Point Breeze fishing community and Orleans County Tourism Department are joining for the five-hour fishing trip, which will be free for veterans.

Mike Waterhouse, the county’s sportfishing coordinator, wants to express appreciation for the Vietnam War veterans who were often treated with disrespect when they returned home after their service.

“I can think of no other group of service men and women that were so underappreciated for their service to our country,” Waterhouse told the County Legislature today.

Point Breeze won the Ultimate Fishing Town contest last year in an on-line voting competition through the World Fishing Network. The WFN awarded the community $25,000 to promote the fishery.

Part of the that money will be used to give the charter captains a stipend for their gas and expenses for the fishing trip on June 25. The charter captains have volunteered their time to be part of the event.

Four or five veterans can fit on each charter boat. The trip is open on a first come, first served basis with a deadline set at May 30. Veterans interested should contact Waterhouse by phone at 585-589-3103 or by email at sportfishing@orleansny.com.

The local committee that is deciding how to spend the $25,000 prize includes Waterhouse, Sharon Narburgh, Joyce Harris, John Denniston, Mark Lewis and Bill Camann.

Paul Fulcomer form the Veterans Service Agency is assisting with the Ultimate Fishing Challenge. The initiative also includes support from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s office, Ken DeRoller from County Legislature and Wayne Hale from the County Planning and Tourism Department.

Press release, Arc of Orleans County

ALBION – The Arc of Orleans has received a $10,000 grant from the NYSARC Trust Services Board for recreational opportunities for people they support.

Last year The Arc received a similar grant from NYSARC Trust Services. Sixty-four individuals with developmental or other disabilities benefited from the 2013 funding.  They were able to participate in many great activities they normally wouldn’t have been able to without the NYSARC Trust Recreation Grant.

They attended the Ringling Brothers Circus, Monster Jam, a Buffalo Bills Game, several movies, and eight individuals enjoyed a gym membership for three months. The grant also paid for outings to a Rochester Amerks Game, Stokee Farms, the Lucille Ball Museum, Hamburg Lights, and Rochester Museum & Science Center.

Arc consumers also attended a showing of The Grinch, Polar Express and The Wizard of Oz. They ended the year with a holiday celebration at the Historic Tillman’s Inn.  The Arc of Orleans County plans to use the funds in the same fashion this year.

Photo by Tom Rivers – This file photo shows the top of the Orleans County Courthouse, a building constructed in 1858 and the focal point of a historic district in Albion.

ALBION – A new report puts Orleans County near the top of the list for the best-run counties in the state.

The county has a low debt per capita, doesn’t overspend its budget, has a strong rating from Moody’s, and hasn’t neglected infrastructure maintenance, according to the study in the New York State Bar Association.

The study includes a new set of metrics for evaluating a county. James Coffey, Dr. Robert Christopherson and Patrick Bowen presented the results of their study in the winter issue of the New York State Bar Association’s Municipal Lawyer.

The authors urged municipal attorneys to weigh the factors in the report as they advise municipal boards. The authors say many elected officials don’t look at the long-term health of a government. That includes tackling needed infrastructure projects without taking on too much debt. That may mean raising taxes to maintain and improve the community, the authors said.

The report is critical of “those leaders who cut taxes irresponsibly while allowing the infrastructure of the community they represent to deteriorate.”

They argued that municipalities must be profitable, or they risk bankruptcy. Well-run governments also promote confidence in their communities, spurring investments in housing and businesses.

Orleans is the fourth-rated county in the report, with Herkimer the top-rated followed by Clinton and Seneca. Delaware rounds out the top five.

The five lowest of 62 counties ranked include Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester and Saratoga. Those counties have budgets where their revenue doesn’t cover expenditures. They also have high debt per capita, which results in a larger percentage of tax money going to interest payments rather than directly to services.

Orleans carries a per capita debt of $347 per person, compared to $1,286 in Westchester County and $3,026 in Nassau. Orleans, from 2008 to 2012, also underspent its revenues by 2.68 percent a year. Saratoga was over by 6.08 percent and Nassau went over by 13.28 percent.

“We’ve been conservatively run for a long time,” said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.

The county’s budget for 2014 totals $79.8 million. That includes a first-time debt payment of $475,000 for an upgraded emergency communication system.

Nesbitt said the county is looking at other projects, including new roofs for the County Administration Building and Public Safety Building. It also has 68 bridges and about 500 culverts in its inventory.

The county has an A1 rating from Moody’s, which County Treasurer Susan Heard said, “is a great rating for a county our size.”

Moody’s gives the county a high rating partly because of a low debt burden and a stable tax base. Moody’s has recommended a larger fund balance for the county. Orleans has about $5 million in reserve funds, but Heard said county legislators have opted to not raise taxes to grow the reserve funds.

“It could be higher but the county has chosen to instead lower taxes,” she said.