D’Imperio’s book highlights 50 sites, including 2 in Orleans

The cover of “Unknown Museums of Upstate New York” includes a photo of the Cobblestone Universalist Church in Gaines, which is part of the Cobblestone Society Museum.

ALBION – Chuck D’Imperio wanted to highlight 50 museums in Upstate New York, sites that he says are important caretakers of local history and culture.

D’Imperio’s book, “Unknown Museums of Upstate New York,” includes two sites in Orleans County: The Medina Railroad Museum and the Cobblestone Society Museum.

He will be in town on Jan. 25 to talk about the book and his journeys around the state in cataloging the sites. He wrote the book as a guide to 50 “treasures” that tell unappreciated stories of the state’s history.

Bindings Bookstore and Tillman’s Village Inn will host D’Imperio for an evening dining event and book signing.

He has several museums from Western New York in the book, including The Holland Land Office Museum of Batavia, the Kazoo Factory museum in Eden, the Jell-O Gallery in LeRoy, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, the Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum in East Aurora, the Steel Plant Museum of Western New York and the Millard Fillmore House Museum in East Aurora.

D’Imperio will be sign copies of the book at 6 p.m. on Jan. 25. Tickets are available at Bindings Bookstore in Albion, a lily and a sparrow in Medina and Johnathan’s Pastry Shoppe in Holley.

Three of the five school districts – Holley, Lyndonville and Medina – are closed today due to the single-digit temperatures in the morning with the wind chill making it feel 5-below.

Rainbow Preschool in Albion, Gaines Country Preschool in Gaines, Orleans County Christian School in Medina and the Orleans-Niagara BOCES outside Medina have also closed today.

Albion and Kendall school districts are open.

ALBION – Orleans County Conservative Party leaders blasted tax-saving plans for two projects in Orleans County, deals that will result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in in less tax revenue for local municipalities.

That’s how Al Lofthouse, Conservative Party chairman, sees it.

“You’re raping the taxpayer,” he told county legislators at today’s Legislature meeting. “It’s thoroughly disgusting.”

Lofthouse opposes a tax abatement deal for the Wegman Group, a real estate company from Hilton that wants to develop the 400-unit Cottages at Troutburg.

The Orleans Economic Development Agency has crafted a 10-year tax savings plan for the 126-acre site in the northeast corner of Kendall along Lake Ontario. The plan only applies to the land. Any new seasonal cottages will be taxed at 80 percent of their value.

The land is currently assessed at $1,305,200. The EDA proposal would save the company more than $200,000 over 10 years.

“You’re taking public money and giving it to private companies,” Lofthouse said.

The land, a former Salvation Army camp, was tax exempt for about 40 years and didn’t generate any tax revenue for the local municipalities until very recently, said Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development for the EDA.

She said the project could boost the town’s tax base by $30 million when it’s fully developed. She told Lofthouse to look at the PILOT in the early stages of the project as a small investment for the bigger return later as the cottages are built.

The EDA will have a public hearing 9 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Kendall Town Hall for the Troutburg tax abatement plan

Paul Lauricella, Conservative Party vice chairman, also said he opposed a sales tax exemption for Claims Recovery Financial Services, which could spend up to $4,430,000 for new equipment, machinery and furnishings as part of its relocation and expansion into the former JP Morgan Chase call center on East Avenue.

The company won’t have to pay sales tax on any of those purchases, a benefit that could save the company up to $354,400 because of the sales tax exemption. Both the county and state won’t collect $172,200 each in sales tax if CRFS spends $4.43 million for equipment and furnishings in its expansion and relocation. The sales tax abatement was approved last month.

The county didn’t give away the sales tax because it’s money that was never received, said Chuck Nesbitt, county chief administrative officer.

CRFS has about 600 employees in the county now and plans to add 150 more as it moves into the former Chase site. The company was being wooed by economic development agencies to expand in Texas. The company, led by Albion resident Jodi Gaines, picked Albion to grow.

“The sales tax abatement helped them to stay in Orleans County,” Barone said.

All five school districts aren’t open amidst storm

Albion Central School is closed today due to the bitter cold and snowstorm. District officials made the call early this morning.

All five school districts in the county are closed. Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina all announced on Monday they were closing today. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has declared Orleans and 13 other counties as under a state of emergency due to the storm.

Orleans County is escaping the brunt of a winter storm that is unleashing blizzard-like conditions on nearby counties.

While Genesee, Erie and Wyoming are being pummeled with snow, harsh wind and a bitter wind chill, Orleans so far is mostly afflicted by the cold temperatures.

“There hasn’t been any trouble in Orleans County,” a dispatcher said at about noon. “The roads are clear although it’s blowing over in some spots. It’s just business as usual.”

All five school districts closed today with a wind chill forecast at about 30 below zero.

Genesee County is getting hammered with snow, on top of the cold and wind. That county has issued its first travel ban since 1977 when the Blizzard of ’77 hit.

Orleans County cut its unemployment rate from 10.2 percent in November 2012 to 8.5 percent this past November. Despite that progress, Orleans still has the fifth highest unemployment rate in the state.

Bronx County led the state with an 11.2 percent rate, followed by Jefferson at 9.0, Kings at 8.7 percent and Hamilton at 8.5 percent.

The state’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.7 percent in October 2013 to 7.4 percent in November, the lowest level since January 2009, according to the New York State Department of Labor. The state’s economy added 4,300 private sector jobs, raising New York State’s private sector job count to 7,493,500 – another all-time high, according to the DOL.

The unemployment rate in Orleans remains persistently high, especially compared to nearby rural counties. In the GLOW region, Genesee has the lowest rate at 6.1 percent, followed by Livingston at 6.4 and Wyoming at 7.1 percent.

The counties in New York with the lowest unemployment rates include Tompkins at 4.4, Putnam at 5.0, Nassau at 5.1, Saratoga at 5.2, and Rockland at 5.3 percent.

ALBION – Orleans County Court is closed today. The Office of Court Administration has closed all County, Supreme and Family Courts in Western New York due to today’s bitter cold.

In addition, the Alzheimer’s Association WNY Chapter is closed today due to the plunging temperatures and nasty wind chill. Those needing help can reach a trained professional for confidential guidance at 1.800.272.3900.

Orleans among 14 counties in state declaration

Press release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has declared a state of emergency as a major winter storm has moved from the Midwest into Western New York and the Tug Hill Plateau region of the State.

The State of Emergency includes Orleans County and the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Oneida, Oswego, Wayne and Wyoming.

Earlier today the governor announced that parts of the New York State Thruway in WNY will be closed due to extreme winter weather conditions and he directed the State Emergency Operations Center to open at 8 p.m. based on the forecasted winter weather conditions in Buffalo and Western New York.

These actions were taken due to a severe winter weather event that is forecast to include 36 inches of snow in the coming day-and-a-half, lake effect snows in some areas up to four inches per hour, wind gusts up to 40 mph and wind chill temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero. The Thruway in this area will be reopened when conditions allow.

A state of emergency mobilizes resources to local governments that otherwise are restricted to state use only and allows the governor to suspend laws and regulations that would impede rapid response.

The governor urged Western New Yorkers and residents in the Tug Hill Plateau region to avoid traveling and stay inside their homes until the worst of the storm has passed.

“As this new winter storm develops, bringing heavy snow and high winds, I strongly urge all citizens in these regions to exercise caution, avoid travel, and stay indoors,” Cuomo said. “To ensure an effective and rapid response to this winter storm, I am declaring a state of emergency, so resources can get to communities where they are needed as quickly as possible.”

Miller

ALBION – The trial against accused murderer Frederick Miller of Carlton will begin March 10 with jury selection starting at 10 a.m.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch set the schedule during a court appearance this afternoon by Miller. The trial was set to start on Jan. 13 but was pushed back to give Miller’s attorney time to file motions and arguments in the case.

Miller hired defense lawyer Robert King of Rochester on Dec. 7. For nearly nine months Miller was represented by the public defender.

King filed a motion about a search by police of Miller’s home following the March 4 murder, when Miller allegedly killed his girlfriend, Rachel Miller. Police did not have a search warrant. Punch said he will soon make a decision about the motions filed in the case.

Rachel Miller, 53, died of blunt force trauma combined with multiple stab wounds. The couple allegedly had a fight on March 4 at a home they shared on Oak Orchard River Road.

Frederick Miller has rejected a plea bargain for pleading guilty to second-degree murder. He would face a sentence of 15 years to life in state prison if he accepted that plea bargain.

His attorney told Judge Punch that Miller won’t accept a plea bargain and wants to take the case to trial.

Punch said there won’t be any more plea bargain discussions. The case is now on track for trial.

“Please do not come back to me and request a plea bargain while we are in session,” Punch said. “It’s done now at your request.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

Motorists in Orleans County and Western New York are getting a jolting ride this winter as potholes proliferate due to the freeze-and-thaw cycle of the winter.

These two photos show pavement with chunks missing on Route 31 near the driveway that leads to the County Administration Building. This week’s weather promises more punishment for the local, county and state roads.

ALBION – Orleans County legislators are expected to formally oppose any efforts to bring a casino in neighboring Monroe County because of the potential impact on Batavia Downs, which is partly owned by Orleans.

There is no formal plan for a casino in Monroe, but developer David Flaum is talking with the Seneca Nation of Indians about a project in Henrietta.

Orleans opposes that effort and is against any new casino developments in Western New York.Orleans and 14 other counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo are all part owners of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., which is based in Batavia and owns Batavia Downs. WROTB in October opened a revamped Batavia Downs with $20 million in renovations.

The site helps generate nearly $60 million in profits for the state and WROTB’s member municipalities.

Marcia Tuohey, Orleans County’s representative on the WROTB board, is scheduled to speak with the Legislature on Wednesday at a 4:05 p.m. conference session. She will be joined by Michael Nolan, executive vice president and chief operating officer for WROTB.

The Legislature will vote on a resolution opposing the Seneca expansion into Monroe County. The new casino would “oversaturate the regional gaming marketplace and cause financial distress with Western Regional Off Track Betting and to the 17 municipal stakeholders,” according to the resolution.

The resolution also calls on the state Legislature and Gov. Cuomo to not allow additional casinos west of Route 14 in Geneva, Ontario County, due to the presence of many existing facilities, including the Batavia Downs.

A citizens group that formed after the state passed the SAFE Act last January is urging noncompliance with the gun control legislation.

New York Revolution opposes the SAFE Act, and urged gun owners to take a “will not comply” attitude with the new law.

“The SAFE Act is purely unconstitutional, as it does not allow citizens of New York to purchase many guns that are widely popular throughout the country and much more strictly punishes the law abiding gun owners of the state,” said Gia Arnold of Holley, state-wide coordinator for NY Revolution.

A federal judge on Tuesday upheld most of the provisions of the SAFE Act, but rejected a restriction from the SAFE Act that banned more than seven bullets in a firearm.

Judge William Skretny in Buffalo upheld the SAFE Act’s bans on large-capacity magazines and the sale of some semi-automatic rifles. Skretny said the SAFE Act was constitutional because of the “important governmental interest” in public safety.

The law “applies only to a subset of firearms with characteristics New York state has determined to be particularly dangerous and unnecessary for self-defense,” Skretny wrote. “It does not totally disarm New York’s citizens, and it does not meaningfully jeopardize their right to self-defense.”

In striking down the restriction on magazines with no more than seven bullets, Skretny said that a seven-bullet limit was “an arbitrary number.”

Arnold of Holley said NY Revolution wants to unseat Andrew Cuomo as governor in this November’s election. The group will work to engage more citizens in the political process, trying to pressure Albany to repeal the law, Arnold said.

“We would like to see a big change in Albany next year, and will work throughout 2014 to educate the people on the corrupt politicians voting to take away their freedoms,” she said.

Provided Photo – Orleans County officials sign documents on Tuesday to finalize the sale of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility to Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services. The following are pictured, from left: William Gillick, interim administrator; David Schubel, county attorney; David Callard, Legislature Chairman; Chuck Nesbitt, county chief administrative officer; and Francis Gorman III from Harris Beach PLLC.

ALBION – The former county-owned Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center has officially transferred to new ownership. The $7.8 million sale of The Villages to Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services exceeds the suggested $6.5 million market value, Comprehensive officials said in a press release this morning.

Comprehensive’s bid was approved by the Orleans County Health Facilities Corporation in February 2014.

“We were confident early on that Comprehensive was the best option for Orleans County,” Russ Martino, chairman of the OCHFC, said in the press release. “Their desire and ability to immediately expand the facility’s existing programs and services will make a big impact on elder care and rehabilitation options in this community.”

Finalization of the sale removes the 120-bed nursing home from the county’s books, stabilizes nursing home operations and preserves local jobs, once feared to be a casualty of privatization, county officials said.

Bob Compani, CSEA Private Sector director, praised Comprehensive for welcoming the employees in the nursing home.

“From my perspective, it was a breath of fresh air in comparison to other nursing home owners who have gutted employee wages and benefits in other counties throughout the state,” Compani said. “The agreement we reached maintains pay and benefits at levels that will retain the valuable employees and ensure that exceptional quality of care will continue at The Villages.”

Comprehensive’s purchase of The Villages of Orleans is the first of four acquisitions the Long Island-based company will execute in Western New York this year.

The principals of Comprehensive endeavor to support smaller, close-knit communities that are struggling with an ever-changing health care system, according to the press release.

“It’s deeply ingrained in our mission to respect and assist society’s aging and under-served,” said CHMS managing member Josh Farkovits. “We understand the challenges facing people right now and our goal is to deliver sustainable health care options wherever we can make the most impact. Right now, communities in Western New York need our resources and support and we want to assure them of our desire to bring the highest level of customized care to them all.”

File photo by Tom Rivers – The new owners of the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility will retain the majority of the 130 employees at the site on Route 31 in Albion.

The company plans to expand services, rehabilitative programs and invest in the county by introducing nearby senior living options, said CHMS managing member Mordy Lahasky.

“Comprehensive is very appreciative of the warm welcome and high-level of cooperation we received in Orleans County,” Lahasky said. “This ease-of-transition has allowed us to not only hit the ground running but really fine-tune our operational and expansion goals for The Villages.”

Comprehensive’s team has worked on site with county officials and the facility’s staff for more than eight months prior to the transfer. They also met with resident council and resident family members.

Comprehensive has agreed to continue the nationally recognized Community As Schools program at the facility, where at-risk Albion High School students attend an alternative education program and do internships with nursing home staff.

Comprehensive said county officials worked with the new owners to allow for a seamless transition.

“We are very pleased that the transition is proceeding better than expected,” said Legislature Chairman David Callard. “The LDC members and our staff have done a marvelous job. Comprehensive has been professional and easy to work with. There seems to be a very positive working relationship developing with Comprehensive, the union and our employees. I am confident that our residents will receive top quality care going forward.”

Photos by Tom Rivers – David Callard of Medina is congratulated by County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard after he signed the oath of office today to serve a third two-year term as County Legislature chairman. Legislature Clerk Nadine Hanlon is in back.

ALBION The seven-member Orleans County Legislature, with three new members to start a new term, is keeping the group’s most veteran member as the body’s leader.

David Callard, a retired banking executive, has served 20 years on the Legislature, including the past four years as chairman.

“He’s brought a lot of cohesiveness and wisdom to the Legislature,” said Legislator Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville.

She made the motion for Callard to serve as chairman, and he was unanimously supported by the other legislators.

The Legislature will have a new vice chairwoman. George Bower served in that role the past two years. He retired from the Legislature on Dec. 31. Johnson received unanimous backing for the role in the next two years. She has served on the Legislature for six years, including chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee.

John DeFilipps, a new legislator from Clarendon, said Johnson has been committed to the legislator job, particularly with the upgrade to the county’s radios and emergency communications system.

Callard expects 2014 will be a big year for the county government. After many years of laying the groundwork, the new $7.1 emergency communications system should be operational this year. County officials will have a ground-breaking celebration for the project at 3 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Emergency Management Office on Countyhouse Road.

County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard, right, administers the oath of office to the following legislators, from left: David Callard of Medina, Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville, Ken DeRoller of Kendall and Fred Miller of Albion.

Another project that has been a few years in the making could bear fruit this year. County and town leaders have been discussing and brainstorming ways to expand high-speed Internet in the county, especially in the rural areas.

“We’re going to take a serious look a Broadband this year,” Callard said.

The dredging of the Oak Orchard Harbor is several years overdue. Sediment that was built up in the port will be removed in June or July, Callard said, ensuring a navigable channel for boaters.

The county also is talking with neighboring Genesee and Niagara counties about shared services. The county last year reached a deal with Genesee to share a public health director, Paul Pettit of Albion. Callard said more shared staff could be announced this year, reducing costs to both counties.

He will discuss his goals for the county for 2014 during a “State of the County” address, which he expects to deliver in February.

John DeFilipps signs the oath of office. He is one of three new county legislators, along with Ken DeRoller of Kendall and Fred Miller of Albion.

The Legislature has three new faces, which is highly unusual for the board in the past two decades. Bower retired and his countywide position is now filled by DeFilipps, who served on the Clarendon Town Board for the past 12 years.

He owned a convenience store and gas station in Clarendon for 10 years and also worked 28 years at General Motors in Rochester before retiring six years ago. He recently helped develop the Red Rock Ponds RV Resort in Murray.

DeRoller replaces Ken Rush of Carlton, who didn’t seek re-election after 14 years in a district that includes the towns of Carlton, Kendall and Murray, as well as the village of Holley.

DeRoller worked 38 years at Kodak, retiring 11 years ago in the information technology department as a business analyst. DeRoller also worked as Kendall’s town assessor and served 25 years on the Town Planning Board, including 15 years as chairman.

Fred Miller defeated Henry Smith in the November election for a district that includes the towns of Albion and Gaines, as well as the village of Albion. Miller is the first Democrat on the Legislature since Gary Kent was last on the Legislature four years ago. Miller has been an Albion village trustee the past five years. He has owned Family Hardware in downtown Albion since 1986.

The legislators are each paid $10,948 for the year with the chairman at $16,424. Those salaries haven’t changed in seven years.

Coverage of tragedy, heroism helped draw readers

Photos by Tom Rivers – A Kendall school bus is towed at the intersection of routes 104 and 237 after a fatal accident with another motorist on Dec. 17.

Orleans Hub has been growing every month since we first launched on April 2. But some months really take off and December was one of them.

We averaged 3,600 unique visitors daily in December and 10,509 daily pageviews. The site visits were up 19 percent from November.

There were several big news events in December. An article about firefighters working more than two hours to free a Holley man from a flipped over vehicle not only topped traffic of all the articles in December, but it proved the year’s most popular story. (Click here to see the article.)

Firefighters worked more than two hours to free the driver from this vehicle in the bitter cold on Dec. 13.

Firefighters battled brutal cold on Dec. 13 to free the driver. After the vehicle overturned, it knocked down a tree. The vehicle came to rest, upside down, on the base of the tree. That stump pierced the windshield and pinned the driver inside the vehicle in 15-degree weather.

It was a precarious situation. After stabilizing the vehicle, firefighters were able to free Scott Kuhn. Orleans Hub was the only media outlet with photos from the scene, and we posted them that night.

Another article in December not only generated the second most traffic last month, but it was the second most popular story on the site since we started nine months ago. Police in three counties announced they had arrested four burglars after a spree on break-ins this past summer in Albion, Medina, Oakfield and Lockport. (Click here to see the article.)

Jeremy Arnold prepares to rescue a cat from a telephone pole on Saturday. It was a popular story with Hub readers.

Here are the other top 10 stories for December, from number 3 to 10. Click on the headline and that will take you to the original articles.

Albion native killed in Kentucky after being hit by taxi cab

Fatal accident involving a Kendall school bus on Ridge Road

Brockport man, 23, was killed in accident with school bus this morning

Driver in fatal accident identified

Cat is stuck on top of telephone pole in Waterport

Man dies in Route 63 accident in refuge

Deer float named grand champion of Medina parade