Snook wins Carlton primary for highway superintendent

Several incumbents faced Republican primary battles today and nearly all of the veteran elected officials staved off the challengers.

In Carlton, however, Paul Snook won the GOP line from incumbent David Krull for highway superintendent. Snook received 215 votes to Krull’s 155. Krull was elected four years ago.

The other Carlton incumbents managed close victories, including Town Clerk Pam Rush against Lea Olles, 215-155. Two Carlton Town Board members, Jim Shoemaker and Joyce Harris, kept the Republican line for the general election, holding off Bilal Huzair. Shoemaker led with 212 votes, followed by 190 for Harris and 145 for Huzair. Huzair has the Conservative and Democratic lines so there will be a rematch on Nov. 5.

In Clarendon, incumbent Town Councilman Paul Nicosia led three candidates for two board seats with 185 votes. Marc Major, who forced the primary, secured the GOP line with 111 votes, edging out GOP-endorsed Donna DeFilipps, who had 96.

In Ridgeway, incumbent Highway Superintendent Mark Goheen was able to keep the Republican line after holding off Raymond Wendling. Goheen received 225 votes to 196 for Wendling.

Maziarz directs $67,800 to each district for security, instruction initiatives

Photo by Tom Rivers – State Sen. George Maziarz met with the five school district superintendents in Orleans County this morning to announce $67,800 in additional state funding for each district. Maziarz, third from left, is pictured with, from left: Michael Bonnewell, Albion Central School superintendent, Robert D’Angelo, Holley; Julie Christensen, Kendall; Jeff Evoy, Medina; and Jason Smith, Lyndonville.

ALBION – State Sen. George Maziarz helped Orleans County school districts get off to a good start by directing $67,800 for each district, unplanned revenue that districts plan to use for security and instruction initiatives.

Maziarz secured the funding through his “bullet aid” earmarks and directed the money to the districts in Orleans County. He wanted the funding to go to low-wealth districts where he said a state school funding formula isn’t always fair.

He left it up to each district to choose how to spend the money, which is outside of the state aid approved in the 2013-14 state budget.

“They can use it in whatever they deem best serves each district,” Maziarz said today in Albion, while meeting with the five school district superintendents in the county. “It’s their choice. All too often Albany tries to micromanage.”

Maziarz said rural districts face fiscal challenges. They don’t receive the same level of state aid as urban districts, and don’t have the tax base like suburban districts.

“It’s important we don’t overlook the rural districts,” Maziarz said.

Last year Maziarz directed $50,000 to each of the five districts – Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina. This year they will each receive $67,800.

Albion plans to use the money for physical fitness equipment, including enhancements to the elementary school playground, said Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent.

Holley will devote the funding to programs and staff development to help Holley students with Common Core assessments, said Robert D’Angelo, Holley school superintendent.

Kendall will spend the money for wireless access points for computers and security upgrades, including swipe cards for elementary school access, said Julie Christensen, the district superintendent.

Lyndonville will use most of the money for staff development for meeting Common Core standards, especially with math, said Jason Smith, the district superintendent. Some of the funding also will be used for security projects.

In Medina, the funding will help pay for a school resource officer who is a member of the Medina Police Department. Some of the funding will help with other security improvements, said Jeff Evoy, the district superintendent.

Formula leaves canal spans short on funding

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Brown Street Bridge in Albion was shut down in July 2012 after a DOT inspection revealed structural deficiencies.

ALBION – Bob Traver hears the outcry from elected officials in Orleans County, that too many canal bridges are either closed or have weight restrictions.

That hinders commerce, school buses and emergency vehicles, and also inconveniences residences, Traver, regional director for the Department of Transportation, told Orleans County officials during a meeting today.

But Traver said the funding formulas for prioritizing bridge repairs are against rural counties. The state and federal governments, which have both cut bridge funding in recent years, want the dollars to go to high-volume projects, he said.

Canal bridges not only tend to be located in small towns without heavy traffic, but the bridges are historic structures that are far more costly to repair or replace than modern spans, Traver said. A lift bridge, in particular, is a budget buster, costing about three or four times the maintenance of the historic truss bridges, Traver said.

The truss bridges, which were constructed about a century ago during the canal’s widening, cost about twice as much as a modern bridge for upkeep.

“You have lower volume and higher cost,” Traver told a trio of county officials – Legislature Chairman David Callard, Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt and Highway Superintendent Jerry Gray.

The state Department of Transportation overhauled the Ingersoll Street lift bridge, spending $3.5 million on the Albion bridge, which reopened in 2007. A revised funding formula makes it more difficult to devote that much money to a low-volume bridge.

“For the price of fixing a canal bridge we can do three bridges that handle a lot more traffic,” Traver said.

He has advocated the state and federal governments to bend the formula and devote more resources for the canal bridges because a closed bridge can paralyze parts of a canal community. The spans are also critical to moving farm products and other commercial goods.

“I’ve been lobbying that the canal bridges are vital to the communities they serve,” Traver said.

The DOT has 11 regions with Orleans part of Region 4 based in Rochester. That region is home to 53 percent of the historic canal bridges and 12 of the 17 lift bridges. Seven of the lift bridges are in Orleans, more than in any other county.

Traver has told state officials that Region 4 should get more money than the formula provides because of the added costs of the canal infrastructure.

“I’ve been lobbying behind the scenes that we’re different than the other regions,” Traver told county officials. “I don’t think we’re being given what we need.”

The state will find resources for the lift bridges should they go down, Traver said, because those bridges are “sacred” in the eyes of the state. However, the truss bridges, like the one that was shut down last year on Brown Street in Albion, may wait years for the funding to come through.

Orleans officials said the formula shouldn’t be geared so much to traffic counts. Orleans County and other rural areas are important farming communities and agricultural commodities are needed by residents in the bigger counties.

“When I drive in the city of Rochester, I’m yet to see a farm field,” Jerry Gray, the county highway superintendent, told Traver. “We provide your food and nourishment. You need us.”

Traver said he continues to try to make those arguments to high-ranking state officials, as well as playing the tourism angle for lift bridges, that they are unique with historical value.

He said all of the DOT regions want more money for bridge maintenance.

“Everyone is feeling the same pain,” he said. “State-wide we’re definitely losing ground on our highways and bridges.”

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Arc of Orleans recognized AT & T for being a generous donor to the agency in recent years, including $32,000 in the past year. Pictured include, from left: State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Kevin J. Hanna, area manager of external affairs for AT & T; Arc Executive Director Kellie Spychalski; and State Sen. George Maziarz.

HOLLEY – The Arc of Orleans recognized a corporation for being a generous donor and a local service club for years for assisting the agency that works with developmentally disabled residents.

AT & T and the Medina Lions Club were both recognized during the Arc’s Signature Series event on Friday at Hickory Ridge Country Club. AT & T’s foundation has donated $58,000 to the Arc in the four years, funding that has helped pay for adult readiness programs, which assist disabled residents with finding places to live and work.

“It’s been a godsend,” Patricia Kepner, the Arc’s director of quality assurance, said about the money from AT & T. “There is no other funding available to help with these programs.”

State Sen. George Maziarz convinced top AT & T officials to direct some of their foundation money to the Arc.

AT & T receives numerous requests for funding assistance, said Kevin Hanna, the company’s area manager for external affairs. AT & T favors programs that raise the graduation rate or support vocational training.

“The transitional program for the Arc fits our mission,” he said. “We look for organizations that are well run and make a difference. We’re confident these dollars are being spent wisely.”

The Medina Lions Club was presented the Arc of Orleans County’s “Legacy of Love” Award during tonight’s annual Signature Series tonight. Pictured include, from left: Past Medina Lions President Don Colquhoun, who’s also a former executive director for the Arc; Arc Executive Director Kellie Spychalski, Lions President David Bellucci, a former operations manager for the Arc’s Orleans Enterprises; State Sen. George Maziarz; State Assemblyman Steve Hawley; and Jim Hancock, secretary for the Lions.

AT & T has sent the Arc two $16,000 checks in the past year. Maziarz praised the company for giving back to a deserving agency.

Arc Executive Director Kellie Spychalski said the agency relies on corporate and citizen support.

The Arc recognized a long-time friend during the Signature Series. The Medina Lions Club was presented a “Legacy of Love” award for years of service to the agency.

The Lions have given money to several Arc projects, including Camp Rainbow, the Robert E. Waters Clinic and the Terri Krieger Memorial 5k. Lions members have also volunteered with many Arc initiatives, including construction projects at Camp Rainbow.

Dave Bellucci is the club’s current president. He retired earlier this year after working for the Arc for 13 years as operations manager for Orleans Enterprises, where Arc consumers do light packaging tasks.

“You can be assured that in the future you can count on the continued support of the Medina Lions,” Bellucci told the crowd of Arc supporters.

School starts today for two Orleans County school districts – Kendall and Lyndonville.

On Wednesday, Albion, Holley and Medina will welcome back returning students and a new crop of kindergarteners.

Holley students will return to a campus with major renovations over the summer, including a revamped foyer, and upgraded library, dining hall, resource room and new offices.

Contractors have worked for two years on a $27 million capitol improvement project, the largest in Holley Central School’s history. Holley will celebrate the completion of the project with a ribbon-cutting in front of the high school at 5:30 p.m. today. The campus will be open for tours until 8 p.m.

The project overhauled high school side of the middle-high school, replacing roofs on that building plus the elementary school, while also tearing down the current bus garage and building a new transportation facility.

The district also built a new football field and all-weather track, and tackled a series of other improvements.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

ALBION – Sheriff Scott Hess wants to remind everyone that all area schools are back in session this week. School buses are back on our roadways, and students will be walking along streets and highways, waiting for their buses.

“This is the time of year when we ask motorists to be especially watchful in residential areas, along school bus routes, and in school zones,” Hess said.  “Children and traffic are often a deadly combination because kids often make impulsive decisions that can result in grave consequences. Drivers must never assume that children walking to or from school will make responsible, mature decisions.”

The NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee recommends the following:

Please watch carefully for children near school buildings, in areas where school buses are traveling, or where there are signs for school zones or bus stops.

Motorists please remember that if you are approaching a school bus from either direction, and its yellow lights are flashing, the bus is preparing to stop.

If the red lights are flashing on the school bus, you must stop. It’s the law and the penalty for violating it is severe.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe return to school and continued safety throughout the school year!

ALBION – Four candidates for Orleans County Legislature – two who have been endorsed by the Conservative Party and two by the Democrats – will also appear under the independent “Save Our Nursing Home” line during the Nov. 5 general election.

Gary Kent, an outspoken critic of the county’s plan to sell The Villages of Orleans, secured the Nursing Home line in his Legislature battle against incumbent Republican Don Allport. Kent is a Democrat and former county legislator.

Jonathan “Jack” Gillman, a Democrat and former Kendall town supervisor, secured the independent line in his race against John DeFilipps of Clarendon. They are vying to fill a county-wide legislator position currently held by George Bower, who is retiring after 24 years as legislator.

Two other newcomers to county politics also have the new independent line. Gregory “Emil” Smith of Medina and Linda Rak of Lyndonville both are endorsed by the Conservatives. Like Kent, they submitted petitions signed by at least 5 percent of the eligible voters from the 2010 gubernatorial election. Those petitions were due to the County Board of Elections by Aug. 20.

Smith is challenging Bill Eick for a district that includes Clarendon, Barre and most of Shelby. Rak is running against incumbent Lynne Johnson for a district that includes the towns of Yates, Ridgeway and a portion of Shelby.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is officially supporting a state proposal to encourage broadband Internet in underserved areas by offering tax credits to residents and businesses that pay to help extend the service.

State legislation has been introduced to provide a 100 percent refundable tax credit over five years for out-of-pocket expenses paid by residents, small business owners and municipalities that go towards construction of a high-speed Internet network.

Legislators unanimously voted to support the state proposal, despite objections from Paul Lauricella, a member of the Orleans County Conservative Party. Lauricella of Lyndonville said residents and businesses should pay to bring the service to their locations without state incentives.

“Have businesses save up and buy it themselves,” Lauricella said.

Service providers have avoided sparsely populated areas due to the costs of running the cable to few customers. That has put businesses and residents at a competitive disadvantage because they can not download some software and information for their businesses. Students are unable to access some web sites and residents often can not fill out online applications without high-speed Internet.

“It’s important for the economic development of our county,” Chuck Kinsey, the former county computer services director, said in response to Lauricella. “Communities with technology grow faster.”

County and town officials have been brainstorming how to bring the service to the rural pockets of the county, where there are gaps in service. Local government leaders are looking at wireless Internet or WiFi for those areas.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was in rural Western New York on Wednesday stopping at an Attica farm to tout a Broadband Loan Program. That would offer grants and funding for providers to extend Broadband to rural areas where an estimated 1.1 million New Yorkers currently do not have access to the service.

Orleans has also reduced inmate population at site

Photos by Tom Rivers – New York State officials about five years ago were talking with the county about building a new jail. But the State Commission of Corrections shifted, supporting a series of improvements to the existing building.

Workers caulk around windows at the Orleans County Jail. The county has had new caulk put around all of the windows, about 100 in all, at the jail, as well as caulk around concrete panels and seams.

ALBION – Five years ago Orleans County officials worried the state was going to force construction of a new $30 million jail in Albion, a cost that would fall squarely on county taxpayers.

The jail on Platt Street, built in two stages around 1970, was crowded and falling into disrepair mainly due to water infiltration.

The county, hoping to stave off a costly new project, created a lengthy list of initiatives to keep the old jail open. The state Commission of Corrections gave the county the option of upgrading the Platt Street site.

About $1 million later county officials see a vastly improved jail that they expect will meet the county’s needs and state standards for at least two more decades.

Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson, left, and Orleans County Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt stand on a new roof on top of the county jail. The new tiled roof is on top of a rubber membrane with a drainage system.

The site has a new roof, boiler system, and a series of energy efficiency improvements, including new caulking around about 100 windows and also on the seams of the building. Crews sprayed insulation inside the concrete panels on the building.

Showers aren’t leaking anymore. Walls aren’t crumbling.

“It’s a great accomplishment, not having to deal with that,” Legislature Chairman David Callard said about the jail improvements that have stopped talk of a new jail. “In a systematic basis we took care of things that needed to be done.”

The county assigned one employee from Buildings and Grounds to be dedicated to the facility’s ongoing maintenance. Callard said that has ensured many problems are resolved quickly.

A crane has been next to the jail most of this summer, lifting heavy boxes of supplies and equipment. Most of those materials were used for a new roof on the jail, including a rubber membrane.

The roof now has tiles and a drainage system that keeps water from flowing into the building. When the jail was built more than four decades ago, it was done in two stages. A seal that connected the jail has been a long-term problem, until now.

Crews fixed that seal and put a rubber membrane over it. The previous seal never quite worked, allowing water to run into the building. That then caused chunks of the walls to break loose. Some of those pieces were used as weapons by inmates.

The deteriorating facility created a stressful environment for the 40 jail employees, said Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson.

But the jail is much improved these days, he said. There aren’t chunks of concrete to be grabbed. The walls and floors have all been painted, and new roof has blocked water from running down walls.

The project has upgraded showers and gate motors in the cell blocks. The showers now have water timers and a raised concrete pad on the floor, which will reduce water migration.

The biggest safety improvement may be a less crowded jail, Wilson said. The facility has an 82-bed capacity, but the county was granted a waiver to exceed that by 25 beds on weekends.

The jail population now tends to average in the 60s. The jail used to house many “state-ready” inmates who were to be transferred from the county jail to the state prison system.

It used to take the state months to move out those inmates. The process now takes about a week or two, Wilson said.

County officials were angry with the state five years ago when there was pressure to look at a new jail because the overcrowding on Platt Street was partly the state’s fault for not transferring out the state-ready inmates. The state used to pay counties $75 a day for housing state-ready inmates, but the state stopped paying counties, which further aggravated county officials.

But Wilson said there are now good relationships between Orleans and the state Commission of Corrections and the state Department of Corrections.

Nesbitt praised Wilson, the Sheriff’s Department, Buildings and Grounds and the County Legislature for allocating resources and expertise to improve the jail.

“It’s been a total team effort,” Nesbitt said. “By doing this project, the evidence will show we don’t need a new jail. Our intent was to extend the life of this building for at least another 15 to 20 years.”

The upgrades, which included a new boiler, will reduce some of the utility expenses for the jail. The county is also seeking rebates from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which should help pay towards some of the project.

The project added screens to the fence on the roof. The screens provide a visual and voice barrier from inmates and the public outside the facility. The jail is next to the County Courthouse.

Photo courtesy of Eric Brown – Some of the Scouts from the Iroquois Trail Council are pictured in front of the Pittsburgh Zoo.

A group of 80 Boy Scouts from the Iroquois Trail Council attended the National Scout Jamboree last month in West Virginia. The Iroquois Trail Council includes Scouts from Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and part of Livingston and Niagara counties.

There were 11 Scouts from Troop 164 in Albion on the trip, including four Scoutmasters. Eric Brown attended the event as a Scoutmaster with his son, Harrison.

Brown sent along these photos of the Jamboree after seeing the Vintage Orleans feature on Sunday that showed local Scouts on the Jamboree in 1953. (Click here to see the vintage photo.)

The Scoutmasters from 164 included Brown, Tom Madejski, Bryan Catlin and Giovanni Madejski. The Scouts included Freeman Lattin, Ben Hayes, Zach Champeney, Matt DeCarlo, Charles Moore, Cody Catlin, Caleb Pettit, Noah Shiffer, Matt Flanagan, Harrison Brown and Joe Madejski.

The 80 Scouts from the Iroquois Trail on the trip spent two days in Pittsburgh, going to the zoo, a Pirates game, Carnegie Science Center, and the 9/11 National Memorial Park in Shanksville. The trip started July 13 and ended July 24.

Photo courtesy of Eric Brown – Scouts visit the 9/11 National Memorial Park in Shanksville, where one of the hijacked planes crashed in rural Pennsylvania.

Photo courtesy of Eric Brown

NY Revolution wants Orleans to be first county where every town and village weighs in against gun law

MEDINA – A group that formed this year after the state passed an anti-gun law, the SAFE Act, is close to convincing the county, all 10 towns and four villages to officially oppose the law.

Only the villages of Lyndonville and Medina are yet to pass official resolutions in opposition to the SAFE Act. The Village Boards for both municipalities are considering resolutions against the SAFE Act.

“We’d be the first county in the state to have all of them pass resolutions,” said Gia Arnold of Holley, the state-wide coordinator for NY Revolution.

She attended tonight’s Medina Village Board meeting. Resident David Krug addressed the Village Board, and asked for a resolution against the SAFE Act. That vote may come at a Medina meeting in September.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature approved the SAFE Act in January, which the governor said was designed to tighten gun control laws. But the law has been widely criticized for its approval without a public hearing and “for turning law-abiding citizens into law-breaking citizens.”

One controversial piece of the legislation requires magazines that can hold no more than seven bullets, when most magazines hold 10.

The legislation was hastily crafted without any vetting from the public, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley has said, leading to bad policy.

Krug, the Medina resident, said he hopes the widespread opposition to the law at the local level will convince the governor and Legislature to either revise or repeal the SAFE Act.

Photo by Tom Rivers – About 20 volunteers are regulars at the Orleans County Animal Shelter, feeding animals, taking dogs for walks, socializing cats and performing other duties. Three of the volunteers include, from left: Gina Smith of Hilton, and Joette and Bill McHugh of Albion. They are pictured with Zurie, a Shar-Pei/Lab mix.

ALBION – Joette McHugh stops by each pen in the Orleans County Animal Shelter, and she leans over and calls each and every dog by name.

Many of them lick her fingers. They wag their tails in delight. When she visits the cats in a separate room, they also are greeted by their names, such as “Jennipurr.”

McHugh is lead volunteer at the animal shelter. She and her husband Bill are among a dedicated corps of 20 volunteers who help to feed the animals, walk dogs, play with cats and clean cages.

“These animals need us,” she said while giving a tour of the shelter on Thursday evening. “They’re safe here. They’re given food and love. That’s all any animal ever asks for is love and we give it to them.”

In the past five years, the volunteers and county have adopted out 1,200 animals from the shelter, including dogs, cats and rabbits. On Saturday, the shelter will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the adoption program.

There will be an open house and yard sale as part of the celebration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of routes 98 and 31A in Barre. The site used to be Starrview Kennels until the county bought it and made it the county animal shelter in May 2006.

Right now there are six dogs and 14 cats at the shelter, “but tomorrow it could totally change” with an influx of strays, Mrs. McHugh said.

Volunteers staff the shelter for the public to see the animals from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

The animals up for adoption are also posted on two web sites: www.petango.com/OCAdoptions and www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY650.html.

McHugh praised the county government and community for establishing the improved shelter and for monetary support and pet supplies.

Press release, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

BERGEN – Officials from four Orleans County school districts met with a high-ranking leader in the state Education Department on Tuesday. The meeting at Byron-Bergen Central School was arranged by State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia).

State Deputy Secretary for Education De’Shawn Wright met with more than 20 local school superintendents and Board of Education members, including leaders from Albion, Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville school districts.

The gathering provided local education leaders with an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions on the challenges facing schools and teachers in Western New York, as well as what the state must do to improve local education.

“The fact that the governor sent such a high-ranking education official to our community shows that our calls for fair aid allocation and greater control of our schools are being heard,” Hawley said. “Issues such as Common Core, mandate relief, special education programs, and eliminating the Triborough Amendment, Gap Elimination Adjustment and frivolous lawsuits were examined.”

“The local education leaders in attendance did a terrific job of illustrating to Deputy Secretary Wright the need for equitable school aid regardless of geographic location or socio-economic status,” Hawley said. “The meeting helped make the point to the highest levels of the State Education Department that children in low-wealth school districts deserve the same opportunities as kids in wealthier areas. I thank Deputy Secretary Wright for taking the time to travel to our community as well as all of the local education leaders who did such a tremendous job showing how much Western New York cares for its students.”

Republicans in three towns will go to the polls on Sept. 10 to choose candidates for town offices. The winners of the primaries will be on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election. Voting on Sept. 10 will be from noon to 9 p.m.

Carlton has the most Republican contests. Incumbent Town Clerk Pam Rush is being challenged by Lea Olles. Incumbent Dave Krull, the town highway superintendent, faces a challenge from Paul Snook, Sr. And for the Town Board, Bilal Huzair forced a primary against incumbents Joyce Harris and Jim Shoemaker. Republicans can back two of the three candidates.

In Clarendon, three people are running for two seats on the Town Board. The candidates include incumbent Paul Nicosia, Marc Major and Donna DeFilipps.

Ridgeway also has a primary for highway superintendent with incumbent Mark Goheen facing a challenge from Raymond Wendling.

There is one other primary for members of the Independence Party in the 144^th Assembly District, which is mostly in Niagara and Erie counties. The district also includes the town of Shelby.

Independence Party members in the 144^th district will elect three delegates to the 8^th Judicial District Convention. The delegate candidates include Paul G. Colangelo, David J. Haylett, Scott R. Scheffler, Albert A. Festaiuti, William W. Rooney and Ryan B. Rooney.

Independence Party members in the 144^th will also choose three alternate delegates for the convention. Those candidates include Richard L. Woll, John L. Ryan, Sean M. Nowicki, William A. Nemi, Michael E. Tucker and Frederick J. White.