125 attend Diamond Gala to celebrate organization

Photos by Tom Rivers

RIDGEWAY – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley presents a citation from the State Assembly in honor of the 60^th anniversary of the United Way of Orleans County. He made the presentation on Saturday evening to Nyla Gaylord, executive director of the United Way.

“The mission of the United Way of Orleans County is to provide funding and support for Orleans County charities, civic organizations and the people of the county,” the citation states. “A connector of people, resources and fundraising, the United Way strives to make the county stronger. The United Way uses values of collaboration, responsiveness, service, accountability and aids area of the community such as youth, older adults and vulnerable families.”

The Diamond Gala was held at the Ridgeway fire hall with 125 people attending to support the United Way mission. The buffet dinner was catered by Donna Eick.

Nyla Gaylord, United Way executive director, said the organization is committed to helping raise funding for agencies in the community while also pursuing grants for other important initiatives.

Gaylord said the United Way has secured $2 million in grants towards projects, such as a respite program for caregivers of seniors, a digital literacy and low-cost internet initiative, and a nutrition program through Community Action/Cornell Cooperative Extension. United Way also helped with the basketball court upgrades at Bullard Park in Albion.

The organization also helped establish a “Code Blue Warming Center” at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion, working with other partners, including Oak Orchard Health, which runs the site.

“The United Way is one of the most recognized charities in our county, but not many people know what the United Way does,” Gaylord said. “In Orleans County the United Way raises funds to support local organizations providing needed programs and services to residents of Orleans County.”

The United Way does an annual funding appeal with that money dispersed to Arc GLOW (Camp Rainbow and Meals on Wheels), Cornell Cooperative Extension, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, GO Art!, Medina Senior Center, OK Kitchen, Orleans County YMCA, P.Raising Kids, Hospice of Orleans County, UConnectCare and Scouts.

“Our focus is on Orleans County,” Gaylord said. “All funds raised stay in Orleans County to benefit our neighbors.”

Gaylord said United Way is taking a leadership role in helping community leaders address some of tough issues, including a need for more affordable housing.

“Today, like 60 years ago, we are amid a time of great social change,” Gaylord said. “Our community faces unprecedented challenges – but also limitless new opportunities. Our mission statement says it all: United Way of Orleans County is a connector of people, resources, ideas and founding to make our community stronger.”

The attendees enjoyed a cake and cupcakes for dessert.

Jodi Gaines, president of the United Way board of directors, accepts the microphone from Assemblyman Hawley.

Gaines has been part of the United Way for 25 years. She started when she was at the former Dime Bank in Albion as a campaign captain. She liked how the United Way could take one donation and share it with agencies working on behalf of local residents.

“I can write a check and impacts so many, from babies to the elderly,” she said.

Gaines went on to start CRFS, and has recently returned as its owner and chief executive officer.

She said the United Way has shifted from a focus on an annual appeal to know securing funding from foundations in Rochester and Buffalo to address community challenges. The annual appeal still generates about $50,000 from the community, which is down from about $300,000 during its peak.

Gaines has been active with the local United Way back when there were two chapters in the county, western and eastern Orleans. The two chapters merged into a county-wide organization in 2011.

Both of the chapters originally were a “Community Chest” with local leaders helping to raise funds for agencies in the county.

Gaines said the “pivot” by the United Way to funding from the major foundations in Buffalo and Rochester has given the local United Way a renewed mission.

“We try to find the needs in the county and where we can help,” Gaines said.

Dean Bellack of Medina was asked to stand and be recognized. He served as director for three years and helped change the structure of the organization, bringing in big grants from the Rochester and Buffalo foundations. One of those grants pays the staff for the United Way over five years until the end of 2026.

Mollie Radzinski, the United Way board president, announces winners of the baskets and prizes up for raffle.

Besides Radzinski, the board officers include Jodi Gaines, president; Tim Moriarty, treasurer; and Jennifer Mateo, secretary. Other board members include Dean Bellack, Ginny Kropf, Jerome Pawlak, Don Colquhoun, Ayesha Kreutz and Lynn Vendetti.

Gary Simboli, a retired music teacher at Albion, provided the entertainment, sharing a show he wrote about the importance of positivity. Simboli said the news is dominated by tragedy, crime and natural disasters. He sang several songs with uplifting messages, including “Imagine” by John Lennon, “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Show Me The Way” by Styx, “Hero” by Mariah Carey and several others.

ALBION – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced $11 million in funding to expand high-speed internet in Orleans County.

The funding was part of $140 million announced on Wednesday in ConnectAll grants. Other award winners include: City of Jamestown, $29.9 million; Schoharie County, $30 million; Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board in Cayuga and Cortland counties, $26 million; Franklin County, $13.1 million; and Sullivan County, $29.9 million.

“Access to high-speed internet is not luxury, but a necessity, a utility as vital as electricity for everyday life,” Schumer said in a news release. “Upstate NY takes a major step towards closing the digital divide.”

Gov. Hochul said the grants are “a transformative step forward in our mission to connect every New Yorker to affordable, high-speed internet.”

The grants are funded primarily through the U.S. Department of the Treasury Capital Projects Fund via the American Rescue Plan.

The Orleans County Legislature last month announced the funding had been awarded to the county. The Legislature on Oct. 22 accepted the $11,562,698 grant to upgrade wireless internet service throughout the county.

The Orleans County Department of Planning and Development applied for the grant through Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. This will allow the county to increase wireless internet speeds from the current 25 Mega Bit Per Seconds (Mbps) to 100 (Mbps).

The county recently completed a build-out of a wireless internet system. There are now 19 towers and the county will add two or three more, likely near Lake Ontario where there are gaps in internet coverage, county officials said.

Orleans has two years to complete the project, upgrading the internet infrastructure on all the towers so 100 Mbps is available in download and upload speeds. The grant also will include a digital literacy component to help people learn about the technology.

County legislators on Oct. 22 accepted a bid of $11,216,500 from North Shore Networks LLC in Medina to implement the faster internet service. That company is led by Duston Ellis, who worked over a decade in Kentucky for Broadlinc, helping run a high-speed internet service in a rural area.

The press release from Schumer states the following about the Orleans County expanded high-speed internet service:

“Orleans County will utilize $11 million in MIP funds to extend its wireless internet network to serve more than 11,000 locations with 100/100 Mbps speed. In 2020, thanks to American Rescue Plan funding that Schumer provided to Orleans County, the County was able to realize a decade-long dream to expand high speed internet access across the County.

“This new $11 million project will build on that successful 2020 wireless internet project the County launched with RTO Wireless, by installing 21 wireless hubs on existing and new towers. The County will own the network, which RTO Wireless will design, construct, maintain, and operate. The towers will be open for lease to other ISPs.

“The County will also extend its partnership with the United Way to provide digital literacy training and community outreach, addressing the adoption barrier among low-income households. The project addresses the challenge of providing high-speed internet in rural areas with a low population density of 103 people per square mile.

“The County’s cutting-edge wireless solution, combined with strong community partnerships, provides a cost-effective alternative to fiber networks, promoting digital equity and enhancing connectivity for residents, businesses, education, and the agricultural community.”

LYNDONVILLE – Orleans County veterans are welcome to a complimentary holiday on Dec. 17 at the White Birch Golf Course, 1515 North Lyndonville Rd.

The dinner is funded by the the Pfc. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program, which aims to increase social engagement and community connections for veterans.

Orleans County veterans are welcome to bring a guest to the Dec. 17 dinner. RSVPs due by Dec. 6. Call (585) 589-3219 to RSVP.

The dinner starts at 5 p.m., with a social hour from 4 to 5 p.m.

Guest speakers include Assemblyman Steve Hawley and retired Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt, a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. Nick Mroz will be the deejay.

A Code Blue has been activated beginning tonight for the first time this season. It will continue through 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Code Blue is activated on nights when temperatures or wind chill are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two consecutive hours. Once an alert is called it must remain in effect until at least 7 a.m., said  Julie Carasone, a community health worker for the Oak Orchard Community Health Center.

When a Code Blue is activated, there will be a warming center available overnight for people with no place to stay inside. They can stay overnight at Christ Episcopal Church at 26 South Main St. in Albion. The overnight warming center at Christ Episcopal is open upon request. Call (585) 340-1355 if the warming center is needed overnight.

Daytime warming centers at Hoag Library in Albion, Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley, and Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

Lewis County tops at 73.9 percent for Trump

Donald Trump is shown in his official White House portrait in 2017.

Orleans County gave strong support for Donald Trump for U.S. President, with Trump getting 69.9 percent of the vote.

Only three other counties topped that percentage: Lewis, Wyoming and Allegany.

Trump picked up more support in New York this time. Kamala Harris had 55.4 percent to Trump’s 44.6 percent, according to the Associated Press.

Four years ago, Joe Biden had 60.9 percent of the vote, compared to 37.7 percent for Trump. Biden had 2 million more votes than Trump in 2020 – 5,244,886 to 3,251,997.

This election, Harris won New York and its 28 electoral votes by about 800,000 votes, 4,151,877 to 3,338,581 with 96 percent of polling sites reporting, according to the AP.

Here are the counties with the highest percentage votes for Trump:

• Lewis – 73.9 percent for Trump (47.8 percentage points over Harris)
• Wyoming – 73.8 percent for Trump (47.6 percentage points over Harris)
• Allegany – 72.1 percent for Trump (44.3 points over Harris)
• Orleans – 69.9 percent for Trump (40.5 percentage points over Harris)

Other nearby counties include:

• Genesee – 67.1 percent for Trump, 32.9 percent for Harris
• Monroe – 58.5 percent for Harris, 40.4 percent for Trump
• Niagara – 57.7 percent for Trump, 42.3 percent for Harris
• Erie – 53.8 percent for Harris, 44.8 percent for Trump
• Livingston – 60.8 percent for Trump, 39.2 percent for Harris

On the other side of the political spectrum, New York County (Manhattan) was the most lopsided county with 80.8 percent for Harris (63.6 percentage points over Trump).

In Upstate New York, Tompkins County was the most in favor of Harris with 73.2 percent (48.4 points over Trump.)

Susan Howard elected district attorney

Photo by Tom Rivers: A Medina resident displayed this sign in support of Donald Trump for president.

ALBION – Donald Trump won a commanding victory in Orleans County with 70 percent of the vote – 12,432 out of 17,780 ballots cast.

Head to head against Kamala Harris, Trump had a 70.4 percent advantage to 29.4 percent for Harris. There were also 121 write-in votes, 145 who didn’t vote for president, and 6 that were overvotes with more than one candidate picked.

The 70.0 percent for Trump with early votes, today’s in-person votes and most of the absentees compares to 71.4 percent in 2020 when he faced Joe Biden, and 66.8 percent of the election day votes in 2016 against Hillary Clinton.

Here are the results in Orleans County:

Federal

• U.S. President/Vice President (4-year term)

Donald Trump/JD Vance (R, C) – 12,432

Kamala Harris, Tim Walz (D, WF) – 5,227

• U.S. Senator (6-year term)

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-WF) – 5,344

Michael Sapraicone (R-C) – 11,375

Diane Sare (LaRouche) – 53

• Representative to Congress, 24th District (2-year term)

Claudia Tenney (R, C) – 12,131

David Wagenhauser (D) – 4,327

State

• Proposition One

Yes – 5,800

No – 10,718

• Supreme Court Justice, 8th District (4 positions)

Henry Nowak (D, R, C, WF) – 15,330

Catherine Nugent-Panepinto (D, R, C, WF) – 14,547

Deborah Chimes (D, R, C) – 14,261

Michael Norris (D, R, C) – 14,305

• NYS Senate, 62nd District (2-year term)

Robert Ortt (R, C) – 13,996

• NYS Assembly, 139th District (2-year term)

Stephen Hawley (R, C) – 14,228

Orleans County

• County Clerk (4-year term)

Nadine Hanlon (R) – 13,354

• District Attorney (4-year term)

Susan Howard (R, C) – 13,992

• Coroner (4-year term for 3 positions)

Rocco Sidari (R) – 10,837

Scott Schmidt (R) – 10,681

Julie Woodworth (R) – 10,460

Carlton

• Town Clerk (1 year to fill vacancy)

Deborah Yockel (R) – 1,149

• Council Member (1 year to fill vacancy)

John L. Olles (R) – 1,136

ALBION – Registered voters in Orleans County requested 1,265 absentee ballots and 1,095 were returned by today, Board of Elections officials said this evening.

The potential of 170 other absentees need to be postmarked by today and received in the mail by next Tuesday when they will be counted, said Mike Mele and Janice Grabowski, the county’s election commissioners.

Of the 1,095 absentees returned so far, all but 40 should be part of the vote totals later tonight, Mele and Grabowski said. Those 40 not counted were received on Monday and today and will be counted on Nov. 12.

The commissioners said there has been a big turnout today, with lines but the wait rarely topped 15 minutes. Mele said in Monroe County there have been waits of 2 ½ hours.

“There have been some lines but we expected that,” Mele said at about 9 p.m.

The county is using new voting machines this election and Mele and Grabowski said there haven’t been any significant issues with the machines, which replaced 15-year-old optical-scan equipment.

The polls closed today in Orleans County at 9 p.m.

Photo by Marsha Rivers: Polls opened at Hoag Library in Albion at 6 a.m. today. There are 11 polling locations open in the county until 9 p.m.

ALBION – The big day has arrived with polls open throughout Orleans County. There are 25,538 registered voters in the county and 4,539 already cast ballots in nine days of early voting.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Click here to see a list of pollign sites in the county.

The big race is for U.S. president with Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz are on the Democratic and Working Family lines, while Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate JD Vance are on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Other positions on the ballot include:

Federal

• U.S. Senator (6-year term) – Kirsten Gillibrand (D-WF), Michael Sapraicone (R-C) and Diane Sare (LaRouche)
• Representative to Congress, 24th District (2-year term) – David Wagenhauser (D) and Claudia Tenney (R, C)

State

• Supreme Court Justice, 8th District (4 positions) – Henry Nowak (D, R, C, WF), Catherine Nugent-Panepinto (D, R, C, WF), Deborah Chimes (D, R, C) and Michael Norris (D, R, C)
• NYS Senate, 62nd District (2-year term) – Robert Ortt (R, C)
• NYS Assembly, 139th District (2-year term) – Stephen Hawley (R, C)

Orleans County

• County Clerk (4-year term) – Nadine Hanlon (R)
• District Attorney (4-year term) – Susan Howard (R, C)
• Coroner (4-year term for 3 positions) – Rocco Sidari (R), Scott Schmidt (R) and Julie Woodworth (R)

Carlton

• Town Clerk (1 year to fill vacancy) – Deborah Yockel (R)
• Council Member (1 year to fill vacancy) – John L. Olles (R)

The ballot also includes the state-wide proposition number one, which adds certain protections to the State Bill of Rights, covering ethnicity, national origin,age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also covers reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

A “YES” vote puts these protections against discrimination in the New York State Constitution.

A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.

Republicans have big lead among political parties but don’t quite have majority among registered voters

Tuesday will be election day in Orleans County and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in all 10 towns.

Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion votes at Hoag Library, Carlton uses the Rec Hall and part of Ridgeway uses the Volunteer Fire Company.

Here is a list of the polling sites:

• Albion – Districts 1 through 6: Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
• Barre – Districts 1 and 2: Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
• Carlton – Districts 1 through 3: Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
• Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3: Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
• Gaines – Districts 1 through 4: Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
• Kendall – Districts 1 through 3: Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.
• Murray – Districts 1 through 6: Murray Town Hall/Highway Garage, 3840 Fancher Rd.
• Ridgeway – Districts 1, 3, 6, 7: Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, 11392 Ridge Rd.
• Ridgeway – Districts 2, 4, 5: Town Hall, 410 West Ave.
• Shelby – Districts 1 through 4: Town Hall, 4062 Salt Works Rd.
• Yates – Districts 1 and 2: 8 South Main St.

There are 25,538 registered voters in Orleans County. Republicans have a big lead among political parties, but don’t have majority in Orleans County. Republicans represent 48.3 percent of the total registered voters.

Here is a breakdown of the registrations by political party:

• Republican, 12,335
• independent or blank, 6,291
• Democratic, 5,137
• Independence, 734
• Conservative, 644
• Working Families, 136
• other parties, 261

County grew by 12.9 percent or by $700K to help make up for declines in first half of the year

The most recent sales tax collection update from the state comptroller shows Orleans County has the largest percentage increase among the 62 counties in the state.

Orleans grew 12.9 percent during the third quarter, or by $703,000 from $5.66 million to $6.39 million. Orleans is up while other nearby counties experienced a decrease in sales tax during the third quarter: Genesee, down 3.4%; Livingston, down 5.8%; Monroe, negative 3.0%; and Allegany, a drop of 10.2%.

Statewide, sales tax was up 1.4% during the third quarter, with New York City seeing 1.1% growth and the rest of the state up 2.5%.

The 12.9 percent growth in Orleans County is followed by the counties of Rockland (9.3 percent), Hamilton (7.4 percent) and Schenectady (6.9 percent).

The big increase in Orleans County helps make up for declines in the first two quarters of the year. Orleans in the second quarter was down 4.2 percent or about $250,000, from $5.93 million to $5.68 million. In the first quarter the county was down $300,000, from $5.69 million to $5.39 million.

The county now shows a modest growth of about $150,000 in sales tax collections for the first three quarters of the year.

The county has experienced big increases in sales in recent years, which has taken some pressure off property taxes. Orleans County’s sales tax collection went up more than $600,000 in 2023 from $22.46 million in 2022 to $23.10 million in 2022.

Sales tax is up more than $5 million in the county since 2019.

Here are the recent totals for sales tax in the county:

• $23.1 million in 2023
• $22.5 million in 2022
• $21.8 million in 2021
• $19.4 million in 2020
• $17.7 million in 2019

4 libraries seek $1 per resident or about $40K; county currently provides $10K

Photo by Tom Rivers: Emily Cebula, center, is director of the Yates Community Free Library in Lyndonville. She is joined by Amanda Anderson, left, the director of the Community Free Library in Holley, and Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library in Albion. They spoke at last week’s Orleans County Legislature meeting.

ALBION – The public library directors in Orleans County are asking the County Legislature to boost the funding for the libraries from the current level of about $10,000 to $1 per person or $40,343. (The county’s population was 40,343 in the 2020 Census.)

The county was giving $29,914 to be shared among the four libraries as recently as 2002, but that dropped to $7,480 in 2003. Since then, the amount was raised to $12,587 in 2007, $13,617 in 2010, and then was cut to $10,087 in 2011. It hasn’t changed since then.

“We love our jobs,” Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library in Lyndonville. “We are trusted, anchor institutions in our communities.”

She was among the presenters during last week’s Legislature meeting. Amanda Anderson, the new director at the Community Free Library in Holley, said libraries offer services to people of all ages. And they also “offer a sense of place.”

Anderson, a military spouse, said her family moved 15 times in 20 years. Libraries are a stable presence in the local communities, she said.

Betty Sue Miller, director of the Hoag Library, said the local libraries run on tight budgets, while continuing to look for ways to boost services to people throughout the community, and without seeking fees for books and other materials.

Tom Bindeman, director of the three-county Nioga Library System, also spoke and said the inter-loan program among the member libraries makes the total collection in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties available to all library users, allowing the libraries to offer more without spending to maintain a vast collection on their own.

There are 319,000 residents in the three counties, and Bindeman said the circulation in the Nioga system totals about 1.75 million items a year.

The Orleans County legislators are working to finalize the 2025 budget. Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer, will file the tentative budget by Nov. 15. Then there will be a public hearing before the Legislature adopts the budget in late November or early December.