Orleans County

DSS worker who assists growing homeless population named county ‘employee of the year’

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jennifer Szalay, center, is congratulated as the Orleans County Employee of the Year on Tuesday by Katie Harvey, director of Personnel and Self Insurance, and County Legislator John Fitzak.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2023 at 1:02 pm

ALBION – A Department of Social Services worker who has helped homeless residents find temporary shelter has been named the Orleans County Employee of the Year.

Jennifer Szalay, a principal social welfare examiner, was recognized during the Orleans County Legislature meeting on Tuesday as the employee of the year. She was commended for her work in assisting the local homeless population, which has soared in the past year to the current level of 90 placements.

Many of the local motels are full so Szalay and the DSS have had to secure rooms in out-of-county motels.

Szalay and the DSS have been short-staffed for much of the year, and Szalay has often come in early and stayed late to get the work done and support her co-workers, said Katie Harvey, director of personnel and self insurance for the county.

“This employee has grown as a leader and become such a valued asset to the Department of Social Services and Orleans County,” Harvey said. “Due to multiple vacancies within the unit, (Szalay) has shown her dedication continuing to manage vacant caseloads, train newer staff and support her entire team through a very difficult year.”

Szalay of Medina said she shows empathy to people in crisis and tries to connect them to services to help them long-term to be self-sufficient.

She often tries to assist people facing eviction of utility shut-offs so they can not be forced out of their residence and become homeless.

“We’re trying to help people through some of these hard problems,” she said. “These are difficult challenges. I try to be empathetic to their circumstances.”

Some of the people who are homeless have mental health issues, disabilities and drug and alcohol addictions that can make it harder to be self sufficient, she said.

Jennifer Szalay accepts a plaque as employee of the year from Katie Harvey and John Fitzak during the Orleans County Legislature meeting on Tuesday. Legislator Bill Eick is in back.

Szalay started with DSS in 2009 as a keyboard specialist. At the time, she was “shy and quiet,” Harvey said.

But Szalay’s confidence and skills grew and she has been promoted several times, to social welfare examiner, then to senior social welfare examiner overseeing public assistance and HEAP programs before being promoted last year to principal social welfare examiner.

The county’s Employee Assistance Program recognizes an employee of the month in the county government, taking nominations from employees and department heads.

The employees of the month for the past year include:

October 2022: James White from Sheriff’s Office
November 2022: Jennifer Gonzalez from DSS
December 2022: Martin Stirk from Sheriff’s Office
January 2023: Justin Niederhofer from Emergency Management
February 2023: David Foeller from Sheriff’s Office
March 2023: Tisha Dought, Taylor Tinkous and Patricia Urquhart from Mental Health
April 2023: Cory Martindale from Sheriff’s Office
May 2023: Ariel Ambrose from Sheriff’s Office
June 2023: Jennifer Leverenz from District Attorney’s Office
July 2023: Mark Tucker from Mental Health
August 2023: Jennifer Szalay from DSS
September 2023: Devon Pahuta, Brian Marsceill and Kevin Colonna from Sheriff’s Office

From this pool of candidates, a department head makes a recommendation to a separate committee which then considers the service the employee has performed, Harvey said.

Orleans County promotes National Adoption Month

Posted 13 November 2023 at 12:47 pm

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans County Legislature

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature recognized November as National Adoption Month as Legislator Fred Miller presented a proclamation to Teresa Elam-Zwifka, Director of Child & Family Services (left) and Lianna Sheffer, Supervisor of Preventative Services, of the Orleans County Department of Social Services.

National Adoption Month is a nationwide effort to educate the public and prospective parents on the struggles many adoption eligible children face in finding a family and how they can help. It is also a time to celebrate the countless adoption success stories that brought parents and children together. To inquire about adoption and foster care in Orleans County, click here.

Sheriff, 7 county legislators all re-elected

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 November 2023 at 12:30 am

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke was re-elected and seven county legislators all will be back for another term in office.

Sheriff Chris Bourke

All of them were unopposed.

Bourke secured a second four-year term with 4,424 votes – 3,575 under the Republican line and 826 under the Conservative Party.

He has worked in the Sheriff’s Office for 39 years, starting in 1984 as a correction officer and then was a deputy sheriff before working 18 years as a lieutenant. He was supervisor of the Marine Patrol, and also was a K9 officer for 20 years.

Before being elected sheriff, he was undersheriff for four years.

Here are the results for the seven county legislators:

County Legislator (at-large from west) – Skip Draper of Medina, 3,604 votes, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (at-large from central) – Don Allport of Gaines, 3,550 votes, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (at-large from east) – Ed Morgan of Murray, 3,496 votes, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 1) – Bill Eick of Shelby, 1,238 votes, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 2) – Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville, 720 votes, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 3) – Fred Miller of Albion, 429 votes, Democrat (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 4) – John Fitzak of Carlton, 1,088 votes, Republican (2-year term)

List of polling locations in Orleans County for general election

Photo by Tom Rivers: Signs are posted at the front entrance of Hoag Library about the building at 134 South Main St. in Albion being a polling site for the election on Nov. 7.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2023 at 9:47 pm

Orleans County residents go to the polls on Tuesday with voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

There are positions up for election in each of the 10 towns as well as the seven Orleans County legislators and the sheriff. There are 25,455 registered voters in the county.

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

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 – 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 – Town Hall, 8 South Main St.

County tourism director sees first-hand efforts to get more women fishing

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2023 at 8:57 am

Provided photos: Dawn Borchert, the Orleans County tourism director, holds a yellow perch she caught at a “Learn to Fish Seminar for Women” on Oneida Lake organized by New York Sea Grant.

Dawn Borchert, the Orleans County tourism director, is always looking for ways to bring more visitors to the county, especially the top draw of sportsfishing.

She thinks there in an opportunity to bring more anglers to the county by reaching out to women.

Borchert recently attended a “Learn to Fish Seminar for Women” on Oneida Lake. She attended as a regular participant and not as the tourism director.

She would like to offer a similar seminar for women in Orleans County.

“As we all know in any industry or sport, some women don’t feel comfortable if it is a room filled with men, and by having a seminar/workshop like this we can expand our reach for anglers not only male but maybe female anglers, that would find Orleans County a nice fishing destination,” Borchert said.

Fishing has a $28 million annual economic impact in Orleans County, according to a 2017 angler survey from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393. County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571.

Borchert sees engaging more women in the sport as a way to boost that economic impact in the county. She cited a national survey from U.S. Fish and Wildlife that showed the number of female anglers increased from 7.5 million in 2006 to 8.9 million in 2011.

Borchert was grateful for the chance to go fishing recently on Oneida Lake. She drove 140 miles and used her father’s fishing gear.

“My dad fished for walleye all the time, so when I inherited his gear I wanted to learn how,” she said. “This clinic allowed me not only to learn the science around how Walleye live in the waters of NYS, but tips on how to catch Walleye.”

The Learn to Fish Seminar for Women was hosted by New York Sea Grant and the Cornell Biological Field Station on Oneida Lake. Borchert was among 10 women who learned the basics of walleye biology and behavior; walleye fishing gear with lures and techniques; and how to tie common fishing knots.

Dawn Borchert holds a brown trout she caught a few years ago on Sandy Creek in Orleans County.

322 cast ballots with early voting so far

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 November 2023 at 11:22 am

Polling site open today and Sunday, and then sites open throughout county for general election on Tuesday

ALBION – The first seven days of early voting 322 ballots were cast. The county has one early voting polling site – the Orleans County Board of Elections Office, 14016 State Route 31 in Albion.

That site is open today and Sunday for early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is available for all 10 towns in Orleans County.

On the general election on Tuesday, each town will have their own polling location.

The early voting numbers so far include 44 on Oct. 28, 39 on Oct. 29, 52 on Oct. 30, 56 on Oct. 31, 42 on Nov. 1, 41 on Nov. 2 and 48 on Nov. 3.

To see a list of all the candidates for all 10 towns and the county positions, click here.

Orleans Hub has also posted many letters to the editor about the election. Click here to be directed to the letters to the editor section.

Courthouse dome will be lighted up in green Nov. 1-12 to show support for veterans

Posted 1 November 2023 at 1:44 pm

Photos and press release from Orleans County government

ALBION – In honor of Operation Green Light, the dome of the courthouse will be lit green from November 1 through November 12.

In the photo at right, County Legislator Fred Miller presents a proclamation to Nancy Traxler, Director of the Orleans County Veterans Services Agency, in support of Operation Green Light and in recognition of the great work the VSA does in helping those who served in our military get the benefits and support they earned.

Operation Green Light is designed to show support for our nation’s veterans, raise awareness of the county role in providing support and resources to veterans, and advocate for legislation that will strengthen counties’ ability to support veterans.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in Operation Green Light by placing a green light in a window of their home or business.

Unemployment for Orleans at 3.2%, up slightly from year ago

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 October 2023 at 7:20 pm

The unemployment rate in Orleans County was at 3.2 percent in September, up slightly from the 3.1 percent a year earlier, the state Department of Labor reported.

The state Department Labor reports 16,800 were working in the county in both September 2022 and 2023, but the number of unemployed increased from 500 to 600 (numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred).

The unemployment rates in Orleans County so far in 2023 include 4.8 percent in January, 4.3 percent in February, 4.0 percent in March, 2.9 percent in April, 3.1 percent in May, 3.3 percent in June, 3.5 percent in July, 4.0 percent in August and 3.2 percent in September.

Here is how that 3.2 percent for Orleans compares to other nearby counties in September:

Genesee, 2.7 percent
Livingston, 2.9 percent
Wyoming, 2.9 percent
Monroe, 3.4 percent
Niagara, 3.4 percent
Erie, 3.4 percent

The national unemployment rate is up too from 3.3 percent in September 2022 to 3.6 percent last month. State-wide the rate moved from 3.6 percent in September 2022 to 4.0 percent last month.

The U.S. has 2.67 million more people working in that period for 161.67 million total, while New York has 88,000 more employed from September 2022 to 9.35 million total last month, according to the DOL.

Early voting started today, continues through Nov. 5

Posted 28 October 2023 at 8:02 pm

Press Release, Orleans County government

ALBION – Early voting for the Nov. 7 general election started for Orleans County voters. Early voting takes place at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office, 14016 State Route 31 in Albion.

The times are:

Saturday, October 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, October 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, October 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, October 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, November 1 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, November 2 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, November 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, November 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those with question can call the Board of Elections at (585) 589-3274.

County buys former GCC site in Albion, 25 vacant acres for nearly $1.5 million

Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Genesee Community College site on West Avenue in Albion has been purchased by Orleans County for $975,000. The building will be used for Probation and the District Attorney’s Office. The county also bought 25.7 of vacant land adjacent to the site for $500,000.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2023 at 3:55 pm

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature agreed to spend $1,475,000 to acquire the former building used for Genesee Community College in Albion and 25.7 vacant acres adjacent to the property.

GCC hasn’t had classes at 456 West Ave. for several years. The county will buy the site from Herring Enterprises of Holley for $975,000.

The Legislature also agreed to pay James Herring Sr. $500,000 for 25.7 acres of vacant land adjacent to the site with a lot off Allen Road.

The county will move the Probation Department and District Attorney’s office out of the Public Safety Building and into the former GCC site.

“This purchase allows us to correct some deficiencies at the current PSB that we will be able to complete without bonding for a brand-new facility,” said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.

The Public Safety Building has been the home for Probation, the DA’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office and the 911 dispatch center for the past 25 years. But that building has challenges, especially with a big flat roof. It will soon get a new HVAC system to help with heating issues in the building.

Once Probation and the DA’s Office move to the former GCC site, the building will be reconfigured for the Sheriff’s Office to allow for a more efficient operation, Welch said

The county had a consultant study the Public Safety Building, and the conclusion was the county should move its operations out of the site, which was once a building for furniture sales.

Welch said the vacant land gives the county’s additional options for the future, with no project planned right away.

“Vacant land is not guaranteed to be around forever,” he said.

The is the second straight month the county has purchased a building in Albion. Last month the Legislature approved spending $250,000 for the former Bank of America site at 156 S. Main St. It will become the treasurer’s office in 2024. That building has a drive-through and is more easily accessible than the current office on East Park Street, county officials said.

EMS Task Force: Ambulance response times have improved in 2023

Photo by Tom Rivers: Scott Buffin, deputy director of the Emergency Management Office in Orleans County, speaks during Tuesday evening meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the White Birch in Lyndonville.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2023 at 9:25 am

LYNDONVILLE – Ambulances have been faster to respond to priority one calls in 2023, even with the Main Street lift bridge closed in Albion which has adding 2 minutes to some of the calls in central Orleans County.

The average response time in the county in 2022 was 12 minutes, 18 seconds for priority one calls. For the first six months of 2023, the response time was 11:47. In 2021, it was 11:42.

Scott Buffin, deputy director of the Emergency Management Office in Orleans County, went over the data on Tuesday during the meeting for the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the White Birch in Lyndonville.

He also highlighted the number of dropped calls is down significantly from 323 in 2022 to a projected 160 this year. It was 80 for the first six month of 2023.

“It is huge to see that,” Buffin said about the reduction in dropped calls.

The report on the ambulance calls and response time also was shared during last week’s EMS Task Force meeting. But only representatives from the villages of Lyndonville and Holley attended that session, with no officials from Albion and Medina or any of the 10 towns. The fire companies in the county all had representation at that meeting last week for the task force.

Ambulance coverage has been a hot topic in the county the past two years with the decline in volunteer ambulance corps and the struggles of non-profit providers such as COVA in Albion.

This is the first year Monroe Ambulance has the contract to be the primary ambulance provider for four towns in central Orleans – Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton. Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance shut down late last year. Mercy Flight EMS has taken over COVA operations, but Mercy doesn’t have a contract for service in Orleans County.

Mercy, however, has been dispatched for 168 EMS calls in the first six months of 2023. Monroe has received 1,449 calls and the Medina Fire Department, 1,147.

The Kendall Fire Department’s ambulance ceased operations at the end of 2022, the last fire department with a volunteer ambulance in Orleans County. Clarendon, Holley, Carlton, Shelby and Albion all have discontinued the ambulance service, citing the time demands on volunteers for training and responding to calls.

There also was very little revenue for the volunteer fire departments for the service. And the non-profit organizations said they didn’t get enough in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates for the service.

Monroe also is the main ambulance provider for Clarendon and Murray, and now in Kendall.

The company is seeking a $300,000 contract from the seven towns in eastern and central Orleans to continue coverage in 2023, with an ambulance based in Albion and another one in either Holley or Brockport.

Mercy Flight EMS also wants the contract for 2023 with two dedicated advanced life support ambulances in the county as part of a $180,000 contract agreement with the seven towns.

The town boards are working to approve a contract next month, with Monroe expected to again be the provider.

Tony Cammarata, the Kendall town supervisor, said he wants one more year with Monroe to study the response times and level of service. He wants to put the service out to an RFP (request for proposals) for the year 2025.

County Legislator John Fitzak said he would prefer to see a contract from the towns with both ambulance providers so there would be more dedicated ambulances eastern and central Orleans. Monroe and Mercy Flight could coordinate among the two how they would respond to calls.

“Work with both of them,” he said. “Don’t pit them against each other. If you work with both we’d have four ambulances instead of two.”

One concerning piece in the data, Buffin said, is there are often times when there isn’t an ambulance available, especially in the Albion area. If an ambulance is on a call or transporting someone, Buffin said there are then times with no immediate coverage. He noted the data shows the average amount of time per call for ambulance to be in service is 1 hour, 36 minutes.

The number of calls is way up in the county in the past two decades, from 2,876 in 2004 to a projected 5,300 this year. There were 5,620 calls in 2022 and 5,685 in 2021.

“The calls have gone up and the providers have gone down,” Fitzak said.

County officials were asked if they see the county taking the lead for a county-wide service in the future. Barre Town Supervisor Sean Pogue and Cammarata from Kendall said that may make the most sense.

“We’d much rather have the county take the lead on this,” Cammarata said.

County Legislator Ed Morgan said he doesn’t see that happening anytime soon. He noted the Medina Fire Department does a great job handling calls in western Orleans – the villages of Medina and Lyndonville and towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates.

Other counties, such as Livingston, have a county-wide ambulance service. Wyoming County is going to start one, too.

Matt Jackson, the Medina fire chief, was asked if Medina would consider expanding to service more of the county. Jackson said not this time because staffing is one of the biggest challenges in providing EMS service, with paramedics and EMTs in demand. Those professionals suffer a high burnout rate of about 5 years in the profession.

“One of the biggest issues is manpower,” Jackson said.

Treasurer recognized for management of county finances

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2023 at 8:19 am

Provided photo: Orleans County Treasurer Kim DeFrank holds an award recognizing the county’s money management.

ALBION – Orleans County Treasurer Kim DeFrank has been recognized for managing the county’s finances.

DeFrank invests county dollars, which makes more money. At the end of August, she had $44,478,480 invested.

“Every dollar is invested,” she said. “The taxpayers’ money is earning money every day.”

DeFrank was recognized at the recent New York State Association of Counties conference with the “90+ cashvest” Award. This distinction is given to entities that receive a score of 90 or better for four consecutive quarters on several money management benchmarks.

“What this award really says is that Orleans County’s cash flow and money management are excellent, investing every tax dollar possible to maximize interest earnings and we adhere to best practices,” DeFrank said. “That leads to lower borrowing costs and maximization of tax dollars. That’s what our taxpayers deserve and expect.”

Early voting starts Oct. 28 for elections across Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2023 at 8:50 am

ALBION – Early voting starts on Saturday, Oct. 28 and continues until Nov. 5.

Registered voters can go to the one early voting polling place at the Board of Elections office at the County Administration Building at 14016 State Route 31 in Albion.

The general election will be Nov. 7, and each town has at least one polling location.

The early voting dates and hours include:

Saturday, Oct. 28: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 29: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Wednesday, Nov. 1: noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 2: noon to 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 5: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The local positions up for election include:

Orleans County

Sheriff – Chris Bourke, Republican and Conservative (4-year term)
County Legislator (at-large from west) – Skip Draper of Medina, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (at-large from central) – Don Allport of Gaines, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (at-large from east) – Ed Morgan of Murray, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 1) – Bill Eick of Shelby, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 2) – Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville, Republican (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 3) – Fred Miller of Albion, Democrat (2-year term)
County Legislator (District 4) – John Fitzak of Carlton, Republican (2-year term)

Town of Albion

Town Supervisor – Richard Remley, Republican (2-year term)
Town Council members (pick two) – Darlene Benton and Terry Wilbert, Democratic Party (4-year terms)
Town Clerk – Sarah Basinait, Republican (4-year term)
Highway Superintendent – Michael Neidert, Conservative, Democrat and Republican (4-year term)

Town of Barre

Town Supervisor (pick one) – Sean Pogue, Republican and “Future for Barre”; and Scott Burnside, Conservative (2-year term)
Town Council members (pick two) – Margaret Swan and Kirk Mathes, Republicans and “Future for Barre”; and Kerri Richardson, Conservative (4-year terms)
Town Clerk – Maureen Beach, Democrat (4-year term)
Highway Superintendent – Dale Brooks, Republican and “Working for a Better Barre” (4-year term)
Town Justice – Earl Jenks Jr., Republican (4-year term)

Town of Carlton

Town Supervisor – Gayle Ashbery, Republican (4-Year term)
Town Council members (pick two) – Dana Woolston and Brian McCue, Republicans (4-year terms)
Town Council member – Charles Ricci, Republican (2-year term)

Town of Clarendon

Town Supervisor – Richard Moy, Republican (2-year term)
Town Council members (pick two) – Allen Robinson and Bruce Hovey, Republicans (4-year terms)
Town Clerk – Susan Colby, Republican (4-year term)
Highway Superintendent – Tracy Chalker, Conservative and Republican (4-year term)
Town Justice – Thomas DiFante, Republican (4-year term)

Town of Gaines

Town Supervisor – Tyler Allport, Republican
Town Council members (pick two) – Rick Ebbs, Democrat, and Ronald Mannella, Democrat and Republican (4-year terms)
Town Clerk – Janet Cheverie, Republican (2-year term)
Highway Superintendent – Mark Radzinski, Republican (4-year term)

Town of Kendall

Town Supervisor – Tony Cammarata, Republican (2-year term)
Town Council members (pick two) – Margaret Szozda, Democrat; and David Bentley and Barbara Flow, Republicans (4-year terms)
Highway Superintendent – Eric Maxon, Republican (2-year term)

Town of Murray

Town Supervisor (pick one) – Gerald Rightmyer, Republican and “Community”; and Joseph Sidonio, Conservative (2-year term)
Town Council members (pick two) – Lloyd Christ Jr. and Randall Bower, Republicans (4-year terms)
Town Council members (pick two) – Michael Christopher and Elaine Berg, Republicans; Eric Collyer, Conservative (2-year terms)

Town of Ridgeway

Town Supervisor – Brian Napoli, Republican (4-year term)
Town Council members – Mary Woodruff and Duane Payne, Republicans (4-year terms)
Town Justice – Joseph Kujawa, Republican (4-year term)

Town of Shelby

Town Supervisor – Scott Wengewicz, Conservative and Republican (2-year term)
Town Council members (pick two) – Jeff Schiffer and Linda Limina, Republicans; and John Pratt, write-in (4-year terms)
Town Clerk (elect one) – Darlene Rich, Democrat and “People’s Choice”; and Christine Pask, Republican (4-year term)
Highway Superintendent (elect one) – Dale Root, Republican and Conservative, and William Wolter, Democrat (4-year term)
Town Justice – Ed Grabowski, Conservative and Republican (4-year term)

Town of Yates

Town Supervisor – James Simon (2-year term)
Town Council members (elect 2) – John Riggi and Susan Hrovat, Republicans; Paul Lauricella and Steve Colon, Conservative and “Taxpayers First” (4-year terms)
Town Clerk – Michelle Harling, Republican (4-year term)
Highway Superintendent – Roger Wolfe, Republican (4-year term)

Mercy Flight willing to provide ambulance services in Orleans – at lower cost than Monroe

Courtesy of Mercy Flight EMS: Mercy Flight would keep ambulances at existing bases at 239 South Main St., Albion; 8050 Call Parkway in Batavia; and 1483 Lake Road North, Hamlin. The orange rings represent an estimated 10-minute response time radii and the red rings would be an estimated 15 minutes for response time.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 October 2023 at 1:41 pm

ALBION – Mercy Flight EMS has proposed to provide ambulance services for six towns in Orleans County at a lower cost than Monroe Ambulance, which has the contract for central Orleans and Murray and Clarendon in eastern Orleans this year.

Mercy Flight has submitted a proposal to the towns to provide two dedicated advanced life support ambulances in a six-town block of Orleans at a cost of $180,000 for 2024.

Mercy Flight would commit to responding to emergencies within 20 minutes “at least 90 percent of the time,” Scott Wooton, executive vice president of Mercy Flight, wrote to Bridget O’Toole, attorney for the Town of Barre and one of the negotiators in the new ambulance contract.

His letter was dated Aug. 15. He said that response time is barring inclement weather “or other unforeseeable or unavoidable obstacles.” Mercy Flight would commit to responding within 25 minutes for non-emergencies at least 90 percent of the time for the six towns of Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines and Murray.

Wooton said Mercy Flight would keep ambulances at existing bases at 239 South Main St., Albion; 8050 Call Parkway in Batavia; and 1483 Lake Road North, Hamlin.

Murray town officials on Monday during their board meeting characterized Mercy Flight as not being interested in the contract to serve the Orleans towns in 2024. Wooton said Mercy Flight would very much like to have the contract.

“Mercy Flight EMS has remained committed to Orleans County and has great interest in contracting with the towns,” he said today.

Monroe Ambulance is seeking $300,000 to serve the six towns as well as Kendall. The company would commit to one ALS ambulance in Albion and a basic life support from either Holley or Brockport.

Mercy Flight took over the COVA ambulance base in Albion after the organization shut down late last year. Mercy Flight has kept the COVA employees throughout this year.

“Our Albion-based employees are all still active and are anxious to be able to serve their community once again,” Wooton said in an e-mail message. “They have been very flexible and we have been utilizing them in our other service areas temporarily, but they are all ready and waiting (and excited!) to return home on a full-time basis again. We would be pleased to have an opportunity to meet in person with the Town Supervisors and other stakeholders to answer any questions or concerns that they may have regarding what we can bring to the table.”

Orleans County DSS will receive HEAP applications beginning Nov. 1

Posted 16 October 2023 at 10:53 am

Press Release, Orleans County Department of Social Services

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Social Services announced that the 2023-2024 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) application window will open on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Applications have already been sent to qualified individuals that received HEAP last year. HEAP assistance has a tentative end date of March 15, 2024.

Applications for furnace repair or replacement are being accepted now. Applications for an emergency other than your heating source will be accepted beginning Jan. 2 through March 15, 2024.

“The cold days are just around the corner and we know many families across the county rely on HEAP to help keep their homes warm,” said DSS Commissioner Holli Nenni. “That’s why we want to get the word out about how to apply for the program.”

According to Commissioner Nenni, if you received a benefit through a HEAP case last season you may apply now through www.myBenefits.ny.gov or submit your completed application along with necessary documentation to the Department of Social Services, 14016 Rt. 31 W. Albion, NY 14411.

If you are currently a public assistance or SNAP recipient you should automatically receive your HEAP benefit through your case. Please be sure your worker has accurate vendor and account information to prevent a delay of your HEAP grant.

For those applying for the first time, a phone interview is necessary which cannot be done until after Nov. 1. Applications will then be available in Albion at the County Office Building, PathStone, Community Action or Ministry of Concern, at the Community Center in Holley and at Lee-Weldon Memorial Library in Medina. People can also apply online at www.myBenefits.ny.gov.

For questions or to set up an appointment for after Nov. 1, please call 589-3182. If you are over age 60, please call the Office for the Aging at 589-3191.