ALBION – Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon today reminded residents that the federal REAL ID requirements will go into effect on May 7, less than two months away.
That means you will need a REAL ID to board any domestic flight, enter a military base and access certain federal facilities. The REAL ID requirement was supposed to take effect on October 1, 2020 but was postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“First, a person needs to decide if they need a REAL ID and then decide what choice best meets their needs, as there are a few options,” said Hanlon. “But I want to stress that you will not be allowed to board any flight in the United States without a REAL ID beginning May 7, 2025.”
Hanlon said New York’s REAL ID license, Enhanced Driver’s license and a passport all meet the federal requirements. Residents still need a passport to fly to other countries.
“I often urge people to strongly consider getting a passport since it will cover domestic flights, trips to Canada and any other international travel along with entry to anyplace that requires a REAL ID,” said Hanlon. “While it costs a little more than the New York State Real ID and Enhanced licenses, it is good for 10 years.”
Hanlon said residents can visit https://dmv.ny.gov/get-enhanced-or-real-id to learn more about the different license options. Those interested in obtaining a passport can learn more about those requirements by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2025 at 10:18 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A wall honoring the five Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County is complete. The Orleans County Legislature expects to have a ceremony for the wall in May close to Memorial Day.
The wall was recently completed by Takeform in Medina and includes five plaques for the recipients and wallpaper of a bald eagle and an American flag.
The display is on the second from of the County Office Building. The Orleans County Veterans Service Agency and the legislative staff worked with Takeform on the project.
The county introduced the wall on March 23, 2022 when a portrait was unveiled of David Bellavia, a Lyndonville native, being presented the Medal of Honor from president Donald Trump on June 26, 2019 at the White House.
Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal. He was honored for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit.
Four others in the county also have received the prestigious medal. The display includes an updated headshot of Bellavia and protraits of Forrest Vosler of Lyndonville and and John Butts of Medina.
Photos aren’t available of the other recipients Thomas Wilbur Kates and Charles D. Harris.
• Forrest Vosler of Lyndonville was assigned as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II with the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group stationed out of England. On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission. The plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control.
When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun. Another 20-mm shell hit the aircraft, sending shrapnel into Vosler’s chest, face, and eyes. He continued to deliver defensive fire upon German aircraft until the attacks subsided. Nearly out of fuel and losing altitude quickly, the crew jettisoned every piece of equipment to lighten the plane.
Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had one of his to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.
• John E. Butts of Medina is the only one of the five Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County who received the honor posthumously. He was recognized for his heroic actions near Cape La Hague, France in World War II.
John Butts was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.
Butts was in command of four squads in Easy Company of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Division charged with driving towards St. Colombe, France. On June 12, 1944, 2nd Battalion progressed so quickly towards their objective that the remainder of 9th Division thought the 60th Infantry was lost. In fact, 2nd Battalion had pushed forward through heavy German resistance and established a bridgehead at the Douve River. Butts was wounded twice, first near Orglandes on June 14th and then at the Douve River just two days later; he refused medical treatment on both occasions in order to remain with his men.
On June 23, 1944, the 60th Infantry led the 9th Division’s advance from the Cotentin Peninsula as part of the breakout from St. Lo. While moving towards Flottemanville-Hague, Butts and his men encountered a German stronghold atop a hill, well defended with tanks, machine guns, and mortars. Butts was struck in the stomach by machine gun fire while progressing towards the objective. Pulling himself into the shelter of a nearby hedgerow, he planned a flanking maneuver with his Sergeants.
One squad was to progress up the left flank, another up the right flank, and the third was to remain in reserve. Holding one hand over his midsection and the other grasping his carbine, Butts charged the hill alone. The might of the entire German stronghold fell upon him directly, Butts falling approximately 10 yards from his objective. The distraction allowed the two flanking squads to outmaneuver the Germans while the third squad hit the hill head-on.
Awarded on July 19, 1945 by President Harry Truman, John Butts’ Medal of Honor citation references the two painful wounds he received in the days leading up to the deadly assault on June 23, 1944. His citation concluded by stating, “By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2d Lt. Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion’s mission,” President Harry Truman said in the citation for the medal, which was awarded on July 19, 1945.
• Thomas Wilbur Kates, born in Shelby on May 7, 1865, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion, a nearly two-year uprising led by the Yihetuan (or Boxers) against foreign imperialists in China.
Kates accepted enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps at New York City on July 21, 1899. Pvt. Kates and other Marines were dispatched to China on June 18, 1900, where they remained through October 10, 1900. According to his citation, Kates was awarded the Medal of Honor “…for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 1st Regiment (Marines), in action in the presence of the enemy during the advance on Tientsin, China, 21 June 1900. Private Kates distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”
Maj. Waller wrote in a letter dated July 6, 1900, that “…of the men I wish to say, while all in the engagements we participated in, behaved in such a manner as to bring forth the highest praise from the foreign officers…Cpl. Thomas W. Kates.”
He continued, “…the specifically distinguished of these being Corporal Kates and Privates Campbell and Francis, with the Colt gun.” According to the Report of the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps dated September 29, 1900, these three men remained with Lt. Powell, holding a position with an M1895 Colt-Browning Machine Gun until all but Campbell and Powell were gunned down. They destroyed the gun to prevent it from entering enemy hands before they commenced their retreat.
• Charles D. Harris, who fought in the Civil War, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Apache Wars in 1869. The specifics of the engagement and the actions that warranted the awarding of the medal remain shrouded in mystery. After the war, Harris returned to Albion and lived a quiet life until his passing on September 6, 1895. He is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2025 at 9:18 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved a one-year labor agreement with about 160 members of the CSEA union.
The deal gives the county workers 2 percent pay increases in their hourly rate. Workers also will see the minimum work week go from 35 hours to 37.5. That will result in another 7 percent pay increase.
Some county employees also will have the option to work 40 hours a week, which would represent a 14 percent pay increase over the 35 hour work weeks.
The longer hours will help fill the gap from vacant positions. County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch said about a dozen positions tend to be open. The extra hours for county staff will Orleans keep up with services for the community.
The county offices will open a half hour earlier beginning Monday, April 14, at 8:30 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. The summer office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The extra hours among the existing workforce also will save the county on the costs of healthcare policies, which Welch said are now costing about $53,000 for family policies with $5,000 deductibles.
The county and CSEA typically reach three-year labor agreements. The one-year deal gives CSEA members and the county a chance to see if the cost for health insurance will come down.
This labor agreement is with the bargaining unit that doesn’t include management, Sheriff’s deputies or the staff at the jail.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2025 at 8:36 am
Orleans says HALT Act has made prisons less safe and should be repealed
Lynne Johnson and John Fitzak
ALBION – Orleans County legislators passed two resolutions on Thursday urging the governor to rescind an executive order barring terminated corrections officers in the prison strike from other public service jobs.
County legislators also said the HALT Act has made prisons less safe and should be repealed. Corrections officers went on strike for about three weeks, beginning Feb. 17, primarily due to their concerns with the HALT Act and how it limited discipline in the prison for inmates who are violent and don’t follow the rules.
Hochul on March 10 fired about 2,000 corrections officers after they refused to meet a deadline for reporting to work. She also prohibited them from taking other jobs with state and local governments.
John Fitzak, a retired corrections officer from the Orleans Correctional Facility, spoke during Thursday’s County Legislature meeting.
“The governor’s executive order does a disservice to the public by taking away a pool of highly qualified applicants from jobs we need filled,” Fitzak said. “It is mean-spirited, revengeful, and immoral and, as such, should be immediately repealed.”
Fitzak said the HALT Act “has failed miserably” and created an unsafe working conditions for the corrections officers.
“Those who passed this outrageous legislation would not listen to the corrections officers when they raised concerns.” Fitzak said. “It forced the corrections officers to take matters into their own hands and walk off the job to draw attention to their plight.”
Corrections officers also said prisons were severely understaffed and COs were forced to do mandatory overtime and many officers were routinely working 60 to 80 hours a week. That kept them away from their families too often, many of the COs said.
The governor fired 2,000 people for expressing their concerns, Fitzak said.
“But that punitive measure was not enough for the governor,” Fitzak said during Thursday’s Legislature meeting. “She then issued an executive order essentially banning these brave women and men from making a living elsewhere in government.”
County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said the Legislature’s resolutions are a message to the correction officers to “say loudly and clearly that Orleans County supports you.”
Johnson said many county officials around the state believe Hochul’s order is illegal in banning corrections officers from working for the state and local governments.
Johnson said that executive order from the governor contrasts with the “Clean Slate Act” legislation signed by the governor that wipes the record clean for some criminals so they have a better chance of getting a job.
“The governor felt those folks had paid their debt to society and deserved a second chance,” Johnson said.
Hochul, however, is showing no compassion for the terminated corrections officers, who Hochul has brandished with “a scarlet letter,” Johnson said.
Orleans County and other local governments around the state have job openings and could use the correction officers “at a time when finding people is very challenging.” Several have applied for positions in Orleans County government, Johnson said.
Orleans County is working with New York State Association of Counties, county attorney Kathy Bogan and other counties to understand “this unprecedented, unnecessary and probably unlawful action by the governor and how we can move forward,” Johnson said. “To the corrections officer community, let me reiterate, we are with you.”
Copies of the county resolutions will be forwarded to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Assemblyman Steve Hawley, State Sen. Rob Ortt, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and the New York State Association of Counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2025 at 9:07 am
12 Canadian companies have sites in Orleans County
Photo by Tom Rivers: Michael Dobell, Orleans EDA chief executive officer, chats with John Misiti, the EDA board chairman, after Friday’s board meeting.
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency said it has heard from several of its manufacturers that they are concerned about tariffs, especially between the United States and Canada.
For some companies, the tariffs will significantly increase their operating costs because they use materials, including steel, from Canada. The Trump administration has imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum from Canada.
Canada responded with a retaliatory 25 percent tariffs on $30 billion worth of imported U.S. goods, including orange juice, peanut butter, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, appliances, apparel, footwear, motorcycles, cosmetics and certain pulp and paper products. Canadians are also boycotting many American products and canceling travel plans to the US.
The EDA facilitated one phone call between a local manufacturer and a representative from Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s Office, to share the negative impacts of the tariffs on the American business.
“We want to be responsive to our businesses,” said Gabrielle Barone, vice president of development for the EDA. “This is one way we can do it.”
Barone told the EDA board during its meeting on Friday that Canadian manufacturers have 12 sites in Orleans County. The EDA will continue to market Orleans County to Canada as a great location to operate on the other side of the border.
One company from Canada, BOMET Recovery, has an electronics recycling operation in Albion and has plans to build a new facility in Medina.
But Barone said the businesses are likely to hold off any big investments during a trade war.
“I think they are being extremely cautious,” she said.
John Misiti, the EDA board chairman, acknowledged many of the manufacturers in Orleans County are concerned about the tariffs. He is hopeful there won’t be more escalation of tariffs. More could be coming on April 2.
“Hopefully the bark is worse than the bite,” Misiti said about the impact. “It’s is creating uncertainty.”
Michael Dobell, the EDA chief executive officer, said he hears from local manufacturers and economic development officials in the state that there is worry over the tariffs, leading to higher operating costs.
“The ongoing theme among local manufacturers and across New York State is concern,” Dobell said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2025 at 8:17 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Tara Thom, owner of the Town & Country Quilt Shop at 10 East Bank St. in Albion, works on the Orleans County bicentennial quilt at her shop today.
Thom and a group of quilters have been working on the quilt that will be presented to county officials during an April 15 celebration of the county’s 200th anniversary. That bicentennial ceremony is at noon at the County Courthouse.
Thom is shown putting a feathering pattern of stitches in the top of the quilt.
Each of the 10 towns in Orleans County are featured on the quilt.
There is still binding to put on the outer perimeter of the quilt, which include blocks of all 10 towns in the county and the year they were established, as well as three other blocks that are dedicated to “Farming,” “Faith” and “Family.”
The bottom of the quilt also says “1825” and “2025.”
Thom opened the Town & Country Quilt Shop in 2017. She and a group of volunteers have been working on the quilt for several months. They did it in a classic pattern. The quilt will be nearly 6 feet by 6 feet when it is finished.
The quilt is done with a design that was common in the 1800s.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2025 at 12:44 pm
Legislators also want HALT Act repealed in prisons
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Courthouse dome was illumined in blue on Feb. 25 in a show of support for corrections officers.
ALBION – The County Legislature is planning to go on the record opposing an executive order from the governor that prohibits counties from hiring terminated corrections officers.
The County legislature is calling a special meeting for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and will vote on a resolution calling for the governor to rescind its prohibition for counties to hire terminated corrections officers.
The state fired 2,000 COs on March 10 who refused to report for work after beign on strike for about three weeks.
A draft of the resolution from the County Legislature states the county “has experienced significant staffing shortages for county employees,” and has received several applications from corrections officers who were fired from the prisons.
The corrections officers were on strike due to unsafe working conditions, the resolution states. Due to the Taylor Law, COs aren’t legally allowed to go on strike.
The resolution from the Legislature states Gov. Kathy Hochul imposed the executive order, prohibiting counties from hiring the COs “to punish striking New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision employees—and to chill such labor strikes—by imposing strict, punitive, and arbitrary barriers on their ability to obtain future employment, without affording such employees due process of law and in violation of the New York State Constitution and statutes.
Legislators, the resolution, said the governor’s executive order “is an abuse of authority and discretion, and unlawfully intrudes upon the County’s powers of Home Rule secured by Article IX of the New York State Constitution, and illegally impacts the hiring efforts on all levels of government.”
Legislators said counties should have their own discretion in who they hire.
“This overreaching executive order unjustly punishes Corrections Officers by wrongfully preventing them from gaining future employment,” the resolution states. “These former Corrections Officers are members of our community and counties should be able to decide who they hire and the reasons for said hire.”
Legislators also plan to vote on a resolution calling for the repeal of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT Act), which was signed into law on March 31, 2022, and took effect the following day.
The HALT Act was one of the main reasons for the strike, saying it has made prisons less safe for staff and inmates.
The HALT Act limits segregated or disciplinary confinement of inmates to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) or in a separate keeplock housing unit to a maximum of 15 consecutive days, or 20 total days within any 60-day period, according to the draft resolution from the County Legislature.
“Under the HALT Act, these time limits may not be meaningfully extended even where an inmate has committed such serious acts as attempted escape, physical or sexual assault on staff and other inmates, or even homicide,” the resolution states. “The HALT Act essentially eliminates any meaningful disciplinary sanctions for inmates who commit violent acts.”
Legislators say assaults in state prisons have increased 124% over the last 10 years, reaching a record number of 1,173 assaults on staff in 2021.
“Since the HALT Act went into effect on April 1, 2022, the number of daily assaults in NYS correctional facilities has gone up from 6.8 to 8.1 a day, an increase of 25%,” according to the resolution.
Prior the HALT Act, inmates in solitary confinement and confined to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) still had access to outdoor recreation, personal visits, and commissary, the resolution states.
The HALT Act prohibits segregated confinement for “special populations,” inmates who are 21 or younger, who are typically the most unpredictable and violent population, the resolution states.
“The HALT act is causing meaningful programs for general population inmates to be canceled due to lack of staff,” according to the resolution. “The staff that should be instructing these programs are being redeployed to cover the HALT law mandated programs, thus punishing the general population inmates that are complying with facility rules, which causes more idle time and friction inside the facility.”
Provided photos: The Community Action of Orleans and Genesee CEO Renee Hungerford, right, traveled to Washington, DC to press for funding for the local agency.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2025 at 8:03 pm
Press Release, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee
ALBION – Renee Hungerford, CEO of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, recently spent a week in Washington, DC, to meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the critical importance of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).
“Helping people to stay out of poverty and stand on their own two feet is something that I believe any political party can get behind,” Hungerford said. “I am thankful for the words of support we have received. During these times of economic difficulty, the assistance we provide to someone in need is more important than ever.”
During her visit, Hungerford emphasized the vital role that the CSBG plays in supporting low-income families and communities. She highlighted how CSBG provides flexible funding that enables Community Action Agencies to offer programs like Head Start and Weatherization, in an efficient and low cost manner.
“Our ability to offer a wide range of programs with one central administration creates efficiency and cost savings,” Hungerford said.
During the visit she also discussed the importance of supporting preservation of the grant programs that fund Head Start and Weatherization.
“Community Action Agencies are held accountable to achieve outcomes,” she said. “We are not about handouts; our mission is to help people achieve self-sufficiency and provide help during a challenging time.”
The Community Services Block Grant is the backbone funding source for Community Action. There are 1,000 Community Action agencies in the country with 47 in the state.
For every $1 from the CSBG, the Community Action agencies leverage $10.54 from other sources, including volunteer hours, to make a positive difference, Hungerford said.
“We build strong communities and families beginning with Head Start through social programs and transportation for seniors,” she said. “We address health-related social needs which are a key driver of positive health outcomes.”
The agencies also are important parts of their local economies, providing meaningful employment for staff and offer work development to others who go on to become agency staff, obtain other employment, or start businesses, Hungerford said.
“This investment, in turn, becomes an investment in the economy of the communities we assist,” she said.
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee remains committed to its mission of reducing poverty and promoting self-sufficiency through various programs and services. Hungerford’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, underscore the organization’s dedication to securing resources that empower individuals and strengthen communities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2025 at 11:56 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Courthouse, the county’s iconic landmark in Albion, is shown on Jan. 10.
The latest population estimates from the Census Bureau show a gain for Orleans County of nearly 300 residents from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024.
That gain of 296 residents, from 39,390 to 39,686, represents a 0.75 percent increase, the fourth highest among the 62 counties in the state, according to the Census Bureau.
It helps counter some of the population losses from 2020 to 2023, when Orleans County’s population went 1,233 people from the April 2020 census to the July 1, 2023 estimate. That decline of 3.06 percent was among the steepest losses of 62 counties.
Going back to the 2010 census, when Orleans had 42,883 people, the county is down by 3,197 residents or 7.5 percent.
Lynne Johnson, the Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, is pleased to see the gain of nearly 300 people in the latest census estimate.
“While the growth is modest, many counties, especially across Upstate, actually lost population so any growth is good news,” she said. “It’s important we continue to tout all our county has to offer, from affordable housing to great schools to tremendous recreation and much more. People who move here quickly recognize what a great place this is to live and raise a family.”
The county’s with the largest percentage increases from the 2023 to 2024 population estimates include Franklin at a 1.75 percent increase, Schenectady at 1.17 percent, Orange at 0.82 percent, Orleans at 0.75 percent and Seneca at 0.72 percent.
The five counties with the biggest percentage declines include St. Lawrence at -0.50 percent, Chautauqua at -0.51 percent, Columbia at -0.52 percent, Delaware at -0.73 percent and Schuyler at -1.86 percent.
New York state’s population went up, according to the estimates, from 19,737,367 in 2023 to 19,867,248 in 2024.
Photo by Tom Rivers: These three churches in Albion all have bell towers including Christ Episcopal in front at St. Joseph’s Catholic, back left, and the First Baptist Church, back right.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2025 at 1:39 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee is urging churches across the county to ring their bells at noon on April 15 for a minute.
The county will be celebrating its 200th anniversary with a celebration starting at noon in the county courthouse on April15. The courthouse bell also will be rung for a minute beginning at 12 p.m.
Orleans is marking the 200th anniversary of when it was formally established by the State Legislature on April 15, 1825. Orleans used to be part of Genesee County but split off and formed its owned county on 1825 with 10 towns – Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates.
Officials seek support for several issues in Orleans
Press Release, Orleans County Legislature
Provided photo: Pictured from left include County Legislators Skip Draper, Lynne Johnson and John Fitzak outside the U.S. Capitol during a break at the National Association of Counties annual conference.
ALBION – Orleans County legislative leaders returned home today after spending several days in Albany and Washington DC at two major government conferences.
The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) Legislative conference was held in Albany from Feb. 23-26. The National Association of Counties (NACO) conference was held in Washington DC from Feb. 28 to March 4.
Both annual conferences bring together elected officials from across New York State and the nation. While there, Orleans County Officials met with state and federal officials to lobby for funding for key county projects.
“I have said this before but there really is no better way to advocate for our residents then to sit down at the table with our federal and state representatives personally,” said Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman. “It’s important that leaders of all levels of government representing Orleans County have our priorities aligned so we speak with one voice when seeking dollars and pursuing legislation.”
Joining Chairman Johnson at the NACO Washington DC conference were Legislators Merle “Skip” Draper and Legislator John Fitzak. Legislator Ed Morgan and County Administrator Jack Welch attended the NYSAC Conference in Albany. Topics of interest at the conferences included homeland security, the Great Lakes, workforce development, economic development and emergency management.
Orleans County officials spent time on Capitol Hill meeting with key staff from Senator Schumer’s and Senator Gillibrand’s offices. In addition, they met with staff from Congresswoman Tenney’s office.
Orleans specific needs and more funding for the Public Safety Building; dredging; relocation and remodeling to the Genesee Community College Satellite building; the Marine Park Docks repair and continued expansion of broadband were major topics of discussion.
“Time was tight, especially in Washington, when we were doing meetings the day of the State of the Union address, but I very much appreciated our federal delegation taking the time to meet with us,” Johnson said. “I want to thank my legislative colleagues for attending these conferences and advocating on behalf Orleans County residents.”
The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) represents New York’s 62 counties, including the City of New York, before Federal, State and Local officials. NYSAC staff educate, train and provide research on public policy to Federal, State and Local officials and to the membership on issues important to counties. The National Association of Counties (NACO) serves nearly 40,000 county officials. Founded in 1935, NACO unites County leaders from across the United States to educate lawmakers and advocate for county priorities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 March 2025 at 8:48 am
Equipment and materials have risen dramatically, while state aid proposed to stay flat
Photos by Tom Rivers: Tracy Chalker, Clarendon highway superintendent and president of the Orleans County Highway Superintendents’ Association, speaks during a news conference on Friday afternoon at the Orleans County DPW garage.
ALBION – Local highway department leaders say a boost in CHIPS funding from the state would help the municipalities keep up with road and bridge maintenance.
A pothole has emerged on Butts Road in Albion near the railroad overpass. The highway departments in the county will be out when it warms up to fill some of the potholes. The harsh winter takes a toll on the local roads.
The costs for materials and equipment are up dramatically in the past three to four years. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget proposes keeping CHIPS at $598 million for the municipalities. Assemblyman Steve Hawley said the governor put an $800 million increase in the budget for the state Department of Transportation for its projects, citing the rising costs as the need for mor state funding.
Hawley said the vast majority of roads and bridges in the state are owned by towns, villages, cities and counties. They should see an increase in the state funding, too, Hawley said during a news conference in Albion at the Orleans County DPW garage. He would like to see a $250 million increase in CHIPS – Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program.
“Flat funding is a decrease,” Hawley said, noting the rising inflation.
Tracy Chalker, the Clarendon highway superintendent and president of the Orleans County Highway Superintendents Association, said an increase in CHIPS is needed to help the towns, villages and county keep the roads in safe condition for the traveling public.
“We cannot afford to stay flat or see a decrease in these programs,” Chalker said during the news conference.
Chalker said Orleans County municipalities are short-changed in part of the CHIPS formula that includes tourism. The county should be getting more state road funding for tourism because of the lakefront, canal towns, farm markets and other attractions, Chalker said.
About 25 highway leaders from Hawley’s district in Genesee, Orleans and western Monroe attended the conference.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley wants a $250 million increase from the state for CHIPS funding, from $598 million to $848 million. Hawley said the increase will help the municipalities keep up with rising costs for equipment and materials.
Chalker and many of the local superintendents will be in Albany next Wednesday for lobby day to press for more state aid. About 600 highway leaders are expected in the State Capitol.
“Do what is right for our infrastructure and keep it safe,” Chalker said.
Craig Lane, the Orleans County DPW commissioner, said the county paved 14 miles of roads last year. But with the rising costs for materials, “this year we’ll be lucky if we can do 10,” he said.
County Legislator Ed Morgan said the county budget is constrained by several state mandates that hinder the ability to spend on other local needs.
“So much of our county taxes go to the state mandates,” Morgan said.
Ed Morgan, a county legislator and retired Murray highway superintendent, said the state needs to “up and the ante” with road and bridge funding.
Well-maintained roads are critical for “trucks and tractors that are the lifeblood of our community,” said Morgan, who is retired from working 30 years as the Murray town highway superintendent.
“It’s imperative the state up and the ante and keep us competitive in Western New York,” Morgan said.
Local roads account for 87 percent of all roads in the state and carry 48 percent of all the vehicle miles traveled. However, they receive less than 12 percent of taxes and fees paid to the state for maintaining local roads, Hawley said.
A 2023 study of local highway and bridge needs commissioned by the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways found that municipalities would need $32 billion over 15 years to restore locally owned roads through repaving and improvements or $2.1 billion annually. That study was updated this year and the amount is up about 25 percent – $2.69 billion a year or $40.35 billion over 15 years because of the spike in construction materials costs.
Craig Lane, Orleans County’s DPW commissioner, said costs are way up for projects and equipment. The county opened bids for two bridge projects and the low bids were about $250,000 more than engineers estimated when the projects were in the design phase about three to four years ago. The county also received a new 10-wheel dump truck on Thursday which cost $257,000, up from $168,000 in 2022.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2025 at 4:30 pm
3 sites in Orleans listed on proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway
The proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway includes 22 of the 62 counties in New York State. The Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State is working to have the byway in place in 2026, a year before the 200th anniversary of the state abolishing slavery.
National Park Service photo: Harriet Tubman is the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad.
Orleans County municipalities along Route 31 are being asked to adopt resolutions in support of establishing a 550-mile byway highlighting historical sites with connections to the Underground Railroad.
The Albion Village Board on Wednesday voted in support of the proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. It would stretch from New York City to Niagara Falls. The byway would be the longest in the state and would include 22 of the state’s 62 counties.
The Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State is working to create the byway, with a goal to have it in place by 2026, which is the year before the 200th anniversary of when the state abolished slavery.
The byway recognizes Harriet Tubman, who was born enslaved in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1822. She seized her freedom at age 27. In the next 10 years she led about 70 people to freedom, making 13 trips from Maryland to Philadelphia; St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; and Auburn, New York. She was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.
She settled in Auburn in central New York and stayed there until her death in 1913. Her home in 2017 became a National Historical Park under the National Park Service.
The byway will recognize many historical sites that were part of the Underground Railroad and the Freedom Seekers, who were African Americans who left enslavement. At the time they often were deemed “fugitives,” “runaways” or “escapees.”
The consortium is seeking resolutions of support from municipalities along the proposed route. The group will be asking the State Legislature to designate the byway.
This stretch of the proposed byway goes from Rochester to Lockport. The byway goes along Route 31 in Orleans County.
Dawn Borchert, Orleans County tourism director, said the byway would be a boost to the county, bringing in some visitors and highlighting the county’s role in Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of trails and homes. Many of the houses and sites that were part of the Underground Railroad are unknown.
But there is documentation about one house in Holley that helped Freedom Seekers on their journey.
File photo
A historical marker was erected in October 2020 at 35 South Main St. to highlight the home of Chauncey Robinson as a “Safe House.” Robinson was an Orleans County pioneer and an abolitionist. He sheltered escaped slaves at this site as part of the Underground Railroad.
Local historians have long suspected there were houses in Orleans County on the Underground Railroad. But there wasn’t documentation to back it up, until Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan found a letter from Robinson’s grandson.
In the lengthy letter, the grandson details visiting his grandfather, who took him up to the second floor of the back side of the house. The grandfather pulled back a curtain, and there was a group of escaped slaves on beds. More research showed that Robinson was in fact an outspoken abolitionist.
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The consortium also lists the cemetery where Robinson is buried as a historical site in Orleans County on the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Proposed Byway.
Robinson Cemetery is on Route 237 in Clarendon at the intersection of Glidden Road. The cemetery sign notes Chauncey Robinson was a veteran of the War of 1812 and a prominent abolitionist in the community.
The consortium also highlights a historical marker on Main Street in Medina. The Orleans Renaissance Group in April 2015 unveiled the marker in recognition of two speeches delivered in the community by Frederick Douglass, a leading abolitionist.
Borchert, the tourism director, said she is grateful for the efforts by Melissa Ierlan to highlight Robinson’s life and contributions to abolition, and also the ORG led by Chris Busch to have the marker erected in honor of Frederick Douglass.
“Kudos to the people who did those markers for us,” Borchert said. “Because that’s what put us on the trail.”
The Medina Village Board discussed the byway during its meeting on Monday. The board wanted some clarification about signage restrictions. The consortium said it would restrict new billboards or off-premises signs as part of the byway but existing ones could remain.
The byway does allow new signs that are directional and official signs, notices, sale or lease signs, and on-property signs, Borchert said, quoting information from the Department of Transportation.
Municipalities are being asked to send in their resolutions of support by April 1.
There are three sites listed in Orleans County as historical sites with ties to the Underground Railroad and Freedom Seekers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2025 at 9:33 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The dome of the Orleans County Courthouse is illumined in blue tonight in a show of support for corrections officers.
The dome will stay lighted up in the evening and at night for the next week to show concern and appreciation for corrections officers across the county and state, said Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman.
Orleans County is home to two state prisons as well as the county jail.
“These are very troubling times in our state’s prisons and we are very concerned about the safety of our corrections officers,” Johnson said in a press release today. “It feels like almost everyone in Orleans County knows a person who works at one of these facilities. These corrections officers are our family members, friends and neighbors and we want them to know how much we appreciate them.”
ALBION – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson today said the dome on the Orleans County Courthouse will be lit blue for the next week to show concern and appreciation for corrections officers across the county and state.
Orleans County is home to two state prisons – Orleans Correctional Facility and Albion Correctional Facility as well as the county-run jail.
“These are very troubling times in our state’s prisons and we are very concerned about the safety of our corrections officers,” said Johnson. “It feels like almost everyone in Orleans County knows a person who works at one of these facilities. These corrections officers are our family members, friends and neighbors and we want them to know how much we appreciate them.”
Corrections officers have been expressing concerns over staffing levels and state legislation like the HALT Act that limits inmate discipline that they have said makes performing their difficult job even harder. The New York State Department of Corrections has just begun mediation with the corrections officers’ union to address these concerns. Orleans County correction officers at the county jail also operate under the same rules as state prisons.
“Corrections officers at both the state and county are an integral part of our criminal justice system, keeping our community safe by maintaining order inside the walls of our correctional facilities and preparing inmates for future release back into society,” said Johnson. “This is no easy task but they do a great job under difficult circumstances. By lighting the courthouse dome blue, we want to send a message to them that they are in our thoughts and prayers.”
