By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2022 at 8:37 am
ALBION – Orleans County legislators on Wednesday went on the record opposing new gun legislation adopted by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on July 1.
Hochul and the Legislature banned guns from many public places. The state identified “sensitive places” where guns shouldn’t be allowed. Those crowded public places include bars, theaters, stadiums, museums, casinos, polling places, parks, churches, educational facilities and mass transit.
County legislator Don Allport, R-Gaines, said criminals will ignore any gun control laws. He said there are 40,000 gun control laws on the books, and those laws don’t stop robberies and murders.
“These laws only hurt law-abiding citizens,” he said during Wednesday’s Legislature meeting.
Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, R-Lyndonville, said Orleans is the second county to formally oppose the state legislation from last month.
“I’m really proud we are able to do that,” she said about the vote.
She said some businesses can post signs whether or not they allow concealed carry for guns. The ones that proclaim no guns allowed in signage baffle Johnson.
“Now the bad guys know where the guns are,” she said about the postings at businesses. “Does that make any sense?”
Legislators in the resolution said banning concealed carry in public is an “unconstitutional attack upon the rights of law-abiding citizens.”
The state legislation makes obtaining and retaining a concealed carry gun permit “an overly involved lengthy burdensome process, requiring citizens to divulge their social media accounts,” county legislators state din the resolution.
The local Legislature said the state legislation “is the result of a knee-jerk, unvetted and political reaction to the recent Supreme Court decision, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc., v. Bruen, and was surreptitiously rushed through legislature without public discussion, input or knowledge.”
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Spring graduates of the Microenterprise Assistance Program celebrated with dinner June 14 at Gallo’s Bar and Grill in Hamlin. Michelle Gallo is a former graduate of MAP and has returned several times to share how the class helped her and her husband Rick in their new endeavors. Seated, from left, are Chacora Abrams, Jessica Skehan, Dorothy Daniels (instructor), Amanda Vasquez and MAP coordinator Diane Blanchard. Second row, are Amber Moss (with Cassandra Brady, who took the class), Rebecca Alexander, Debbie Prest, Michelle Gallo (instructor), Tiffany Allen, John Fitzak (county legislator) and Sam Campanella (adviser). Third row, Erin Hills and Chris Glogowski. Absent are Delores Hansel, Andrew LaFave and Kristen Ostrander.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 28 June 2022 at 7:55 am
HAMLIN – The spring class of the Microenterprise Assistance Program brought the number to 557 entrepreneurs who have completed the 10-week class that offers many pointers for building a successful business.
MAP is a program of Orleans Economic Development Agency. Diane Blanchard is administrator of MAP.
The graduates bring a variety of unique interests and the potential to create a thriving business in their community.
Graduates shared their goals and proposed businesses at Gallo’s Bar and Grill in Hamlin on June 14. Gallo’s is owned by Michelle and Rick Gallo, who offered to host the evening. Michelle is a graduate of the Microenterprise class and has become an instructor in the program.
Graduates and their proposed business are Delores Hansel of Albion, who owns Brush Strokes Studio in the Arnold Gregory Complex; Tiffany Allen, who wants to own a restaurant and bar; Rebecca Alexander of Albion, who is adding tailgate games and a restaurant to their existing business – Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza; Cassandra Brady, bakery; Chris Glogowski, the Coffee Joint; Erin Hills, a make-up artist; Deborah Prest, home décor; Amanda Vasquez, bakery; Jessica Skehan, an artist; Andrew LaFave, plastic recycling; and Kristen Ostrander, Bloom’s Flower Shop.
Each of the graduates shared their business plan and reasons for taking the Microenterprise Assistance Program.
Tiffany Allen shared her plans for a restaurant/bar.
Hansel purchased Brush Strokes from Tim Elliott of Medina. She enjoys ceramics and hopes to grow the business. She would like to do a summer camp for children and fused glass and eventually, pottery. She said wanted to gain a little more business acumen from the class.
“My goal is to become a full service art business for Orleans County,” she said.
Alexander and her husband already own Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza and wanted learn more about the business end of running a bar and tailgate games.
“We will be a one-stop shop for food and fun,” Alexander said.
They are ready to open a restaurant in Albion and will be open Wednesday through Sunday and offer a full menu. All baked goods can be customized and made to order. They will cater to food allergies. She also wants to have cake decorating classes for adults and children. She took the class to get help with a business plan for their new venture.
Cassandra Brady took the class to help her and her friends Chacora Abrams and Amber Moss, who are running a bakery in their home, but would like a real store in Orleans County. Their specialty is custom cakes and desserts. When they started, Abrams said they knew they needed help on how to run a business.
Amanda Vasquez also wants to open a bakery and needs a certified kitchen. She hopes to work with customers in local towns. She would like to have a store front in Medina by 2024.
Tiffany Allen has been living in Hawaii for 18 years, but recently came home and is looking for a business that fits her lifestyle, she said. Her business will be called Mommy’s Kitchen and Daddy’s Bar and will feature home cooking, a rotating menu and a local delivery option.
Deborah Prest sells home décor and crafts.
Allen is confident she can run such a business with one person in the kitchen and one in the bar. Her goal is to provide an enlightening and unique dining experience. Her staff will be encouraged to learn something from every customer, she said.
Chris Glogowski opened The Coffee Joint at 59 North Main St. in Albion, with a partner, David Mogle. They will offer a variety of high-quality coffee and tea drinks. Manager of the business is Heidi Peterson. Glogowski is an Albion police officer and Mogle is the police chief.
Glogowski wanted to keep a coffee shop in downtown. In the future they plan to add smoothies, breakfast wraps, waffles and energy drinks. They also intend to have delivery and a drive-up service. Their hours will be expanded for the summer, he said.
Debbie Prest has been doing crafts and home décor for 20 years, but needed to know more about the business end, she said.
“I’m good at crafting, but not so good at the business stuff,” she said. “I knew creating a business plan was crucial to my goal.”
She has been doing a lot of sales on Facebook and at craft shows, but now will have her own brick and mortar store in back of Five Star Bank in Albion.
Erin Hills is a make-up artist who hopes to open a salon.
Jessica Skehan of Holley studied art and printing in college, but didn’t learn the business end, she said. She hopes to establish a business doing custom painting and selling prints of her original artwork online. She would like to have a store front within the next five years.
Erin Hills thought as a make-up artist she would have to live in a big city to be successful. She has discovered, however, she is in high demand in Orleans County for weddings, and has 69 booked. She also does lash extensions. She is confident she can make a six-figure income doing hair and make-up. Her goal is to have a salon by 2023 and a mobile unit after that.
Two other graduates were not able to attend the graduation. They are Kristen Ostrander, who owns Bloom’s Flower Shop in Albion, and Andrew LaFave, who plans a plastic recycling business.
Beth Miller, a former MAP graduate, returned to share her success with the class. She had lost her job with Covid hit about two years ago and took the class to prepare for opening her own business. Dorothy Daniels encouraged her to open her store Wild Flour Deli & Bakery in Albion last fall.
A $21,000 grant through MAP enabled her to build a dining room at 438 West Ave. She has since expanded and added equipment.
“In one month I made as much money as I had anticipated making in five months,” Miller said.
She said the MAP class was overwhelming at first, but turned out to be very beneficial. She was recently voted one of the top five deli-bakeries in Western New York.
Anyone interested in taking the next MAP course can contact Blanchard at dblanchard@orleansdevelopment.org or by calling (585) 589-7060.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2022 at 1:55 pm
ALBION – Orleans County officials are asking local residents to consider being foster parents. They don’t need to be perfect or have immaculate homes, said Holli Nenni, DSS commissioner.
Holli Nenni
The county currently has 30 children in foster care, but only 18 homes available.
“There is a very limited number of foster care families in Orleans County,” she told county legislators last week. “We need more.”
Children are in foster care due to abuse, neglect, parent incarceration, abandonment or death of a parent. They may be in a foster home for as a little as a week or for many months. The goal is to reunite those children with their biological families.
When there aren’t enough foster homes available locally, children are often sent to residential facilities such as Hillside Children’s Center in Rochester or New Directions Youth and Family Services in Buffalo, Nenni said.
The county DSS strives to keep siblings together, and wants to keep kids in the same school district they have been attending.
Foster parents receive a daily stipend. The county also assigns a caseworker to assist the foster parent and there is a foster care home support group.
The county would also welcome people to consider being a respite home in case of emergencies.
To be a foster parent, the county is looking for adults who are at least 21 years old, single or married; able to provide a safe and healthy home; ant to make a difference in the life of a child; and can work as part of a team with caseworkers, other community agencies, and the child’s family.
People need to pass a background check, complete trainings to be a foster parent, complete a home study with the foster home coordinator, and have a medical form completed by a doctor.
For more information, contact the DSS in Orleans County at (585) 589-3161.
To see a video about being a foster parent in Orleans County, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2022 at 10:54 am
After nine days of early voting at one location in Albion, the polls open at all 10 towns in the county on Tuesday for a Republican and Democratic primary.
There were 156 people who cast ballots for early voting. On Tuesday, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 11 locations in Orleans County.
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, 3840 Fancher Rd. (Route 31)
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.
There are primaries for the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor. Locally there are primaries for Republican committee representatives in Murray and Yates.
There are three candidates in the Democratic Party for governor – Thomas Suozzi, Kathy Hochul and Jumaane Williams.
There are four Republican candidates for governor – Rob Astorino, Andrew Giuliani, Harry Wilson and Lee Zeldin.
The Democratic lieutenant governor candidates include Ana Maria Archila, Diana Reyna and Antonio Delgado.
In Murray District 2, four people are seeking two Republican Committee positions – Michael Christopher, Daniel Seller, Gerald Rightmyer and Anthony Peone.
In Murray District 3, three people are running for two positions Republican Committee positions – Louise Passarell, Kathleen Case and Kerri Neale.
In Murray District 6, three people are vying for two spots on the Republican Committee – David Knapp, Adam Moore and Kellie Gregoire.
In Yates District 1, three are running for two positions on the Republican Committee – Steven Colon, Roger Wolfe and Russell Martino.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2022 at 7:08 pm
Graduation ceremonies set for Friday and Saturday
Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Medina’s Class of 2021 and the Daisy Chain members assemble at their seats during last year’s ceremony. Medina is keeping graduation outdoors at Vets Park for the third straight year.
The five school districts in Orleans County will have 414 students graduate during commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.
Some of the districts tried outdoor ceremonies during the Covid pandemic when crowd sizes were restricted.
Holley and Kendall are bringing their ceremonies back indoors to their auditoriums. Albion and Medina are staying outside instead of going indoors. Before 2020, Medina used to have graduation in the high school auditorium. Albion held its ceremony in the gym before going outdoors last year for the first time at the football field.
Lyndonville is staying in its auditorium. That district didn’t go outside the last two commencements. It did a virtual or videotaped graduation in 2020 with a parade of grads in vehicles. In 2021 the ceremony was back in the auditorium. Last year it was on the fourth Thursday in June. This time it’s back to the fourth Friday.
Here are some highlights of the ceremonies:
ALBION – The 7 p.m. ceremony on Friday includes 136 graduates at the Spierdowis Football Field. The students will be sitting on the field this time, instead of the bleachers like last year. This way the speakers can face the graduates when giving their remarks.
Last year there was a guest limit but this time there isn’t a limit.
Speeches will be given by Carson Bader as the class president and then as the class salutatorian, Leah Kania as valedictorian, Linda Weller as president of the Board of Education and Mickey Edwards, as the school district superintendent.
“We are incredibly proud of our 2022 graduates and look forward to spending a special evening celebrating their accomplishment,” said Jennifer Ashbery, the high school principal.
HOLLEY – The ceremony will be 10 a.m. on Saturday in the High School Auditorium. There are 60 graduates in the Class of 2022.
Speeches will be given by There will be speeches by Valedictorian Cora Bennage and Salutatorian Adriana Botello. Daniel Burke, a retired teacher, coach and musical director, was picked by the class to give the commencement address.
Following the ceremony, the graduates will process outside to the flagpole for the tossing of the caps. The scoreboard at the Hawk Stadium will be lit with the 2022 numbers all day and into the evening for pictures.
KENDALL – There will be a ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Kendall Junior/Senior High School Auditorium. There are 67 members of the class.
Valedictorian Riley Borkholder and Salutatorian Emma Allen will address their classmates. The keynote speech will be given by Christopher F. King, a command maintenance chief with the US Navy and a graduate from the Class of 2002.
Kendall school officials decided to return indoors after being outside in 2020 and 2021 for graduation.
“It’s such a gamble to be outside,” said Carol D’Agostino, the high school principal. “Last year it drizzled on us. The auditorium is air-conditioned. It’s predictable. People can be comfortable.”
LYNDONVILLE – Commencement will be 7 p.m. on Friday in the Stroyan Auditorium. There are 52 graduates.
The speakers include Salutatorian Maddox Stirk, Valedictorian Jack Whipple, Principal Dr. Aaron Slack and Superintendent Sharon Smith.
MEDINA – The ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on Friday at Vets Park. There are 99 graduates in the class. Each will receive tickets for up to seven guests.
The seniors voted on where to have the ceremony and they chose to be outside at Vets.
Speakers include Valedictorian Kaylee Lacey, Salutatorian Hayden Woodroe, and Megan Zakes, who graduating 4th in the class and also has completed her associate’s degree through Genesee Community College.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2022 at 7:40 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign outside the County Office Building on Route 31 lets people know it is an early voting site. Early voting continues through June 26 with polls then open at all 10 towns in Orleans County on June 28.
ALBION – The turnout so far in the first five days of early voting is 84. There are four more days of early voting at the one location in Orleans County – the county office building on Route 31.
Polls are then open at all 10 towns on June 28 for a Republican and Democratic primary.
The early voting totals include 11 on June 18, then 22 on June 19, 15 on June 20, 19 on June 21 and 17 on June 22.
The remaining days include today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There are primaries for the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor. Locally there are primaries for Republican committee representatives in Murray and Yates.
There are three candidates in the Democratic Party for governor – Thomas Suozzi, Kathy Hochul and Jumaane Williams.
There are four Republican candidates for governor – Rob Astorino, Andrew Giuliani, Harry Wilson and Lee Zeldin.
The Democratic lieutenant governor candidates include Ana Maria Archila, Diana Reyna and Antonio Delgado.
In Murray District 2, four people are seeking two Republican Committee positions – Michael Christopher, Daniel Seller, Gerald Rightmyer and Anthony Peone.
In Murray District 3, three people are running for two positions Republican Committee positions – Louise Passarell, Kathleen Case and Kerri Neale.
In Murray District 6, three people are vying for two spots on the Republican Committee – David Knapp, Adam Moore and Kellie Gregoire.
In Yates District 1, three are running for two positions on the Republican Committee – Steven Colon, Roger Wolfe and Russell Martino.
The early voting turnout so far is ahead of the pace from last June when there were Republican primaries in six towns. There were 108 voters over nine days of early voting for an average of 12 a day.
With 84 voters in the first five days of this primary, the turnout in Orleans is about 17 a day.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2022 at 3:19 pm
Provided photo: Bob Harker of Clarendon is the new executive director of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern.
ALBION – The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern has a new executive director. Bob Harker of Clarendon leads the non-profit organization that provides assistance to individuals who are struggling and often don’t have other resources available to them.
The agency offers emergency services to many of the working poor in the two counties.
“I could not be more excited about the opportunity to help guide and grow Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern in its role as the ‘agency of last resort,’” Harker said. “We strive to provide services to individuals and families that for one reason or another are not being served by more conventional community assets.”
The Ministry of Concern has in-house advocates who work on behalf of clients with utility companies, landlords and other entities as necessary. Eligible individuals and families can receive help with personal care items, short term emergency housing and financial assistance with prescriptions and utilities.
The Furniture Program also accepts donations of gently used furniture and non-gas appliances which are subsequently delivered without cost to people in need.
Harker grew up in Rochester and served four years with the Navy as an aircraft electrician. He earned a human services degree from Monroe Community College and worked in that field and as well in retail management.
“I hope to combine business experience with my strong desire to give back to the community to help guide the ‘agency of last resort’ to an expansion of services in both counties,” Harker said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2022 at 9:26 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Wayne Krull, center, recently received a commendation from the Orleans County Legislature for receiving the Douglas C. Zefting Award from the American Public Works Association Genesee Valley Chapter.
County Legislator Bill Eick is at left and John Papponetti, DPW commissioner for the county, is at right.
This award recognizes outstanding public service and achievement of an operational/maintenance level employee of a public works agency. Krull has worked for the county for 21 years.
He started his career with the Orleans County DPW in May 2001 as a motor equipment operator. In July 2015 he was promoted to Lead Motor Equipment Operator, and in January 2021 he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Public Works’ Highway Division.
“He has overseen several large culvert replacement projects,” said John Papponetti, the county’s DPW commissioner. “The most recent being the emergency replacement of the Yates Carlton Townline Road Culvert that collapsed as a result of a recent high water event. His drive and passion for his job sets the tone for our crews each day. Wayne’s positive attitude and willingness to learn on a daily basis is what earned him this award.”
Krull is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities and projects for DPW’s Highway Division. This includes project planning, project staffing, coordination with the towns and villages, coordination with vendors and contractors, and assisting the commissioner with planning highway capital improvement projects.
Wayne Krull is shown in an excavator in this photo from January 2020 when the DPW cleared trees, limbs, brush and debris from the original canal loop in Holley. The 2,000-foot long section is a rare remaining piece of the original Erie Canal west of Rochester. It is just west of Bennetts Corners Road and east of the lift bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2022 at 3:21 pm
Lynne Johnson
ALBION – Orleans County officials don’t plan to suspend any of the sales tax on gas, Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said.
“We need to use these funds to improve bridges, emergency response and communication services, otherwise we become further burdened with fixable and unfixable problems,” Johnson said today.
There are 62 counties in the state and 25 have suspended the gas tax when the price hits either $2 or $3 a gallon.
Among the rural GLOW counties, only Livingston is waiving the sales tax – and that’s after $3 a gallon. Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming haven’t suspended the local share of the tax.
New York State today is suspending the full 4-percent state sales tax on gas until Dec. 31, saving consumers an estimated $609 million over the next seven months, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office said.
“Should we not say that we must have a balance between a tax cut that would not improve old equipment and deteriorating roads and would benefit outside persons at the detriment of our own citizens?” Johnson wrote in an email.
“Do we not continue to improve our county’s emergency response equipment and communications and services? Do we just let equipment that needs repair deteriorate so it needs to be replaced at greater cost?”
Sales tax revenues for Orleans and counties are up so far this year, but counties have rising costs with inflationary increases, said State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in an April 29 report. The counties face economic volatility due to the business recovery from the pandemic, he added.
“The increased revenues come as residents, municipalities and businesses everywhere try to cope with high inflation levels affecting food, fuel, home heating, and other parts of everyday life and commerce, and using funds for infrastructure, emergency response and communications, is in my opinion a better field to spread our tax monies,” Johnson said.
She is concerned losing the tax revenue on gas would have a detrimental impact on the county budget, necessitating a property tax increase or cut in services.
“Today all of us know of gas prices reaching towards $5 a gallon and its effect on struggling families, seniors, and all of us but we have many safety issues and maintenance issues that we could not address because of the Albany imposed 2% tax cap,” she said.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Youth recognition award winners include, front row, from left: Jeffrey Brown, Ethan Ferchen, Samantha Johnson, Cooper Traxler, and Amber Kiefer. Back row: Alexis Ramsdell, Libbie Pecora, Jordan Bull, Lance Babcock, Ann Faery, Olivia Bieber and Alicia Allen. Missing from photo include Cora Bennage, Thomas Dobri and Mason Neale.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2022 at 9:44 am
LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Youth Board recognized 15 youths for their service to the community or for an extraordinary role in their family.
The awards were presented last week during the 40th annual Youth Recognition Banquet. The event was held at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.
The following were recognized: Alicia Allen of Albion, Lance Babcock of Holley, Cora Bennage of Holley, Olivia Bieber of Albion, Jeffrey Brown of Albion, Jordan Bull of Holley, Thomas Dobri of Holley, Ann Faery of Albion, Ethan Ferchen of Albion, Samantha Johnson of Albion, Amber Kiefer of Lyndonville, Mason Neale of Holley, Libbie Pecora of Holley, Alexis Ramsdell of Kendall and Cooper Traxsler of Albion.
The youths were praised for their kindness, helpfulness and efforts to make their school and community a better place.
The Youth Board also recognized five adults for their service to local young people.
Each year a volunteer for youth is presented the Eileen Heye Adult Volunteer Recognition Award.
Jaime Allport of Albion received the honor for her 13 years of service to Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program (AYSAP). She is critical to the success of the program through her work with sign-ups, fundraising, organizing practices and collecting all the documentation and needed school information, said her brother Geno Allport, commissioner of the league.
Allport is at the field on games days, from sunrise to sundown. She keeps track of all the rosters, keeps the stats during the games, and will work the concession stands.
Allport thanked all of the volunteers for keeping youth sports and programs going in the community. She gave a special shoutout to John Grillo, the Albion youth recreation director and retired Holley wrestling and tennis coach. Allport said he was her first coach when she was a kid and has been a mentor.
The Orleans County Youth Board last week recognized this trio for their service to youth in Orleans County. From left include Heather Jackson, a juvenile probation officer; Jaime Allport, an active volunteer the past 13 years with the Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program (AYSAP), and Annette Finch, who is recently retired as director of community service for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. Mike and Cheryl Wertman also were recognized for their work covering youth sports for the Orleans Hub and the former Journal-Register.
Four people received the Helen R. Brinsmaid Adult Youth Worker Award.
Annette Finch was honored for a career over 40 years with Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, where she was instrumental in providing assistance to people in crisis. Finch recently retired as director of community services. She ran the Red Kettle campaign in the county during the Christmas holiday season and oversaw a toy drive. She also pushed to sign children up for a summer camp. Her main job was getting emergency services for families in need.
“Annette is an angel to many and an inspiration of kindness and love,” the Youth Board stated.
Heather Jackson has been serving Orleans County youth for nearly 20 years – with 10 years as a caseworker with the Department of Social Services and the past eight years as a juvenile officer in the Probation Department.
She has been able to keep more at-risk youth out of the criminal justice system by helping them and their families access services and programs to help them succeed.
Mike Wertman, the sports editor at the Orleans Hub, has been covering high school sports locally for 44 years. His wife Cheryl, the Hub’s sports photographer, has been capturing the images of the athletic events for 37 years.
The two are together on the sidelines, baseball diamonds and gyms. They have worked for the Orleans Hub for about nine years. Before that, they were part of the former Journal-Register in Medina.
Many of their write-ups and photos from the games are displayed on refrigerators and in scrapbooks, going back decades now, said Geno Allport, who nominated the Wertmans and presented their award. (They were unable to attend the awards program because they were covering a playoff baseball game.)
The Wertmans keep up the daily coverage at a time when many newspapers have scaled back their local reporting.
The Wertmans not only cover the varsity games, but they include youth sports as well.
“They are beyond important figures to the sports world in Orleans County,” Allport said. “For nearly half a century they have been supporting youth in Orleans County and the surrounding counties. Their work is very important to the kids and their families.”
The awards’ recipients received certificates and citations form the Youth Board, Orleans County Legislature, Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s office and State Sen. Robert Ortt’s office. The Youth Board also gave each of the winners a yard sign to celebrate their recognition.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Election Commissioners Janice Grabowski, left, and Kathleen Case discuss some changes with local elections. They are speaking on Thursday evening at the Orleans County Association of Municipalities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2022 at 12:28 pm
LYNDONVILLE – Orleans County elections officials are adapting to many changes in elections and bracing for more.
One big change this year has all the election inspectors as county employees, and all will be paid the same $15 an hour. Those inspectors can out in 16 hours during an election . They also will be paid $25 for a training session.
The inspectors have been hired by the towns on a contractual basis and pay rates varied among the 10 towns. The county will now do all the payroll and will take out FICA for Social Security benefits and Medicare.
The county will then charge back the towns two thirds of the cost, with the county paying a third this year. Lynne Johnson, Legislature chairwoman, said the county decided to pay the third because the change was made mid-year when towns already had their budgets set.
The change was the focus of the monthly meeting on Thursday night of Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the White Birch Golf Course. Richard Moy, the Clarendon town supervisor, said he didn’t like the chargebacks when the inspectors are being hired by the county and on the county payroll.
He said the county also hit the towns with chargebacks for community colleges, when the expense tops $2,050,000. That was instituted in 2021, but the costs never exceeded $2,050,000. In 2020, the county was billed $2,214,515 for charge-backs to the home county of a community college student. In 2021, the cost decreased to $1,839,535, a drop of $374,980.
The county charges back many of the election costs to the towns.
“What else is coming?” Moy asked county officials about charge backs.
The state put the law in place in 2005 about inspectors being on the county payroll. But Orleans officials didn’t realize it until the county treasurer was at a conference and the issue was discussed.
Kathy Case, one of the county election commissioners, said there are many proposed state laws for more changes in elections. One proposal would make all election commissioners full-time employees. Case and Janice Grabowski are both appointed election commissioners by the County Legislature, with Case from the Republican Party and Grabowski from the Democratic Party. They are both part-time.
Grabowski said the job should be part-time in Orleans County. She is advocating to the state if the positions are made full-time there be a cutoff based on the population size of a county. She said smaller counties like Orleans should be able to keep the positions at part-time. The county, which has about 40,000 people, has full-time deputy election commissioners and other part-time employees.
“It makes sense for the bigger counties, but we don’t need it,” Grabowski said. “We have good deputies and part-time staff.”
It will be a busy next few months for the elections office with two primaries and a general election. All will have early voting.
The June 28 primary has early voting at the Board of Elections in Albion from June 18 through June 26.
There is also a primary on Aug. 23 with the general election on Nov. 8.
The elections for state and congressional seats include new district maps this year. Grabowski and Case said the congressional redistricting split the town of Clarendon with about two-thirds in the 24th District and a third in the 25th District.
However, about 15 parcels of Clarendon’s first voting district are oddly included in the other district. Clarendon has three voting districts. Grabowski and Case said they have contacted the state and requested the town’s voting district one stay intact and not be split.
“We are inquiring if we can keep Clarendon One altogether,” Case said.
The office has needed to respond to numerous state laws in the past three years.
“There have been over 100 new election laws since 2019 and they’re still coming,” Case said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2022 at 11:44 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: David Quaranto receives a Special Recognition Award from County Legislator Skip Draper in appreciation for a 32-year career with the County Probation Department.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday presented a Special Recognition Award to David Quaranto, who is retiring after 32 years with the count’s Probation Department.
Quaranto started as a probation officer in 1988 and was promoted to probation supervisor in 1994. When he was a probation officer, he was also the department’s DWI officer.
“Being a probation supervisor is a challenging job as you need to be familiar with all aspects of the criminal justice system and how it impacts probation,” said Luci Welch, director of the Orleans County Probation Department. “As probation supervisor, Dave has had to develop many interpersonal relationships with staff, several county departments, courts and out of county agencies which we collaborate with on a daily basis.”
Welch said Quaranto “has been an invaluable asset to the department in both of his roles and he will be sorely missed.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2022 at 8:12 am
Map from NYS Legislative Task Force On Demographic Research And Reapportionment – Orleans County will be split into two different congressional districts, with the 25th district stretching from Rochester to part of Orleans, and the sprawling 24th district that has some of Orleans and Niagara counties, and goes all the way through the Finger Lakes to Oswego and Jefferson County. The 25th is Democrat leaning while the 24th is solidly Republican.
Orleans County will no longer be represented in Congress by Chris Jacobs after this year.
Chris Jacobs
New redistricting maps (click here) have been finalized and Jacobs, if he is elected in November, would be in the 23rd Congressional District that is dominated by Erie County and also includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties.
Some of Orleans – the northern towns and some more – will be in the 25th Congressional District that includes the City of Rochester and Monroe County. Joe Morelle, a Democrat from Irondequoit, currently represents the Rochester area in Congress.
The other part of Orleans will be in a sprawling district that goes from Niagara and stretches through the other GLOW counties, the Finger Lakes and up to Oswego and Jefferson counties.
Claudia Tenney, the current representative for the 22nd Congressional District that includes Utica, has announced plans to run for the 24th district.
“We’re going to miss Jacobs,” said Skip Draper, Orleans County legislator and Republican Party chairman. “He represented us well.”
Joe Morelle
Draper said having the county split into two different districts has benefits and disadvantages.
“My concern with being paired with an urban area that has all the population is that is where all the attention will go,” Draper said. “I hope that is not the case. They need to understand we’re part of the district and Orleans County is important, too.”
He was concerned a decade ago when the county was no longer fully in one Assembly District. Shelby was in one district and the other nine towns in a different one. Mike Norris had Shelby and parts of Niagara and Erie counties, while Steve Hawley had the majority of Orleans, Genesee and part of Monroe County.
“Having two assemblymen represent us has worked out,” Draper said. “I don’t know it’s necessarily a bad thing to have two congressional reps.”
He is disappointed all of the county isn’t in the same district with other similar-size rural counties in the GLOW – Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming.
Claudia Tenney
“I’d like to be in the GLOW because that’s where all the partnerships are,” Draper said. “But we don’t have a lot to say about it. Whoever is in the seat we will work with them.”
With the split county, the 25th Congressional District would include the Orleans towns of Yates, Carlton, Kendall, Gaines and Murray and about a third of Clarendon. The other towns – Ridgeway, Shelby, Albion, Barre and two-thirds of Clarendon – would be in the 24th.
Tenney has been quick to launch a campaign for the 24th District, releasing a news release with endorsements from several of the Republican Party leaders in the district.
“After reviewing the revised maps, which were released in the dead of night, I am announcing my candidacy for New York’s 24th Congressional District,” she said in a news release. “As drawn, the 24th District includes areas I currently represent in Congress such as Oswego County.”
This shows the boundaries for how Orleans County will be split into different congressional districts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 May 2022 at 1:37 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved a five-year contract with full-time employees in the Sheriff’s Office who aren’t deputy sheriffs. (The deputies have their own union.)
The agreement with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Employee Association includes about 60 employees who work as a civil clerk, communication coordinator, cook, correction lieutenant, correction officer, correction sergeant, correction sergeant first class, public safety dispatcher and senior civil clerk.
The contract includes 2 percent annual increases from 2022 to 2026. In addition, the contract adds a new step 8 and all eight steps receive a 75-cent increase per hour from 2022 to 2024, and a 50-cent increase per hour in 2025 and 2026.
The pay increases 75-cent and 50-cent pay increases per hour adds between 1.5 to 3 percent more in pay for employees, depending upon their grade and step, said Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer.
The employees who are on the lower end of the pay scale will see the higher percentage increase, Welch said.
The agreement also increases the longevity to include 35 years, and includes a holiday for the day after Thanksgiving.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2022 at 8:04 am
KNOWLESVILLE – A conference today at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds will honor the memory of two very active members of the Self-Advocacy All-Stars.
The Jonathan Doherty and Gladys Hopper Self-Advocacy Day will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in the education building.
The conference will educate about the rights of people with disabilities and teach about what it means to be a self advocate.
Doherty, 38, was the local group’s president. He passed away at age 38 on May 5. He helped organize the conference, which will include speakers from the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State.
Gladys Hopper also was a member of the local Self-Advocacy All Stars. She passed away at age 71 on Jan. 6.
Speakers today during the conference will include Mike Woodward of the local Self Advocacy All Stars, Terry Kingdollar of Arc GLOW, SANYS Western Regional Coordinators Sophia Roberts and Mike Rogers, People Inc. Director of Advocacy and Person-Centered Practice Rick Banner, and Duane Montgomery of Self Advocacy All Stars.
