ALBION – Registered voters can go to the polls early starting on Saturday. The county has one early voting polling place at the Board of Elections office at the County Administration Building at 14016 State Route 31 in Albion.

The early voting dates and hours include:

• Saturday, Oct. 29: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 1: noon to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 2: noon to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 3: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 4: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 5: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 6: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The candidates and offices on the ballot include:

Federal elections

• U.S. Senator: Charles Schumer (Dem. and Working Family), Joe Pinion (Republican and Conservative) and Diane Sare (LaRouche).
• Representative for Congress 24th District (Towns of Albion, Barre, Clarendon districts 2 and 3, Ridgeway and Shelby): Steve Holden (Dem), Claudia Tenney (R, C).
• Representative for Congress 25th District (Towns of Carlton, Clarendon Dist. 1, Gaines, Kendall, Murray and Yates): Joseph Morelle (D, WF), La’Ron Singletary (R, C)

State elections

• Governor/Lieutenant Governor: Kathy Hochul/Antonio Delgado (D, WF) vs. Lee Zeldin/Alison Esposito (R, C)
• Comptroller: Thomas DiNapoli (D, WF), Paul Rodriguez (R, C)
• Attorney General: Letitia James (D, WF), Michael Henry (R,C)
• Justices of the Supreme Court (5 positions): Shannon Heneghan (D, WF), Tracey Bannister (D, R, C, WF), Craig Hannah (D, R, C, WF), Kelly Vacco (D, R, C), Gerald Greenan III (D, R, C) and Joseph Lorigo (R, C)­
• NYS Senate 62nd District: Robert Ortt, (R, C)
• NYS Assembly 139th District: Jennifer Keys (D), Stephen Hawley (R, C)

Local elections

• Albion Town Justice (2 positions): Gary Moore (D, R), Joseph Fuller (R)
• Carlton Town Justice: Michael Cliff (R)
• Carlton Town Councilperson, 1 year to fill vacancy: Brian McCue (R)
• Carlton Town Councilperson, 3 years to fill vacancy: Joshua Narburgh (R)

File photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The dome of the Orleans County Courthouse was illumined in green on Nov. 11, 2021, the 11^th day it has been lighted up in support of military personnel transitioning to civilian life. The flags in the photo are by a veterans’ memorial that was spearheaded by the Knights of Columbus.

The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday approved being a part of “Operation Green Light” from Nov. 1 to Nov. 12 to recognize the service of military personnel and their shift to being a civilian.

County legislators, in a resolution passed on Wednesday, said studies show 44 to 72 percent of service members experience high levels of stress during the transition to civilian life, with many contemplating suicide.

By illumining the dome in green for those days in November, legislators said they want to show support for military personnel making the transition from active service.

Legislators also encouraged residents to display a green light in the window of their homes or where they work as part of “Operation Green Light.”

The latest data from the state Department of Labor puts the unemployment rate at 3.2 percent in Orleans County in September, among the lowest in the county in the past 30 years.

The DOL says there are 16,800 people working in the county in September, compared to 16,400 in September 2021. There are 600 on unemployment, compared to 700 in September 2021. The unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in September compares to 3.9 percent a year earlier.

The unemployment rate in the county the past 12 months includes:

• September, 3.2 percent
• August, 4.2 percent
• July, 4.1 percent
• June, 3.7 percent
• May, 3.3 percent
• April, 3.4 percent
• March, 4.3 percent
• February, 4.6 percent
• January, 4.3 percent
• December 2021, 3.2 percent
• November 2021, 3.4 percent
• October 2021, 3.7 percent

The unemployment rate at 3.2 percent in September 2022 and also in December 2021 is the lowest rate for Orleans in at least 30 years.

The county before 2022 only dipped below 4 percent a few times in the past three decades:

During 1990s, Orleans was below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 1999 and 3.9 percent in October 1999.

From 2000 to 2009, the rate dipped below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 2000 and 3.6 percent in October 2000.

From 2010 to 2019, the unemployment rate was below 4 percent five times – 3.5 percent in September and October 2018, 3.7 percent in November 2018, 3.7 percent in September 2019, and 3.8 percent in October 2019.

Since 2020, the rate dropped below 4 percent the last two months of 2021 – 3.8 percent in November and then 3.1 percent in December. In 2022, it has been below 4 percent for four different months.

The September unemployment rate for nearby counties includes:

• Orleans, 3.2 percent
• Genesee, 2.5 percent
• Wyoming, 2.5 percent
• Livingston, 2.8 percent
• Niagara, 3.4 percent
• Monroe, 3.2 percent
• Erie, 3.3 percent

Nationally the unemployment rate is down from 4.6 percent in September 2021, to 3.8 percent in August to 3.3 percent last month, while in New York State it dropped from 5.7 percent in September 2021, to 4.9 percent in August to 3.9 percent last month.

United Way, Community Action and YMCA teamed on project

Provided photos: Key players in the new respite care program in Orleans and Genesee counties include Matt Holland, left, grant writer hired by United Way of Orleans County, and Jesse Cudzillo, director of the Orleans YMCA.

A new $290,000 family caregiver initiative will provide respite for caregivers in Genesee and Orleans counties.

Matt Holland, a grant writer with the Orleans County United Way, applied to Exhale, the Family Caregiver Initiative, in April and learned in June the local proposal made it to the last round.

Notification of approval of the grant came recently and will provide funding for a Caregivers’ Revitalize program developed in collaboration with United Way of Orleans County, GLOW YMCA and Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

Exhale is a Family Caregiver Initiative which funds innovative collaborative projects that are reimagining and increasing respite opportunities for family caregivers of older adults.

Funded by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Health Foundation for Western and Central New York, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, and managed by the Philanthropic Initiative, the 2022 Exhale initiative involves a total of more than 60 partner organizations across Western New York and Washtenaw County, Mich. They will work in teams led by the 13 grantees, including United Way of Orleans County.

“Exhale, the Family Care Initiative, has approved Caregivers Revitalize for three years of programming, with a budget of $290,000,” Holland said. “The first two years, beginning in the winter of 2023, will utilize the YMCA in Medina and Main Street Store location in Albion, while a third expansion year will create three new respite locations – one at the Holley Community Center, another at Genesee County YMCA’s Healthy Living Campus in Batavia and a third location to be determined in Genesee County.”

Caregivers Revitalize will provide weekly, three-hour long respite sessions along with free, onsite wellness programming and activities for caregivers of aging family members.

Grant writer Matt Holland, left, poses with Community Action personnel who will be involved in the new respite grant. With him are Katrina Chaffee, director of community services and reporting; Renee Hungerford, Community Action’s executive director; and Cassandra Eagle, Thrift Store manager and classroom instructor.

Locations will alternate initially on a weekly basis between the YMCA and Main Street Store.

“This program is an excellent opportunity for our community’s caregivers to get a break from their daily schedule and utilize the amazing programs and locations provided by the YMCA and Community Action,” Holland said. “Whether it is getting time to hop on a treadmill, participate in communal activities with other caregivers or just get some alone time, Caregivers Revitalize will provide a variety of respite opportunities for our community’s caregivers.”

There are still some program details that are still being worked out as Holland drafts the work plan and contracts.

The program will employ a part-time program coordinator and caregiver with certified nursing qualifications and caregiving experience. Caregivers can visit one of these locations during a respite session and utilize free programming and services provided by each organization, while a trained caregiver and onsite staffing will provide supervision and activities for caregivers and the family members in their care.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to partner in supporting caregivers,” said Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. “Caregivers often come upon this responsibility unexpectedly and they rearrange priorities to help someone through a difficult stage of life. Our hope for this program is to offer some positive quality time to these caring individuals and the people they care for.”

Greg Reed

Holland added that he, Katrina Chaffee, director of community services at Community Action, and Greg Reed, former YMCA director in Orleans County, developed this project while attending the Exhale seminars nearly a year ago. Reed is now the district executive director of Genesee and Orleans YMCA.

“This collaborative program is near and dear to my heart, as my mother was the primary caregiver for my grandmother as she navigated life with Alzheimer’s Disease,” Reed said. “The YMCA is here for the community to develop the social, metal and physical wellness of all people. This program provides refreshment amongst caregivers of older adults, where caregivers can connect socially, receive a mental break from caring for their loved ones (young and mature) and/or care for themselves physically through exercise opportunities at the YMCA. In working with Community Action, we’re able to work across the county for families who have limited transportation, too.”

Of Exhales’s latest grants, nine were in Western New York and three in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Exhale, the Family Caregiver Initiative, is dedicated to offering innovative solutions that give caregivers of older adults an opportunity to breathe a little easier.

More information on the Caregivers Revitalize program will be released in the winter of 2023. To learn more about Exhale, visit www.exhaleforcaregivers.org.

Orleans agency says it runs ‘bare-bones’ operation

ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency, which is working through a cash pinch, will see how its fees compare with other economic development agencies.

The Orleans EDA operates on an annual budget of $600,000. It receives about a third of its funding, $190,000, through Orleans County. The rest of the budget is generated through fees charged to businesses assisted by the EDA.

Those fees tend to be about 2 percent of a total project.

“We will analyze our fee schedules and see if we are under or overcharging,” said Michael Dobell, executive director of the Orleans EDA.

He informed the EDA board of directors of the comparison study. He also wants to see how other EDAs handle legal fees, whether those are passed on to developers or handled by the EDA.

The EDA is paid 2 percent of a project’s total cost when it assists companies with a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes). For example, a $3 million project receiving a PILOT would result in $60,000 for the EDA to help the agency pay for its administrative expenses and also if it incurs any legal costs. Right now, the EDA’s legal expenses are included in the administrative fee. There is also a $1,000 application fee for a PILOT.

The PILOT fee is 2 percent of the total project up to $15 million. For projects over $15 million, the fee is 1.5 percent of the total. There is also an annual fee of $500 due to the EDA for PILOTs with projects up to $15 million and a $1,000 annual fee for projects over $15 million. These fees are for the duration of the PILOT agreements, which tend to be 10, 15 or 20 years.

The EDA also is paid 2 percent of a sales tax exemption. For example, a $500,000 sales tax break would result in a $10,000 fee for the EDA. In this case, the applicant has to pay any legal expenses for the EDA plus a $500 application fee.

The agency also collects a 0.25 percent fee for a mortgage recording tax. If it’s a $1 million mortgage, the EDA would be paid $2,500, plus a $500 application fee and any legal expenses.

EDA needed short-term $500K county loan

The agency is dependent on the fees to pay the bulk of its budget. During the Covid pandemic, many of the economic development projects slowed or were put on hold, which hurt the EDA’s cash flow.

The EDA secured a $500,000 loan from the Orleans County Legislature. The EDA will use the $500,000 to assist with cash flow while the agency works to expand and enhance the Medina Business Park and upgrade infrastructure at the site.

The Legislature agreed to assist the EDA on a short term basis with the $500,000 to be paid back over three years at 3 percent interest each year. The terms call for the EDA to pay the county a third of the principal each year.

The first payment of $166,666.67 plus $22,500 is due March 1, 2024. The second payment of $166,666.67 plus $10,000 in interest is due March 1, 2025. The third payment of $166,666.66 plus $5,000 is due March 1, 2026.

John Misiti, EDA board chairman, said he is grateful for the county support of the EDA through an annual contribution from the county budget, and also the short-term loan.

He said the EDA is a “bare-bones” operation with only three full-time employees. That is far fewer than most economic development agencies, he said.

Dobell, the EDA executive director, said the Orleans EDA operates on a “shoestring budget” and staff members put in numerous hours to help facilitate projects.

“There’s not a lot of fluff in there,” he said about the EDA budget.

ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency has been approved for a $300,000 state grant to help small businesses.

The EDA will be able to give out the grants, ranging from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $35,000. The grants can be used to buy equipment or be used as working capital.

The EDA is making the funds available only to graduates of the Microenterprise Assistance Program, a 10-week business training program run by the EDA.

Six business owners from the spring MAP class have already applied for the funding. If there is money remaining, the EDA will take applications from the current MAP class, which 10 participants. The fall class that runs from Sept. 6 to Nov. 15.

The EDA previously received a $200,000 state grant from the office of Community Renewal to assist small businesses. In 2021, the EDA distributed that money to nine business owners with the grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.

Diane Blanchard, the MAP coordinator, said the grants made a big difference for the business owners to grow and be in a better position for success.

The state OCR has a stipulation each business that receives funding needs to create a job with a person who was low to moderate income. That job could include the business owner.

The EDA has a local development corporation with a board that will review the proposals to determine the grants and at what funding levels for the businesses.

Michael Dobell, EDA executive director, said the grants have already made a difference for several local small businesses.

“It’s seed money that allows them to take it to the next level,” he said.

$598K grant will pay for hookups for low- to moderate-income households in towns of Albion, Gaines, Shelby and the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina

ALBION – Orleans County officials say the new high-speed internet system being installed by RTO Wireless should be in place and activated in the first quarter of 2023.

RTO has been working to put its equipment on 13 towers with a 14^th and final tower to be built in Carlton next year.

County officials have been pushing for about a decade to have high-speed internet service available throughout the county. The new system will cover the entire county, including current unserved addresses that total 74 in Albion, 302 in Barre, 35 in Carlton, 57 in Clarendon, 39 in Gaines, 16 in Kendall, 41 in Murray, 287 in Ridgeway, 206 in Shelby, and 294 in Yates for 1,351 total.

County officials say they are also close to finalizing an agreement with the Orleans County United Way to manage a $598,000 grant to cover the costs for low- to moderate-income homes to install the equipment in their homes to access the high-speed internet. That grant covers the towns of Albion, Gaines and Shelby, and the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina.

That funding was part of a $1,999,833 grant initially awarded to the county on Nov. 10, 2021. That money was approved from the state Housing Trust Fund Corporation and the Office of Community Renewal and included money from the NYS Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES).

The household hook-up grants are up to $650 per household for the equipment to be connected to the new system.

The rest of the grant for $1,999,833 goes towards the cost of the equipment being installed on the towers, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.

Welch said the United Way will help recruit the eligible households in the low- to moderate-income towns and villages to install the equipment and have access to the internet.

“The United Way will be working with RTO on the rollout of the service to our residents in the towns of Albion, Gaines, Shelby and the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina,” Welch said. “We expect the real push should begin the first quarter of 2023 when the signal is on the air from the towers.”

Even those who aren’t eligible for the grant assistance will see benefits with the RTO Wireless system being available locally, Welch said.

“This project should help people county wide, even in the other seven towns and Lyndonville,” he said. “Everyone will now have real choice in broadband service.”

Press Release, Orleans County Youth Bureau

KNOWLESVILLE – October 13th is the 8th annual Family Game Night in Orleans County. This event is sponsored by the Orleans County Youth Bureau and Legislative Office.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Trolley Building at Cornell Cooperative Extension. This event will feature dinner, games to play, displays to visit and a new board game for every family. Cost, including dinner, is $5 for a family of four or $3 for individuals.

The booths will provide information on a wide array of services for youth and families that are available in Orleans County.

We will also have a couple drawings throughout the night. Additional contributors to the evening are Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Medina Railroad Museum, Village House Restaurant, Mark’s Pizzeria, LynOaken Farms, Evan’s ACE Hardware & Building Supplies, Albion ACE Hardware, TOPS, and Wal-Mart.

To register or for more information you can contact the Legislative Office at 589-7053.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak, right, presents a proclamation last week about “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” to Teresa Zwifka, director of social services (left), and Holli Nenni, department of Social Services commissioner.

The proclamation states that while 90 percent of domestic violence cases go unreported, there were 299 cases reported to the Orleans County Domestic Violence Unit in 2021, and 278 reported cases of domestic violence so far this year from January through September.

“Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior that may include physical, emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual abuse, perpetrated by an intimate partner over another, to establish and maintain power and control,” legislators said in the proclamation.

“Domestic violence is a serious crime that affect people regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, age, gender, education, employment status, physical ableness, marital status, or childhood history.”

Domestic violence is a major cause to women, resulting in more injuries to women then auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined, the proclamation states.

County Legislator Skip Draper, right, presents a proclamation about “Sheriff’s Week” to three new deputies in the Sheriff’s Office. Pictured from left include David Lauer, Savannah Tackley and Cory Martindale. Sheriff’s Week was Sept. 18-24.

“The Office of Sheriff has been an integral part of the criminal justice system in New York State and in Orleans County throughout our history, having been established in the State’s first constitution in 1777 and having been continued in every succeeding constitution, and having been one of the original constitutional offices of our County,” legislators stated.

“The Office of Sheriff has evolved into a modern, professional, full-service law enforcement agency, manned by fully trained police officers, using state-of-the-art technology, and applies the latest and most advanced theories and practices in the criminal justice field,” the proclamation states.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jack Welch, chief administrative officer for Orleans, and Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman, hold an award presented to Orleans County last month by New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal.

The county received NYMIR’s “risk management award.” It is given annually to a county for sound risk management, safety and training efforts.

Orleans hasn’t had any property damage claims in the past five years and the county has the highest employee participation in the state for six online safety trainings, Welch said. Orleans has about 400 county employees.

The county also has a safety committee and each month does a walk-through inspection of a county building, identifying maintenance needs and any potential safety hazards.

“Our facilities are well-maintained,” Welch said. “Our buildings are not new.”

He praised the county workforce for their part in helping Orleans County earn the award over 32 other counties represented by NYMIR.

‘The creation of an ambulance district in order to implement a tax for service has been discussed, and is on the September meeting agenda, but unfortunately includes a long legal process to establish.’

Press Release, Orleans County EMS Task Force

ALBION – On October 26, 2021 the local elected officials in Orleans County were briefed on the crisis EMS agencies are facing not only in our county, but across all of New York State and throughout the Nation as a whole.

Following this, local officials requested that the county create and facilitate an EMS Task Force to identify issues ambulance services and fire departments in the county were facing and determine a course of action.

The EMS Task Force members included representatives from each town, village and fire department, as well as representatives from COVA, Kendall Ambulance, Monroe Ambulance and Medina Ambulance. Orleans County Legislators, Public Health Officials and the Orleans County Sheriff’s office were also included.

Prior to the EMS Task Force being established, the Orleans County Legislators worked with the Emergency Management Office to identify three major focus areas for the EMS Task Force to explore: augmenting the existing services with county municipal ambulances, contracting with the existing providers for service, and an EMS model similar to what is being used in the West side of the County.

The first meeting of the Orleans County EMS Task Force was held on Feb. 16, 2022. Although introductory, the meeting laid important ground work for future meetings. Each ambulance service provided an overview of their operation and an evaluation of their strengths, weaknesses, challenges they face and how they overcome them.

A history of EMS within Orleans County was provided so that all members of the Task Force had an understanding of the challenges currently faced.  One challenge highlighted, addressed the loss of six volunteer fire department operated ambulances or transport capable rescues in the past 15 years, with a seventh loss looming, as a result of less volunteer medics and rising operational costs.

Additionally, each ambulance agency within the county is different; what is legally allowed to do for one agency may not be allowed for another. Kendall Ambulance is all-volunteer non-profit, COVA is non-profit and combination of career and volunteer, Medina Fire Department Ambulance is a municipal agency, and Monroe Ambulance is a career for-profit agency.

Response metrics for the previous 4 years were distributed, showing increased requests for ambulances, increased response times, increased number of calls the responsible agency was unable to handle, and increased requests for mutual aid response.

‘Medicaid and Medicare are also an issue of great concern when it comes to funding.  Medicaid and Medicare reimburse at rates of 20-30% of what is actually billed by the transporting ambulance agency.’

For some agencies the increases were minimal and no cause for alarm, while for others the numbers were concerning. Each metric examined has an impact on each of the others; more requests for services means less ambulances available which leads to ambulances responding from greater distances, or relying on other ambulance services for mutual aid which causes shortages in other service areas.

As meetings progressed the three focus areas remained consistent, but the Task Force also began to evaluate additional factors impacting these focus areas.

Staffing shortages continue to be a challenge for volunteer and career agencies. One contributing factor is that EMS is not considered an essential service, and therefore not a part of the same retirement and benefit systems that law enforcement and firefighters are a part of.

As a result, EMS sees a large turnover of personnel as they ultimately seek jobs outside of EMS that offer those benefits. For both career and volunteer medics, there is a great deal of training required to become certified and additional education is required to keep certifications current. The financial investment of this training can be significant.

Many of the local volunteers happily donate their time to participate in available training and respond to a calls. However, as dedicated as volunteers are, outside obligations sometimes mean the local fire department is unable to have an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on every call within their response area. As a result the Task Force is looking at ways to better compensate career medics and how to recruit and retain both volunteers and career personnel.

Available funding is one of the ongoing issues for ambulance agencies. The EMS Task Force sought proposals to evaluate costs associated with providing EMS service, at varying levels, in the East and Center portions of the county and exploring the means to fund this service. The creation of an ambulance district in order to implement a tax for service has been discussed, and is on the September meeting agenda, but unfortunately includes a long legal process to establish.

Recruitment, training, continuing education and retention of both career and volunteer providers will remain focus areas for the EMS Task Force going forward.

Insurance reimbursement plays a significant role in an EMS agency’s bottom line. Although New York State Law requires insurance checks to be paid to the patient rather than the transporting EMS agency, this often times results in delayed payment or non-payment to the EMS agency. And although legislation has failed to pass committee on either the Senate or Assembly side for over a decade, our County Legislators and EMS Coordinator have continued to work with Senator Ortt, Assemblyman Hawley, Assemblyman Norris and the Senate Minority Office to get this legislation changed.

Medicaid and Medicare are also an issue of great concern when it comes to funding.  Medicaid and Medicare reimburse at rates of 20-30% of what is actually billed by the transporting ambulance agency.  Locally the impacts of this low reimbursement have impacted COVA significantly. The Villages of Orleans, Albion Correctional Facility and Orleans Correctional Facility all fall in COVA’s response area and most transports from these facilities are Medicaid or Medicare covered, these responses ultimately result in a loss.

As it stands now, estimated costs to provide services for EMS service in the Center and Eastern portions of the county are being obtained by the towns. If agreements are met between the towns and service providers in regard to ambulance coverage, this solves only one challenge we currently face.

Recruitment, training, continuing education and retention of both career and volunteer providers will remain focus areas for the EMS Task Force going forward.

In the unfortunate situation that an agency is no longer able to provide service, there are mutual aid plans in place at the state and county level to ensure that ambulance coverage will still be provided.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Don Colquhoun, vice president and treasurer of OCALS (Orleans County Accredited Learning Services) presents a plant to outgoing president Nicole Goodrich at their annual meeting Tuesday night.

MILLVILLE – OCALS could certainly be called “The little agency that could.”

Started on a shoestring in 2006 by Don and Rose Ruck with donations from their family, OCALS has survived lack of funding, loss of volunteers and Covid, to emerge more determined than ever to pursue their goal.

The organization originally known as Orleans County Adult Learning Services has recently changed its name to Orleans County Accredited Services to reflect the fact it now serves students as well as adults, and it is nationally accredited.

OCALS held its annual meeting Tuesday night at Millville United Methodist Church. Outgoing president Nicole Goodrich was presented with a plant by vice president and treasurer Don Colquhoun for her years of service.

New board members announced were Pam Schuner, president; Don Colquhoun, vice president; Carolyn Wagner, secretary; and Don Colquhoun as treasurer.

Kathleen Punch of Medina was introduced as the new community engagement coordinator, who will work 40 hours a month planning outreach events to inform the public of the services OCALS provides.

Punch is an educator who has taught kindergarten through 12th grade during her 20 years of teaching. She taught Spanish in Florida, before moving back to Medina in 1995. She is fluent in Spanish and plans to put that to use to bring in more clients from the Spanish population.

“We are very fortunate to have her,” said Carolyn Wagner, who worked with Colquhoun in the search to fill the position.

Goodrich introduced new board member Julie Keller, who has taught for 26 years in Albion. She is real passionate about literacy and is interested in becoming a tutor, as well, Goodrich said.

Barb Dunham, who heads the Family Literacy Program, reported a new program has been started at Intergrow in Gaines, with six students from there, including one from Italy and one from Puerto Rico.

Carolyn Wagner, left, stands with OCALS new community engagement coordinator Kathleen Punch of Medina, who was introduced at OCALS annual meeting.

They still have not gone back into Lyndonville schools or Iroquois Job Corps, Dunham said. She said restrictions from Covid have not been fully lifted.

Colquhoun said as soon as things are back to normal, OCALS will be providing tutoring in all five Orleans County schools.

Dean Bellack, executive director of United Way of Orleans County, was introduced. He explained his agency’s mission and shared their efforts in acquiring grants for several organizations in the county, totaling more than $700,000.

A grant last year was for more than $340,000 for Orleans County’s Digital Divide Initiative, in an effort to provide high speed internet to all areas of the county, train people who are not familiar with the Internet and provide computers to families who can’t afford them. OCALS has committed to provide three mentors for the program.

Colquhoun said in spite of the stumbling blocks along the way, OCALS has managed to increase its number of tutors, students and units of service.

Colquhoun said beside Covid, the biggest hit to OCALS was the reduction in United Way funding from $10,000 to $4,000. He vowed the agency this year was determined to accomplish four things to help raise money:

• Hold a book sale, which they did during the Lions’ annual Community Yard Sale in June, raising $230.
• Have a basket raffle, which they did in July at Case-Nic Cookies, earning $780.
• Have a bake sale in conjunction with Mary Lee Knights pumpkin sale next month.
• Make a direct appeal to supporters.

The evening concluded with recognizing Barb LaBelle as “Tutor of the Year.”

“She has the most hours working with students,” Goodrich said.

Anyone wishing to volunteer as a tutor or request services can contact OCALS by calling (585) 590-1292 or logging on to their website.