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.”

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 23^rd 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 25^th 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 22^nd Congressional District that includes Utica, has announced plans to run for the 24^th 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 25^th 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 24^th.

Tenney has been quick to launch a campaign for the 24^th 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.

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.

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.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Employees with Environmental Enterprises in Cincinnati collect household hazardous waste from Orleans County residents in this photo from Aug. 14, 2021. Many of the fluids were emptied into large drums to be hauled away.

ALBION – Orleans County will again be running a household hazardous waste collection event in August that will be free to residents.

The county has approved a contract with Environmental Enterprises in Cincinnati to be in Albion on Aug. 13 for the event, which will be at the Orleans County DPW on West Academy Street.

Residents will need to register for a time slot to bring household hazardous waste. The county expects it will start taking registrations in mid-June. The county will advertise and promote the registrations when it is ready in about a month to start assigning slots.

Last year there was a big demand for the disposal with 320 residents quickly filling up the time slots. There were about 100 other residents who wanted to dispose of items.

The county will try to accommodate more people this year, said Jim Bensley, the county’s director of the Department of Planning and Development.

The agreement with Environmental Enterprises includes aerosol cans, anti-freeze, chemicals (labpacks), corrosive acids, corrosive bases, fluorescent tubes, household cleaners miscellaneous chemicals, latex paint (Paint Care program), oil base paints (liquids), oil base paints & varnishes (sludges), oil filters, organic liquids, oxidizers, pesticides/insecticides, pesticides/insecticide (dioxin precursors), poisons, resins & adhesives (with cans), and waste oil.

The event typically costs about $18,000 to collect and haul away the waste, with state paying half of the cost.

The county on Aug. 13 also will accept up to 10 tires from residents in a separate contract with Modern Disposal Services. The county last year collected 1,200 tires during the event.

‘Due to the HALT Act, we have lost the ability to isolate predatory inmates from the rest of the incarcerated population and we have lost the ability to enforce safety and security rules in these facilities.’

File photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Jail is located on Platt Street in Albion and has a capacity for 82 inmates.

Editor’s Note: Council 82 is the union that represents the Orleans County Sheriff’s Employees Association, which includes corrections officers, dispatchers, civil clerks and jail cooks.

Press Release, NYS Law Enforcement Officers Union, Council 82

ALBANY – The Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act, also known as HALT Act, has been in effect since March 31, 2022. It has been an absolute disaster for every correction facility across this state, and it is only getting worse.

Correction officers who work in state prisons and in county correctional facilities are being physically assaulted at vastly increased rates. The HALT Act has made it impossible for those of us who are sworn to protect the safety and security of every incarcerated individual to do so.

In our profession, until recently, we had the ability to protect incarcerated individuals from other incarcerated individuals who assault, bully, and extort them.

Due to the HALT Act, we have lost the ability to isolate predatory inmates from the rest of the incarcerated population and we have lost the ability to enforce safety and security rules in these facilities. The advocates who lobbied for the horrible HALT legislation may have had the best intentions, but in fact the HALT Act has created a far more dangerous situation for incarcerated individuals and the officers who must protect them.

The HALT Act as currently written, provides no mechanism to lock-in an incarcerated individual who uses their HALT-required hours out of their cell to threaten, harass, assault and extort other incarcerated individuals and staff.

“We implore Governor Hochul and the State Legislature to take immediate steps to correct this dangerous, unsustainable, and worsening situation – either through outright repeal of the HALT Act or through its significant amendment. The individuals who work and the individuals who are housed in these facilities deserve better,” said Ronald Walsh, President of Council 82.

Council 82 represents over 3,000 correction officers, police officers, deputy sheriffs, emergency dispatchers, and other public safety personnel across New York State.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dawn Keppler, Shelby town justice, speaks to county legislators recently, saying a district court would be costly to local taxpayers with less accountability.

ALBION – Town justices in Orleans County say they run courts at a much lower cost with more accountability to the public than a district court.

However, a district court could provide more equitable justice over multiple municipalities. That is what District Attorney Joe Cardone and Public Defender Joanne Best see as a leading factor in taking a serious look at a district court in Orleans County. That court would serve at least two towns. It could  be set up on the western end of the county, central and eastern. Or maybe the east side and west side of county.

“We’re just trying to find the best way,” Cardone said during a meeting on April 27 with county legislators and many of the local town justices. “We want to ensure justice is fair for everyone in the county. It would be remiss to not look at it. That’s why we’re entering this debate and discussion.”

Murray Town Justice Ted Spada sees much bigger court costs with salaries for the judges, clerks and security as well as upgraded court facilities.

Town justices however see a much higher expense for operating the court if it’s a district court instead of town court.

Ted Spada, a Murray town justice, presented financial numbers from the current town courts and projections for a district court. A district court judge’s salary would eb about $200,000, plus $90,000 in benefits. Court clerks are about $80,000 a year, plus $36,000 in benefits. The clerks in the town courts work about 200 hours a week so Spada said district courts throughout the county would need at least six court clerks.

Stenographers are $200 a day, with security at $270 a day, court interpreters at $1,000 a month, and rent for court facilities at an estimated $30,000 annually. The cost of computers, scanners, telephones, label makers, digital recorders, credit card machines and other equipment have not been included in the cost projections from Spada and the Orleans County Magistrate’s Association.

Spada said a district court would cost $973,726 for one serving the four central towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton. That’s four times the current expense of $245,235 for running the courts in the four towns, Spada said. This does not include the costs of infrastructure to bring the buildings up to regulations for a district court.

Two district courts at the west end (Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates) and the central towns (Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton) would cost $1,947,452 versus the $451,435 in the actual town budgets for 2022, Spada told county legislators.

If there were three districts courts – west, central and east – The cost would be $2,921,177 compared to $562,127 to operate 10 town courts, and that doesn’t include the building upgrades that would be needed, Spada said.

If there were three district courts Spada said it would increase the county tax rate by $1.58 per $1,000 of assessed property or about 15 percent. The current tax rate is $10.09. The rate has gone up 60 cents in the past 10 years.

“Putting a district court in here would stifle the citizens of our county, plus all the inflation we are dealing with,” Spada said.

Cardone and Best said there would be state funding to bear much of the costs with district courts. Spada said that funding could always be pulled, leaving local taxpayers on the hook.

Best thinks one district court could serve the county. She said the discussion about district courts shouldn’t be considered adversarial with the town justices.

She and Cardone also said they don’t think the cost numbers from the Magistrates Association are accurate and should be scrutinized.

Best urged the group – legislators, justices and others involved in the court system – to keep talking and keep an open mind.

“I think it makes sense for us as a group, as leaders of the criminal justice system, to see what makes the most sense,” Best said.

Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman, welcomed the discussion on April 27. She said the local governments have made progress in sharing services and costs with the town courts. The number of local judges has decreased from 25 when Cardone started as district attorney 30 years ago to 12 now.

Shelby and Ridgeway share a courts facility at the Shelby Town Hall (with Ridgeway paying $800 a month in rent). Medina and Albion both abolished their court systems about 15 years ago with that caseload shifted to the town courts.

“I appreciate you all coming,” Johnson said during the April 27 meeting. “We need to have more discussions.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The County Legislature on Wednesday issued several proclamations, including the one in the top photo that declared May as National Foster Care Month in Orleans County.

Cynthia Stumer, left, the Deputy Commissioner of Department of Social Services and Holli Nenni, the DSS commissioner, accept the proclamation from Legislator John Fitzak.

“We have a responsibility to remain persistent in the charge to provide the best care possible for children when they cannot remain in their homes,” the proclamation states. “During National Foster Care Month, the Orleans County Legislature recognizes the efforts of foster families, social workers, faith-based and community organizations, and others that are improving the lives of our young people in foster care across our county.”

Nenni encouraged people in Orleans Cunty to consider being foster parents.

“During National Foster Care Month we recognize the extraordinary patience and love of our foster parents and concerned professionals whose rewards are often reaped only years after their primary labor is done which is when the child is grown and fully appreciates what has been done for him or her, or when society pauses from its hectic rush forward to recognize the good they have accomplished,” the proclamation states.

County Legislator Skip Draper, second from right, reads a proclamation that declared the week of April 10-16 as “National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.”

Draper is joined by from left Sheriff Chris Bourke, dispatchers Pete Hendrickson and Jerry Bentley, and Allen Turner, director of the dispatch center.

The County Dispatch Center in 2021 answered 64,134 calls and 17,831 calls during the first four months of 2022.

“Telecommunicators help save millions of lives every day,” the proclamation stated. “Emergencies that require police, fire, emergency medical services or other critical services occur twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; and the Orleans County Dispatch Center is the direct connection to those that dial 911.”

Sheriff Bourke said dispatchers are true first responders. Turner thanked the Legislature for setting aside funding to maintain the technology and equipment for the dispatchers.

The Legislature also proclaimed May as “Older Americans Month.” Legislator John Fitzak presents the proclamation to Melissa Blanar, director of the Office for the Aging in the county.

“Orleans County includes a growing number of older Americans who contribute their strength, wisdom, and experience to our community,” the proclamation states. “Communities benefit when people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are welcomed, included and supported.”

Blanar also thanked the Legislature for providing resources for her department.

“Orleans County recognizes our need to create a community that provides the services and supports older Americans need to thrive and live independently for as long as possible,” the Legislature stated.  “We urge every resident to recognize the contributions of our older citizens, help to create an inclusive society, and join efforts to support older Americans’ choices about how they age in their communities.”

Matt Tracey, vice president of the ABATE chapter in Orleans County, accepted the proclamation from Legislator Skip Draper that declared May as “Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month” in Orleans County.

ABATE this Sunday will have a motorcycle safety rally at 2 p.m. at the Orleans County Courthouse in Albion and then will go on a 50-mile police-escorted motorcycle ride within the county. The ride will end at V.F.W. Post 1463 on East Center Street in Medina.

$79,102 tops previous high of $58,438 in 2020

Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator Ed Morgan presents a proclamation to Dawn Borchet, the county’s tourism director. The proclamation declared May 1-7 as “National Travel and Tourism Week” in Orleans County. Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer, is in back.

ALBION – Orleans County set a new record in 2021 for its bed tax, the 4-percent tax charged on lodging for rooms in hotels, motels, bed and breakfast establishments, lodges and rentals in the county through Airbnb.

The county took in $79,102 in the bed tax in 2021. That is up $20,664 or 35 percent from the previous high of $58,438 in 2020.

The bed tax stayed stable in 2020 despite many cancellations in the early days of Covid. But the lodging business picked up in the county the second half of 2020 and the bed tax receipts topped the $58,424 in 2019.

The county added more Airbnb locations in 2021, and a 10-room boutique hotel opened at the Bent’s Opera House in Medina.

The numbers should be even better in 2022 with the opening of the 58-room Comfort Inn & Suites in Medina on March 18.

The county using the funds to boost tourism in the county, bringing more visitors to help boost local businesses and the economy.

Dawn Borchet, the tourism director for the county, said the added funds will allow the tourism department to take out bigger advertisements and other promotions for longer periods. The funds are also matched through the I Love NY tourism promotion efforts.

The motel tax has been on the rise in Orleans County in recent years. Prior to the $58,438 in 2020 and $58,424 in 2019, the motel tax generated $51,002 in 2018. In 2017, the bed tax generated $45,374.

The County Legislature on Wednesday also issued a proclamation in support of “National Travel and Tourism Week” in Orleans County from May 1-7.

Legislators noted that sportsfishing is the county’s tourism attraction, with a total economic impact of $28 million with $5.1 million in local and state tax revenue, according to the NY State DEC Anglers Survey for 2017.

Provided photos: Staff of Supportive Care of Orleans posed for a picture after announcing recipients of their three annual awards. Office for the Aging was named winner of the Business and Civic Award. From left are Tammy Graham, caregiver coordinator for the OFA; Meghan Bevins, assistant director of the OFA; and Chris Fancher, social worker and volunteer coordinator for Supportive Care.

ALBION – Supportive Care of Orleans is celebrating National Volunteer Week through April 30 by recognizing individuals who have given their time and talents to support the organization.

Three awards are traditionally given out each year – the Business and Civic Award, the Mary Janet Sahukar Award (named for the founder of Hospice) and the Volunteer of the Year Award.

This week, the Business and Civic Award was presented to Orleans County Office for the Aging for their outstanding dedication and support to Supportive Care of Orleans.

“The Office for the Aging staff are an invaluable resource to Supportive Care,” said Chris Fancher, social worker and volunteer coordinator. “The staff provides vital services, which allow seniors to remain in their homes, living life as fully and independently as possible. They are dedicated partners in caring for seniors throughout our community.”

Beverly Saskowski, left, stands with Julie Kumiega, director of Supportive Care of Orleans, after receiving the Mary Janet Sahukar Award for her outstanding dedication and commitment to Supportive Care.

Members of the Supportive Care social work team reach out to Office for the Aging staff on a weekly basis to coordinate care for their patients, Fancher said. OFA staff always respond in a prompt, friendly and professional manner, and they appreciate all their work, time and expertise, she said.

“Our goal is to embrace those facing advanced illness with optimal levels of comfort, compassion and expertise,” said Julie Kumiega, Supportive Care CEO. “Working with the Office for the Aging makes that easy.”

The Mary Janet Sahukar Award, named for the founder of Hospice, was presented to Beverly Saskowski for her outstanding dedication and commitment to Supportive Care of Orleans.

As a retired IBM executive, Saskowski currently serves on several Supportive Care committees, offering her expertise, and recently worked closely with Supportive Care staff on the technical side of things. Additionally, she serves meals in the Martin-Linsin Residence, dedicates her time to patients and their families as a family support volunteer and participates in every event held there.

“Saskowski’s contribution to Supportive Care has been immeasurable,” Fancher said. “From serving on our board of directors to stepping up and acting as interim CEO, Saskowski consistently goes above and beyond, dedicating her time and energy to ensuring our neighbors in hospice are well taken of.”

“Supportive Care of Orleans wouldn’t be where it is today without Bev’s guidance,” Kumiega said. “She has overseen and been involved in almost every aspect of the organization and is an invaluable resource to us. We are lucky to have her support.”

Chris Fancher, right, volunteer coordinator for Supportive Care of Orleans, is shown with Carol Culhane, local artist who was named Volunteer of the Year during National Volunteer Week.

Carol Culhane received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her hard work and dedication to Supportive Care of Orleans.

“Carol has been a friend of Supportive Care of Orleans,” Fancher said as she presented Culhane with her award. “Not just this year, but for many years.”

A decade ago, back in 2012, as the workers were building the Martin-Linsin Residence, Culhane was in the middle of the construction site creating and hand painting the mural depicting the seasons of life – winter, spring, summer and fall, in what is now the family meeting room. The project involved well over 200 hours of work, and she worked tirelessly as the commotion of construction surrounded her, Fancher said.

“Her kindness is a staple here at Supportive Care,” Kumiega said. “She has made a lasting impression on the entire organization. We are incredibly grateful to her continued involvement ensuring that our residence feels like a home.”

For the last 24 years, Culhane has supported Supportive Care of Orleans by donating ornaments she hand painted and personalized for members of the community as part of the annual Light-a-Life event.

“This labor of love involves hundreds of hours and she absolutely outdoes herself every year,” Fancher added.

Recently, Culhane has agreed to paint another mural in the Martin-Linsin Residence. This one will adorn the walls of the spa room, making the space inviting, inspiring and fun for patients.

“I am so honored to work with someone who’s been supporting hospice since the beginning,” Kumiega said. “Carol is an inspiring individual and we are thrilled to be partnering with her on another project.”

Supportive Care of Orleans extends their thanks to all their volunteers and is currently welcoming new volunteers in all areas of service.

During the Covid pandemic, Anderson and the Lake Plains Players performers posted many “Living Room Concerts” on Facebook. Anderson performs “Sweet Zoo” by Jeffrey D. Harris from Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra” album. His video was posted on April 17, 2020.

BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Arts Council will recognize the late Lance Anderson with a lifetime achievement award during the organization’s annual awards celebration on  May 28.

GO Art! also will recognize the Orleans County YMCA as the organization of the year, the Eli Fishing Brewing Co. of Batavia as supporter of the year, and Carol Hertel as the volunteer of the year.

They will all receive “Genean” awards which combines GENesee and OrlEANs counties. The celebration on May 28 will also highlight GO Art!’s 60^th anniversary.

Anderson passed away on April 1, 2021. He had suffered a stroke in mid-December 2020. He was very active in the Lake Plains Players as a star performer, director and president of the organization.

Anderson caught the theater bug while a student at Albion in the early 1980s. He went on to a career as a vocal teacher, and remained deeply involved in the local community theater group, the Lake Plains Players.

Anderson was the LPP’s president. He performed on stage, directed many shows, and would do many of the thankless tasks behind the scenes. Anderson led a group that was friendly and accepting to everyone, but also pushed to put on high-quality productions.

He was especially proud of the group for its production of Les Misérables in the fall 2013. Anderson played his dream role of Jean Valjean in a show which included a cast of 78.

Anderson expanded the LPP’s productions in the summer to include recitals and a children’s theater camp.

The Players used to performed their big fall musical in either Medina or Lyndonville’s auditorium. In recent years it has performed just over the Orleans County line in Niagara, using Roy-Hart’s auditorium in Middleport.

Anderson had his heart in Orleans County, and he pushed for other venues for LPP shows, including summer recitals at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina.

The YMCA on Oct. 23 hosted the Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration or the Day of the Dead. The event included Mexican dance, music and dramatic performances by Alma de México, a group from Rochester led by Karla Alcalá.

The Orleans County YMCA is GO Art!’s organization of the year. The Y has embraced artwork on its sidewalks and steps, and also inside in its child watch room. The Y also makes its facility available to host the annual Day of the Dead celebration.

It partners with GO Art! and Mariachi de Oro Restaurant in an event that remembers ancestors, and includes free activities with Mexican crafts, face painting, dance and drama performance, sand painting and ofrenda displays, and special food tastings.