By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2022 at 8:17 am
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Orleans County is down 3 cents in the past week, from $4.38 to $4.35, according to AAA. That price is the highest in upstate New York, and only topped by the $4.377 in Westchester, $4.381 in Rockland and $4.444 in Manhattan.
In New York State, the average price is down 4 cents to $4.18 and nationally the price is down 3 cents to $4.08.
The average price per gallon for regular unleaded gas in Western New York includes Orleans at $4.35, Niagara at $4.231, Monroe at $4.269, Genesee at $4.226, Wyoming at $4.245, Livingston at $4.305, Chautauqua at $4.151, Cattaraugus at $4.135, Allegany at $4.261, and Erie at $4.229.
AAA said the oil supply is increasing with domestic crude stocks up by 2.5 million barrels, followed by announcements that 180 million barrels would be released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the next six months and the International Energy Agency would release 120 million barrels from its emergency reserves.
Consumers also should see more relief at the pumps with President Biden saying his administration will temporarily allow E15 gasoline, which uses a 15% ethanol blend during the warm-weather months. The higher-ethanol fuel typically sells for 5 to 10 cents less per gallon than regular gas, AAA said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2022 at 9:11 am
File photo: Lily Newman and Allison Merle, students in the Holley Interact Club, carry bags with trash along the Erie Canal towpath on April 24, 2021 during the Canal Clean Sweep event. There were 68 volunteers for the project and they covered 9 miles of the canal towpath in the school district, and also picked up garbage and debris along all of the village streets.
There are several canal cleanup events in scheduled in Orleans County. Some are scheduled as part of the Canal Clean Sweep on the Earth Day weekend of April 22-24 and others are in early May.
About 120 of the cleanup events are planned along the canal system for the 17th annual Canal Clean Sweep. Click here for more information.
The local events include:
• Medina Rotary Club will be cleaning up trash and debris on the north side of the canal from Fruit Avenue bridge to Marshall Road bridge from 9 to 11 a.m. on April 23.
• Medina Lions Club will be doing its Environmental Cleanup Day from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on May 7. Volunteers will meet at the Canal Lift bridge on North Gravel Road and then be assigned areas along the canal and village public areas to clean up trash and spread mulch.
• Medina IMPACT Erie Canal Clean Sweep will be from noon to 2 p.m. on April 22. Medina IMPACT Club students will do the service project in recognition of Earth Day. Students will begin at the high school and then walk to the gazebo located in the Erie Canal Basin.
• Tinsel in Albion is coordinating a clean sweep from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 23. Meet at Tinsel at 160 N. Main St. and pick parts of the village to pick up litter.
• The Doherty family and friends will focus on litter near the Brown Street bridge in Albion from 9 to 11 a.m. on April 23.
• The Holley Rotary Club and Holley Interact Club from 8 a.m. to noon on April 30 will gather with other community members to walk the canal the length that spans the school district. They will cover from the public boat launch on County Line Rd at Route 31 to Transit Rd. Teams will work from bridge to bridge picking up trash. If there are enough volunteers, they will try to cover the entire village for clean up as well. Volunteers are meeting at the Holley High School parking lot and disperse from there.
Another $35K also allocated in ‘restart’ grants to help cultural groups
BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council announced $107,800 in grants for artists, community organizations and municipalities to support concerts and other cultural activities in 2022.
The funding is the most ever in the 35 years that GO ART! has partnered with the New York State Council on the Arts. GO Art! distributes the state money through the Statewide Community Regrant Program. GO ART! has now regranted over $1.5 million in the 35 years through regrant programs, which supports local arts and artists in our community.
The Statewide Community Regrant Programs consists of three different grants: Reach, Ripple and Spark.
Reach – The Reach grants provide seed funding to individual artists, collectives and arts organizations for projects and activities that enable Genesee and Orleans communities to experience and engage with the performing, literary, media, and visual arts. Each year the program supports over arts projects, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more.
Reach grantees for 2022 include:
Orleans County YMCA – YMCA Visual Community Culture, $4,500
Village of Albion – Concerts on the Canal, $2,410
Lyndonville Lions Club – I Hear the Music, $5,000
Cobblestone Museum – The Cobblestone Museum Arts Series, $5,000
Village of Holley – Concerts in Canal Park, $2,200
Yates Community Library – More than just books, $4,950
Village of Medina – Painting of Murals, $3,460
Eric Weatherbee – the Humble Bard Presents, $2,500
Gilliam Grant Community Center – Collage of Art, $4,450
Bergen Historical Society – Silent Film Series, $3,000
The Elba Betterment Committee – EBC Presents Art around Town, $2,350
Holland Purchase Historical Society – Holland Land Office Museum Guest Speaker and Concert Series, $3,250
Genesee County Chamber of Commerce – Genesee County Mural Trail, $4,500
Woodward Memorial Library – Art on the Go, $1,286
Haxton Memorial Library – Talented Thursdays, $5,000
Ripple – The GO ART! Individual Artist Commission (Ripple Grant) supports local, artist-initiated activity, and highlights the role of artists as important members of the community. The Ripple funding is for artistic projects with outstanding artistic merit that work within a community setting.
The Ripple grantees include:
Eric Weatherbee – The Humble Bard Magazine, $2,500
Mandy Humphrey – Beacon Street Mural, $2,000
Bart Dentino – Concert in the Classroom: Can you see what you hear? – $2,500
Spark – The Arts Education Program (Spark grant) supports arts education projects for youth and/or senior learners. Emphasis is placed on the depth and quality of the creative process through which participants learn through or about the arts. Projects must focus on the exploration of art and the artistic process.
Bart Dentino – The Spaces Between the Leaves, $2,500
In addition to the annual Statewide Community Regrant Program, GO Art! was given a one-time additional funding opportunity through the Restart NY Regrant Program to provide another $35,000 in grants.
The Restart NY Regrant Program was developed as part an initiative to spur the revitalization of New York’s creative economy. The program was administered through a network of local and regional organizations through a transparent peer panel funding process and was available to artists and organizations in each of the state’s 62 counties.
Through the Restart NY Regrant Program, GO ART!, NYSCA and the New York State Legislature hoped to provide immediate support to promote arts experiences and fuel the reopening and recovery of performance organizations and groups.
Grants opportunities were prioritized for organizations and artists planning live performing arts projects, those planning projects and events that are open to and engage public participation and audiences in Genesee and Orleans counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2022 at 6:43 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Home, Garden & Outdoor Show is back this weekend after the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
The top photo shows Josh Smith, back right, and his brother Joe Smith speaking with people about Josh’s company, Relentless Construction in Clarendon.
The business works on commercial and residential projects. Besides construction, Relentless does spray foam installation and site work.
Most of its work has been outside the county, but Josh said he wants to do more projects in Orleans.
“I know we can make a difference here,” Josh said.
Darlene Hartway, Chamber executive director, greets people at the show today at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
There are 22 vendors at the show, about half of how many normally attend the event. Hartway said some of the prospective vendors are short on help and couldn’t be available for the show.
The event continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza will be selling pizzas on Sunday, and the Easter Bunny will be available with a photo booth. There will also be a scavenger-hunt style Easter Egg Hunt.
Admission is $3 with free parking. A coupon for free admission is available at Chamber website – www.orleanschamber.com, as well as the Chamber social media accounts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 April 2022 at 8:27 am
NY takes $400K of local sales tax revenue from Orleans
Counties across the state want the new state budget, which is now nearly a week late, to stop grabbing local sales tax revenues for state responsibilities.
The state annually has diverted more than $300 million in sales tax that should stay with counties and New York City, the New York State Association of Counties reported.
That includes $404,477 taken from Orleans County with $290,276 in AIM-related payments and $114,201 for fiscally distressed hospitals. The AIM (Aid and Incentives to Municipalities) is a state responsibility but was changed when the state was reeling in the early days of the Covid pandemic when state revenues took a big hit.
The diverted revenue includes $59,149,715 in AIM and $250 million statewide for hospitals.
NYSAC said the state should stop raiding local revenue, especially at a time when there is so much federal money in the state budget.
In the past three years, the state has taken more than $677 million in local sales taxes to put in the state’s general fund, NYSAC said.
“These are local taxpayer dollars that should be used for meals on wheels, veterans’ services, child care, parks, and 9-1-1 services; not used to plug holes in the state’s financial plan,” said NYSAC President Martha Sauerbrey, Tioga County Chairwoman.
Governor Kathy Hochul in her executive budget proposed eliminating the diversion of local sales taxes to support the AIM program.
The NYSAC Board of Directors last month adopted a resolution asking the state to end this practice.
“Local tax revenue should stay in the community where it is collected,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, president of the NYS County Executives Association. “This is money that is meant to be reinvested in programs that support the people who pay those taxes in their own communities, not footing the bill for state and federal responsibilities.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2022 at 5:06 pm
‘Over 100 of our brothers and sisters are gone – lost to Covid-19. We want to honor those men and women as much as we can – the moms, the dads, the sisters, and brothers. No life lost is ever a statistic.’
Photo by Tom Rivers: Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, speaks during a meeting on March 23.
ALBION – Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said the county has nearly recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic, which strained many local businesses the past two years.
“We still aren’t fully back but we’re getting there,” she said.
Johnson gave a “State of the County” at the beginning of the March 23 County Legislature meeting.
The county mourns the loss of 113 residents to Covid-related illness during the pandemic.
“Over 100 of our brothers and sisters are gone – lost to Covid-19,” Johnson said. “We want to honor those men and women as much as we can – the moms, the dads, the sisters, and brothers. No life lost is ever a statistic. They are people – they loved and were loved.”
Johnson said the greatest tribute to honor those lost to Covid “is to show love to our neighbors.”
She praised the 400-plus county employees for continuing to serve residents during the pandemic, and also push forward projects.
“As we have been – since day one of this crisis – county government has an all-hands-on-deck approach to help Orleans through this unprecedented pandemic.”
She commended the Health Department and a team of staff and volunteers for efforts at vaccination clinics.
She praised residents for keeping their businesses going and for starting new enterprises.
“The spirit of innovation and creativity is here – it was always here – now it’s our job to help this spirit to continue.”
The county went from an austerity budget with job cuts at the beginning to the pandemic to a budget with a robust capital plan for new bridges, and upgrades in the county infrastructure, as well as a contract to make high-speed internet available to every address in the county by the end of this year.
“We are building in a way that has never been seen in recent memory,” Johnson said.
She commended the team of county legislators in trying to serve residents. The state of county is strong and getting stronger “with unity of spirit and purpose,” she said.
“Change is constant, and change is inevitable,” Johnson said. “We will evaluate the old to keep the good and rather than fighting change, we must embrace it and shape it and own it – because that is what Orleans County residents do, that is what New Yorkers do and that is what Americans do.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 March 2022 at 4:56 pm
The unemployment rate for Orleans County was at 4.7 percent in February. That is the lowest for the second month since at least 1990, according to the state Department of Labor’s records that go back to 1990.
The 4.7 percent rate dropped from the 7.1 percent in the county for February 2021. In February 2020, the last month before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate was 5.8 percent in Orleans County.
For five years, the unemployment rate in February was above 10 percent with 10.9 percent in February 2013, 10.8 percent in February 2012, 10.7 percent in February 2011, 11.2 percent in February 2010, and 10.7 percent in February 2009.
The 4.7 percent for February 2022 is the only time the county’s unemployment rate was below 5 percent for a February since 1990. That as far back as Department of Labor records go on the DOL website.
The county’s labor force of 17,200 in February also is the smallest in the 32 years of DOL data. It was at a high of 21,600 in February 1998 and last topped 20,000 in 2006 with 20,100. It was at 18,100 in February 2018 and declined to 17,900 in 2019, 17,800 in 2020, 17,100 in 2021 and now 17,200.
The February 2022 data reports the unemployed at 800 and employed at 16,400. A year ago in February 2021, about 11 months into the Covid pandemic, there were 15,900 working in Orleans and 1,200 unemployed.
The unemployment rate in the United States dropped from 6.6 percent in February 2021 to 4.1 percent last month. In the state, the rate went from 9.2 percent in February 2021 to 5.1 percent last month, according to the Department of Labor.
Among the four rural GLOW counties, the rates for February include Genesee at 4.1 percent, Livingston at 4.0 percent, Orleans at 4.7 percent and Wyoming at 4.7 percent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2022 at 9:51 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport presents a proclamation for World Autism Day to Jessica James of Albion, who is an Autism Speaks Volunteer Advocacy Ambassador.
For the first time the County Legislature issued a proclamation about World Autism Month in April and World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.
Autism spectral disorder affects 1 in 44 children and 1 in 45 adults. People with autism have strengths and weaknesses, and often have challenges with communication and repetitive behaviors.
In the proclamation, county legislators said early intervention can have lifelong benefits.
Legislators encouraged people “to create a kinder and more inclusive world for those with autism.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2022 at 9:01 am
5 from county will be highlighted for acts of bravery in combat
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION — David Bellavia, a Medal of Honor recipient from Lyndonville, attended the unveiling of a new Medal of Honor wall in the Orleans County Office Building on Wednesday afternoon.
He is shown in front of photo of him receiving the medal from former President Donald Trump on June 26, 2019 in the East Room of the White House.
Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal.
Bellavia is one of five county residents to receive the Medal of Honor. Charles D. Harris was the first to be honored with the medal for his heroism in the Apache Wars in 1869.
Bellavia said he is very appreciative to have grown up in Orleans County, where veterans are respected and people are encouraged to serve their country in the military.
He is a radio talk show host for WBEN and also travels extensively as an ambassador for the Army, speaking at colleges, high schools, bases and other events.
Congressman Chris Jacobs, second from right, joined in unveiling of the wall. Jacobs commended the Legislature for creating the wall, which is a prominent display about heroism on the second floor of the new addition of the County Office Building.
Jacobs praised Bellavia for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq.
Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit. He is the first living Iraq War veteran to receive the nation’s highest honor for military service.
County Legislator Ed Morgan embraces Bellavia after the wall unveiling. Morgan attended the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House nearly three years ago.
Nancy Traxler, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, discusses the history of the Medal of Honor. There have been about 3,500 recipients since the medal was first awarded on March 25, 1863.
County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch and Lisa Stenshorn, clerk of the Legislature, take the cover off the wall.
County legislators unveil the Medal of Honor wall in the county building. Pictured include from left: Ed Morgan, Don Allport, Bill Eick, David Bellavia, Lynne Johnson and John Fitzak.
The other four Medal of Honor recipients will be recognized on the wall. Johnson said she is hopeful family members of those individuals can attend the unveilings in the future.
Former Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard researched the four other Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County. He shared the following details in previous columns and presentations when he was historian:
• Forrest Vosler of Lyndonville was assigned as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II with the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group stationed out of England. On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission. The plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control. When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun. Another 20-mm shell hit the aircraft, sending shrapnel into Vosler’s chest, face, and eyes. He continued to deliver defensive fire upon German aircraft until the attacks subsided. Nearly out of fuel and losing altitude quickly, the crew jettisoned every piece of equipment to lighten the plane.
Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had one of his to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.
John Butts was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.
• John E. Butts of Medina is the only one of the five Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County who received the honor posthumously. He was recognized for his heroic actions near Cape La Hague, France in World War II.
Butts was in command of four squads in Easy Company of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Division charged with driving towards St. Colombe, France. On June 12, 1944, 2nd Battalion progressed so quickly towards their objective that the remainder of 9th Division thought the 60th Infantry was lost. In fact, 2nd Battalion had pushed forward through heavy German resistance and established a bridgehead at the Douve River. Butts was wounded twice, first near Orglandes on June 14th and then at the Douve River just two days later; he refused medical treatment on both occasions in order to remain with his men.
On June 23, 1944, the 60th Infantry led the 9th Division’s advance from the Cotentin Peninsula as part of the breakout from St. Lo. While moving towards Flottemanville-Hague, Butts and his men encountered a German stronghold atop a hill, well defended with tanks, machine guns, and mortars. Butts was struck in the stomach by machine gun fire while progressing towards the objective. Pulling himself into the shelter of a nearby hedgerow, he planned a flanking maneuver with his Sergeants.
One squad was to progress up the left flank, another up the right flank, and the third was to remain in reserve. Holding one hand over his midsection and the other grasping his carbine, Butts charged the hill alone. The might of the entire German stronghold fell upon him directly, Butts falling approximately 10 yards from his objective. The distraction allowed the two flanking squads to outmaneuver the Germans while the third squad hit the hill head-on.
Awarded on July 19, 1945 by President Harry Truman, John Butts’ Medal of Honor citation references the two painful wounds he received in the days leading up to the deadly assault on June 23, 1944. His citation concluded by stating, “By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2d Lt. Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion’s mission,” President Harry Truman said in the citation for the medal, which was awarded on July 19, 1945.
• Thomas Wilbur Kates, born in Shelby on May 7, 1865, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion, a nearly two-year uprising led by the Yihetuan (or Boxers) against foreign imperialists in China.
Kates accepted enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps at New York City on July 21, 1899. Pvt. Kates and other Marines were dispatched to China on June 18, 1900, where they remained through October 10, 1900. According to his citation, Kates was awarded the Medal of Honor “…for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 1st Regiment (Marines), in action in the presence of the enemy during the advance on Tientsin, China, 21 June 1900. Private Kates distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”
Maj. Waller wrote in a letter dated July 6, 1900, that “…of the men I wish to say, while all in the engagements we participated in, behaved in such a manner as to bring forth the highest praise from the foreign officers…Cpl. Thomas W. Kates.”
He continued, “…the specifically distinguished of these being Corporal Kates and Privates Campbell and Francis, with the Colt gun.” According to the Report of the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps dated September 29, 1900, these three men remained with Lt. Powell, holding a position with an M1895 Colt-Browning Machine Gun until all but Campbell and Powell were gunned down. They destroyed the gun to prevent it from entering enemy hands before they commenced their retreat.
• Charles D. Harris, who fought in the Civil War, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Apache Wars in 1869. The specifics of the engagement and the actions that warranted the awarding of the medal remain shrouded in mystery. After the war, Harris returned to Albion and lived a quiet life until his passing on September 6, 1895. He is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Provided photos: Orleans County Deputy James DeFilipps speaks on June 18, 2016 in front of 1,100 law enforcement officers at the Policeman’s Ball in Rochester. At right, Deputy DeFilipps is shown with Chris Bourke, the county sheriff.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2022 at 2:57 pm
ALBION – Jim DeFilipps, who was recognized as the deputy of the year in New York State in 2015, has retired after a 22-year career in law enforcement.
He started with the Holley Police Department in 2000 and moved to the Sheriff’s Office in 2002.
On March 21, 2015, DeFilipps was critically injured when he was shot twice in a shootout at 3 a.m. following a high-speed chase with James Ellis of Wyoming County. DeFilipps was the first police officer on scene when Ellis wrecked his vehicle in Clarendon on Route 31A.
Police were pursuing Ellis after a 911 call when he threatened an ex-girlfriend in Shelby with a gun. Ellis had fled to a nearby wooded area in Clarendon and opened fire on DeFilipps and other deputies and police to arrive on the scene.
DeFilipps, despite getting hit twice by gunfire, shot Ellis, killing him and ending his threat. For his acts of valor, DeFilipps was named Deputy of the Year for 2015 by the New York State Sheriff’s Association.
DeFilipps returned to work and supervised the Marine Patrol Division and then was back on the midnight shift, where he concluded his career.
“Sheriff Christopher M. Bourke and Undersheriff Jeffrey A. Gifaldi would like to congratulate Deputy James DeFilipps on his retirement after 22 years of outstanding service,” Bourke and Gifaldi said in a news release today. “Deputy DeFilipps is a friend and mentor to many. Congratulations and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2022 at 10:08 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The courthouse dome on East State Street is lighted up in blue and yellow tonight in a show of support for the Ukrainian people who have been under attack since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24.
The courthouse will remain lit for the foreseeable future in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine.
“Around the world everyone is finding ways to show their solidarity with Ukrainians during this time of crisis. Orleans County stands with them,” Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said earlier this week.
One side of the dome is blue and the other yellow.
The courthouse was built in 1858 and is the focal point of the Courthouse Square in Albion, a district that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2022 at 8:47 am
Chart from Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments.
The number of new confirmed Covid cases in Orleans County declined again in seven days (March 9-15). There were 13 new cases in Orleans, down from 15 the previous week.
In the past seven weeks in Orleans the cases have dropped from 255 from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 157 from Feb. 2-8, 84 from Feb. 9-15, 41 from Feb. 16-22, 29 on Feb. 23 to March 1, 15 from March 2-8, and then 13.
Genesee County also has seen a steady decline of cases until the past week, when they increased from 25 to 38.
Both Orleans and Genesee are considered to be at low Covid community levels, according to the CDC.
The 51 cases in both counties in the past week is far fewer than the Covid peak in early January when there 2,703 cases in the two counties from Jan. 5-11.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting one more Covid-related death in Orleans County, bringing that total to 113 during the two years of the pandemic. Genesee County has 184 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic, according to the G-O Health Departments.
Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, continues to urge people to get vaccinated from Covid to protect themselves and help bring an end to the pandemic.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2022 at 9:02 am
Workforce Development Board wants to highlight careers in health field
BATAVIA – The GLOW Workforce Development Board is looking to fill gaps in the healthcare field by highlighting jobs to local high schoolers.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jay Lazarony is director of the GLOW Workforce Development Board.
GLOW already does a “GLOW With Your Hands” event for building trades. About 700 to 800 people from the four counties have attended those events at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.
Now the GLOW Workforce Development Board wants to have an event showing job prospects in healthcare businesses and organizations to high school students.
The Workforce Development Board will have a kickoff meeting on April 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Robert Morris Campus’s Multipurpose Room, 80 Union St. in Batavia.
GLOW wants to hear how to inspire youth from the four rural counties – Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming – to pursue careers in healthcare.
The Workforce Development Board is open to other GLOW With Your Hands events to highlight other career clusters, said Jay Lazarony, director of the Workforce Development Board.
“We need the support of the business community or else it won’t work,” Lazarony said about the healthcare event.
With the building trades focus, businesses did demonstrations about the careers, from brick-laying, welding, electrical wiring, heavy equipment operations and other skills in construction.
Now, GLOW wants to expand that career exploration to healthcare where businesses are in need of workers.
“We have to engage them if we’re going to solve the skilled workforce gap – and we have to solve it,” Lazarony said last week during a discussion with Leadership Orleans.
Lazarony said the Workforce Development Board welcomes participation from Orleans County businesses in the GLOW With Your Hands events, for both healthcare and the building trades.
Healthcare businesses or officials interested in attending the kickoff meeting on April 5 are encouraged to RSVP with Lazarony by calling (585) 344-2042, ext. 4212.
Joe Lang, line supervisor for National Grid, shows Pavilion students how to set a switch with a pole during the first GLOW With Your Hands event on Sept. 24, 2019. National Grid representatives said the company offers many career opportunities as a line man, or jobs in administrative, metering and the service department.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2022 at 7:21 pm
The state Department of Labor reports a better employment picture for Orleans County this past January compared to a year earlier.
The unemployment rate dropped from 6.8 percent in January 2021 to 4.3 percent in January 2022. In Orleans, there were 400 more people working – 16,000 to 16,400 – while those on unemployment dropped from 1,200 to 700.
The 4.3 percent unemployment rate is the lowest for January in Orleans County for state DOL records going back to 1990. It was up from the months ending 2021 with 3.2 percent in December, 3.4 percent in November, 3.7 percent in October and 3.9 percent in September.
The unemployment rates for January in Western New York counties includes: Orleans, 4.3%; Genesee, 3.8%; Wyoming, 4.5%; Livingston, 3.8%; Monroe, 4.0%; Erie, 4.4%; Niagara, 4.9%; Chautauqua, 4.7%; Cattaraugus, 4.7%; and Allegany, 4.6%.
In United States, the national rate is at 4.4 percent, compared to 6.8 percent a year before in January 2021. In New York State, the rate dropped from 9.3 percent to 5.3 percent.
The US increased employment by 7.235 million, from 148.38 million to 155.62 million and unemployment dropped by 3.64 million.
In New York, employment increased by 426,500, from 8.475 million to 8.902 million with unemployment decreasing by 365,900 from January 2021 to January 2022.
BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council announced $107,800 in grants for artists, community organizations and municipalities to support concerts and other cultural activities in 2022.
Counties across the state want the new state budget, which is now nearly a week late, to stop grabbing local sales tax revenues for state responsibilities.
