By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 June 2021 at 8:24 am
Nyla Gaylord previously led Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Former Ministry of Concern director Nyla Gaylord meets with Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County, after the announcement she has been hired as a fundraiser and event planner for United Way.
After a very successful year in fundraising, United Way of Orleans County has announced the hiring of Nyla Gaylord as fundraiser and event planner.
Gaylord had formerly been with the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern for 5 ½ years, more than 4 of those years as director.
While she was in that position, she worked on a grant on her own time to secure $450,000 to hire a grant writer, who would be available free of charge to any non-profit in Orleans County, and eventually Genesee County. In addition, the grant, which was received in April, also pays the salary for Gaylord’s new position with United Way.
“I worked on the grant on my own time because I felt very strongly a grant writer was what the county needed,” Gaylord said. “It had become increasingly clear to me how stretched thin the administrators of organizations are, plus their staff doesn’t have a grant writer or anyone with the skills to write a grant.”
Gaylord praised United Way’s director Dean Bellack, whose vision resulted in searching for funds outside of the county and a never-before collaboration between county agencies and the big foundations.
“What Dean and United Way have done (and the pandemic contributed to it, as well) is start to collaborate with other agencies and look strategically at areas they serve,” Gaylord said. “Also, these big foundations realized they were underserving rural counties. The Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo came to us. As a result of the Western New York Covid-19 Response Fund, we were able to hire Mary Beth Debus, who worked on the Orleans Initiative Digital Divide study.”
Bellack said the knowledge Gaylord has is invaluable.
In her past jobs, Gaylord said she has worked for low pay at human service agencies. She has learned a lot about not-for-profits’ community needs and what is available to help people. She has knowledge of entitlement programs, SSI, immigration and the disability system.
“Diversity is our strength – people coming together to look at community needs,” she said.
Gaylord felt she had done all she could at Ministry of Concern and wanted to look at a bigger picture in the community.
“I’m not interested in public office, and I realize under Dean’s leadership United Way is evolving in a new direction which is much needed,” she said. “It’s role will be to support not-for-profit agencies, not just raise money. It will be ‘boots on the ground.’ Everybody is stretched too thin and trying to do a lot with a little. It’s now time for United Way to evolve as an agency of support. United Way in Orleans County is broadening its scope in terms of how we bring resources to not-for-profits and the entire community.”
With the $450,000 grant for a grant-writer, the soon-to-be-announced $349,000 for Orleans County’s Digital Divide Initiative and half a dozen other grants, United Way last year was responsible for bringing more than a million dollars into the county, much of it to help those affected by the pandemic.
In spite of these gifts, Bellack stressed how important local donations and workplace campaigns are to United Way’s mission.
“These local donations are absolutely necessary,” he said.
Gaylord started her new position with United Way on June 14. She will expand fundraising opportunities throughout the community, while the new grant writer will go after foundation money and other funding opportunities which didn’t exist before.
“We will be approaching fundraising on two different levels,” Bellack said.
Gaylord has already acquired Las Vegas entertainer Jimmy Mazz for a gala United Way event at Maison Albion in the fall. She is also visiting town clerks throughout the county, in an attempt to create more relationships. She is promoting the sale of tickets to United Way’s chicken barbecue July 10, which will be a drive-thru event from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Tickets are $12 and will be for sale Friday nights at Medina’s cruise-in at the Canal Basin or by logging on to United Way’s web site. A limited number will be sold the day of the event.
As a lifelong resident of Orleans County, Gaylord said she just wants to see things better.
“I see tremendous potential for Orleans County,” she said.
Bellack said United Way will now have four employees with four different skill sets. In addition to Gaylord and the new grant writer, there is administrative assistant Dawn Winkler, who Bellack says knows everything about financials, web site design and promotions. She is an organizer, he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2021 at 1:01 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The sign by the driveway leading to the Orleans County Administration Building promotes early voting in the county last week.
ALBION – There was a small turnout through nine days of early voting in Orleans County. Only 108 people cast ballots in the primary, which includes Republican races in six towns.
The 108 votes, for an average of 12 per day, is down significantly from the 3,753 who used early voting in 2020 from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. That was an average of 417 each day. This was during a presidential election and was open to all registered voters, not just Republicans.
Here is the daily breakdown for early voting:
Saturday, June 12, 7 votes
Sunday, June 13, 9 votes
Monday, June 14, 9 votes
Tuesday, June 15, 26 votes
Wednesday,June 16, 12 votes
Thursday, June 17, 15 voters
Friday, June 18, 13 votes
Saturday, June 19, 6 votes
Sunday, June 20, 11 votes
Total: 108 votes
During early voting there were two election inspectors on duty from both the Democratic Party and Republican Party.
Primary Day will be Tuesday, June 22, with polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Here is a list of the polling sites:
Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Carlton – Districts 1 through 3 – Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Gaines – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
Murray – Districts 1 through 6 – Murray Town Hall, 3840 Fancher Rd. (Route 31)
Press Release, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County
Provided photos: The new little free library is filled and ready for the public. It is located outside the Dwight “Buzz” Hill Education Center.
KNOWLESVILLE – The Cornell Cooperative Extension office on Route 31 has a new structure on its grounds, albeit a small one. In a collaborative effort between Master Gardeners, 4-H and CCE staff, a mini free library has been constructed and installed at the entrance to the Honor Garden in the front lawn of the office building.
Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes had the idea for the library after cleaning out the Master Gardener closet in the office.
“There were so many gardening, wildlife, and nature books that have never sold at our plant sales. I was just brainstorming the best way to get these educational resources out into the community,” explained Oakes. “My kids and I love browsing the little free book boxes located all over the county, and I thought something similar on the grounds here would be a great way to get people interested in some of these topics.”
Oakes brought up the idea to the Master Gardeners in early February, seeking feedback and guidance. With budgets tight because of the ongoing pandemic, funding the project appeared to be the first hurdle. Long-time Master Gardener Don O’Keefe stepped in and generously offered to personally donate the funds needed to purchase building supplies.
“I really liked this idea because unlike flowers and plants that have their own seasons, if nurtured… a library is forever,” O’Keefe said. “I hope that with it being on the extension grounds, it continues to provide information and encourage the public to exchange ideas.”
Other collaborators to the project included Sherwin Williams of Brockport who donated paint and primer. Construction of the library was done by OCCCE facilities manager Pete Beach with the help of his grandson Joe Cecchini, an enrolled 4-Her.
The cheerful red library stands along the sidewalk to the OCCCE office, at the edge of the Honor Garden, a project designed by Master Gardeners and paved with memorial bricks honoring contributors’ loved ones. The public is welcome to take any material they’d like with no obligation to leave another book in its place.
The intention will be to keep the library stocked with educational materials the Cooperative Extension office no longer has need for – the gently used gardening books, older versions of 4-H textbooks, Cornell booklets that are no longer in print, etc.
The sign on the library door encourages people to take a book “and grow your mind!”
Several of the books included in the library were donated by the family of lifelong CCE supporter Gail Culver after she passed away last year. Gail worked for years as the Genesee County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator, then served as a Master Gardener volunteer in Orleans County after her retirement.
Gail was a volunteer with the Orleans County 4-H program for over 40 years and tirelessly devoted herself to educating children about gardening, nature and wildlife. Many of the books donated by her family are duplicates or older editions of books already on the Orleans County CCE office bookshelves, and sharing them with the public allows for Gail’s legacy of education and volunteerism to continue.
“I hope people can take a book home and learn something new because of this new library,” Oakes stated. “Our offices are here to help our community grow, and I think this library enables that mission even when there’s not an actual event or program going on.”
To learn more about the subjects described in the free books or any other 4-H, agriculture, or gardening topic, contact the Orleans County CCE office at 585-798-4265 or email orleans@cornell.edu.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 June 2021 at 3:28 pm
ALBION – The turnout in the first three days of early voting is way down compared to the response last year in early voting during the presidential election.
Voting has started for Republicans with primaries in six Orleans County. The turnout so far include 7 on Saturday, 9 on Sunday and 8 today at about 3 p.m. Voting today is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Early voting continues each day through Sunday at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office at the County Administration Building, 14016 State Route 31.
There was early voting in 2020 from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1 and 3,753 people voted over 9 days, an average of 417 each day. This was during a presidential election and was open to all registered voters, not just Republicans. Some people also preferred early voting during the Covid-19 pandemic, expecting smaller crowds at the BOE office. Some people were also concerned last election it would be more difficult to vote if they needed to isolate at home if they were in close contact with someone who had Covid.
When there was early voting for the first time in 2019, there were 32 voters on the first day and then 26 on Sunday, the second day. In the nine days of early voting in 2019, there were 374 early voters out of about 23,000 registered voters in the county, an average of about 42 per day.
Here is the schedule for early voting for the remaining six days:
Tuesday, June 15, from noon to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16, from noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The regular primary election day will be June 22 with a polling location in each town with a primary. The Republican primaries include:
Barre – Four candidates seeking two four-year positions on the Town Board: George McKenna, Tom McCabe, David S. Waters and Lynn Hill. McCabe and Hill currently are on the Town Board.
Carlton – Two candidates are seeking a four-year term as town clerk. Karen A. Narburgh and Dori Goetze are the candidates. Narburgh is the current town clerk.
Gaines – Two candidates are running for Gaines town justice. Bruce Schmidt is retiring from the position after this year. Henry Smith, Jr. and Charles Prentice, Jr. both are seeking a four-year term.
Murray – Former Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower is challenging current Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio for a two-year term as town supervisor.
Ridgeway – There are three candidates seeking a four-year term as Ridgeway town clerk. They include Laurie Kilburn, Hannah Hill and E.J. Cox. There are also three candidates seeking two four-year terms on the Town Board: Cliff Barber, Jeffrey Toussaint and David M. Stalker. Toussaint and Stalker are currently on the Town Board.
Shelby – There are three candidates seeking two four-years on the Town Board: William H. Bacon Edward, Mathew Zelazny and Stephen J. Seitz, Sr. Bacon and Seitz are current board members.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2021 at 3:51 pm
Early voting will start on Saturday and continue through June 20 with Republican primaries in six Orleans County towns.
The early voting polling location is at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office at the County Administration Building, 14016 State Route 31.
The early voting times include:
Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, June 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 15, from noon to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16, from noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The regular primary election day will be June 22 with a polling location in each town with a primary. The Republican primaries include:
Barre – Four candidates seeking two four-year positions on the Town Board: George McKenna, Tom McCabe, David S. Waters and Lynn Hill. McCabe and Hill currently are on the Town Board.
Carlton – Two candidates are seeking a four-year term as town clerk. Karen A. Narburgh and Dori Goetze are the candidates. Narburgh is the current town clerk.
Gaines – Two candidates are running for Gaines town justice. Bruce Schmidt is retiring from the position after this year. Henry Smith, Jr. and Charles Prentice, Jr. both are seeking a four-year term.
Murray – Former Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower is challenging current Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio for a two-year term as town supervisor.
Ridgeway – There are three candidates seeking a four-year term as Ridgeway town clerk. They include Laurie Kilburn, Hannah Hill and E.J. Cox.
There are also three candidates seeking two four-year terms on the Town Board: Cliff Barber, Jeffrey Toussaint and David M. Stalker. Toussaint and Stalker are currently on the Town Board.
Shelby – There are three candidates seeking two four-years on the Town Board: William H. Bacon Edward, Mathew Zelazny and Stephen J. Seitz, Sr. Bacon and Seitz are current board members.
Press Release, Arc of Genesee Orleans and The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming
The Boards of Directors of The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans announce Martin Miskell, current Executive Director of the Livingston-Wyoming chapter, will lead the agencies through their planned merger.
Martin Miskell
The unification of the agencies serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families will create a one-chapter, four-county service area covering roughly 2,400 square miles, which geographically will be the largest Arc chapter in New York State.
Miskell began his Arc career as Director of Finance at the Livingston-Wyoming chapter in 2002, becoming Associate Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer in 2007 and Executive Director in 2015. He calls this an exciting time.
“The merger will offer all four counties more program and service opportunities for individuals and families served,” Miskell said. “We have experienced changes over the last decade in the field of disabilities and this merger will make the agency and its services more fiscally sustainable and poised for the future.”
Over the last several months, Miskell has met with senior leaders, board membership and retiring Genesee Orleans Executive Director Donna Saskowski to develop a regional approach and plan for legal and programmatic strategies to ensure a smooth transition.
The merger process is expected to take as long as five more months to complete. The new agency will use consolidated resources to ensure quality services to all people with disabilities and their families served in the Genesee Livingston Orleans Wyoming (GLOW) counties region. Once merged, the new agency will be called Arc GLOW.
Miskell grew up in the Geneseo area, and he and his wife Theresa have four adult children. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from SUNY Geneseo and his Master of Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. He also serves on the NYS Genesee Valley Parks Commission, SUNY Geneseo Foundation and is a member of the Kiwanis Club.
ABOUT THE CHAPTERS: The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans, soon to be known as Arc GLOW are family-founded agencies dedicated to helping people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) meet their full potential and find fulfillment in learning, personal relationships, employment, volunteerism, recreation, the arts, and more.
In the coming months, a new Arc GLOW website will be unveiled. In the meantime, the websites serving the chapters are www.arcgo.org and www.lwarc.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2021 at 1:38 pm
File photos by Tom Rivers: Amelia Paratore, 9, of Barre keeps her eyes on the judge while showing a dairy animal on July 26, 2019 during the grand master showman competition. 4-Hers will be back with their animals for the fair next month.
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County 4-H Fair officials announced this week the annual fair will be back and will include a full slate of activities, including the midway, 4-H exhibits and lots of food vendors with classic fair food.
The fair from July 26-31 will be limited to about 8,000 people per day with state restrictions, but the fair tends to stay below that number. The six-day county fair typically draws about 25,000 people.
New this year will be the sale of tickets online and they will be $5 each for a weeklong pass. If people don’t want to buy the ticket online, they can stop by the fairgrounds the week before and pay for a pass at the office.
The fair will sell 5,000 of the week-long passes, and then have 3,000 available as one-day passes each day of the fair. The one-day passes will be available online only and are $3 for 12 and older, and $1 for 11 and under, said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, which oversees the fair. Tickets for the chicken barbecue and midway also will be available online.
“I think it’s going to be a great fair,” Batt said. “The midway and food vendors are all happening, and so are the 4-H exhibits.”
There will be some changes. The fair won’t have people at the front gates accepting money and people will need to park without assistance. The Medina Marching Band in recent years has had many of its students and parent volunteers helping with parking and traffic flow, but the band bowed out of the task this fair.
The Fair Board decided not to have the talent show on the Monday of the fair because the State Fair won’t be doing the talent show. The top Orleans entries advanced to the State Fair in prior years.
Instead, Batt said the fair is looking to add more bands for live performances. The entertainment for the fair will be announced in the next two weeks or so, Batt said.
The popular grease pole climbing competition also won’t be happening, but that was because the fair’s insurance provider balked at that event. The fair instead is having a different zany competition to cap off the day’s activities. The new event will have teams of two people pushing a giant round hay bale.
Jeremy Neal, the grease pole chairman, is heading the effort of the new challenge. He is experimenting on the course and size of the hay bales.
The hay bale rolling event will be open to competitors 16 and older. That is 2 years younger than the cutoff for the grease pole.
Tamara Huzair of Lyndonville sings “Somebody to Love” by Queen during karaoke in July 2019. Karaoke is among the many fair favorites that will be back next month for the week-long event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2021 at 3:46 pm
75 have now completed program, equipped to be more engaged citizens, local leaders
Photos by Tom Rivers: Taryn Moyle, director of the Child Care Resource and Referral Program for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, was among 26 graduates of the third class of Leadership Orleans. She is congratulated by Charlie Nesbitt, former state assemblyman who serves on the Leadership Orleans steering committee. The graduation program was held May 20 at the White Birch Golf Course.
LYNDONVILLE – The third group of the Leadership Orleans program completed the class last month, about five months later than usual.
The class was interrupted due to Covid-19. The group needed to take some time off from the monthly programs, but was able to double-up for the full array of sessions.
Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller was a member of the class and was picked by the group to give an address on their behalf.
“We knew from the start we were on a unique journey,” said County Legislator Ken DeRoller of Kendall, one of the 26 graduates in the third class.
He was picked by the class to speak at their graduation on May 20 at the White Birch Golf Course.
DeRoller recalled the opening retreat in January 2020, before Covid, when the group got to know each other through ice-breaker activities. They completed personality profiles to better understand themselves and how they respond to others and challenges.
DeRoller urged the group to stay connected and to keep an open mind.
“You’re a treasure to your employer and the County of Orleans,” DeRoller told the group.
Class members included local government officials, business and agency leaders, and citizens. There are now about 75 people who have completed the program. The fourth class also started in April, and eight people have already expressed interest in being in the fifth class.
The third class built a strong network among each other in the year-plus, with retreats, Zoom calls and through what was to be a monthly focus on a different aspect of the county – government, arts and culture, volunteerism and non-profit organizations, community health, tourism and recreation, agribusiness, economic & workforce development, and education.
(Left) Danielle Figura, director of the Orleans County Mental Health Department, won an award for her artistic skills. The class had many activities to help the group get to know each other. (Right) Teresa Gaylard, children’s librarian at Hoag Library, won an award for earning the most stars throughout the program.
Skip Helfrith, the program’s executive director, said the class is already making a difference in the county. He noted Dean Bellack, one of the new grads, helped secure $750,000 in grants for the community in his role as United Way executive director. Jennifer Buondonno, another new graduate, won a write-in campaign and was elected to the Medina Board of Education.
He cited the examples of the program’s alumni of the year – Robert Batt of the Cornell Cooperative Extension and Melissa Blanar of the office for the Aging – who have spearheaded food distributions for several hundred people almost weekly since April 2020.
“People ask when will this program start to make a difference,” Helfrich said. “We’re making it.”
Helfrich said the program benefits from community support, including corporate sponsors, and $16,000 from the county budget. Tuition also covers part of the costs.
There have been 146 presenters for the program since 2018, with 23 new ones during the Covid pandemic. The group has also visited 78 sites around the county in the first three years, and many volunteers have organized the monthly sessions.
Skip Helfrich, Leadership Orleans executive director, praised the class for its resilience during the pandemic. The class suspended its monthly gatherings during the height of the pandemic, and then doubled up the workload to meet the full expectations of the program.
Charlie Nesbitt, the former state assemblyman, has helped get the program off the ground in Orleans County. He said he saw the fruits of Leadership Genesee, which has been helping develop leaders in that county for more than two decades.
Human capital is critical for a community’s success, Nesbitt said.
“We now have 75 people who are better informed, who know themselves better, who everyday are becoming a critical asset to Orleans County,” Nesbitt said. “In order to become effective leaders you have to invest in yourselves.”
The 2020 class includes:
Dean Bellack, Executive Director, United Way of Orleans County
Jennifer Buondonno, Teller Supervisor/CSR, Tompkins Bank of Castile
Melissa Cotter, Director of Vocational Services, Arc of Genesee Orleans
Kenneth DeRoller, County legislator and board member for the County of Orleans Industrial Development Agency
Danielle Figura, Director of the Orleans County Mental Health Department
Kristina Gabalski, 4-H Program Coordinator, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Jackie Gardner, Vice President of Client Relations, CRFS – Claims Recovery Financial Services
Ronald Mannella, Director of Weights and Measures, Orleans County
Matt Minor, Senior Loan Officer, Farm Credit East
Taryn Moyle, Child Care Resource and Referral Program Director, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, Inc.
Tiffany Nesbitt, former ambassador, Bent’s Opera House
Christopher Oakes, Production Manager/Vice President, LynOaken Farms, Inc.
Allison Parry-Gurak, Director of Treatment, Albion Clinic, GCASA
Scott Partyka, Farmer/Partner, Partyka Farms
Cory Pawlaczyk, Buyer, Baxter Healthcare
Nick Picardo, Executive Director of Student Services, Kendall Central School District
Heather Smith, Executive Director, Orleans Community Health Foundation
Nancy Traxler, Director, Orleans County Veterans Service Agency
Nancy Westlund, Vice President of Operations, CRFS – Claims Recovery Financial Services
Michael Weyrauch, Director of Career & Technical Education and Instructional Services, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
(Left) Cole and Kerri Glover, owners of Maison Albion, accept the “First Impression Award.” The site on Courthouse Road in Albion, a wedding and events venue, made a strong impression on the class. (Right) Wendy Oakes Wilson hugs Kelly Kiebala, chairwoman of the Leadership Orleans program. Wilson was picked as “Presenter of the Year” by the class. Wilson is general manager of LynOaken Farms and president of the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.
County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson also congratulated the class and urged them to continue to lead and serve with integrity.
“You are the leaders today and especially for tomorrow,” she said.
Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, thanked the class members for putting in the effort to be bigger assets for the community.
Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer, said the class persevered and adapted during the challenges of a pandemic. Welch said there are numerous books about being an effective leader, and many of those make leadership sound “so neat and clean, almost like a cook book.”
But Welch said that doesn’t reflect real life, which is often messy, unscripted and hard.
“Leadership is about relationships, serving one another on their level with more questions than answers,” Welch said. “How do we respond to a challenge? How do we persevere? Do we bend or do we break?”
The Leadership Orleans Class gives the participants a team and support system for when times are tough, Welch said.
“Hopefully Leadership Orleans has been a conduit for you to increase the tools you have in your personal toolbox on this journey we call life,” he said.
Welch said naysayers are quick to complain but not offer much constructively in making the community better. He thanked the class for putting in the time and energy to learn more about the community and understand the complexities of the challenges and opportunities.
He quoted from Jon Gordon: “Will you buy into the doom and gloom? Or will you invest in faith, hope and love, and believe the best is yet to come.”
David Bellavia, a Lyndonville graduate and Medal of Honor recipient, gave the keynote speech at the Leadership Orleans graduation.
The keynote message was delivered by David Bellavia, a 1994 Lyndonville graduate who was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 25, 2019 during a ceremony at the White House. He received the nation’s highest military honor for risking his life on Nov. 10, 2004 – his 29thbirthday. Bellavia defended his fellow soldiers while serving in the second battle of Fallujah, Iraq.
As a squad leader in Operation Phantom Fury, a 2004 American offensive on the western Iraqi City of Fallujah, Bellavia saved his entire squad when he cleared a housing block of enemy combatants who had pinned down his unit. Once Bellavia secured the safety of his squad, he re-engaged with the enemy combatants, re-entered the house where enemy fire was located, proceeded to kill four enemy insurgents, and wounded a fifth.
Bellavia travels the country as an ambassador for the Army. He also hosts a radio show in Buffalo. People used to ask where he was from, and he’d say Buffalo or Western New York. Now, when he gives his speeches or is interviewed, he makes sure to tell people he is from Lyndonville, NY.
He sees a county on the upswing, and the trend can continue with more job opportunities for people in the community.
“Orleans County makes adults, men and women ready to shoulder the burdens of the world,” Bellavia said. “We are going to be the authors and finishers of our destiny in our backyard.”
Leadership Orleans recognized two previous graduates as alumni of the year. Robert Batt (left), executive director of the Cornell Cooperative extension, and Melissa Blanar, director of the Office of the Aging, both were instrumental in food distributions in the county since April 2020. They also led their organizations through the many changes necessitated by the pandemic. “We have a great community,” Blanar said. “We all pitch in and step up when we need to.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2021 at 4:29 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office was budgeting $88,865 from the state for the STOP DWI Plan. That money is distributed by the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns with local and county courts reduced the court fines. That is forcing the state to amend its allocation for the county. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will now be receive $54,065 through the STOP DWI Plan.
The Orleans County Legislature approved the amended memorandum of understanding last week.
In other resolutions approved last week, the Legislature:
• Authorized spending $143,840 for three sheriff patrol vehicles with two 2021 Ford Explorer AWD Interceptors for $50,131 each from Tri Star Motors in West Blairsville, Pa., and one 2021 Police Charger AWD for $43,576 from Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex in Niagara Falls, NY.
• Authorized Computer Services to spend $7,686 for 21 Advidia security cameras with mounting junction boxes, with cameras to be used to protect county assets.
• Authorized spending $7,200 to purchase TextMyGov software and licensed messaging platform to be used to communicate with government employees and the general public at large if needed.
• Authorized county treasurer to set up money in the county attorney budget to accept $10,780 in intervenor funds from the Town of Barre for the Heritage Wind project. Apex Clean Energy is providing the funds to be used to hire counsel on environmental issues.
• Authorized probation director to apply and accept $149,616 from state Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, effective for the calendar year from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
• Approved probation director accepting $120,392 to reimburse department for Raise the Age costs from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020.
• Renewed agreement with Lyndonville Central School with Orleans County Sheriff’s Office providing deputy as school resource officer at a cost of $87,148 for 11 months.
• Authorized district attorney to accept $30,200 in State Aid to Prosecution grant from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
• Authorized Department of Public Works to spend $168,991 for a 2022 Hunter Peterbilt 10-wheeler dump truck from Hunter Buffalo Peterbilt in Buffalo. The dump truck is reimbursable through state CHIPS funding with county cost $100.
• Authorized county DPW to spend $56,531 for 6-ton Falcon Asphalt Recycler and Hot Box Trailer from Stephenson Equipment in Syracuse. The equipment is reimbursable with CHIPS funding.
• Authorized spending $6,447 to Lyons Collision in Medina to remove old decals, replace and repair body diamond plate, and do body work and lighting upgrades on a mobile command center that has been donated by Erie County to the Orleans County Emergency Management Office. The Legislature also authorized spending $1,650 for six new tires for the 2006 mobile command center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2021 at 1:23 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is applying to the state for federal funding to expand broadband access.
The county last week voted to apply to the state Office of Community Renewal for money through the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act).
The CARES funds includes public service and infrastructure projects to ensure families in underserved communities have WiFi access for remote education and telehealth services.
“Broadband has been a number one priority of this legislature,” Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said during last week’s meeting.
The grant, which didn’t specify a dollar amount, is another effort from county officials to fund high-speed internet access.
The county estimates it would cost $4.1 million to have the service county-wide, which includes 1,351 properties without access and opportunities for the other 20,000 property owners to have improved high-speed internet.
Johnson and county officials on April 29 met with leaders from the 10 towns in the county and the five school districts, pitching a collaborative effort to use federal American Rescue Plan aid for the expanded high-speed internet.
The American Rescue Plan will bring $7.8 million to the county, while the 10 towns in the county will share $4,430,000 with some of that going the four villages.
The five school district collectively will receive $12.5 million in federal funds. However, the districts will be expected to use most of those funds to help students catch up in lost learning during the pandemic.
If the county’s grant application for CARES money is successful, Johnson said that would mean the county (and possibly towns) wouldn’t need to spend as much from their allocations through the American Rescue Plan.
If the county receives the grant, it will work with Upper Edge Consulting to implement the project and the funding.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2021 at 11:44 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A “Help Wanted” sign is displayed in the window of Avanti’s on Main Street in Medina. Many local companies are hiring even as the unemployment rate falls locally.
In Orleans County the unemployment rate was down to 5.8 percent in April, continuing a downward trend in the county, according to data from the State Department of Labor.
The rate in Orleans was 7.6 percent in February and 7.1 percent in March. The 5.8 percent in April was a dramatic difference from the previous April when the rate was 16.8 percent. That was the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when many businesses were closed or severely restricted from state guidelines.
The DOL reported there were 16,000 people working in the county in April, up 300 from March and 2,200 more than the 13,800 in April 2020.
National the unemployment rate for April was 5.7 percent, compared to 14.4 percent the previous April. In New York, it was 7.8 percent in April compared to 16.2 percent the previous April.
Tompkins County had the lowest unemployment rate in April at 4.2 percent while Bronx was the highest at 15.0 percent.
New hires include deputies, dispatchers and a corrections officer
Provided photos: Pictured from left include Deputy Sheriff James White, Correction Officer Kyle Strickland and Deputy Sheriff George Barton taking the oath of office last week in the Orleans County Legislative chambers.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
ALBION – Sheriff Christopher Bourke would like to take this opportunity to introduce six new employees who have been hired in 2021.
The Orleans County Legislature led by Chairman Lynne Johnson was gracious enough in allowing us to use the Legislature Chambers for this event.
Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon performed the Oath of Office while the Sheriff, Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson and Communications Coordinator Allen Turner assisted.
Chairman Johnson, on behalf of all the Legislators, expressed her deep appreciation for the work performed by members of the Sheriff’s Office during these difficult times. Chairman Johnson reiterated the continuing commitment of the Orleans County Legislature to provide the Sheriff with the resources to keep our county safe and secure.
Sheriff Bourke thanked all in attendance wished the new hires well. Sheriff Bourke also personally thanked the County Legislature for their continuing support. I consider myself very lucky to live in a community that supports law enforcement agencies.
Pictured being sworn into office include from left include Correction Officer Jenna Raglan, Public Safety 911 Dispatcher Robin Boyle and Public Safety 911 Dispatcher Amy Strickland.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2021 at 3:09 pm
Municipalities can’t ban marijuana after legalization by state; Sheriff worries about impaired drivers
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said law enforcement agencies will adapt to the new state legislation for legalizing recreational use of marijuana, but he is concerned there will be more impaired drivers on the road.
ALBION – Orleans County municipalities have until Dec. 31 to decide whether they will opt out of allowing marijuana dispensaries, where people could purchase adult-use cannabis products.
The municipalities also need to decide by the end of the year if they will opt out of allowing onsite consumption at businesses such as a smoking lounge.
The towns and villages can’t overstep the state and ban recreational use of marijuana. But the towns and villages can prohibit dispensaries and smoking lounges.
It’s not an issue for the county government, but instead for the towns and villages, said Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman.
“It’s not a county-regulated issue,” Johnson said. “It’s a town and village one.”
She spoke with other local government leaders in the county during a monthly meeting last week for the Orleans County Association of Municipalities.
The state has approved a 13-percent excise tax on marijuana with a breakdown that includes 9 cents for each taxable sale to the state, 3 cents to the municipality that has the dispensary, and 1 cent to the county.
“I don’t believe the monetary gain with sales tax will counteract the negative effect in the long run,” Johnson said.
Municipalities that opt out wouldn’t be eligible for the 3-cent share of the 13-percent sales tax. The municipalities could also adopt zoning and limit the locations for dispensaries, including establishing certain distances from schools, churches and other houses of worship.
If the municipal board for a village or town decides to opt out, residents could push a permissive referendum, with the matter going on the ballot.
“It comes down to what your community wants,” said John Belson, the Lyndonville mayor.
Municipalities could decide to opt out, and later decide to “opt in” and allow the dispensaries and lounges, said John Sansone, municipal attorney for Holley, Murray and Clarendon.
If the municipalities don’t vote to opt out, then they are “opting in” and that doesn’t require a vote to allow dispensaries and the smoking lounges.
Sansone is also an assistant county district attorney, and that office led by Joe Cardone is concerned about public safety with recreational marijuana being legalized.
“It presents challenges,” Sansone said to the local officials.
Sheriff Chris Bourke said law enforcement may not easily be able to determine if a driver is “impaired” by marijuana. There isn’t a Breathalyzer machine to determine a level of impairment or the amount of marijuana in the system.
The local law enforcement agencies can have officers and deputies trained as drug recognition experts but that is a costly and time-consuming training, Bourke said.
“Our concern is how many more impaired drivers will we have on the road?” Bourke said. “We think quite a bit and are we prepared for that?”
Bourke said officers and deputies trained as drug recognition experts “are few and far between.”
The local government leaders also will need to look at employee policies for whether marijuana can be used during breaks, how to respond if employees come to work with a level of impairment, and whether the marijuana products will be banned for use on municipal grounds.
Bourke said he wants a “zero tolerance” policy for employees of the Sheriff’s Department. He said the workers face too many critical issues and need to be 100 percent.
“I don’t think a 911 dispatcher who has been smoking marijuana all day should come to work and handle 911 calls,” Bourke said.
Sansone said he isn’t sure whether municipalities could have a zero tolerance policy for a product that is now legal in the state.
That could depend on what jobs the workers have. A motor equipment operator, for example, may be subject to a no tolerance for marijuana while working.
“All town attorneys are likely working on this,” Sansone said. “It’s an issue that will likely be determined by lawsuits.”
Sansone said municipal leaders will also face the issue of how to determine impairment among the workers. Bourke said a simple “smell test” may be enough. He doesn’t want employees who smell of marijuana.
“If you are serving the public and reek of marijuana that is unprofessional and will be forbidden by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2021 at 1:24 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Steve Johnson salutes after he presented flowers at State Street Park in Medina during a Memorial Day ceremony last year on May 25. The veterans will again observe a smaller ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
There won’t be big parades on Memorial Day in Orleans County, but local veterans’ organizations will make sure there will be public opportunities for people to show their respect for fallen members of the military.
• Kendall is having a Memorial Day observance today at 7 p.m. at the Kendall Town Park (across from Elementary School) where there is a community war memorial. Kendall always holds its Memorial Day gathering on May 30, which was the original day to celebrate Memorial Day.
• Albion – Veterans are invited to the VFW Post at about 10:30 a.m. for a short procession to the Courthouse lawn for an observance at the new veterans’ memorial that was erected by the Knights of Columbus. (The Knights will have a ceremony there too on Monday at 9 a.m. with a bagpiper.)
Garland Miller, a World War II veteran, will serve as honorary parade marshal during the scaled-down Memorial Day observance.
The veterans were planning to march from the VFW down Bank Street and then turn left onto Main Street. But Route 98 is a posted detour with the Route 31 bridge in Knowlesville currently closed. Because of that, the Department of Transportation was unwilling to close Main Street for the procession, said Gary Befus, who is helping to organize the procession.
The memorial the service will begin at 11 a.m. with brief remarks from Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, and Tim Archer, an Albion teacher who will highlight some of the service-learning projects by his students that have honored veterans.
• Holley – There will be a memorial service at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Jewell Buckman Post, which will include speakers and a 21-gun salute. The group will then march to the VFW Post for another service at 10 a.m. with speakers and a 21-gun salute.
The group will then go to Hillside Cemetery, visiting Jewell Buckman’s grave and reciting the Gettysburg Address. They will also pay their respects at Holy Cross Cemetery, next to Hillside Cemetery.
Afterwards, everyone is invited for free refreshments at both the VFW and American Legion.
• Lyndonville – There won’t be a parade or a procession by veterans, but the Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post 1603 will set up a POW/MIA table in front of Lyndonville’s Veterans Park for Memorial Day.
“Flags will be placed in the cemeteries,” said Steve Goodrich, commander of the Houseman-Tanner Post. “The Fallen will be remembered.”
Goodrich said there won’t be a parade or big public gathering due to his concern for the members. Many of them are elderly with health issues, Goodrich said.
He expects the parade and a public service will be back on schedule in 2022.
• Medina – There won’t be a parade but there will be a Color Guard carrying flags from Park Avenue to State Street Park, with veterans meeting at the Olde Pickle Factory at 10:30 and starting the procession at 11 a.m. The veterans will hold a solemn service at State Street Park to honor the fallen service members. The Medina Police Department will escort the Color Guard for their safety.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2021 at 7:22 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Holli Nenni has worked nearly 34 years with the Orleans County Department of Social Services.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has appointed a long-time employee to lead the Department of Social Services.
Holli Nenni, the deputy DSS commissioner the past 11 years, was appointed the new commissioner on Wednesday. She succeeds Tom Kuryla, who retired last month.
Nenni has worked at DSS for nearly 34 years. She first worked as a caseworker for 12 years, before being promoted child support coordinator and then director of temporary assistance.
She now leads a department with 70 employees. She was appointed to a five-year term as DSS commissioner in a unanimous vote by Legislature.
Legislator Ken DeRoller, R-Kendall, said Nenni “is the best.” Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, R-Lyndonville, welcomed Nenni.
“We’re so pleased that Holli is here,” Johnson said during Wednesday’s meeting.
The DSS divisions include temporary assistance, child & family services, domestic violence services, and the child support and enforcement unit.
“I like working with the families and the kids,” said Nenni, an Albion resident.
DSS paetners with many local agencies and county departments – GCASA, Mental Health, Job Development and others – to help people overcome barriers and become self sufficient, Nenni said.
As deputy commissioner, Nenni oversaw staff development. That will continue to be a focus for the DSS employees.
“I want to help staff and make sure they get the training and tools to do their jobs,” she said. “I want to help them with the work-life balance.”
A big priority will be developing a new generation of leaders for DSS.
“I like to help the workers and be a resource for them,” Nenni said.
