Orleans County

County employees of the year stepped up to serve residents during pandemic

Photo by Tom Rivers: Katie Harvey (center) is the Orleans County Director of Personnel and Self Insurance. During today’s Orleans County legislature meeting she presented plaques to the employees of the year: Mary Ellen Messmer, a supervising public health nurse; and Justin Niederhofer, deputy emergency management director.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2021 at 9:59 pm

ALBION – Two Orleans County employees were recognized as employees of the year for their efforts to serve county residents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mary Ellen Messmer, a supervising public health nurse, led the Health Department’s contract tracing efforts, often arriving before regular work hours and staying late to call people who were in quarantine due to testing positive for Covid or for being in close contact with someone who tested positive.

Messmer has worked 26 years with the county government. She was praised for her efforts during the pandemic, for helping to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Public Health has been at the center of the Covid response and she has been at the forefront of case investigations and a key component of daily operations,” said Katie Harvey, the county’s director of personnel and self insurance. “She has been extremely organized, professional and detailed in her work throughout the pandemic.”

Messmer assigns the Covid cases to staff members to investigate, and makes many of the calls herself, staying positive and showing compassion to residents in a stressful situation.

“She monitors all of the investigations and pays close attention to detail to be sure that investigations are conducted appropriately.” Harvey said. “She asks nothing of her staff that she would not do herself. The Health Department has been short staffed in her unit for over a year. However she has consistently provided the coverage needed for the continuity of the Health Department’s response needs.”

Justin Niederhofer, the county’s deputy emergency management coordinator, assisted the Health Department in organizing Covid testing clinics at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds and also the mass vaccination clinics at the Ridgeway Fire Hall.

Niederhofer joined the emergency management office in a part-time role in 2017. That position was increased to full time last year near the start of the pandemic.

He started a N-95 respirator fit testing program for the Orleans County Deputy Sheriffs, and employees at the county jail, probation and department of social services. Niederhofer also assisted Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer, and the personnel office with the county’s communicable disease plan that became an appendix to the existing county continuity of operations plan.

Niederhofer also took the lead on ensuring that the county met the state requirement for a six-month stockpile of personal protective equipment including surgical masks, N-95 respirator masks, gloves, face shields, goggles and hand sanitizer for all county employees.

“All of his hard work and dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic has made Orleans County a better and safer place to live and work for our employees and residents,” Harvey said.

The county’s EAP Committee selects employees of the month. The EAP Committee receives nominations from fellow employees and department directors.

The employees of the months for the past year were: October 2020, Elizabeth Milazzo in Social Services; November, Kevin Colonna in Sheriff’s Office; December, Mary Ellen Messmer in Public Health; January 2021, Leanne Donovan in Office for the Aging; February, Devon Pahuta in Sheriff’s Office; March, Carie Doty in Public Health; April, Joseph Grager in Public Works; May, Patrick McGurn in Computer Services; June, Della Fisher in Office for the Aging; July, Justin Niederhofer in Emergency Management Office; and August, Patricia Marciszewski and Julie Vendetti, Sheriff’s Office – Dispatch.

From this pool of candidates, a Department Head must make a recommendation to a separate committee to determine the Employee of the Year, Harvey said.

“The committee looked for additional service that an employee has performed since the individual was recognized as an Employee of the Month,” Harvey said.

First group of mentors trained to help bridge Digital Divide in Orleans

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The first class of mentors for Orleans County’s Digital Divide initiative pose with program leaders during the first training session last week. From left are volunteers Barb Dunham, Ann McElwee, Michelle Figueroa, training leaders from Can Code Lee McPeter and Rachel Sheridan, volunteers Pamela Denson, Jeanette Worsley and Jessica Sutch and program coordinator from Cooperative Extension, Katie Leach.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 November 2021 at 11:09 am

KNOWLESVILLE – Volunteers training to be mentors in the Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative underwent their first of two days of training Wednesday at Cornell Cooperative Extension at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The initiative, funded by a $364,000 grant from the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, will provide digital education and one-on-one mentors across Orleans County. The grant is being administered by United Way of Orleans County.

“The Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative was established to address widespread societal gaps created by 20 years of rural digital divide,” said Dean Bellack, director of United Way which led the way in applying for the grant.

Lee McPeter with Can Code leads the first training session at Cooperative Extension for mentors in Orleans County’s Digital Divide initiative.

Robert Batt, director of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, was instrumental in applying for this grant, with help from Nyla Gaylord, fundraising coordinator at United Way, and Mary Beth Debus, president of Program Savvy in Buffalo, according to Bellack.

The first step in the process was to contract with Can Code, a company which has developed software career training programs for workforces, to lead in the training of mentors. Nine volunteers from various agencies in Orleans County are currently going through the training process, led by Lee McPeter, career services adviser, and Rachel Sheridan, director of finance and administration. Their ultimate goal is to reach 2,000 people, one-on-one, or in small groups by the end of 2023, thereby increasing digital literacy in Orleans County.

Katie Leach from Cooperative Extension was hired as designated coordinator of the Digital Literacy Initiative.

The two-day training of mentors will teach them all aspects of computers, so they can go out and help individuals use their devices in all areas of their life, such as how to buy a computer, how to access information online, setting up accounts, sending e-mails and using social media safely.

Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County, chats during a lunch break with Katie Leach from Cooperative Extension, who has been designated as coordinator of the mentors for the Digital Divide initiative.

This first group of volunteers come from Community Action, OCALS, Job Development, Office for the Aging and Hoag Library.

Over the next couple of years, Bellack said they have budgeted $30,000 to advertise, by billboards, a direct mail campaign and paid ads to inform the entire county about the services provided by the Digital Divide Initiative grant. He said their goal is to have 2,000 to 3,000 people in the community continuing to train groups.

“The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo believes in digital literacy education,” Bellack said. “A large part of the population in total do not have basic digital literacy skills. More people are shopping online, e-mailing and using social media. Everything has gone from print media to online – all over the United States. These mentors are helping us raise digital literacy. Orleans County is actually the leading county in New York state on educating the public with digital literacy skills. We’re way ahead of the curve, and the credit goes back to Robert Batt.”

Katie Leach, who has a teaching degree in English as an additional language, has been hired to coordinate the program and develop protocol. She will work out of Cooperative Extension, and develop extra curriculum to add to the Can Code training program.

“This will help people, personally and professionally,” Leach said. “I haven’t been so excited in years. I really feel I can give to my community.”

Robert Batt, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, who wrote the grant to support Orleans County’s Digital Divide initiative, checks his notes during the first mentor training session at Cooperative Extension last week. The second training, headed by Mary Beth Debus, will take place Tuesday.

Bellack said mentors are strictly volunteer, but their organization gets a small compensation.

All mentors get a laptop and Chromebooks like children use, so parents can learn how to help them do their homework.

Debus, a professional consultant, who helped organize the program from the start, will lead the next training session on Tuesday.

“In time, this will result in huge benefits to the community and improve a lot of people’s lives,” Bellack said.

Volunteers interested in more information or being mentors for this program are urged to contact Leach at (585) 798-4265, Ext. 146 or e-mail her at kel99@cornell.edu.

Courthouse illumined in green to show support of veterans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 November 2021 at 7:08 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The dome of the Orleans County Courthouse is illumined in green tonight, the 11^thday it has been lighted up in support of veterans. The flags are by a veterans’ memorial that was spearheaded by the Knights of Columbus.

Orleans County is participating in “Operation Green Light” to recognize the service of military personnel.

Veterans continue to serve their community in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, church groups and civil service, county legislators said in resolution last month supporting the green light initiative.

Many of the military personnel experience significant stress in transitioning to civilian life, and many commit suicide in that first year out of the military, legislators said.

“With designation as a Green Light for Military Service County, Orleans County hereby declares from November 1st through Veterans Day, November 11th 2021 a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform transitioning from Active Service,” legislators said in the resolution.

Libraries say they provide important internet access for community

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 November 2021 at 7:00 am

Tom Bindeman, director of the Nioga Library System, said many local public libraries helped residents with internet access, including people using the WiFi in parking lot after hours.

ALBION – The public libraries in Orleans County are making their annual request for county funding, and this time the libraries say they are playing an important role in helping to bridge the digital divide in the county.

The libraries see many patrons come in to use computers with internet access during regular business hours for the libraries. And many also use the libraries’ WiFi in parking lot after hours for internet access, said Tom Bindeman, executive director of the Nioga Library Sytsem, which includes libraries in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties.

“We have people applying for jobs online, applying to colleges online from the parking lot,” he told county legislators last week.

Bindeman and leaders from the four public libraries in Orleans met with the County Legislature to ask for funding in the 2022 budget.

The libraries would like to collectively receive $1 per resident or $40,343. The budget in 2021 included $10,087 that was split up among the libraries in Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina.

The county was giving $29,914 to be shared among the four libraries as recently as 2002, but that dropped to $7,480 in 2003. Since then, the amount was raised to $12,587 in 2007, $13,617 in 2010, and then was cut to $10,087 in 2011. It hasn’t changed since then.

Sandra Shaw, director of the Community Free Library in Holley, thanked legislators for the support in the county budget. She said the libraries are doing more shared programming and borrowing from each other’s collections with the inter-loan program.

The libraries also have embraced Zoom video conferencing during the pandemic to reach people with programming who are off site.

And the libraries offer an extensive online book collection to their patrons, Bindeman said.

The libraries and their internet resources are important in the Nioga system “because there are many dead spots in the three counties,” Bindeman said about the high-speed internet gaps.

Unemployment rate falls below 5% in Orleans for first time in pandemic

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 November 2021 at 9:07 am

The unemployment rate in Orleans County is at 4.3 percent, based on the latest data from the State Department of Labor.

That is the first time the county’s rate has dropped below 5 percent during the Covid-19 pandemic which started in March 2020. It peaked at 16.8 percent in April 2020. This year it’s been as high as 7.6 percent in February.

The rate is down from 5.7 percent in July and 5.6 percent in August to 4.3 percent in September.

The 4.3 percent compares to 5.6 percent a year earlier in September 2020. Orleans has about 500 more people working, from 16,000 to 16,500, with the number on unemployment down from 1,000 to 700 from September 2020 to the same month in 2021, according to the state DOL.

Nationally the unemployment rate is down from 7.7 percent in September 2020 to 4.6 percent this September with 6.23 million more people working, from 147.8 million to 154.0 million.

In New York, the unemployment rate is down from 9.9 percent in September 2020 to 6.3 percent in September 2021, with 282,100 more people working in the state (from 8.38 million to 8.67 million).

Bronx has the highest unemployment rate in the state at 12.4 percent and Yates County is the lowest at 3.2 percent.

Nearby unemployment rates for September include:

Niagara, 4.8
Genesee, 3.7
Livingston, 3.6
Wyoming, 3.6
Monroe, 4.7
Erie, 4.7

Turnout in election 26.7% countywide; Barre highest at 45.6%

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2021 at 9:13 pm

The turnout for the recent local election, which included candidates for towns and county offices, was 26.7 percent or 6,519 voters out of 24,415 registered countywide. That included nine days of early voting and the general election on Nov. 2.

Many of the races were uncontested. Towns without opposition for the candidates had the lowest turnout – 18.3 percent in Albion where three candidates were unopposed.

That compared to the 45.6 percent in Barre, where the town supervisor was contested and two councilmen faced write-in opposition.

Here is a breakdown of the turnout at each of the 10 towns.

Albion: 18.3% – 631 voted out of 3,446 registered
Barre: 45.6% – 599 voted out of 1,314 registered
Carlton: 32.3% – 644 voted out of 1,996 registered
Clarendon: 26.7% – 653 voted out of 2,449 registered
Gaines: 23.1% – 449 voted out of 1,941 registered
Kendall: 34.2% – 613 voted out of 1,793 registered
Murray: 25.8% – 749 voted out of 2,908 registered
Ridgeway: 25.1% – 998 voted out of 3,977 registered
Shelby: 22.3% – 670 voted out of 3,001 registered
Yates: 32.3% – 513 voted out of 1,590 registered
Orleans County: 26.7% – 6,519 voted out of 24,415 registered

Orleans votes against all 5 state-wide propositions

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2021 at 8:34 am

Orleans County voters opposed all five state-wide propositions on the ballot, proposals about the redistricting process, voting, the environment and civil courts in New York City.

Here are the results in Orleans County:

• Proposition one (redistricting) – 5,259 no votes and 928 in favor

• Proposition two (environment) – 3,380 no votes, 2,630 voted yes

• Proposition three (voting) – 5,443 no votes, 799 voted yes

• Proposition four (voting) – 5,284 no votes, 943 yes votes

• Proposition five (courts) – 3,781 no votes, 2,000 yes votes

State-wide, propositions 1, 3 and 4 were rejected and propositions 2 and 5 are likely to have passed, according to media reports.

The Republicans and Conservative parties were among the most vocal opponents to propositions 1, 3 and 4. Proposition 1 would have amended the state’s redistricting process. Proposition 3 would have eliminated a deadline of 10 days before an election for someone to register to vote. Proposition 4 would have authorized no-excuse absentee voting.

Proposition 2 called for established the right to clean air and clean water. And Proposition 5 was focused on civil courts in New York City.

A coalition supporting the changes in redistricting and voting called the results “a black eye for democracy.”

“These results are a cautionary tale showing that even in deep blue New York, we can’t take pro-democracy outcomes for granted,” Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY, said in a statement. “Anti-democracy forces are drowning out common-sense reforms with fear mongering scare tactics, and voters are listening.”

Gerard Kassar, NYS Conservative Party Chairman, tweeted this reaction to the three propositions failing: “Propositions 1,3 & 4 were handily defeated. Shows NY Legislature out of touch with the people. Even in NYC 40 % of those voting sided with the Conservative and Republican Parties in voting no.”

2 new county legislators elected with Ed Morgan and John Fitzak

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2021 at 10:21 pm

Orleans County voters have elected two new members to the County Legislature.

Ed Morgan, a retired Murray highway superintendent, was elected to fill the spot currently held by John DeFillipps, who didn’t seek re-election.

John Fitzak, a Carlton town councilman, also was elected for a district that includes the towns of Carlton, Kendall and Murray. He will succeed Ken DeRoller who didn’t seek re-election.

Here are the results for county positions:

Orleans County (all unopposed)

Kim DeFrank, country treasurer – 4,659
Merle (Skip) Draper of Medina for county legislator, at-large west – 4,427
Don Allport of Gaines for county legislator, at-large central – 4,338
Ed Morgan of Murray for county legislator, at-large east – 4,283
Bill Eick of Shelby for District 1 – 1,250
Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville for District 2 – 1,625
Fred Miller of Albion for District 3 – 439
John Fitzak of Carlton for District 4 – 1,308

County Legislature doesn’t want another ‘earmuff’ congressional district

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2021 at 5:31 pm

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature doesn’t want to see the northern part of the county again used in an “earmuff” district that connects Rochester to the Niagara frontier.

County legislators last week passed a resolution stating their preference for the county to be included in a district with “communities of interest” – other rural counties rather than a metro area 80 miles away.

The northern lakeshore towns of Yates, Carlton and Kendall were included in the now obsolete 28^thCongressional District that was represented by Louise Slaughter until it was done away with redistricting in 2013.

That district “clearly violated the generally accepted criteria for good-government redistricting, particularly in terms of compactness and preservation of communities of interest,” according to a resolution from the Legislature.

The county the past 8 years has been in the 27^thCongressional District, which includes all or parts of eight counties, including the rural GLOW counties.

Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said she wants to see Orleans remain in a district with similar nearby rural counties. She doesn’t want to see the county to be a tag-on to a district dominated by either Erie or Monroe County.

“We just don’t feel we’re like Erie and Monroe County with the way we do business as a small-county government,” Johnson said during a Legislature meeting last Wednesday.

If the county is added to a district that includes Monroe or Erie, Johnson said that district should include other rural counties, such as Genesee and Wyoming, in addition to Orleans.

“Folding any Orleans County towns into a district with a core in the city of Rochester is inconsistent with the principles of a sound redistricting plan,” the Legislature said in its resolution.

The Legislature’s declaration was sent to the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission, members of the State Assembly and State Senate, as well as the offices of the representatives of the 25^th, 26^thand 27^thcongressional districts.

List of polling sites in Orleans County for today’s election

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2021 at 9:12 am

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for today’s election at 11 locations in Orleans County.

There is one change in a polling location. Carlton voters usually vote at the Town Hall, but on Tuesday they will cast their ballots at the Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall on Route 98.

Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion votes at Hoag Library and part of Ridgeway uses the Volunteer Fire Company and Carlton uses the Fire Co. Rec Hall.

Here is a list of the polling sites:

Albion – Districts 1 through 6 – Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Carlton – Districts 1 through 3 – Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
Gaines – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
Kendall – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.
Murray – Districts 1 through 6 – Murray Town Hall, 3840 Fancher Rd. (Route 31)
Ridgeway – Districts 1, 3, 6, 7 – Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, 11392 Ridge Rd.
Ridgeway – Districts 2, 4, 5 – Town Hall, 410 West Ave.
Shelby – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 4062 Salt Works Rd.
Yates – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 8 South Main St.

Orleans participating in ‘Operation Green Light’ to recognize military service

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 November 2021 at 8:34 pm

Residents encouraged to display green lights through Nov. 11

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Courthouse was lighted up in red last week in honor of Red Ribbon Week. The dome will be green through Nov. 11 as part of “Operation Green Light.”

ALBION – Orleans County residents are encouraged to display green lights in their windows at their homes and businesses as part of “Operation Green Light” through Nov. 11. The effort is intended to recognize the service of military personnel.

The county is planning to light the courthouse dome in green from today through Nov. 11 as part of the “Operation Green Light.”

Nancy Traxler, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, urged the community to be part of the effort. She noted the veterans’ population has decreased by 44% over the last 20 years in the state.

Veterans continue to serve their community in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, church groups and civil service, county legislators said in resolution supporting the green light initiative.

Many of the military personnel experience significant stress in transitioning to civilian life, and many commit suicide in that first year out of the military, legislators said.

The New York State Association of Counties is launching the new Operation Green Light initiative to encourage homeowners, businesses, and governments to light up their homes, buildings, courthouses, and bridges green in support of America’s veterans the week of November 7th.

By shining a green light, participants let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported, NYSAC said.

“We wanted to do something special this year to honor the service and immense sacrifice of all our veterans, especially those who served over the last two decades in our nation’s fight against terrorism,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “Operation Green Light gives individuals, businesses and government leaders a way to reach out and let members of the veteran community know what we’re with them and that we appreciate all that they have done to protect our country and our way of life.”

250 have cast ballots in first 7 days of early voting

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 October 2021 at 11:33 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign directs people to the early voting location at the County Office Building on Route 31 in Albion.

ALBION – Nearly 250 people have cast their ballots through early voting in the first seven days it was available in Orleans County.

Early voting continues today and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Board of Elections at the County Office Building on Route 31 in Albion.

There have been 247 early voters in the first week and the daily numbers so far include: 23 on Oct. 23, 21 on Oct. 24, 41 on Oct. 25, 32 on Oct. 26, 40 on Oct. 27, 37 on Oct. 28 and 53 on Oct. 29.

Early voting was popular last year when nearly 4,000 people cast ballots during the nine days. The 3,753 people who voted early was about 10 times the number of early voters in 2019 when early voting debuted and 374 people went to the polls early. There are about 24,000 registered voters in the county.

The polls for the upcoming election will also be open Nov. 2 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at sites in all 10 towns in the county.

RTS Orleans, Medina Transport Taxi will get seniors to some appointments

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 October 2021 at 7:55 am

ALBION – Orleans County has reached agreements with RTS Orleans and Medina Transport Taxi for transportation services for seniors in the county.

The Office for the Aging and County Legislature worked out the agreements after Community Action Transportation System (CATS) discontinued the service.

RTS Orleans in Albion will transport seniors, people 60 and older, from September 20, 2021 to September 19, 2024 at a cost of up to $75,000 for the first year. The county cost is up to $12,352.

Medina Transport Taxi LLC in Medina will provide medical transportation services for Orleans County residents 60 and older from Nov. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2022 at up to $30,000 for the first year, with the county cost up to $5,250.

Melissa Blanar, the Office for the Aging director, said the agreements “give options for older adults to get to their medical appointments.”

New steps and sidewalks go in by County Courthouse

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2021 at 1:50 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County DPW workers continue to work on new sidewalks and steps in front of the Orleans County Courthouse, facing East State Street.

The top photo shows Dan Cook of the DPW using a bull float to smooth out the new concrete for the sidewalk.

Neil Bartel of the DPW smooths out the concrete in the new steps by the entrance near the street leading to a walkway to the courthouse.

Joe Gregor works on the stairs before the concrete was poured. They were in a frame with rebar.

A new main walkway has already gone in, which is slimmer than the previous one. Next week the DPW expects to put in new light pole bases.

These are part of several improvements at the site, where the building was constructed in 1858 and is the focal point of Courthouse Square, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

County Legislature, state legislators present citations to Jeanne Crane

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2021 at 9:51 am

Waterport woman recognized for years of volunteer service

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley presents a citation from the Assembly to Jeanne Crane who was recognized for her many years of volunteer service to the community.

Crane was nominated for an award through the Office for the Aging. Normally the award winners go to Albany for a special recognition as part of Older American’s Day. Crane and the other winners will be recognized during a virtual ceremony on Nov. 5.

Hawley and State Sen. Rob Ortt presented Crane with the citations in person on Wednesday.

“Jeanne embodies what it truly means to volunteer and care for one’s neighbors,” Hawley said.

Jeanne Crane also received a special commendation from County Legislator Fred Miller, left, and Melissa Blanar, the director of the Office for the Aging in Orleans County.

Crane, a retired nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital, has been a long-time volunteer for the hospital, the Orleans County Democratic Party and numerous other organizations and causes in the county.

She was nominated for the award by Cindy Perry and Dorothy Follman for her volunteer work with the hospital. She helps raise funds for the hospital through events such as Treasure Island, Mega Drawing and golf tournaments. These events support renovations to the hospital, purchase updated medical equipment and improve services to patients.

She also was instrumental in a recent campaign to improve the Long Term Care Residential Unit (North Wing) at the hospital. When the call came out for nurses to assist with Covid-19 vaccines, she stepped up and helped several days a week, all day to assist and eventually she was hired to help with the continued effort.

“You have donated and committed numerous hours,” Blanar said. “We appreciate all that you’ve done for Orleans County.”