Central, eastern Orleans in particular often face long responses

Photos by Tom Rivers: Justin Niederhofer, deputy director of Emergency Management Office in Orleans County, speaks at Tuesday’s Orleans County Association of Municipalities meeting at Tillman’s Village Inn. Dale Banker, the EMO director at left, also shared challenges facing EMS providers.

ALBION – The EMS system is in crisis in Orleans County, with too few responders and not enough ambulances, often resulting in delayed responses.

That was the message from the county’s Emergency Management Office which reviewed recent data showing increased dropped calls and slower responses, especially in eastern and central Orleans.

The western end of the county, which is primarily served by the Medina Fire Department with career firefighters, isn’t plagued by the issues.

Justin Niederhofer, deputy director of Emergency Management Office in Orleans County, said many of the paramedic and EMT positions require extensive training, but don’t pay very well with little fringe benefits. The pay isn’t much better than working in fast food or minimum wage jobs, without the training and responsibilities.

The shortage of responders has long been a concern among local officials, but in recent months the response times have grown longer with more dropped calls in central and eastern Orleans, Niederhofer said.

The ambulance providers are fiscally challenged with low reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid, and many patients who keep the insurance checks rather than turning them to the ambulance companies, Niederhofer said. There are also many patients without insurance resulting in little revenue for COVA, Monroe Ambulance and other providers.

The county is looking to establish a task force to strengthen the local EMS, and one solution may include creating some positions through the county to help improve response times and service to residents in a health crisis. Some other counties have added ambulances and staff to supplement services and fill gaps in EMS coverage.

“There are 12 broken pieces to the puzzle,” said Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director.

He wants to see the state change a law to allow the ambulance providers to directly be paid by insurance companies, rather than the checks going to patients who often keep them.

The companies also need higher reimbursement rates to better cover their costs and pay their staff more.

Banker and Niederhofer said they will continue to look at models in other counties in the state, to see how they are trying to improve EMS services.

“Every county around us is being impacted,” Niederhofer said.

Allen Turner, communications director at the dispatch center for the county, said many people call for an ambulance when they don’t need one, which stresses the EMS system.

In Orleans County, only the Kendall Fire Department continues to run an all-volunteer ambulance. Albion, Clarendon, Holley and Carlton all have taken their ambulances out of service.

That puts more pressure on COVA in central Orleans and Monroe Ambulance for eastern Orleans to respond to calls.

The fewer ambulances in the county also are tend to be more unavailable with the closing of Lakeside Memorial Hospital in Brockport. Those ambulances have to drive farther towards Rochester to hospitals. Although the Brockport site is now Strong West, the ambulances still are often sent to Rochester hospitals and that ties up crews for longer times. Niederhofer said the short-staffed hospitals also are slower in being able to accept patients. What used to be one or two hour call is often four hours or more, Niederhofer said.

That longer time commitment also is leading to increased burnout, especially for the volunteers, he said.

County legislators Ken DeRoller and John DeFillipps said the EMS challenges need to be a top priority for the elected officials at the village, town, county and state levels.

“This is a major deal,” DeRoller said during Tuesday’s meeting. “We need leadership in this county.”

DeFillipps urged the county officials to “step up” and take the lead. The county showed with broadband internet it can lead in resolving an issue of county-wide importance, he said.

Many of the town, village and county officials said they would serve on the task force and would push for solutions with the EMS crisis.

“Let’s get a task force together and get it done,” said Richard Moy, the Clarendon town supervisor.

In the meantime, Allen Turner, the county’s communications coordinator for dispatch, said a public information campaign is needed to educate people on appropriate calls for an ambulance. Many people could be transported in a personal vehicle which wouldn’t tie up an ambulance, Turner said.

“We have a lot of people who call unnecessarily,” he said.

The public also has an unrealistic expectation that the ambulance will be there within five minutes of a call, Turner said.

DeRoller said quick action is needed because he fears some of the ambulance providers are struggling and may not be able to keep providing service, “which will put even more pressure on the system.”

ALBION – Registered voters in Orleans County can go to the polls beginning today and through Oct. 31 for early voting.

This will be the third year of early voting with polls open at the Board of Elections at the County Office Building at 14016 State Route 31.

The early voting hours include:

• October 23: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• October 24: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• October 25: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• October 26: noon to 8 p.m.
• October 27: noon to 8 p.m.
• October 28: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• October 29: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• October 30: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• October 31: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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.

Most of the candidates on the ballot will be unopposed. None of the candidates for county positions have opposition and only a few positions at the town level are contested.

Here is the slate of candidates:

• Orleans County (all unopposed) – Kim DeFrank for country treasurer; Merle (Skip) Draper of Medina for county legislator, at-large west; Don Allport of Gaines for county legislator, at-large central; Ed Morgan of Murray for county legislator, at-large east; Bill Eick of Shelby for District 1; Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville for District 2; Fred Miller of Albion for District 3; John Fitzak of Carlton for District 4. All the county candidates are Republicans, except Fred Miller, who is a Democrat.
• Albion — All of the candidates are unopposed, including Richard Remley for town supervisor; and Sandra Bensley and Arnold Allen Jr. for the Town Board.
• Barre – Sean Pogue, a Republican, is being challenged for town supervisor by Gerald Solazzo, who is running under the independent “Voice of the Citizens.” George McKenna and David Waters are on the ballot for positions on the Town Board. They have the Republican line and also the independent “Voice of the Citizens.” However, Steve Harling and Tom Decker are mounting a write-in campaign against McKenna and Waters.
• Carlton – Two are vying for town clerk with incumbent Karen Narburgh having the Republican and Conservative lines while Dori Goetze runs under the independent “Be the Change.” Other Carlton candidates are unopposed: Kevin Hurley for town justice, Jeff Gifaldi and Debbie Yokel for Town Board, and Kurt Van Wyke for highway superintendent.
• Clarendon – Richard Moy is unopposed for another term as town supervisor, while three candidates seek two spots on the Town Board. Chris Caufield and Marc Major are backed by the Republican Party and William Fox is running as a Democrat.
• Gaines – The Republicans are all unopposed including Tyler Allport for town supervisor, Susan Heard for town clerk, Charles Prentice for town justice, and James Kirby and Kenneth Rush for Town Board.
• Kendall – The candidates, all running under the Republican Party line, are unopposed including Anthony Cammarata for town supervisor, Amy Richardson for town clerk, Debra Kluth and Robert Fagan for town justice, Wayne Martin and Paul Jennings for Town Board, and Warren Kruger for highway superintendent.
• Murray – The candidates are all unopposed on the ballot, including Joe Sidonio for town supervisor, Cindy Oliver for town clerk, Gary Passarell for town justice, Michael Mele and Paul Hendel for Town Board, and Dirk Lammes Jr. for highway superintendent.
• Ridgeway – There are races for town clerk and the Town Board. For town clerk, Hannah Hill is running under the Republican line and independent “Hannah Hill for a Better Ridgeway” against Laurie Kilburn, who is endorsed by the Conservative Party and also is running under the independent “Laurie Kilburn for the People of Ridgeway.” Three are seeking two spots on the Town Board including Jeff Toussaint and Cliff Barber, who are running as Republicans against David Stalker, who is backed by the Conservative Party. John Olinger is unopposed for highway superintendent.
• Shelby – Jeff Smith is uncontested for town supervisor and Stephen Seitz Sr. and Edward Zelazny are unopposed for the Town Board.
• Yates – There are seeking two spots as town councilmen with Harold Suhr and Terry Chaffee Jr. running as Republicans against Paul Lauricella Jr., who is backed by the Conservative Party and also is running under the independent “Lyndonville Taxpayers First Party.” Jim Simon is unopposed for town supervisor and Donald Grabowski is uncontested for town justice.

ALBION – Today is National Drug Take Back Day and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will be accepting unused and expired medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 13925 State Rt. 31, Albion.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications and sharps for safe and proper disposal,” said Sheriff Chris Bourke. “Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion, abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.”

This will be drive-up event due to Covid-19 concerns. All medications and sharps will be collected from participants at their vehicles.

Waterport woman to be recognized by state and county

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jeanne Crane shows her patriotic spirit during the Fourth of July parade in Lyndonville in 2015.

WATERPORT – A very active community volunteer will be recognized on Older American’s Day in Albany during a virtual ceremony on Nov. 5.

Jeanne Crane also will be commended for her service by the Orleans County Legislature next week.

Crane, a retired nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital, has been nominated and selected to be the county’s representative for Older American’s Day.

She has been a long-time volunteer for Medina Memorial 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.

Crane spent hours planning for the events, preparing for them, promoting the events, as well as volunteering at the events. She 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.

The Office for the Aging in Orleans County said Crane volunteers at many organizations:

• Orleans Community Health – TWIGS (current president), many hospital projects (Treasure Island, golf tournaments, Mega Drawings, Orleans Community Health Foundation Board member (past president), and vaccinations clinics
• AFS – hosted 3 students from Columbia, Costa Rica and Mexico
• HANYS Statewide Committee for Healthcare Auxiliaries
• Genesee Valley State Parks Commission Board
• Current Vice President of Beta Sigma Phi – women’s group with a goal of culture, social and education development
• Catholic Daughters – current Regent
• 25 years of leading Orleans County Democratic Party
• Volunteers with Holy Trinity Church
• Volunteer at vaccination clinics
• first woman in Orleans County to serve on Lewiston Trail-Council of Boys Scouts of America Board Member

Crane has always felt a “calling” to help others, said Melissa Blanar, the Officie for the Aging director in Orleans County.

“This is evident by the career she chose as a nurse and by the multitude of volunteering she has done in the past and continues to do,” Blanar said. “She has touched the lives of hundreds of individuals. She feels a commitment to improve the health and well-being of her community.  Volunteering enables her to support her beliefs and to help others by giving back to her community. The reward you get from volunteering is unmeasurable. Volunteering cannot be measured by any pay!”

‘The best kind of parent is a loving parent. It’s always better to err on the side of love.’ – Curt Follman, peer counselor

Photos by Tom Rivers: Curt Follman, a father of seven, has volunteered as a peer counselor at Care Net for five years. He has worked with about 30 young men.

ALBION – An organization that provides ultrasounds and many services to women and children also runs a peer counseling for men.

Care Net of Greater Orleans has peer counselors who meet regularly with men, going through a parenting workbook and offering encouragement and strategies for coping with stress and expressing love.

Care Net is celebrating its 30^thyear in Orleans County. Wende Swick, the director, wanted the community to know about the peer counseling program.

“We’re not just a center for women,” she said.

Curt Follman, a father of 7 and a retired school teacher, has met with about 30 men over the past five years. He meets with three guys a week. He typically meets with the men for 8 to 10 weeks. They go over a “Homes with Honor” workbook.

“It’s all about respect, showing love and valuing each other as a family,” Follman said. “It’s about honoring those in the home.”

Follman will help the men in other ways, if needed. He taught one to drive so he could get his license. He stays in touch with many, long after the program ends. Some sign up for additional classes.

Follman said he wished he went through the program when he was a young dad.

“Parenting doesn’t come with a manual,” he said. “It’s difficult.”

He stresses to the men that becoming a father brings new responsibilities.

“Your life is no longer your own,” he said. “It’s not just about you anymore. Now it’s also about this mom and child, and you need to step up to the plate.”

Follman discusses parenting styles and encourages responding to others with grace and understanding.

“The dominant style is the worst,” he said. “The best kind of parent is a loving parent. It’s always better to err on the side of love.”

The Rev. Randy LeBaron also volunteers as a peer counselor at Care Net.

Randy LeBaron, a local minister and father of four, also volunteers as a peer counselor.

“Most people have a father wound,” LeBaron said.

He has volunteered at Care Net for 17 years, including the past two years as a peer counselor helping with parenting classes for men.

“I can honestly say that it has been one of the most fulfilling things that I get to do week to week,” LeBaron said. “The guys that I get to work with are often in crisis mode, sometimes coming as a mandate from the court, but I have found each one to be open and wanting to learn how to be a better parent and a better man.”

LeBaron sees transformed men in the process.

“One of my favorite things is getting to see change happen when they let down their guard and open their lives up to God,” he said. “At the end of each session I offer to pray with them and even those most reluctant at first anticipate this and often share needs well beyond the scope of our meeting together.”

Some of the men are assigned to the program through court or Child Protective Service through DSS. Others sign up on their own.

LeBaron said he tries to refrain from judging people who are court-appointed and have a CPS referral. He finds fathers in these situations are often very caring.

“One of the reasons that I got involved working with men at Care Net is because I have a testimony that includes being healed from a father wound and I find that many of the men I meet have experienced something similar and are also looking for healing so that they do not perpetuate the hurt by causing pain as a parent,” LeBaron said. “I also see, within the context of Care Net, the need to not only show love and support to a mother and her child but to recognize the significance of the father’s potential role in that child’s life whether or not the two are still a couple or are separate but choosing to co-parent.”

Follman also said he doesn’t judge. He said people make mistakes.

“God is the God of second chances and some of these people need second chances,” he said.

Follman has a spinal injury and he shares how he was injured diving in a pool about 40 years ago. He was paralyzed from the chest down initially but was able to walk out of a VA Medical Center in Cleveland after six months. He has some limited mobility and needs to give people a nub, instead of a firm handshake.

“They see I don’t have everything in control,” Follman said about his injury.

Follman said he isn’t an all-knowing peer counselor. He strives to listen as much as offering insight.

Swick, the Care Net director, praised the peer counselors and also the men in the program for being vulnerable and wanting to be better parents.

“Here, we’re gentle and not in your face,” Swick said. “We show God’s love to everybody.”

For more on Care Net of Greater Orleans, click here.

Photos courtesy of Orleans County Youth Bureau

KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County had its seventh annual Family Game Night last Thursday at the at the Trolley Building at Cornell Cooperative Extension.

About 100 people attended the event. There were also 14 departments in the county government that participated, educating the families about the services offered.

The event was sponsored by the Orleans County Youth Bureau and Legislative Office. The Game Night included dinner, games to play, displays to visit and a new board game for every family.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – Sheriff Chris Bourke is pleased to announce that the Sheriff’s Office will again participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications and sharps for safe and proper disposal. Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion, abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.

Due to the Current Covid-19 restrictions, the Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a drive-up event. All medications and sharps will be collected from participants at their vehicle. We are kindly requesting face coverings while participating in this event.

The only authorized collection site for this event will be located at the Orleans County Public Safety Building, 13925 State Route 31. We apologize for any inconvenience of not having multiple collection locations for this event and thank the community for your understanding.

Most of the candidates on the ballot for the Nov. 2 election in Orleans County will be unopposed.

None of the candidates for county positions have opposition and only a few positions at the town level are contested.

Voters go to the polls on Nov. 2, and there will also be early voting from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31 at the Board of Elections at the County Office Building on Route 31 in Albion.

Nearly all the candidates are Republicans. Only two Democrats are on the ballot. Others made the ballot filing independent petitions or running under the Conservative Party.

Here is the slate of candidates:

• Orleans County (all unopposed) – Kim DeFrank for country treasurer; Merle (Skip) Draper of Medina for county legislator, at-large west; Don Allport of Gaines for county legislator, at-large central; Ed Morgan of Murray for county legislator, at-large east; Bill Eick of Shelby for District 1; Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville for District 2; Fred Miller of Albion for District 3; John Fitzak of Carlton for District 4.

All the county candidates are Republicans, except Fred Miller, who is a Democrat. Morgan and Fitzak are running for the Legislature for the first time. Morgan is seeking the spot held by John DeFilipps who is retiring on Dec. 31. Fitzak is running for the position held by Ken DeRoller, who isn’t seeking re-election.

• Albion — All of the candidates are unopposed, including Richard Remley for town supervisor; and Sandra Bensley and Arnold Allen Jr. for the Town Board.

• Barre – Sean Pogue, a Republican, is being challenged for town supervisor by Gerald Solazzo, who is running under the independent “Voice of the Citizens.” George McKenna and David Waters are on the ballot for positions on the Town Board. They have the Republican line and also the independent “Voice of the Citizens.” However, Steve Harling and Tom Decker are mounting a write-in campaign against McKenna and Waters.

• Carlton – Two are vying for town clerk with incumbent Karen Narburgh having the Republican and Conservative lines while Dori Goetze runs under the independent “Be the Change.” Other Carlton candidates are unopposed: Kevin Hurley for town justice, Jeff Gifaldi and Debbie Yokel for Town Board, and Kurt Van Wyke for highway superintendent.

• Clarendon – Richard Moy is unopposed for another term as town supervisor, while three candidates seek two spots on the Town Board. Chris Caufield and Marc Major are backed by the Republican Party and William Fox is running as a Democrat.

• Gaines – The Republicans are all unopposed including Tyler Allport for town supervisor, Susan Heard for town clerk, Charles Prentice for town justice, and James Kirby and Kenneth Rush for Town Board.

• Kendall – The candidates, all running under the Republican Party line, are unopposed including Anthony Cammarata for town supervisor, Amy Richardson for town clerk, Debra Kluth and Robert Fagan for town justice, Wayne Martin and Paul Jennings for Town Board, and Warren Kruger for highway superintendent.

• Murray – The candidates are all unopposed on the ballot, including Joe Sidonio for town supervisor, Cindy Oliver for town clerk, Gary Passarell for town justice, Michael Mele and Paul Hendel for Town Board, and Dirk Lammes Jr. for highway superintendent.

• Ridgeway – There are races for town clerk and the Town Board. For town clerk, Hannah Hill is running under the Republican line and independent “Hannah Hill for a Better Ridgeway” against Laurie Kilburn, who is endorsed by the Conservative Party and also is running under the independent “Laurie Kilburn for the People of Ridgeway.”

Three are seeking two spots on the Town Board including Jeff Toussaint and Cliff Barber, who are running as Republicans against David Stalker, who is backed by the Conservative Party. John Olinger is unopposed for highway superintendent.

• Shelby – Jeff Smith is uncontested for town supervisor and Stephen Seitz Sr. and Edward Zelazny are unopposed for the Town Board.

• Yates – There are seeking two spots as town councilmen with Harold Suhr and Terry Chaffee Jr. running as Republicans against Paul Lauricella Jr., who is backed by the Conservative Party and also is running under the independent “Lyndonville Taxpayers First Party.” Jim Simon is unopposed for town supervisor and Donald Grabowski is uncontested for town justice.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller spoke at last month’s Orleans County Planning Board, sharing his concerns about current zoning that pushes for larger lot sizes, making it more costly to build new houses.

ALBION – An Orleans County legislator who will be retiring on Dec. 31 is making a strong push before he leaves office to have local municipalities start working to make changes to reverse a population decline.

Ken DeRoller of Kendall said the municipalities need to review their zoning and ordinances and allow smaller lot sizes for smaller new houses, which would make the projects more affordable. He also said many younger adults and senior citizens would prefer high-density housing such as townhouses and condominiums.

“I’m concerned about what I see here in Orleans County in regards to housing,” DeRoller told the Orleans County Planning Board on Sept. 23. “I charge this planning group to have conversations to make sure we have the right zoning and policies for the right housing mix.”

He sees plummeting student enrollments in school districts in the past generation despite school districts with very high graduation rates. The enrollment for the five districts is down 20.7 percent in a decade from 2008-09 to 2018-19. The districts went from 7,155 students in 2008-09 to 5,673 in 2018-19.

Housing is part of the equation for attracting and keeping people in the county, DeRoller said. The county also needs more higher-paying jobs, he said.

There are currently 15,200 people working in the county, and half of those positions are filled by people who don’t live in Orleans, DeRoller said.

He suspects many of the workers driving into the county would stay in Orleans with the right housing options.

The county legislator suggested the municipalities work with the ag community to identify some farmland that could be used for smaller building lots. Right now about half or 128,802 acres of the county’s total acreage receives an ag exemption. There are 117,380 acres in the county’s ag district.

The County Planning Board discussed a housing study during its meeting on Sept. 23.

Orleans has an aging population with the average age up from 36 in 2000 to 43 in 2019. As people become senior citizens they typically like to stay near friends and family, but DeRoller said many Orleans County seniors move to senior housing in Brockport, Batavia or Rochester because of limited sites in Orleans County.

“We need pressure on our municipal leadership to work on these issues,” DeRoller told the Planning Board.

He also has been a driving force on a committee working on a waterfront development plan for the Erie Canal. That document will soon go before municipal boards for their approval. DeRoller said the canal is underutilized. He is talking with developers about creating more housing options along the historic waterway.

He also is working on a waterfront development plan for Lake Ontario and Johnson Creek, with housing a part of that initiative.

“The Lake Ontario shoreline is an economic engine with tax value,” DeRoller said.

He is pleased to see a more fortified shoreline with stronger breakwalls, and said a $9 million sewer project in Kendall should result in more residents.

The four local villages also have spots for new housing and high-density projects. Albion, Medina and Holley, however, have some of the highest combined taxes – village, town, school and county – in the country, as a percentage of overall household income. Those villages need to be more affordable to be more appealing for retaining and attracting residents and businesses, DeRoller said.

Paul Hendel, a member of the Planning Board, also heads the Orleans County Economic Development Agency. He said housing is a critical piece to attracting businesses to the county.

“It’s a domino effect,” Hendel said. “Businesses if they relocate here want to know where will they live.”

Ken DeRoller also spoke with the Albion Rotary Club, going over the housing study with showed a population drop of 9 percent in the county over 20 years from 2000 to 2020. DeRoller would like to see more housing options – smaller lots for new builds, and townhouses and condominiums.

Gary Daum, a Planning Board member from Yates, said he sees many properties in distress that aren’t well maintained. He sees many abandoned houses throughout the county. He wondered if service groups could take up mowing lawns and trimming bushes.

“Show that you care – clean up and repair,” Daum said.

He also highlighted Yates town officials who are working on a $2.5 million upgrade of the Town Park along Lake Ontario. That project will be a significant boost to the local quality of life.

Some of the key findings in a housing study by LaBella for Orleans include:

• The county has an aging housing stock and about half of the houses need repairs.
• The median household income in the county also makes it difficult for landlords to charge enough rent, making for a low return on investment.
• Building permits for housing are about a third of what they were 15 years ago. The redevelopment of the former Holley High School, which added 42 apartment units last year, is an exception. Those units were quickly rented out and show there is demand for high-density living in the county.
• Single-family, owner-occupied units dominate the market: About 50 percent of housing stock throughout the county is comprised of single-family homes on large lots. Future projections show a need for smaller homes on smaller lot sizes, which would also drive down the costs for a new house.
• Almost 50 percent of renter households have housing problems and cannot afford market rents: The report states that 49 percent of renters are living in units that are not affordable. Housing Choice vouchers available in the county address some of the affordability issues, but only a small fraction of the need. The report also says 51 percent of renters have housing problems such as incomplete kitchens or bathrooms and more than one person per bedroom.
• More than 50 percent of housing stock is 60 years or older: Housing maintenance is therefore a major priority in the county, Labella stated in the report.
• Renters and homeowners both have housing problems: The number of homeowners with housing problems (3,010, according to the report) exceeds the number of renters (2,010) with housing problems.
• Return on investment is low for owners and rental developers: Rental rates in inflation adjusted dollars have decreased over the last 20 years, and home values, in inflation adjusted dollars, are also down in the 20 years. (This doesn’t include the recent spike in the past year with many homes selling for 20 to 25 percent above assessed value.) The lack of growth in rental rates and home values discourages upgrades and maintenance of homes, as well as new developments.
• Population decreasing: Orleans County’s population is down 5.9 percent from 2010 to 2020 or by 2,540 people, from 42,883 to 40,343. From 2000, the decline is 8.7 percent when the population was 44,171. “Finding ways to attract new residents would increase the demand for housing,” the report states.
• Shrinking household sizes: The size of the average household shrunk from 2.65 in 2000 to 2.28 in 2019.
• The report also finds a need for more housing units for extremely low-income households, and there is also demand for higher-priced apartments.

Orleans County should receive anywhere from $347,049.64 to $606,299.83 as part of $1.5 billion to be distributed throughout the state as part of an opioid settlement with drug manufacturers and distributors.

Attorney General Letitia James announced the settlement funds today.

Orleans County will need to formulate a committee regarding the funds, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.

“The vast majority of this money is for rehab-type services and intervention,” Welch said. “These funds are not intended to have any effect on the County’s budget. By that I mean any reimbursement for existing expenses of the County’s services.”

The state has defined uses for the funds to include treating opioid use disorder, supporting people in treatment and recovery, connecting people who need help to assistance, preventing misuse of opioids, and preventing overdose deaths and other harms, Welch said.

“Needless to say, it will take some time to ensure that this money will be utilized as authorized,” he said.

Press Release, Orleans County Youth Bureau

KNOWLESVILLE – October 7th is the 7th annual Family Game Night in Orleans County.  This event is sponsored by the Orleans County Youth Bureau and Legislative Office.

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

The booths will provide information on a wide array of services for youth and families that are available in Orleans County. Cost, including dinner, is $5 for a family of four or $3 for individuals.

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

There will also be a couple drawings throughout the night. Additional contributors to the evening are Cornell Cooperative Extension, Avanti Pizza, Medina Lions Club, Village House Restaurant, LynOaken Farms, Evan’s ACE Hardware & Building Supplies, Albion ACE Hardware, TOPS, Wal-Mart, Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Rudy’s Soda Bar & Café, and Tillman’s Historic Village Inn.

County will highlight Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 23-31

File photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This photo from late June 2020 shows the Courthouse dome illumined partially in red. That was one of six colors shining on the dome for a week in honor of the Class of 2020 at Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina. The dome that week had filters made by Takeform in Medina to display six colors: red, blue, white, orange, purple and yellow.

The County Legislature on Wednesday approved a request from GCASA to light the dome in red from Oct. 23-31 for Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Week is a national drug prevention education campaign, with a focus on spreading awareness about the dangers of drug addiction and urging people to live drug-free lives.

Bourke said department has ‘top-notch employees from top to bottom’

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION — Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, left, reads a proclamation on behalf of the Legislature proclaiming Sept. 19-25 as “Sheriff’s Week” in Orleans County. Several members of the Sheriff’s Office attended the Legislature meeting on Wednesday afternoon to receive the proclamation.

“It is fitting to celebrate the historical contributions of the Office of Sheriff and the significant role it plays in our modern criminal justice system, and commend Sheriff Christopher Bourke and ALL the men and women of this Department for an outstanding job of “Keeping the Peace,” Allport said in reading the proclamation.

Bourke said the Sheriff’s Office has “top-notch employees from top to bottom.” He praised the employees in the criminal division, those who work in the jail, the Marine Patrol and as dispatchers for their service.

He also thanked the county legislators and Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch for their support, including with the funding provided for the Sheriff’s Office.

Bourke said it is a challenging time to be wearing the uniform.

“It’s a disgrace to see law enforcement demonized the last 20 months,” Bourke said.

County legislators on Wednesday also commended Deputy Ashleigh Stornelli who on Tuesday was recognized as the “Women of Distinction” in the 62^nd State Senate District by Sen. Rob Ortt. Stornelli has worked as a deputy the past six years, including three years as a school resource officer in Kendall. She recently rejoined the road patrol and is looking to join the county’s SWAT team.