Location moved from DPW to County EMO on West County House Road

Photo by Tom Rivers: Employees from Environmental Enterprises, Inc. of Cincinnati work at a household hazardous waste collection in Albion on Aug. 16, 2025. EEI employees are at the solvent station where oil, anti-freeze and solvents are collected. More than 500 Orleans County residents were able to get rid of leftover chemicals, batteries, tires, oil and solvents during the household hazardous waste collection day.

Press Release, Orleans County government

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Office today announced that registration is now open for the county’s annual household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event, which will be held on Saturday, August 8.  The event is open to all Orleans County residents but you must register in advance.

Please note the event location has changed to the Orleans County Office of Emergency Management Complex located at 14064 West County House Road West in Albion. The county will collect all acceptable items from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. slot is reserved for tire collection only.

Mandatory registration can be done by calling the county Planning Office at 585-589-3198 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“This is Orleans County’s annual collection event that I know a lot of residents like to plan for to get rid of those leftover chemicals, batteries, tires and other items that are lying around in the garage, basement or shed,” said Corey Winters, director of the Planning Office.  “And more than just getting rid of this clutter, people can be assured these items are being disposed of in a safe and environmentally-responsible way.”

Winters said acceptable items include pesticides, motor oiler & filters, adhesives, antifreeze, solvents,  batteries, fluorescent bulbs, aerosols, old-based paints, empty propane tanks, and new for 2026 tires consisting of Passenger, Commercial, Heavy Duty, Agriculture, and Tracks) (limit 10 passenger and 10 of the other types.)

Items that cannot be accepted include explosives, pressurized tanks, ammunition, PCBs, radioactive waste, medical waste, and electronics.  If you have questions regarding a specific item, please call the Planning Office.

“We have opened up registration early so we can properly plan and be ready to accommodate as many residents as possible who want to take part,” said Winters.  “When you call to register, please be prepared to generally describe the type of chemicals and/or the number of tires you will be disposing.”

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans County government

ALBION – July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the foundational document of the American Revolution, which took place between 1774 and 1783 and led to the creation of the United States of America.

What is now the State of New York played a crucial and enduring role not only during the Revolutionary Era but also throughout the subsequent 250 years of the nation’s history.

Sunday was Flag Day and to celebrate that day in conjunction with our nation’s 250th birthday, we have added a special commemorative flag to fly under the official United States flag at our county administration building in Albion.

Throughout the year, Orleans County will celebrate America 250 with history lectures, themed events, reenactments, parades, and more. Learn more at https://www.orleanscountytourism.com/america-250.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – We are pleased to announce that the Orleans County Animal Shelter, operated under the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, has received a $500,000 grant under the 2025-2026 New York State Companion Animal Projects Funds Grant Program.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Inspectors issued reports in 2024 and 2025 indicating that our shelter was not in compliance with current and newly enacted standards with respect to the infrastructure and animal housing areas of our facility. Undersheriff Donald Draper Jr., along with our Animal Control Officers, worked with the NYS Ag and Markets Officials to identify the areas of our shelter in need of improvement  The Companion Animal Projects Grant application required a tremendous amount of work including identifying contractors to provide quotes for the mandatory upgrades to bring us into compliance with state standards.

The Orleans County Animal Shelter needs concrete replacement, drainage repair and replacement, new inside and outside kennels and related equipment, a new HVAC system for proper temperature control, electrical work and lighting, resizing the inside housing areas for dogs and cats to meet new standards along with other structural work.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Animal Control Officers will continue to respond to calls for service regarding issues with dogs and cats. We will temporarily house cats when necessary pursuant to the NYS Public Health Law and the Agriculture and Markets Law. We currently have very limited suitable space for cats.

Our Shelter cannot be a drop-off location for cats, but we are working closely with our cat rescue partners locally and in Western New York to find suitable placements for cats in need of care and housing. We are also in the process of rebuilding our shelter’s volunteer program along with partnering with local rescues to ensure we provided the opportunity for as many animals as possible to find new homes. Our goal is to serve our community and care for our animals to the best of our ability.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced nearly $140 million in federal funding is available to support counterterrorism and emergency preparedness efforts across the state, with $56,260 headed to Orleans County for counterterrorism and $17,611 for the county’s emergency preparedness efforts.

The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through its FY 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program and its Emergency Management Performance Grant, supports regional homeland security preparedness efforts, including planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise activities which are critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities, the governor said.

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services manages these programs in close coordination with local stakeholders.

“Threat landscapes are constantly evolving, and it is vital that our communities are prepared for anything that may come their way,” Governor Hochul said. “With this funding, we’re making sure our partners at every level of government have the training and resources needed to keep New Yorkers safe. We are grateful to our federal partners for their assistance in securing these grants to help make New York a safer and more secure place for all.”

FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program is comprised of three separate risk-based grants aimed at assisting state, local and tribal efforts in preventing, preparing for, protecting against and responding to acts of terrorism. Those programs are the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative and Operation Stonegarden.

The breakdown in funding includes:

• State Homeland Security Program – $38.2 million. The State Homeland Security Program provides funding to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic disasters.
• Urban Area Security Initiative – $92.2 million. This funding is awarded to jurisdictions in the New York City metropolitan area under the Urban Area Security Initiative grant. The region will use this money to sustain and enhance their critical anti-terrorism programs.
• Operation Stonegarden Grant Program – $2.7 million. This grant provides critical funding to enhance cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies through the support of joint operations which are conducted along the northern border.
• Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) – $6.6 million. This federal funding was awarded to county emergency management agencies in New York State to support planning and operational readiness for disaster response.

Photos by Natalie Baron: Maya Tatar is excited and all laughs as she is handed her award from County Legislator John Fitzak during the Youth Recognition Awards Banquet at the White Birch in Lyndonville.

By Natalie Baron, correspondent

LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Youth Bureau celebrated its 44th annual youth banquet on Wednesday, and awards were presented to young people nominated for their character, along with three adults who have positively impacted children.

The event took place at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. The evening opened with keynote speaker Julie Berry, New York Times Bestselling Author who has published children’s and young adult books. She is also owner of Medina’s bookstore, Author’s Note. Berry implored the kids to hold onto their hopes and aspirations in a world that might tell them their dreams are far-fetched.

Keynote speaker Julie Berry provides words of wisdom to the young award winners.

Berry described how she was a high schooler who knew only how to be a good student, but through further learning and training, she discovered how to accomplish her goals, and that the audience can do the same.

She stated that one must have a willingness to try with a sense of neutrality, not shame if it does not work out, learning to embrace the struggle. Berry was motivated by a woman who laughed at her for saying she wanted to be a children’s author, helping her to move past her own shame, saying we each need to find our own motivator.

She asked the youths to hold onto their good character that they have presented to the community in order to be nominated for these awards, even in a world that can seem cruel. She provided the analogy that acts of kindness, honesty, fairness, and forgiveness are like deposits into a bank account, and later in one’s life, one should want to see a full account.

“Don’t let the world change you from the shining lights you are today,” Berry said.

Before the award recipients walked the stage, the Youth Bureau took a moment to recognize the Youth Board’s new young members. These three introduced the students who received honors.

Emma O’Neill is a junior at Kendall Junior-Senior High School and has been an active member on the youth board since 2023. She is in National Honor Society and has performed in productions such as Freaky Friday, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, and Willy Wonka. Emma has also been performing at Head Over Heels dance studio for 10 years.

Grace Goodrich is from Medina Junior-Senior High School, and this is her first year on the board. She is involved in the Orleans County 4-H Fair and clubs at school, including PAAC Student Association, which promotes the knowledge and acceptance of cultures, and National Honor Society.

Samaj Miller is enrolled at Albion High School as a junior. She joined the youth board in 2026. Active in basketball and track, Samaj also sings at church and works over summer breaks. She is caring and willing to lend a helping hand to peers who are struggling. Samaj loves to spend quality time with friends and family.

The youth award recipients were given certificates from the youth board, an Orleans County Youth Bureau water bottle, a yard sign, a portrait photo captured by Gia Marquardt, a Taco Bell certificate, and a convocation certificate from the Orleans County Legislature, as well as citations from State Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Stephen Hawley.

Pictured, from left to right: Nora Lindsay, Colton Smith, Maya Tatar, Krysta Laitenberger, Isabella Bresett, Winter English, Maddison Hults, Izabella Garcia, Neveya Barnes, Elizibeth Conner and Logan Callara.

Neveya Barnes of Albion was nominated by Valerie Pettit. Neveya is stated to be kind and someone who, for her peers, is always willing to go the extra mile. She is a busy student, as not only a class officer, but also as an active participant in chorus, band, Student Council, and more. She additionally partakes in Girl Scouts and volunteering, and she assists community events.

Isabella “Bella” Bresett of Lyndonville , nominated by Aaron T. Slack, is involved in both sports and music. She speaks out as a student liaison to the Lyndonville Board of Education and as the editor-in-chief of the award-winning school newspaper, Tiger Talks.

Logan Callara of Medina was nominated by David Sevenski. Logan began his entrepreneurship journey at just thirteen years old. He built up his business, today serving the Orleans and Niagara counties. Logan has both landscaped and tended to the community, helping it grow.

Elizibeth Conner of Albion, nominated by Valerie Pettit, has participated in the Orleans County Youth Court program and has many hours of community service via this program. She is known to be friendly and willing to help out with many local projects.

Izabella Garcia of Medina was nominated by Andrea Krawiec. She has assisted with several community events. For the past two years, Izabella participated in Medina IMPACT Day, helping to bring students together to make impacts on campus as well as out in the community.

Krysta Laitenberger of Kendall, nominated by Jourdan Kludt, is enthusiastic and passionate toward cheerleading. She has put in time showing elementary school-aged children proper safety techniques and is known to have a kind heart, a free spirit, and an inclusive and caring nature.

Nora Lindsay of Holley was nominated by Samantha Zelent, Gabriel Lindsay, and Kelly Marzano. She has a strong capacity to think of others and a caring nature. She believes in making both her community and the world better places and is willing to put in effort toward that goal. Nora prioritizes kindness and always includes everyone.

Colton Smith of Lyndonville, nominated by Aaron T. Slack, is a three-sport varsity standout athlete who simultaneously maintains a strong academic record. He has spent many hours dedicated to improving his community as an Eagle Scout.

Maya Tatar of Kendall was nominated by Jourdan Kludt. Maya is active in both band and in stage management for the school musical. She is dedicated to helping out and is very reliable. At church, she performs both via singing and instruments. Every week, she helps out with children’s church.

Winter English of Kendall, nominated by Mirjam Bauer, loves to read and volunteer, bringing these worlds together by volunteering at the Hamlin Public Library. She is also captain of the varsity cheerleader team, a track & field athlete, and a member of the school musical. She is known to always go above and beyond in anything she sets out to do.

Maddison “Maddy” Hults of Kendall was nominated by Mirjam Bauer. Maddy is a musician and a dancer who volunteers at her dance studio in order to help younger students. At school, she participates in anything she is able to, and she always brings out 100% effort. She is said to make the most of every situation with a great attitude.

Pictured, from left to right: Jami Allport, Brie Trembley, and Jonathan Trembley.

Jami Allport, nominated by Chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature Lynne Johnson, received the Helen R. Brinsmaid Adult Youth Worker Award. This honor “recognizes paid professionals who demonstrate exemplary services for youth and families in Orleans County,” Johnson explained. She said kids need help and hope, and someone to support them, and that Allport embodies this ideal.

Allport serves as the Executive Director of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern and its Youth and Family Empowerment Program. She is dedicated to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and safe space for youths and focuses on opening up opportunities for shared experiences and positive engagement. She puts on many games, events, and activities that are accessible for all, removing financial barriers, reflective of her commitment to the values of equity, inclusion, and community.

Additionally, Allport is a cheerleading coach at Albion High School, serving as a mentor and advocate who is always open to students who need emotional support. Her time dedicated to these students creates a positive influence on their personal development, self-confidence, and academics.

Allport took a moment to reflect on receiving an award surrounded by young leaders, something she did not take lightly. She stated she comes at her job trying to have fun, and that if someone finds something important, that person will find the time to make it happen, as can be seen in her giving time and energy to always support the needs of the youths she works with. She emphasized, “It’s not me, it’s we.”

Jonathan and Brie Trembley were nominated by Brittany Dix to receive the Eileen Heye Adult Youth Volunteer Award. The award recognizes individuals who tirelessly give time to better children’s lives. These individuals prove to be role models for the kids.

Brie and Jonathan organize theme nights at their local church for the children. They also put together monthly projects that are both educational and fun. During the 4-H Fair, they can often be found participating in outdoor games with the kids partaking in the games and acting as judges for karaoke contests. They also instruct the Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band. Jonathan and Brie are always ready to offer kind words, hugs, smiles, and a calming presence to overwhelmed children. They are kind, humble, disciplined, and compassionate, serving the youths of the community in their free time with joy.

The evening closed after a delightful meal and many congratulations. The community is so glad to have each of these active and kind individuals.

Izabella Garcia of Medina is all smiles as she proudly walks the stage.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved 2 percent raises for department heads and elected officials, with the increases in January 2027 and January 2028.

That matches what the county has offered in raises in recent years as part of its management compensation plan.

The employees in the agreement include those outside the Sheriff’s Office and CSEA contracts. The management agreement includes about 121 full- and part-time employees.

The raises were approved at last week’s County Legislature meeting.

“The Legislature desires to control costs and provide certainty for the budget process as it relates to compensation for management and elected officials,” according to a resolution that passed unanimously.

Villages, towns get small percentage of AIM funding from NYS

Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 6 shows the clock and Main Street lift bridge in Albion. The village of Albion receives about $47,000 from the state in AIM and Temporary Municipal Assistance. Cities that are similar in size to the village of Albion receive far more. The City of Salamanca in Cattaraugus City receives $928,131 in AIM and another $323,328 in TMA. Salamanca has a population of 5,929 while Albion’s is 5,637.

The $268 billion enacted state budget from last week triples funding to muncipalities in Temporary Municipal Assistance, up from $50 million in the 2025-26 state budget to $150 million in the new budget.

The state began offering the Temporary Municipal Assistance in the 2024-25 budget at $50 million.

The temporary aid is on top of the $715 million for Aid and Incentives to Municipalities, which distributes AIM funding statewide to towns, villages and cities outside of New York City.  With AIM, the cities get $647.1 million or 90.5 percent of the total, while towns statewide receive $47.9 million, and villages share $19.7 million.

The TMA follows the same percentages with the overwhelming majority going to cities. Some of the tripling of TMA will trickle down to towns and villages in Orleans County.

Here is the breakdown of AIM and Temporary Assistance for Orleans County municipalities:

• Village of Albion – $38,811 AIM, $8,145 TMA, population 5,637
• Village of Holley – $17,786 AIM, $3,732 TMA, population 1,754
• Village of Lyndonville – $6,251 AIM, $1,311 TMA, population 791
• Village of Medina – $45,523 AIM, $9,555 TMA, population 6,047
• Town of Albion – $46,944 AIM, $9,852 TMA, population 7,639
• Town of Barre – $12,486 AIM, $2,619 TMA, population 1,830
• Town of Carlton – $13,680 AIM, $2,871 TMA, population 2,823
• Town of Clarendon – $11,416 AIM, $2,397 TMA, population 3,305
• Town of Gaines – $21,323 AIM, $4,476 TMA, population 3,226
• Town of Kendall – $21,299 AIM, $4,470 TMA, population 2,614
• Town of Murray – $44,677 AIM, $9,375 TMA, population 4,806
• Town of Ridgeway – $46,273 AIM, $9,711 TMA, population 6,577
• Town of Shelby – $45,007 AIM, $9,447 TMA, population 4,878
• Town of Yates – $10,421 AIM, $2,187 TMA, population 2,567

Orleans County doesn’t have any cities and its 10 towns and four villages will get a total of $80,148 as part of the TMA allocations. The county has a population of 40,343 so the temporary aid amounts to about $2 per person.

The cities get a lot more in assistance from the state. Here are some examples of smaller cities and their AIM and TMA:

• City of Batavia in Genesee County – $1,750,975 AIM, $609,978 TMA, population 15,174
• City of Salamanca in Cattaraugus City – $928,131 AIM, $323,328 TMA, population 5,929
• City of Sherrill in Oneida City – $372,689 AIM, $129,831 TMA, population 3,077
• City of Lockport in Niagara County – $2,650,525 AIM, $923,349 TMA, population 20,876

Governor Kathy Hochul said the boost in temporary aid  will help cities, towns and villages with rising costs.

“As bad federal policies like tariffs drive inflation and continue to raise costs for local governments, we are providing additional aid to localities to help hold the line on local taxes,” Governor Hochul said. “Strong local communities mean an even stronger New York, and these investments will go a long way to ensure that our local governments can continue to deliver for the communities they serve.”

Photo by Isabella Zasa: Orly the Ox rides a hydro-bike on the Erie Canal in Medina on July 18. This was one of five photos that won a statewide contest.

A photo of an ox mascot riding a hydrobike in Medina’s Canal Basin is one of five state-wide winners in a photo contest by the New York State Association of Counties.

Isabella Zasa, a digital contest creator and tourism assistant in the county’s Tourism Department, took the photo on July 18 showing Orly the Ox. In the background are people on kayaks, the Glenwood Avenue canal bridge and the “Big Apple” sculpture created by Richard Bannister.

Zasa spent part of her time last year creating frequent social media posts with Orly highlighting local history, attractions and activities in Orleans County. The hydrobike feature was among more than 200 posts that Zasa helped created in 2025, when Orly was out for Orleans County’s bicentennial celebration.

The New York State Association of Counties welcomes photos each year in contest that wants to “capture the spirit of your county.”

The rules state: “County government has many angles to capture, including public safety, infrastructure, public health, parks, community engagement, and more! Whether it’s an infrastructure project, a community event, or a snapshot of county operations, your photo can help illustrate the impact of counties across New York State.”

Zasa’s photo of Orly the Ox will be featured in an NYSAC News magazine as well as the 2027 NYSAC Calendar.

This photo of Main Street in Batavia and the Upton Monument was taken out of the old Genesee County Courthouse by Steven Falitico and also was among the five winners in the photo contest.

Other winners included “Tompkins County Naturalization Ceremony” at the County Courthouse in Ithaca by Robert Henry; “Madsion County Fair at Dusk” in Brookfield by Melissa During; and an aerial photo of “Chemung County, NY Government Sewer Consolidation Project” in Elmira by Jett Industries, Inc.

Pay hikes will get Orleans to average salaries for smaller counties

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved a three-year contract with 24 members of the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, giving the 24 members a boost in pay to bring the group to the average pay for deputies in smaller counties.

The agreement includes deputies, sergeants, criminal investigators and lieutenants. They are currently about $5,400 below the average base salary for their positions among 13 smaller counties. In Orleans, they currently have a base salary of about $75,000.

They will get a 6.6 percent raise in 2027, bring the base pay to about $80,000, and will then receive 2.5 percent increases every six months – Jan. 1, 2028; July 1, 2028; Jan. 1, 2029; and July 1, 2029.

The agreement brings Orleans in line with the salaries among other smaller counties, and still well below the pay offered by larger law enforcement departments in nearby Monroe County, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. Some of those departments are offering $100,000 to start, he said. In Orleans, new deputies start at about $60,000 base salary.

The county used 13 comparable counties to compare the pay rates. Legislature Chairwoman thanked Welch, county attorney Kathy Bogan and Sheriff Chris Bourke for their work on the agreement which is in place seven months before the current contract expires.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has authorized the county to use a $6 million bond to pay for a new emergency management office at 14064 West County House Rd.

The Legislature in a unanimous vote on Tuesday authorized the county treasurer to issue a bond. That follows a vote about a month ago when the County Legislature approved about $5 million in construction bids today for a new Emergency Management Office.

The total cost of the EMO facility is expected to be about $5.5 million. The Legislature still needs to approve a bid for electric work on the building.

The new building will be one-story and 7,700 square feet. It was downsized from a proposal for a 17,000-square-foot building. Initially county officials sought a new building that was 11,000 square feet for offices and classrooms, and another 5,600 square feet for equipment storage. That complex would have topped $12 million.

The county has a $2 million federal grant secured by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney towards the project. That puts the local contribution to the building at about $3.5 million. (The county needs to spend the money towards the building and then gets reimbursed the $2 million from the federal government.)

The construction bids approved on April 28 include $3,931,000 for general construction by the Watson Construction Group Inc. of Albion; $360,000 for plumbing/fire protection by McGrain Mechanical of Rochester; and $547,500 to McGrain Mechanical of Rochester for HVAC.

The new building will be west of the current structure that is about 3,000 square feet. Most of the current EMO building is underground and is prone to flooding after heavy rains. It isn’t handicapped accessible and is tight on space.

County officials eventually want to have that building demolished but that isn’t part of the construction bids approved today.

The new building will include offices for the EMO’s three full-time staff, a classroom for training for firefighters and other first responders, and space to have the backup 911 dispatch system.

Legislators approved two other resolutions on Tuesday related to the EMO.

The Legislature approved paying Colliers Engineering & Design in Rochester $110,546 and $20,717 for professional services for the Emergency Management Office facility.

The county also will be renting space from the Fancher, Hulberton and Murray Volunteer Fire Co. at 3353 Hulberton Rd. in Holley from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2031, using two apparatus bays for equipment and miscellaneous storage needs at no cost for first year then $10,000 each subsequent year.

With the new building being downsized, the EMO has some storage needs. The agreement with FHM will allow the EMO to store a command post, foam trailer for when there are spills, PPE (personal protective equipment) and supplies for the Health Department.

The fire trucks from FHM are now kept at the Holley fire hall. Mercy Flight also is using part of the FHM site to keep ambulances.