Photo by Tom Rivers: A crew from Russia travelled the Erie Canal on a boat, Pilgrim, last Aug. 7. They are shown headed west under the Ingersoll Street lift bridge in Albion.

The leader of the New York Power Authority, which oversees the state’s canal system, responded to rumors about the upcoming canal season, saying it should be back on a normal schedule after a shortened season last year due to Covid-19.

Gil C. Quiniones, president and CEO of NYPA, issued this statement this morning:

“The New York State Canal system has been, and continues to be, a significant driver of economic development for upstate communities and a valuable resource for recreation. As the 2021 navigation season approaches, the Canal Corporation is actively engaging with a wide range of local stakeholders across New York who rely on the waterway to identify their needs.

“The Canal Corporation is also assessing and addressing portions of the system’s aging infrastructure. These projects include undertaking efforts to optimize operation of the locks and lift bridges based on usage data when the Canal system opens this spring. As in previous years, the Canal system is projected to operate mid-May through mid-October and no changes are expected to the normal hours of operation.

“In addition, New York State’s iconic Erie Canal is not being renamed. The Erie Canal will remain the Erie Canal just as it has been for two centuries.”

Last year the opening of the canal system was pushed back from May to June 26, after canal staff and construction crews were sidelined early in the pandemic. That prevented the State Canal Corp. from doing some of the work needed before the canals could be opened.

During a conference call on Tuesday evening with Orleans County officials, Josh Veronica of State Sen. Rob Ortt’s office said there was concern in the canal communities that the start of the season might again be delayed.

Many of the businesses along the canal “took a big hit” last year and already have boating trips and other services scheduled for this year, said Veronica, Ortt’s director of community relations.

“The rumors of shortened season are not true at this point,” Veronica said. “We’ll advocate for those canals being open for as long as possible.”

New York’s Canal system spans 524 miles and includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. The New York State Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority.

Community Action, Office for the Aging team up for the service

ALBION – A handyman to perform minor repairs for seniors in Orleans County is something Orleans County Office for the Aging’s director Melissa Blanar has wanted for years.

Annette Finch, director of Emergency Services for Community Action, said it has been a dream of hers for a very long time.

The dream has been realized with the announcement of James Westphal of Albion, hired as county’s first handyman.

His position is funded by a $10,000 grant from the WNY Covid-19 Community Response Fund, which Finch learned about and applied for. It is effective until 2023.

“This gives Melissa and I the opportunity to look for other grants to continue the service,” Finch said.

“We are very excited about this program,” Blanar said. “We get calls all the time from seniors who don’t have family in the area.”

“Now they have a place to turn,” Finch said.

Westphal is highly qualified for the handyman position, Finch said. He also had to pass a background check because the job requires him to go into the homes of senior citizens.

Westphal had been working as an inspector for power plants, when his job was terminated due to cutbacks in the Covid pandemic.

“We gave him this opportunity to go back to work,” Finch said. “He is very friendly and everybody loves him.”

Prior to his job as a power plant inspector, Westphal worked for 15 years as a sales person for Coca Cola and Budweiser.

“I enjoy having a job,” he said.

The handyman position is part time now, but Finch hopes she’ll be able to eventually put him on full time.

Westphal knows Community Action’s maintenance supervisor Greg Gilman, and works together with him very well, Finch said.

The handyman service is available to seniors 60 or older who reside in Orleans County, Blanar said.

Finch would love to be able to offer it in the future to disabled younger adults.

Finch said the service is a collaboration between Community Action and the Office for the Aging. Community Action acquired the grant and hired the handyman, while the Office for the Aging will accept and screen requests for handyman projects.

Requests for minor repair work can be made by calling Samantha at the Office for the Aging at 589-2863, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The types of projects Westphal will be able to handle include installing handrails, grab bars or handheld shower heads; installing smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors; repairing stairs; minor ramp repairs; limited window repairs; minor electrical repairs; replacing lightbulbs; taking out or installing window air conditioners; fixing faucets; unclogging drains; minor flooring repairs; minor roof patching; weather stripping; adjusting doors; repairing existing storm doors; installing locksets and deadbolts; installing heat tape; and repairing or installing mailboxes.

Some projects may be ineligible for the handyman service, or if there is a job which Westphal can’t do, Community Action or the Office for the Aging will refer it to the appropriate agency, Blanar said. For instance, if a furnace quit, it could be referred to HEAP.

In a case where a repair might be expensive, the senior might be asked to pay for the materials, Finch said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Contractors put in the racking system for a solar project at Beals Road by Route 31 in Ridgeway on Oct. 12, 2019. Borrego Solar Systems also built a solar array on Allis Road. The projects are on 16.5 acres on Beals Road and 29 acres on Allis Road, land owned by Ken Baker, a local livestock farmer.

ALBION – Many of the towns in Orleans County are being eyed for renewable energy projects, especially solar projects.

The smaller-scale solar typically take up 20 to 50 acres. But one project in Barre and Shelby would need 1,300 acres.

Utility-size wind energy projects in Barre and Yates would also consume some farmland for turbines, and perhaps for access roads and other infrastructure for the projects.

The solar projects, however, are more plentiful locally and would take up more land.

Matt Passarell, an Albion town councilman, told Orleans County Planning Board members he doesn’t want the county to lose prime farmland to the projects. Agriculture is the county’s top industry, and Passarell said the community leaders need to work with state and federal officials to make sure agriculture stays a powerful economic driver in the county. Albion is among the towns being considered for solar projects.

Jim Bensley, the county’s director of Planning and Development, said there is concern from planning officials in other rural areas in Western New York that farmland could be lost due to the energy projects.

Orleans County could see more big solar projects which could put some of the prime farmland at risk.

Jim Panek of Panek Farms was on the agenda last Thursday for a solar project in Lyndonville. That 340-kilowatt solar energy system is at Lynwood Drive along the right-of-way for the former Hojack railroad line on land that isn’t good farmland.

Panek also has solar arrays on Eagle Harbor Road in Albion at a former harness racing training track, which also was;t good for crops.

He said he gets three or four letters a week from solar companies looking to do projects. He would only consider them on marginal farmland.

“We aren’t going to take our prime farmland away to do a solar farm,” he told the Planning Board.

The energy companies want land that is close to transmission lines. Farmers have tried to steer companies to land without drainage tile or that isn’t very productive.

If more renewable energy projects are in the future, some of the more fertile soil could be targeted for the projects.

Bruce Kirby, a retired fruit grower on Densmore Road in Gaines, is a member of the County Planning Board. He said his farm twice was approached for solar projects, which didn’t become a reality.

He said the revenue from those projects can provide critical funding to keep farms, especially smaller operations, in business.

He also said the projects don’t change the land forever. The soil could be farmed when the solar panels or turbines are removed.

“It’s not permanent,” Kirby said. “We’re not destroying the ag resource you have in this county. Ask around and see how much people are making in farming. These projects provide secondary money to help farms.”

Nearly 3,000 have filled out survey so far

A group that is researching the internet gaps in Orleans County and developing a plan to improve broadband access is moving to a solutions phase.

The public is welcome to sign up for different sessions beginning this week. The more participation, the better in helping the Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative Steering Team pursue funding for expanded internet in the county, said Mary Beth Debus, president of Program Savvy Consulting.

She is assisting in the steering team in compiling the data about the internet shortcomings in the county, and trying to identify funding sources to expand services.

“The first several months we’ve been trying to define how different communities within the community are impacted by the lack of internet,” Debus said.

So far, nearly 3,000 people have filled out 48-question surveys about internet access and needs. The steering committee would like to have 5,000 surveys completed, but Debus said having nearly 3,000 surveys filled out so far “is a really impressive number” and shows the community is engaged in the issue. Click here to see the survey.

The committee will have 16 different sessions to dig deeper in the local internet challenges and gaps. Click here to see the topics and to register. If you register for a session, you should also register for the orientation.

Some of the topics include:

• Digital Literacy: Older Adults – How might we help older adults discover opportunities provided by learning technology as well as how to use devices/access internet? How do we alert to concerns of fraud and misinformation? Might we push in these services through existing infrastructure?
• Digital Literacy: Youth – How might we address gaps in digital literacy for Youth? How might we integrate internet safety into programming? How might we teach computer skills (vs. just phone).
• Economic Equity: Access to Internet and Devices – How might we increase access to internet and devices for those with economic barriers?
• Increasing Content for the Spanish Speaking Community – How might we increase access to content, training, coaching, and resources for primarily Spanish speaking community? How might we teach use of translation options?
• Digital Literacy: Expanding Existing Services – There are existing training and coaching programs within Orleans County including BOCES, GLOW Workforce Development, NIOGA Libraries, and GCC BEST Center. How might we make these more accessible to the community? How can we design to be fully utilized and self-sustaining?
• Digital Literacy: The Unemployed and Underemployed – How might we build the digital literacy skills of those out of work or displaced such that they can more successfully find and secure jobs? How might we link the unemployed to existing programs to support them?
• Digital Literacy: Preparing the Future Workforce – What are the skills most needed in the future and what are some mechanisms for building these skills in future employees? In what ways can the business community/employers help to develop this workforce? What services/trainings/supports would be helpful to exist to support all businesses?
• Digital Literacy – Supporting Schools, Students, and Families – How might the school systems support the community in developing digital literacy skills? What is the best way to offer support? How do we take full advantage of investment in technology? How do we support educators, students, and families?
• Accessing and Using Internet: Solutions – How might we develop access to information technology resources for nonprofits? How might we enable use of technology for nonprofits to better achieve their missions?
• Improving Internet Access – How can people with poor internet improve that internet? What options might be available? How do we alert people to these options? How might we reduce economic barriers?
• Digital Literacy: Improving Access for Those Living with Disabilities – How might access to internet and devices be improved for those with disabilities? How might we teach digital literacy in an inclusive manner? How do we teach safety?
• Improving Access to Health Care – How might we help patients learn to successfully participate in tele-med? How do we share the benefits? How do we develop health literacy? How do we ensure that they have access to devices that will work for them? Could we design positions that support digital/health literacy?
• Developing an IT Workforce – How might we both attract educational programs to the community and recruit participants to these programs? How might we connect need to future jobs? How might we support those most in need of employment?
• Designing a Digital Literacy Campaign – How do we get the community engaged in wanting to improve skills? How might we help the community to know the value of digital literacy? How do we share where to go to get help?
• Putting It All Together: Developing an Initiative – This set of sessions will review all of the ideas from the individual sessions and search for overlaps, contingencies, and opportunities for coordination. This will be a longer process and will take place over three sessions and will require prework of reading prepared document of prior work.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Patty Fredendall, center, was greeted by friends and family today at 5 p.m. in the parking lot at the Public Safety Building. She worked her last day for the county today after more than 33 years, with the first 27 at the county nursing home and the past six at the Probation Department.

“I work with a great group of people,” Fredendall said. “I have a great family and a great work family.”

The Holley resident started with the nursing home as a medical records technician in October 1987. She went to the Probation Department in April 2015 and worked there as an account clerk typist.

Patty Fredendall is pictured with a big group of family and friends today after she worked her last day for the county.

Fredendall was presented with a “Special Recognition Award” on Wednesday by Lynne Johnson, the Orleans County Legislature chairwoman.

“Pat has been a great asset to both the Nursing Home and the Probation Department,” Johnson said. “Your dedication and expertise has benefited our county tremendously. We appreciate your support and commitment.”

Luci Taylor-Welch, the Probation Department director, said Fredendall will be “greatly missed” by her co-workers.

“Pat is an extremely conscientious employee who goes above and beyond in all that she does,” Taylor-Welch said.

Provided photo: Fredendall’s colleagues at the Probation Department congratulate her on her retirement.

2 honored for saving Walmart customer; Undersheriff praised for quick action in avoiding head-on collision

Photos by Tom Rivers: Congressman Chris Jacobs, third from left, presented Congressional Commendations to three law enforcement officers in Orleans County, including Orleans County Undersheriff Mike Mele, Investigator Kevin Colonna and State Trooper Scott Gregson. Pictured from left include Undersheriff Mele, Sheriff Chris Bourke, Congressman Jacobs, Investigator Colonna, Trooper Gregson and Major James Hall, Troop A commander based in Batavia.

ALBION – Three law enforcement officers in Orleans County were presented with Congressional Commendations today for life-saving efforts while on duty.

Congressman Chris Jacobs presented the commendations in the legislative chambers at the Orleans County Administration Building.

“These men have answered the call to serve their communities,” Jacobs said. “They are wonderful examples of law enforcement officers.”

Congressman Chris Jacobs presents the commendation to Sheriff’s Office Investigator Kevin Colonna, who was joined by his wife Kallie and 1-year-old son, Cal.

He first recognized State Trooper Scott Gregson and Kevin Colonna, an investigator with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. They responded to call at Walmart in Albion on Nov. 3.

That day a 77-year-old man was down, non-responsive in the store and not breathing. A Walmart employee did chest compressions while Gregson ran to get an A.E.D. (automated external defibrillator) from his patrol vehicle.

Colonna had just had refresher training two weeks before on an AED. The two officers administered the AED and the shock revived the man.

State troopers have been carrying AEDs in most of their patrol cars for at least five years, said Major James Hall, Troop A commander based in Batavia. The troopers are often the first on the scene for people in medical distress.

State Trooper Scott Gregson is presented his commendation by Congressman Jacobs. Gregson is joined by Major James Hall, Troop A commander based in Batavia.

Undersheriff Mike Mele attended the event in the legislative chambers to show his support for Colonna. It was Mele’s first public appearance since he was badly injured on Dec. 5 in a car accident on Route 31 in Albion.

Mele was driving to the Public Safety Building after meeting with two people in a Covid compliance check for the Health Department.

On his way driving on slick, snow-covered roads, another driver slid across the center line and would have hit Mele in a head-on collision. He instead turned right and went off the road. He struck the corner of a house and suffered three broken ribs and badly broken right leg.

He had his dog, Sadie, with him. Sadie, a mastiff, died from her injuries from the crash.

Undersheriff Mike Mele is joined by Sheriff Chris Bourke when Mele accepted the Congressional Commendation from Jacobs.

Jacobs presented Mele with a Congressional Commendation for his quick action, which may have saved the other driver’s life – certainly sparing her from serious injury.

Mele said he remains in pain from his right leg. Doctors just discovered two more broken bones near his ankle. He has had to keep the leg straight after getting plates and screws in his tibia plateau, the area below the kneecap.

He expects to begin physical therapy in early March and return to the office in mid-March.

He said he has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from the community and law enforcement agencies around the state. He said at least half of the sheriff’s offices from the state have sent cards, wishing him well in his recovery. Many in the community have dropped off meals and have been praying for him.

“I’ve been really humbled by all the support and the cards,” he said.

Mele has stayed connected to the Sheriff’s Office through Zoom meetings and phone calls. He said he is used to an active lifestyle and taking on many rolls for the Sheriff’s Office.

“Some things in life you take for granted, and one is being able to get out of bed and walk,” Mele said. “Everyday it’s getting better, but this has been hard. I’ve gone from functioning on three to four hours of sleep to be totally bedridden.”

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke announced there will be two public forums in February for residents to discuss community perceptions on policing, police oversight and police reforms.

These forums will be conducted to meet the requirements set by Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1, requiring all police agencies in the state

Cuomo is requiring all 500 jurisdictions with law enforcement agencies to adopt a plan for reform by April 1 to be eligible for future state funding. The plan needs to have a chance for public comment. Some police agencies and communities may decide no reform is needed and the agency is meeting the expectations of their residents, Cuomo has said.

The Orleans County Legislature today approved the following appointments as Reform and Reinvention Community members of the Collaborative Committee on behalf of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

• Chris Bourke, Orleans County Sheriff
• Jack Welch, Chief Administrative Officer
• Jeff Gifaldi, Orleans County Chief Deputy
• Jimmy White, Orleans County Seasonal Marine Deputy
• Margie Aldeco, Community Participant
• Trellis Pore, Community Participant
• Thaddeus Nauden, Community Participant
• Eddie English, Community Participant

The sessions will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 and Feb. 8 at the Orleans County Office Building, Legislature Chambers on the second floor, 141016 Route 31 west, Albion, NY 14411. Capacity is limited to 50 people. The meetings will also be available through Zoom videoconferencing.

The Zoom meeting ID is 861 4221 7035 with the passcode: 412090. To join the meeting by phone, call +1 646 558 8656 US (New York).

The Sheriff’s Office intends to conduct these meetings with the public present to review current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures and practices to develop a plan to improve such deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, for the purposes of addressing the particular needs of the communities served by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and promote community engagement to foster trust, fairness, and legitimacy, and to address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.

Ken DeRoller and John DeFilipps have been key county leaders

Photos by Tom Rivers: John DeFilipps, left, and Ken DeRoller are shown in May 2013 when they were both endorsed for the first time by the Orleans County Republican Committee to run for the County Legislature. The two have notified Republican Party leaders they don’t plan to seek re-election.

John DeFilipps of Clarendon and Ken DeRoller of Kendall joined the Orleans County Legislature together just over seven years ago. The two from the east side of the county have been very active and visible, pushing key issues and connecting with local residents and officials at the state and federal levels.

Both have notified Orleans County Republican Party officials they don’t intend to seek re-election to another two-year term.

“Their work ethic has been amazing,” said Skip Draper, a county legislator who is also chairman of the Orleans County Republican Party. “They are very good legislators.”

The election cycle starts sooner now. Candidates used to pursue endorsements from the local parties in April and May. But the schedule was moved up by the state last year. The local political parties are already recruiting candidates and checking with incumbent office holders to see their intentions.

DeFilipps and DeRoller both said they pride themselves on giving the job their all. But they don’t want to be so busy in what is supposed to be a part-time position.

“I like different challenges and it’s time to move on,” DeRoller said today. “I’m the type of person who is built to be 100 percent all in.”

He has been instrumental in having the county and local municipalities tackle waterfront plans along Lake Ontario and the Erie Canal. He also is a member of the Leadership Orleans program, and said it’s critical for the community to develop and encourage a new generation of leaders. The program gives each class exposure to many sectors in the county, from tourism, economic development, agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare and more. The 2020 class was interrupted from Covid-19 but is scheduled to resume in April.

DeRoller and DeFilipps are both members of the Orleans Economic Development Agency board of directors. DeRoller is pleased the EDA supported the Cottages at Troutburg in Kendall, where new homes are being built along the lakefront. The agency also has worked to have 300 acres certified and shovel-ready at the Medina Business Park.

The two also graduated from a County Government Institute run by the New York State Association of Counties. They have both pushed to connect with officials in Albany and Washington, DC.

“You have to be in the room where the decisions are being made,” DeFilipps said.

DeFilipps, 63, joined the Legislature after 12 years on the Clarendon Town Board and after retiring from General Motors, farming on the much and running a convenience store in Clarendon.

John DeFilipps takes the oath of office on Aug. 14, 2017 from former County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard. DeFilipps was picked by the other legislators to serve as the chairman for part of his tenure on the Legislature.

DeFilipps is an at-large legislator, which is a county-wide position. DeRoller represents District 4, the towns of Kendall, Murray and Carlton and the Village of Holley. Both have gone beyond what could reasonably be expected.

In addition to his county committees, DeFilipps serves on the boards for the EDA, the Soil and Water Conservation District and the Fish and Wildlife Board. He also attends many of the town and village meetings around the county, and even goes to many of the county committee meetings which he isn’t on.

“It’s a tough decision,” DeFilipps said about his plan to retire from the Legislature after this year. “But there may be other opportunities.”

DeFilipps said it takes about four years to get a good handle on all of the local issues, and to connect with all the local, state and federal officials, as well as key local stakeholders.

“There is a lot to learn,” he said. “I try to go to all the meetings and I am constantly reading.”

DeFilipps said government is set up to keep the elected officials in “silos.” That’s why he goes to so many village, town and county meetings, as well as connecting with state and federal officials.  He wants to see the whole picture.

County Legislator Ken DeRoller speaks during a public meeting in April 2018 about a waterfront plan for the towns of Carlton, Yates and Kendall.

DeRoller, 74, has made economic development a focus, and not just larger projects through the EDA. He supported making the tourism director a full-time position with a sole focus on tourism. Dawn Borchert serves in the role and the county attends more trade shows, distributes more tourism guides under her leadership. The county has also experienced growth in bed tax since expanding its tourism focus.

DeRoller also sees much more potential in Lake Ontario and the Erie Canal. That’s why he has spearheaded the waterfront development plans for both. The Erie Canal, in particular, has been “vastly underutilized,” he said.

DeRoller serves on the state’s Canal Recreationway Commission and is a county representative on the Genesee/Finger Lakes Planning Council.

He will be pushing this year to finalize a waterfront development plan for the Erie Canal in Orleans County. That document is nearly done and can be used to pursue grant funding for projects in the canal communities.

DeRoller is retired after 38 years at Kodak, including 12 years in the information technology department as a business analyst. He also worked with materials handling and logistics for the company.

He served 25 years on the Kendall Town Planning Board, including 15 years as its chairman. DeRoller was particularly interested in the lakefront and making better use of the 7 miles of lakefront in Kendall.

He helped write the comprehensive plan that made it possible to turn a former Salvation Army Camp into the Cottages of Troutburg.

DeRoller also has been an active crusader in getting the state to repave parts of the Lake Ontario State Parkway and rehab some of the Erie Canal bridges.

He estimates he has a collection of about 1,000 business cards from people he’s met in his role advocating for the county.

“I have liked the different challenges, but I feel like it’s time to move on,” DeRoller said. “I’ve built relationships with so many quality people.”

DeRoller and DeFilipps said the county faces many challenges, including the need for more widespread broadband internet.

“You’ve got to push and push,” DeRoller said. “We all need to keep working together.”

Organization trying new approach in annual fundraising campaign

United Way of Orleans County’s announcement earlier this month of a $100,000 grant from Eastman Savings and Loan is among the latest funding which has been targeted for the county, through United Way, to help with Covid-related hardships.

Dean Bellack

This week, United Way of Orleans County’s director Dean Bellack announced another grant of $45,000 from the Western New York Covid-19 Community Response Fund, which has been distributed to 16 of the nearly two dozen agencies United Way funds in Orleans County. Bellack formed a committee to set the allocations from the grant.

So far the biggest amount from this grant, $7,000, was given to Community Action to purchase a refrigerator and freezer for the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley. In addition, $5,000 was awarded to Meals on Wheels, $4,000 to the Kendall Food Pantry to help with their move and new refrigerator units, and $4,000 to the YMCA in Medina for childcare needs and supplies.

Bellack joined United Way as a board member in March 2019. At that same meeting director Kaitlyn Delamarter submitted her resignation to take another job, and Bellack volunteered to offer his services as director, as he had just sold his company and retired.

He immediately saw potential for the United Way to accomplish more in Orleans County if the organization changed how it was viewed and how it asked for money. He began to broaden United Way’s image by working with other non-profits in the county and reaching outside the county for financial assistance.

His strategy paid off.

During a recent meeting with Community Action and Ministry of Concern, at which a $100,000 grant from Eastman Savings and Loan was announced, Annette Finch, director of emergency services at Community Action, praised Bellack’s insight for reaching outside the county for much-needed funding.  Although 2020 was a very challenging year due to the pandemic, nearly a quarter of a million dollars was received (and distributed) in Orleans County by United Way.

Several more grants were received, including $40,000 from ESL Bank, which was passed on to Community Action to use for housing assistance. Another grant for $50,000 was received from FEMA, which was again directed to Community Action for different housing needs.

The Buffalo Community Foundation reached out to United Way of Orleans County and gave $25,000. Another $15,000 was received from ESL, and $10,000 was received through United Health Care’s Blue Fund. This is one of the foundations around Orleans County that have reached out to United Way this year to help. These efforts by them and the communications United Way has established with them have formed new partnerships which will benefit the community moving forward, Bellack said.

“We were fortunate this year because foundations expanded their giving into Orleans,” he said.

United Way of Orleans County also received $10,000 from the Western New York Covid-19 Community Response Fund through the Buffalo Community Foundation, and $55,000 to hire a consultant to lead the county’s current efforts to bridge the digital divide.

‘We have to work together. We have to think bigger. We have to expand our horizon. By looking at it from a different perspective, we are changing the landscape.’ – Dean Bellack, United Way executive director

Bellack said Orleans County didn’t receive dollars from these large foundations outside the county in the past because “We never asked.”

“Only 6 percent of Foundation dollars goes to rural communities, even though we represent 18 percent of the national population,” Bellack said. “Only 3 percent of large corporate gifting goes to rural areas. We had the president of the Ralph Wilson Foundation on a Hub call a few weeks ago and he told us they want to give to rural communities. These foundations and corporations want to help rural communities, but they are not giving nearly as much as they can because the requests are not coming in.”

The major reason for not asking is because small charities often don’t have the personnel to write and administer a grant, Bellack added. For that reason, United Way’s goal is to hire a grant writer, who would be an employee of United Way, along with an administrative assistant. This grant writer would be available to any non-profit agency in the county.

“The benefits are obvious,” Bellack said. “Most of our non-profits do not have the time or the expertise to consistently apply for the large dollars that surround us.”

Bellack has also tried to increase communication and networking between local agencies and help them connect to the resources they need, especially from sources other than United Way. An example of the success of this is the monthly “Hub calls” Bellack has initiated, often connecting all county agencies and government institutions with information, such as outside pro-bono resources, new foundations to apply to and other agencies with needs they can collaborate with. Last week’s call also included the Ralph Wilson Foundation who reached out to the United Way to introduce our opportunities to create youth activities. The Ralph Wilson Foundation will be distributing $3 million dollars soon. Bellack has invited the YMCA, schools and other charities which could benefit to be on these calls.

One of the most visible projects in the county, which is occurring because of United Way, is the work taking place on the digital divide initiative. United Way brought together several community leaders, including County Legislator Ken DeRoller, Robert Batt from the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Kelly Kiebala from the Job Development Agency, Greg Reed from the YMCA and several larger employers and half a dozen representatives of non-profit organizations. Batt wrote the grant which resulted in $55,000 to hire a consultant.

Bellack urged all Orleans County residents to respond to the survey regarding the digital divide. The survey is available in English and Spanish by clicking here.

“The more people who respond means the more impact we have in the political and foundation world,” Bellack said.

United Way has also secured another round of funding for $10,000 from the Blue Fund. Bellack said they reached out to United Way after becoming aware of our efforts. This is the first time the Blue Fund has donated to Orleans County. This funding was allocated to local charities and included for the first time funds for Orleans Recovery Hope Begins Here.

‘Our workplace campaigns are vital and necessary for our yearly allocations which all our local charities count on. The stresses on our charities have been great this year, and the grant dollars we have been fortunate enough to receive are a bonus, but we cannot operate without healthy giving in the workplace campaigns.’

To decide where to distribute these funds received into the county, Bellack formed a committee, which includes himself, Darren Wilson from the Lyndonville Foundation, Jodi Gaines and Jackie Gardner from United Way and Bruce Schmidt from Community Action and Ministry of Concern.

“We have to work together. We have to think bigger. We have to expand our horizon,” Bellack said. “By looking at it from a different perspective, we are changing the landscape.”

While a lot of the grant money which came into Orleans County was because of Covid, Bellack said it is also because of the pandemic that United Way is not able to conduct workplace campaigns. Instead, they are making a fundraising pitch through a video created by Lynne Menz of Orleans County Tourism. Click here to see the video.

“Our workplace campaigns are vital and necessary for our yearly allocations which all our local charities count on,” Bellack said. “The stresses on our charities have been great this year, and the grant dollars we have been fortunate enough to receive are a bonus, but we cannot operate without healthy giving in the workplace campaigns.”

Charlie Nesbitt of Albion, former Assemblyman who served as chairman of United Way’s annual campaign several years ago, put it this way. “It is important that you recognize the value of United Way to effectively deliver what you contribute. However small, it can be the largest amount to the agency that needs it most.”

“Also, please visit our website to give,” Bellack added. “We now accept Venmo, Cash App, Pay Pal, Credit Card or Check. We are currently sending out our annual donation letters. If you get one please try and help. Even with the extra dollars we have gotten in we can only fund 50% of the requests we get across the county.”

Bellack also added a word of thanks to members of Orleans County United Way’s board, and issued a special thanks to four members who recently retired – Bill Hungerford, Dave Cook, Melinda Rhim and Kaitlyn Delamarter. He called them “long serving, dedicated community leaders.”

Three new members recently joined the United Way board – Laura Olinger, Jim Punch and Lynn Vendetti.

“These are all strong community leaders,” Bellack said. “We are thrilled to have these new members on board, and we thank all those who serve us and their community.”

County in talks with ICE, U.S. Marshals to hold federal detainees, defendants

Photos by Tom Rivers: This photo from 2013 shows two cells inside the Orleans County Jail, where the inmate population has dropped from an average of 49 inmates a day in December 2019 to 22 last month, a decline of 55 percent.

ALBION — The jail population significantly dropped in 2020 locally and statewide. The inmate population in the Orleans County Jail was down to 22 inmates in December, a drop of 55 percent from December 2019 when the average daily inmate count was 49.

The jail on Platt Street has a capacity for 82 inmates. The jail population is operating at only about a quarter of the available beds.

Sheriff Chris Bourke said the county is negotiating with two federal agencies to house Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees and U.S. Marshal’s Service defendants.

Bourke advised local elected officials during a Tuesday conference call that the county is negotiating with the two federal agencies. The jail will be inspected by ICE and the Marshals next week, Bourke said. The county DPW is working to clean and paint the jail in time for the inspection, Bourke said.

The contracts if approved would bring much-needed revenue to the county, the sheriff said.

Bourke said changes in criminal justice laws, including bail reform, is a big factor in the inmate population drop. He also said Covid-19 restrictions which have local courts operating at reduced levels, with cases be adjourned and sentences put off.

According to a report from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Orleans County average daily inmate population was much higher from 2010 to 2019: 73 in 2010, 76 in 2011, 75 in 2012, 62 in 2013, 61 in 2014, 65 in 2015, 63 in 2016, 68 in 2017, 60 in 2018 and 58 in 2019.

Statewide the average daily inmate count in county jails has dropped from 25,059 in 2016, 24,457 in 2017, 22,821 in 2018, 19,920 in 2019. Statewide, the jail population is down 19.5 percent from December 2019 to last month, dropping from an average daily inmate count of 16,872 to 13,575.

The inmate population in county jails statewide hit a low in 2020 in July with 11,090 inmates in county jails. It has been rising since then to 11,583 in August, 12,266 in September, 12,824 in October, 13,392 in November and 13,575 in December.

The Orleans County Jail is located on Platt Street in Albion.

Program targeted to people with income loss due to Covid

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Dean Bellack, right, director of United Way of Orleans County, met Monday morning with staff from Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and Community Action of Orleans and Genesee to announce a $100,000 grant from Eastman Savings and Loan to United Way of Orleans County. The money will be divided evenly between GOMOC and Community Action to help people with housing needs attributed to Covid-19. With Bellack are, clockwise from left, Lydia Duncan, client advocate from Ministry of Concern; Nyla Gaylord, director of Ministry of Concern; Annette Finch, director of emergency services at Community Action; Michelle Figueroa, emergency services case worker at Community Action; and Jeanette Worsley, housing stability specialist at Community Action.

ALBION – A $100,000 grant from Eastman Savings and Loan is the latest funding to be announced by United Way of Orleans County, through which the money is funneled.

Dean Bellack, executive director of United Way, met with staff from Community Action and Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern on Monday morning to formally announce the grant, which will be divided evenly between the two agencies to help people with rents, past due mortgages and utilities they cannot pay due to Covid. This money must be allocated between now and June.

United Way will get $10,000 of the grant for administrative costs.

Meeting with Bellack from Community Action were Annette Finch, director of Emergency Services; Michelle Figueroa, emergency services case worker; and Jeanette Worsley, housing stability specialist. From Ministry of Concern were director Nyla Gaylord, and client advocate Lydia Duncan.

Worsley and Duncan will run the program, with guidance from Finch and Gaylord, Finch said.

Finch stressed that people who want to apply for help through this program must present proof of their hardship due to Covid, and/or loss of income due to Covid.

Gaylord said she feels there are many people with higher incomes who are suffering because they have never had to ask for help and hesitate to do so.

Appointments to apply for financial aid from this grant must be made by calling Community Action at 589-5605 and asking for Worsley or Figueroa; or Ministry of Concern at 589-9210 and asking for Duncan. Worsley will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Duncan will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Gaylord said Ministry of Concern also has other money available to help people with car payments and insurance.

“Getting this extra grant is frosting on the cake,” she said.

Finch praised Bellack for his insight in making Orleans County more visible to large corporate donors outside the county.

There are three food distributions set for the final three Friday mornings in January. About 300 boxes of food will be given away at the events.

The start times are approximately 8:30 a.m. (If the Foodlink truck is there and unloaded, the event may start sooner.) Organizers are asking people not to line up before 8 a.m. due to possible winter weather conditions.

“We remind people not to block driveways,” said Melissa Blanar, director of the Orleans County office for the Aging, who helps organize the events. “We want to thank all the volunteers, without them there would be no events. Please be patient and kind.”

The schedule includes:

• January 15^th, Community Action Store, 113 South Main Street, Albion
• January 22^nd, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 NYS Route 31, Knowlesville, entrance is on Taylor Hill Road and not on Route 31. The line on Taylor Hill will need to go south away from Route 31.
• January 29^th, Community Action Store, 113 South Main Street, Albion

Independence, Green, Libertarian and Serve America Movement all knocked off the ballot

Four political parties in New York State – Independence, Green, Libertarian and the Serve America Movement – did not have enough votes in the last general election to remain a political party with a ballot line.

The state used to have a 50,000-vote threshold to allow ballot status for political parties. But that was changed to a 130,000-vote minimum in December 2019. The presidential election in November was the first with the new higher threshold.

The four parties all missed the mark and don’t have ballot status. The Orleans County Board of Elections has sent letters to registered voters in three of the parties (Green, Libertarian and Independence) advising them their parties no longer have ballot status and won’t be able to participate in a primary going forward. (The Serve America Movement doesn’t have registered voters in Orleans County.)

In Orleans County, the Board of Elections sent letters to 863 registered voters in the Independence Party, 120 in the Libertarian Party and 63 in the Green Party.

Those voters can remain in those parties but their enrollment will be changed to either OTHER-INDEPENDENCE, OTHER-LIBERTARIAN or OTHER-GREEN.

Registered voters in those parties could have the parties appear on the ballot but they would have to submit petitions and meet a signature threshold to have a candidate run as an independent, which would appear on the bottom of a ballot, and not be listed with candidates on parties with ballot status.

The parties with ballot status include Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Working Families. If registered voters in Orleans County from the Green, Libertarian and Independence want to switch to a party with ballot status and participate in a potential primary in June, they need to send a change of enrollment form to the Board of Elections by Feb. 14. Any enrollment change received after Feb. 14 will be effective on June 29.

Provided photos

ALBION – Nadine Hanlon takes the oath of office on Thursday afternoon as the Orleans County Clerk. She is joined by her husband Mike and daughter Michela. Hanlon’s other daughter Marisa just started a job at Unity in Rochester as a surgical physician assistant. Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church administers the oath.

Hanlon, a former Kendall town clerk, was elected county clerk in November. She worked the previous 15 years as the clerk to the Orleans County Legislature. She also was on the Kendall Board of Education for 10 years, including seven years as the board president.

Tracy Cliff takes the oath as one of the deputy county clerks. She is joined by her husband Mike while Church administers the oath.

Pam Boyer is the other deputy clerk and works at the DMV office. Boyer has been the deputy at the DMV the past three years. Cliff will work out of the Clerk’s Office where she has been an index clerk the past five years.

“Both ladies are good at what they do and I am looking forward to continue to work with the great staff that operates the Orleans County Clerk’s Office,” Hanlon said.

She looks forward to getting past the Covid-19 pandemic when the offices can return to normal. The DMV transactions are currently being handled by mail or by appointment.

“The restrictions are very stressful to staff along with those we need to serve,” she said. “We just continue to ask for patience during these trying times.”

Nadine Hanlon had a small swearing-in ceremony with Judge Church and Tracy Cliff.

ALBION – Orleans County will keep a lobbying firm in 2021 at a cost of $90,000 for the year, the same rate for 2020.

The County Legislature agreed to pay Park Strategies $5,000 a month for government affairs services at the federal level and $2,500 a month for government affairs services at the state level.

County officials say the firm has given Orleans County a “louder voice” at the state and U.S. capitols. Park Strategies was founded by Al D’Amato, the former U.S. senator from New York who is a Republican.

The firm assist county officials in setting up meetings with representatives from the state and federal governments. Park Strategies also makes the county aware of legislative that could be helpful or harmful to the county, and brainstorms ways to pursue funding for critical projects in the county, including expansion of high-speed internet.

This will be the seventh year the county has contracted with Park Strategies. County officials believe the relationship has benefitted residents. Park helped make the county’s case for canal bridges to be repaired. The state is spending about $10.7 million on seven bridges.

The state also has repaved portions of the Lake Ontario State Parkway, committed to dredging harbors on Lake Ontario and also allocated funds to protect lakeshore properties from flooding.