By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2021 at 3:51 pm
Early voting will start on Saturday and continue through June 20 with Republican primaries in six Orleans County towns.
The early voting polling location is at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office at the County Administration Building, 14016 State Route 31.
The early voting times include:
Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, June 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 15, from noon to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16, from noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The regular primary election day will be June 22 with a polling location in each town with a primary. The Republican primaries include:
Barre – Four candidates seeking two four-year positions on the Town Board: George McKenna, Tom McCabe, David S. Waters and Lynn Hill. McCabe and Hill currently are on the Town Board.
Carlton – Two candidates are seeking a four-year term as town clerk. Karen A. Narburgh and Dori Goetze are the candidates. Narburgh is the current town clerk.
Gaines – Two candidates are running for Gaines town justice. Bruce Schmidt is retiring from the position after this year. Henry Smith, Jr. and Charles Prentice, Jr. both are seeking a four-year term.
Murray – Former Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower is challenging current Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio for a two-year term as town supervisor.
Ridgeway – There are three candidates seeking a four-year term as Ridgeway town clerk. They include Laurie Kilburn, Hannah Hill and E.J. Cox.
There are also three candidates seeking two four-year terms on the Town Board: Cliff Barber, Jeffrey Toussaint and David M. Stalker. Toussaint and Stalker are currently on the Town Board.
Shelby – There are three candidates seeking two four-years on the Town Board: William H. Bacon Edward, Mathew Zelazny and Stephen J. Seitz, Sr. Bacon and Seitz are current board members.
Press Release, Arc of Genesee Orleans and The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming
The Boards of Directors of The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans announce Martin Miskell, current Executive Director of the Livingston-Wyoming chapter, will lead the agencies through their planned merger.
Martin Miskell
The unification of the agencies serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families will create a one-chapter, four-county service area covering roughly 2,400 square miles, which geographically will be the largest Arc chapter in New York State.
Miskell began his Arc career as Director of Finance at the Livingston-Wyoming chapter in 2002, becoming Associate Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer in 2007 and Executive Director in 2015. He calls this an exciting time.
“The merger will offer all four counties more program and service opportunities for individuals and families served,” Miskell said. “We have experienced changes over the last decade in the field of disabilities and this merger will make the agency and its services more fiscally sustainable and poised for the future.”
Over the last several months, Miskell has met with senior leaders, board membership and retiring Genesee Orleans Executive Director Donna Saskowski to develop a regional approach and plan for legal and programmatic strategies to ensure a smooth transition.
The merger process is expected to take as long as five more months to complete. The new agency will use consolidated resources to ensure quality services to all people with disabilities and their families served in the Genesee Livingston Orleans Wyoming (GLOW) counties region. Once merged, the new agency will be called Arc GLOW.
Miskell grew up in the Geneseo area, and he and his wife Theresa have four adult children. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from SUNY Geneseo and his Master of Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. He also serves on the NYS Genesee Valley Parks Commission, SUNY Geneseo Foundation and is a member of the Kiwanis Club.
ABOUT THE CHAPTERS: The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans, soon to be known as Arc GLOW are family-founded agencies dedicated to helping people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) meet their full potential and find fulfillment in learning, personal relationships, employment, volunteerism, recreation, the arts, and more.
In the coming months, a new Arc GLOW website will be unveiled. In the meantime, the websites serving the chapters are www.arcgo.org and www.lwarc.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2021 at 1:38 pm
File photos by Tom Rivers: Amelia Paratore, 9, of Barre keeps her eyes on the judge while showing a dairy animal on July 26, 2019 during the grand master showman competition. 4-Hers will be back with their animals for the fair next month.
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County 4-H Fair officials announced this week the annual fair will be back and will include a full slate of activities, including the midway, 4-H exhibits and lots of food vendors with classic fair food.
The fair from July 26-31 will be limited to about 8,000 people per day with state restrictions, but the fair tends to stay below that number. The six-day county fair typically draws about 25,000 people.
New this year will be the sale of tickets online and they will be $5 each for a weeklong pass. If people don’t want to buy the ticket online, they can stop by the fairgrounds the week before and pay for a pass at the office.
The fair will sell 5,000 of the week-long passes, and then have 3,000 available as one-day passes each day of the fair. The one-day passes will be available online only and are $3 for 12 and older, and $1 for 11 and under, said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, which oversees the fair. Tickets for the chicken barbecue and midway also will be available online.
“I think it’s going to be a great fair,” Batt said. “The midway and food vendors are all happening, and so are the 4-H exhibits.”
There will be some changes. The fair won’t have people at the front gates accepting money and people will need to park without assistance. The Medina Marching Band in recent years has had many of its students and parent volunteers helping with parking and traffic flow, but the band bowed out of the task this fair.
The Fair Board decided not to have the talent show on the Monday of the fair because the State Fair won’t be doing the talent show. The top Orleans entries advanced to the State Fair in prior years.
Instead, Batt said the fair is looking to add more bands for live performances. The entertainment for the fair will be announced in the next two weeks or so, Batt said.
The popular grease pole climbing competition also won’t be happening, but that was because the fair’s insurance provider balked at that event. The fair instead is having a different zany competition to cap off the day’s activities. The new event will have teams of two people pushing a giant round hay bale.
Jeremy Neal, the grease pole chairman, is heading the effort of the new challenge. He is experimenting on the course and size of the hay bales.
The hay bale rolling event will be open to competitors 16 and older. That is 2 years younger than the cutoff for the grease pole.
Tamara Huzair of Lyndonville sings “Somebody to Love” by Queen during karaoke in July 2019. Karaoke is among the many fair favorites that will be back next month for the week-long event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2021 at 3:46 pm
75 have now completed program, equipped to be more engaged citizens, local leaders
Photos by Tom Rivers: Taryn Moyle, director of the Child Care Resource and Referral Program for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, was among 26 graduates of the third class of Leadership Orleans. She is congratulated by Charlie Nesbitt, former state assemblyman who serves on the Leadership Orleans steering committee. The graduation program was held May 20 at the White Birch Golf Course.
LYNDONVILLE – The third group of the Leadership Orleans program completed the class last month, about five months later than usual.
The class was interrupted due to Covid-19. The group needed to take some time off from the monthly programs, but was able to double-up for the full array of sessions.
Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller was a member of the class and was picked by the group to give an address on their behalf.
“We knew from the start we were on a unique journey,” said County Legislator Ken DeRoller of Kendall, one of the 26 graduates in the third class.
He was picked by the class to speak at their graduation on May 20 at the White Birch Golf Course.
DeRoller recalled the opening retreat in January 2020, before Covid, when the group got to know each other through ice-breaker activities. They completed personality profiles to better understand themselves and how they respond to others and challenges.
DeRoller urged the group to stay connected and to keep an open mind.
“You’re a treasure to your employer and the County of Orleans,” DeRoller told the group.
Class members included local government officials, business and agency leaders, and citizens. There are now about 75 people who have completed the program. The fourth class also started in April, and eight people have already expressed interest in being in the fifth class.
The third class built a strong network among each other in the year-plus, with retreats, Zoom calls and through what was to be a monthly focus on a different aspect of the county – government, arts and culture, volunteerism and non-profit organizations, community health, tourism and recreation, agribusiness, economic & workforce development, and education.
(Left) Danielle Figura, director of the Orleans County Mental Health Department, won an award for her artistic skills. The class had many activities to help the group get to know each other. (Right) Teresa Gaylard, children’s librarian at Hoag Library, won an award for earning the most stars throughout the program.
Skip Helfrith, the program’s executive director, said the class is already making a difference in the county. He noted Dean Bellack, one of the new grads, helped secure $750,000 in grants for the community in his role as United Way executive director. Jennifer Buondonno, another new graduate, won a write-in campaign and was elected to the Medina Board of Education.
He cited the examples of the program’s alumni of the year – Robert Batt of the Cornell Cooperative Extension and Melissa Blanar of the office for the Aging – who have spearheaded food distributions for several hundred people almost weekly since April 2020.
“People ask when will this program start to make a difference,” Helfrich said. “We’re making it.”
Helfrich said the program benefits from community support, including corporate sponsors, and $16,000 from the county budget. Tuition also covers part of the costs.
There have been 146 presenters for the program since 2018, with 23 new ones during the Covid pandemic. The group has also visited 78 sites around the county in the first three years, and many volunteers have organized the monthly sessions.
Skip Helfrich, Leadership Orleans executive director, praised the class for its resilience during the pandemic. The class suspended its monthly gatherings during the height of the pandemic, and then doubled up the workload to meet the full expectations of the program.
Charlie Nesbitt, the former state assemblyman, has helped get the program off the ground in Orleans County. He said he saw the fruits of Leadership Genesee, which has been helping develop leaders in that county for more than two decades.
Human capital is critical for a community’s success, Nesbitt said.
“We now have 75 people who are better informed, who know themselves better, who everyday are becoming a critical asset to Orleans County,” Nesbitt said. “In order to become effective leaders you have to invest in yourselves.”
The 2020 class includes:
Dean Bellack, Executive Director, United Way of Orleans County
Jennifer Buondonno, Teller Supervisor/CSR, Tompkins Bank of Castile
Melissa Cotter, Director of Vocational Services, Arc of Genesee Orleans
Kenneth DeRoller, County legislator and board member for the County of Orleans Industrial Development Agency
Danielle Figura, Director of the Orleans County Mental Health Department
Kristina Gabalski, 4-H Program Coordinator, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Jackie Gardner, Vice President of Client Relations, CRFS – Claims Recovery Financial Services
Ronald Mannella, Director of Weights and Measures, Orleans County
Matt Minor, Senior Loan Officer, Farm Credit East
Taryn Moyle, Child Care Resource and Referral Program Director, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, Inc.
Tiffany Nesbitt, former ambassador, Bent’s Opera House
Christopher Oakes, Production Manager/Vice President, LynOaken Farms, Inc.
Allison Parry-Gurak, Director of Treatment, Albion Clinic, GCASA
Scott Partyka, Farmer/Partner, Partyka Farms
Cory Pawlaczyk, Buyer, Baxter Healthcare
Nick Picardo, Executive Director of Student Services, Kendall Central School District
Heather Smith, Executive Director, Orleans Community Health Foundation
Nancy Traxler, Director, Orleans County Veterans Service Agency
Nancy Westlund, Vice President of Operations, CRFS – Claims Recovery Financial Services
Michael Weyrauch, Director of Career & Technical Education and Instructional Services, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
(Left) Cole and Kerri Glover, owners of Maison Albion, accept the “First Impression Award.” The site on Courthouse Road in Albion, a wedding and events venue, made a strong impression on the class. (Right) Wendy Oakes Wilson hugs Kelly Kiebala, chairwoman of the Leadership Orleans program. Wilson was picked as “Presenter of the Year” by the class. Wilson is general manager of LynOaken Farms and president of the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.
County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson also congratulated the class and urged them to continue to lead and serve with integrity.
“You are the leaders today and especially for tomorrow,” she said.
Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, thanked the class members for putting in the effort to be bigger assets for the community.
Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer, said the class persevered and adapted during the challenges of a pandemic. Welch said there are numerous books about being an effective leader, and many of those make leadership sound “so neat and clean, almost like a cook book.”
But Welch said that doesn’t reflect real life, which is often messy, unscripted and hard.
“Leadership is about relationships, serving one another on their level with more questions than answers,” Welch said. “How do we respond to a challenge? How do we persevere? Do we bend or do we break?”
The Leadership Orleans Class gives the participants a team and support system for when times are tough, Welch said.
“Hopefully Leadership Orleans has been a conduit for you to increase the tools you have in your personal toolbox on this journey we call life,” he said.
Welch said naysayers are quick to complain but not offer much constructively in making the community better. He thanked the class for putting in the time and energy to learn more about the community and understand the complexities of the challenges and opportunities.
He quoted from Jon Gordon: “Will you buy into the doom and gloom? Or will you invest in faith, hope and love, and believe the best is yet to come.”
David Bellavia, a Lyndonville graduate and Medal of Honor recipient, gave the keynote speech at the Leadership Orleans graduation.
The keynote message was delivered by David Bellavia, a 1994 Lyndonville graduate who was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 25, 2019 during a ceremony at the White House. He received the nation’s highest military honor for risking his life on Nov. 10, 2004 – his 29thbirthday. Bellavia defended his fellow soldiers while serving in the second battle of Fallujah, Iraq.
As a squad leader in Operation Phantom Fury, a 2004 American offensive on the western Iraqi City of Fallujah, Bellavia saved his entire squad when he cleared a housing block of enemy combatants who had pinned down his unit. Once Bellavia secured the safety of his squad, he re-engaged with the enemy combatants, re-entered the house where enemy fire was located, proceeded to kill four enemy insurgents, and wounded a fifth.
Bellavia travels the country as an ambassador for the Army. He also hosts a radio show in Buffalo. People used to ask where he was from, and he’d say Buffalo or Western New York. Now, when he gives his speeches or is interviewed, he makes sure to tell people he is from Lyndonville, NY.
He sees a county on the upswing, and the trend can continue with more job opportunities for people in the community.
“Orleans County makes adults, men and women ready to shoulder the burdens of the world,” Bellavia said. “We are going to be the authors and finishers of our destiny in our backyard.”
Leadership Orleans recognized two previous graduates as alumni of the year. Robert Batt (left), executive director of the Cornell Cooperative extension, and Melissa Blanar, director of the Office of the Aging, both were instrumental in food distributions in the county since April 2020. They also led their organizations through the many changes necessitated by the pandemic. “We have a great community,” Blanar said. “We all pitch in and step up when we need to.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2021 at 4:29 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office was budgeting $88,865 from the state for the STOP DWI Plan. That money is distributed by the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns with local and county courts reduced the court fines. That is forcing the state to amend its allocation for the county. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will now be receive $54,065 through the STOP DWI Plan.
The Orleans County Legislature approved the amended memorandum of understanding last week.
In other resolutions approved last week, the Legislature:
• Authorized spending $143,840 for three sheriff patrol vehicles with two 2021 Ford Explorer AWD Interceptors for $50,131 each from Tri Star Motors in West Blairsville, Pa., and one 2021 Police Charger AWD for $43,576 from Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex in Niagara Falls, NY.
• Authorized Computer Services to spend $7,686 for 21 Advidia security cameras with mounting junction boxes, with cameras to be used to protect county assets.
• Authorized spending $7,200 to purchase TextMyGov software and licensed messaging platform to be used to communicate with government employees and the general public at large if needed.
• Authorized county treasurer to set up money in the county attorney budget to accept $10,780 in intervenor funds from the Town of Barre for the Heritage Wind project. Apex Clean Energy is providing the funds to be used to hire counsel on environmental issues.
• Authorized probation director to apply and accept $149,616 from state Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, effective for the calendar year from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
• Approved probation director accepting $120,392 to reimburse department for Raise the Age costs from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020.
• Renewed agreement with Lyndonville Central School with Orleans County Sheriff’s Office providing deputy as school resource officer at a cost of $87,148 for 11 months.
• Authorized district attorney to accept $30,200 in State Aid to Prosecution grant from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
• Authorized Department of Public Works to spend $168,991 for a 2022 Hunter Peterbilt 10-wheeler dump truck from Hunter Buffalo Peterbilt in Buffalo. The dump truck is reimbursable through state CHIPS funding with county cost $100.
• Authorized county DPW to spend $56,531 for 6-ton Falcon Asphalt Recycler and Hot Box Trailer from Stephenson Equipment in Syracuse. The equipment is reimbursable with CHIPS funding.
• Authorized spending $6,447 to Lyons Collision in Medina to remove old decals, replace and repair body diamond plate, and do body work and lighting upgrades on a mobile command center that has been donated by Erie County to the Orleans County Emergency Management Office. The Legislature also authorized spending $1,650 for six new tires for the 2006 mobile command center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2021 at 1:23 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is applying to the state for federal funding to expand broadband access.
The county last week voted to apply to the state Office of Community Renewal for money through the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act).
The CARES funds includes public service and infrastructure projects to ensure families in underserved communities have WiFi access for remote education and telehealth services.
“Broadband has been a number one priority of this legislature,” Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said during last week’s meeting.
The grant, which didn’t specify a dollar amount, is another effort from county officials to fund high-speed internet access.
The county estimates it would cost $4.1 million to have the service county-wide, which includes 1,351 properties without access and opportunities for the other 20,000 property owners to have improved high-speed internet.
Johnson and county officials on April 29 met with leaders from the 10 towns in the county and the five school districts, pitching a collaborative effort to use federal American Rescue Plan aid for the expanded high-speed internet.
The American Rescue Plan will bring $7.8 million to the county, while the 10 towns in the county will share $4,430,000 with some of that going the four villages.
The five school district collectively will receive $12.5 million in federal funds. However, the districts will be expected to use most of those funds to help students catch up in lost learning during the pandemic.
If the county’s grant application for CARES money is successful, Johnson said that would mean the county (and possibly towns) wouldn’t need to spend as much from their allocations through the American Rescue Plan.
If the county receives the grant, it will work with Upper Edge Consulting to implement the project and the funding.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2021 at 11:44 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A “Help Wanted” sign is displayed in the window of Avanti’s on Main Street in Medina. Many local companies are hiring even as the unemployment rate falls locally.
In Orleans County the unemployment rate was down to 5.8 percent in April, continuing a downward trend in the county, according to data from the State Department of Labor.
The rate in Orleans was 7.6 percent in February and 7.1 percent in March. The 5.8 percent in April was a dramatic difference from the previous April when the rate was 16.8 percent. That was the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when many businesses were closed or severely restricted from state guidelines.
The DOL reported there were 16,000 people working in the county in April, up 300 from March and 2,200 more than the 13,800 in April 2020.
National the unemployment rate for April was 5.7 percent, compared to 14.4 percent the previous April. In New York, it was 7.8 percent in April compared to 16.2 percent the previous April.
Tompkins County had the lowest unemployment rate in April at 4.2 percent while Bronx was the highest at 15.0 percent.
New hires include deputies, dispatchers and a corrections officer
Provided photos: Pictured from left include Deputy Sheriff James White, Correction Officer Kyle Strickland and Deputy Sheriff George Barton taking the oath of office last week in the Orleans County Legislative chambers.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
ALBION – Sheriff Christopher Bourke would like to take this opportunity to introduce six new employees who have been hired in 2021.
The Orleans County Legislature led by Chairman Lynne Johnson was gracious enough in allowing us to use the Legislature Chambers for this event.
Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon performed the Oath of Office while the Sheriff, Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson and Communications Coordinator Allen Turner assisted.
Chairman Johnson, on behalf of all the Legislators, expressed her deep appreciation for the work performed by members of the Sheriff’s Office during these difficult times. Chairman Johnson reiterated the continuing commitment of the Orleans County Legislature to provide the Sheriff with the resources to keep our county safe and secure.
Sheriff Bourke thanked all in attendance wished the new hires well. Sheriff Bourke also personally thanked the County Legislature for their continuing support. I consider myself very lucky to live in a community that supports law enforcement agencies.
Pictured being sworn into office include from left include Correction Officer Jenna Raglan, Public Safety 911 Dispatcher Robin Boyle and Public Safety 911 Dispatcher Amy Strickland.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2021 at 3:09 pm
Municipalities can’t ban marijuana after legalization by state; Sheriff worries about impaired drivers
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said law enforcement agencies will adapt to the new state legislation for legalizing recreational use of marijuana, but he is concerned there will be more impaired drivers on the road.
ALBION – Orleans County municipalities have until Dec. 31 to decide whether they will opt out of allowing marijuana dispensaries, where people could purchase adult-use cannabis products.
The municipalities also need to decide by the end of the year if they will opt out of allowing onsite consumption at businesses such as a smoking lounge.
The towns and villages can’t overstep the state and ban recreational use of marijuana. But the towns and villages can prohibit dispensaries and smoking lounges.
It’s not an issue for the county government, but instead for the towns and villages, said Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman.
“It’s not a county-regulated issue,” Johnson said. “It’s a town and village one.”
She spoke with other local government leaders in the county during a monthly meeting last week for the Orleans County Association of Municipalities.
The state has approved a 13-percent excise tax on marijuana with a breakdown that includes 9 cents for each taxable sale to the state, 3 cents to the municipality that has the dispensary, and 1 cent to the county.
“I don’t believe the monetary gain with sales tax will counteract the negative effect in the long run,” Johnson said.
Municipalities that opt out wouldn’t be eligible for the 3-cent share of the 13-percent sales tax. The municipalities could also adopt zoning and limit the locations for dispensaries, including establishing certain distances from schools, churches and other houses of worship.
If the municipal board for a village or town decides to opt out, residents could push a permissive referendum, with the matter going on the ballot.
“It comes down to what your community wants,” said John Belson, the Lyndonville mayor.
Municipalities could decide to opt out, and later decide to “opt in” and allow the dispensaries and lounges, said John Sansone, municipal attorney for Holley, Murray and Clarendon.
If the municipalities don’t vote to opt out, then they are “opting in” and that doesn’t require a vote to allow dispensaries and the smoking lounges.
Sansone is also an assistant county district attorney, and that office led by Joe Cardone is concerned about public safety with recreational marijuana being legalized.
“It presents challenges,” Sansone said to the local officials.
Sheriff Chris Bourke said law enforcement may not easily be able to determine if a driver is “impaired” by marijuana. There isn’t a Breathalyzer machine to determine a level of impairment or the amount of marijuana in the system.
The local law enforcement agencies can have officers and deputies trained as drug recognition experts but that is a costly and time-consuming training, Bourke said.
“Our concern is how many more impaired drivers will we have on the road?” Bourke said. “We think quite a bit and are we prepared for that?”
Bourke said officers and deputies trained as drug recognition experts “are few and far between.”
The local government leaders also will need to look at employee policies for whether marijuana can be used during breaks, how to respond if employees come to work with a level of impairment, and whether the marijuana products will be banned for use on municipal grounds.
Bourke said he wants a “zero tolerance” policy for employees of the Sheriff’s Department. He said the workers face too many critical issues and need to be 100 percent.
“I don’t think a 911 dispatcher who has been smoking marijuana all day should come to work and handle 911 calls,” Bourke said.
Sansone said he isn’t sure whether municipalities could have a zero tolerance policy for a product that is now legal in the state.
That could depend on what jobs the workers have. A motor equipment operator, for example, may be subject to a no tolerance for marijuana while working.
“All town attorneys are likely working on this,” Sansone said. “It’s an issue that will likely be determined by lawsuits.”
Sansone said municipal leaders will also face the issue of how to determine impairment among the workers. Bourke said a simple “smell test” may be enough. He doesn’t want employees who smell of marijuana.
“If you are serving the public and reek of marijuana that is unprofessional and will be forbidden by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2021 at 1:24 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Steve Johnson salutes after he presented flowers at State Street Park in Medina during a Memorial Day ceremony last year on May 25. The veterans will again observe a smaller ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
There won’t be big parades on Memorial Day in Orleans County, but local veterans’ organizations will make sure there will be public opportunities for people to show their respect for fallen members of the military.
• Kendall is having a Memorial Day observance today at 7 p.m. at the Kendall Town Park (across from Elementary School) where there is a community war memorial. Kendall always holds its Memorial Day gathering on May 30, which was the original day to celebrate Memorial Day.
• Albion – Veterans are invited to the VFW Post at about 10:30 a.m. for a short procession to the Courthouse lawn for an observance at the new veterans’ memorial that was erected by the Knights of Columbus. (The Knights will have a ceremony there too on Monday at 9 a.m. with a bagpiper.)
Garland Miller, a World War II veteran, will serve as honorary parade marshal during the scaled-down Memorial Day observance.
The veterans were planning to march from the VFW down Bank Street and then turn left onto Main Street. But Route 98 is a posted detour with the Route 31 bridge in Knowlesville currently closed. Because of that, the Department of Transportation was unwilling to close Main Street for the procession, said Gary Befus, who is helping to organize the procession.
The memorial the service will begin at 11 a.m. with brief remarks from Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, and Tim Archer, an Albion teacher who will highlight some of the service-learning projects by his students that have honored veterans.
• Holley – There will be a memorial service at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Jewell Buckman Post, which will include speakers and a 21-gun salute. The group will then march to the VFW Post for another service at 10 a.m. with speakers and a 21-gun salute.
The group will then go to Hillside Cemetery, visiting Jewell Buckman’s grave and reciting the Gettysburg Address. They will also pay their respects at Holy Cross Cemetery, next to Hillside Cemetery.
Afterwards, everyone is invited for free refreshments at both the VFW and American Legion.
• Lyndonville – There won’t be a parade or a procession by veterans, but the Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post 1603 will set up a POW/MIA table in front of Lyndonville’s Veterans Park for Memorial Day.
“Flags will be placed in the cemeteries,” said Steve Goodrich, commander of the Houseman-Tanner Post. “The Fallen will be remembered.”
Goodrich said there won’t be a parade or big public gathering due to his concern for the members. Many of them are elderly with health issues, Goodrich said.
He expects the parade and a public service will be back on schedule in 2022.
• Medina – There won’t be a parade but there will be a Color Guard carrying flags from Park Avenue to State Street Park, with veterans meeting at the Olde Pickle Factory at 10:30 and starting the procession at 11 a.m. The veterans will hold a solemn service at State Street Park to honor the fallen service members. The Medina Police Department will escort the Color Guard for their safety.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2021 at 7:22 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Holli Nenni has worked nearly 34 years with the Orleans County Department of Social Services.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has appointed a long-time employee to lead the Department of Social Services.
Holli Nenni, the deputy DSS commissioner the past 11 years, was appointed the new commissioner on Wednesday. She succeeds Tom Kuryla, who retired last month.
Nenni has worked at DSS for nearly 34 years. She first worked as a caseworker for 12 years, before being promoted child support coordinator and then director of temporary assistance.
She now leads a department with 70 employees. She was appointed to a five-year term as DSS commissioner in a unanimous vote by Legislature.
Legislator Ken DeRoller, R-Kendall, said Nenni “is the best.” Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, R-Lyndonville, welcomed Nenni.
“We’re so pleased that Holli is here,” Johnson said during Wednesday’s meeting.
The DSS divisions include temporary assistance, child & family services, domestic violence services, and the child support and enforcement unit.
“I like working with the families and the kids,” said Nenni, an Albion resident.
DSS partners with many local agencies and county departments – GCASA, Mental Health, Job Development and others – to help people overcome barriers and become self sufficient, Nenni said.
As deputy commissioner, Nenni oversaw staff development. That will continue to be a focus for the DSS employees.
“I want to help staff and make sure they get the training and tools to do their jobs,” she said. “I want to help them with the work-life balance.”
A big priority will be developing a new generation of leaders for DSS.
“I like to help the workers and be a resource for them,” Nenni said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2021 at 6:52 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mike Donahue, president of the Orleans County Sportsmen’s Federation, urges the County Legislature to pass the local law, lowering the deer hunting age from 14 to 12.
ALBION – Orleans County legislators approved a pilot program lowering the age from 14 to 12 for people to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzle-loading firearm.
The state is allowing counties to opt in in the pilot program until 2023 with the lower age.
The youth hunters will need to be under the supervision of an experienced adult hunter. The state budget passed in early April gave upstate counties the right to opt-in and allow the 12- and 13-year-old hunters.
Youths those ages already are allowed to hunt deer and bear with archery equipment and small game with firearms. Until now, New York was the only state that didn’t allow 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt big game with a firearm.
Mike Donahue, president of the Orleans County Sportsmen’s Federation, spoke at a public hearing today and said youths have shown they are responsible hunters. He urges them all to take hunter safety courses. He noted the law requires a responsible adult to be with the young hunters, who also must wear either bright orange or pink above the waist when they are out hunting.
County Legislator John DeFillipps, right, introduced the resolution to lower the deer hunting age. Fred Miller, back left, cast the lone vote in opposition.
Orleans County Legislator Fred Miller cast the lone opposing vote among the seven-member Legislature. Miller’s district includes the towns of Albion and Gaines, which he said are populated areas on flat land. He is concerned about people hunting with rifles so close to the village and residences.
“I’m not opposed to the pilot program,” Miller said. “I would have liked it when I hunted as a kid.”
But Miller said many residents in his district of Albion and Gaines have shared their concerns about rifle hunting in populated areas.
Costs of bus service exceeds revenues; ridership plummeted during pandemic
Photo by Tom Rivers: A fleet of about a dozen CATS buses are shown in the parking lot on South Main Street, where CATS and the Main Street Thrift Store are operated by Community Action.
Press Release, Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee
ALBION – For many years, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee has been a resource supporting reliable and affordable transportation services to community members in our two counties via the Community Action Transportation System, better known CATS.
The CATS program has been providing bus transportation service for established routes and for “on-demand” rides year-round, five days per week. Destinations included community health centers, doctor and hospital visits, treatment centers, clinics, dialysis, and retail store shopping. Community Action services have been able to support clients who are elderly or disabled and who remain independent in their homes but do not own/drive a vehicle.
CATS bus transportation services have evolved where experienced and professional staff have dedicated themselves not only to ensuring maintained vehicles but have also provided very caring door-to-door and door-through-door service for some of our clients. The caring and courageous staff continued services throughout the Covid pandemic despite a drastic reduction in riders along with the added effort of sanitizing buses between trips.
While continuing to deliver excellent service to our clients, the current system of providing bus transportation has become exceedingly expensive for Community Action. Over recent years, many of our bus trips contain only one or two riders. Using buses to transport a single rider is extremely expensive and the costs have continued to rise with increases in insurance, bus maintenance, fuel and wages. CATS was established to fill a need in our community for safe transportation. However today, our friends at Rochester Transportation Services (RTS) and others are helping to fulfill this need.
It is with a heavy heart that Community Action has made the decision to downsize the CATS bus transportation system after these many years of service. With costs exceeding revenue, it was decided that this is necessary to protect our ability to provide the many unique and essential services we bring to our customers. This will be difficult and this process will take time.
Community Action will work with partners to do everything possible to ensure transportation needs are met by offering other transportation options to our Community Action clients. We will continue to provide busing for our Head Start program. As we go through this process we will research the possibility to evolve our community transportation support to vans and energy efficient vehicles that meet the special needs of valued customers.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 May 2021 at 10:13 am
Funding includes a grantwriter who will assist non-profit agencies
MEDINA – A $450,000 grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation is a game changer for Orleans County, said Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County, who realized several years ago how beneficial a grant writer would be for the county.
The Health Foundation announced last week that Orleans County’s grant request for nearly half a million dollars had been approved, and the United Way would be receiving $449,291 over a period of five years. The money will pay for a full time grant writer, who will be available to non-profit agencies, and for a second employee, who will work on fundraising out of United Way’s office at 3217 South Gravel Rd.
United Way recently moved from its Albion location, after sale of the CRFS building on East Avenue, to the South Gravel Road location, where space has been donated by United Way Board President George Bidleman.
Bellack first came up with the idea of a grant writer about eight years ago when he led a successful campaign to raise nearly $750,000 for the YMCA renovations. He began talking about a grant writer position right after he joined the United Way board on April 1, 2019.
The new grant writer will focus solely on Orleans County for the first year and then during the second year will be available in Genesee County. Bellack noted there are several non-profit agencies which are affiliated with both counties, such as Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, the Arc of Genesee Orleans and the Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!).
“The Health Foundation gave us a tremendous amount of trust,” Bellack said. “They told us to create this position and then integrate it into the community, which we will eventually do – in Orleans and Genesee counties. This is a long-term commitment from them. They believed in our vision.”
Bellack said the grant writer position greatly amplifies the United Way’s ability to bring in more money for local agencies for a long time to come. These agencies have had not had the consistent ability to monitor the grant world. Most, if not all, agencies in rural communities are running lean, he said. This position adds capacity to the agencies and the county.
Nyla Gaylord, director of the Ministry of Concern, is experienced in grant writing and made Bellack aware of the Health Foundation last fall. She wrote the grant requesting funds to hire a grant writer. Her request included letters of support from 17 areas in the county, from County Legislature Chair Lynne Johnson to the majority of agencies funded by United Way. Bellack said the Foundation requested ideas and 52 responses were received. That number was reduced to 17 during the second round, which included the United Way.
“Every non-profit in the county is excited to learn our grant request has been approved,” Bellack said.
“We are glad to see this response to our grant request,” said Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action. “We have an important project for which we desperately need a grant writer, so this person can’t start soon enough from our perspective.”
Bellack said he has no doubt all non-profits share her words.
Health Foundation president and CEO Dr. Matt Kuhlenbeck thanked United Way for their patience during the process and congratulated the organization on the grant.
“We strive to bring equity and community voice into our grantmaking and understand that community-wide challenges require community-wide solutions,” Kuhlenbeck said. “This practical and critical effort addresses the imbalance of funding that the pandemic has exacerbated, while building off the collaboration and dedication of rural providers essential to responding to the health needs within their community. Demonstrating the type of capacity building we strive to accomplish while serving our rural communities, we are proud to be a supportive partner in these efforts.”
Bellack has put together a team of professionals committed to be involved in hiring this grant writer and managing the community integration which will be so important to non-profits in Orleans County, and eventually Genesee County. With Bellack, the team includes Renee Hungerford from Community Action, Don Colquhoun from OCALS, Nyla Gaylord from Ministry of Concern, Robert Batt from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ken DeRoller representing local government and United Way board members Jackie Gardner and Jodi Gaines.
“This group of committed individuals represent how we have come together for the betterment of our county,” Bellack said.
Bellack said since posting ads for the two positions, United Way has received 20 resumes for the grant writer – from Orleans County to New York City and Minnesota. He plans to announce hiring of the part-time fundraiser by the end of the month.
No masks needed for vaccinated people; social distancing should be followed for those without shot
Photos by Tom Rivers: Lyric Wallenda, a seventh-generation circus performer with the Wallenda family, twirls upside down as part of a show from Circus Incredible, which performed at the Orleans County 4-H Fair for the first time in July 2019.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced additional guidance for county fairs and local festivals throughout New York, but the local fair officials are waiting to review the details to see how it will affect the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Last year’s fair was cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions. This year’s fair will go on – but how it will look is up in the air.
“The governor’s announcement today means we can begin to dig into properly preparing for the fair from July 26-31,” said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, which runs the annual fair. “We’ll be working in the next few days to better understand the full guidance and what it will look like in practice when made available.”
Local governments will permit county fairs and local festivals and consider Covid-19 health guidelines this year, Cuomo said in a news release.
State Department of Health approval will be required for events with over 5,000 expected attendees, consistent with existing review process. The Orleans County 4-H Fair typically draws 25,000 to 30,000 people over six days.
County fairs and local festivals must ensure that the total number of attendees is limited so that 6 feet of distance can be maintained between individuals who are not members of the same party, unless all attendees present proof of full vaccination status, Cuomo said.
Fairs and festivals may require masks for all attendees, and per CDC guidance masks are required for unvaccinated attendees in certain settings, and indoors where vaccination status is unknown.
“Fairs and festivals are huge economic generators for communities across the state, and last year they were all put on hold due to the Covid pandemic,” Cuomo said. “This new guidance will allow our county fairs and local festivals to open at the greatest capacity possible so they can remain economically viable, while still ensuring public health and safety.”
These 4-H’ers in the grand master showmen competition lead llamas in the show ring on July 26, 2019.
The state’s industry-specific guidance must be followed for the applicable activities and attractions present at any fair or festival, such as amusement and family entertainment, food and beverage service, performing arts and entertainment, Cuomo said.
In addition to capacity limits, social distancing and any mask requirements, the Governor’s Office said county fairs and local festivals should consider the following as they plan for this year’s festivities:
Attendee Contact Information: Fairs and festivals should encourage at least one attendee from each party to sign in during ticketing, or before or immediately upon entering the event space, providing their name, address and phone number for use in potential contact tracing efforts.
Health Screening: Fairs and festivals must implement health screening for all individuals including questions on any Covid-19 symptoms, close contacts, recent positive Covid-19 test result, and compliance with state’s travel advisory. Screening may be performed via signage, at ticket purchase, by e-mail/website, by telephone, or by electronic survey before individuals enter the event space.
Hand Hygiene: Fairs and festivals must provide hand washing stations or hand sanitizing supplies for common areas and areas where hand washing facilities may not be available or practical.
Cleaning and Disinfection: Fairs and festivals must regularly clean and disinfect, focusing on high-traffic areas, such as restrooms, and frequently touched surfaces, such as service counters and seats.
Communication: Fairs and festivals must post signage informing attendees of health precautions (e.g., social distancing, masks, hand hygiene) and distance markers indicating six-foot spaces in areas where lines form or people congregate, unless all attendees are fully vaccinated.
Applicable Guidance: Fairs and festivals should consult the state’s guidance for their specific activities and attractions, such as performing arts and entertainment, amusement and family entertainment, food and beverage service, retail and market service, agricultural activities and sports and recreation.
MEDINA – A $450,000 grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation is a game changer for Orleans County, said Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County, who realized several years ago how beneficial a grant writer would be for the county.
