Proposals include building upgrades, a new marina, assistance for restaurants, kayak launches, signage

Courtesy of Labella Associates: A committee looking at ways to better utilize the Erie Canal has suggested a privately owned marina that offers gas and other services would draw more boating traffic to the Albion area.

ALBION – A group that has been meeting for about a year, brainstorming ideas to better utilize the Erie Canal, has identified several projects.

The committee is developing a Canal Corridor Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the villages of Albion and Holley, and the towns of Albion, Murray, Gaines, Ridgeway and Shelby. The Village of Medina has developed its own waterfront plan.

Albion and Holley would benefit if there were kayak launches in the villages along the canal, according to the Waterfront Advisory Committee.

The county received a state grant for $62,000 to develop the plan and hired LaBella Associates as a consultant.

The committee will hold a final public meeting Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at The Lockstone at 160 North Main St. Natasha Wasuck, owner of the Lockstone, is one of the committee members.

The public can attend the meeting in person or check in through Zoom videoconferencing (click here). The meeting ID is 827 3351 7976 and the passcode is 694534. Dial by your location at +1 929 205 6099 US (New York).

The Local Waterfront Advisory Committee will go over the final plan, including eight priority projects. The committee sought projects that provide access to the waterfront, increase recreational opportunities and advance economic development opportunities.

The plan will help the county and participating municipalities with future funding opportunities.

Some of the proposed projects include:

• Canal Corridor Building Assistance Program: would provide grant funding of up to $600,000 to assist multiple buildings or an anchor building with interior and exterior improvements. Albion and Holley have both received New York Main Street grants for building improvements in the downtown.

• Small Business Assistance Program: A countywide program with grant and loan funding to assist new and existing businesses with growth, with restaurants and culinary operations getting the priority.

• Activate the Canal Waterfront: Repurpose underutilized spaces, including parking lots, which could be turned into performance space and improved aesthetically with landscaping and lighting. The initiative would include rear facade upgrades and enhanced water recreation opportunities. The committee used the Village of Albion’s parking lot by the canal near Platt Street as an example of space that could be improved.

The committee suggested Albion redesign and resurface a parking lot by the canal, adding lighting and landscaping and making the space available to be used for concerts and events.

• Increase Water-Based Recreation Facilities: Add kayak and boat launches, piers and tie-ups in the villages of Albion and Holley. The area needs private entities to offer kayak rentals.

• Construct a Marina in Albion: A private marina is needed that offers gas services, tie-ups and other services.

• Install Signage along the Canal: There needs to be signs with distances to the next ports and nearby canal communities. There should also be signs directing people to businesses and services.

• Winter Recreation Program: This could include “pop-up” temporary ice skating rinks, cross country skiing and winter festivals.

• Siphon for Agriculture: Siphoning water from the canal reduces agriculture costs and also can be used to provide water for creeks and fishing.

• Some other projects: Arts along the canal with statues and public art relevant to the canal and county; Trail connections to natural areas (Groth Road in Murray and Presbyterian Road in Knowlesville area); Celebrate the Holley canal loop with pavement, lighting and signage; Attract a rental business offering bikes and kayaks; Promote tugboats; Upgrade the towpath trail surface for bikes, increase the number of events and redevelop the Murray quarry ponds for recreation.

Return to top

In spite of challenges ahead, United Way of Orleans County has announced an ambitious goal of $250,000 for 2021.

‘’This is $50,000 higher than last year’s goal, but we are confident we can hit the number,” said executive director Dean Bellack.

With the restrictions placed on workplaces by the Covid pandemic, United Way acknowledges workplace campaigns will not take place as usual.

“We are making adjustments with electronic giving options and a video presentation,” Bellack said.

Last year United Way was instrumental in $246,500 in grants being received from outside the county. These included funding from the Buffalo Community Response Fund, ESL Savings Bank, United Health Care Blue Fund, Heritage Wind and FEMA.

These dollars were directed to agencies based on the recommendations of the United Way board, with some decision making from community partners, such as Darren Wilson from the Lyndonville Foundation, Bruce Schmidt of Community Action and the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. Also instrumental in helping decide where funding should go were United Way board members Jodi Gaines and Jackie Gardner.

A consultant is being hired this week to begin work on helping to close the digital divide in the county.

“We are also in the process of putting together the framework for hiring a community grant writer to assist all agencies in bringing in more dollars to help those in need in Orleans County,” Bellack said.

Last Friday, United Way of Orleans County had its first chicken barbecue, which sold 1,000 dinners and netted the agency $4,511.

“We hope everyone enjoyed their dinner and we hope they will all consider a donation to United Way to help us in our mission to help the residents of Orleans County,” Bellack said. “The mission of United Way of Orleans County is to explore every logical partnership and every funding source to impact our community as positively as we can.”

Return to top

ALBION – Orleans County legislators have changed the date for the annual property auction from Oct. 28 to Nov. 18.

The auction for properties with years of unpaid taxes is usually in May and in recent years has been at the Albion Elk’s Lodge.

This year, due to Covid-19, it will be at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.

The sales start at 10 a.m. In addition to the sale price and a buyer’s premium, purchasers will be responsible for the 2020 Town and County tax bill including any relevied taxes; any village taxes levied after May 31, 2020, the 2020/2021 school taxes, the 2021 Town and County taxes, as well as penalties and interest.

The total bill must be received by the Orleans County Treasurer’s Office on or before Dec. 21.

Return to top

Jeff Lewis replaces Jeanne Crane, who led the party for 25 years

Jeff Lewis

CARLTON – Orleans County Democrats have a new leader after long-time party chairwoman Jeanne Crane stepped down.

Crane will continue as a vice chairwoman while Jeff Lewis takes the reins as party leader in Orleans County.

Crane, a retired nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital, has been party chairwoman in Orleans County for about 25 years and has served on the committee for about 50 years.

She said Lewis, a senior vice president with PathStone, has many connections in the region, including with elected officials.

Lewis has worked with PathStone (previously known as Rural Opportunities) since 1976. He lives in Carlton.

He wants to get more people involved in local politics. He welcomes people to connect with the Orleans County Democratic Party on its website (click here) or by sending him an email at goldenjubel@aol.com.

The Democrats in the county are outnumbered by Republicans by 2-to-1, with about 11,000 registered Republicans to about 5,500 Democrats in the county. Republicans fill nearly all of the elected positions at the local level.

“I strongly believe in the two-party system,” Lewis said. “In Orleans County, we’ve never not had the two-party system.”

Lewis said he favors progressive ideas socially, but considers himself a conservative with budgeting and management.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jeanne Crane is shown during the Fourth of July parade in Lyndonville in 2015.

He is concerned about the federal government’s direction under President Donald Trump. He sees weakened regulations for the environment, a more vulnerable Social Security, uncertainty over health care coverage and a push towards corporate interests over small businesses.

“The institutions that I believe in at the federal level are under attack,” Lewis said.

Lewis urged the community to be engaged in the election process, and share their opinions without disparaging others.

“Being involved in this role is a civic duty,” he said. “I can get along with almost anybody. At the end of the day we might disagree but we can still get along.”

Crane said she has enjoyed serving as party leader for a quarter century, even though it is a difficult challenge for a Democrat in Orleans County.

She appreciates the courage of the local candidates and the passion of the many local party volunteers, who try to get more voters registered.

Crane attended two party national conventions – 2016 when Hillary Clinton was the presidential nominee and 2012 when Barack Obama was seeking a second term.

She has met many high-profile Democrats including Al Gore, Bill and Hillary Clinton at the White House, the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Al Sharpton.

She remain on the state committee and on the board of directors for the Democratic Rural Conference.

“I’ve really enjoyed it but it’s time to get younger people involved and new ideas,” Crane said.

She is encouraged by two new members on the local Democratic Party Committee. Beth Wood is serving as secretary and Kriss Sniffen is the treasurer.

Return to top

ALBION – Registered voters in Orleans County will have the option to cast their ballots in early voting again this year.

The county will accept ballots at the Board of Elections from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. The county will have election inspectors on site and residents can vote as in any other election.

The option is part of a state mandate to allow greater access to the polls. The county offered early voting for the first time a year ago and then again during the June primary.

Voters can cast their ballots at the Board of Elections in the County Administration Building, located behind the nursing home at 14016 Route 31.

The county will have four election inspectors on duty – 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats – for early voting.

The hours the polls will be open include:

• Oct. 24-25 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Oct. 26 (Monday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Oct. 27-28 (Tuesday and Wednesday) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Oct. 29-30 (Thursday and Friday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Oct. 31-Nov. 1 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The general election is Nov. 3 with polls in the 10 towns in Orleans County open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Those polling sites will all be the same as in the last election except in Carlton, which is shifting from the Town Hall to the Carlton Rec Hall on Route 98.

Return to top

The unemployment rate in Orleans County was at 9.8 percent in August, nearly double what is was in August 2019 when the rate was 5.1 percent, according to the NYS Department of Labor.

The number of people working in Orleans dropped from 16,800 to 15,600 during the 12-month period, while the number of unemployed increased from 900 to 1,700.

The 9.8 percent unemployment rate in Orleans County is the first time it is under 10 percent since April when it was 15.9 percent. Since then the rate has been 11.5 percent in May, 10.8 percent in June and 12.7 percent in July.

The unemployment rates nationally increased from 3.8 percent in August 2019 to 8.5 percent in August 2020. In New York, the rate is up from 4.1 percent to 12.6 percent.

The unemployment rates for other nearby counties include:

• Erie, 10.8 percent
• Genesee, 8.1 percent
• Livingston, 7.6 percent
• Monroe, 10.5 percent
• Niagara, 10.9 percent
• Wyoming, 7.5 percent

The highest rates in the state are 21.1 percent in the Bronx and 16.4 percent in Queens. Hamilton at 5.5 percent and Yates at 6.9 percent have the lowest rates in the state.

Nationally, the number of people working dropped by 10.6 million from August 2019 to August 2020, from 157.8 million to 147.2 million. The number of unemployed in the U.S. increased by 7.5 million.

State-wide, the number of people working is down 824,000 from 9.14 million to 8.32 million. The number of unemployed increased in the state by 806,000 from August 2019 to August 2020.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The courthouse dome had a purple tint last night facing Main Street to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month during October.

The county’s domestic violence unit responds to about 400 referrals each year.

The other side of the dome is lighted pink this month to highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also during October.

About 70 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Orleans County.

The courthouse, which was built in 1858, is the focal point of the Courthouse Square, a district on the National Register of Historic Places.

Return to top

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce won’t be doing a big awards dinner in October, an annual tradition celebrating businesses in the county.

However, the Chamber will be honoring businesses and is seeking nominations from the community about how businesses have shown perseverance since March, adapting and serving customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m sure there are a lot of businesses that have just gone way beyond their normal realm this year and we want to recognize some of them,” said Darlene Hartway, Chamber director.

The organization is working on the details for how to celebrate the award winners. They may be presented the honors individually or as a group. Hartway said those details are being discussed.

For now, the Chamber is seeking nominations for awards to recognize businesses and community leaders. The nominations are due Oct. 12.

The categories include:

• Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year.
• Lifetime Achievement – This award is presented to an individual with a long-term record of outstanding business achievements.
• Phoenix Award – This award is presented to an organization or business that has successfully adapted or re-used an existing facility.
• New Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business or organization that has opened in the past year.
• Community Service Award – This award is presented to a business, organization or individual that has provided meaningful contributions to the community in either professional or non-professional spheres.
• Agricultural Business of the Year – This award is presented to an agricultural business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year.
• Businessperson of the Year – This award is presented to an individual who has had outstanding accomplishments within their own business/businesses and who has made notable contributions to our local business sector.
• Small Business of the Year – This award is presented to a small business th555at has experienced significant achievements/success throughout the year.
• Hidden Gem of the Year – This award is presented to a business that has made a positive contribution to tourism in our county.

The nominations can include references to how the business or person has shown resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Send a nomination to the OCCC, PO Box 501, Medina, NY or email it to director@orleanschamber.com.

Return to top

‘I can’t think of a worse scenario than we’ve been dealt with’ – County CAO Jack Welch

Jack Welch

ALBION – Orleans County taxpayers should expect an increase in 2021 in their county tax bills.

“It’s inevitable,” said Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer. “I can’t think of a worse scenario than we’ve been dealt with.”

Welch spoke at last week’s Orleans County Association of Municipalities and outlined multiple budget challenges for the county, including a significant jump in health insurance costs, rising pension contributions and reductions and delays in state reimbursements.

The county operates on a $71 million budget with 415 employees in 24 departments. The county in 2020 relied on property taxes for $18,009,699 of the budget. Property owners pay a $10.10 rate per $1,000 of assessed property in 2020.

Sales tax, at about $17 million, is another major source of revenue that is expected to be down this year.

Welch, county legislators and department heads are working to put together the 2021 budget. Welch has until Nov. 15 to submit a tentative budget that will then go through a public review before likely be adopted in early December. The new fiscal year starts Jan. 1.

Welch was hoping a federal stimulus package would provide significant funding for the county and state, to help get through the fiscal crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. But that money may not be coming. The U.S. Senate and President Trump have now shifted their attention to filling a Supreme Court vacancy.

“We have been waiting for federal action,” Welch said. “But the Supreme Court justice is sucking the air out of the room.”

Welch said the county is looking at possibly delaying some projects and will be evaluating every expense and position.

The towns can also expect bills from the county for election expenses which have been covered by a state grant. That grant expires in November.

Welch, speaking with town and village officials last week, said the state funding helped pay for early voting, electronic voting books and electronic voting machines. Some of those costs will be passed to the towns. Welch said each of the 10 towns can expect about $3,000 in added election costs in 2021 that were being paid by the state.

“We have some challenges,” Welch said. “It doesn’t look good.”

The County Legislature has set a public hearing for 4:25 p.m. on Oct. 28 for a local law to override the tax cap in 2021. The cap for next year allows up to a 1.56 percent increase. Municipalities have the option of overriding the cap.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers: Emily Cebula, director of Yates Community Library in Lyndonville, said libraries have continued to provide important services to residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is speaking at Wednesday’s Orleans County Legislature meeting.

ALBION – The four public libraries in Orleans County are asking county legislators to keep them in the budget, during a time of fiscal stress for the county.

Orleans County official worry that sales tax revenues will be down, as well as state reimbursements, pressuring legislators to find ways to reduce costs. Legislators are working on the 2021 budget that will likely be adopted in late November or December.

The county currently provides $10,087 to the four libraries – Albion (Hoag Library), Holley (Community Free Library), Lyndonville (Yates Community Library) and Medina (Lee-Whedon Memorial Library).

The libraries for years have been asking for $1 per resident, which would be $42,883. The current allotment amounts to 23.5 cents per person.

“We are not asking for an awful lot of money but we are providing an awful lot of services to our community,” said David Schwert, a member of the board of directors for Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

Schwert said the local libraries function on a “shoe-string budget” and utilize many volunteers to provide services and run programs for children and adults.

Ginny Hughes, a trustee for the Yates library, said the libraries provide more than books, online access, meeting rooms and many other programs and services.

Ginny Hughes, a trustee for the Yates Community Library, asked legislators to keep money in the budget for libraries. Lisa Erickson, assistant director for the Nioga Library System, is at left.

The libraries are “a measuring stick of a community” for people and businesses that are looking to move into Orleans County, Hughes said.

“In this very difficult time please continue to support our libraries,” Hughes said.

Tom Bindeman is director of the Nioga Library System that serves Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties. He said the state has cut aid to Nioga by 27 percent. Nioga will be looking at layoffs and reduced services.

The county allocations are especially critical in light of the state reductions, Bindeman said.

He praised the libraries for retooling during the pandemic, and offering more online services. The libraries are seeing an increase in downloadable books and magazines, Bindeman said.

Many of the sites have also boosted the strength of the wireless signal in their parking lots so more people can access the internet, especially in the library off hours.

Bindeman also said the libraries have been helping people fill out the Census. Orleans County has lagged behind other nearby counties in Census participation. Bindeman said Nioga funding from the state is partly tied to the local population count. He urged county legislators to help promote the Census.

“Anything you can do to get the word out,” he said. “If you go down (in population), our funding also goes down.”

Return to top

The Villages of Orleans hasn’t had any new Covid cases since late May

Photo by Tom Rivers: The flag is lowered in this photo from May at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, out of respect for the victims of Covid-19. The state has had more than 25,000 people die after contracting Covid-19, including 30 at The Villages.

ALBION — The state has fined The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center $20,000 for its response to Covid-19. The fine is based on an inspection at the Albion nursing home in May.

The Villages is one of 23 nursing homes in the state that have been fined for failing to provide proper infection prevention and control measures.

The fines of the nursing homes ranged from $2,000 to $50,000. The $20,000 fine at The Villages was the seventh highest in the state, according to a report from The Buffalo News.

At The Villages in Albion, 89 residents tested positive for Covid-19 and 30 died after getting it. The 120-bed facility hasn’t had any new confirmed cases since late May.

The state Department of Health inspected The Village son May 9 and said there was a threat of “immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.”

The Villages corrected the failings according to a follow-up inspection on June 15.

DOH inspectors on May 9 said facility staff weren’t following proper infection prevention and control measures. One example included certified nursing aides and licensed practical nurses entering and exiting a room of a person with Covid, and then entering rooms of other residents without Covid.

The staff “passed breakfast trays, assisted with the residents’ meals and provided hands on care without wearing PPE and completing proper hand hygiene,” according to the DOH report.

The DOH said personal protective equipment wasn’t readily available to staff. Several employees told DOH there wasn’t adequate PPE for workers. DOH reported the director of nursing showed DOH staff a PPE storage room that had 1,000 surgical masks, 88,500 gloves, 600 powder free gloves, 480 N95 face masks, 1,950 gowns, 308 face shields, 19 pairs of goggles, 1,900 surgical masks, and 100 pairs of booties. The DON told the DOH inspectors that that only she and the assistant director of nursing had keys to this storage room.

The Department of Health also reported that many nursing home employees, including agency staff, did not seem educated on infection control policies, standard/droplet precautions and Covid-19.

“If employees are not following the proper measures for infection control, there is a risk for transmission and spread,” the DOH said in the inspection.

To see the report, click here.

Return to top

Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator Skip Draper present a proclamation to Sheriff Chris Bourke on Wednesday, proclaiming this week as “Sheriff’s Week.” Bourke is joined by several staff in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature issued a proclamation on Wednesday declaring Sept. 20-26 as “Sheriff’s Week.”

In Orleans County, Sheriff Chris Bourke oversees an office that includes county police services, a marine division, the county jail, dispatching 911 emergency services, communication systems, animal control, and serving and executing civil process and victim protection orders for our courts.

Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said local residents respect law enforcement and treat them with reverence. That was apparent to her during a Sept. 11 memorial service in Albion.

“Today, sadly, our law enforcement community is under assault across the country,” Johnson said. “But not here in Orleans County. We respect you.”

Bourke, during the Legislature meeting on Wednesday, said he is honored to serve as the county’s sheriff.

“These are tough times but we will get through it together,” he said.

Return to top

10 businesses will be at site to take applications, answer questions

KNOWLESVILLE – There will be a first-time drive-through job fair today in Orleans County.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. People should enter the fairgrounds for the job fair from Taylor Hill Road, not Route 31.

The following local companies will be at the job fair: Western New York Energy in Medina, Saint-Gobain ADFORS in Albion, H.H. Dobbins in Lyndonville, Takefrom in Medina, Oak Orchard Health, Pride Pak in Medina, Velocitti in Medina, Orleans Community Health, ATB Staffing and Imagine Staffing.

The event is organized by the Orleans County Job Development Agency. People should bring an up-to-date resume. They also need to stay in their vehicles and wear a mask.

Another drive-through job fair is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Fairgrounds.

People interested in learning about or applying for local jobs will be directed to drive through a barn where the businesses will be stationed. Potential applicants should have resumes ready to provide to business representatives as they drive through.

For those wishing to find out more details about a particular job or for those businesses that want to interview on the spot, an additional barn will be designated for cars to park so there can be more conversation and exchange of information.

Return to top

United Way of Orleans County has been notified it has been awarded a $55,000 grant from the Western New York Covid-19 Community Response Fund, according to United Way executive director Dean Bellack.

Several months ago, Bellack organized a committee of representatives from a range of sectors and organization types, including United Way, Arc of Orleans/Genesee, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Orleans County Adult Learning Services, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Orleans County YMCA, Boy Scouts of America/Iroquois Trail Council, Praising Kids Daycare, Project Liftoff, Claims Recovery Financial Services, Takeform, Orleans County Job Development Agency and representatives from Orleans County Legislature, Orleans County Economic Development and Orleans Microenterprise Assistance Program.

United Way was the lead agency for this collaborative of county stakeholders, which requested $55,000 to implement a planning process for a county wide solution bridging the digital divide, increasing residents’ digital literacy skills and increasing access to employment opportunities, according to information from Bellack.

County Legislator Ken DeRoller was a member of the committee.

“This grant allows us to jump start a proactive planning process to access solutions, to move Orleans County into the 21st century,” DeRoller said. “Digital Access is the equivalent to having electricity 80 years ago.”

This money will enable the county to hire a consultant through a six-month planning phase to establish an “Orleans Digital Literacy Education Initiative.”

“We will have to work feverishly to gather information from all areas, including schools, farmers, corporations, etc. and hire a consultant to put together our proposal for the next round of funding,” Bellack said. “This consultant will look at all areas and identify all the gaps in the county.”

Bellack praised Robert Batt at Cornell Cooperative Extension, who was the county’s key in consolidating the information into the white paper that was awarded the funding.

Return to top