ALBION – The annual auction of properties with several years of unpaid taxes has been set for Oct. 28. This is about five months later than usual.

The auction is usually in May. This year it was pushed back due to Covid-19.

The auction will be at a different location. It is usually at the Albion Elk’s Lodge, but will be at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. The sales start at 10 a.m.

In other action at last week’s Legislature meeting, the Legislature:

• Approved conveyance of 5090 Salt Workds Rd. in Shelby to Gregory and Stephanie Farewell for the amount of $5,711.85. The Legislature said the sale of the property “is in the county taxpayers best interest.”

• Reappointed Tom Kuryla as commissioner of the Department of Social Services for four more years, until June 30, 2024. Kuryla has been the county’s DSS commissioner the past 10 years.

• Accepted $10,000 from the Rochester Health Foundation for the Public Health Department. The funding includes $7,750 for vaccines and medications, $1,350 for nursing supplies, $800 for office supplies and $100 for travel other than mileage.

• Observed a moment of silence for Ronald R. “Butch” Radzinski of Gaines. He passed away on July 16 at age 86. Radzinski served as a county legislator and Legislature vice chairman. He also was on the Gaines Town Board and served as Gaines town supervisor.

He owned and operated H & A Superette in Gaines for 42 years. His daughter Gayle Ashbery is Carlton’s town supervisor and son Mark is the Gaines highway superintendent.

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ALBION – Residents will soon have the option to access free wireless internet in the parking lot at the Orleans County Office Building on Route 31.

Rural Technology Operators (RTO) Wireless will put in the WiFi hotspot. The County Legislature eon Wednesday approved paying $99 installation charge of a Spectrum Business Class circuit and a cost of $64.99 per month, to be paid for by the Computer Services Department Budget.

RTO has been installing free WiFi hotspots at many of the village offices and town halls around the county.

Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said the WiFi can be used while residents are waiting for appointments and when they need internet access.

The county will have a firewall to prevent access to the county networks. The County Office Building is located at 14016 State Route 31, Albion.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: These flowers are in the downtown Medina business district. This photo was taken in front of City Hall on Main Street.

Orleans County’s unemployment rate was 11.0 percent in June. That is far more than a year ago when the rate was 4.2 percent, but the rate is going down from the high of 15.9 percent in April. It then dropped to 11.5 percent in May.

In March, before the Covid-19 pandemic peak, the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in Orleans County.

The unemployment rates for June in Western New York counties includes:

• Allegany, 10.6 percent
• Cattaraugus, 12.9 percent
• Chautauqua, 11.2 percent
• Erie, 13.5 percent
• Genesee, 9.6 percent
• Livingston, 9.5 percent
• Monroe, 11.9 percent
• Niagara, 14.6 percent
• Orleans, 11.0 percent
• Wyoming, 9.2 percent
• Statewide, 15.7 percent

The latest data from the State Department of Labor shows the number of people employed in Orleans County is up by 1,000 in June to 15,300, compared to 14,300 in April. There were 15,000 working in the county in May. In March, before the pandemic caused many layoffs, there were 16,400 people working in the county.

The number of people unemployed in the county has gone from 900 in March to 2,700 in April, and then dropped to 1,900 in both May and June. That compared to 700 unemployed in May and June of 2019.

The highest unemployment rates in the state are in New York City with the Bronx at 24.7 percent, Kings at 20.5 percent, and Queens at 21.8 percent.

The only counties below a 9-percent rate include: Tompkins at 8.9 percent, Columbia at 8.8 percent, Yates at 8.5 percent, Chenango at 8.4 percent, and Hamilton at 7.7 percent.

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Photo from Sheriff’s Office: Deputy Adam Hazel, left, and Sgt. Kevin Colonna were happy to help this girl with her shopping during the debut of “Shop with a Cop” last December.

ALBION – The “Shop with a Cop” program will return this holiday season. The Walmart Foundation has awarded the Sheriff’s Office a $3,000 grant.

The money will allow the Sheriff’s Office to continue a local holiday outreach program benefiting children and families in Orleans County.

The program debuted last year with about a dozen law enforcement officers joining 16 local children who picked presents for their family members. The grant from the Walmart Foundation covers the costs of the presents.

The County Legislature on Wednesday voted to accept the grant from Walmart.

The Legislature also authorized the Sheriff’s Office to apply to the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation for Crackdown Grant Funding in the amount of $15,000 for 2020-2021.

Grant funds would allow the Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies to participate in increased STOP DWI patrols during peak holiday periods throughout the year.

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‘I’ve never seen prices zoom the way they have.’

ALBION – Orleans County real estate is in demand, with homes selling at a brisk pace often well above the asking price.

“I’ve never seen prices zoom the way they have,” said Rita Zambito, owner of Zambito Realtors in Medina.

Normally, it takes about six months to sell a house in Orleans County.

“Now they are selling in days and weeks,” she said.

One house sold for $40,000 above the asking price. It’s not uncommon for them to sell for $20,000 over the listed price, she said.

The houses are in demand in both the village and out in the countryside. People are also buying vacant land with plans to build new homes, Zambito said.

There is a shortage of houses on the market, which is a factor in the demand. There are also very low interest rates, and people seem to be drawn to the small towns and rural living during the pandemic, said David Snell, owner of Snell Realtors in Albion.

The hot real estate was raised during an Orleans County Legislature meeting on Wednesday. Barry Flansburg, chairman of the Orleans County Farmland Protection Board, spoke at a public hearing about adding two parcels of land to the county’s agricultural district.

Flansburg is also the town assessor in Barre, Byron, Elba and Oakfield. He said the rural areas are in demand for residents.

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed some of that demand, especially with people working from home and not having to commute into Rochester or Buffalo. The rural areas tend to have a lower Covid-19 caseload than more populated areas.

“You wouldn’t think so but the current pandemic we’re going through is an absolute draw to be in Western New York,” Flansburg told county legislators on Wednesday. “The real estate sales are going out of sight. They are selling out of sight within days of coming on the market.”

Flansburg urged the legislators to keep pushing for broadband internet in the rural areas, and also to extend waterlines and improve water infrastructure in the county.

“Orleans County and what we have in Western New York is actually a draw right now,” Flansburg said the taxes are actually lower in Orleans County for most property owners, compared to what people are paying in more populated counties.

He urged the county to keep investing in the community and not pull back on services and projects.

“The Covid pandemic will be a benefit to the county in the long run because the people will come,” Flansburg said.

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Jim Simon will remain Yates town supervisor

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jim Simon is retiring the end of July as dean of the Albion and Medina GCC campus centers.

ALBION – Jim Simon, dean of the Genesee Community College campus centers, is retiring from the college the end of July.

Simon joined GCC in 2005 to teach a history class. He had just retired from the Air Force. Two years later, he was made the dean of the Medina campus. In 2014, he also accepted leading the Albion campus center in addition to Medina.

Simon has taken his passion for history to help coordinate Civil War encampments and the Orleans County Heritage Festival at the campus centers. The sites also host lectures on history that are open to the community. He also is a leader of a committee that annually recognizes Heritage Heroes in Orleans County, people who work to save or preserve important local sites or history.

GCC is feeling financial pressure with the state cutting back on its aid to community colleges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Simon, 60, agreed to take an early retirement incentive, hoping his decision would allow other people to stay at GCC.

He intends to work as a principal of a small Catholic high school in Buffalo this year while continuing as Yates town supervisor.

“I’m not ready to fully retire,” Simon said during an interview at the Albion campus center. “I love education.”

The two campus centers combined have about 250 to 300 students. The dean leads the faculty and staff, leads the hiring and evaluating of classrooms, and oversees student support services, the curriculum and the facilities.

Simon said the position allowed him to meet many local residents and community leaders.

“There are a lot of amazing people here,” Simon said. “I love of the people side of this job, working with my colleagues and the students.”

Jim Simon, pictured inside the Albion campus center on Wednesday, said students like the smaller class sizes and more personal atmosphere in the campus centers. The centers host art exhibits. They also hosted Civil War encampments, Heritage Hero awards programs and other community events. The Albion center has an art studio while the Medina center has labs for science classes.

Simon in 2017 was honored with a Chancellor’s Award for his work as GCC dean. He was instrumental in GCC’s accreditation process with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and was a key member of the first-ever GCC Strategic Plan – Strength Through Collaboration Strategic Plan.

During his tenure, GCC offered the Promise Plus incentive for high school students to take summer classes at GCC without paying tuition. That has allowed local students to get a head start earning college credits without any financial strain.

GCC also has partnerships with many local high schools where students can earn college credit in classes taught at their schools by the local teachers. Some high schoolers also take classes at GCC during the school year.

Union soldiers make a charge on the Confederates during a mock battle at the GCC’s Medina campus center on Maple Ridge Road on April 26, 2015. This was during the final Civil War encampment to honor the 150th anniversary of the pivotal war. GCC hosted encampments for four years.

The campus centers are close by for Orleans County residents and they offer a less intimidating environment with more personalized attention from faculty and staff.

Simon said many former students often stop by to say they started their college path at either the Albion or Medina campus centers. Many went on to earn four-year degrees and secure jobs in their desired profession. The campus centers helped them build their confidence in the classroom and get acclimated to college coursework.

The centers were their busiest in 2009 during the recession. Many people were out of work and enrolled at GCC to work on a degree. The centers peaked then with about 600 students. The campus centers were helpful for many students to learn new skills and rebound in the tough economy.

“There were people who were laid off and who had never been to college,” Simon said. “But 2 to 3 years later, they had a degree. This has been a wonderful mission to be a part of.”

GCC will do some in-person classes this fall and also will be offering classes remotely, with students logging in online at set class times for courses.

Simon expects GCC and the campus centers will see an increase in students due to the economic crisis from Covid-19. He said the college can help students learn new skills and earn needed credits.

He keeps a quote from Robert Frost on display at his office in Medina: “College is a refuge from hasty judgement.”

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ALBION — RTS Orleans, which operates a public transportation service in Orleans County, will resume regular service and collecting fares on Wednesday.

The Regional Transit Service, which operates public transportation in Orleans and seven other counties, hasn’t been collecting fares since March 19.

RTS initially waived fares to help protect RTS bus drivers and customers. RTS has implemented enhanced bus cleaning, and bus operators have access to masks, face shields, hand sanitizer and disinfectant.

Riders are urged to wear a face covering or mask, wash/disinfect their hands often, maintain social distancing when possible, and stay home if feeling sick.

In Orleans County, RTS has been operating a Dial-A-Ride public transit service only since April 6. On Wednesday, it will return to regular service. Click here for more from RTS Orleans.

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ALBION – Home-based child care providers are eligible for $2,000 grants, made possible by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

The grants include about 20 home-based childcare sites in Orleans and Genesee counties. Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is distributing the grants.

“It’s an absolutely wonderful opportunity for the home-based providers,” said Bonnie Malakie, director of children and youth services for Community Action.

Home-based childcare providers should receive an application for the funding from Community Action through the Child Care Resource & Referral program. Currently there are 20 certified group family daycares or home-based child care providers in the two counties, Malakie said.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation awarded the grant to Rochester Area Community Foundation to help about 200 small, home-based child care providers in Orleans, Genesee and Monroe counties.

“Child care is essential now more than ever,” said Amber Slichta, vice president of programs at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “Small, home-based child care providers rarely qualify for support and, in turn, do not view themselves as small businesses. It’s important that we continue to fill these gaps and uplift these providers, as they are often the only option for working families in rural areas and urban neighborhoods.”

During the pandemic, these smaller child care sites are seeing more demand with families looking for smaller settings with fewer children and adults. The grants of up to $2,000 each will be given to providers to use how they see fit — to help them open or continue operations.

“In-home child care has always been in demand. But the pandemic has more families looking at home-based options as a way to minimize their children’s exposure to large numbers of other children and adults,” says Jennifer Leonard, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “This sudden need by families during an already difficult time has placed a great deal of strain on home care providers who want to help.”

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File photo by Tom Rivers – Diane Blanchard, director of the Microenterprise Assistance Program, is pictured in downtown Albion. She leads a program that has had 518 graduates.

ALBION – A class that gives pointers to entrepreneurs and helps them develop their business plans will be back this fall after the spring class was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Orleans Economic Development Agency has been offering the program since 1999, with classes in the spring and fall.

The EDA is expecting to hold the weekly class sessions at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street, and could always hold sessions through the Zoom video conferencing or a Google meet, said Diane Blanchard, manager of the program.

“We’re moving forward,” she said during Friday’s Orleans EDA board meeting. “We’re ready.”

Blanchard said a dozen people are already committed to the class. Other people interested in MAP can reach Blanchard at (585) 589-7060 (ext. 1) or by email, dblanchard@orleansdevelopment.org.

The 10-week class includes insights on taxes, marketing, legal issues, computer skills and overcoming pitfalls in launching a business. A main goal is developing a business plan.

Sam Campanella, an advisor with the Small Business Development Center, has been with the class for many years. He has retired from the SBDC.

Dorothy Daniels of Albion is taking Campanella’s place as a class advisor and instructor. the class. Daniels graduated from MAP in 2019. She started On Point Bookkeeper on West Avenue in Albion. She also works for the SBDC.

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Katie Harvey

ALBION – The county has hired Katie Harvey to be the new director of Personnel and Self Insurance. She succeeds Jack Welch, who became the county’s chief administrative officer on March 25.

Harvey worked with Welch as the deputy director of Personnel and Self Insurance beginning in March 2020. She started in the department as a personnel assistant in January 2014. Prior to working for the county, Harvey was an assistant manager of Five Star Bank in Albion.

Harvey has been trained in Albany at the NYS Civil Service Institute by the NYS Department of Civil Service. Her work with the county has included managing the Orleans County Self Insurance Plan claims, human resources for 400-plus employees as well as coordinating the scheduling of the county’s civil service examinations.

“Katie is well versed in the operations of Personnel and Self Insurance,” Welch said.

The Director of Personnel and Self Insurance is responsible for over 1,600 civil service classified positions, over 1,100 employees in the Orleans County Self Insurance Plan as well as over 600 volunteer firefighters.

“Katie has the ability to be an excellent administrator of the County’s Civil Service operations as well as the administrator of the Orleans County Self Insurance Plan,” Welch said. “I couldn’t think of a better person to lead this department in these challenging times.”

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DMV has been overwhelmed with calls recently for appointments

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering on-line scheduling for appointments.

“We acknowledge that we were overwhelmed with the sheer volume of calls to schedule DMV transactions the past few weeks,” said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have created for our residents. We totally understand the frustration our residents have had in trying to obtain an appointment at DMV and we hope our new online scheduling service will allow our residents more flexibility and convenience in scheduling their appointments for DMV transactions.”

The on-line scheduling page may be located using the County’s DMV webpage (click here) or by clicking here. The first step in scheduling the appointment is to click on the service needed, then choose a date, provide your name and telephone number.

The software requires the customer’s name and telephone number as a required field.  By providing a mobile number and an email address, the software will provide a text message confirmation and an email confirmation of the appointment. The last step is confirming that all of the information entered is correct.

As a reminder, the county has a lockbox in front of the County Office Building for DMV transactions. The direct number for DMV is (585) 589-3214. The County Office Building address is 14016 State Route 31, Albion, NY 14411.

“The county continues to look for opportunities to serve our residents in the most safe and healthy manner possible for our residents and employees,” Welch said.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Some candy apples are lined up in a food booth at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. They were prepared by Scott Kolassa of Churchville, who runs a taffy, candy apple, cotton candy and fudge booth, as well as a lemonade stand.

The fairgrounds is hosting a fair food fest today, Saturday and Sunday. There are eight vendors for the food fest.

The event was popular today, with 200 people in the first hour, despite temperatures in the mid-80s.

Karen Spierdowis and her son Cole of Albion were among the customers. Spierdowis said she missed taffy from the fair. She also wanted to show support for the vendors who are an important part of the fair experience.

Scott Kolassa has lots of classic fair foods ready in his booth.

The event went from 4 to 8 p.m. today and will return from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Kolassa’s late father Sy started the family business about 65 years ago. Kolassa and the other fair food venders have seen nearly all of the fairs and festivals be cancelled this summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County agreed to host the three-day event, with social distancing in place and people wearing masks.

Robert Batt, the Extension director, said the fair has long relationships with many of the vendors and wanted to help them during a tough time when so many of their events had been cancelled.

The week-long Orleans County 4-H Fair is among the popular events that is cancelled this year. Batt knows people are missing the festivals and fairs. He thought the food fest would give people a taste of the fair, and also help the vendors.

People are given takeout containers and need to return to their vehicles after getting served. (They are to enter and exit from the west side of the fairgrounds on Taylor Hill Road.)

Jennifer Pontillo, owner of Divine Swine, is serving pulled pork, brisket, fries, and a smoked chicken dinner with watermelon salad and corn bread.

The Elba resident also owns an Italian restaurant in Geneseo. She appreciated the chance to return to the fairgrounds, even on three hot days.

“These are very uncertain times if you’re in the restaurant and food business,” Pontillo said. “I’ll take the opportunity to make money.”

Jack Kolassa, owner of The Big Cheese, prepares a grilled cheese sandwich. Jack is a third generation fair food vendor. His father is Scott and his grandfather is Sy. Jack is assisted in the booth today by Connor Starr at right.

The Big Cheese also sells Buffalo chicken grilled cheese, corn dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers.

Jack said the fair and festival season has been busy time for his family for more than a half century – until this year.

“This is something I never could have imagined,” he said about so many cancelled events. “But we’re a resilient bunch.”

Taffy is ready at Scott Kolassa’s booth.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, carries a box of produce on June 10 during a food distribution at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The Extension staff and volunteers put 1,200 boxes of produce in vehicles that stopped by.

Food distributions will be back next week in Orleans County after there weren’t any of the events this week. The food is available at no charge to the community.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension will host USDA Farmers-to-Families Food Box Distribution events on July 8 and July 22. The Extension will be distributing 1,200 boxes of produce.

There also will be Foodlink distributions with three boxes of food per vehicle on the Fridays from July 10 through July 31. The three boxes are perishable items of produce, dairy and cooked meat.

Some of the Foodlink product is from the federal USDA’s new initiative called CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program). In this program, distributors who would normally serve schools, restaurants, and municipal programs are able to pre-pack boxes of perishable product and deliver to distributions being done all over the country, said Melissa Blanar, OFA director in Orleans County.

The July drive-through distribution schedule includes:

• July 8: Produce distribution at 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville – 10 a.m. until gone
• July 10: Community Action’s Main Street Store in Albion, across from Hoag Library – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• July 17: Medina Calvary Cupboard with new location at Medina Central School District – 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Enter off of West Oak Orchard Street from Main Street or West Avenue. Entry is at the Oak Orchard Elementary School, signs will be posted. No lines before 8 a.m.)
• July 22: Produce distribution at 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville – 10 a.m. until gone
• July 24: Community Action’s Main Street Store in Albion – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• July 31: Holley at a location to be determined – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

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