By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2020 at 7:35 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The words “In God We Trust” have been added to the legislative chambers for the Orleans County Legislature. The seven-member Legislature voted on Sept. 25 to have the words displayed in the meeting room next to the county seal.
The Legislature has been meeting in the new space since June. The body moved from the County Clerk’s Building at Courthouse Square to an addition on the County Administration Building on Route 31.
“Whereas, the County desires to display this patriotic motto in the Legislative Chambers as a way to solemnize public occasions and express confidence in our society,” states the Legislature’s resolution from Sept. 25.
The Rev. Dan Thurber, pastor of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God church on Ridge Road in Medina, led a dedication on Wednesday afternoon for the inscription. Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, back left, and Nadine Hanlon, clerk of the Legislature, are also pictured.
Thurber noted that “In God We Trust” has been on U.S. currency since 1864 and have been the national motto since July 30, 1956, adopted about a decade after the end of World War II.
The four words also are engraved above the entrance to the Senate Chamber and the speaker’s dais in the United States House of Representatives.
“Whereas, in both war and peace, these words have been a profound source of strength and guidance to many generations of Americans,” the county resolution states.
Thurber, during his dedication message, referenced Proverbs 3:5-6:
“Trust in the Lord in all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.”
He thanked the county legislators for voting for the display.
“I’m thankful this Legislature so fit to put ‘In God We Trust’ in these chambers reminding us everyday that it is beyond us, it is beyond ourselves, it is beyond our own capacity. There is someone greater than us.”
Click here to see a video of Thurber giving the dedication message and offering a prayer.
Bruce Schmidt of Gaines also thanked the Legislature for displaying “in God We Trust.” He said it shouldn’t be considered as promoting religion.
“It is a historic artifact,” Schmidt said about the four words. “It recognizes religion in our national life and is an expression of patriotism.”
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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 February 2020 at 11:56 am
File photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Historian Matt Ballard speaks on May 26, 2016 during a ceremony at Mount Albion Cemetery, when a marker was unveiled at the Civil War section. That project was led by Albion seventh-graders with Ballard assisting the students with some of the research. Students catalogued the burial locations for more than 250 Civil War veterans buried at Mount Albion.
ALBION – Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard is resigning to take a position at the college in North Carolina.
Ballard, 31, has served as county historian the past five years, a tenure where he modernized the county’s Department of History, cataloguing many documents and photos and making them available online.
Ballard has also written a weekly column – “Overlooked Orleans” – and led numerous tours at local cemeteries, as well as downtown Albion. He also has spoken at many local organizations and is a frequent guest at Albion Central School, sharing with seventh-graders about local history.
Ballard has served in the part-time role while working full-time at Roberts Wesleyan College in North Chili, where he is director of library services.
He is taking a job at Davidson College near Charlotte. He will be Davidson’s assistant director of collection strategies.
“I’m at the point in my life where I have to decide what path I want to take, whether libraries or history,” Ballard said.
The library position, ultimately, pays better than working as a historian. Ballard was paid $8,600 as county historian in 2019. The pay was bumped up to $11,500 this year.
Ballard said he worked hard to share stories and history from the county, whether in the weekly column, tours or speaking engagements. He also responds to many emails with people seeking information about the history of houses, businesses and genealogy, as well as assistance in getting birth, marriage and death records.
Ballard has been dedicated to the position. When Ballard was on his honeymoon in July 2017, he and his wife Christine planned a trip to England, France and Poland. They visited the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France and paid their respects at the graves of local soldiers who trained with Company F at the former Medina Armory.
Ballard is the former director of the Cobblestone Museum and then served as its board president. He has been president of the board of trustees for the Orleans County Historical Association and an active member of the Knights of Columbus.
He has juggled his full-time job at Roberts with his historian’s duties, while also finishing his graduate work at Brockport State College in American History. He graduates in May. He also has a master’s degree in library science from the University at Buffalo.
Matt Ballard was in costume in September leading tours of downtown Albion and the Courthouse Square. About 300 people attended two tours of “Murder and Mayhem,” tours highlighting notable characters and some crimes in the community.
Ballard is an Albion native. He joined Orleans County Genealogical Association when he was 18 and served as treasurer for more than a decade, and was a frequent speaker at the organization’s meetings.
His interest in genealogy led to him pursuing career as a historian and archivist. In February 2015 he was appointed as county historian, following Bill Lattin, who served in the role for about 35 years.
Ballard added to the Department of History’s digital presence, adding a laptop, email address and updated content on the website.
He has expanded the number subject files from 250 to about 1,400, and that doesn’t include about 750 family files for gathering genealogy materials.
He also catalogued about 500 rare books and the local history publications, and has the department prepared for a move from the basement of Central Hall to the second floor. This building on Park Street also serves as the Treasurer’s Office.
Ballard was named a “Friend of Education” by the Albion school district on April 1, 2019 in appreciation for several projects with seventh-graders. Ballard teamed with Albion’s service learning class to secure a headstone for Civil War veteran John Frost at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Brown Road in Gaines.
They also added a historical marker at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon for Charles Herbert Taylor, the only known Orleans County resident killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. Ballard also helped secure a historical marker for Lemuel Cook of Clarendon, the last living pensioner from the Revolutionary War. That marker is at Cook Cemetery on Munger Road. (Another marker is expected to be dedicated this spring in Holley for home that was a safe house on the Underground Railroad.)
Ballard and the seventh-graders also had a large bronze tablet from World War I placed back at its original location on the Orleans County Courthouse. The historian and students also created interpretive panels in Albion about the Erie Canal and the former Poor House on Countyhouse Road in Albion.
Ballard said he is willing to help his successor with a transition into the role as historian. He praised the county officials for embracing some of the changes he made to the office, with more computerization and soon more office and storage space.
‘I took the job and made it what I wanted it to be,” he said. “My hope is the next person coming in will have a solid platform coming in.”
He said the county is fortunate to have many dedicated and effective historians at the town and village level. He sees more potential to promote local history and attract visitors with heritage tourism.
“There is so much more that this position could be with the right person and the right level of support,” Ballard said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 February 2020 at 10:08 am
Some advice: ‘Stay off Facebook’ where the comments are often critical
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Leadership Orleans class on Thursday learned about local government. The class each month explores a different aspect of the county. During a discussion session at the County Administration Building the class heard from panelists, from left: Albion Mayor Eileen Banker (who is also chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley); Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson; Josh Veronica, director of Community Relations for State Sen. Rob Ortt; and John Belson, Lyndonville mayor.
ALBION – Local municipalities feel the pressure to maintain services and infrastructure for residents, while being sensitive to not raising taxes.
It’s a difficult task, not raising taxes when there is an outcry for better roads, sidewalks, suitable land for businesses and residential development and more services.
Lyndonville John Belson said the village keeps a small staff in providing services to the community. He urged more people to volunteer in the fire department and other local organizations.
The Leadership Orleans Class of 2020 heard from local government leaders on Thursday during a day focused on the legislative process. Officials at the village, town, county and state level met with the class of 27 members. This is the third year for Leadership Orleans.
Albion Mayor Eileen Banker said the towns and villages are sharing equipment and staff to try to keep costs down while maintaining services. Albion shares a police chief with Holley, and the Albion also manages Holley’s sewer plant.
The local towns, villages and county have long shared personnel and machinery, especially for paving projects.
“We do a lot of shared services,” said Banker, who is also chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley. “It’s the only way we can do what we do.”
She said the village is operating with a much smaller staff now than a generation ago. For example, Banker said the DPW is down from 26-27 employees to only nine.
Lyndonville Mayor John Belson said the local villages have aging infrastructure. Lyndonville has some waterlines that are nearly a century old and would cost $750,000 to replace. The village also should paint its water tower and that will cost $800,000. The sewer plant also needs $1 million in upgrades.
Lyndonville only has about 800 village residents or 380 homeowners to spread out those costs.
“It’s a balancing act to try to pay the bills,” Belson said. “We see the residents. They are our neighbors. We don’t want to raise the taxes.”
Belson said Lyndonville runs a bare-bones government with three highway workers, a full-time clerk, a part-time clerk and a part-time zoning officer. There is no where to cut and still provide basic services to residents, he said.
When Lyndonville is in a pinch, neighboring municipalities will help. The village recently had a watermain break on Main Street. Highway and DPW workers from the Town of Shelby and Village of Medina helped Lyndonville to fix the leak.
Belson said volunteers, especially as firefighters, have been critical in the community. But he worries those ranks are being depleted.
“I’m concerned over the shortage of firefighters and EMTs,” he said. “Get involved because we need you.”
The local municipalities often struggle to fill other positions on the planning and zoning boards. Belson said there are many ways for residents to serve their communities.
The Leadership Orleans Class listens to the panelists discuss local government. The class will have different focus in the following months, including an adventure leadership day in March, community health in April, education in May, business and culture in June, tourism and recreation in July, agribusiness in August, economic and workforce development in September, simulated society in October, volunteerism in November, and a closing retreat and graduation in December.
The local elected officials said the part-time jobs as mayor, town supervisor or county legislator are demanding, and don’t bring much appreciation from the public.
Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, said she appreciates the occasional hard-written letter or card from a resident thanking the Legislature for working on an issue. She gets many complaints in her email inbox.
“Once in a while we get an attaboy and that makes all the difference,” she said.
Johnson said the county legislators put together a county budget full of state-mandated programs. Very little in the county budget is outside state control. That is frustrating, especially as the county tries to stay within a state tax cap of about 2 percent, while trying to be responsive to needs in the community.
Johnson said the county has been able to move forward on upgrades to bridges and culverts, county facilities, and increased tourism promotion. She is excited about news last week the state will dredge two harbors in Orleans County – Johnson Creek and Oak Orchard, both in Carlton. Johnson said she will continue to push for county-wide high-speed internet.
“Broadband, we haven’t given up,” Johnson told the Leadership Orleans class. “It’s been a six-year war to get all of Orleans County covered.”
Banker said the role of mayor is an often thankless job. While few people attend Village Board meetings, many will comment harshly about Albion on Facebook.
“Stay off of Facebook is my husband’s advice,” Banker said.
Like Belson, she urged more people to give back to the community and be part of the solution.
Belson said a local elected official needs “a strong backbone” because there will be criticism. He prefers to get out on the community and hear directly from residents and try to stave off rumors.
Dean Bellack, a Leadership Orleans class member this year, said the local governments should be looking to consolidate. He supported the “One Medina” effort to dissolve the village and reduce some of the local layers of government. Medina residents rejected dissolution by a 949 to 527 vote on Jan. 20, 2015. It hasn’t been brought up again.
Banker and Belson said it’s difficult for municipalities to give up control. While they share services, a bigger consolidation can be unnerving over the uncertainty in services.
In a recent law enforcement study in the county one option was eliminating the village police departments and having the Sheriff’s Office patrol the villages. That would have offered cost savings in providing law enforcement countywide. But none of the villages supported that option, and it died. It would have raised county taxes but reduced the tax burden in the villages.
Banker was vocal in wanting to keep the Albion Police Department. She received numerous calls from residents in support of keeping the Albion PD.
Belson said any consolidation will be a struggle, whether with school districts or the local town-village level.
“It’s a tough sell,” he said. “Nobody wants to lose their territory.”
Josh Veronica, director of community relations for State Sen. Rob Ortt, also addressed the group. He said Ortt’s office is fielding many calls from residents and elected officials, concerned about the new bail reform laws that went into effect on Jan. 1.
Belson, the Lyndonville mayor, thanked Ortt for securing $100,000 in state assistance for repairs to the Lyndonville dam last year.
This group of panelists includes from left: Shelby Town Highway Superintendent Dale Root, Murray Town Highway Superintendent Ed Morgan (discussing his role as a commissioner for the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire District) and Murray Town Clerk Cindy Oliver.
In another panel discussion, the class heard from Murray Highway Superintendent Ed Morgan, who spoke about his role as a fire commissioner the past 32 years for the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire District. Murray Town Clerk Cindy Oliver and Dale Root, Shelby highway superintendent, also spoke on that panel.
Morgan said he worries on the declining numbers of volunteer firefighters and EMTs. He can see the communities needing to turn to paid or a partially paid crew in the future.
Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church also addressed the class on Thursday morning. At lunch, the group heard from Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone, Assistant Public Defender Dominic Saraceno and County Attorney Katherine Bogan.
The class then went on site visits to the Orleans County Administration Building, the Orleans County Public Safety Building, Holley gardens (former Holley High School) and Holley sewer treatment plant, Albion sewer plant, Orleans County Department of Public Works, and Town of Gaines Justice Court.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 February 2020 at 11:22 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Local businessman George Bidleman, who has been elected president of United Way of Orleans County, discusses his plans for the organization. He is at Orleans Ford in Medina, one of several car dealerships in which he is involved.
MEDINA – George Bidleman is all business when it comes to his new position as president of the board of United Way of Orleans County.
Bidleman has long been a supporter of the local charity, and was a member of the board about 15 years ago. He sees a bright future for the organization, which funds a dozen agencies, organizations or programs in Orleans County.
These organizations include Hospice, ARC of Genesee/Orleans’ Camp Rainbow, the ARC’s Meals on Wheels, 4-H, Community Action, GLOW YMCA, 2-1-1 WNY, GCASA, Senior Citizens of Western Orleans, Christ Church Community Kitchen, Boy Scouts and Genesee/Orleans Ministry of Concern.
Those funded by United Way of Orleans County represent all walks of life – from youth to senior citizens; from those in end-of-life situations to those suffering from addiction; to those needing help with literacy to those receiving other assistance.
Bidleman gave credit to United Way’s Allocation Committee, which he says makes sure money donated goes to the right agencies to help the right people.
“The main reason I support United Way is because it is local,” Bidleman said. “All your money donated stays in the county, unless the donor specifies otherwise.”
His goal as president of the board is to create better awareness and increase local giving.
Bidleman praised United Way’s new director Dean Bellack.
“He brings a lot to the table,” Bidleman said.
After retiring from his company in the summer of 2019, Bellack was asked to join the board. He stepped right in and volunteered to take on the duties of executive director after Kaitlyn Delamarter announced she was leaving to take another position.
Bidleman is a successful businessman with an interest in several dealerships, including Orleans Ford in Medina, Bidleman Chevrolet in Albion and Molye Chevrolet in Honeoye Falls. He said he believes in giving back.
“I want to try and build on previous United Way campaigns,” he said.
He called the United Way board a “very diligent” one. The board members support local community events and projects; they moved their office to a very reasonable space in CRFS’ building; and Bellack offered to work at a minimal salary to keep costs low.
Bidleman wants the public to start looking for several thermometers which he plans to place at strategic locations around the area to keep people informed of the progress of our campaign.
He also urges local companies to consider holding a workplace campaign, if they haven’t already done so.
“I just want to remind everyone, United Way of Orleans County is the only place you can put your money where it all stays local,” Bidleman said.
He reminds donors it is very easy to donate by clicking on United Way’s website, or by simply sending a check to United Way of Orleans County, 231 East Ave., Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2020 at 10:33 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Karen Lake-Maynard retired today as Orleans County Clerk. There was a big party in the Clerk’s Office with many county employees, attorneys, town clerks and other local officials stopping by to thank Lake-Maynard for her 14 years as county clerk and 30 years in the Clerk’s Office.
She is shown being greeted by Lance Mark, an attorney from Medina.
Karen Lake-Maynard wipes away tears after being congratulated on her career by Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature.
The county clerk oversees 10 employees, including six at the Department of Motor Vehicles at the County Administration Building on Route 31 and four employees at the County Clerk’s Building on Main Street.
“People really love her,” said Tracy Cliff, who has worked for Lake-Maynard the past five years as an index clerk. “She cares about her employees and the people who come in here. I’ve had great bosses, but she’s the best.”
Deb Boyer has worked the past 29 years as a title examiner and is often in the clerk’s office.
“She is just a genuinely awesome person,” Boyer said about Lake-Maynard. “She goes the extra mile.”
In her last act as county clerk, Lake-Maynard administered the oath of office to Diane Shampine, who has been the deputy clerk the past 14 years. Shampine was joined in taking the oath by her granddaughter, Jayda Shampine, 11. She held the Bible for her grandmother.
Shampine gets a hug from her granddaughter.
Shampine of Holley will be the acting clerk the rest of this year. She said she enjoys working with the public in the clerk’s office.
Diane Shampine signs the oath of office.
The county clerk’s position position will be on the November ballot. There could be a Republican primary on June 23 between Shampine and Nadine Hanlon, clerk of the County Legislature.
To see a video of Shampine taking the oath of office, click here.
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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2020 at 4:48 pm
File photos by Tom Rivers: Anglers fish at the Oak Orchard River at St. Mary’s Archer’s Club in Carlton. The Archer’s Club has an annual fly fishing tournament that draws many out-of-state fishermen.
Fishing is big business in Orleans County, according to a new survey by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The total economic impact from fishing in Orleans added up to $27,989,393 in 2017, according to survey results announced today by the DEC. (Oswego was the highest-ranked county with $192.7 million in total economic impact from fishing.)
Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393. County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571.
“The $28 million for a little county like us is huge,” said Dawn Borchet, the county’s tourism director. “I knew this has always been Orleans County number 1 attraction.”
She attends many sportsfishing shows to promote the fishery.
“It’s all good numbers,” she said about the report.
She noted the survey was done in 2017 during a year of flooding from Lake Ontario. The high waters resulted in a lot of bad PR, which likely kept some anglers away, she said.
Julie Schaeffer and her husband Mike hold Julie’s 29-pound, 6-ounce Chinook salmon which won the $4,000 grand prize in 2019 Rotary Fishing Derby. They are pictured on Aug. 18, 2019. The Schaeffers are from Sligo, Pa., and have been fishing in the derby since the 1980s.
The survey breaks the economic benefits into $23,207,903 in direct economic activity, $3,719,674 in indirect effects, and another $1,061,817 in induced effects.
The direct effects result from the home-based and location-specific spending by anglers on each fishing trip – fishing tackle, camping equipment, lodging, groceries and restaurants.
Indirect effects represent subsequent rounds of money spent among local businesses based on the direct effects – the impact of local industries buying goods and services from other local industries.
The last effect, the induced effect, includes all money spent by the employees who receive salaries and benefits from jobs created by angler expenditures and local businesses on purchases such as those from retail clothing stores, restaurants and other local businesses.
The report also says anglers generated $5,110,762 in local and state tax revenue ion 2017 with $3,588,672 from out-of-state fishermen, $1,187,630 from state (non-county) residents and another $334,460 from Orleans County residents. The anglers combined also accounted for $1,159,206 in federal tax revenues.
The mean distance traveled to fish in Orleans County was 154.4 miles. The survey shows that 62 percent said they are satisfied with their fishing in the county.
The report also ranks which species of fish the anglers were primarily trying to catch. The survey reports that 23 percent said they were primarily fishing in Orleans County for Chinook salmon, with 20 percent saying were after brown trout. Another 18 percent said largemouth bass were their primary target and 14 percent said steelhead/rainbow trout.
The DEC does the angler survey every 10 years. It contacts people with valid freshwater fishing licenses in 2017, and does the survey online or by mail.
Combined direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of freshwater angling in New York State totaled an estimated $2.14 billion and supported 10,961 jobs in 2017. Of this total, out-of-state anglers contributed approximately 26 percent, or $564 million.
Freshwater anglers spent an estimated $252 million at New York fishing destinations in 2017, and an additional $204 million was expended at home or while traveling to fishing destinations. Purchases of fishing equipment and fishing-related equipment such as boats, motors, etc., generated an estimated $1.8 billion in additional expenditures, the DEC said.
The DEC measured the at-location expenditures by fishermen and Orleans was ranked 15th out of 62 counties.
Here are the top 20 counties for at-location expenditures by anglers
Oswego, $32.61 million
Jefferson, $18.41 million
Delaware, $13.46 million
Warren, $11.72 million
Niagara, $11.67 million
Essex, $11.39 million
Chautauqua, $9.69 million
St. Lawrence, $9.32 million
Sullivan, $9.24 million
Franklin, $9.12 million
Monroe, $6.61 million
Erie, $6.35 million
Hamilton, $6.08 million
Wayne, $5.68 million
Orleans, $4.98 million
Clinton, $4.69 million
Yates, $4.01 million
Cayuga, $3.81 million
Oneida, $3.75 million
Ulster, $3.11 million
Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
(Click here to see the full fishing survey results from the DEC.)
Photos by Tom Rivers: Ed Flynn, director of planning at LaBella Associates, leads a meeting last week at Hoag Library, where the public was invited to rank priority projects for better utilizing the Erie Canal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2020 at 7:34 pm
State has many millions available for canal communities with a strategy
ALBION – An effort by several Orleans County municipalities to develop a waterfront plan for better utilizing the Erie Canal couldn’t come at a better time, local officials said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing for a $300 million “Reimagine the Erie Canal” program, which is in addition to regular pots of funding from the state for canal projects and other economic development.
The state wants to see a plan for the projects, with assurances the money will be well spent and will make an impact in the canal communities.
Construction of marinas in Albion and Holley were given red stickers, considered a top priority. Community members at a meeting last week also want to see better signage on the canal pointing people to local businesses and attractions. Boaters and kayakers also could use more amenities, such as launches and docks.
“The timing is incredible,” said County Legislator Ken DeRoller, who is a committee member for the Canal Corridor Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Plan. “We’re hitting a sweet spot.”
The committee had a meeting last week at Hoag Library, asking community members to help prioritize projects and areas of focus on the canal.
The county received a state grant for $62,000 to develop the plan and hired LaBella Associates as a consultant for the project. Each municipality along the canal in the county has a representative on the committee, except Medina, which has developed its own plan. The county committee members are representatives from the villages of Albion and Holley, and the towns of Albion, Murray, Gaines, Ridgeway and Shelby.
Ed Flynn, director of planning at LaBella Associates, told the local officials he believes the collaborative approach will stand out when the state considers which projects to give money.
“Orleans County is unique in developing a plan,” he said.
LaBella created poster boards with images and descriptions of potential projects. People at the meeting were given five stickers and asked to put them by projects. They were given two red stickers for highest priority projects, then one each for green (second highest), yellow (third highest) and blue (fourth highest).
LaBella will tabulate the results and give and report during the next meeting, which hasn’t been set.
DeRoller said the lack of a canal waterfront plan has hurt the communities’ chances in getting state grant funding in the past. But that should change now that the canal towns and villages are identifying projects.
“This plan is so imperative to give us leverage,” DeRoller said. “The attractiveness is we’ve never had a plan before so we’ve been kind of left out.”
The plan so far has identified four goals to boost the canal in the county.
Goal 1: Leverage the Canal’s Recreational Resources
(The county and corridor communities should capitalize on the canal’s wealth or land and water-based recreational resources.)
• Attract, develop and grow boating and kayaking facilities
• Provide rental facilities for bikes and kayaks
• Promote year-round sporting competitions to encourage use of recreational opportunities
• Upgrade trail surfaces for bikes
Goal 2: Stimulate Tourism along the Canal
Adding more events would draw visitors and also get local residents more enthused about the canal. Some ideas include launching a barge and bridge festival, where bridges and barge would be closed off for events, such as community dinners, brewfests, wine events, musical performances and food festivals.
(Attraction of local, regional and national visitors will promote the long-term sustainability of the Canal Corridor.)
• Provide full-service marina facilities along the canal
• Increase amenities for boaters and kayakers
• Hold year-round events on and near the canal
Goal 3: Accelerate Revitalization of Corridor Communities
(Investments in villages, downtowns and anchors along the corridor will improve the economy and quality of life for Orleans County residents and benefit businesses and tourists.)
• Provide financing and incentives to targeted businesses that will improve the vitality of village and hamlet centers
• Incubate locally based new businesses along the canal
• Redevelop sites on and near the canal
• Provide financing for agricultural siphoning and facilitate its deployment
• Provide directional and directory signage for businesses in village centers and hamlets
Goal 4: Promote the Corridor’s identity, sense of place and history
Public art projects that feature oxen and mules, two animals critical to the early success of the canal, would promote the canal and could be a fun community project drawing visitors.
(The corridor’s unique character and culture should be promoted, protected and leveraged to advance revitalization of Orleans County and corridor communities)
• Develop branded signage compatible and complaint with canal sign standards for mileposts, history, gateways and directions
• Provide informational signage at key points to tell the corridor’s natural and man-made history
• Revitalize historic and cultural buildings and sites
• Increase access to natural and agricultural areas
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2020 at 10:04 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: State Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport, says New York State is less safe today due to bail reform and other criminal justice changes. He is speaking on Friday at Tillman’s Village Inn during the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon, which was attended by about 100 people.
ALBION – Jan. 1 was the start of a series of criminal justice reforms that have made Orleans County and the state less safe, State Assembly members Steve Hawley and Michael Norris said on Friday during the annual Legislative Luncheon organized by the Chamber of Commerce.
The state’s bail reform no longer allows local judges to set bail for many crimes. In most cases, defendants are arraigned and given an appearance ticket for the next court date. The courts also now need to send defendants a reminder about the court date by text, email, a phone call or mail.
The state has also passed new discovery laws where law enforcement and the district attorney’s office need to turn over records in a case within 15 days after the arraignment, down from the previous 45 days. Those records include police reports, radio transmissions, body-worn and dash-cam video, laboratory test results and volumes of other materials and data related to prosecution.
Republicans in the State Assembly are pushing for the new rules to be “rescinded immediately,” Hawley, R-Batavia, told 100 people at the Legislative Luncheon.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley said many legislators are pressuring the governor and State Legislature to rescind the criminal justice reforms.
The Assembly Republicans are planning news conferences around the state about the issue, and will highlight people given appearance tickets who then committed more crimes, when then should have been in jail.
“We’re not going to let the pressure up,” Hawley said. “This is wrong. This isn’t American.”
Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport, said the criminal justice reforms were enacted after the State Senate flipped to a Democratic majority last year. That party now controls the Senate, Assembly and has a Democratic governor.
“We need to send a message to the governor that upstate matters and we deserve a voice,” Norris said the luncheon. “In upstate, it can feel like we’re at the bottom of the barrel.”
Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said the criminal justice changes have cut the county’s jail population nearly in half, to about 40 inmates right now. The jail usually was in the 70s for inmate population.
Bourke attended a four-day law enforcement conference last week. He said many of the leading law enforcement officials in the state believe there will be some balancing out with the changes, with the jails filling back up when people are sentenced for their crimes.
Nathan Pace, an attorney from Medina, served as moderator for the luncheon. He said jail often can provide critical support for people charged with crimes, getting them connected to mental health and drug addiction treatment. Now, more people will be given court appearance tickets, with the judges not having the discretion to set bail for many crimes.
“These dramatic reforms led by the governor, the State Assembly and State Senate are affecting our county,” Pace said. “The new reforms are so dangerous to our society. They are intended solely to protect the accused.”
Hawley said the criminal justice reforms are the latest push from Albany that he finds vexing. He opposed the SAFE Act with gun control, free college tuition for children of undocumented immigrants, driver’s licenses for undocumented, and voting rights for felons when they are released from prison.
“The beat goes on with this governor,” Hawley said. “I’m not sure his father would be so proud right now and he was pretty liberal.”
Hawley said he is also very concerned about the impact on businesses with the rising minimum wage. That is now $15 an hour in New York City and is moving to $12.50 in upstate. This year it’s $11.80 in most of upstate, including Orleans County, and will go to $12.50 on Dec. 31. It was $9.70 on Dec. 31, 2016.
“The effect on businesses, I think, will be devastating,” Hawley said. “It’s urban areas telling suburban and rural areas what to do with their businesses.”
Norris said the higher minimum wage will reduce businesses’ ability to invest in equipment and make other changes to stay competitive. He expects there will be fewer cashiers at stores, and higher prices for consumers.
“It impacts small businesses and their ability to move forward with that crippling wage,” Norris said.
The state also adopted overtime and collective bargaining rights for farm workers. They are now eligible for overtime after 60 hours in a week. Hawley said he expects it will result in less hours for farm workers, ultimately resulting in smaller paychecks for them.
Norris said state continues to have an out-migration that leads the country, with about 70,000 people annually fleeing the state’s borders, that is nearly double the Orleans County population of about 40,000 people.
The annual Legislative Luncheon is a chance for the business community to hear directly from state and county elected officials.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2020 at 9:48 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said the county has stayed under the tax cap while tackling several important infrastructure projects.
GAINES – Orleans County is seeing progress on many fronts, Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson told about 100 people today during the annual Orleans County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon.
The county has stayed under the state-imposed tax cap while maintaining services to residents and tackling infrastructure projects, including bridge and culvert replacements. The county last year also completed an $11 million addition to the County Administration Building, with the state paying more than $3 million of the project.
Johnson said the state and Gov. Cuomo have been attentive to the county, repaving some of the neglected Lake Ontario State Parkway, authorizing $10.7 million to overhaul seven canal bridges, and most recently approving $17 million for projects along Lake Ontario.
“There is so much good happening in Orleans County,” Johnson told the crowd at Tillman’s Village Inn. “There are so many reasons to stay in Orleans County. Orleans County is a great place to live, work and play.”
The $17 million in funding announced on Oct. 23 is part of the first round of funding under the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative and improve public land and infrastructure, including roads, a new sewer system in Kendall and Hamlin, and an improved Yates Town Park.
County Legislator Ken DeRoller said the local communities have an opportunity to use state funds for projects along the Lake Ontario shoreline and also in better utilizing the Erie Canal.
The state also awarded Orleans a $5,897,141 grant for four new radio towers, accompanying communication shelters, technology to connect separate radio systems and new radio channels. The project will strengthen communications between multiple jurisdictions and agencies. Three of the towers will be 180 feet high and they will be located by the Public Safety Building on Route 31 in Albion, Millers Road in Yates near the water tank, and at the Kendall Central School near the bus garage. The other tower will be 150 feet high and will be near the Holley water tank on Route 237.
The governor also announced $300 million will be available to Erie Canal communities to better utilize and promote the canal.
Johnson also noted the Leadership Orleans program is equipping about 25 people a year to better understand the needs and strengths of businesses, non-profits and government agencies in the county. The third class of the year-long program just started.
A new hotel on Maple Ridge Road in Medina also will open this year. Cobblestone Suites and its 58-room hotel should keep visitors in Orleans longer.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency also is working with a business that could add 200 jobs in Albion, Johnson said.
The Legislature chairwoman said the county continues to pursue grants to expand high-speed internet. It has been a nearly decade-long quest to expand high-speed internet. She is optimistic for good news the service will be expanded in the county.
The Legislature also is interviewing candidates to serve as the county’s chief administrative officer. Chuck Nesbitt served in the role for 14 ½ years before leaving last month for a job in the private sector.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2020 at 2:46 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Upstate Tower Construction erected a 180-foot-high radio tower today next to the Orleans County Public Safety Building along Route 31 in Albion.
These workers are connecting the top section of the tower. They are more than 100 feet up high.
This is one of four new radio towers going up in the county. Upstate Tower will also be putting up two other 180-foot-high towers in Kendall near the school’s bus garage and in Yates on Millers Road near the water tank.
The other tower will be 150 feet high and will be near the Holley water tank on Route 237.
The towers are part of a $6 million project to upgrade the emergency communications system in the county. The state awarded Orleans a $5,897,141 grant for four new towers, accompanying communication shelters, technology to connect separate radio systems and new radio channels. The project will strengthen communications between multiple jurisdictions and agencies.
Upstate Tower Construction is doing the site work and concrete foundations for the towers, as well as the installation. The towers were constructed by Nudd Tower in Ontario, NY.
Once the towers are up, the radio tower shelters and emergency standby generators will be installed.
The emergency communications system serves firefighters, law enforcement, highway employees, probation and some other municipal workers in the county.
The system currently has poor coverage in the Holley area, along Lake Ontario and some other isolated locations in the county, especially in buildings with thick walls.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2020 at 10:07 am
No candidate endorsed for county clerk
Photo by Tom Rivers: Joe Cardone has served as Orleans County’s district attorney since March 1992. He is seeking re-election to four more years in the position.
ALBION – Joe Cardone has the backing of the Orleans County Republican Committee for another four-year term as district attorney. Cardone has served as the county’s top prosecutor since 1992.
He met with the Republican Committee on Thursday night at Tillman’s Village Inn and received the group’s endorsement.
Three incumbent county coroners – Scott Schmidt of Medina, Charles Smith of Ridgeway and Rocco Sidari of Albion – also were endorsed for four-year terms.
In the other county-wide position up for election this year, the committee didn’t meet its two-thirds threshold for endorsing a candidate for county clerk.
Karen Lake-Maynard is retiring on Jan. 30. Two Republicans want to succeed her. Diane Shampine is the deputy county clerk and Nadine Hanlon is the clerk of the County Legislature.
With no committee endorsement, both have the option of securing petitions by registered Republicans to be on the ballot and perhaps face off in a June 23 primary.
The Orleans County Republican Committee also endorsed the two incumbent State Assembly members who are seeking re-election. Steve Hawley of Batavia has been in the Assembly since he was elected in a special election on Feb. 28, 2006 for the 139th District, which includes most of Orleans, all of Genesee and part of western Monroe.
Michael Norris of Lockport is seeking a third two-year term in the 144th District, which includes the Town of Shelby in Orleans, and parts of Niagara and Erie counties.
State Sen. Robert Ortt currently is pursuing the 27th Congressional District. A special election likely will be on April 28 to fill the vacant 27th seat. Ortt made it clear to the Orleans County Republican Committee he wants to be the area’s next congressman, said Skip Draper, the Orleans GOP chairman.
Ortt has been the state senator for about five years. The local Republicans didn’t hear from a candidate for the Senate seat. Ortt still has time to pursue the Senate seat if Republican leaders go with another candidate for the 27th.
Provided photos: Upstate Tower does the site work in Kendall for a soon-to-be erected 180-foot-high radio tower, one of four new ones being constructed in Orleans County. Upstate Tower also is doing site working, including pouring concrete, for the tower sites in Lyndonville and Holley. A new tower will also go up next to the Public Safety Building in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 January 2020 at 10:38 am
Contractors have started work on four new radio towers that soon go up in Orleans County to enhance the emergency communications system.
The towers are part of a $6 million project to upgrade the system in the county. The state awarded Orleans a $5,897,141 grant for four new towers, accompanying communication shelters, technology to connect separate radio systems and new radio channels. The project will strengthen communications between multiple jurisdictions and agencies.
The base for a new radio tower is in place next to the Orleans County Public Safety Building in Albion.
Three of the towers will be 180 feet high and they will be located by the Public Safety Building on Route 31 in Albion, Millers Road in Yates near the water tank, and at the Kendall Central School near the bus garage.
The other tower will be 150 feet high and will be near the Holley water tank on Route 237.
The Orleans County Department of Public Works is putting in all stone access roads and electrical trenching and conduit.
Upstate Tower is doing the site work and concrete foundations, and will be installing the towers that were constructed by Nudd Tower in Ontario, NY.
Once the towers are up, the radio tower shelters and emergency standby generators will be installed.
After that the radio system equipment will be installed in late winter or early spring. This project is administrated by the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.
The emergency communications system serves firefighters, law enforcement, highway employees, probation and some other municipal workers in the county.
The system currently has poor coverage in the Holley area, along Lake Ontario and some other isolated locations in the county, especially in buildings with thick walls.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Karen Lake-Maynard, the Orleans County clerk the past 14 years, is retiring on Jan. 30. She has worked 30 years at the County Clerk’s Building, 3 South Main St. She started as an index clerk.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 January 2020 at 5:14 pm
ALBION – Orleans County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard has announced she is retiring on Jan. 30 after 14 years as the county clerk and 30 years in the clerk’s office.
She started as an index clerk and was promoted to deputy county clerk under Carol Lonnen. When Lonnen retired, Lake-Maynard was elected to succeed her.
“It’s been a dream job,” Lake-Maynard said today from her office at the County Clerk’s Building next to the County Courthouse. “It’s been a pleasure to serve Orleans County.”
Lake-Maynard will be leaving with two years on her term. Diane Shampine, the deputy county clerk, will serve as acting county clerk until the position is up for election in November (unless the governor calls for a special election before then).
Karen Lake-Maynard is shown with some of the index books that list records going back nearly two centuries.
Lake-Maynard of Medina said she was inspired by her father, the late Howard Lake, to pursue a career in public service. Her father was an Orleans County undersheriff and later a Medina village and Ridgeway town justice. Her brother Howard also was Medina’s mayor.
The county clerk oversees 10 employees, including six at the Department of Motor Vehicles at the County Administration Building on Route 31 and four employees at the County Clerk’s Building on Main Street.
Shampine is the deputy county clerk at the Clerk’s Building while Pamela Boyer is deputy county clerk for DMV.
Lake-Maynard said Shampine has the experience to “hit the ground running” without any disruption in the office.
“The county is in good hands with her,” Lake-Maynard said.
The next clerk will have to go through the political process. The Orleans County Republican Party Committee will meet this Thursday to hear from candidates for the position. Nadine Hanlon, clerk of the County Legislature, also is interested in succeeding Lake-Maynard.
The current county clerk said she has strived to lead a user-friendly DMV and clerk’s office. The DMV staff will try to make an extra phone call or offer assistance to fill out forms so people don’t have to make multiple trips to the office, Lake-Maynard said.
The Clerk’s Building has records going back nearly two centuries, including property deeds since 1830. The office is the keeper of filing deeds, mortgages, leases, assignments, discharges, maps, census records, ag districts, business certificates, judgments, federal tax liens, military discharges, naturalization records, inquests, separation agreements and divorce decrees for the entire county.
Those records have all been digitized, and the office has made records increasingly available online.
Lake-Maynard often is at the front counter at the clerk’s office, responding to people’s requests. In recent years, she said many people exploring their genealogy visit the office or send emails looking for information on their families.
Since July 2017, the County Clerk’s Office also has handled pistol permit applications and recertifications. That process was handled by the county judge’s chambers before the change 2 1/2 years ago.
Lake-Maynard said she is proud of the “Thank A Vet” program that she and the office started in 2011. Many local businesses agreed to be in the program offering discounts to local veterans. Lake-Maynard said 400 to 500 veterans have signed up for the program.
“It’s bittersweet,” Lake-Maynard said about her impending retirement. “It’s been a great ride and I’ve had a staff that is second to none.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: The 2020 Leadership Orleans class is pictured on Wednesday during an opening retreat at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. Pictured, front row, from left: Danielle Figura, Nick Picardo, Lisa Levett, Nancy Traxler, Scott Partyka, Alona Kuhns, Jackie Gardner, Ronald Mannella, Teresa Gaylard and Kristina Gabalski. Back row: Kenneth DeRoller, Melissa Cotter, Michelle Kingdollar, Karen Krieger, Taryn Moyle, Jennifer Buondonno, Heather Smith, Allison Parry-Gurak, Julia Goheen, Christopher Oakes, Michael Weyrauch, Dean Bellack, Tiffany Nesbitt, Matt Minor, Nancy Westlund, Cory Pawlaczyk and Lionel Heydel.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2020 at 6:22 pm
LYNDONVILLE – The third class for Leadership Orleans started this past week with a two-day retreat at the White Birch Golf Course.
The program started in 2018. Each year about 25 community members participate in the program. They meet monthly and will typically spend a full day examining an aspect of the county, and hearing from leaders in different industries, businesses, human services, education and other sectors of the community.
Participants pay a tuition for the program, which also receives $16,000 in funding from the county, as well as many sponsors.
The two-day retreat included several ice breakers to help the class get better acquainted, a personality profile awareness, and discussion about servant leadership.
In coming months the class will have days focused on legislative affairs in February, an adventure leadership day in March, community health in April, education in May, business and culture in June, tourism and recreation in July, agribusiness in August, economic and workforce development in September, simulated society in October, volunteerism in November, and a closing retreat and graduation in December.
Skip Helfrich is the director of Leadership Orleans. He is shown going over a personality profile awareness during the opening retreat for Leadership Orleans at the White Birch Golf Course.
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, Clinic Coordinator, Orleans County Mental Health
Kristina Gabalski, 4-H Program Coordinator, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Jackie Gardner, Vice President of Client Relations, CRFS – Claims Recovery Financial Services
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2020 at 9:31 am
Ronald P. Mannella has worked as Orleans director past 2 years
ALBION – Orleans and Genesee counties will expand their shared services in the Health Department, with the counties having the same Weights and Measures director.
Ronald P. Mannella
Ronald P. Mannella has served in the role in Orleans County the past two years. Genesee County’s director recently left the post to take a job with the state. The two counties have crafted an arrangement where Mannella would head the department in both counties, with Genesee paying 60 percent of the costs and Orleans, 40 percent. Mannella’s weekly hours will increase from 35 to 40 due to the increased workload.
The arrangement offers significant cost savings for both counties, by each not having to pay the full costs for a director.
“We’re confident with Ron and his abilities,” said Paul Pettit, the public health director for the two counties.
The Orleans County Legislature approved the 5-year agreement last month and Genesee is expected to approve it next week.
The two counties first shared a public health director, Pettit, beginning 8 years ago. They have added more shared administrative staff since then, and also have a shared Board of Health.
Although they share some positions, the two counties still have independent public health departments.
Weights and Measures used to be a standalone department, but was moved under public health in each county about two years ago following the retirements of long-time Weights and Measures directors – Craig Lape in Orleans County and Don Luxon in Genesee.
Moving Weights and Measures to the health department provided the director, the only employee in the department, with administrative and support staff in the health department, Pettit said.
Weights and Measures checks weights, distances and volumes of products that are sold to consumers. Orleans County each year does annual inspections of scales and meters, ensuring fairness for consumers and also businesses. (The county seal from Weight and Measures is prominent on gas pumps in the county, for example.)
“The whole goal is to provide consumer protection, to make sure you’re getting what you paid for,” Pettit said. “It also benefits businesses to make sure they’re not giving away too much product.”
