Photo by Tom Rivers: The 23,000-square-foot addition to the Orleans County Administration Building is shown on April 9. The building has been under construction for about a year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2019 at 11:27 am
ALBION – Orleans County officials are planning on a June 11 ribbon-cutting celebration for a 23,000-square-foot addition to the County Administration Building.
Contractors have been working for a year on the $10 million project. The addition will be used by 50 county employees from the Health Department, Board of Elections, information technology department and the Legislative office and staff. The building is connected to the current Administration Building with the addition on the south side.
The new space will include a meeting room for the Legislature with about 60 seats. The current Legislative chambers has about 30 seats and is one of the smallest municipal meeting rooms in the county.
The county is receiving a state grant for $3,682,748 towards the project as part of a healthcare initiative. That state grant includes funds to create space at the neighboring Mental Health Building for a primary doctor from Oak Orchard Health. State Sen. Robert Ortt also secured a $200,000 state grant towards the addition.
The County Legislature last week voted to seek proposals from firms to relocate office supplies, files and IT equipment from the current county buildings to the new site for the departments affected by the move. Those materials and equipment are expected to be moved to the new addition on the weekend following the June 11 ribbon cutting.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 April 2019 at 3:37 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: United Way director Dean Bellack talks with Orleans County Chamber of Commerce director Rebecca Charland at the start of the Orleans County Home Show. This was United Way’s first year having a booth at the Home Show and was part of the agency’s efforts to be more visible in the community.
KNOWLESVILLE – Although the weather did nothing to cooperate, the Orleans County Home, Garden and Outdoor Show still boasts a success from the weekend event at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
An estimated 1,000 people came through the doors, said Orleans County Chamber of Commerce president Kathy Blackburn.
The annual home show provides vendors and businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products and services, while providing the public with valuable information.
Linda Kludt, a member of Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s board, sells a ticket on a pair of gliders to Kat Tsoukatos of Clarendon during the Orleans County Home, Garden and Outdoor Show.
Vendor space was sold out and spilled over from the Lartz Exhibit Building to the Trolley Building. Vendors represented a wide variety of interests, including tourism, gardening, banking, home improvement, building trades, jewelry, pools and spas, heating and more. The 810 Meadworks on Saturday and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery on Sunday were popular with their wine tastings.
The Sourced Market and Eatery added a nice touch with their first participation in the Home Show, serving breakfast and lunch in the Trolley Building.
Kelly Moore of Brockport brought children Payton Preston, 10, and Callen Preston, 4, to the Orleans County Chamber’s Home, Garden and Outdoor Show on Sunday to take part in the Scavenger Hunt. Payton and Callen have their eye patches and pirate’s flags, as they set out to find hidden treasure throughout the home show booths.
Visitors received a ticket with their paid admission which made them eligible to win a prize at any booth if their ticket matched one posted by each vendor.
Saturday the Albion Elks Lodge served a chicken barbecue. Sunday’s highlight was a Pirate Treasure Hunt for children, who donned their eye patch and searched for clues at vendor’s booths.
From left, Kathy Blackburn, president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce; Rebecca Charland, director; and Paula Knapp, board member, watch as vendor Denise Best pulls the winning ticket for a pair of Comfort Back Glider chairs, which the Chamber raffled off. The lucky winner was Elizabeth Jubenville of Kent.
A tradition for many years has been to close the Home Show by drawing the winning ticket for a major prize. In past years the Chamber has awarded lawn mowers, scooters and an outdoor shed. This year’s prize was a set of comfort back gliders valued at $1,125. Denise Best, who had the Scentsy booth, pulled the winning ticket, which belonged to Elizabeth Jubenville of Kent.
“I never win anything,” Jubenville said when she received the news.
“What a way to end a successful show,” Blackburn said.
Charlene Pratt of Medina, left, talks with volunteer Pam Schuner in the OCALS booth at the Orleans County Chamber’s Home, Garden and Outdoor Show. Looking on at right is Pam’s husband Jeffrey.
Gail Miller, manager of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina, and Shauna Gardner greeted people at the Farmers’ Market booth at the Orleans County Home, Garden and Outdoor Show. Miller holds the schedule for summer hours of the market, which begin in June.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 April 2019 at 9:51 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Members of the Preston family in Albion work on a landscaping display in the Lartz Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The Prestons are one of 44 vendors at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Home and Garden and Outdoor Show.
The show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Saturday there is a chicken barbecue and Sunday there is a pirate theme and activities to appeal to children, said Becky Charland the Chamber director.
There is a $3 charge for the show, although a coupon can be printed off the Chamber website for free admission. (Click here for more information.)
Boe Preston, 8, has a wheelbarrow with some mulch to help with the display for Preston’s Lawn Care & Landscaping.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 April 2019 at 9:12 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature issued several proclamations on Wednesday including celebrating “Older Americans Month” in May. Melissa Blanar, director of the Office for the Aging in the county, accepts the proclamation from legislators Bill Eick, left, and Fred Miller.
May is also “Motorcycle Awareness and Safety Month.” Legislator Don Allport presents a proclamation to Chuck Persons, a leader with the Orleans County Chapter of ABATE of New York. There will be a motorcycle safety and awareness rally at 1 p.m. on May 5 at the courthouse steps. Motorcyclists will then go on a ride throughout the county.
Legislators also issued a proclamation for “Western New York Armed Forces Days” from May 5 to May 18. Earl Schmidt, center, is director of the Veterans Service Agency in the county. He accepts the proclamation from Legislator Fred Miller. David Kusmierczak, a veteran from Medina, is at left. Many veterans in Orleans County are spending May 18 at the Buffalo Naval Harbor as part of the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program.
Legislators also celebrated “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Appreciation.” Don Allport, left, is picture with Allen Turner, 911 communications coordinator; Undersheriff Chris Bourke; and Mike Mele, chief deputy.
The county has 9 full-time and 4 part-time dispatchers, with two on duty 24-7. Last year they handled 35,343 calls.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 April 2019 at 8:14 am
Holley-Kendall wrestling coach also honored for record-setting career
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature presents a special recognition award to Penelope Mosier on Wednesday in appreciation for her 42 years of service to the county in the accounting department for the Department of Social Services.
Mosier, who retired on March 30, is congratulated by county legislators Bill Eick, left, and Fred Miller.
She started her career with the county on March 25, 1977 when she was appointed as a temporary account clerk typist under then DSS Commissioner Jerim Klapper. Mosier worked with three other DSS commissioners in her career, including Patricia Hardenbrook, Carri Blake Ludwig and Tom Kuryla, the current commissioner.
The Legislature presented the recognition to Mosier to “honor her dedicated and outstanding service to the County of Orleans for her long serving commitment to the County and to our Department of Social Services.”
Mosier of Clarendon said she enjoyed working for the department, doing payroll and accounting for child and family services.
“I love the people,” she said about her co-workers. “It’s like a big family.”
County Legislator Don Allport presents a “Special Recognition” award to John Grillo, who is retiring as the wrestling coach for the combined Holley-Kendall team. Grillo, in a 44-year career that started in Pavilion, set a state record with 795 team wins.
“High quality scholastic sports programs are important tools to teach young people teamwork, leadership, confidence, character and grit,” according to the citation from the Legislature. “Coach Grillo spent his entire career committed to driving young athletes to success, winning 13 Section V Team Championships and being named Section V Coach of the Year a jaw-dropping six times.”
The Legislature said it wanted to recognize Grillo for “his extraordinary and unprecedented achievements.”
“Coach Grillo has served as a mentor and role model, giving so much of himself as an educator and a father figure for the benefit of so many young people by teaching work ethic, preparation, character and mental toughness,” the Legislature said.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Officials from Orleans and Niagara counties held a news conference at Golden Hill State park in Barker on Monday, with Lake Ontario as the backdrop. Dale Banker, center, is director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office. Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, is next to Banker at right. Jon Schultz, director of the Niagara County Emergency Management Office, is left of Banker and Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey is back left.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2019 at 10:22 am
BARKER – If Lake Ontario turns into a flooding menace this year, local officials are ready to fight back.
The highway departments in Kendall, Carlton and Yates all have sandbags ready. Local officials also learned other tactics from the flooding two years ago. The sandbags are more effective, for example, when they are placed inside large grain bags, said Dale Banker, Orleans County’s director of emergency management. He has 300 of the grain bags at his office, and the highway departments all have them, he said during a news conference on Monday in barker at Golden Hill State Park.
Aqua Dams also were effective with the flooding two years ago. Two of those temporary dams were deployed in Kendall by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Those dams have flexible inner tubes that are filled with lake water.
“We want to get out ahead of the rising lake waters,” Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson told reporters during a news conference by Lake Ontario. “We are prepared. We’re not going to be blindsided this time.”
The lake is about nine inches above it’s normal depth for this time of year. It is projected to rise about another foot in the next month.
The lake is currently at 246.86 feet. That is below the peak of 249.1 feet in 2017, when flooding chewed away yards and destroyed breakwalls along the southshore.
Tony Cammarata, Kendall town supervisor, said many residents have used state assistance to put in new breakwalls since the flooding two years ago. He said the large grain bags and the Aqua Dams “were big assets” in protecting property.
The state approved $45 million for breakwall construction and assistance with property damage, capping the grants at $50,000 per property owner. About 500 property owners in Orleans County were approved for funding, which the program managed by PathStone.
Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson speaks to reporters about her concern with the rising Lake Ontario water levels. She said local municipalities are stocked with sandbags in case there is flooding. James Voutour, Niagara County sheriff, is at right.
Jon Schultz, director of the Niagara County Emergency Management Office, said the shoreline is more “hardened” after the breakwall improvements.
He still worries as the lake levels are on the rise. The big wildcard, he said, is the wind.
The lake turned destructive in 2017 when the wind unleashed waves, 4 to 6 feet high, that crashed into the shoreline, Schultz said.
“No one can control the wind,” he said during the news conference.
The outflows in the lake have been cut back recently to reduce the flooding impact to Ottawa. Schultz and Banker said they will be monitoring the lake levels closely the next month, hoping there aren’t big rains.
If the lake goes up another 6 to 8 inches, Schultz said Niagara municipalities would likely start to put sandbags in vulnerable areas by the shoreline.
In 2017, there was record-setting rain in the spring. Local officials also say Plan 2014 for regulating lake levels also was a factor in the flooding.
Banker said the local highway departments, Army Corps of Engineers, and state agencies all are ready to deploy assets if needed to fight flooding. Monday’s news conference at the State Park in Barker was in the bright sunshine, with temperatures in the mid-60s.
“Hopefully there will be many more calm, sunny days and in a month it will be history,” he said about the flooding concerns.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2019 at 12:34 pm
Orleans County has scheduled three public meetings next month to discuss the county’s switch to a new residential recycling program.
Beginning in June, county residents will start to receive a 95-gallon wheeled cart for recycling which will replace the smaller 18-gallon bin residents currently use.
The recycling will be picked up every two weeks, instead of weekly, by Modern Disposal Services, Inc.
“The move to a cart-based recycling program is designed to increase participation, add convenience to participants, better containment of material between collection and improve the efficiencies of collection,” the county states on its website.
The public information meetings about the new program have been scheduled for the following locations:
• Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Town of Murray building, 3840 Fancher Rd, Holley
• Saturday, May 4, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town of Shelby building, 4062 Salt Works Rd., Medina
• Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 Route 31, Knowlesville
The change to every other week recycling will start July 1. The change with recycling does not impact trash collection which will remain weekly.
“Your day of collection will not change and for example, if your day is Monday it will remain Monday,” the county states on the website. “The difference will be that a portion of Mondays recycling customers will be collected on an ‘A’ week and the balance of the Monday customer will be collected the following week or on the ‘B’ week. This alternating cycle continues week after week, month after month.”
Residents will receive a newsletter in April with maps indicating the week recycling will be collected in different areas of the county.
“This is an exciting change for Orleans County and we ask for everyone’s cooperation and patience’s during the transitions,” the county stated. “Modern will be taking your calls and happy to answer any questions you have. Moderns Customer Service Department can be reached locally by calling 800-330-7107.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2019 at 10:08 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday is expected to oppose legislation in the State Legislature that would provide overtime wages for farmworkers and driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.
The proposed Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act would allow undocumented persons who are present in the United States illegally under federal law to obtain a driver’s license.
A resolution on the agenda for the County Legislature said the state legislation would “create unacceptable security risks” because the state can’t verify the identity of the individuals when the federal government hasn’t issued a green card or visa. The resolution also says the state legislation includes privacy protections that may frustrate federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The resolution also states local DMV offices “do not have the considerable expertise needed to determine the authenticity of foreign birth certificates, foreign passports, or consular cards, nor to verify evidence of undocumented individual’s residency in the state.”
The resolution states “driving is a privilege, not a right.”
County legislators also have a resolution on the agenda opposing the “Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act” which calls for collective bargaining rights for farmworkers and would require farms to pay overtime wages.
The county resolution states agriculture is the county’s leading industry, providing direct and indirect jobs and supporting other local businesses.
“Farms must compete for workers in a tight labor market,” the resolution states. “They value and respect their employees and pay over minimum wage to retain their skilled workforce, and H2A employees have a choice to work in less restrictive states, increasing stress on a shrinking labor pool.”
The Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act has been introduced in the State Legislature by Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. The state legislation would put New York farmers at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace with agricultural products from other states and Canada, the county resolution states.
Dairy farming is often a 24-hour-a-day demand to milk cows and care for animals, and fruit, vegetable and crop farming “requires seasonal, climate sensitive and time sensitive planting and harvesting where the effects of a labor strike on a farm could destroy an entire year’s worth of crops, render perishable food not edible and adversely affect the health and care of animals,” the resolution states.
The county also says New York’s minimum wage ranks among the top five in the country, with the minimum wage in upstate currently $3.85 higher than federal minimum wage.
Farm Credit East did a study of the impact of the legislation on the farms in NY and estimated farms’ costs would rise by $300 million annually, and reduce net farm income by 23 percent.
The county resolution states that family farming is on the decline and overtime wages will further strain farms struggling to make ends meet.
The county resolution also says the state law will have a negative impact on farmworkers who likely will be given less hours to work. The prices for milk and many crops are set by market conditions outside of farmers’ control. Farmers will have no way to recoup the extra costs, and likely will be forced to cut back on employee hours, the resolution states.
Both resolutions from County Legislature, if approved, will be sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders.
The Legislature meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. at the County Clerks’ Building, 3 South Main St. Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2019 at 11:30 am
HOLLEY – The Orleans County Youth Board will honor 17 youths for their community service and two adults for their work on behalf of children in Orleans County.
The Youth Board will sponsor its 37th annual Youth Recognition Dinner on May 16 at Hickory Ridge Golf and Country Club.
The following young people will be recognized for their outstanding service in the community and/or family: Harleigh Andrews, Madison Austin, Stephen Balka, Ryan Barrett, Alissa Blount, Morgan Davis, Damyan Famoly, Harley Felerski, Michael Gardner, Jessica Granchelli, Ritajane Isaacson, Matthew Kovaleski, Mason Kuhn, Joseph Manno, Marie Reynolds, Matthew Skehan and Callie Updike.
In addition to the youth awards, the Youth Board in honoring two adults for their service to youths in the community.
John Grillo, the retiring wrestling coach for Holley and Kendall, is receiving the Helen R. Brinsmaid Memorial Youth Worker Award. The Brinsmaid Award is given to an Orleans County youth-serving professional, in a paid position, whose work surpasses normal expectations. Grillo also works part-time as Albion’s recreation director.
Ken Spohr, a Boy Scout leader in Kendall, is receiving the Eileen Heye Adult Volunteer Award. That award is presented to an adult who serves the youth of Orleans County in a volunteer setting.
Registration and refreshments will begin at 6 p.m. The program and dinner will commence at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited. If you are interested in attending the banquet, contact the Orleans County Youth Bureau at (585) 344-3960.
Provided photos from Orleans County Sheriff’s Office: The Albion Correctional Facility held a graduation program on Wednesday for two dogs that completed a 14-week obedience and socialization program with inmates serving as the dogs’ handlers. Pictured, front row, from left: Princess, one of the dogs; Paula Werenczak, Team Princess handler; Susan Squires, Albion Correctional Facility superintendent; Penny, the other dog; Barbara Walker, Team Penny handler; and Carrie Reichenbach, Team Princess handler. Standing, from left: Jeff McKoy, NYS Department of Corrections of Community Supervision deputy commissioner; Christopher Bourke, Orleans County undersheriff; Kathleen Smith, Orleans County animal control officer; Dustin Meredith, Orleans County animal control officer; Daniel Martuscello, NYSDOCCS executive deputy commissioner; Patricia Ciulla, Albion Correctional Facility deputy superintendent for program services; Joseph Clem, Albion Correctional Facility psychologist II; Katie Kifner, Albion Correctional Facility offender rehabilitation coordinator; Yamisha Alamedaguzman, Team Penny handler; and Gloria Rodriguez, Team Penny handler.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office
Penny
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that on April 17, two dogs from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Animal Shelter graduated from the Canine Training Program at the Albion Correctional Facility.
Undersheriff Christopher Bourke reports that the partnership between agencies has had a positive effect on everyone involved. Two teams, consisting of three handlers each, work as a team to live with, train and care for each of the dogs in the facility program for approximately 14 weeks.
Princess
One of the results of this amazing program is the benefit to the shelter dog. Penny and Princess have learned through obedience training and living in the facility to socialize with people and other dogs along with receiving love and attention.
This program allows them to become excellent candidates for adoption from our shelter. The second benefit of the program is the positive effect on the inmates participating. The handlers learn new skills in handling and caring for animals. As they work through the program, they can see the results of their hard work, love and dedication as the dog makes progress.
After meeting the handlers, you can see the positive effect this program has had on them. Many of the handlers and staff were teary eyed as the dogs were preparing to return to the shelter for adoption.
“We feel this is a win-win situation,” Undersheriff Bourke said. “The handlers and the dogs are getting a second chance in life and we at the Sheriff’s Office are proud to be a part of his program.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2019 at 11:28 am
ALBION – This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Public Safety Telecommunicators (911 dispatchers) are a vital part in an emergency, Sheriff Randy Bower said.
“Through assessment and coordination of each situation, the 911 dispatcher links callers in distress to the correct emergency services needed for rapid response times,” he said. “Many lives are saved within the community due to the expertise and coordination of the 911 dispatcher.”
He urged the public to recognize dispatchers for their diligence, dedication and service to the community.
The county has 9 full-time and 4 part-time dispatchers, with two on duty 24-7. Last year they handled 35,343 calls.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2019 at 7:19 am
Courtesy of Orleans County Tourism Department: The new visitor’s guide for Orleans County arrived last week and promotes “Great Lake Adventure & Canal Town Culture.” The guide also touts the county’s presence on the Seaway Trail, Erie Canalway Trail and Niagara Wine Trail.
ALBION – The Orleans County Tourism Department last week received 40,000 visitor’s guides which will be heading to visitor centers on the Thruway and other welcome centers in New York and Pennsylvania. The guides will also be distributed at sport shows for fishing and outdoor adventure, and also AAA travel shows.
The county usually prints a new visitor guide every two years. But this time the county printed a new guide after one year. The county only has about 150 copies left from the 40,000 guides from a year ago.
The new guide is expanded by 4 pages to 40. The cover promotes “Great Lake Adventure & Canal Town Culture” and shows a fishing boat at sunrise as the dominant photo. The guide also highlights the county’s connections to the Seaway Trail, Erie Canalway Trail and Niagara Wine Trail.
The cover also features a thicker stock of paper to give the guide a higher quality and ensure it stands up throughout the year at the welcome center displays.
“Trust me, print is in,” said Dawn Borchet, the county’s tourism director.
The Tourism Department has the guides at eight locations along the Thruway, the Buffalo and Rochester airports, and other welcome centers in the state and in Pennsylvania. The bigger push to get the guides out seems to be paying off with more tourists to the county. The Tourism Department noted that the bed tax revenues set a new record for Orleans County in 2018 at $51,002. That was up 12.4 percent or $5,628 from the $45,374 in 2017, which was the previous high.
Borchet has been putting the guides at visitor and welcome centers within a 5-hour drive of Orleans County. She has attended many of the travel and sports shows, from Ohio to Massachusetts. She encourages visitors from Pennsylvania to take Route 81 up through the Finger Lakes and head to Orleans. She also finds people who go to Niagara Falls are looking for places to go after seeing that natural wonder. Orleans County is only an hour away.
“Tranquility and serenity,” the Orleans County tourism guides says in its welcome message. “Leave the noise behind and take in the beauty of a waterfront retreat to recharge your batteries.”
The guide touts the county as a best-kept secret.
“We are known for our world-class fishing, our farm fresh produce, award-winning wineries and historic cobblestone and sandstone architecture—a direct benefit from our proximity to Lake Ontario and the historic Erie Canal.”
Lynne Menz, the county’s tourism coordinator, designed the tourism guide. She said the county recently adding more assets that appeal to visitors, including restaurants such as Lures in Kendall, 39 Problems in Albion, Holley Falls Bar & Grill, and Mile 303 in Medina.
“We’re not a big box franchise,” Menz said, and the uniqueness of the local restaurants and businesses is a draw.
When Borchet is at the trade shows, she urges people to go explore off the Thruway.
“We have beautiful towns and villages you can visit,” she said.
She has been at shows for the Campground Owners of New York States, and touts the county’s 1,151 camp sites in Orleans County.
The county’s bed tax is expected to increase with the addition of a new hotel in Medina on Maple Ridge Road, the renovation of the former Bent’s Opera House which includes a boutique hotel, and a hostel in Medina.
The county uses the bed tax to promote tourism in Orleans. If there is more money, Borchet said she would like to have more visitor’s guides and focus more on drawing Canadians to Orleans County.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Beverly Saskowski was one of many volunteers for Hospice of Orleans recognized during the organization’s annual meeting on Thursday at the QWL Building in Albion. In addition to serving on the board of directors, Saskowski makes many home visits for Hospice patients and often will bake with them, making some of their favorite recipes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2019 at 5:23 pm
Gil Cain is congratulated by his niece Sonya Flynn of Ridgeway after he was named Hospice’s “Volunteer of the Year” for 2018.
ALBION – Hospice of Orleans recognized the many volunteers and supporters who are critical to the organization during Hospice’s annual meeting Thursday, which was at the QWL Building in Albion.
Hospice counted 165 volunteers who contributed 7,013 hours of service in 2018. They served as direct care volunteers (1,534 hours), in the office, garden and with maintenance (1,249 hours), at the Martin-Linsin residence (3,560 hours), at special events (434 hours) and on the board of directors (236 hours).
Volunteer of the Year
Gil Cain was named volunteer of the year. He set a new record for Hospice by volunteering 540 hours last year.
“Gil exemplifies selflessness, generosity and dedication in his hospice work,” said Christine Fancher, volunteer coordinator. “Gil can be seen in the residence serving meals several shifts each week. Gil gives freely of his own time and energy.”
Cain will frequently serve lunch at the Martin-Linsin residence, and come back and help serve dinner.
“Gil brings our patients their favorite lemon pies and donuts, and he takes time to learn each patient’s favorite food,” Fancher said. “Gil generously donates special holiday meals to the residence and serves meals on holidays.”
Business/Civic Award
Stacey Knights Pellicano, right, and Mary Zelazny accept the award on behalf of the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund.
Hospice presented its Business/Civic Award to the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund. That fund, named in honor of the late Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli, gives out about $50,000 annually assisting Orleans County cancer patients and their families with medical bills, equipment and other expenses.
The two families merged the fund in 1994. An annual golf tournament, wine-tasting, 5K run/walk and other fund-raisers support Knights-Kaderli. The fund is able to respond quickly to help local families, often relieving cancer patients and their families of deep anxiety with utility bills and other expenses.
“The Knights-Kaderli Fund has supported Hospice patients on numerous times,” said Kellie Spychalski, Hospice executive director. “They are always gracious and immediately responsive. We are so blessed to have them here.”
Stacey Knights Pellicano, daughter of the late Richard Knights, and Mary Zelazny, daughter of the late Sue Kaderli, accepted the award on behalf of Knghts-Kaderli. Pellicano said the community steps up and supports the fund-raisers for the fund, which then assist people fighting cancer.
“We belong to an amazing community,” Pellicano said.
Mary Janet Sahukar Award
Kellie Spychalski congratulates Terry Cook for his award.
Hospice also recognized Terry Cook with the Mary Janet Sahukar Award, named for Hospice’s founding director.
Cook, of Albion is known in the community for his locksmith business. He laso has been an active volunteer for Hospice for more than 5 years.
“At Hospice, we know Terry by his relentless willingness to help, and likely one of the most unassuming and humble natures I have ever known,” said Brittany Dix, Hospice director of development.
Cook will often go to a family’s home that recently lost a loved one. He goes to pick up medical equipment used by a Hospice patient.
“If you’ve ever had a conversation with him, you know that he is a person that handles this scenario with the utmost care and respect,” Dix said. “Family members often comment that they know Terry from the community and report that they feel comforted and reassured when he comes to their homes. It is a good feeling to be confident that when Terry leaves, the families are left with yet another face of Hospice that brought a little bit of peace and tenderness in a most difficult time.”
The award winners also received citations from State Sen. Robert Ortt, Assembly members Steve Hawley and Michael Norris, and Congressman Chris Collins.
About 100 people attended the annual meeting at the QWL Building in Albion.
The organization last year served 115 patients. Spychalski, Hospice executive director, said the agency will be stepping up its marketing and outreach efforts this year because she said many people who are eligible for Hospice services may not be aware of the program.
Hospice provides care that is funded through Medicare if someone has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, with six months or less to live. Hospice patients receive care in their house, at a nursing home or at the Martin-Linsin Residence in Albion, behind the Hospice administrative offices on Route 31.
However, Hospice has expanded its mission to work to serve people with chronic illnesses that aren’t terminal. That includes people suffering from symptoms and stress from serious illnesses such as cancer, heart failure, COPD, kidney disease, dementia and other conditions.
John Kenney, the former Holley mayor, was recognized for 12 years of service on the board from Kellie Spychalski.
The organization operates on an annual budget of $1.4 million and has 40 employees. The volunteer hours represent a contribution of $122,895.
The board of directors will have a new leader with the retirement of Craig Lape. Maura Pierce of Medina is the new board chairwoman.
Other board officers include Doug Miller, vice chairman; Beverly Saskowski, treasurer; Annette Pearl, secretary; and Ada Grabowski, assistant secretary.
Congressman Chris Collins chats with Hope Stirk and others who attended the annual meeting.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2019 at 7:07 am
ALBION – The county’s bed tax reached a new high in 2018 when it topped $50,000 for the first time.
The 4 percent tax on lodging, which was implemented in 2003, last year totaled $51,002, according to the Orleans County Tourism Department.
That was up 12.4 percent or $5,628 from the $45,374 in 2017, which was the previous high.
The “bed tax” revenue is used by the county to leverage matching “I Love NY” funds. The money is used by the Tourism Department for advertising, design, printing, media buys, consumer shows, distribution and operations.
The county prints 40,000 visitor guides each year and other brochures that are placed at visitor centers along the Thruway and other gateways in the state, including the Thousand Islands bridge on Route 81. If the revenue continues to grow the county could print more visitor guides and place more in Canada and other locations, within a 5-hour drive, said Dawn Borchet, the county’s tourism director.
The bed tax ranged from $31,141 in 2010 to $39,022 in 2015. It topped $40,000 for the first time in 2016 with $40,927.
Borchet said the uptick in the bed tax is an indication more visitors are staying in the county at hotels, motor courts, boarding houses, cabins, cottages, bed and breakfast establishments, and inns or tourist homes.
The bed tax is expected to be on an upward trend in the coming years with the opening of a hostel in Medina, a new hotel in Medina, and a boutique hotel in the former Bent’s Opera House in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2019 at 4:22 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: These deer are pictured in March 2015 on Route 98 in Gaines, south of 104.
The number of deer harvested in Orleans County continues to rise since it became legal for hunters to use rifles for deer and other big game hunting in Orleans.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation released the deer harvest numbers for each county and state-wide.
In 2018, hunters harvested 4,560 deer in Orleans County, which was up from 3,949 in 2017, the first year rifles were allowed. In 2016, the number of deer harvested in the county was 3,586. (In 2015, it was 3,562.)
The Orleans County Legislature voted on Feb. 22, 2017 to allow rifles for deer and bear hunting. Members of sportsmen clubs presented a petition signed by about 500 people, supporting rifles.
The town by town breakdown in Orleans County for 2018 includes: Albion, 390; Barre, 698; Carlton, 375; Clarendon, 453; Gaines, 338; Kendall, 291; Murray, 422; Ridgeway, 659; Shelby, 578; and Yates, 356.
The deer taken other WNY counties in 2018 includes: Allegany, 8,449; Cattaraugus, 8,382; Chautauqua, 9,944; Erie, 6,447; Genesee, 5,720; Livingston, 7,782; Monroe, 4,585; Niagara, 2,604; and Wyoming, 6,488. (Steuben County had the most deer taken in the state with 11,829.)
State-wide, the DEC reports today that an estimated 227,787 deer were harvested by hunters during the 2018-19 hunting seasons, approximately 12 percent more than the previous season.
“Hunting benefits all New Yorkers by reducing negative impacts of deer on forests, agricultural crops, and communities, while contributing an estimated $690 million to the state’s economy through hunting-related expenses and license purchases, which helps support conservation and resource management efforts at DEC,” said Basil Seggos, DEC commissioner.
The estimated deer take included 114,402 antlerless deer and 113,385 antlered bucks. Statewide, this represents a 20-percent increase in antlerless harvest and a 5-percent increase in buck harvest from the last season.
In addition, hunters increased the rate at which they reported their harvest in 2018, for the second year in a row. Although harvest reporting is required by law, the portion of successful hunters who report their harvest has averaged around 45 percent for the past decade. Hunters have increased their reporting rates to 50 percent in 2017, and 51 percent in 2018.
The DEC also reports it tested 2,483 harvested deer across the state and found no evidence of Chronic Wasting Disease in the herd.
“Preventing the introduction of CWD into New York is a high priority for DEC to ensure the health of our deer herd and to protect the recreational and viewing opportunities deer provide,” Seggos said.
CWD has now been found in 26 states, with Mississippi and Tennessee joining the list in 2018. Environmental Conservation police officers stepped up enforcement efforts this past year, seizing and destroying hunter-killed deer brought in illegally from states where CWD has been found.
Chronic wasting disease is a highly contagious disease that affects deer, elk, moose and reindeer. CWD is always fatal and there are no vaccines or treatments available. CWD is believed to be caused by a prion, which is an infectious protein, that can infect animals through animal-to-animal contact or contaminated environments, the DEC said.
