ALBION – Candidates for town elected positions turned in their petitions to run for elected office this week, with several races taking shape.

In Ridgeway, three candidates are running for town supervisor. Brian Napoli, the incumbent, is challenged by current town councilman David Stalker, owner of Medina Taxi, and Michael Maak, who retired as a captain with the Medina Fire Department.

Napoli and Stalker will square off in a June 25 Republican primary. Stalker also has the Conservative Party line. Maak is running under the Democrat Party line.

Murray also will have a rematch for town supervisor with incumbent Robert Miller facing Joe Sidonio. Miller won a close election over Sidonio in November 2017, in a race separated by 6 votes. Both have submitted petitions for the Republican and Independence parties. Sidonio also has the Conservative Party line.

Murray also has contested races for the two Town Council positions with Dirk Lammes trying to unseat either Lloyd Christ Jr. or Neil Valentine.

In Barre, Kerri Richardson, leader of Clear Skies Above Barre, submitted petitions to run for the Barre Town Board under the Conservative Party line. She is among four candidates seeking a spot on the board against Republican candidates Bradlee Driesel and Margaret Swan, and Democrat LuAnn Tierney. None of the four candidates is currently on the board.

In Gaines, Ron Mannella is retiring as highway superintendent after this year. However, he wants to serve on the Town Board. He is one of three candidates for two positions. Mannella submitted petitions for the Republican line. So did Corey Black. Mary Neilans has the Conservative line. Mark Radzinski is running to succeed Mannella as highway superintendent.

Here is a list of the candidates who submitted petitions in the 10 towns. The deadline to turn in petitions was Thursday at the Orleans County Board of Elections. There is a chance any of the petitions submitted this week could be challenged, and the election commissioners could decide the petitions aren’t valid. Some the petitions aren’t final.

(R = Republican, D = Democrat, C = Conservative, I = Independence, WF = Working Families)

Town of Albion

Town Supervisor: Richard Remley (R)

Town Council: Darlene Benton (D), Terry Wilbert (D)

Highway Superintendent: Michael Neidert (R, D)

Town Clerk: Sarah Basinait (R)

Town of Barre

Town Supervisor: Sean Pogue (R, I)

Town Board (elect 2): Bradlee Driesel (R, I), Margaret Swan (R, I), LuAnn Tierney (D) and Kerri Richardson (C)

Highway Superintendent: Dale Brooks (R)

Town Justice: Rick Root (D)

Town Clerk: Maureen Beach (D)

Town of Carlton

Town Supervisor: Gayle Ashbery (R)

Town Council members: Dana Woolston (R) and John Fitzak (R)

Town Justice: Patricia Russell (R)

Town of Clarendon

Town Supervisor: Richard Moy (R)

Town Council: Allen Robinson (R) and Bruce Hovey (R)

Highway Superintendent (elect 1): Tracy Bruce Chalker (R, C) and Robert J. Frieda (R)

Town Justice: Thomas DiFante (R)

Town Clerk: Susan Colby (R)

Town of Gaines

Town Supervisor: Joseph Grube (R)

Town Council members (elect 2): Corey Black (R), Ronald Mannella (R) and Mary Neilans (C)

Highway Superintendent: Mark Radzinski (R)

Town of Kendall

Town Supervisor: Anthony Cammarata (R)

Town Council: Barbara Flow (R), Margaret Lynn Szozda (R)

Highway superintendent: Warren Kruger (R)

Town of Murray

Town Supervisor (elect 1): Robert Miller (R, I), Joe Sidonio (R, C, I)

Town Council members (elect 2): Lloyd Christ, Jr. (R, I) Neil Valentine (R, I) and Dirk Lammes (R, C)

Town of Ridgeway

Town Supervisor (elect 1): David Stalker (R, C), Brian Napoli (R) and Michael Maak (D)

Town Council members (elect 2): Sarah Fisher (R), Mary Woodruff (R) and Duane Payne (R)

Highway superintendent: John Olinger (R)

Town Justice: Joseph Kujawa (R)

Town of Shelby

Town Supervisor: Edward Houseknecht (R),

Town Council members: Jeffrey Smith (R) and John Pratt III (R)

Highway superintendent (elect 1): Michael Fuller (R, D) and Dale Root (R, C)

Town Justice (elect 1): Dawn Keppler (R) and Mark Wambach (C, WF)

Town Clerk: Darlene Rich (D)

Town of Yates 

Town Supervisor: James Simon (R)

Town Council members: John Riggi (R) and Susan Hrovat (R)

Highway superintendent: Roger Wolfe (R)

Town Clerk: Michelle Harling (R)

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Candidates will square off in June 25 primary

ALBION – The two candidates for Orleans County sheriff both submitted petitions this week to run under multiple party lines for Orleans County sheriff.

Chris Bourke

Chris Bourke, the current undersheriff, and Brett Sobieraski, a Rochester Police Department sergeant, both submitted petitions to be the candidate for the Republican and Independence parties. In addition, Bourke submitted petitions to run under the Conservative Party.

They are both seeking to succeed Randy Bower as sheriff. Bower opted against running for re-election.

The candidates need at least 3.75 percent of the signatures of the registered voters in each party to qualify for the party line. Normally a candidate would need at least 5 percent of the signatures of registered voters in a party but the state reduced the number to qualify this year because the election calendar has moved up.

Normally the primaries are in September. This year the primary will be June 25.

Sobieraski and Bourke both have been attending numerous events in the county, seeking support for their candidacies.

Brett Sobieraski

Bourke, a Carlton resident, has been the undersheriff for the past three-plus years. He has worked with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for 35 years, starting his career as a correction officer and then was a deputy sheriff before working 18 years as a lieutenant. He was supervisor of the Marine Patrol, and also was a K9 officer for 20 years.

Sobieraski, a Kent resident, started his career in Lockport and worked there for four years. He grew up in Lockport, where his late father John was a detective. His uncle also worked for the Lockport PD and Sobieraski’s cousin is a police officer for Lockport.

Sobieraski went to the Rochester Police Department about 26 years ago. He supervises the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and is a team leader on the SWAT Team. Brett is also an instructor at the Monroe County Law Enforcement Academy.

In addition to the petitions to run for sheriff, other candidates for county offices include the seven current county legislators. They include:

• Legislators at-large (countywide): Merle “Skip” Draper (R) of Medina, E. John DeFilipps (R) of n Clarendon and Don Allport (R) of Gaines.

• Legislator District 1 (towns of Clarendon, Barre and most of Shelby): Bill Eick (R) of Shelby

• Legislator District 2 (towns of Yates, Ridgeway and small portion of Shelby): Lynne Johnson (R) of Lyndonville

• Legislator District 3 (towns of Albion and Gaines): Fred Miller (D)

• District 4 (towns of Carlton, Kendall and Murray): Ken DeRoller (R) of Kendall

Miller is the lone Democrat on the Legislature. He isn’t facing opposition from a Republican.

The petitions aren’t final, yet. People can file an objection to a candidate’s petitions. Those objections will then be reviewed by the election commissioners.

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Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s Head Start Program

Provided photo: Community Action Board members organizing and supporting Sweet Cheeks Diaper Drive include from left: Esther Leadley, Barb Shine and Debbie Miller.

April is nationally recognized as the “Month of the Young Child” to emphasize the unique needs and rights of young children and their families.

In response to the Month of the Young Child, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s Volunteer Advocacy Committee is sponsoring a  “Sweet Cheeks” Diaper Drive to assist in meeting the ongoing needs of Community  Action’s Head Start program for young children.

The Head Start Program promotes school readiness through education, health/nutrition, social/emotional, and family support services for local children age birth to 5 years who are income eligible. Community Action Head Start Program enrolls over 300 children in Orleans and Genesee counties annually.

“We provide developmentally appropriate comprehensive services at licensed agency centers, licensed day care partners and in the homes of children and families,” said Bonnie Malakie,  director of Children and Youth Services for Community Action.

The “Sweet Cheeks” Diaper Drive is being supported by over 40 local business entities in the two counties over the next two months. Customers, employees and the public are asked to donate disposable diapers (any size) and/or baby wipes in hampers at these locations. These donations will help off-set  the cost of supplies utilized in the Head Start program and will count as part of the local match required by the funders.

Business or nonprofit entities interested in helping local young children may sponsor a Sweet Cheeks Diaper Drive donation hamper by contacting Barb Shine, Community Action Board member at 716-474-4459.

Look for the hampers at your local businesses and organizations. Individuals interested in dropping off a package of disposable diapers/wipes may take donations in Orleans County to 401 East State St., Albion or in Genesee County at 5073 Clinton Street Rd., Batavia. Look for the containers as you enter the lobby.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A hamper to collect diapers is set up at Hoag Library in Albion.

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Provided photo

ALBION – The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has recognized Orleans County’s Job Development Agency and the Department of Social Services for the county’s success in transitioning people from public assistance to securing employment. The county was honored for its success from 2015 to 2018.

Pictured form left at last week’s Orleans County Legislature meeting include, from left: Fred Miller, county legislator and chairman of the Economic Assistance & Opportunity Committee; Tom Kuryla, DSS commissioner; Darcell McDonald, Temporary Assistance Specialist 1 in Employment & Income Support Programs, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; Kelly Kiebala, director of the Job Development Agency in Orleans County; and Lauren Kirby, Workforce Coordinator in the OC Job Development Agency.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone speaks during Wednesday’s County Legislature meeting.

ALBION – Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone said a proposed bail reform by Gov. Andrew Cuomo would turn people loose who have been charged with drug crimes and other offenses, putting the community at risk.

Cuomo is pushing to eliminate cash bail and require the immediate release of people charged with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, except those involving domestic violence or sexual offenses.

“This will take away discretion from judges for setting bail,” Cardone said during Wednesday’s County Legislature meeting. “Frankly, this is an overreach.”

The State Legislature also is considering proposals to eliminate cash bail. Legislation could be part of the state budget that is due to be adopted by April 1.

Cardone said the governor and Legislature are pushing in the wrong direction, away from protecting victims and strengthening the criminal justice system.

Cardone said the bail reform proposed would put many people who have been charged with crimes right back into the community, at a risk to their victims or others, especially informants who have aided in drug arrests.

“It’s really not a thought-out position to do away with bail,” he said.

Proponents of bail reform say cash bail is particularly difficult on poorer people, who are kept in jail for non-violent crimes when they pose little risk to the community.

The state has been pushing other reforms, including having counsel at all arraignments. That will ensure the defendants always have an attorney to advocate on their behalf, including with setting bail, Cardone said.

He said the governor and some state legislators are pushing for bail reform after some people lingered at the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City.

But that isn’t the case in Orleans County, where Cardone said the bail is reasonable.

“Bail is not used to be punitive to the defendants,” he told county legislators. “This whole situation has been an overreaction to a knee-jerk reaction.”

The County Legislature also passed a formal resolution on Wednesday, opposing the bail reform. Legislators cited the concerns raised by Cardone and also said there would be a “significant financial impact” on counties, which would be mandated to establish and fund positions for “pre-trial agencies” that currently do not exist.

Cardone and the county legislators also said Orleans could face big increases in extradition costs if judges can’t set bail and defendants flee the area and don’t return to court.

Cardone said the county currently does about two or three extraditions a year, with officers going to other states to bring defendants back to face charges in Orleans County.

“There is extreme concern over the cost of extraditions,” Cardone said.

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ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has opposed the state’s push to expand the “Bottle Bill” which would add a deposit to sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit and vegetable beverages, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas.

County legislators on Wednesday said that expansion would likely hurt the recycling program which is picked up weekly through the garbage collection program.

Legislators said the county’s recycling program has already been hurt “by global recycling volatility and policy changes implemented principally by China, resulting over the last two years in a 90% reduction in the value of paper and a 63% loss in value of the traditional recycling stream.”

The expanded Bottle Bill could remove as much as 50 percent of valuable plastic and aluminum containers from the recycling stream, legislators said.

Instead of the expanded Bottle Bill, the County Legislature urged Gov. Cuomo and the State Legislature to add a deposit for additional glass beverage containers, including wine and liquor bottles, hard cider bottles, and non-alcoholic class beverage containers.

Those items cause problems in the recycling stream due to breakage and contamination of other recyclables, county legislators said.

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Photo by Ginny Kropf: Key players in the leadership of United Way of Orleans County discuss ways to move the organization forward in the coming months. From left are board president Ellen Eaton, new executive director Dean Bellack and former director and new board member Kaitlyn Delamarter.

The new leadership at United Way of Orleans County are really not new at all – just rotating responsibilities.

New leadership changes were precipitated by the transition of executive director Kaitlyn Delamarter from full time director to a position as board member.

This came about after Delamarter announced in January she had accepted another position as marketing director for a local company. She also indicated she wanted to continue to be involved with United Way in some capacity.

Delamarter, who has been director since December 2017, offered to be available to assist a new director, but also stated her interest in becoming a member of the board.

At that same time, Dean Bellack of Medina had agreed to join the board at the suggestion of Dave Cook of Lyndonville, a longtime member of the board. After attending a meeting and learning the board would be searching for a new director, he drafted a letter in which he stated his credentials and what would be his goals for advancing United Way of Orleans County.

Bellack is a native of the Cleveland area who moved to Medina for a job in 1984. He met and married the former Carol Lindsay, daughter of Jim and Sally Lindsay of Medina. They have fraternal twins, and welcomed their first grandchild, a boy, three months ago.

Bellack, a partner in C&C Marketing, had also just made the decision to retire, effective April 1, but knew he still wanted to be involved in the community.

“Serving my community has been a large part of my life for the last 15 to 20 years,” Bellack said. “I want that to continue and I hope my passion for the organization will result in significant benefits for our partner agencies.”

Bellack was chairman of the YMCA board for 10 years and was instrumental in helping them complete a more than $600,000 renovation through donations from all of Orleans County. He is active in Medina Lions, serving three terms as president and helping to grow their membership.

“I, along with the board, welcome Dean with his vast background of successfully supporting non-profit agencies in our community,” said United Way board president Ellen Eaton. “We are also delighted to have Kaitlyn commit as a board member. It shows her dedication and belief in United Way. United Way has been progressive under Kaitlyn’s leadership.”

Eaton said the board needs to push awareness of United Way in Orleans County and the aspect of giving.

“A lot of positive things are happening all at once,” she said.

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ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved a new three-year contract on Wednesday with 60 workers in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Employees Association.

They will be getting 2 percent annual raises from the years 2019 to 2021. The union represents correction officers, jail cooks, civil clerks and dispatchers.

The contract includes a new high deductible health plan and new employees need to contribute 20 percent of their health insurance costs. Veteran employees tend to pay 10 to 15 percent of the health insurance costs, depending on their length of service.

The contract also calls for shifts at dispatch to be re-bid.

The previous contract with the union from 2016 to 2018 also provided for 2 percent annual raises.

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ALBION – Orleans County legislators today formally opposed the Red Flag Bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Feb. 25.

The legislation prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm. Cuomo touted the bill last month as the first in the United States to empower teachers and school administrators to prevent school shootings by pursuing court intervention.

No law previously existed in the state that enabled a court to issue an order to temporarily seize firearms from a person who is showing red flags, like violent behavior, or is believed to pose a severe threat of harm to himself, herself, or others unless that person has also been accused of a crime or family offense, Cuomo said.

County legislators today cited the Second Amendment – “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

County legislators said the Red Flag Bill “is in clear violation of our constitutionally afforded Second Amendment rights, as well as the right to due process of law.”

County legislators said there are 5,800 registered gun owners in Orleans County “who could therefore be subject to the seizure of their legally obtained firearms if a person deems them to be a threat to themselves or the public.”

County legislators said a better way for the governor and State Legislature to respond to gun violence is to increase penalties for criminals who use firearms to harm or threaten law-abiding citizens, and also to address the issues of mental illness related to violence.

The County Legislature’s resolution will be forwarded to state legislators and the governor.

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Michael Mele picked as vice chairman

File photo by Tom Rivers: Skip Draper takes the oath of office on Dec. 28, 2017 when he was sworn in as an Orleans County legislator.

ALBION – The Orleans County Republican Party officially has a new leader. Skip Draper was picked unanimously to serve as the party chairman on Saturday.

He succeeds Ed Morgan, who served in the role for 12 ½ years. Morgan resigned on Jan. 24. Draper stepped in as acting chairman. The party’s bylaws give the GOP Committee up to 60 days to choose a successor.

The committee, which has 80 members, met on Saturday morning and picked Draper for the job. Draper had been serving as vice chairman. That spot will now be filled by Michael Mele of Murray, who is the chief deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. He is also chairman of the Murray Town Republican Committee.

Draper is in his first two-year term as an Orleans County legislator after getting elected in November 2017. Prior to that he served 24 years as the Shelby town supervisor.

His goals are “to keep the party unified and together.” He said his role is to keep party finances sound, and to have quality candidates seek positions at the village, town and county level, as well as for state and federal positions.

This year the election calendar has moved up with local and state primaries now aligned with the federal schedule. That means candidates are circulating petitions for a June 25 primary, instead of one in September. Those petitions are due next week at the Board of Elections.

A primary is expected for county sheriff with current Undersheriff Chris Bourke and Rochester Police Sgt. Brett Sobieraski seeking the position. Randy Bower, the current sheriff, isn’t seeking re-election.

Other primaries also are expected at the town level.

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ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature next week will name John Papponetti the county highway superintendent, according to the agenda for the meeting on Wednesday.

John Papponetti

Papponetti, a former Albion resident, works as an engineer for Labella and Associates. He will also serve as the county’s engineer.

He is to be appointed during the Legislature’s 4:30 p.m. meeting on March 27. He will succeed Jerry Gray, who retired as highway superintendent on Dec. 30.

Papponetti grew up in Albion and served on the Village Board when he was in his 20s. His father Harry is the Albion fire chief.

Papponetti has worked closely with the County Highway Department in recent years doing an inventory of the conditions of county bridges and culverts. He also worked with the department last year when it poured the concrete slabs and constructed a culvert on Culvert Road in Ridgeway. That was the first time the highway department did that kind of project by itself. It reduced the construction costs by an estimated $180,000.

“Orleans County is proud to announce an important new addition to our staff,” said Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman. “John Papponetti has been an instrumental team member as a consultant and now joining our team as a Department director.”

Peter Houseknecht, the deputy highway superintendent, has been acting superintendent since Gray retired. Houseknecht joined the county after serving as the superintendent of the Village of Medina DPW. Johnson said Papponetti and Houseknecht will be a great team leading the department.

In 2014, Papponetti was honored by the Rochester Engineering Society as the “Young Engineer of the Year.” He has worked the past 15 years with Labella and Associates. He is the past president of the Association for Bridge Construction and Design, Western New York chapter.

Papponetti will receive an additional $20,500 stipend to serve as the county engineer. Having him on staff will save the county an estimated $70,000 in engineering expenses, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.

“Our goal is to be the best run small county in New York State and I think we will take another big step in that direction with the addition of John Papponetti,” Nesbitt said. “We are really excited about our management team going forward.”

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