Photo and information courtesy of Debbie Taylor, East Shelby fire chief
EAST SHELBY – The East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company recently five members complete roughly 50-hour Interior Firefighting Operations class this year.
Pictured from left include Josh Fuller, Logan Gardner (in truck), Nathan Fuller and Dylan Taylor. Victor Jefferd is missing from the photo. Jared Zinkievich also completed his training last year.
These gentlemen participated in a class that included firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), self-contained breathing apparatus donning, doffing and use, SCBA air management and SCBA emergencies, basic firefighter survival techniques, modern fire control methods, building fire search and victim removal techniques, firefighter survival skills, tactical ventilation techniques and basic power saw operation, forcible entry techniques, hose line advancement, vehicle and wildland firefighting theory, vehicle firefighting techniques, coordinated structure fire interior attack and transitional fire attack, and coordinated initial company operations.
“As the chief of this fire department, I’m very proud of these guys for their time and effort and dedication they have put in to complete these classes,” said Debbie Taylor, chief of East Shelby. “It’s not easy balancing personal life around these classes. And it’s great for East Shelby for the kick up of more interior firefighters.”
East Shelby welcomes the public and prospective members in stopping by the fire hall at 5021 East Shelby Rd. More information is available on the East Shelby Facebook page.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2025 at 8:52 am
Orleans County Legislature passes resolution in support of program
Provided photos: Students at the Iroquois Job Corps Center learn in programs for brick masonry, carpentry, electrical, commercial painting, clinical medical assistant and certified nursing assistant.
June 30 won’t be the day that Job Corps centers shut down. A federal judge on Wednesday said the centers don’t have to close while a lawsuit is in federal court.
Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced on May 29 that 99 privately run centers would go on “pause” due to what she said were low graduation rates and high incidents of violence. She said Job Corps is not cost-effective. She set June 30 as the date for the centers to close, with students to be sent home earlier on June 6.
But U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter said the Department of Labor can’t dismantle a program that Congress established and set aside funding to run. A preliminary injunction nationally will allow the centers to stay open while litigation continues.
The Job Corps program was founded in 1964 to help teenagers and young adults who struggled to finish traditional high school and find jobs. The program provides tuition-free housing at residential centers, training, meals and health care.
“Once Congress has passed legislation stating that a program like the Job Corps must exist, and set aside funding for that program, the DOL is not free to do as it pleases; it is required to enforce the law as intended by Congress,” Carter wrote in the ruling, according to the Associated Press.
Carter directed the DOL to stop removing Job Corps students from housing, terminating jobs or otherwise suspending the nationwide program without congressional approval, the AP reported.
The DOL said it was pausing the Job Corps, not shutting it down. But the judge disputed that.
“The way that the DOL is shuttering operations and the context in which the shuttering is taking place make it clear that the DOL is actually attempting to close the centers,” Carter wrote.
The judge said closing the centers harms students. They lose the progress they’ve made towards their education and certifications, with some plunged into homelessness. That is a big contrast from the “minor upheaval” described by government lawyers, he said.
County Legislature calls Job Corps ‘a vital resource’
The Orleans County Legislature on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution in support of keeping the Job Corps program open and at full capacity. The center has room for 225 students. The center assists students in earning their high school diplomas and learn skills in various fields – certified nursing assistant, clinical medical assistant, electrical, carpentry, bricklaying and painting.
County legislators said the Job Corps program for more than 60 years “has been a staple in assisting young adults obtain life skills, earn high school diplomas, receive on the job training in healthcare, construction and other in-demand fields.”
The Iroquois Job Corps has a $17 million impact annual economic impact locally, legislators said. Students also have completed many projects in the community at municipal buildings and parks in Orleans, Niagara, and Genesee counties, “thus saving the cost burden having been put upon the local property taxes.”
“Orleans County Legislators view the Iroquois Job Corps Center as a vital resource to the county by means of assisting up to 225 young adults at a time, employing 100 local residents, and providing an estimated $17 million annual economic impact on our local economy,” the resolution states. “The Orleans County Legislature does hereby oppose a ‘phased pause’ and closure of the Iroquois Job Corps Center in our County.”
Lynne Johnson, the Legislature chairwoman, has been a member of the community council at the Job Corps.
She said many of the students come from difficult circumstances and Job Corps helps them to learn skills and get jobs.
“They are contributing members of our society,” Johnson said.
The Medina Village Board also considered a resolution in support of Job Corps on Monday, but it failed to get three votes to pass. Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Trustee Jess Marciano wanted to state Medina’s support of the program.
“I think there is a lot of value to that program,” Marciano said.
Trustee Scott Bielski said he had to abstain because his company works with the Job Corps and he didn’t think it was proper for him to vote on an issue where he has financial gain.
“I support the Job Corps 100 percent,” he said.
Trustee Deb Padoleski said she was uncomfortable with the village weighing in on the issue.
“It feels like political activism to me,” she said.
Trustee Mark Prawel wasn’t at the meeting.
Mayor Sherman said Job Corps students were planning to do projects at City Hall and the Village Office this year to gain work experience. Students in recent years built the pavilion at State Street Park and made several Buddy Benches at Medina parks.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2025 at 8:36 am
‘This hurts a lot of people, and overall the economy. Because you have a bunch of people going home without a job, homeless and about to be not beneficial to society or themselves.’ – Unique Weeks
Photos by Tom Rivers: These Job Corps students include from left: Sienna Jack of Rochester, Unique Weeks of Bronx and Austin Show of New Hampshire and later Holley.
SHELBY – On May 29, the federal Department of Labor made an announcement that has threatened 99 Job Corps centers around the country, including the one in Orleans County in Shelby.
The DOL put those centers on “pause,” effectively shutting them down, claiming the centers were not successful – graduation rates were too low and incidents of violence too high.
DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the 99 Job Corps would be suspended by the end of June. She said the centers haven’t been fulfilling their mission.
The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.
The National Job Corps Association countered that the DOL skewed the data, using information from 2023 when centers were still impacted by Covid restrictions.
Job Corps is currently operating at about half of its capacity because the DOL hasn’t allowed centers to do their own background checks on students. Since the DOL took over that duty in March, students haven’t been admitted.
The Job Corps graduation is historically closer to 60 percent, not the 38.6 percent from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, the association said. Job Corps said that prior to Covid restrictions in 2020, the average cost per Job Corps graduate was $57,312.
Three Iroquois Job Corps students and two of the center’s leaders spoke with the Orleans Hub recently.
Unique Weeks, 24, is from the Bronx. He recently completed the carpentry program and was planning to do the advanced training program at the Grafton Job Corps in Massachusetts. His younger brother also just started in Job Corps.
Weeks said he will try to find employment as a carpenter now that the advanced training program has been put in limbo.
He was working a “dead-end job” at a 7-11. He arrived at the Iroquois center on a cold day in Feb. 21, 2024. It was snowing.
Weeks learned to appreciate the setting of the Iroquois Job Corps in a wildlife refuge.
“It’s peaceful, it’s quiet,” he said. “It’s very therapeutic for city kids.”
Austin Shaw, 21, has been in the electrical program at Job Corps the past year. The New Hampshire native was living in Holley when he rode his bike to the center for a tour. He has embraced the program, on a path to a career after being homeless and making money stealing copper. He was slated for the advanced training program in Westover, Mass.
Shaw said he is grateful for all the training at Job Corps, which was at no charge to him. The students have access to power tools and other equipment, under the watchful eye of committed instructors.
“This place gave me discipline,” he said. “I was nervous and my life was chaotic. I was homeless and a copper thief.”
He said he will go back to New Hampshire and try to find a job or perhaps join the Navy. “I don’t really know,” he said.
He said the center is safe with very few fights. The incidents cited in the media and the DOL report “make it out to be way worse than it actually is.”
Sienna Jack, 19, of Rochester has been at the Job Corps for four months in the painting program. She said she will return to live with her family.
She said the Job Corps program has a 60-year track record of success.
“This is a free program that’s been around a long, long time,” she said.
Eric Seppala, left, is the center director of the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby and JT Thomas is the director of operations.
Eric Seppala is director of the Iroquois center. He started as the security manager. He said the center has to “over report” incidents, including fender benders and damaged Chromebooks.
Job Corps has a “zero tolerance” policy for violence. Any incidents and the student misbehaving is out of the program.
The center was scrambling in early June to help students earn as many credentials as possible. Many won’t be able to fully complete their training program, based on the DOL order, but Seppala said they can still earn credentials such as being a flagger at a work or construction site, operating a fork lift, knowing customer relations, and other skills including OSHA credits.
Many students also are working towards earning their high school diplomas.
A lawsuit has paused the Job Corps directive from the DOL until June 25. The DOL ordered the 99 centers to close by June 30. The directive told the centers to send all students home by June 6. Although the lawsuit “paused” that order, Iroquois leaders said many students had already gone home by June 6.
The local Job Corps set up a “transition team” to help students get their paperwork in order, create resumes for job searches, and also to connect many with their Department of Social Services in their home counties. Many of the students were homeless before enrolling in Job Corps.
“We’re trying to give them every tool they need,” said JT Thomas, the director of operations and a 17-year employee at the Job Corps.
Thomas started at the Job Corps as a teacher, helping students with reading and to earn their high school diplomas. He was the academic manager before the operations director.
The following question and answer interview was conducted at the Iroquois Center on June 4:
Question: If you were the reporter what would you be asking about the Job Corps program?
Austin Shaw: I would be asking why are we really closing? What benefit does it provide to close all of this? Because we are giving people, who otherwise have little or no opportunities – people like me who were thriving off of copper theft or people that were in very bad home environments – a free opportunity.
We’re always being told to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, make something of yourself. Well, we came here to do that. Now look what just happened. People can’t do that anymore. And that is the real question. What benefit is there to closing this? Would you rather your tax dollars go somewhere else?
Unique Weeks: I think it will become like the college situation. It was free and now it’s not. People won’t be doing it because they won’t be able to afford it. There are plenty of trade schools that can do it already, but they are somewhat unattainable or they require a certain amount of years done. This one (Job Corps) you can come without your high school and still get a trade done and get your education.
Maybe they don’t want to give that to people for free. Maybe they want people to pay for it. But they are endangering society by that because they are taking away people’s livelihoods and the opportunities to get jobs. There may be more jobs but there is not a lot of people who can take them because they refuse to train them and there are few schools that do this inside of a school.
In 2024, there were more people going into trade schools than any other. This generation, they are calling us the blue-collar generation right now. This hurts a lot of people, and overall the economy. Because you have a bunch of people going home without a job, homeless and about to be not beneficial to society or themselves.
Austin Shaw: They’re back to where they were at the start. Even the wealthy states, and I’m from a wealthy state in New Hampshire, there is that underbelly of people who can’t get out of that. The average trade school there is like $3,000 to $4,000. That’s a substantial amount of money.
Sienna Jack: My biggest comment would be you’re taking away opportunities for people, especially the underprivileged people of color, the young students. You have to look at the homeless population and where do those kids go.
Question: JT, what have you enjoyed about your career here?
JT Thomas: The success of the students. The students come in with pretty much nothing. They tell you their stories. When I was their high school instructor, one of their projects was to write a story about themselves. The obstacles they had to overcome just to get to the center is impressive. My first speech to them is, ‘You guys inspire us to do our jobs.’ They inspire us. They are overcoming everything. They may say Job Corps does it for them, but Job Corps is just an avenue for them to do what they can do. We’re just there to support them. It’s the students that do it.
When they say only 38 or 40 percent graduate, these are kids who are coming from being homeless and from the streets. If you have 10 students come here, and 4 or 5 students get a job making more than I do, and people don’t see that as a success? All these other students would be on the streets still or on social programs. People would be paying for them. They would either be in jail, homeless or living off of local or state programs.
It’s the students that we are here for.
‘The students come in with pretty much nothing. They are overcoming everything. They may say Job Corps does it for them, but Job Corps is just an avenue for them to do what they can do. We’re just there to support them. It’s the students that do it.’ – JT Thomas
Question: Eric you’ve been here for how long?
Eric Seppala: It’s about 6 ½ years. Before that I worked in a store and before that I had 22 years as a Genesee County deputy sheriff, and as a night supervisor and afternoon supervisor.
Question: Why Job Corps for you?
Eric Seppala: I was familiar with the program. Years ago they had us as law enforcement come out and we’d be here on pay days for students because they were paying them in cash. They would have one of us out here. We would escort the guy who was getting a considerable amount of cash and bring it back for all the students.
I knew what the program was and it’s close to home. When I had a chance to really look into it, I was really interested. It’s the way it changes peoples’ lives, the students. We’ve had them come from literally living under a bridge for four years and they come here and are as rough and as awful as you can be and by the time they leave a year later, they are walking out and they’re stepping into a job making $25 an hour as an apprentice.
Two years later you hear about them getting their journeymen’s papers and they’re making $40 an hour and they’re doing fantastic. Now it’s not every student but our students do do that. Our students leave here and they’re able to go to work and provide a better living for themselves and their family. That’s what this whole program is about.
Question: How did you tell them the news, that the government was viewing this as a failing program?
Eric Seppala: What they did is they played with the numbers. They pulled one year that was a bad year. They talked about there being 500 sexual assaults in one year. Well there’s 125 Job Corps sites, so that’s maybe 4 per center. We don’t have that many. We have very few.
You compare these numbers to where these kids come from and it’s so much safer.
That Transparency Report (from Department of Labor) was a bunch of garbage. The numbers in there were skewed. They did whatever they could to make it look worse.
A significant incident here, if someone knocks over a $5 plastic dispenser for napkins in the dining hall, that is a significant incident because it is government property and we have to report it.
JT Thomas: An adult student who is 18 or 19 they can leave the program, but if they leave without putting a pass in, that is an unauthorized exit and a significant incident report.
Question: Why do you think they (DOL) presented the report like they did? Are they against Job Corps?
Eric Seppala: If you look at the whole thing, with first of all them pausing the students from coming in. They stopped the background checks. They stopped them from coming in, and then the next thing that happened is this Transparency Report. Then the next week there are articles about how bad the Job Corps is.
They shut off our students. Then with every student we lose the cost-per-student goes up because we have the same staff in place.
Question: If Job Corps can continue through a court injunction or by Congress, how hard will it be to restart this program and bring students back?
JT Thomas: Every student going home is filling out a needs report. We’re getting all their contact information. If there is a restart, we have told them we will call them back. We will do that if we are given the opportunity.
Eric Seppala: Unless they get rid of the ban on the background checks, it wouldn’t matter. We would have students for up to a year but there wouldn’t be new students coming.
Question: Do you know how many graduates each year for all the Job Corps?
Eric Seppala: When we’re running almost full our numbers are close to 35,000 to 40,000.
JT Thomas: Since the inception of Job Corps, there have been over 3 million graduates.
Question: This center would normally graduate how many?
JT Thomas: It depends on our on-board strength because they have been taking some things away. Last year we had about 150 to 160 on the list of students who graduated or who were graduating. It varies with that. We’ve had 200 to 300.
Question: Would you do two graduations a year?
JT Thomas: We used to but we haven’t since Covid.
Eric Seppala: It’s one and it’s in August. It’s open for students who graduated during that previous year and ones who are on center and who are going to. Last year we had 48 or 50 who walked in it. Once they leave here, I understand it’s hard for them to come back especially for our New York City students but they are welcome to come.
Question: Do you know how many Orleans County students you have?
JT Thomas: That varies. We have room for non-residential students. We have about 8 to 10.
Question: And those would be Orleans and Genesee?
JT Thomas: We have Niagara too.
Question: Where do most of the students come from?
Eric Seppala: Rochester is probably our biggest area. The way it’s broken down is Cassadaga (in Chautauqua County) they’ve been given Buffalo. Ours starts in Niagara County. So we have Niagara County, Orleans, Genesee and we go east to Wayne County. We also get students from New Jersey and New York City. We have partners that we work with that are recruiting down in New York City and New Jersey who are coming here for our trades. They try to connect them to a Job Corps with those trades.
Question: Do you feel like this is the end for Job Corps or it will work out?
Eric Seppala: We’re fighting for it.
JT Thomas: I’m optimistic. Schumer has been a supporter. Gillibrand has been a supporter. Tenney has been a supporter. All of our people have been supportive. Our community is supportive.
For our Congress, we just hope they continue the support.
Question: It must have been difficult to see that report, for how Job Corps was presented?
Eric Seppala: I was reading it and after the second paragraph I could tell it was lies and manipulation. The National Job Corps Association has put out a rebuttal to it.
They are trying not to be political because this is a program for everybody. It’s not a Democratic program or a Republican program. We want everybody to support it because it’s a great program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2025 at 3:10 pm
Trump administration wants to close 99 centers, including Iroquois, by end of June
Photo by Tom Rivers: A sign near Route 63 in Shelby directs people to the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby, one of 99 in the country slated to shut down by June 30.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer called on local elected officials in communities with Job Corps to press their Congressional representatives in the House to keep the Job Corps program.
Schumer urged a legal and public campaign to keep the job-training sites open for at-risk youths. The centers have a capacity to serve about 50,000 students nationwide but have only been about half full, with the Job Corps faulting the Department of Labor for not doing needed background checks to allow new students since March.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer speaks with reporters today through Zoom video conference.
“Across Upstate NY the Trump administration’s cruel order to shut down Job Corps centers has caused students and teachers to scramble, and if this goes through, it will be our small businesses and local economies paying the price,” Schumer said in a video conferencing call with reporters today. “We must save Job Corps across Upstate NY. We want to help young people get jobs, to get the training they need for successful careers, and eliminating these centers will hurt those students as well as local employers like small businesses and hospitals in getting the skilled workers they need.”
The National Job Corps Association has filed an injunction in federal court in Manhattan, saying the federal Department of Labor can’t dismantle Job Corps, a program established and funded by Congress. A court hearing is scheduled for June 17 to determine whether a preliminary injunction will be issued, Reuters reported.
Schumer referenced that lawsuit in his comments with reporters today. He believes putting pressure on members of Congress, especially Republicans, can ensure the program continues.
“The courts have already put a pause on Trump’s initial attempts to kill Job Corps, and I will vehemently oppose his attempts to defund this program in the Senate because the people are on our side in saving Job Corps,” he said today.
There are five Job Corps centers in the state, including one in Orleans County in Shelby. The Iroquois Job Corps has a capacity for 225, but was down to 125 when the DOL announced the program was on pause. The site has about 100 employees. The center has an $8.9 million annual budget. Iroquois officials estimate the local center has a $17 million annual impact on the local economy.
Schumer said Job Corps is a much-needed job training program that launches people into careers in healthcare, construction, and other in-demand fields.
“For 60 years, the Iroquois Job Corps Center has trained hundreds of young adults annually to become the electricians, carpenters, medical assistants and more that our community needs,” Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, said in a statement released by Schumer’s office. “The Center is also a vital employer, with 104 local workers, and has infused over 8.9 million dollars in federal funding into our region’s economy. Stopping student enrollments and threatening to close the Iroquois Job Corps Center not only risks the futures of over 12,000 students but also the workforce that drives our region’s economic growth. I’m proud to stand with Senator Schumer in calling for Job Corps student enrollments to resume immediately and keeping the Iroquois Job Corps Center open, so we can continue building a stronger, more prosperous community.”
On May 29, Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced that 99 centers would go on “pause” due to what she said were low graduation rates and high incidents of violence. She said Job Corps is not cost-effective.
“Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training and community,” DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve.”
Schumer said the Job Corps have proven to do “great work” in empowering young people and preparing them for careers in the work force. The DOL skewed the statistics by using data from Covid when the centers faced restrictions in operating their programs, the National Job Corps Association said.
The move by the DOL would hurt every region of the state, Schumer said, highlighting Job Corps centers in Brooklyn, Glenmont near Albany, Iroquois in Medina, Cassadaga in Chautauqua County and Oneonta.
The DOL announcement, providing such short notice for students to leave, “created pure chaos” for those students, their families and the centers, Schumer said.
“It’s outrageous, and it’s probably illegal,” he said. “We will fight it every step of the way.”
Getting a few Republicans in the House to oppose the closing could keep Job Corps funded. The Iroquois center is in Claudia Tenney’s district while Cassadaga is in a distict served by Nick Langworthy.
“If we get 3 or 4 Republican congressman who say don’t cut the job corps, then they can’t cut it because they need those votes,” Schumer said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2025 at 9:43 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A sign directs people to the Iroquois Job Corps Center in Shelby on Tibbits Road. The center is one of 99 that was ordered to go on “pause” last week by the federal Department of Labor, with students to be sent home by this Friday.
A federal judge has temporarily halted the closure of 99 Job Corps Centers, including the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby.
The Trump administration last Thursday announced the 99 centers would have to go on pause, with students to be sent home by June 6 and the contractors running the sites to be done by June 30.
The National Job Corps Association filed an injunction on Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, saying the federal Department of Labor can’t dismantle Job Corps, a program established and funded by Congress. A court hearing is scheduled for June 17 to determine whether a preliminary injunction will be issued, Reuters reported.
“Shuttering Job Corps will have disastrous, irreparable consequences, including displacing tens of thousands of vulnerable young people [and] destroying companies that have long operated Job Corps centers in reliance on the Government’s support for the program,” the plaintiffs stated in the lawsuit as reported by Reuters.
The lawsuit also states that the DOL can only close individual Job Corps centers individual after seeking public comment and notifying local members of Congress.
DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer a week ago announced 99 Job Corps would be paused with programs suspended by the end of June. She said the centers haven’t been fulfilling their mission.
The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.
On average, participants earn $16,695 annually on average when they leave the program, the DOL said.
But the National Job Corps countered that the DOL skewed the data, using information from 2023 when centers were still impacted by Covid restrictions.
Job Corps is currently operating at about half of its capacity because the DOL hasn’t allowed centers to do their own background checks on students. Since the DOL took over that duty in March, students haven’t been admitted.
The Job Corps graduation is historically closer to 60 percent, not the 38.6 percent from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, the association said. Job Corps said that prior to Covid restrictions in 2020, the average cost per Job Corps graduate was $57,312.
Allowing more students would drive down the per-student costs, Job Corps noted on its website in response to the DOL statements.
Job Corps is the nation’s largest residential career training and education program, serving people ages 16 to 24. The centers have a capacity for about 50,000 students but currently have about 25,000.
Job Corps students placed in positions earned an average wage of $17.13 in 2023, more than twice the minimum wage of $7.25. Graduates earned annualized wages of more than $31,000, Job Corps said.
The DOL also cited incidents of violence at the centers, noting there 14,913 serious incident reports filed in 2023 at centers across the country.
“Per DOL’s reporting requirements, these ‘serious’ incidents include power outages and inclement weather, athletic injuries that require treatment, and adult students leaving campus without prior approval,” Job Corps said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2025 at 10:33 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign on Route 63 in Shelby notes the Iroquois Job Corps, a center with space for up to 225 students served by 104 full-time equivalent employees.
The data presented by the federal Department of Labor to justify “pausing” Job Corps centers around the country is deeply flawed, the National Job Corps Association said.
On Thursday, DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced 99 Job Corps would be paused with programs suspended by the end of June, including at the local Iroquois Job Corps Center in Medina.
The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.
The program also doesn’t tend to be a pathway to a career. On average, participants earn $16,695 annually on average when they leave the program, the DOL said.
But the National Job Corps said the DOL skewed the data, using information from 2023 when centers were still impacted by Covid restrictions.
“Job Corps has transformed the lives of millions of Americans,” Donna Hay, president & CEO of the National Job Corps Association, said in response to the DOL decision. “We agree with Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins that Job Corps saves lives. This decision, based on a deeply flawed report, needlessly endangers the futures and the lives of thousands and potentially millions more young Americans.”
Job Corps is currently operating at about half of its capacity because the DOL hasn’t allowed centers to do their own background checks on students. Since the DOL took over that duty in March, students haven’t been admitted.
Allowing more students would drive down the per-student costs, Job Corps noted on its website in response to the DOL statements.
Job Corps is the nation’s largest residential career training and education program, serving people ages 16 to 24. The centers have a capacity for about 50,000 students but currently have about 25,000.
The students at the 99 centers need to be gone no later than the end of the month. Hay said more than 4,500 of those students were homeless before joining Job Corps and potentially face a perilous future. That figure amounts to 20 percent of current students but is as high as 50 percent at some campuses, she said.
Job Corps responded to many of what it said were false or misleading statements presented by the Department of Labor and widely reported in the media.
Graduation rate: The Job Corps graduation is historically closer to 60 percent, not the 38.6 percent from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.
“Like other schools and colleges, enrollment and graduates rates were depressed by Covid-19 policies,” Job Corps said. “Historically, Job Corps graduation rates have been above 60%.”
Job Corps said many students left the program because they were pushed to “college-ready” classes that did not align with their career goals.
Cost per student: The DOL said the cost per student for the program is less than $50,000. A report from the first Trump Administration put the cost at $34,301 per enrollee.
“The increase is due almost entirely to Covid-19 restrictions on the number of students Job Corps is allowed to serve, some of which are still in place,” Job Corps said.
The DOL said in its more recent report the Job Corps cost per student is more than what t costs to send a student to a four-year college. But Job Corps said a four-degree program can top $300,000 and only 49 percent of students in a four-year college program complete the degree on time.
Job Corps said that prior to Covid restrictions in 2020, the average cost per Job Corps graduate was $57,312.
Program failing to meet its mission: The DOL said Job Corps students are largely hired in minimum-wage positions, earning $16,695.
But Job Corps students placed in positions earned an average wage of $17.13 in 2023, more than twice the minimum wage of $7.25. Graduates earned annualized wages of more than $31,000, Job Corps said.
Incidents of violence: The DOL said there were 14,913 serious incident reports filed in 2023 at centers across the country.
“Per DOL’s reporting requirements, these ‘serious’ incidents include power outages and inclement weather, athletic injuries that require treatment, and adult students leaving campus without prior approval,” Job Corps said.
The National Job Corps Association urged people to contact their Congressional reps to help preserve the program before students are sent off campus in the next few days.
“ Job Corps plays a vital role in our economy,” the association said. “It strengthens local communities by preparing young people for the workforce, supplying local businesses with skilled, ready workers, and driving economic growth.
“Across the country, Job Corps graduates fill essential roles in healthcare, construction, IT, and more – industries where talent is urgently needed. Eliminating Job Corps would not only hurt individuals, it would undermine businesses and communities that rely on a pipeline of trained workers to thrive. For many reasons, Job Corps is needed now more than ever.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2025 at 9:59 am
Department of Labor says program costs too much with dismal results
File photos: (Left) In these photos from February 2024, Iroquois Job Corps’ carpentry student Jeremiah Caldwell works on one of the buddy benches which will be placed in four local Medina parks as a way to spread goodwill. (Right) Students in the carpentry program at Iroquois Job Corps Center work on Adirondack chairs, which the Medina Rotary Club will sell to raise money for the community.
MEDINA – The Iroquois Job Corps has been ordered by Department of Labor to have its students sent home by June 4 as part of a “pause” announced by the DOL on Thursday.
Center officials believe the DOL is moving to close the centers, and not put them on pause. The DOL announced it has halted contracts with 99 contract-operated centers. The Iroquois center, with a capacity for 225 students, is run by ETR, Education and Training Resources. ETR operates 11 Job Corps in states. In New York, it runs the Job Corps in Medina and Oneonta.
Job Corps is an employment and training system for young adults aged 16-24 throughout the United States with over 120 campuses. The center in Medina is located on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
It has 104 full-time equivalents working there with a $8.9 million budget serving up to 225 students. The center says it has a $17 million economic impact on the community.
The Department of Labor, in its announcement on Thursday, said the Job Corps are not cost-effective and the sites often have violence and other infractions, with a dismal graduation rate.
“Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training and community,” DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program’s possibilities.”
The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.
The program also doesn’t tend to be a pathway to a career. On average, participants earn $16,695 annually on average when they leave the program, the DOL said.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Legislature on July 20, 2024 recognized the Iroquois Job Corps on its 60th anniversary. Pictured from left include Luke Kantor (Admissions and Career Transition Services manager for the Iroquois Job Corps), Deshawn Knights, Logan Abeyta, Unique Weeks, Janissa Legister, County Legislator Fred Miller and Job Corps operations director JT Thomas.
For the Iroquois Job Corps, the DOL reports there were 247 students at a $12,281,990 “prorated yearly center cost” or $8,858,261 yearly center cost.
The DOL reports Iroquois is at $49,724 cost per enrollee with 28.4 percent graduation rate.
The cost per graduate is at $211,758. The DOL reports there are 225 in the program for contract, but only 111 actual.
There were also 121 infractions in 2023 at Iroquois, and 14,913 “serious incident reports” at all the Job Corps centers, according to the DOL report.
Those serious incidents at all Job Corps included 372 sexual assaults and inappropriate sexual behavior, 1,764 acts of violence, 1,167 breaches of safety or security, and 2,702 reported uses of drugs.
The Iroquois campus can serve 225 students who are ages 16 to 24. They receive training in six main programs: brick masonry, carpentry, electrical, commercial painting, clinical medical assistant, and certified nursing assistant.
Students stay on campus and receive other education. Some of those programs include work towards an equivalency diploma and driver’s education.
The DOL announced on Thursday it will be suspending program at 99 contract-operated centers. Those centers need to mobilize students to safely return to their home of record. Funds will be used to pause program operations, which includes managing facilities, maintaining student records, and ensuring students are connected with necessary employment and program resources, the DOL said.
The announcement is a major shock to the local center, which sees its program as a success, helping at-risk youth to receive employment training and often do community service projects in Orleans, Genesee and Niagara counties, said Skip Draper, a government liaison for Job Corps. He has worked for the program for 25 years. Draper is also an Orleans County legislator and chairman of the Orleans County Republican Party.
He said he and others are reaching out to elected officials, including Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, to stop the closure of the Job Corps centers. Draper said Congress has already approved funding to operate the centers through June 20, 2026.
The centers offer residential programs for students at or below the poverty line, who often struggled in a traditional school setting.
He is hopeful the DOL and the Trump Administration will reverse the decision when they see the many successes of Job Corps, connecting people to trades, health services and other careers.
“Job Corps is open to reform,” Draper said this morning. “The centers are well positioned to advance President Trump’s skilled-worker initiative. We have been able to get young adults in programs to take training initiatives.”
Draper said the enrollments are at about 60 percent capacity because the DOL isn’t letting the centers do background checks on students who seek to enroll in the program. The DOL took over that responsibility but hasn’t been doing the background checks. That has led to smaller enrollments, which inflates the cost-per-student, he said.
The Job Corps program has broad support in Congress, Draper said. Tenney and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have both visited the local site to meet students and learn about the programs offered there.
Born out of the War on Poverty and signed into law as the Economic Opportunity Act on August 20, 1964, Job Corps has provided safe housing, education, career and technical training opportunities, and support services for deserving young people, Job Corps officials said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 May 2025 at 3:23 pm
6 candidates seek 3 spots on Town Board
Photos by Tom Rivers: Vassilios Bitsas speaks during Thursday’s candidate forum at the Shelby fire hall. About 100 people attended the forum that stretched more than 2 ½ hours.
SHELBY – The town has perhaps the most hotly contested election this year with six candidates seeking three positions on the Town Board.
Five of those candidates were at a candidate forum on Thursday at the Shelby Fire Hall with about 100 people attending the 2 ½-hour forum moderated by County Legislator John Fitzak.
The Town of Shelby Republican Committee organized the forum. The committee has endorsed incumbent Scott Wengewicz for another two-year as town supervisor, and also has endorsed Mike Moriarty and Vassilios Bitsas for town councilman.
Jim Heminway has forced a primary against Wengewicz for town supervisor. Larry Waters Sr. and incumbent Ed Zelazny also forced a primary for the councilmen.
There will be nine days of early voting from June 14 to June 22 at the county Board of Elections in Albion, and then voting on the June 24 primary at the Shelby Town Hall.
Zelazny, a farmer, did not attend the forum. He and councilwoman Linda Limina often vote against the majority on the board, especially with the budget and financial issues.
“Not participating in a ‘debate’ run by the same crew that rigged it two years ago,” Zelazny posted on Facebook. “No rules, no agenda, no fairness and a fixed deck of questions to serve their agenda. I’m not playing along. If you have questions about town business or anything else, you know how to find me.”
Zelazny said he isn’t a “yes man.” He said he has proven to be a fiscally conservative town official.
“Some people say I don’t say much,” he posted on Facebook. “That’s fine. I’d rather listen, show up, and vote right than talk in circles.”
County Legislator John Fitzak served as moderator of the forum, which took many questions from the crowd.
The crowd was urged to submit hand-written questions. They were collected by supporters of candidates from both sides. Fitzak urged the speakers to keep it civil.
Heminway and Waters have been at many board meetings the past two years or so, and have been a frequent critic of what they said is financial mismanagement by Wengewicz.
They both referred to a state comptroller report’s that was critical of the town supervisor’s oversight of town finances.
They both said Wengewicz and the town government make it too difficult to obtain public information, often requiring people to fill out Freedom of Information Act requests and then face long waits for the information.
Scott Wengewicz said the town has made progress on several fronts during his tenure as town supervisor.
Wengewicz started as town supervisor on Dec. 13, 2022, taking the position after Jeff Smith stepped down. Wengewicz was appointed by the board to fill the vacancy.
He is retired from a 30-year career as a Border Patrol agent. He has opened two businesses in Medina/Shelby: Mystic Dragon’s Lair and Patriot Guns.
He sees many successes from the town government, while working through the difficult challenges with the accounting software.
Shelby was able to keep a wind turbine project from advancing and opposed a sewer pipeline along Route 63 that would have dumped waste water into the Oak Orchard Creek.
The town has upgraded the town hall, the parking lot and replaced two dump trucks, while tending to other town business, Wengewicz said.
He said he has pushed to keep expenses down. He said budget he prepared and submitted as the tentative budget would have kept the town tax rate flat at $3.40 per $1,000 of assessed property in 2025, but the rate went up after the other board members weighed in.
Wengewicz noted the town was able to convince New Leaf Energy not to pursue two turbines that would peak at 633 feet. New Leaf sought two turbines on Route 63 on land owned by the Smith family.
The project was proposed by Borrego Solar System Inc. Borrego spun off the development side of its business to ECP, which named the new company, New Leaf Energy.
“There’s still a lot to do,” Wengewicz said about moving the town forward.
He said residents are welcome to stop by the town hall and he will answer their questions.
“I’ll show you whatever you want to see,” he said. “I have nothing to hide. You can see everything.”
Jim Heminway said his management experience would benefit the Town Board if he became town supervisor.
Heminway pushed back on some of Wengewicz’s comments. Heminway said the turbine project went away because of resident opposition, not because of the Town Board. Many residents signed a petition opposing the turbines.
Heminway said Shelby’s relatively low tax rate is due to reassessments that significantly increased the town’s tax base, and also led to higher tax bills for residents.
Wengewicz also worked with Royalton town officials to allow Shelby to tap into their water system, bringing a lower-cost option to part of Shelby. Wengewicz said the water from Royalton should be about half the cost as from Medina.
Heminway, however, said Wengewicz did that while alienating the Village of Medina, and Shelby so far doesn’t fully account for a blended rate with water mixed together from the two systems. Wengewicz said the blended rate will soon be known. The town is waiting on the first quarterly water bills to go through to provide data for determining a mixed rate.
Heminway is retired as chief operations officer for Monroe Electronics in Lyndonville. He worked there from 1998 to 2019. He also worked for American Sigma and Baxter Healthcare.
“I’ve had a lot of experience working in very diverse groups, getting different people together,” he said. “I spent a career managing people and products.”
Heminway is a current village resident who used to live on Dunlap Road, outside the village. He said the current board takes an “adversarial approach” with the village that could prove detrimental to the overall community.
He said the village faces increasing dire financial straits, with its taxes going up and facing rising costs to provide police, ambulance, fire protection and other services.
He noted that while Shelby has long felt Medina was overcharging on water, Shelby officials didn’t find resolution with the village.
“We have to reestablish that relationship with those folks,” he said. “We’re all in this together. The way things are going with taxes, we’re going to sink together.”
Shelby has the Medina Business Park which is an attractive option for businesses. But Heminway said they need to be businesses that “don’t damage our natural resources.”
The community also needs to work to solve a housing crisis where there are too few options locally. Businesses that come to Shelby will need places for employees to live.
He said Shelby should strive to be fair with the village and not be another force that works against the village.
The candidates were asked how to help the village so it doesn’t dissolve as a village government.
Vassilios Bitsas said communication and transparency should be a focus from the Town Board.
All five at the forum said they value the village services, especially the police and fire department. Waters was the lone candidate to say more of the local sales tax needs to be shared by the county government. The County legislature has kept the towns and villages collectively at about $1.3 million since 2001. The county keeps about 95 percent of the local sales tax.
Heminway said the leaders of the Shelby, Ridgeway and Medina governments, as well as the county legislators from the community, need to get together regularly to go over the local issues and see how they can better work together.
“There needs to be more communication with our neighbors,” Heminway said. “We’re not that big.”
Vassilios Bitsas, age 25, works in the day-to-day operations with the family’s restaurant – Country Club Family Restaurant in medina – and three Cusimano’s Pizzeria locations in Medina, Lockport and Brockport. The family employs 250 people, and Bitsas said clear communication and valuing employees are keys to the businesses’ success.
Bitsas said he wants to be more involved in the community, and bring a younger adult’s perspective to the board, while seeking the input from residents and other board members.
“I just want to serve you guys and do what is best,” he said.
Bitsas said more affordable housing, and more housing options should be a priority so more people can choose to stay in the community. He said many of his peers are of the age when they are looking to buy a hose, and too often they have to pick outside or the Medina/Shelby area because there are few options.
“My goal is economic growth, to bring more businesses in to ease tax burdens on others,” he said. “We need more housing. There is no where to raise your family right now.”
Mike Moriarty said infrastructure needs to be improved to bring in more companies.
Mike Moriarty, 41, is the general manager at Pride Pak, a fruit and vegetable processing business on Maple Ridge Road. He also is an electrician.
Moriarty said he isn’t a political person. “I’m Pro-Shelby,” he said. “I’d like to see Shelby thrive, and that’s it. End of story.”
Moriarty noted Pride Pak is a $37 million company with 70 employees locally. It opened in Medina in 2016.
“We’ve stayed strong and we’re expanding,” he said.
He said the Orleans Economic Development Agency was critical in bringing Pride Pak to the community. He said Shelby should work closer with the Orleans EDA to bring in companies that are a good fit for the community.
Moriarty said he watches many of the Town Board meetings online through YouTube and is astonished by the bickering.
“It’s the same thing over and over,” he said. “There is no moving forward running meetings like that.”
Shelby needs to work with the county and village to make sure the infrastructure is adequate to serve businesses and residents.
“We have fallen way behind on infrastructure,” he said. “We need to get our infrastructure straightened out so businesses will come here. We’d love to see more businesses by Pride Pak, and see Pride Pak expand.”
Larry Waters said the Town Board needs to do better managing town finances.
Larry Waters works as the corporate inventory manager for Champlain Valley Equipment, overseeing a $130 million budget. Waters has attended many meetings in the past couple years. He said the board’s “fiscal irresponsibility” is the biggest motivator for him running for councilman.
“I’m very well prepared to take on this task and to help right the ship,” he said. “I want to put myself in a position where I can help to turn this thing around.”
Waters said many in the community are reeling from rising tax bill, from dramatic increases in their assessments to overspending at the government level.
The current board often leaves him frustrated. The board doesn’t provide answers to his questions during meetings, and doesn’t get back to him after the sessions.
“They are not transparent at all,” he said. “You have to fight tooth and nail. You have to submit FOIL requests for things that should be handed to you.”
Shelby also needs to figure out a way to bring public water to areas without a waterline. Wengewicz noted the costs are too expensive to serve some areas with too few houses to cover the costs of a water district. While some residents without public water want a waterline, others are happy with the well water and don’t want the added expense of public water, Wengewicz said.
He acknowledged “it’s a balancing act” with bringing in more businesses and still maintaining the rural flavor of Shelby, and also not jeopardizing the wildlife refuge and other natural resources.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2025 at 8:51 am
Provided photos
Dave Berry of the Medina VFW Auxiliary presents the “Good Job Award” to Eric Seppala, the Iroquois Job Corps center director.
SHELBY – President-Elect Dave Berry of the Medina Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary on Tuesday presented the “Good Job Award” to the Iroquois Job Corps for supporting the local VFW Auxiliary.
Accepting the award is Eric Seppala, the IJCC Center Director. IJCC students were also presented with individual awards of appreciation for their contributions to the Medina VFW Auxiliary.
From left to right are Brandi Jordan, Katherine Murphy, Adam Schmitt and Eyan Bailey. On the right is the IJCC Operations Director and member of the Medina VFW Auxiliary, John Thomas.
Berry visited the Iroquois Job Corps Center to present awards to the center and to the students who volunteered their time to support local veterans. Job Corps continues to support local community organizations, such as the VFW.
Students volunteer in the community at food pantries and distributions, and by cleaning community roads and fields, assisting with festivals, and supporting local service groups, including the Lions Club and Medina Rotary.
President-elect of the VFW Auxiliary, Dave Berry, shakes hands with some of Job Corps students.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 May 2025 at 11:37 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Donna Vanderlaan, a member of the board of PAWS Animal Shelter, and Mike Fuller, president of East Shelby Fire Company, look at all the cats in cages waiting to be spayed.
EAST SHELBY – A spaying/neutering clinic originating in Cowlesville brought its services to East Shelby Fire Hall on Wednesday, where cats and dogs were spayed and neutered at reduced costs to the pet owners.
The clinic was the idea of Alycia Baran-Falbo of Cowlesville, founder of All-Star Animal Rescue.
A life-long animal lover, Baran-Falbo has been a vet assistant and has done animal rescue work for 20 years, during which time she became very aware of the problems with animals, namely, over-population and unwanted animals – problems she very much wanted to get to the root of.
Baran-Falbo collaborated with PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion and Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter to bring the mobile veterinary service to Orleans County.
Assisting were Donna Vanderlaan, vice president of PAWS, and All-Star Animal Rescue’s vice president Emilee Diebold of Tonawanda.
(Left) A vet’s assistant carries an unconscious dog from the mobile hospital van into East Shelby Fire Hall, where it will be monitored until awake. (Right) Alycia Baran-Falbo of Cowlesville, founder of All-Star Animal Rescue, comforts a dog which has just been neutered at a clinic Wednesday at East Shelby Fire Hall.
Vanderlaan knows Allen Turner, a member of East Shelby Fire Company, and asked him if they might allow use of the fire hall for such an event. He brought it to a meeting and they approved it, even offering to donate the use.
Vanderlaan said there were a lot of laws for dogs, but none for cats. The Orleans County animal control officer is currently working on some new directions to govern stray cats, Vanderlaan said.
“We have sections in Albion which are infested with stray cats,” she said. “They are everywhere.”
She said the ideal solution is “TNR,” trap, neuter and release.
Any cats who are able to be socialized, All-Star Animal Rescue will try to get them adopted. Those who are truly feral have to be returned where they were caught, Baran-Falbo said.
Mike Fuller stands next to the mobile animal hospital parked outside the East Shelby Fire Hall’s truck bay, where a spaying/neutering clinic was taking place Wednesday by All-Star Animal Rescue of Cowlesville, in collaboration with Paws Animal Shelter of Albion.
In order to control the cat population, All-Star Animal Rescue seeks donations from businesses and the public.
The big problem, according to Baran-Falbo and Vanderlaan, is that neutering and spaying are so expensive, and most people can’t afford it. The cost to have a dog spayed at a veterinarian’s office is between $500 and $1,500, while the cost to spay a cat is between $300 and $600.
Donations allowed All-Star Animal Rescue to spay 26 cats and neuter six dogs on Wednesday at a reduced cost, with mobile veterinary services provided by Dr. Jennifer Graf from Whiskers to Tail Affordable Veterinary Services in Cowlesville.
Vanderlaan said they collected cans and bottles, in addition to seeking donations, to be able to afford Wednesday’s Clinic.
“We have dates available and if enough donations come in, we would like to have another clinic here in the future,” Baran-Falbo said.
Services they perform always include spaying or neutering, rabies shot and distemper vaccine when needed.
Vanderlaan also shared information about Shannon Blount’s efforts in Medina to control the over-population of cats. Blount is head of the Medina Team of Cat by Cat Inc. that strives to help control the feral cat population with targeted TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return) of community cats. For more information on Cat by Cat, click here.
Donations to support All-Star Animal Rescue and help fund a second clinic in Orleans County may be sent to them at 323 Kern Rd., Cowlesville, 14037; or by calling Baran-Falbo at (716) 208-8333 for instructions how pay online.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2025 at 4:25 pm
SHELBY – A wind energy developer has notified Shelby town officials it is withdrawing its applications for two turbines on South Gravel Road.
New Leaf Energy sent Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz a letter March 21, saying it won’t be pursuing the projects.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Town Board in reviewing and considering Community Wind for the area,” New Leaf senior project developer David Strong wrote to the town supervisor. He is based out of Troy, NY.
The proposals for the two turbines that peaked at 633 feet initially was proposed by Borrego Solar System Inc. Borrego spun off the development side of its business to ECP, which named the new company, New Leaf Energy.
New Leaf sought two turbines on Route 63, and said the turbines could produce enough power for 2,600 homes within the Shelby and Medina communities.
But Shelby town officials declined to create a wind overlay district needed for the project to move forward.
Borrego in February 2024 had two balloons up about 600 feet along Route 63 to show the height of two wind turbines proposed by the company. That height alarmed many members of the community. Many residents signed a petition opposing the project.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2025 at 8:31 pm
Construction of $400 million project expected to start 2026, be complete 2027
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jack Donelan, development manager for AES Corporation, speaks to the board of the Orleans Economic Development Agency this morning. Neil Habig, director for AES Corporation, is seated next to Donelan. Board members Craig Tuohey, by EDA sign, and Jeff Martin (back to camera) listen to Donelan’s comments.
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency today approved incentives for Hemlock Ridge Solar and the AES Corporation for its $400 million solar project covering 1,200 acres in barre and Shelby.
The Orleans EDA approved a sales tax abatement of $4,930,000 and an estimated mortgage tax abatement of $1,300,000. It also will be exempted from $63,583 in the local property tax.
Instead, the company will begin paying local governments nearly $40 million in a host community agreement over the next 30 years. The agreement starts with $900,000 the first year, which is $4,500 per megawatt in a 200 MW project. The amounts then increase 2 percent annually over 30 years.
The EDA also negotiated a host community agreement with the taxing jurisdictions with the project that is different than the usual payment in lieu of taxes plans that give companies a reduction in taxes.
Each taxing jurisdiction approved a host agreement that sets the following payments over 30 years to these taxing jurisdictions:
• The Town of Barre will receive $14,007,929 over 30 years for an annual average of $466,931, ranging from $295,200 in year 1 to $646,077 in year 30.
• The Town of Shelby will be paid $3,074,911 over 30 years for an annual average of $102,497, ranging from $64,800 in year 1 to $141,822 in year 30.
• Orleans County will be paid $7,923,242 over 30 years for an annual average of $264,108, ranging from $64,800 in year 1 to $141,822 in year 30.
• Albion Central School will be paid $10,407,330 over 30 years for an annual average of $346,911, ranging from $256,540 in year 1 to $455,575 in year 30.
• Oakfield-Alabama Central School will be paid $1,213,558 over 30 years for an annual average of $40,452, ranging from $29,914 in year 1 to $$53,123 in year 30.
• Medina Central School will be paid $2,363,633 over 30 years for an annual average of $78,754, ranging from $58,239 in year 1 to $103,423 in year 30.
AES also will pay $100,000 a year for 10 years to National Grid to help lower local electricity bills. That will be for $1 million total over 10 years.
The Orleans EDA also will be paid a 1.25 percent administration fee on a $400 million project or $4,519,804 with $750,000 upon execution of the project assistance agreement (within 30 days of the EDA board’s approval of the project) and then another $3,769,804 at the close of financing.
AES officials attended the meeting said they expect construction won’t start until 2026 to line up all the equipment, materials and contractors. The 200 megawatt facility is expected to operational in 2027.
AES detailed the expenses in a filing with the Orleans EDA. The total project costs are estimated at $400,150,000.
That includes building and land purchase, $150,000; site preparation, $10 million; new construction, $160 million; utilities & infrastructure, $30 million; and transportation access, $5 million.
The machinery and equipment is estimated at $190 million and includes solar modules at $98 million; solar racking/piles, $41 million; inverter, $11 million; wiring, $30 million; and HV equipment, $10 million.
Jack Donelan, development manager for AES Corporation, told the EDA board there will be a 7-foot-high agricultural style fence on the 1,200 acre perimeter. There will be a 7-foot-high chain-link fence around the electric substation, with a foot-high of barb wire.
AES estimates 264 workers will be needed for the construction. Once it’s done, 0.5 full-time-equivalent may only be needed at the site.
Donelan said AES will connect into the grid through the transmission lines that run along the southern part of Orleans County.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Patti Bushover speaks during a public hearing in the Town of Shelby on Tuesday about Hemlock Ridge Solar. Bushover lives on East Shelby Road and doesn’t want the solar panels so close to her home. Bushover said too much valuable farmland is being affected by solar projects locally. The public hearing was on the tax incentives for the project. The state has already approved the project and held its own hearing on the site plan and environmental impacts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 March 2025 at 1:47 pm
BARRE/SHELBY – The Orleans Economic Development Agency held public hearings in Shelby on Tuesday and Barre on Wednesday for the tax incentives being offered Hemlock Ridge Solar/AES for its $400 million solar project that would be 82 percent in Barre and 18 percent in Shelby.
The company is slated to receive $6,230,000 in tax abatements in year one. AES won’t have to pay $4,930,000 in sales tax or $1.3 million in the mortgage tax. It also will be exempted from $63,583 in the local property tax.
Instead, the company will begin paying local governments nearly $40 million in a host community agreement over the next 30 years. The agreement starts with $900,000 the first year, which is $4,500 per megawatt in a 200 MW project. The amounts then increase 2 percent annually over 30 years.
Map from AES: The 200 megawatt solar project in Barre and Shelby would be along Crane, Townline and Burns roads near the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
The Orleans EDA also will be paid a 1.25 percent administration fee on a $400 million project or $4,519,804 with $750,000 upon execution of the project assistance agreement (within 30 days of the EDA board’s approval of the project) and then another $3,769,804 at the close of financing.
The agreement includes the following payments over 30 years to these taxing jurisdictions:
The Town of Barre will receive $14,007,929 over 30 years for an annual average of $466,931, ranging from $295,200 in year 1 to $646,077 in year 30.
The Town of Shelby will be paid $3,074,911 over 30 years for an annual average of $102,497, ranging from $64,800 in year 1 to $141,822 in year 30.
Orleans County will be paid $7,923,242 over 30 years for an annual average of $264,108, ranging from $64,800 in year 1 to $141,822 in year 30.
Albion Central School will be paid $10,407,330 over 30 years for an annual average of $346,911, ranging from $256,540 in year 1 to $455,575 in year 30.
Oakfield-Alabama Central School will be paid $1,213,558 over 30 years for an annual average of $40,452, ranging from $29,914 in year 1 to $$53,123 in year 30.
Medina Central School will be paid $2,363,633 over 30 years for an annual average of $78,754, ranging from $58,239 in year 1 to $103,423 in year 30.
AES also will pay $100,000 a year for 10 years to National Grid to help lower local electricity bills. That will be for $1 million total over 10 years.
As a percentage of the funds for the taxing jurisdictions, Barre will receive 35.9 percent, Shelby at 7.9 percent, Orleans County at 20.3 percent, Albion Central School at 26.7 percent, Medina Central School at 6.1 percent, and Oakfield-Alabama Central School at 3.1 percent.
The total community payments include $39,989,603 over 30 years with $38,989,603 to taxing jurisdictions and $1 million to National Grid.
The EDA board of directors is scheduled to vote at 8 a.m. on Monday on the tax incentive plan.
Kirk Mathes, a member of the Barre Town Board, speaks at Wednesday’s hearing in Barre, which was only attended by a few people. Steve Harling of the Planning Board is at left. Mathes said the Orleans Economic Development Agency should have better advertised the hearing. The EDA said the notices were on the EDA website and the agency met its legal requirements by posting in the official town newspaper, The Daily News of Batavia. The Orleans Hub and The Lake Country Pennysaver don’t meet the requirement because they aren’t printed periodicals with paid subscriptions.
Provided photo: Pictured from left include Allen Turner, treasurer of the east Shelby Volunteer Fire Company; Debbie Taylor, East Shelby fire chief; Neely Kelley, senior manager for AES’s New York Stakeholder Relations Team; and Mike Fuller, East Shelby president.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2025 at 6:25 pm
EAST SHELBY – The AES Corporation presented the east Shelby Volunteer Fire Company with a $45,000 donation for 12 new turnout gear suits for firefighters.
AES will be the owner/operator of the proposed 200 MW Hemlock Ridge solar facility in Barre and Shelby. The company is expected to soon start clearing land of that project, which the facility becoming operational in about two years.
The new turnout gear are the protective clothing required by firefighters to shield them from extreme heat, flames and other hazards.
“These suits are essential equipment shielding our firefighters from extreme heat, flames, and other hazards, ensuring their safety in the field and compliance with New York State fire codes and regulations,” said Debbie Taylor, East Shelby fire chief. “We are grateful for our partnership with AES and its support of crucial emergency response efforts in East Shelby.”
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Dave Green, left, was presented with the President’s Award by East Shelby’s president, Mike Fuller. (Right) Josh Fuller was chosen Firefighter of the Year by East Shelby’s chief, Deb Taylor. Fuller also received the EMS Award from president Mike Fuller.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 March 2025 at 8:46 pm
EAST SHELBY – The East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company welcomed members and guests to its annual installation banquet Saturday night at East Shelby Fire Hall, where outstanding members were recognized, those recently lost were remembered and a 50-year member was honored.
The evening began with opening remarks by Dave Green and welcome by Ladies Auxiliary president Shirley Printup and Fire Company president Mike Fuller.
Officers of East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company took the oath of office administered by Dale Watts, a 50-year member of Shelby Fire Company, at the annual banquet Saturday night. In front, beginning with Deb Taylor (in plaid shirt), chief, are Karen Bracey, secretary; Kirk Zinkievich, vice president; and Mike Fuller, president, followed by Dennis MacDonald and Alan Lonnen, trustees; and David Green, steward. Others at left are Alan Turner, treasurer; Steve Wolters, fire police chief; Jeff Taylor, 3rd assistant chief; Matt Grimes, lieutenant; Todd Ralph, safety/training officer; Devin Taylor, 1st assistant chief; and Jared Zinkievich, captain.
Before giving the invocation, chaplain Rose Allen asked for a moment of silence to remember recently lost Auxiliary members Fonda Carr and Margaret Reigle.
Elaine Watts, president of Shelby Volunteer Ladies Auxiliary, installed officers of the Ladies Auxiliary, which are president Shirley Printup, vice president Leona Weese, secretary Sawyer Green, treasurer Sharlene Pratt, trustees Bronwyn Green, Sue Green and Pat Vader and chaplain Rose Allen.
Fire company executive officers installed by Dale Watts, a 50-year member of Shelby Fire Company, are president Mike Fuller, vice president Kirk Zinkievich, secretary Karen Bracey, treasurer Allen Turner, steward Dave Green and trustees Dennis MacDonald, Norm Behrend, Gordon Reigle and Alan Lonnen.
Line officers installed were chief, Deb Taylor, 1st assistant chief Devin Taylor, 2nd assistant chief Andy Beach, 3rd assistant chief Jeff Taylor, captain Jared Zinkievich, lieutenant Matt Grimes, fire police chief Steve Wolter, EMS officers Sue Behrend and Mike Fuller and safety/training officer Todd Ralph.
Watts joked he bet the firemen remembered when banquets were on Friday nights, and they anticipated bingo on Saturday nights.
In an age where fire companies are struggling to get new members, it was announced the auxiliary had welcomed five new members and the fire company seven. New auxiliary members are Cassandra Harden, Emily Oberther, Natalie Printup, Leslie Green and Jessie Allen. New members of the fire company are Mike Green, Dave Haas, Logan Gardner, David Bell, Nathan Fuller, Mike Hamilton and Brennan Zinkievich.
“When their training is complete this year, we will have six new interior firefighters,” Fuller said.
Kirk Zinkievich, holds his certificate for 40 years of membership in the East Shelby Fire Company. With him, from left, are fire chief Deb Taylor, Bill Eick representing Orleans County Legislature, fire company president Mike Fuller and Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
The awards ceremony began with Mike Fuller presenting his President’s Award.
“I’ve been president four or five years and it’s always hard to choose,” Fuller said. “But this person is well known and a point man or assistant point man on most of our events. He’s our ‘go-to’ man on little things and big things. He’s also our steward, a firefighter and certified first responder. This committed person is my friend, Dave Green.”
In presenting the EMS Award, Fuller said he and Sue Behrend share leadership, teaching basic EMT and first responder duties.
“This person took the bull by the horns when he joined,” Fuller said. “He took the training class and passed it and is now a certified EMT. It is Josh Fuller.”
Deb Taylor handed out certificates recognizing membership of five to 40 years. Recipients were Mike Hinkley, Megan Perkins, Scott Barber and Ben Schiffer, 5 years; Andy Beach, 15; Jackie Keller and Deb Taylor, 20; Rusty Hoffmeister, 25; Todd Ralph, 25; Kirk Zinkievich 40; and James Ralph, 40.
Dave Morien was presented with this mounted axe in honor of 50 years of membership in the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. Holding the axe are fire chief Deb Taylor and company president Mike Fuller.
Dave Morien received special recognition for 50 years of membership, and was presented with a large wooden plaque with a mounted axe.
Morien said he first joined the fire company when Jack Hassall approached him and asked if he had joined yet.
“So I joined,” Morien said. “It is a great way to get to know people in the area.”
He has served as first assistant chief, secretary, treasurer and fire police chief.
Taylor next announced the winner of her Chief’s Award.
“This person has been in the department for many years,” she said. “If we needed help, we just had to call or text him. He plays a big role here. It’s an honor and a privilege to present this award to Mike Fuller.
Taylor chose Josh Fuller as recipient of the Firefighter of the Year award.
“He has shown tremendous dedication to the fire company,” Taylor said. “He completed his EMT training and also helped bring in more members.”
Elaine Watts, president of Shelby Center Ladies Auxiliary, standing at right, installs officers of the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company Saturday night. From left are secretary Sawyer Green, president Shirley Printup, treasurer Sharlene Pratt, vice president Leona Weese, and trustees Sue Green, Pat Vader and Rose Allen.
Shirley Printup took the podium to present awards to ladies in the auxiliary and acknowledge outgoing members – president, Sawyer Green, treasurer Debbie Green and trustee Sue Green.
Certificates for years of membership were presented to Amber Draper and Lynn Woodruff, 5; Megan Wolter, 15; and Sue Zinkievich, 50 years. Zinkievich, who was in Florida and could not attend, also received a special gift and proclamations from local officials. Final recognition was paid to Doris Antinore for 55 years.
Sawyer Green, left, and Shirley Printup, representing the East Shelby Ladies’ Auxiliary, present president Mike Fuller with a check for $10,000 toward new gear.
Printup also stated the hardest part of her job was having to pick one person for her President’s Award. Her choice was Leona Weese, a member who is fairly new, but stepped right in and took over a new function.
The final gift was a check presented to Mike Fuller by Printup and Sawyer Green from the auxiliary.
“It is our custom to give the firemen a gift every year,” Printup said. “This year they said they really needed new gear, so we are giving them a check for $10,000 toward that new gear.”
Dave Green then called Elaine Newton to the front to receive his Steward’s Award. Fighting off tears, he hugged her and explained how active she had been during 50 years of membership, including the last year when, in spite of dealing with a very difficult time and her husband’s death, she continued to be a tremendous help to the fire company.
Several members, including Morien, received proclamations from Shelby town board and representatives of Orleans County Legislature, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Senator Rob Ortt and FASNY.
The evening also included dinner catered by Donna Eick.
