By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 February 2020 at 3:14 pm
MEDINA – The Orleans Economic Development Agency approved a sales tax break on the $1.5 million in furnishings and kitchen equipment at the 30,000-square-foot, three-story site at 444 Main St., which is being turned into a restaurant, 10-room hotel and events center.
The sales tax exemption will save Bent’s Opera House LLC $120,875 in sales tax on $1,550,911 in expenditures, which includes $821,869 in kitchen equipment and restaurant furnishings, $499,491 in hotel furnishings and fixtures, and $120,875 on furnishings and fixtures at the events center on the top floor.
In paperwork filed with the Orleans EDA, Bent’s listed a target completion date for the project for this coming September. Bent’s expects to create 22 jobs at the site and draw customers from Rochester, Buffalo, Canada and nearby Niagara County, as well as other states and European countries. The jobs will pay an average of $43,318 a year, according to the Bent’s application with the EDA.
The Bent’s redevelopment is led by Medina businessman Roger Hungerford.
“The event center is going to provide a venue that is unparalleled in the United States given the fact that it is a renovation of a 155-year-old opera house,” Bent’s officials stated in the EDA filing.
The EDA said Bent’s qualified for EDA assistance because the site will be a tourism draw with a high-end farm-to-table restaurant, 10 unique hotel rooms, and an event space for up to 180 people.
The door is open for the many construction workers who have been working to save the Bent’s Opera House and transform it into its new purpose as a restaurant, hotel and events center.
The developer hasn’t sought any other EDA assistance for the project, including a discounted phased-in property tax through a PILOT or a sales tax abatement for construction materials.
The property previously was tax exempt when it was owned by the Orleans Renaissance Group. Now it is generating property taxes for the Village of Medina, Town of Ridgeway, Orleans County and Medina school district.
In an application with the EDA, Bent’s officials said the events center will host concerts, weddings and receptions, shows and speakers.
“Grand chandeliers will draw people’s eyes up to the restored, decorative ceiling on the third floor,” wrote Lisa Tombari, director of historic properties and operations for Talis Equity, a Hungerford company. “The entire third floor is being renovated, leaving the stage and stage side boxes with their original decorative wood and trim.”
The stairs from the second to third floor are the original from when the opera house was built in 1865. The hardwood floors will be restored for the events center.
On the second floor, where there will be 10 hotel rooms, many of the original doors, doorways, window trim, hardwood floors and ticket booth will remain intact and restored to their original beauty, Tombari wrote.
The farm-to-table restaurant will be open seven days a week with the bar area having room for 20 people and the restaurant seating approximately 55.
“While our intent is to preserve as much as possible, the first floor of the building was most recently a bank and most original items have been removed long ago,” Tombari said in the application. “We are replacing the windows and doors to look like the originals, but at the same time will be energy efficient.”
BATAVIA – Nate McMurray, the Democratic candidate in NY-27, issued the following statement in response to receiving unanimous support on Thursday from all eight county Democratic Party chairs for the special election on April 28 for the 27th Congressional District.
“I am putting my full heart into this race,” McMurray said. “We all know this election is critical because we aren’t just sending a message to New York, we are sending a message to the entire country to say that we don’t want ‘politics as usual.’ We don’t need another ‘Rich Chris’ using this position to make deals for themselves and their companies. We need representation and a message that includes everyone. We need to give the people of NY-27 a voice.”
“Nate was our person from the start,” said Michael Plitt, chairman of the Genesee County Democrats. “His platform shows that he knows exactly what our district needs. He’s going to protect social security. He’s going to improve healthcare. After years of not having someone who represented our interests, Nate is someone who finally can.”
“I can tell you that Nate McMurray has created a grassroots movement here and has demonstrated understanding and concern for the residents of Wyoming County and beyond. But it’s more than that. He has reminded all of us that Liberty is a precious thing , not to be buried but held up to the light every day of our lives and when Nate McMurray goes to Washington, we know he will do that very thing,” said Cindy Appleton, County Chair of Wyoming County Democrats.
“Last night we ratified what we have known for a very long time: Nate McMurray is our candidate. We’ve been united behind him for over two years because he works like no one else we’ve ever seen to bring true representation to NY 27,” said Judith Hunter, County Chair of Livingston County Democrats. “Unbelievably, the Republican powers that be have decided for the third time in the last dozen years that what this district needs is a rich guy named Chris who can’t possibly understand what life is like for the ordinary voters of the 27th, despite the fact that the previous two times ended very badly. Unlike his opponent, Nate McMurray gets it.”
“A tough and well-deserving candidate,” said Brittaney Wells, County Chair of Monroe County Democrats, “Nate McMurray was officially designated last night by the Monroe County Democratic Committee for the Special Election in NY-27. The MCDC has complete faith that Nate will uphold his values as a fighter for families and a defender of the United States and the communities he will represent.”
Jay Zona, County Chair of Niagara County Democrats, said, “Niagara County was one of the first counties to get on board with Nate for this special election. He performed very well here in the 2018 election as a new name and we are looking forward to getting his message out.”
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced an additional $15 million is available to help eligible New Yorkers facing a home heating emergency. Starting Tuesday, February 18, households can apply for a second emergency benefit through the Home Energy Assistance Program – or HEAP – if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having their utility service shut off and have already received assistance from HEAP this winter.
Additionally, the deadline to apply for both regular and emergency HEAP benefits has been extended until April 24. With this additional funding, eligible households could receive up to $2,200 from HEAP to help defray the cost of heating their home this winter.
“As temperatures continue to drop in every corner of the state, more and more New Yorkers are struggling with the high cost of heating their homes,” Governor Cuomo said. “This additional funding will help ensure the most vulnerable among us will be able to stay warm this winter and I encourage anyone in need of help paying their heating bills to apply for this critical assistance.”
Households are ordinarily only eligible to receive one regular HEAP benefit each winter, and then one emergency HEAP benefit in the event of an energy crisis. Beginning Tuesday, households that have already received a regular and emergency benefit during this HEAP season will be able to apply for additional assistance if they are faced with the possibility of having a utility shut off or running out of heating fuel without the available resources to replenish it.
Statewide demand for HEAP remains high. So far this winter more than 1.2 million households have received a regular HEAP benefit, with more than 40,000 of those also receiving an emergency HEAP benefit.
The amount a household receives from HEAP depends on their income, household size and how the home is heated. A family of four can have a household income of up to $57,564 per year, or $4,797 per month, and still qualify for help.
Overseen by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, applications for emergency HEAP are accepted at local departments of social services in person or by telephone.
For information about HEAP in Orleans County, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 February 2020 at 10:49 am
BOMET will buy 10 acres of Medina Business Park for project on Bates Road
MEDINA – A Canadian company that operates an electronics recycling operation in Albion is planning to build a new 52,000-square-foot facility in Medina.
BOMET Recovery in Medina will differ from BOMET Recycling in Albion. The new operation is “remanufacturing” of plastics, while the Albion site is focused on recycling.
Construction of the new manufacturing plant could start this year and would be located across from Western New York Energy’s ethanol plant on Bates Road. The Orleans Economic Development Agency intends to sell 10 acres of the land for $200,000 to the Canadian company with is led by Zhan “Bo” Zhang. BOMET is based in Cambridge, Ontario.
He sent a non-binding letter of intent to the EDA on Feb. 12 about purchasing the land in the business park at $20,000 per acre.
BOMET also discussed the project last month with the Village of Medina Planning Board. A final site plan still needs to go through the Planning Board.
Jim Whipple, chief executive officer of the Orleans EDA, said the Medina site would likely have 20-25 employees when it’s up and running.
The EDA said BOMET has proven to be a good employer in the county. The company in 2013 bought a warehouse on McKinstry Street in Albion for $176,000. That building had been vacant for about a decade.
BOMET did significant renovations including a new roof at the property, where electronics are recycled.
Hail and wind ruined big chunk of apple crop in Knowlesville
Orleans County farmers and small businesses hurt by an Aug. 16 hail and wind storm are encouraged to seek low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBA announced it is making Working Capital Disaster Loans available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations located in New York as a result of hail on August 15-16.
The loans are available in the following counties: Cayuga, Cortland, Genesee, Madison, Monroe, Niagara Onondaga, Orleans and Oswego in New York, the SBA announced.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at Disasterloan.sba.gov.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Oct. 5, 2020.
Photo by Tom Rivers: A utility pole was knocked down by strong winds on Aug. 16 in Carlton on Winding Road, near Lake Ontario, just north of Kuckville.
Press Release, International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board
Lake Ontario is again near record highs for this time of year and the risk of high levels this spring remains elevated. While considerable uncertainty in projections for spring still exists, the International Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River Board is providing advanced notice so communities can begin planning for a foreseeable Lake Ontario peak of 75.5 m (247.7 feet) or higher in 2020.
The Board continues to deviate from Plan 2014 and maximize outflows as it removes as much water from Lake Ontario as conditions allow to reduce the risk of high water throughout the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system this spring.
All of the other Great Lakes are above record high water levels for this time of year. Despite record outflows in recent weeks, Lake Ontario’s level is only slightly below seasonal record-highs, behind only the levels recorded in mid-February during the previous high water years of 1952 and 1973, and at similar levels to those seen at this time in 1978 and 1993.
Given the high levels across the Great Lakes basin currently, high waters are a distinct possibility again on Lake Ontario, in the 1000 Islands and along the lower St. Lawrence River in Quebec this spring.
Ice conditions along the St. Lawrence may continue to limit flows over the next few weeks of winter. High outflows will continue to be released to the extent possible in response to the high waters. This action will continue to increase levels in Quebec, and also draw down water levels on Lake St. Lawrence, where extremely low water levels are expected to return.
The Board will continue to examine outflow strategies for late spring that may result in further exceptions to the limits for navigation (L Limit) and flooding (F Limit), while weighing the value of these exceptions against the cost of their impacts. All high-outflow strategies that deviate above Plan 2014 flows will depend on future weather events that impact downstream capacity, such as the timing of spring snowmelt and precipitation.
In the meantime, the Board is taking every opportunity to continue to release high outflows to help reduce the risk of high water whenever weather and ice conditions and local inflows to the lower St. Lawrence River permit. This remains a challenging balancing act that the Board’s technical staff are coordinating daily. A total of 28 flow changes proved necessary in January alone. The water level forecasts are adjusted weekly and reflect the probability of continued high water levels on Lake Ontario.
The Board has recently created a new website page focused on the recent high-water events (click here). All high-water related materials are now in one place. This was a recommendation in the Province of Ontario’s Special Advisor’s report on flooding.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2020 at 4:48 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Peebles location at the Route 31 plaza in Albion will have its grand opening on Tuesday as a Gordmans store.
ALBION – Gordmans will celebrate its grand opening on Tuesday at the former Peebles store at the Route 31 plaza in Albion.
The Peebles store is changing over to a Gordmans, a retailer with designer name brand apparel, home decor, gifts, fragrances, clothing and other items.
Gordmans and Peebles are both owned by Stage Stores, with Stage buying Gordmans in April 2017. Peebles opened in the Albion plaza in 2007.
Gordmans has switched over 13 former Peebles stores in New York. They will all have their grand opening on Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m.
Those New York locations include Albion, Geneseo, Geneva, Gouverneur, Hornell, Hudson, Johnstown, Malone, Newark, Ogdensburg, Oneida, Penn Yan and Sidney.
At the ribbon cutting ceremonies, Gordmans will donate $1,000 to a local school at each of the 13 stores.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today reminded all New Yorkers to take recommended precautions to protect themselves from the flu as new numbers released today show flu activity still has not reached its peak this season.
Flu cases in New York this season are expected to set record-high levels since the New York State Department of Health began tracking flu cases during the 1998-99 season.
“As flu season has not yet peaked across New York, I urge everyone to remain vigilant and take simple precautions to protect themselves and their families,” Governor Cuomo said. “I encourage all New Yorkers older than six months to get their flu shot – it’s not too late.”
The latest influenza surveillance report for the week ending February 8th shows seasonal flu activity continues to be widespread across New York State for the 11th consecutive week.
As indicated in the report, there were 17,233 laboratory-confirmed flu cases reported to the State Department of Health, the second highest weekly total since the 1998-1999 flu season. That includes 31 cases in Orleans County, 77 in Genesee and 87 in Wyoming County.
The most lab-confirmed influenza cases reported during a single week in a flu season was 18,252 in 2017-18. There have been a total of 106,824 lab-confirmed cases reported in New York State this season, with three flu-associated pediatric deaths. Last week, 1,993 New Yorkers were hospitalized with lab-confirmed influenza. So far this season, there have been 15,541 flu-related hospitalizations.
“While flu activity is higher than usual this season and it has not yet peaked, taking basic preventive steps such as washing hands often, covering a cough or sneeze with your arm, and staying home when experiencing flu-like symptoms, will help prevent the spread of the flu,” said Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.
On January 3, the State Department of Health issued a statewide health advisory alerting healthcare providers to the dramatic increase in flu activity across New York State.
The State Health Department recommends and urges that everyone six months of age or older receive an influenza vaccination. In addition, everyday preventative actions can help stop the spread of flu and other respiratory viruses:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2020 at 2:42 pm
Tenants committed for about half of the 41 senior apartments
HOLLEY – The move-in date for the 41 senior apartments at the former Holley High School has been pushed back about a month to mid-March while contractors put the finishing touches on the ambitious project.
Home Leasing in Rochester started construction in November 2018 on a $17 million transformation of the former school, turning it into 41 apartments and the village offices for Holley.
The apartments will include one studio, 35 one-bedrooms, and five two-bedroom apartments. Home Leasing has tenants committed for about half of the apartments so far.
The company will offer tours of the school for community members from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 20. To go on the tour, no RSVPs are needed, but people should sign in that day at the American Legion at 5 Wright St. There will be tours every half hour with the last one at 6 p.m.
Home Leasing is still accepting applications for the apartments. For more information, click here.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 February 2020 at 10:36 am
The Roy-Hart, Barker and Lyndonville School Districts have officially announced they will field a merged eight man varsity football team for the upcoming season according to an Orleans/Niagara BOCES press release.
“Through collaboration, the three schools will be able to provide the opportunity for students to continue to play football,” said Lyndonville Superintendent Jason Smith. “We are optimistic about the merger and would like to thank each Board of Education for their support.”
Roy-Hart will serve as the host school, providing coaching and facilities. Athletes from Barker and Lyndonville will be bused to Roy-Hart for all practices and games. Joe Suhr, a teacher at Lyndonville, was appointed head coach of the varsity team.
With this merger the districts also plan a junior varsity/modified team for students in grades seven through nine. If overall participation increases, the schools would be willing to petition to become an 11 man varsity team.
This past season Roy-Hart fielded only a varsity football team while players from Barker and Lyndonville competed on a merged team with Medina.
However low participation numbers from Barker and Lyndonville led Medina to opt to return to playing alone. That situation set up the opportunity for Roy-Hart to work with Barker and Lyndonville to form a merged football program which became a reality this week with the approval by each of the three districts Board of Education.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2020 at 9:13 am
MEDINA – Contractors were a steady presence on Maple Ridge Road last summer and fall, building a 39,000-square-foot hotel with 58 rooms.
The project was about 80 percent complete until construction largely stopped just before Christmas when the builder wasn’t getting paid.
A financing holdup is expected to soon be resolved with construction to resume and the hotel likely to open in the summer.
The Small Business Administration approved a loan for the project last March, but then changed its rules in June or July, unbeknownst to the developer or Generations Bank, which is providing $7.3 million in loans for the project, said Andina Barone, a spokeswoman for the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
The Generations Bank money is contingent on the SBA loan. With the SBA financing held up that has also put the brakes on the Generations funding, Barone said.
The SBA changed its policy for loaning to franchises with management contracts. Cobblestone Suites is owned by the Medina Hospitality Group, which is headed by Todd “Booka” Hanes of St. Mary’s, Pa.
He contracts with WHG Companies to manage the hotel. Brian Wogernesem, President/CEO of Cobblestone Suites, also owns WHG.
Cobblestone Suites has 125 hotels in small towns in several states, with another 75 projects in development. The company’s hotels range in size from 31 to 73 rooms, with 45 the average size, Wogernesem said on May 16 during a ribbon-cutting celebration in Medina. This is Cobblestone’s first project in New York.
Cobblestone Suites is Orleans County’s first branded hotel. The Orleans EDA worked for about five years to bring the project to the community, seeing the hotel as a way to boost tourism revenue and keep visitors in the county longer, which would help local businesses.
“Everyone at the IDA, the board, the developers and the brand knocked themselves out to bring Cobblestone to Orleans County and New York,” Barone said. “It’s unfortunate the developers have encountered so many obstacles doing business in New York State.”
Cobblestone Suites has carved a niche with a “mid-scale product” that isn’t an economy hotel or a “mom and pop” operation, Wogernesem said.
The hotels in the small towns have a corporate base with local businesses, family events (weddings and funerals), and tourists. The big hotel chains don’t operate in small towns, he said.
The SBA on Jan. 23 agreed to give Cobblestone Suites an exemption on the financing policy, Barone said. The loan signing hasn’t taken place yet for the $1.9 million from the SBA.
“We expect a closing date soon,” Hanes said. “We’ll have a better idea of a completion schedule for the hotel after we see the revised construction schedule being submitting this week in order to set the loan closing. The hotel is 80 percent complete.”
Cobblestone Suites works with BriMark Builders from Wisconsin. That company filed liens on Oct. 28 and Nov. 25 against the project for nearly $2.9 million for the costs of materials, furnishings and labor.
“What is on paper has more to do with the delay in the SBA loan, not acrimony,” Hanes said. “The financing through Generations Bank was contingent upon the SBA loan, so all the financing has been held up as a result – and the project is 80 percent complete. This has not been an easy situation, but we have had a longstanding and productive relationship with everyone BriMark and have no reason to believe that will not continue.”
He said the legal filing with the liens was “a necessary precaution for everyone involved – Medina Hospitality and BriMark.”
Hanes said Medina Hospitality and BriMark are “working together in the best interest of the project.”
He is optimistic the hotel will be a popular venue once it opens.
“I’m on Cobblestone’s advisory board and immediately knew this hotel will be a great fit for Orleans County,” he said. “We love the area and can’t wait to be a part of the community.”
Provided photo: Pictured from left include: NY Beef Producers’ Association President Phil Trowbridge, SK Herefords partners Phil & Dawn Keppler, New York Beef Council Executive Director Jean O’Toole, and SK Herefords partner Dave Schubel.
Press Release, New York Beef Council
MEDINA – SK Herefords, LLC in Medina was presented with the Environmental Stewardship Award at the New York Beef Producers’ Association 2020 Annual Winter Conference.
This award was presented during the council’s annual meeting in Syracuse. The award was established to recognize the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of a New York beef producer.
The winner of this award is commended for their commitment to protecting the environment and improving fish and wildlife habitats while operating profitable cattle operations. The winner will be nominated for regional recognition through the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
SK Herefords is a family cattle operation which includes a long-standing partnership between Dave Schubel, Dawn & Phil Keppler, and Alana Welker and family. The operation consists of approximately 1,200 acres of pasture, row crops, and woodland. SK Herefords calves nearly 250 females every spring.
SK Herefords produces feed for their cattle on their farm, growing acres of corn hay and pasture. The corn is harvested for grain or chopped for silage for the cows to eat during the winter. As big believers in planting cover crops and following no till practices for almost four decades, SK Herefords covers their corn fields in cereal rye after harvesting.
“It really helps cut down on erosion and improve the health of our soil,” Phil Keppler said.
SK Herefords has passionately worked to develop the wildlife on their farm. Woodlot management techniques are implemented to optimize forest health, productivity and protective habitat.
Fostering healthy pasture and crop land is important to them, as is providing natural habitat for birds. In fact, each year hay harvest is delayed allowing grass nesting songbirds to fledge out. A parcel of hay ground is left unharvested each year to provide a protected habitat for the birds. The farm is located within the Atlantic flyway. Fostering habitats for the birds, this flyway means that a visit to the farm can provide opportunity to see dozens of different species of birds throughout the year during migration seasons.
In addition, the Oak Orchard Creek, part of the Great Lakes Ontario Watershed, runs through the farm. Buffer zones have been implemented to protect the water from runoff and cattle have been fenced out of the creek. These management practices are essential in assuring the quality of the water which feeds into a world-class trout fishery, a popular recreation area for brown and rainbow trout.
Implementing new practices and approaches on the farm is an important cornerstone of the farm philosophy at SK Herefords. When asked what Phil’s view on the future of agriculture was and how creativity plays into it, he shared, “Creativity is desperately needed in agriculture, let’s focus on solutions, let’s get creative, that’s what makes things work. Creativity helps you look at things not as being a problem, but helps you find the solution and that’s the exciting thing. Creativity gives you hope and that is the most important thing in life-hope.”
The common trait among all Environmental Stewardship Award winners is the desire to leave the land in better shape for future generations while also inspiring the next generation of land stewards. SK Herefords LLC. exemplifies these traits. The New York Beef Council and New York Beef Producers’ Association are thrilled to honor this exemplary farm.
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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2020 at 5:17 pm
Albion’s candidates were picked last month at party caucuses
The slates are set for the March 18 village elections in Albion, Lyndonville and Medina. Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to submit petitions for the election.
• In Albion, the Republican and Democratic parties held caucuses to pick candidates on Jan. 28. Albion has two four-year seats open on the Village Board, the positions currently filled by Mattea Navarra-Molisani and incumbent Peter Sidari. Neither is seeking re-election.
Republicans at their caucus nominated Kevin Sheehan, a former trustee, and Christopher Barry to run for the Village Board. The Democratic Party nominated Maurice Taylor.
There was still an opportunity for an candidate to submit petitions to run in the election but no one turned in petitions by the deadline on Tuesday, Village Clerk Linda Babcock said.
Voting is at the Village Hall from noon to 9 p.m.
• Lyndonville has three four-year positions open on the Village Board, including the mayor’s position, currently held by John Belson.
Trustee seats currently held by Danny Woodward and Andrew Cousins will also be on the ballot.
Belson and Woodward both are running again for the same positions. They are the only candidates. Belson will be on the ballot under the “John Belson Party” and Woodward is running under “The People Party.”
Cousins isn’t seeking re-election. His spot will be filled by the village resident who gets the most write-ins votes.
Voting is at the Village Hall from noon to 9 p.m.
• Medina also has three positions up for elections, including the mayor’s position currently held by Michael Sidari and the trustee positions currently filled by Marguerite Sherman and Tim Elliott.
All three are seeking re-election to the same positions. They are running under “The Village Party.”
Charles Hartway also is running for trustee. He is running under “The Silent Majority” party.
Voting in Medina is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center, the former railroad depot on West Avenue.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2020 at 3:22 pm
ELBA — A Knowlesville woman who recently fought cancer said a $1 million winning lottery ticket will pay off medical bills and help her start a college or career fund for her three children.
Nichole Williams, 30, was introduced today as a lotto winner by New York Lottery personality Yolanda Vega. Williams didn’t actually buy the winning scratch-off ticket from the Triple Double 777 Red Hot game.
It was given to her by a friend from Pembroke for Williams’ 30th birthday. She celebrated with family and friends on Jan. 11 at the VFW in Medina. Williams said she had only bought two lottery tickets in her life – both duds.
Her friend bought her four tickets for her birthday. Williams scratched them off the next day at her home in Knowlesville. The first two weren’t winners. On the third one, Williams won $5 and that made her happy.
Nichole Williams celebrates winning the big prize with New York Lottery personality Yolanda Vega.
When she scratched off the fourth ticket, she was confused. She isn’t familiar with the scratch-off games. The rules said if you get a row of three symbols that all match, you win the prize next to the symbols. Williams scratched off three lightning bolts. Next to those symbols it said, “JACKPOT 1 million.”
She looked at the ticket, flipping it over several times, for about 20 minutes. Finally, she called her father, an Orleans County deputy sheriff and frequent lottery player. She asked him if he thought she had won.
Her father wasn’t familiar with the game, but he thought it sounded like a winner. She went to see him and he checked the game’s rules. They felt more convinced the ticket was a jackpot winner.
Williams took the ticket to the Crosby’s in Albion and received confirmation it won the biggest prize. The next day she went to the Lottery’s office in Buffalo to claim the jackpot.
“It’s definitely a blessing,” Williams told reporters today. “It’s definitely a huge weight lifted off my shoulders that I can provide college for my kids or if they don’t want to go to college we can put it towards a tech school or whatever else they want to do.”
Nichole Williams is interviewed by Yolanda Vega. Williams works at the Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina and plans to continue in the job.
Williams and her husband Rusty have three children, ages 5, 7 and 11. About a year ago in January she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. After seven surgeries she was declared in remission. But that wasn’t before going into septic shock.
She appreciates the care she received at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo. She decided to pursue a career helping patients.
Williams is currently working at the Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina. She is a unit assistant and expects to be a certified nursing assistant in about month. She has no plans to stop working.
“I love my job,” she said. “I love taking care of the residents there.”
Her husband is a truck driver. They were living in Maryland before moving to Orleans County about three years ago to be closer to family and much more affordable housing. They said it was too costly to raise a family in Maryland.
Williams accepted a lump sum of $537,440. She is grateful for her friend buying the lottery ticket. Williams offered the friend some of the winnings, but the friend refused, telling Williams she deserves it.
“I told them right away,” she said about calling her friend to share the news. “They were extremely happy for me.”
(Click here to see a video of Nichole Williams with Yolanda Vega at Crosby’s in Elba.)
Williams’ winning ticket shows three lightning bolts in the top right line, followed by “JACKPOT” as the prize.
Johnson Creek, Oak Orchard among 20 channels to get attention
File photo by Tom Rivers – A boat passes through the Oak Orchard Harbor. Sediment builds up in the channel which can make it difficult for larger boats to use the harbor.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that 20 harbors on the southshore of Lake Ontario will be dredged, including Johnson Creek in Carlton near Lakeside Beach State Park and the Oak Orchard Harbor at Point Breeze.
The Oak Orchard Harbor dredging is scheduled to start in June 2021 and the Johnson Creek Harbor will get attention in July 2021.
The $15 million regional dredging initiative is part of the State’s $300 million effort to repair and build resiliency in communities recovering from damage caused by high water levels and flooding.
The governor made the announcement during a stop at Sandy Pond in Oswego County, where a $600,000 REDI award for the North Sandy Pond Resiliency Project will help the Town of Sandy Creek strengthen the barrier bar dividing Sandy Pond and Lake Ontario. The next round of dredging to commence at Blind Sodus Bay, Wayne County, in April, Cuomo said.
“New Yorkers living and working along the shorelines of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are still reeling from last year’s record flooding that devastated their communities,” Cuomo said.
The full lists of harbors to be dredged includes:
Orleans County: Oak Orchard Harbor, Johnson Creek
Niagara County: Wilson, Olcott Harbor
Monroe County: Sandy Creek, Braddock Bay, Long Pond Outlet, Irondequoit Bay
Wayne County: Port Bay, Blind Sodus Bay, Bear Creek Harbor, Pultneyville, East Bay
Cayuga County: Little Sodus Bay
Jefferson County: Clayton French Creek Marina, Henderson “The Cut”
St. Lawrence County: Ogdensburg “City Front Channel,” Morristown Navigation Channel
The first REDI project completed is at Mexico Point State Park in Oswego County where record-high water levels at Lake Ontario in 2017 and again in 2019 caused devastating damage to the shoreline.
In just four weeks, 435 linear feet of shoreline was stabilized with the placement of 3,200 tons of stone. The project, which was completed ahead of schedule on Feb. 6, will preserve public access to Lake Ontario at Mexico Point Park and protect the local economy through the continued attraction of visitors.
At a Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative Conference in Albany in November 2019, Cuomo introduced the $15 million Regional Dredging Project to the representatives of communities slated to receive REDI grants, letting them know that later that month field teams would be identifying areas to be dredged and developing a timeline for implementation.
Each dredging project is targeted to be complete no more than four months from its start date, with dredging expected to commence in:
• April 2020 at Blind Sodus Bay
• September 2020 at East Bay and North Sandy Pond Inlet
• October 2020 at Braddock Bay, Pultneyville and Little Sodus Bay
• April 2021 at Sandy Creek
• June 2021 at Olcott Harbor, Oak Orchard Harbor and Wilson
• July 2021 at Irondequoit Bay, Long Pond Outlet, Bear Creek Harbor, Henderson “The Cut,” Johnson Creek, Salmon River/Port Ontario, Ogdensburg “City Front” Channel, Morristown Navigation Channel and Clayton French Creek Marine.
