Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – A tractor trailer went through the intersection at routes 98 and 31A without stopping, and caused an accident with a dump truck from Keeler Construction, a state trooper said at the scene.

The accident at about 1:50 p.m. caused two utility poles to break. National Grid is on scene to replace the poles.

None of the drivers were injured in the accident.

The dump truck from Keeler Construction was headed westbound on 31A and swerved and avoided causing major damage to the tractor trailer. The dump truck is shown at the southwest corner of the intersection.

Albion firefighters Darryl Szklany and Dustin Pahura direct traffic at the intersection of routes 98 and 31A.

Press Release and photos from Kendall Central School

KENDALL – Kendall fourth grade teacher Justin Staebell recently received a Golden Apple Award. He was surprised by WROC-TV (Channel 8) News Anchor Lia Lando on Jan. 9 with his award.

Justin Staebell is pictured with Anthony Seymour, who nominated his teacher for the award.

The Golden Apple Award recognizes teachers making a difference in their communities. The segment airs weekly on WROC-TV and Staebell’s episode aired on Jan. 21. Click here to see it.

Staebell was nominated for the award by student Anthony Seymour. Anthony, with the help of his mother, nominated Staebell for helping him make the transition to a new school and classroom easier.

“Anthony’s ability to talk to everyone in class helped him fit in this year,” said Staebell. “He came in with a smile every day and ready to learn, so he made his own transition easy.”

Staebell was very surprised to receive the award. He said the last time a teacher at Kendall Elementary School received this award was close to 20 years ago, but he thought that would be a nice goal to achieve for himself someday. He comes from a family of educators and has five children of his own.

“This award is just as much about the kids the teacher has as the teacher himself,” he said.

He told his class the story of a student that he tutored every day one summer.

“She hated it and would cry every day,” he said. “She really struggled that year.”

He recently ran into her parent, who told him how she was getting ready to graduate college this year and become a nurse.

“Her father told me, ‘You made her feel like she could do it, and she has,’” he said. “That story makes me feel great to know that I had an impact on her. I am so proud of her.”

Staebell is often asked by graduating seniors to attend their commencement ceremonies, which demonstrates the impact he has on students who have long left his fourth grade class.

At the January Student of the Month assembly, Principal Heather Eysaman presented Staebell with an actual golden apple.

“I’m just one of the apples on a golden tree here at Kendall Elementary,” he told the audience.

WROC-TV (Channel 8) News Anchor Lia Lando visited Mr. Staebell’s fourth grade classroom.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

Dr. James Sunser

BATAVIA –Dr. James M. Sunser, president of Genesee Community College, last week was elected to a two-year term as chairman of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Dr. Sunser (a MSCHE Administrative Representative), has been president of GCC since August 2011. He was elected chairman of the MSCHE Commission after serving as vice chairman in 2019 and he began his service in 2017 as one of 26 commissioners. During his service, he has helped MSCHE review its accreditation standards and recommended changes to the Commission’s accreditation processes and cycle. He has also served on the MSCHE Rebranding Committee that created a new messaging platform for the Commission.

Dr. Sunser joins the team of academic leaders who help define, maintain and promote educational excellence across many institutions with diverse missions, student populations and resources.

Prior to his appointment as a commissioner and an officer, he also chaired or was a member of evaluation teams within the peer-review process on more than a dozen occasions in the past 20 years.

“It is my honor to continue serving Middle States in this new capacity,” Dr. Sunser said. “The important work of this body impacts thousands of people every day, while continuing to refine and improve higher education in the Mid-Atlantic States.”

MSCHE’s Executive Committee is comprised of seven members elected by the Commission annually, including the Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer and its composition must include administrative, faculty and public representatives.

The Executive Committee also includes Vice Chair Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour (Administrative Representative), president of Pennsylvania College of Technology since 1998; Treasurer Mr. David E. Hollowell (Public Representative), who was appointed to the Commission in 2013 and is in his second term as a public member; and Secretary Dr. Alan D. Mathios, (Faculty Representative), professor at Cornell University.

The Non-Officer Executive Committee members include: Dr. Katherine Conway-Turner, president of SUNY Buffalo State College; Dr. Carl Person, formerly a director at NASA; and Mr. Lloyd Ricketts, vice president and treasurer at The College of New Jersey.

MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to accredit degree-granting institutions which offer one or more post-secondary educational programs of at least one academic year. To earn and retain accreditation through MSCHE, each institution of higher education undergoes a multi-stage accreditation review process that begins with an intensive self-study with a specially appointed steering committee and many working groups.

Institutions usually engage campus-wide discussions to prepare the comprehensive Self-Study Report which focuses on specific accreditation standards. This Report then frames a three-day site visit by an assigned evaluation team made up of members from peer institutions who compile an Evaluation Report to summarize findings and recommend any follow-up action for continued accreditation. GCC was successfully re-accredited by Middle States in 2018.

Photos courtesy of Helen Unterborn: Kendall Lions Club members Cary Wright, Doug Urquhart and Kyle Sayler cook the chicken halves on Saturday during the Lions Club’s annual Chicken BBQ.

Press Release, Kendall Lions Club

KENDALL – It was a bustle of activity and high energy at the Kendall United Methodist Church on Saturday as the Kendall Lions Club demonstrated the club’s motto, “We Serve.” The Lions held their annual Winter Chicken BBQ to aid a community member in need.

This year’s recipient is Phil Haight, who suffered a severe head injury from a fall in October. Phil is very active in the community serving in the Kendall Fire Department and several years as a Lion. This year Phil’s contributions to our annual auction to benefit the food cupboard netted over $500.

Lions Club member Phil D’Agostino gives Leos Club members from Kendall Central School some instruction on how to serve at the drive-through.

The Chicken BBQ is led by Lion Phil D’Agostino along with the active support of the Lions, Leos and community members who sell advance tickets and prepare the meal. Thursday, Lions met at the school to prep the cabbage for the salad and beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday the Lions were out in full force at the BBQ pit cooking over 1,100 chicken halves.

Inside the church hall Lions and Leos worked to package the dinners and distribute almost 1,100 dinners in two hours. Community members were able to drive through and receive the meals, often adding an extra donation to the cause. Any remaining dinners were donated to several families in the community.

The Kendall Lions is truly appreciative of the community for their outstanding support and the service provided by our Lion and Leo members as we again offered support to a community member in need.

Lions Club members Bob Furness, Dan Peckham and Randy Unterborn along with Greg Speer prepare the dinners.

Julie Bunn and Barb Bartkowiak, both Lions Club members, bag over 1,000 dinner rolls.

Community member Blaine Young and Lions Bob Gaylord and Rob Fagan turn the chickens.

Lions Candy Minigiello, Craig Herman and Randy Unterborn prep the cabbage. Craig also has been in charge of cooking the salt potatoes for most BBQs.

LFD honors other members for dedicated service

Photos by Tom Rivers: Wes Bradley, center, receives citations from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, left, and State Sen. Robert Ortt on Saturday when Bradley was recognized as Lyndonville’s firefighter of the year.

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Fire Department on Saturday honored Wes Bradley as its firefighter of the year for 2019.

Bradley, a retired middle school science teacher at Lyndonville, remains an active firefighter, responding to about 50 calls a year. Bradley also serves as the department’s chaplain.

“He does everything very professional,” Fire Chief Ben Bane said. “As chaplain, he is always there to comfort members when we have bad calls.”

Last year the department responded to 200 calls, including a fatal fire.

Bradley, 71, joined the department in August 1979 when he moved to Lyndonville to work as a teacher. He was about 30 at the time.

He was inspired by his father’s example. Ray Bradley volunteered for more than 30 years as a firefighter in Canton, NY.

“I saw my father volunteering and it was something I always wanted to do,” Bradley said on Saturday at the Carlton Recreation Hall, where Lyndonville had its annual awards and installation banquet.

Lyndonville Fire Chief Ben Bane, right, presents the Firefighter of the Year award to Wes Bradley, who remains an active firefighter at age 71.

Bradley, after years as an interior firefighter, continues as an exterior firefighter and with the fire police on traffic control. He also goes on EMS calls. He isn’t an EMT but he said it is comforting for many residents to see their neighbors in the fire service respond to the calls.

“I enjoy serving the community,” Bradley said. “The community has been good to me. I can give a little bit back.”

Bradley also is a member of the Lyndonville Lions Club and is a girls soccer referee for Section VI.

The Fire Department presented other awards on Saturday for 2019, including:

Fire President’s Award – Gary White (right), president of the Lyndonville Fire Department, presented the President’s Award to Pete Kage, who responded to 84 calls last year. He also has been an active member for five years.

“This is a person who does a lot for the department but doesn’t get much credit,” White said.

Chief’s Award – Fire Chief Ben Bane announced the Chief’s Award is going to John Flanagan, a long-time member currently battling cancer. Flanagan also was recognized for reaching 15 years of service with the department. Flanagan was unable to attend the banquet.

“Before his illness he would do anything to help out,” Bane said.

Auxiliary President’s Award – Nicole Kistner, Auxiliary President, presented the award to Anna Schuner, who has been a member of the Auxiliary for 15 years, and is the current treasurer. She is also an active firefighter and is an officer as the EMS lieutenant.

Top Five responders – These five firefighters responded to the most calls in 2019: 137, Mike Heideman; 108, Ken Starr; 106 Harold Scribner; 84 Pete Kage; and 76, TJ Heideman.

Service Awards – Some members were also recognized for reaching milestones in years of service. Jim Scharlau, right, is congratulated on 40 years of service by State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Other firefighters who were recognized with service awards include: 5 years, Pete Kage; 10 years, Pam Durow; and 15 years, John Flanagan.

Auxiliary members with service awards include: 5 years, Pam Durow, Cheryl Mapes and Taylor Piskorowski; 15 years, Anna Schuner; and 20 years, Vicky Bane.

The fire department swore in new officers and leaders for 2020. They are shown taking the oath of office, which was administered by Dale Banker, director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

Fire Officers include: Chief, Ben Bane; First Assistant Chief, Mike Heideman; Second Assistant Chief, Steve Bane Jr.; Fire Captain, TJ Heideman; Fire Lieutenant, Danny Woodward; EMS Captain, Wally Snyder; EMS Lieutenant, Anna Schuner; Fire Police Captain, Bruce Fumia; and Chaplain, Wes Bradley.

The Fire Executive Officers members include: President, Gary White; Secretary, Peter Kage; and Treasurer, Jim Wells. Board of directors include Kenny Starr, 3-year term; Keith Weaver, 2-year term; and Mike Tabor, 1-year term.

Fire Company Auxiliary Officers include: President, Nicole Kistner; Vice President, Cheryl Mapes; Secretary, Cindy Grabowski; and Treasurer, Anna Schuner.

The group is gathered at the Carlton Rec Hall for dinner and the annual awards and installation.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Frank Ferri pours wine for Kimmie Martindale of Kendall during Saturday’s Wine About Winter event in downtown Medina. There were 24 stops for people to taste wine, including this location, the Wallflower Studio.

More than 800 people bought tickets for the event, which was organized by the Medina Area Partnership. There were 110 VIP tickets sold, plus another 700.

This was the Partnership’s first big event. It took over Wine About Winter following the dissolution of the Medina Business Association. The Medina Area Partnership includes many MBA members as well as businesses outside of the village.

John Shera, owner of Wallflower Studio, opens a bottle of Arrowhead Red wine from Arrowhead Spring Vineyards in Lockport.

Shera opened the art studio in December. He welcomed the chance to be a host site for the wine-tasting event.

“It’s wonderful to have 600 to 700 people coming inside here,” he said.

Each person was given a souvenir glass for Wine About Winter.

Medina Theatre hosted the VIP reception, which included music by Dave Viterna.

Dave Viterna took center stage and entertained the crowd at the Medina Theatre.

Mary Lewis, owner of Creekside Floral, pours wine for Chelsey Vick of Albion, left, and her friend Hannah Forder of Medina. Forder said she was impressed with the vibrant downtown in Medina. The wine-tasting event took her inside many businesses.

“There are stores I didn’t know were here,” Forder said.

Lewis is pouring Barry’s Red wine from 21 Prix in Portland, Chautauqua County.

Tyler VerCruysse, left, and Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo Company, get wine ready for the crowd.

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The Souls of the Spanish Moss

It was 1985. Like many families mine gathered around the TV to watch North and South a Civil War era romance. I took a shine to Orry Main, played by Patrick Swayze. That was when I aspired to go see The Avenue of Oaks at Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, SC.

Boone Hall was founded in 1681 as a working plantation and was one of the filming locations for North and South.

I first felt the magnitude, appreciation and awe for the Spanish Moss trees when I finally visited The Avenue of Oaks almost 30 years later. Trees that line the drive up to the main house where planted in 1743 by the Boone Family. The centuries old trees line both sides of the expansive main entrance. From their branches grow thick drapings of Moss. With the growth of these massive trees also grew the conscience of a nation.

As you make your way up the drive you see the slave quarters to the right on a street now called Slave Street. Tiny little brick buildings in a row. Today each building is dedicated to preserving history so that we all can remember the blood, sweat and tears that helped build this plantation. Each building is dedicated to a different theme of daily slave life, their struggles and fight for freedom. Under the Spanish Moss nature provided the slaves a canopy of relief from the harsh realities of life and heat.

The day we visited, it was humid and 92 degrees. Outside of the sanctuary of the massive tree line it was oppressive, but one step into the protection of the Spanish Moss and the oppression disappeared. The Moss absorbed the humidity and made the summer heat bearable. Slave families would gather under the protection of the Spanish Moss to rest, celebrate their Gullah heritage, hope, dream,…and grieve.

Under those Spanish Moss drapings you can almost feel the grit of spirit for those who used to live in these little brick houses. The Moss holds more than humidity, it holds the hearts and the struggles of those that built the plantation so many years ago. I hope that the whispering of the stories of those times by The Old Spanish Moss can harbor the history and remind everyone to let history teach us lessons of how to become better more heartfelt people, for all those who were and are oppressed.

For those whose history is steeped in hard times, take pride in your ancestry and the strength and grit it has passed down.

This plantation is a working plantation and if you are ever in Charleston, SC go stand under The Spanish Moss, close your eyes and listen. Be joyful their plight is over and show grace for their sacrifices. The Avenue Of Oaks opened my eyes to more than just the beauty of the trees. -February celebrates Black History Month.

View My Blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com were you can see the tiny brick houses and also Join in, Like and Share Your Comments. Happy Perks to Everyone!

Truly,

Debbie Burgoon London
Your Sassy Small Town Missus from Albion

Let’s go on an adventure together….to Iowa!

I love to travel – every trip near or far is an adventure! I also love to remember and tell others about my adventures. So, when I was asked if I wanted to give writing a monthly travel article a try, I jumped at the opportunity. Having been to all 50 states, I am often asked which state is my favorite. My response is that I honestly can’t pick a true favorite. This is an amazing country and every state has something wonderful and unique to offer visitors. But, I can say the one that surprised me the most was IOWA. So, that’s where I have decided to start – let’s go on an adventure to Iowa, together.

When I started coloring the states I have visited, it really bothered me that the entire center of the country was colored in with the exception of Iowa. Every time I looked at my tracking map, Iowa stuck out like a sore thumb taunting me. So, when another planned short trip was canceled in October 2017, I thought: the time is already blocked out on the calendar, the money is already set aside for travel…..I think I’ll go to Iowa!!! So, I started researching where and what in Iowa would make it on my itinerary. I decided that Dubuque would be my base point and I made a list of cool things I found to visit within a reasonable distance from my base point. It was a short trip, so I had to make the best of it – I flew in to Dubuque, picked up a rental car, and got settled in on day one, then had two full days and a half day to explore. In that short time, I put over 700 miles on the rental car and made some fantastic memories.

Dubuque has a beautiful River Walk that I visited for a lovely stroll along the Mississippi River viewing local art sculptures after dinner on my first night there. During the time I was in the area, I spent some time wandering around Downtown Dubuque, which is a wonderful city full of local art and beautiful architecture. I also visited the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. When in a new place, I like to search the Roadside America web site for unique and quirky local attractions – for the Dubuque area, I found “Gas Station Jesus”, a statue of Jesus behind a gas station on a hill overlooking the highway. I also stumbled upon a little brown church with a sign that read “Little Brown Church in the Dale. Built 1860-1864”, a LOT of dirt roads, corn fields, and farms. I imagined Iowa would be a very flat state, like Kansas. But I was pleasantly surprised to find it actually has a lot of beautiful rolling hills.

Entrance to the pathway to the Buddy Holly Crash Site

On my first full day, I drove to where The Music Died. It happened just north of Clear Lake, IA in a corn field just after midnight on February 3, 1959. It was the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, as well as the young pilot of the private plane carrying the music legends. I toured the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake – the location of their final concert the night of the crash. Then, I drove out to the corn field to view the crash site. The spot where the plane went down is about a ¼ mile or so down a path through a corn field in the middle of nowhere! It was rainy that day and the path was muddy, but I decided to walk to the crash site, anyway. Realizing that I was all alone in a corn field in the middle of nowhere, I came up with the idea to do a Live Video on Facebook to take all my friends with me…..and so someone would know where I was if something should happen to me! It was an emotional experience and I’m really glad I did it.

View of the ball field from the porch of the house

That’s me sitting on the porch swing

The American Pickers Shop – unfortunately, neither the guys nor Danielle were there!

Day two took me to Dyersville in the morning. I found a stunning Basilica in downtown Dyersville that I toured before heading to the main attraction in that area: The Field of Dreams House. This is the house that the movie Field of Dreams, staring Kevin Costner was filmed. The house is maintained just as it was in the movie – including the baseball field in the corn. They host tours of the house and you can go out and “have a catch” on the ball field and walk into the corn. There are “Ghost Players” games throughout the summer that the public can watch and once a year they host a game with various famous baseball players that draws a huge crowd. It is quite an amazing place and it was a real thrill to be there.

Later that afternoon, I made my way to LeClair and found a sweet little railroad town that looked like it was in a time warp from the 1800s. I discovered the Buffalo Bill Museum and the Antique Archeology Shop from the cable TV show, American Pickers. A great way to spend the afternoon.

I was sure Iowa was going to be a “check the box” state, but it was one of my more memorable trips and I wish I had allowed more time there. I wasn’t able to get to the World’s Largest Truck Stop or the area where the movie Bridges of Madison County was filmed. Guess I’ll need to plan to return, someday.

Moral to this story: Don’t be afraid to just pick a place, use sites like Google and TripAdvisor to find cool things to see while you’re there, try a visit to the Roadside America web site to find fun, quirky attractions (I found “Gas Station Jesus” in Dubuque on that site), and just go! You never know what awesome memories you can make by just taking the time to explore places you never thought you wanted to go to!

If you want to read more about this adventure, visit my Blog at www.thoughtsbykim.com and type “Iowa” in the search box – it will bring up five posts I wrote about Iowa with tons more photos and stories.

Kim Pritt

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

With New York State making major changes to the School Tax Relief (STAR) program in recent years and Gov. Cuomo proposing even more changes in this year’s budget, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is urging homeowners to double-check that their enrollment is up to date.

If you currently receive the Basic STAR exemption and your income is between $250,000 and $500,000, the program is changing for you. If eligible, you will now receive a check for the STAR credit instead of the reduction on your school tax bill. If you receive a letter asking you to update your STAR registration (Form RP-425-RDM), see switching to the STAR credit from the STAR exemption section on the state tax website (click here).

If your income is $250,000 or less and you currently receive the STAR exemption, you can choose to register for the STAR credit to receive a check instead; you may receive a greater benefit. See Switching to the STAR credit from the STAR exemption to make the switch (click here).

Gov. Cuomo has proposed eliminating STAR benefits for homeowners who are delinquent in paying their property taxes as part of his Executive Budget proposal. Furthermore, the governor has proposed to lower the income limit for homeowners in the Basic STAR program from $250,000 to $200,000 in order to push more individuals into the Personal Income Tax Credit Program where they would receive a paper check rather than an automatic tax deduction.

Click here to visit the website for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance on STAR benefits.

“Lowering property taxes is one of the great things we have accomplished in recent years but massive changes to the program are causing heartache and confusion for many homeowners across the state,” Hawley said. “The program was working, but Gov. Cuomo insists on making nonsensical changes in order to make it appear as though he is keeping the state under a 2 percent spending cap. I strongly encourage all homeowners to ensure that their STAR benefits are up to date and accurate in order to continue receiving benefits.”

Provided photo: Adam Kirby, left, and Robin Root hold the trophies for winning the yield contests through the New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association.

SYRACUSE – The New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association honored two farmers from Orleans County for having the highest yields in the association’s annual corn and soybean contests.

Adam Kirby of Albion won the corn yield competition with an entry of 277.44 bushels per acre.

Root Brothers Farm in Albion had the top soybean yield with 80.56 bushels per acre. Robin Root accepted the trophy on behalf of Root Brothers.

The two farms were recognized on Jan. 23 during the New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association’s annual Winter Expo in Syracuse.

Post-mortem portrait of Tracy Bogue, taken March 10, 1892 by P.W. Griffiths of Marysville, California.

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 6, No. 5

Popular during the Victorian era, post-mortem photographs provided family members with an opportunity to capture a lasting likeness of their deceased loved ones. In this particular case, a young child passed before his parents could arrange a formal studio portrait. The boy is peacefully posed on a fur blanket on the front porch of the family’s home in Yuba City, California, holding a rose in his left hand with another laid beside him.

The appearance of the child may seem peculiar given his clothing and hairstyle. Breeching remained a common practice through the late 19th century. As infants, boys often wore dresses that covered their legs down to their feet which made ambling difficult. Once they began walking, these knee-length dresses allowed the child to walk while facilitating easy toilet training. After toilet training was complete, the boy went through the “breeching” process at which point he was dressed in trousers for the first time. This represented a very important rite of passage for a young man.

Tracy Bogue, pictured here, was born in December of 1889 to James Tracy Bogue and Clara Worden. James, the brother of Virgil Bogue, operated the Batavia Nurseries in Genesee County with his brother Nelson until moving to Hillsdale, Michigan in the early 1880s. A sufferer of asthma, James hoped the change in climate would improve his health. After several years in that location, he and his family returned to Batavia where he remained until his condition worsened. He relocated his family to Yuba City, California where he operated one of the largest nurseries on the west coast. Among his many accomplishments, he is credited with promulgating the Phillips Cling Peach and the California Red Plum.

This particular image is one of two post-mortem photographs found in an album recently donated to the Department of History by Tom Phillips of Batavia. The other photograph shows Tracy’s older sister, Grace, who died on March 19, 1892, just two weeks after Tracy’s death. A death notice, which calls attention to the suffering experienced by Mr. and Mrs. Bogue following the untimely passing of both children, suggests that croup was the cause of death. James and Clara Bogue returned to Albion on August 19, 1892 to bury their children in the family plot located at Mt. Albion Cemetery.

Press Release, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today criticized Gov. Cuomo’s new proposal to close several more unspecified prisons as part of the 2020-21 Executive Budget.

Hawley, backing concerns of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOBA), chastised the governor for continuing to erode public safety by proposing to close more prisons.

“Whether it’s staying mum while bail-less crime laws put violent offenders back on the streets, supporting a pay raise for incarcerated felons, giving tablets to prisoners, voting rights for parolees, granting driver’s licenses to illegals or closing more prisons, this governor is on the wrong side of virtually every public safety issue imaginable and single-handily putting the public at risk,” Hawley said.

“We are going to see more riots and more inmate attacks on corrections officers, as double bunking and overfilled prisons cause more violence. I stand firmly against these prison closures and will advocate against any more prison closures as budget talks move forward,” Hawley continued.

The governor cited a rapid decline in the state prison population and a changing economic development strategy focused less on prisons as the driving economic factor in his proposal. Gov. Cuomo closed Livingston Correctional Facility and Lincoln Correctional Facility last year.

“The members of NYSCOBA are some of the bravest and most resilient law enforcement officers our state has, and increasing inmate populations at maximum security establishments puts them in more danger,” Hawley finished. “Our NYSCOBA officers are crucial to keeping our prisons safe and orderly but also protecting the surrounding community, and I will always stand with them against perilous and misguided proposals like these.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Orleans County has been named one of 43 counties in the state approved as a natural disaster designation after suffering heavy rains and severe flooding during the 2019 farming season.

This designation allows communities hurt by extreme weather to access certain federal assistance, such as emergency loans and other aid programs, from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to help recover their losses.

In Orleans, there are usually about 125,000 acres planted each year with corn and soybeans. The wet spring delayed planting with farmers deciding not to plant 23,170 acres, according to the Farm Service Agency in Orleans County. There were about 90,000 acres that went unplanted in Orleans, Genesee, Niagara and Monroe counties, said Larry Meyer, FAS director.

The disaster declaration includes the following counties: Albany, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuler, Seneca, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Washington, Wyoming and Yates, which were designated primary natural disaster areas and farm operators in these counties are eligible for FSA emergency loans, provided they meet other requirements.

Additionally, farm operators in Broome, Cortland, Dutchess, Orange, St. Lawrence, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, and Wayne counties are also eligible for assistance.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the declaration today.

“After weathering a brutal farming season last year, the USDA’s disaster designation will provide much needed assistance to farmers and growers throughout Upstate New York,” said Senator Charles Schumer. “From corner to corner of the state, I have seen firsthand the aftermath of last year’s severe rain and flooding. Thankfully, this disaster declaration means our Upstate farmers and growers will have access to critical emergency loans and more, at a time when they need it the most.”

USDA offers a variety of programs and services to help communities, farmers, ranchers, and businesses recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, and other natural disasters. Click here for more information on the federal disaster programs to assist farmers.

“I’m pleased that the USDA has approved natural disaster designations across Upstate New York for counties that suffered extensive damage due to severe weather during last year’s farming season,” said Senator Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “This will allow FSA emergency loans and other assistance to flow to communities that need it. New York has a strong farming tradition, and it is past time for our farmers to get the help they need to recover. I will always do everything I can to ensure that New Yorkers have the resources to rebuild.”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Ron Ayrault salutes the American flag after lighting a candle in honor of George L. Fox during the Four Chaplains service on Feb. 3, 2019.

HOLLEY – Veterans and church members will gather at the First Baptist Church in Holley on Sunday to remember four chaplains who gave up their lives to save civilian and military personnel as the SS Dorchester sank on Feb. 3, 1943.

The four chaplains gave up their life jackets when they were none left for others on the ship. The chaplains sang hymns and prayed together as the ship sank.

The local American Legion wants to keep the story of sacrifice alive. Veterans are asked to meet at the church at 9 a.m. on Sunday with the service to follow soon thereafter. The church is at 25 Geddes St.

John Pera, commander of the American Legion in Orleans County, and Ron Ayrault, chaplain for the Legion, will lead the service with will honor the lives of Methodist minister the Reverend George L. Fox, Reform Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Ph.D.), Roman Catholic priest the Reverend John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America minister the Reverend Clark V. Poling. All of the chaplains attained the rank of first lieutenant.

The service will include reading the biographies of each of the chaplain, lighting candles, placing wreaths, and playing taps.

The memorial service for the four chaplains will be part of the regular service at church. The service is open to the community.

Nate McMurray, Democratic candidate for Congress, blasted the National Republican Congressional Caucus for what he said is a childish smear campaign just hours before he was unanimously endorsed for the upcoming special election.

The National Republican Congressional Caucus, which is supporting Chris Jacobs, issued a statement yesterday calling McMurray a “deranged socialist loser.”

“I know how hard folks here work, and frankly we are all sick and tired of being pawns in a partisan political game that seeks power for the sake of power,” McMurray said in a statement. “These same enablers who supported an indicted criminal just to keep NY-27 red are brazen to believe they have any credibility with the good people here.”

McMurray on Thursday secured the endorsement from the Erie County Democratic Committee, giving him the endorsement from all 8 county committees in the 27^th Congressional District. He also is backed by the Working Families Party.

NRCC spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre sent a news release to the media on Thursday, calling McMurray “ a deranged socialist loser” who is a proud supporter of government-run health care, the “baseless impeachment” of President Trump, open borders and restricting Second Amendment rights.

“Is that the best they can do?” McMurray said. “Immature, mean-spirited insults? Instead of talking about jobs in one of the worst job markets in the country, health care when countless Americans are going bankrupt over medical bills, they have the audacity to perpetuate hateful rhetoric that is representative of the extremely divisive state of politics today.”

McMurray said he wants to debate the issues with Jacobs “like adults” and let the voters of NY-27 pick the best candidate for the job. He urged Jacobs to denounce the comments from the NRCC.