‘Collins’s hubris is a stark reminder that the people of New York can and should demand more from their elected officials, and that no matter how powerful, no lawmaker is above the law.’

Press Release, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District of New York

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, who represented the 27th District of New York as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was sentenced to 26 months in prison today by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick for participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and for making false statements to federal law enforcement agents when interviewed about his conduct.

Chris Collins

“Former New York Congressman and Innate board member Christopher Collins received confidential, nonpublic information that one of Innate’s drugs in development had just failed a clinical trial,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman. “Moments later, from the White House lawn, Collins notified his son Cameron, so that he could trade the stock ahead of the public announcement and avoid taking a substantial loss on the stock. He then lied to the FBI when asked about his conduct. Collins’s greed and disregard for the law have now led to a criminal conviction for insider trading and lying to the FBI, his resignation from Congress, and over two years in federal prison. Lawmakers bear the profound privilege and responsibility of writing and passing laws, but equally as important, the absolute obligation of following them. Collins’s hubris is a stark reminder that the people of New York can and should demand more from their elected officials, and that no matter how powerful, no lawmaker is above the law.”

The following facts are based on the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment and statements made in related court filings and proceedings:

The Insider Trading Scheme

In or about June 2017, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, who, in addition to serving on the board of directors of Innate Immunotherapeutics (“Innate”), an Australian biotechnology company, was also one of Innate’s largest shareholders, participated in a scheme to commit insider trading.  Specifically, on or about June 22, 2017, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS learned that MIS416 – a multiple sclerosis drug that Innate was developing – had failed a critical drug trial that was meant to determine the drug’s clinical efficacy (the “Drug Trial”).

The negative Drug Trial results were highly confidential, and, as an insider who owed duties of trust and confidence to Innate, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS was obligated to keep the Drug Trial results secret until Innate publicly released them. Instead, in breach of those duties, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS tipped his son, Cameron Collins, who was also a substantial Innate shareholder, so that Cameron Collins could make timely trades and tip others before Innate publicly released the Drug Trial results.

Cameron Collins traded on the inside information and passed it to Stephen Zarsky, the father of his fiancée, as well as to three individuals not named in the Superseding Indictment (“Individual-1,” “Individual-2,” and “Individual-6”), so that they could utilize the information for the same purpose.

Zarsky, in turn, traded on the information and used it to tip three more individuals not named in the Superseding Indictment (“Individual-3,” “Individual-4,” and “Individual-5,”) so that they too could engage in timely trades in Innate stock.  All of the trades preceded the public release of the negative Drug Trial results.

In total, these trades allowed Cameron Collins and Zarsky, and Individual-1 through Individual-6, to avoid over $768,000 in losses that they would have otherwise incurred if they had sold their stock in Innate after the Drug Trial results became public.

The Drug Trial Results

In or about October 2014, Innate initiated a Phase 2B clinical trial of its primary drug, MIS416. Successful completion of the Drug Trial was a necessary prerequisite to the commercialization of MIS416.  Because Innate had no other significant products in development, its stock price was tied to the success of MIS416.

The Drug Trial was widely expected to be completed around the summer of 2017.  For example, on or about June 9, 2017, Innate’s chief executive officer (“CEO”) sent various individuals, including CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, an email stating that “the delivery date for [the] review and ‘verdict’” of the Drug Trial “will [] occur at COB on US Thursday June 22nd.”  As the summer progressed, individuals within Innate remained optimistic that MIS416’s Drug Trial results would be positive.

The initial Drug Trial results were made available by trial administrators to Innate’s CEO on June 22, 2017.  These results established that MIS416 lacked therapeutic value in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.  The results were not publicly released at that time.  Instead, they were released publicly on June 26, 2017, after the U.S. markets had closed (the “Public Announcement”).  Innate’s stock price subsequently crashed, dropping 92% on the first trading day following the Public Announcement.

Dissemination of the Drug Trial Results

On or about June 22, 2017, at approximately 6:55 p.m., Innate’s CEO sent an email describing the Drug Trial results to the company’s board of directors, including CHRISTOPHER COLLINS.  The email explained to Innate’s board of directors for the first time that the Drug Trial had been a failure.

The email began, in part, “I have bad news to report,” and continued to explain that “the top line analysis of the ‘intent to treat’ patient population (ie every subject who was successfully enrolled in the study) would pretty clearly indicate[s] ‘clinical failure.’”  The email continued, “Top-line 12-month data . . . show no clinically meaningful or statistically significant differences in [outcomes] between MIS416 and placebo,” and concluded by stating, “No doubt we will want to consider this extremely bad news . . . .”

At the time CHRISTOPHER COLLINS received this email, he was attending the Congressional Picnic at the White House.  At 7:10 p.m., CHRISTOPHER COLLINS replied to the email, stating, in part, “Wow. Makes no sense. How are these results even possible???”  After responding to the Innate CEO’s email, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS called his son, Cameron Collins. They traded six missed calls between 7:11 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.  At 7:16 p.m., CHRISTOPHER COLLINS and Cameron Collins spoke for more than six minutes.  During that six-minute phone call, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS told Cameron Collins, in sum and substance, that MIS416 had failed the Drug Trial.

Trading and Tipping by CAMERON COLLINS and ZARSKY

Cameron Collins began placing orders to sell his Innate shares the morning after he received inside information from CHRISTOPHER COLLINS.  Between the morning of Friday, June 23, 2017, and the close of the market on Monday, June 26, 2017, Cameron Collins sold approximately 1,391,500 shares of Innate stock.  These sales allowed Cameron Collins to avoid approximately $570,900 in losses.

Furthermore, after learning the Drug Trial results from CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, on or about the night of June 22, 2017, Cameron Collins provided the Drug Trial results to at least the following three sets of individuals so that they could trade in advance of the Public Announcement:  (1) his fiancée, Individual-1; (2) Zarsky and Zarsky’s wife, Individual-2; and (3) Cameron Collins’s friend, Individual-6. Collectively, these individuals avoided approximately $186,620 in losses as a result of their trading on inside information.

On or about the morning of June 23, 2017, Zarsky provided the negative Drug Trial results that he had learned from Cameron Collins and Individual-1 to at least the following individuals, among others, or otherwise caused them to trade or attempt to trade in advance of the Public Announcement: (1) his brother, Individual-3; (2) his sister, Individual-4; and (3) his longstanding friend, Individual-5. Collectively, these individuals avoided approximately $10,900 in losses as a result of their trading on inside information.

False Statements to the FBI

On or about April 25, 2018, special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) separately interviewed CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, Cameron Collins and Zarsky.  During these interviews, and as detailed in the Superseding Indictment, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, Cameron Collins and Zarsky made false statements to the FBI to cover up their participation in the insider trading scheme.

• • •

In addition to the prison term, CHRISTOPHER COLLINS was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $200,000.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for Orleans County and Western New York from 8 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo said Orleans County will get 2 to 4 inches of snow. Winds could gust as high as 50 miles per hour on Saturday.

“Plan on snow-covered and slippery road conditions with reduced visibility,” the Weather Service said. “Gusty winds could bring down tree branches and result in isolated power outages.”

This map from Apex Clean Energy shows proposed locations for wind turbines, access roads, substations and met towers in Barre.

BARRE – Apex Clean Energy said it will be submitting an application to the state to build 33 wind turbines with a capacity to generate up to 184.8 megawatts.

The company announced a notice of submission of application today, saying it expects to file its application on or about Jan. 31 to authorize construction and operation of Heritage Wind, the project in Barre.

Apex will seek approval for the project from the New York State Board on Electric Generating Siting and the Environment. The state will review the project through the Article 10 process, where local laws are considered but the state has the final say in whether the project moves forward or not.

Heritage Wind will include wind turbines, access roads, electrical collection lines, substations, permanent meteorological towers, an operations and maintenance building, and staging/laydown areas to be used during construction, which may include a potential temporary concrete batch plant, Apex said.

A point of interconnection substation will be placed in Barre, along the existing National Grid Lockport-Mortimer 115 kV power line, to deliver electricity generated by the facility to the New York State electric grid, Apex states in the Notice of Submission Application.

The application will include:

• an analysis of the environmental setting of the facility (33 turbines), a description of the facility, including preliminary design drawings and related information; copies of reports, studies and plans submitted in support of the application

• an assessment of impacts of construction and operation of the facility relating to land use; consistency with state energy planning objectives, including climate change and renewable energy goals; public health and safety;

• terrestrial ecology, water resources and aquatic ecology, including avian and bat species and wetlands; communications, transportation and utilities; cultural, historical and recreational resources; visual, including shadow flicker; sound; electric magnetic fields; and impacts on the statewide electrical system.

If the state Siting Board deems the application to be complete, the Siting Board will schedule a public statement hearing on the application, to be held in the Barre area.

The Siting Board will also issue a notice of availability of $184,800 in intervenor funds to municipalities and other local parties to help pay expenses, including attorneys and consultants, associated with participating in the Article 10 process during the application review phase. By law, at least 50 percent of these intervenor funds are reserved for municipalities.

(During the Preliminary Scoping Statement, Apex needed to provide $350 per megawatt or $70,000 in intervenor funds for the local community to hire experts to review the Apex proposal, back when it was projected as a 200-megawatt project. A judge determined in 2018 the Town of Barre would be allocated $40,000 in those funds and Clear Skies Above Barre would get $30,000.)

Click here to be directed to the NYS Department of Public Service website that details information and submission about Heritage Wind.

Local officials have been meeting to discuss a PILOT arrangement with Apex, where $1.2 million to $1.8 million in annual revenue is expected to shared the next 25 years among the Town of Barre, Orleans County and Albion Central School. (Oakfield-Alabama also would get some funding because one turbine is proposed to be in the O-A school district.)

ALBION –  The village is working to add Hometown Heroes banners this year in the downtown with a goal to have up to 40 in place by July. The banners would stay up until after Veterans’ Day in November.

Albion is following the example of Holley, Medina and Brockport in honoring veterans from the community. Albion is working to finalize the details for the program. The banners would be a maximum of $200, to be paid for by family or friends of a veteran. The cost may be less if the village can use existing hardware to secure the banners. That expense may drop to $150, said Mayor Eileen Banker, who is managing the program for Albion.

She has seen the banners in Holley, Medina and Brockport and said the display of portraits sends a powerful message.

“We should honor our veterans, the ones who are serving now and who come before us,” she said. “They made this country.”

Banker wants to know if there is interest from the Albion community in honoring veterans with the banners. People interested could send her an email at ebanker@villageofalbionny.com or call or text her at (585) 356-0686. She is aiming for late February to early March to submit an order for the banners. They would by 2 ½ feet by 5 feet, the same size as the ones in Medina.

Albion is capped at 40 spots for the banners on Main Street between Beaver Street to just past the Erie Canal, as well as on Bank Street, between Platt and Liberty streets.

There will be a form at the Village Office beginning on Jan. 22 for people interested in the program. Banker said they will go to people “on a first come, first served basis.”

In Medina, the banners go up just before Memorial Day. Albion has banners up promoting the Strawberry Festival until after that event the second Friday and Saturday in June. After the Strawberry Festival, the banners of veterans will be displayed. This year it likely won’t be until July.

Medina will add 63 more banners this year

The banners have been very popular in Medina. Last year, there were 38 displayed in the first year, with 63 more coming in May. The program is organized by Mary Woodruff, a Ridgeway town councilwoman.

The banners last year included current and previous soldiers from the community, with some going back to World War II.

The new group of banners this year includes one veteran from the Civil War. The banners will continue in the downtown on Main Street, and East and West Center streets, and on Park Avenue. New locations will be added this year farther down on East and West Center streets, Park Avenue, Pearl Street, West Avenue and South Main Street.

Woodruff said there likely will be a reception in May at the YMCA with the banners hung in the gymnasium.

No candidate endorsed for county clerk

Photo by Tom Rivers: Joe Cardone has served as Orleans County’s district attorney since March 1992. He is seeking re-election to four more years in the position.

ALBION – Joe Cardone has the backing of the Orleans County Republican Committee for another four-year term as district attorney. Cardone has served as the county’s top prosecutor since 1992.

He met with the Republican Committee on Thursday night at Tillman’s Village Inn and received the group’s endorsement.

Three incumbent county coroners – Scott Schmidt of Medina, Charles Smith of Ridgeway and Rocco Sidari of Albion – also were endorsed for four-year terms.

In the other county-wide position up for election this year, the committee didn’t meet its two-thirds threshold for endorsing a candidate for county clerk.

Karen Lake-Maynard is retiring on Jan. 30. Two Republicans want to succeed her. Diane Shampine is the deputy county clerk and Nadine Hanlon is the clerk of the County Legislature.

With no committee endorsement, both have the option of securing petitions by registered Republicans to be on the ballot and perhaps face off in a June 23 primary.

The Orleans County Republican Committee also endorsed the two incumbent State Assembly members who are seeking re-election. Steve Hawley of Batavia has been in the Assembly since he was elected in a special election on Feb. 28, 2006 for the 139^th District, which includes most of Orleans, all of Genesee and part of western Monroe.

Michael Norris of Lockport is seeking a third two-year term in the 144^th District, which includes the Town of Shelby in Orleans, and parts of Niagara and Erie counties.

State Sen. Robert Ortt currently is pursuing the 27^th Congressional District. A special election likely will be on April 28 to fill the vacant 27^th seat. Ortt made it clear to the Orleans County Republican Committee he wants to be the area’s next congressman, said Skip Draper, the Orleans GOP chairman.

Ortt has been the state senator for about five years. The local Republicans didn’t hear from a candidate for the Senate seat. Ortt still has time to pursue the Senate seat if Republican leaders go with another candidate for the 27^th.

GAINES – Four candidates seeking Republican support for the vacant 27^th Congressional seat met with the Orleans County Republican Committee on Thursday night.

State Sen. Rob Ortt of North Tonawanda, State Sen. Chris Jacobs of Buffalo, Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw and former Darien town justice Beth Parlato all met with the committee.

The Orleans Republican leaders didn’t make an endorsement because the chairmen from the eight counties in the Republican district will pick the candidate for a special election that likely will be April 28.

“We have to wait and see who our candidate is,” said Skip Draper, chairman of the Orleans County Republican Party.

Draper said the county chairmen are expected to meet next week to pick a candidate for the special election. Draper hasn’t decided yet who he will be backing.

“I’m going to meet with other chairman and decide what’s best for the district,” he said.

Whoever wins the special election will finish the remaining eight months of a term. The seat was vacated in September when Chris Collins resigned. He has pleaded guilty to insider trading and lying to the FBI. He will be sentenced in federal court this afternoon.

Democrats have backed Nate McMurray, who lost a very close race to Collins in November 2018. The district is heavily Republican.

The Republicans could see a primary on June 23 to determine who will be the Republican candidate on Nov. 3, when there is a general election for a full two-year term for the 27^th Congressional seat.

Parties will pick candidates for March 18 election

ALBION – The Republican and Democratic parties will both have their caucuses at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28 to pick trustee candidates for the March 18 election.

There are two four-year terms for trustee up for election. They are currently filled by Peter Sidari and Mattea Navarra-Molisani.

The Democrats will have their caucus at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church at 10 East Park St. Only registered Democrats who live in the village can participate and vote at the caucus.

Republicans will have their caucus in the LGI room at the Charles D’Amico High School, 302 East Ave. Only registered Republicans can participate in the caucus.

ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will have its annual Legislative Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Tillman’s Village Inn on Ridge Road.

State Sen. Robert Ortt, and Assembly members Michael Norris and Steve Hawley will discuss state issues while Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, gives an update on the county. Other speakers could be added as panelists.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to ask about things that are directly affecting your business,” said Darlene Hartway, Chamber executive director.

The event will be moderated by Nathan Pace, an attorney from Medina.

The elected officials will be asked questions, which could be about public policy, health insurance, tax breaks, regulations and other issues. Questions to be asked can be sent to Hartway’s email: director@orleanschamber.com.

The luncheon is open to the community, with tickets at $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non members.

The deadline to RSVP will be Monday. For information call 585-301-8464 or email director@orleanschamber.com.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley won’t be running for the open 27^th Congressional seat, which was vacated with the resignation of Chris Collins on Sept. 30.

Steve Hawley

Hawley of Batavia was elected to the State Assembly about 14 years ago on Feb. 28, 2006.

He issued this statement today:

“After much consideration with my friends and family, I have decided not to seek the Republican nomination for the open 27th Congressional Seat in Congress at this time.

“Serving the residents of the 139th District in the State Assembly has been one of the highest honors of my life and our state faces a host of pressing challenges that cannot be ignored. Thus, my friends and neighbors deserve a full-time Assemblyman and someone who is laser-focused on meeting those challenges and moving our state forward.

“While it would be an extreme honor to serve as a member of the House of Representatives and serve with honesty and integrity as exemplified by our family’s close friend, former Congressman Barber B. Conable, Jr., I am confident that whoever is chosen to run will exhibit these attributes.

“It is crucial for the fate of our state and our country that this Congressional Seat remains in Republican hands and I am confident that whoever should be elected this April will do a tremendous job representing us in Washington.”

Barb Navarra owned First Impressions for 25 years

Photos by Tom Rivers: Barb Navarra holds two trophies that are typical of what she made with First Impressions. She has sold the business to Karen Sawicz, owner of the Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.

ALBION – The Lake Country Pennysaver based in Albion has added another business, First Impressions.

Barb Navarra of Albion started that business 25 years ago. First Impressions has a line of trophies and plaques. Navarra has retired from the business.

“It is a good fit for the Pennysaver,” said Karen Sawicz, owner of the Pennysaver, which is based at 170 North Main St. “It will stay local.” (OrleansHub.com is also owned by Sawicz and the Pennysaver and Orleans Hub share many of the same staff.)

Navarra was at the Orleans County 4-H Fair about 26 years ago when her daughter, Katie, won a trophy for her horse-riding skills. Navarra noticed the trophy came from a company outside the county and the trophy seemed cheaply made.

She thought the kids deserved better. She did some research, bought an engraving machine and connected with a supplier for trophies and plaques.

Navarra wanted quality merchandise – brass name plates, and marble bases for the trophies instead of particle board or plastic.

The business quickly grew with First Impressions supplying trophies for five school districts, as well as many local fire departments and organizations.

“I have always enjoyed it,” she said. “It’s been 25 years and I’ve loved it.”

Nicole Mrzywka, left, and Will Trembley hand out trophies last July 27 during the Orleans County 4-H Fair. First Impressions in Albion provided the trophies.

She would often do the engraving of the name plates on weekends or in the evenings when she was home from her job as a math teacher at Albion. Navarra is retired as a full-time teacher but continues as a tutor for the school district.

She wants to spend more time with her two grandchildren – and also have more time for her garden.

She said the spring is the busiest time for First Impressions when schools give out more of their awards.

She has trophy tops that feature basketball players, runners, football players, cheerleaders and other sports. She also sought out an array of animal tops on trophies for 4-H’ers who win showmanship contests – everything from pigs to dogs to cows.

For more information about First Impressions, call the Pennysaver at (585) 589-5641.

Press Release, Public Health Departments in Orleans and Genesee counties

The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. Cervical cancer develops in the cells of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus).

Most cervical cancers are related to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that infects teens and adults. It is so common that about 14 million males and females become infected with HPV each year.

In addition to cervical cancer, HPV infection can cause vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and penile cancer in men. HPV can also cause anal cancer, cancer of the back of the throat (oropharynx), and genital warts in both men and women.

HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. It is most commonly spread by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person. You also can develop symptoms years after you have sex with someone who is infected. This makes it hard to know when you first became infected.

The HPV vaccine provides safe, effective, and long-lasting protection against cancers caused by the HPV infection.

“Children who are 11 or 12 years old should get two shots of the HPV vaccine six to twelve months apart,” explains Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services of Genesee and Orleans Counties. “Getting vaccinated on time protects preteens long before ever being exposed to the virus.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some children may need three doses of the HPV vaccine. Adolescents who receive their two shots less than five months apart will need a third dose for best protection. Also, children who start the vaccine series on or after their 15th birthday need three shots given over 6 months.1

HPV vaccination provides the most benefit when given before a person is exposed to any HPV. That’s why the CDC recommends HPV vaccination at ages 11-12. The HPV vaccine is also recommended through age 26 for everyone who did not get vaccinated when they were younger. In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, to include women and men 27-45 years of age. Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated today.

In addition to receiving the HPV vaccine, the American Cancer Society recommends that women should also get screened regularly. Beginning at age 21, women should receive a Pap test every 3 years. Starting at age 30, women have three options available for screening3:

• A Pap test alone every three years

• An HPV test alone, every five years

• Co-testing with a Pap and HPV test, every five years

Depending on the results of the Pap and/or HPV tests, healthcare providers may recommend additional screening or procedures. Talk to your healthcare provider about screening options that are right for you.

If you are over the age of 40 and do not have health insurance, the Cancer Services Program (CSP) can help men and women receive preventative cancer screenings. The CSP provides breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings and diagnostic services at no cost. For more information, please contact your local CSP at 716-278-4898.

Press Release, GOW Opioid Task Force

BATAVIA – The quarterly meeting of the GOW Opioid Task Force is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Quality Inn & Suites Hotel on Park Road in Batavia.

Residents of Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties wanting to gain or share information regarding the opioid crisis are invited to attend.

“The purpose of this meeting is to address the growing opioid crisis by sharing information across several sectors and to monitor the task force’s progress in our tri-county region,” said Christen Ferraro, project coordinator. “You do not need to be a member (of the task force) to attend.”

Ferraro said the meeting will feature more than 10 community resource tables from agencies across the region.

“Our work groups will share their highlights of 2019 and plans for the upcoming year,” she said. “The Law Enforcement Work Group will be giving a presentation on the new bail reform law – going into more detail on what it means and how it might affect our area – and task force evaluators will discuss their role and share and their findings from last year.”

She said representatives of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation will talk about the grant that supports the task force and how to connect with the organization to apply for community health grants.

For more information about the GOW Task Force, go to www.gowopioidtaskforce.org.

To attend the meeting, click here for the Eventbrite link to RSVP or contact Ferraro at cferraro@gcasa.org.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A boater makes a stop in Albion near the Ingersoll Street lift bridge this past July.

ALBION – The second community meeting to gather public input on the Orleans County Canal Corridor Waterfront Revitalization Plan will be at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21 at Hoag Library.

Those in attendance will be provided with updated information on the Canal Corridor Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Plan followed by an open house to review potential projects along the Canal Corridor.

Participants will be able to provide their input on the potential projects that will be provided to the Waterfront Advisory Committee for consideration for inclusion in the final LWRP Plan.

The committee members are representatives from the villages of Albion and Holley, and the towns of Albion, Murray, Gaines, Ridgeway and Shelby. The Village of Medina has developed its own waterfront plan. (The county received a state grant for $62,000 to develop the plan and hired LaBella Associates as a consultant for the project.)

The Jan. 21 meeting at the library on South Main Street is another opportunity for residents and businesses in the community to provide feedback and help plan the future of the Canal Corridor.

About 40 people attended the first open house on Oct. 29, seeking ideas to capitalize on the canal. During that open house, LaBella handed out stickers and asked people to rank their highest priorities along the canal. Red-colored stickers signified the highest priority, with green the second highest, yellow the third highest and blue the fourth highest priority.

Many of the red stickers went by economic development, with a goal to boost investment and job opportunities in the canal communities. That includes a better environment for small businesses in the downtowns, as well as commercial, industrial and agriculture growth.

The farming sector would benefit from continued use of siphoning canal water for irrigation. The canal bridges also need to be strong enough to handle farm equipment, the group said.

Top priorities also went to more programs – community events, concerts, races, competitions and historical event celebrations – along the canal.

Some people wanted to see an improved streetscape, with more trees in the downtown, safer cross walks, and signage directing people to services and attractions. The canal towns should also have interpretive panels to better explain local history and the canal’s role in developing the towns.

The group also favors having distance markers on the towpath, to inform cyclists, boaters and other users how close they are to a town.

Adam Johnson, owner of 39 Problems in Albion, sees opportunities to use the canal in the winter, because there is some water that remains. Johnson said it could be used for ice skating and other winter sports. There also should be more launches along the canal for people with kayaks, he said.

The committee members are trying to prioritize projects and develop an action plan.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Wayne Krull, a lead motor equipment operator for the Orleans County Department of Public Works, runs an excavator today that took down trees and cleared out thick brush in an original section of the Erie Canal.

This photo was taken in the bottom of the muddy ditch that was the original Erie Canal, which was completed in 1825 and stretched 363 miles across upstate.

The Holley DPW put this sign on a tree several years ago. There isn’t much fanfare noted this 2,000-foot long section is the only remaining piece of the original Erie Canal west of Rochester. It is just west of Bennetts Corners Road and east of the lift bridge.

Village and county officials have talked for several years about clearing out the original section of the Canal, thinking it would add to Holley’s park system and also be a tourist attraction.

The canal was widened and deepened from 1905 to 1918 as part of the expansion into the Barge Canal system.

A mild winter so far this year has freed up some county DPW and village DPW workers to work on clearing the canal section. They started clearing the canal bed on Tuesday. Here, Krull uses the excavator to carry a  toppled tree down the path to a pile of brush and trees.

Krull uses a chainsaw to get one of the trees ready for a takedown with the excavator.

Ryan Hill, an Orleans County DPW motor equipment operator, uses a mini excavator to removes some of the brush and small trees.

Ken Vendetti, an MEO with the Village of Holley DPW, uses the Bobcat to move some of the trees and brush into a big pile.

The original canal loop curved and veered towards the Public Square. The canal was later straightened near Holley. One section of that original loop remained and was never filled in.  Holley officials think it could be a bigger community asset once it’s cleared.

(Click here to see a video of excavator in action today at the canal loop.)

Photo from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s office: Assemblyman Steve Hawley shares his concerns during a news conference today in Albany about the new bail reform law in the state.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Robert Ortt both are speaking out today about the state’s new bail reform regulations which don’t allow judges to set bail for many crimes.

Hawley, R-Batavia, joined law enforcement professionals, lawmakers and family members of crime victims at a press conference today in Albany held by Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay. They are seeking a repeal of “dangerous bail reform laws that are leading to serial criminals being released before trial.”

Joining lawmakers at the press conference today was Jennifer Payne, mother of Sarah Tombs who was shot and killed in April 2019 by her live-in boyfriend. The individual was released from custody last week under the new bail reform laws.

Also in attendance at the press conference was Sheila Harris, cousin of Maria “Rosie” Osai, a 35-year-old mother of three who was struck and killed by an unlicensed, hit-and-run driver in Rockland County on Christmas Eve. The driver was immediately released without bail pursuant to the new law.

“Bail reform has already become a public safety epidemic with a new, dangerous criminal released back out onto the streets seemingly each day,” Hawley said. “New York City politicians who passed this law are directly responsible for tying our judges’ hands and restricting their ability to lock up career criminals with long rap sheets and that has dire consequences. I am calling on legislative leaders to join us in making much-needed changes to bail reform immediately before any more damage is done.”

Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, issued a statement after a 21-year-old undocumented Guyanese immigrant allegedly raped and murdered 92-year-old Queens woman.

“This murderer was an illegal alien protected by New York’s radical regressives,” Ortt said. “He should have been deported and he would have been if he committed his violent crime nearly anywhere else in the country. How many more of our citizens need to die before New York Democrats wake up to the tragic effects their policies are having? Whether it’s complying with Democrats’ bail reform or Democrats’ sanctuary cities, dangerous criminals are being released back into our communities with alarming regularity.”

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R-Lockport) also attended the news conference and urged an immediate repeal of the new bail reforms which he said have caused confusion, fear and serious public safety concerns across the state.

“A full repeal is necessary right now!” Norris said. “This matter needs to be immediately addressed by the downstate driven majority legislature and Governor so that New Yorkers can remain safe in our communities. These sweeping changes never should have happened in this way. It was irresponsible to remove so much judicial discretion.

“By not allowing judges to decide if or how bail should be set in many of these cases, Albany has removed a critical public protection tool. Furthermore, it is extremely concerning to hear about cases all across our state where dangerous, repeat offenders are being set free only to commit new heinous acts – sometimes even on the same day they are released.”