Chief administrative officer has led Orleans through major construction projects

Chuck Nesbitt has served as the chief administrative officer in Orleans County for 14 ½ years.

ALBION – The chief administrative officer for the Orleans County government has announced he is leaving the job by the end of the year to take a job in the private sector.

Chuck Nesbitt has served as CAO for the county for 14 ½ years, leading the county through several major building projects, including the recent $11 million addition to the County Administration Building.

The county also is doing the second major upgrade to its emergency communications system in Nesbitt’s tenure.

He is taking a job with Wendel, an architectural and engineering firm. He will help Wendel expand its customer base in the Rochester and Syracuse area. Nesbitt will be a resource for local and state governments tackling building projects and infrastructure upgrades.

“He has committed a lot to Orleans County,” said Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature. “He gave it 110 percent. We were lucky to have Chuck Nesbitt for as long as we did. It was only a matter of time before a great offer came along. He was a gift to Orleans County.”

Nesbitt, an Albion resident, said he will continue to live locally. He and his wife, Elissa, have two young children. She is a member of the Albion Board of Education.

“I’m grateful to the legislators, the department heads and the people of Orleans County for the opportunity,” Nesbitt said today about the CAO job.

Nesbitt is well regarded in the county government circles. He just finished his tenure as president of the New York State Association of Counties. He served as president of the NYS Association of County Administrators and Managers from 2008 to 2018.

He has worked to reimagine the county government in Orleans County. That includes a merged health department with Genesee County, the only two-county public health department in the state.

Another recent hire for the county, John Papponetti, was recruited by Nesbitt to work as the county’s highway superintendent and also as an in-house engineer. Papponetti was working as an engineer for Labella and Associates. Papponetti was with Labella when he helped the county do an inventory of the conditions of county bridges and culverts.

He also worked with the department last year when it poured the concrete slabs and constructed a culvert on Culvert Road in Ridgeway. That was the first time the highway department did that kind of project by itself. It reduced the construction costs by an estimated $180,000.

The work of the highway department, and the partnership with Genesee County for public health is the kind of “outside the box” thinking Nesbitt brought to the county – a push to reduce costs while providing excellent service to the local residents.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson on May 22 presents Chuck Nesbitt with a “Special Recognition Award” from the County Legislature after he received a Public Service Excellence Award from the NYS Academy for Public Administration.

Nesbitt informed legislators and department heads on Friday that he will be leaving by the end of the year. He has the 2020 county budget nearly complete and the addition project is done.

“He’s left us in very good shape,” Johnson said. “But it’s going to be incredibly difficult to find another Chuck Nesbitt.”

Johnson praised Nesbitt for building a strong team of department heads. Nesbitt said he will exit the job knowing the county is in good hands with so many capable and dedicated county department heads.

Johnson said Nesbitt set a high standard for the department heads and county employees.

“He is a very hard leader, and he is also a very kind leader,” she said. “He balances that very well. He sits and he listens. He has great leadership skills.”

Nesbitt said he looks forward to the new job, which will keep him in contact with government leaders in the region.

“I’ve invested so much of myself in that position,” he said about serving as the CAO. “I’ve done everything I can do to help the county change course and with the professionalism. I’m really excited for the future and the great people I’ll work with. I’m looking forward to a new mountain to climb.”

Photos by Tom Rivers: The path leading up to the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery is pictured on Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a wind advisory on Sunday for Orleans, Niagara, Monroe and northern Erie counties.

The advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Weather Service said there will be southwest winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 mph.

The top of trees can be seen looking out from up high on the Mount Albion tower on Thursday.

Beggar’s Night draws several hundred in 2 villages

Photos by Tom Rivers

Twin brothers Logan (right) and Landon Scribner, 8, of Medina are dressed as Pokemon characters while headed for treats at Main Street TV & Appliance in Medina on Friday evening during the annual Beggar’s Night put on by the Medina Business Association.

Nearly 1,000 kids come out for the event, where downtown merchants hand out candy and treats.

Abbygal Fuller is dressed as a clown and her sister Grace Fuller is a scarecrow. They were passing out candy at Della’s Chocolates, which is run by their mother, Susan Fuller.

“I get to see all the children in their costumes and I get to dress up myself,” Grace said.

Fitz William “Mr. Fitz” dressed up for the occasion. Mr. Fitz is a 5-year-old English springer spaniel. He is owned by Kelly Herbert, left. Bonnie Heck, right, is the owner of Herbalty Cottage. Her husband Tom Heck is in back.

Herbert recently moved to Medina from New Jersey. She said she enjoys the quaint little town, and the many fun activities in the downtown.

“I love that the town and the businesses support the events,” she said.

Kasey Sprester, left, of Middleport holds her 6-month-old son, Mathew, while being greeted by Cindy Robinson, owner of the English Rose Tea Shoppe.

Kathy Blackburn dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast and greeted children and their families at the start of the Beggar’s Night route. Blackburn always dresses up as a character to kick off Beggar’s Night.

Madelyn Hill of Medina is delighted to get so much candy before Halloween. She dressed up as a skeleton.

There were a variety of costumes on display, with a dinosaur inflatable very popular.

The Albion Merchants Association and Village of Albion also put on their Beggar’s Night celebration on Friday. Albion Agencies was among the many businesses and organizations to decorate their store and hand out treats.

The staff at Roots always wears costumes for Beggar’s Night. This year they went with a Willy Wonka theme. Pictured from left are Jenna O’Connor, Lisa Heidemann, owner Amber Mogle, and Gretta Smith.

Mitzi Peglow, owner of Orleans Travel, and her daughter Stephanie Spencer hand out candy.

There was also a witches dance on Main Street in Albion.

No. 4 seeded Kendall downed visiting No. 5 Alfred-Almond 2-1 this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section V Class D1 boys soccer playoffs.

Kendall built up a 2-0 half-time advantage on a penalty kick goal by Hayden VanDusen followed by a goal by Zach Barret off an assist from Michael McCue.

Alfred-Almond’s goal came late in the second half.

Mason Kuhn made 16 saves in goal for Kendall including several big stops down the stretch.

Improving to 8-6-2, Kendall will next face top seeded Fillmore in the semifinals on Tuesday. Fillmore downed No. 9 Arkport/Canaseraga 4-2 this evening.

Girls Soccer
Roy-Hart 3, Southwestern 1
Kara Choate scored 2 goals and Reanna Perkins 1 for No. 4 seed Roy-Hart in the 2-1 Section VI Class B2 quarterfinal win over visiting No. 5 Southwestern.

Nadia White had 2 assists and Brooke Livergood 1 for the Lady Rams 2 which will next face top seeded Allegany-Limestone in the semifinals Tuesday. A-L downed No. 9 Eden 7-0.

Akron 2, Falconer 1
Goals by Olivia Kreher and Kara Sequin earned No. 2 Akron a 2-1 win over visiting No. 7 Falconer in a Class B2 quarterfinal.

Akron will now face Niagara-Orleans League foe Wilson in the semis on Tuesday.

Wilson 6, Olmsted 1
Lilly O’Lay and Leia Cloy both had 2 goals and Skylar Munnikhuysen a goal and 3 assists to lead No. 6 Wilson to a 6-1 B2 quarterfinal win over No. 3 Olmsted.

City Honors 5, Albion 1
Top seeded City Honors downed visiting No. 9 Albion 5-1 as Natalie Milne scored 3 goals and Sabrina Lonas 2.

Mariah Plain scored the lone goal for Albion which trailed by a slender 1-0 margin at the half.

The Purple Eagles finish the season at 9-8-1.

Canisteo-Greenwood 4, Holley 3
In a Section V Class C1 quarterfinal that was decided in a shootout, No. 5 Canisteo-Greenwood nipped host No. 4 Holley 4-3.

The marathon contest was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time and 3-3 after the overtime periods. Canisteo-Greenwood then scored on four penalty kick shots in the shootout to claim the narrow win.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Kevin Hillman goes up to intercept a pass intended for Tonawanda’s Zach Wood. The action took place during the host Purple Eagles sectional win over the Warriors this evening.

Surviving a bit of a late scare, No. 3 seed Albion downed visiting No. 6 Tonawanda 17-14 in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B playoffs this evening at Spierdowis Field.

Albion, which will now face the winner of Saturday’s No. 7 Olean at No. 2 Newfane quarterfinal in the semis next weekend, built up a 17-0 lead only to see Tonawanda rally for two touchdowns in the final five minutes to make the finish interesting.

The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 half-time advantage by scoring twice in the second quarter,

Albion’s Cody Wilson brings down Tonawanda running back Jason Frazer.

Deyonci Farley opened the scoring with a 1 yard touchdown run with 9:53 to go in the quarter as big pass completions of 23 and 42 yards from quarterback Thomas Furmanski to Kevin Hillman keyed the drive. Furmanski tacked on the extra point kick.

(Click here to see Deyonci Farley score Albion’s first TD.)

Tyray White then broke loose around right end for a 53 yard touchdown run as another PAT kick by Furmanski made it 14-0.

That drive followed a big series by the Albion defense which stopped the Warriors near their own goal line forcing a punt as Farley had two key tackles for losses.

The Purple Eagles offense did put together another big scoring threat just before halftime which reached the Tonawanda 10 only to have an interception in the end zone wipe out the threat.

Again in the third quarter, Albion had another scoring threat deep into Tonawanda territory wiped out by a turnover, this time by a fumble recovery into the Warriors end zone.

The Albion defense then came up with a turnover of its own with a big interception by Hillman at the Purple Eagles 40, a pick which ended up setting up a 20 yard field goal by Furmanski with 9:04 to go in the fourth quarter.

It was a field goal which at the time looked to merely pad the Albion lead to 17-0 but ended up being the margin of victory. A run of 12 yards by White and a 14 yard Furmanski to Hillman pass completion highlighted the drive.

(Click here to see Thomas Furmanski throw to Kevin Hillman for 14 yards to the Tonawanda 6.)

Tonawanda made the finish interesting by scoring twice late on touchdown passes from quarterback Justin Mangold to wide receiver Dylan Carey of 15 yards with 5:05 to go and of 20 yards with 29 seconds to go.

The Warriors got the ball back after the first touchdown on a fumble recovery by Mike Butsch. On the first snap Mangold hooked up with Carey for a big 52 yard pass completion down to the Albion 20 setting up the second TD.

Tonawanda then tried an onside kick but Albion made the recovery to lock up what proved to be a narrow win.

The Purple Eagles advance to the semifinals with a 7-1 record while the Warriors finish the season at 4-4.

(Click here to see Deyonci Farley make a tackle for a loss.)

Albion’s Brillance Johnson picks up yardage as Tonawanda’s Zach Wood comes in to make the tackle.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – The Ghost Walk at the Cobblestone Museum last Saturday included a double wedding. Josilynn Russo, left, of Pavilion portrayed one of the brides. She married a character played by Spencer Lombard, an Albion High School senior. Martin Hillman served as the minister.

The museum had a team of 75 volunteers for the Ghost Walk, which focused on life in the Fairhaven hamlet in 1862. (Fairhaven was the name for the hamlet before it was changed to Childs.)

The two men who were married were about to set off and fight for the Union in the Civil War.

The newlyweds share a playful moment near the end of the ceremony.

The couples head out of a full sanctuary at the Cobblestone Universalist Church. About 125 people attended the Ghost Walk. The other couple was portrayed by Robin Lewis and Bradley Jordan.

Marty Taber portrays Abraham Lincoln during the event. Taber helped write the script for the event. He is shown giving the response to an editorial written by prominent abolitionist Horace Greeley. Gerard Morrisey portrayed Greeley, who owned the Ward House next to the Cobblestone Church.

Greeley penned “The Prayer of Twenty Millions,” in which he scolded Lincoln for the way he was conducting the War Between the States.

Rachel Lockhart of Rochester portrayed a teacher in the Cobblestone School.

Gabby Davila of Brockport, front right, is one of the school children. The one-room schoolhouse opened in 1849 and served the Gaines community until it was closed in 1952. It remains largely preserved from the way it was when it was last open.

Melissa Nowicki of Hilton portrays Jenny Ward who is baking in the kitchen of the Ward House for the wedding. She is joined by sisters, Aubrey and Sylvia Bruning.

Jeff Casillo portrays the blacksmith, Joseph Vagg. Judy Larkin of Ridgeway also worked in the blacksmith shop during the Ghost Walk.

Erica Wanecski hands off a pair of boots to a cobbler portrayed by Fred Freeman. Kim Remley, left, also was a character in the Ghost Walk.­­

Natalie Bertsch of Albion is one of the townspeople.

Doug Mergler, a retired Albion teacher, portrayed the printer at Hill’s Print Shop.

Medal of Honor winner addresses Orleans County GOP

David Bellavia is pictured with Ed Morgan, who served as chairman of the Orleans County Republican Party for 12 years. Thursday’s dinner was dedicated to Morgan.

GAINES – A few years before he was deployed to Iraq, David Bellavia played for the Lyndonville varsity soccer and basketball teams. They faced tough local opponents from Holley and Kendall.

Bellavia, in a speech to the Orleans County Republican Party on Thursday, joked those sporting contests prepared him for the U.S. Army.

“The sports programs from Holley and Kendall got me ready for combat,” Bellavia told about 225 people during the fall rally for the Orleans County GOP.

Bellavia, 44, addressed the group, and passed on a chance to be in Tampa, Fla., during the annual convention of Medal of Honor recipients. Bellavia said he stayed in Orleans for the fall rally to help honor Ed Morgan, he served the local Republican Party for 12 years as chairman before retiring in February.

Thursday’s dinner was dedicated to Morgan, who is also the Murray highway superintendent. He is active with the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company, Orleans County Soil & Water and other community organizations.

Bellavia said Morgan has been a mentor. Bellavia wanted him at the White House on June 25 when Bellavia was presented the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump. Bellavia also invited Charlie Nesbitt, the former state assemblyman and a decorated pilot during the Vietnam War.

David Bellavia signs a copy of his book, House to House: An Epic Memoir of War. The book detailed his experiences as a staff sergeant in Fallujah and describes the efforts of front line forces in urban combat against insurgents. In back from left are Bill Basinait, Pat Eick and Bill Eick.

During his speech to the local Republicans, Bellavia said the county looks out for each other. He is grateful to Nesbitt. When Bellavia came home from war in 2005, Nesbitt was one of the first to meet with him. They have remained close friends.

David Bellavia lets Aedan Bunch, 16, of Medina hold Bellavia’s Medal of Honor.

Bellavia said the love for one’s community is what inspires many soldiers to risk their lives in fight in war zones.

He thanked the local officials for working to better Orleans, and push for jobs and opportunities so younger families can come back and stay in their hometowns.

Bellavia not only played sports at Lyndonville, but was involved in the music program and performed in the school musicals. The small-school atmosphere means students get lots of attention from teachers and administrators.

“Lyndonville offered me the opportunity to play music, play sports and take by studies seriously,” Bellavia said. “We have well-rounded people here.”

He mixed in many jokes during his speech, including when he saw Russ Martino in the crowd. Martino is a retired principal at Lyndonville who would later serve as the Yates town supervisor.

“I feared him more than Al-Qaeda,” Bellavia said.

Martino cared for the students and Bellavia said, “I didn’t want to disappoint him.”

He shared about how many people have thanked him for his military service. One veteran told him to respond to that by saying, “You’re worth it.”

Now, Bellavia often gives that reply.

“Orleans County is so worth it,” he said.

More than 200 people attended the dinner for Bellavia’s speech at Tillman’s Village Inn.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Cindy Robinson, owner of The English Rose Tea Shoppe, hands out treats during a recent Beggar’s Night. Medina merchants on Friday will be in costume, handing out treats from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Downtown business owners in Albion and Medina are ready for several hundred children to visit today. The businesses and other organizations will be handing out treats to kids in costume.

Medina has the event from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with participants lining up in the parking lot near the Medicine Shoppe on East Center Street.

The Albion Merchants Association starts its Beggar’s Night at 6 p.m. with participants (children 13 and under) meeting at the firehall on Platt Street. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Scarecrow Contest winners in Albion will be announced later during Beggar’s Night.

Game at 2 p.m. Saturday is fundraiser for Albion Elementary PTA

ALBION – It will be showtime in the Albion High School gym on Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Harlem Wizards play the Albion Hotshots.

The game is a fundraiser for the Albion Elementary PTA, which will use the proceeds to help pay for school field trips and other programs.

The Harlem Wizards last played a game in Albion on Oct. 4, 2011. The Wizards have been performing since 1962. They showcase fancy dribbling, teamwork and wild dunks, as well as comedy.

The Albion Hotshots are made up of 20 staff members from the school district.

Albion elementary students will be receiving tickets at school today to attend the game for free, as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult on Saturday. Any student who wears a Halloween costume to the game will receive a free basketball.

Rose Allen, president of the PTA, said many volunteers have been working hard on the event.

“It’s gonna be a slam dunk,” she said.

The general admission tickets are $12, with tickets for middle and high school students at $10. Courtside seats are $30 and special reserved seats are $18.

Ticket are available at all three school buildings or online (click here).

The Albion Elementary PTA each year spends about $5,400 to cover the costs of on field trip for each classroom from pre-kindergarten through grade 5. Those trips in the 2018-19 school year included a walking trip for PreK to Cone Zone for ice cream, Strong Museum of Play in Rochester for kindergartners, Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester for first-graders, Genesee County Park for second-graders, the Brick Lab in Spencerport for third-graders, Erie Canal Cruise in Lockport for fourth-graders, and Rochester Museum of Science and Strasenburgh Planetarium for fifth-graders.

The PTA also puts on three dances in the elementary school, and organized a book fair where every student could receive a book paid for by the PTA.

The group also supports a spelling bee, providing awards and covering the cost for Albion students to compete in the regional competition.

Community theater group brings back a popular show

Photos by Tom Rivers

MIDDLEPORT – Trisha Stacey, a Medina elementary music teacher, plays the role of Aunt Eller in the Lake Plains Players’ production of Oklahoma!

The show will be performed by 38 cast members on Friday and Saturday at 7:30, and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Roy-Hart High School Auditorium, 54 State St. (Click here for ticket information.)

The musical has been popular for generations. The Players performed it about 30 years ago. It emerged as a Broadway hit in 1943. Oklahoma! is set 1906 before Oklahoma became a state.

“We wanted something that would have general appeal,” said Diane Thurber, the musical’s director. “It’s family friendly. It has good versus evil.”

Johna Wiegand is Laurey, who is courted by two men. This is her first musical with the LPP. In this scene she holds a “magic potion” she bought from the unscrupulous peddler, Ali Hakim. It’s actually laudanum and Laurey falls asleep under the influence of the opiate.

One of Laurey’s suitors is Curly McLain (center), a cowboy played by Matthew P. Barry. Scott Weber is Will Parker, right, and Crystal Elliott is Gertie Cummings, a local farm girl fond of Curly.

Crystal Elliott of Medina became active in the LPP shows this spring. Her daughter also was in the LPP summer theater program for children. Elliott, 34, is a special education teacher at Holley. She was in the cast of Oklahoma! when she was a student at Albion in 2001.

The Lake Plains Players are like a family, Elliott said.

“I love the people,” she said. “They have become my people. And I love singing and dancing and being completely obnoxious in this role.”

Wes Pickreign, a retired Medina principal, is on stage with his wife, Linda. This is their first LPP show. They do the two-step and waltz in the show.

“It’s a lot of fun and it keeps us young,” said Mr. Pickreign, 64. “I like their energy.”

Drew Burke, a Barker vocal teacher, plays a loner, Jud Fry, a hired farmhand on Aunt Eller’s ranch. Burke said he usually is typecast in goofy roles. He welcomed the chance to play Jud, who Burke said is a misunderstood character. He tries to win Laurey’s affection.

This photo from the back of the stage shows the cast in one of the big numbers, “The Farmer and The Cowman.”

Lyndonville apple farmer Darrel Oakes has been a mainstay in the LPP productions for many years. He gets a solo in this scene. His nephew, Sawyer Wilson, is a cowboy in back center. Sawyer is a senior at Lyndonville High School.

Wendy Oakes Wilson returns to the stage after a 35-year break. She is Sawyer’s mother and Darrel’s sister. She also helps run LynOaken Farms and the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.

ALBION – Some Barre residents, who have voiced concerns to the Barre Town Board over a proposed wind turbine project, took their pleas to the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday.

But the County Legislature won’t be weighing in on the project, said Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Barre resident Sue Webster asks the Orleans County Legislature to take a stand against the proposed Heritage Wind project in Barre, where Apex Clean Energy wants to build 33 wind turbines. Webster said the turbines will reduce property values for many residents.

“Our 10 towns are run by home rule,” Johnson responded after three residents addressed the Legislature on Wednesday. “That is why we have town government. This is not a county matter. It is not up to the County Legislature to tell the town supervisors and town boards how to run their towns.”

Barre resident Sue Webster asked the Legislature to advocate for Barre residents, who Webster said will see property values fall from large turbines on the landscape. Apex Clean Energy wants to build 33 turbines that could top 650 feet in height.

“While some people will make thousands of dollars from their leases, others will have their property values decimated,” Webster said.

The county has advocated for lakeshore residents whose property has been damaged from flooding by Lake Ontario. Webster urged the Legislature to take up the cause of Barre residents who she said face a different threat to property values.

John Metzler, another Barre resident, said the turbines could affect the community’s health, and will consume lots of good agricultural land. He said the turbines also need precious resources for their construction.

Kerri Richardson, president of Clear Skies Above Barre, said seven town officials have conflicts of interest with the project, yet continue to speak on its behalf at town meetings, or with their official votes.

Metzler has asked the County Board of Ethics to look at those conflicts. Kathy Bogan, the county attorney, said the Ethics Board would be meeting “in the next few months” to consider the complaint, whether town officials have accepted money from Apex and then voted or acted in an official role in favor of the project.

The county stands to receive some money from the project in a PILOT, payment of lieu of taxes. That is currently being negotiated with representatives from the town, county and school districts.

The Legislature has passed officials resolutions about wind energy projects. It formally opposed the state’s new process of having a Siting Board review the projects and have the final say in whether they are approved. The Legislature said that takes away home rule from communities in determining whether a large-scale energy project should be permitted in a town.

Most recently on June 26, the Legislature passed a resolution urging the governor to direct the new Article 10 Siting Board “to require wind turbine projects to include all standard environmental and comprehensive health impact and environmental studies including consideration of the added potential for sleep disturbances from pulsating night noise dominated by low frequency and infrasound, especially under stable atmospheric conditions.”

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has designated the four public libraries in the county as official tourism information centers.

Community Free Library in Holley, Yates Community Library in Lyndonville, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina and Hoag Library in Albion will have displays with brochures and other official tourism marketing materials such as the Orleans County Travel Guide, Explore Orleans County NY Tourism Map, OC Fishing Guide, OC Bicycling Guide and Foods of Orleans County Dining Guide.

Elizabeth Haibach, a librarian at Hoag Library, suggested that the libraries serve as information centers. She is in the current Leadership Orleans class, and discussed the possibility with county leaders.

Dawn Borchet, tourism director for the county, said the libraries serve visitors who are traveling by car, boat or bicycle.

The libraries are popular spots with visitors who need restrooms, WiFi internet access, charging stations for their phones, and use of a copier, she said.

The county will soon have a new guide available for visitors that promotes spots in the county to go cycling, kayaking and hiking, Bouchet said during Wednesday’s County Legislature meeting.

Press Release, Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Departments

Each year, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (Oct. 20-26) is a call to bring together families, organizations, and local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention education and awareness.

“Lead poisoning is preventable!” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of Genesee and Orleans Counties. “Parents and caretakers can reduce their child’s exposure to lead in their environment and have their children tested for lead at ages 1 and 2.”

The 3 key themes of NLPPW are:

1. Get the Facts: Find out about the hazards of lead.
2. Get Your Home Tested: Find out how to minimize risks of lead exposure by hiring a certified professional to test older homes for lead.
3. Get Your Child Tested: A simple blood test can detect lead. Consult your health care provider for advice on testing your children.

Lead can be found inside and outside the home, including in the water that travels through lead pipes or in the soil around the house. However, the most common source is from lead-based paint.

Most homes built before 1978 have old lead paint, often under newer paint. If paint peels, cracks, or is worn down, the chips and dust from the old lead paint can spread onto floors, windowsills and all around your home. Lead can enter the body by breathing in or swallowing the lead dust (especially during activities such as renovations, repairs or painting).

Lead poisoning occurs when lead enters the bloodstream and builds up to toxic levels. Children less than 6 years old are especially at risk because of their small size and developing brains. Children are most commonly exposed to lead by eating paint chips or chewing on surfaces coated with lead-based paint, such as window sills. Children also tend to put their hands and/or other objects, which may be contaminated with lead dust, into their mouths. Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child’s health and cause:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system

• Slowed growth and development

• Learning and behavior problems

• Hearing and speech problems

During pregnancy, lead can cross over from the mother to the baby. High levels of lead in the blood during pregnancy could affect the baby’s growth and development. This could affect a baby’s hearing, vision, and ability to learn. Very high levels of lead can lead to bleeding, miscarriage (death of fetus), or stillbirth (dead at birth).

A blood lead test is the only way to find out if your child has been exposed to lead and has a detectable blood lead level. Most children with detectable levels of lead in their blood have no obvious symptoms.

New York State requires health care providers to test all children for lead with a blood lead test at ages 1 and again at 2. At every well-child visit up to age 6, health care providers must ask parents about any contact their child might have had with lead. If there’s been a chance of contact, providers are required to test for lead again.

One of the most important things parents, caretakers, and medical providers can do is have children screened for lead at ages 1 and again at 2. The goal is for all children to be tested for lead at these ages.

The table below shows local data from 2018 in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Lead testing and early detection can prevent long-term health problems for your child and their future. Make sure to talk to your child’s doctor about lead screening at their next appointment.

County           % of Children Tested at 1            % of Children Tested at 2

Genesee          63.9%                                      59.8%

Orleans            60.6%                                     55.3%

Wyoming          63.0%                                    61.0%

“Effective October 1st, 2019 a child whose blood lead level is 5 µg/dl (micrograms per deciliter) or more will be contacted by their local health department who will help families identify sources of lead and create plans to remove it by conducting home inspections,” Pettit explained. “In addition, Public Health Nurses will work with the family and the child’s Primary Care Provider to support the process. Public Health Nurses will contact the parents/guardians to discuss the child’s diet, growth and development, and how to prevent further exposure to lead. The nurses will work with the child’s provider’s office as well to make sure future testing is scheduled, allowing for the blood lead levels to be monitored until they fall below the action level.”

To learn more about the New York State Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, please click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Neal Muscarella, a mason from Albion, repoints mortar on the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery. Muscarella expects to be finished with the job today.

The tower is in the southeast section of Mount Albion. The structure rises 68 feet from the hill it stands on. The tower was completed in 1876 as the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. It is a memorial to the 463 people from Orleans County who were killed during the Civil War.

Muscarella is up high on scaffolding for the project.

This photo was taken looking down from the top of the tower, which has an 84-step spiral staircase.

The repointing should help keep out moisture. Muscarella has done several projects recently at the cemetery, including work on the new front sign and repairs to the stone wall at the memorial pond.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks with WNY media in the Missile Room at Old Fort Niagara on Wednesday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is leaning towards setting a special election for April 28 to fill the vacancy for the 27^th Congressional seat.

Cuomo said he won’t let the seat go unfilled until the next regular election in November 2020.

“My predisposition in all of these situations is I don’t like to leave the seat open because we lose a voice, we lose a proponent,” he told reporters Wednesday at Fort Niagara, after he announced $49 million in grants for projects in Orleans and Niagara counties. “Whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat, I want somebody fighting for Western New York. If you leave this seat open you have one less person on the team, you have one less person fighting for you. We need help from the federal government. We have a lot of projects going on.”

Chris Collins resigned from Congress on Sept. 30. He pleaded guilty to federal charges on Oct. 1 to participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and to making false statements to federal law enforcement agents when interviewed about his conduct.

Collins was re-elected last November in a close race against Nate McMurray, a Democrat who has announced he will be seeking the position again.

The district covers eight counties, including Orleans. Several Republicans are interested in the position. David Bellavia was viewed as a frontrunner, but he announced he won’t be running for Congress in the upcoming special election.

Cuomo said the April 28 presidential primary would bring a lot of people to the polls. He doesn’t want to have a separate special election outside of April 28 because he said the elections are costly and can be confusing to people when the election isn’t at a usual date in the election calendar.

“Whenever we can group elections together I also think it makes more sense for people,” the governor said. “We want people to vote. But to facilitate voting for people don’t make them come out 10 times to vote. Make them go to the polls once to make all of those decisions.”

Nick Langworthy, the Republican Party chairman in New York, said last week that holding the special election on April 28 would favor the Democratic Party candidate because voter turnout is expected to be much higher for the Democratic presidential primary, where many candidates are vying for the nomination.

Cuomo said he hasn’t made a decision on the date.

“That is the next election that is coming up,” he said about the presidential primary. “It’s in April and we have to hold it anyway. There is a lot of time between now and April so whoever wants to run has plenty of time. That is what we are considering.”