Provided photo: The Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force was honored recently by the New York State Association for Rural Health as the Outstanding Rural Health Program of the Year. From left are Matthew A. Kuhlenbeck, President & CEO of Greater Rochester Health Foundation; Paul Pettit, director of Public Health Departments in Genesee & Orleans counties; Charlotte Crawford, Lake Plains Community Care Network; Nicole Anderson, GCASA; John Bennett, GCASA; Allison Parry-Gurak, GCASA; Shannon Ford, GCASA; Holli Gass, Spectrum Health & Human Services; and Rosalie Mangino-Crandall, GCASA.
Courtesy of Mike Pettinella, publicist for the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
The Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force has been selected as the Outstanding Rural Health Program of the Year by the New York State Association for Rural Health.
The award was announced at the organization’s conference from Sept. 25-27 in Niagara Falls.
Nominated by Julie Gutowski, Vice President of Clinical Operations and Services for Spectrum Health & Human Services, the task force was recognized for its efforts in developing an emergency department screening process used at local hospitals that helps to identify people using opioids that then connects patients with Peer Advocate or Recovery Coach in addition to a referral for treatment.
The NYSARH also mentioned the task force’s tri-county crisis line, which has resulted in a measurable decrease in drug overdose visits to local hospitals as well as opioid-related deaths between 2017 and 2018.
“It is truly a great honor for the GOW Opioid Task Force to be recognized as the Outstanding Rural Health Program from the New York State Association for Rural Health,” said Allison Parry-Gurak, task force coordinator. “I am humbled every day by the amount of passion and dedication our tri-county region has shown to ending the opioid crisis for our communities.”
Parry-Gurak said the task force has “embraced a tri-county approach to our mission,” realizing that rural communities thrive when there is grass-roots support.
“The task force is a wonderful example of the strength and impact rural communities can have when they collaborate to address public health concerns,” she added. “While we have had great success thus far, our work is not finished yet. We accept this award on behalf of our members and our community partners, but also on behalf of our community members that we have lost to the opioid crisis, those who are still fighting and the family members and loved ones who have been impacted.”
The goal of the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force is to address the growing opioid crisis in the tri-county area. It currently has more than 350 members from across the tri-county region.
Members represent various sectors of the community, including public health, mental health, human services, local government, substance use disorder treatment and recovery agencies, law enforcement, EMS, faith-based groups, health systems and medical practitioners, education, businesses, concerned individuals, families, and individuals in recovery. There are six active work groups that meet regularly to address the needs of the community.
John Bennett, executive director of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, expressed his gratitude to the task force, which includes several GCASA staff members.
“Congratulations to Allison Parry-Gurak for her great work coordinating the task force and for Shannon Ford’s guidance in assisting her,” Bennett said. “And also to the many staff who sit on or chair a sub-committee of the task force.”
The mission of the New York State Association of Rural Health is to improve the health and well-being of rural New Yorkers and their communities. Functioning as a “voice for rural health,” the NYSARH is a statewide organization that advocates at the national and state levels on behalf of its membership.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2019 at 11:37 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Gary Rowley of the Barre Volunteer Fire Company helps Boyd, a kindergarten student, spray water at a target this morning outside the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School.
Barre, Albion and Carlton firefighters led students on several stations to learn about the different equipment, tools and apparatus firefighters used to respond to emergency calls.
The visit from the firefighters caps fire prevention week. Firefighters also have a contest to emphasis fire prevention. One student from each grade will be picked (from PreK through grade 5) to ride to school in a fire truck. One student will be selected from each grade who creates the best poster or display about fire prevention.
Students check out the rescue boat for the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company.
Carlton firefighters Ryan Woolston, center, and Ferdinando Papalia, left, talk about the rescue boat and also the rescue truck and some of the tools on each one. Woolston told the students the rescue truck is used to go in the woods for some calls, and also has extrication equipment to help people trapped in a car accident.
Barre firefighter Mark Farone assists Nova, a kindergartener, in spraying the water from a hose.
Fred Piano of the Albion Fire Department gives students a tour of the ladder truck. The students were able to climb inside the truck.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2019 at 9:59 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Law enforcement, firefighters and COVA medics are on the scene of an accident this morning on Route 104.
GAINES – Two people were killed this morning in an accident after they struck a deer, swerved and then went over a guard rail and landed upside down in Beardsley Creek.
The driver and a passenger of a 4-door sedan were headed east on Route 104 when the deer was struck at 6:49 a.m.
Undersheriff Chris Bourke said it appears the driver overcorrected, drove up the end of a guard rail which then caused the vehicle to flip over. The vehicle landed in deep water in the creek, which is between Eagle Harbor and Gaines Basin roads.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is working to notify the family of the fatal accident. The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit also is at the scene assisting the Sheriff’s Office.
Local health officials are still waiting on details from the federal government on a $1.3 million grant awarded to Genesee and Orleans counties for lead-hazard abatement and reduction in older homes.
Paul Pettit
At a meeting of the Human Services Committee in Genesee County last week, Paul Pettit, director of the health departments in both counties, said he is waiting to hear about the formal guidelines for the grant.
“This is a significant amount of funding to come into Genesee County and to Orleans County and it would really help us to help those who don’t have the means and the funds potentially to fix the problem,” Pettit said in an interview with The Batavian.
Pettit’s office applied for the grant over the summer.
The grant will enable the health departments to identify housing stock with potential lead hazards and make available grant money to the property owners to remediate the hazard.
“This funding is very important because what it does is, it allows, number one, a potential partnership with the homeowners or rental landlords to be able to fix a problem before a child gets poisoned and have funding available to remediate those homes prior to the poisoning occurring,” Pettit said. “So when you look at it from a primary prevention standpoint, that’s what we want to do. We want to try to prevent a child from getting poisoned in the first place.”
The grants will be available to both homeowners and landlords of residences built prior to 1978 in three of the four census tracks in the City of Batavia and one census track in Albion.
Until the guidelines are in place, Pettit said it’s not possible to provide details on how properties will be identified, inspected and what the criteria will be for providing assistance to property owners.
“We’re gonna have to stand this program up fairly quickly when we get the formal announcement of the funding,” Pettit said.
Health department staff has recently been through training for lead risk-assessment certification, Pettit told the Human Services Committee.
He also told the committee there is legislation pending in Albany that would require landlords with housing built prior to 1978 to receive annual lead-safe certification for their units, unless they made the property lead free, which would mean doing likes like removing trim, replacing windows, installing siding on the outside of the building.
“We do not want to see any child poisoned from lead exposure,” Pettit said. “It can lead to developmental delays and other health impacts that could affect them over their entire lives. It’s very important to identify and find these hazards early and then protect the children so they’re not getting lead poisoning.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2019 at 10:18 pm
ALBION – An Albion family which received a new playground in their backyard in January 2017 has donated the setup to Bullard Park.
The Albion Village Board accepted the donation this evening. The playground will go at the Pee Wee Park section of Bullard, which is for smaller children.
Bears Playgrounds in Lima constructed the playground in January 2017. The company will relocate the playground to Bullard.
Beth and Kyle Webb are giving the village the playground. It was built for their late daughter, Elaina Webb, who was 2 ½ when she passed away from cancer on Feb. 7, 2017, less than a month after the playground was constructed.
Make-A-Wish worked with Bears Playgrounds to build the playground made of northern cider white logs. It has four slides, two bridges, swings and other equipment.
Elaina Webb, 2 ½ in January 2017, is shown with her father Kyle Webb and older brother Colin after a new playground was in the family’s backyard on Herrick Street in Albion.
Elaina fought acute myeloid leukemia for about nine months. She received three rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant.
Beth Webb said the family appreciates the support of the local small town while they were caring for their daughter.
“We would like to donate it to Bullard so the community that took care of us can have something from her,” Beth Webb told the Village Board this evening.
She said Bears Playgrounds will continue to honor the warranty on the playground.
Mayor Eileen Banker thanked the Webb family for giving the village the playground. She said a plaque will note it was given in honor of Elaina Webb.
GAINES – Coordinators of the Cobblestone Museum Civil War Ghost Walk on Oct. 19 are looking for some enthusiastic actors to fill some remaining open roles.
The Civil War Ghost Walk will lead ticket holders back in time to meet “gentle spirits” who are characters from the year 1862, mainly fictionalized residents of Orleans County, based on local history. Dress Rehearsal is this Saturday at the Cobblestone Museum at 2 p.m.
Candidates should contact Sue Bonafini, Assistant Director, at volunteers@cobblestonemuseum.org or 585/589-9013 for full details.
Outstanding roles to be filled with short speaking lines in the Civil War Ghost Walk:
• Mary, a young girl at the One-Room Schoolhouse, grades 1 – 8
• Farmer Brown, orchard owner
• An Impatient Customer/Farmer in the Blacksmith Shop
• Joe, a blacksmith/farrier at the Blacksmith Shop
• Mr. Hill, a mature owner/printer of a Print Shop, who laments that he is no longer a young man and therefore will not enlist to fight against the Great Rebellion
• Sarah, a mother of a teen daughter
• Non-speaking roles are available for all ages at the Cobblestone Church as part of the 19th century congregation. This includes two males to accept the non-speaking roles of the Father of two young women, and a Witness at a wedding ceremony.
A number of behind-the-scenes roles are still vacant, including additional Parking Attendants and Safety Guards to assist tours crossing at the intersection of Routes 98 & 104 on Oct. 19.
Tours will be held at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the afternoon. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested for this 90-minute walking tour through museum campus buildings and grounds. Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza will offer open-hearth pizza cooked fresh to order. Tickets can be purchased with the additional option to purchase a pizza. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2019 at 2:35 pm
ALBION – The Kentucky Fried Chicken in Albion will close after 11 p.m. on Thursday, its final day of business.
KFC opened on June 27, 2012. George Hsiao is owner of the plaza where KFC is located and is the franchisee through KFC. He is battling an illness and can’t continue in the role, prompting the KFC to close.
Sandra Chappius is a managing partner of the restaurant with Hsiao. She also runs Chap’s Elba Diner and a catering business. She doesn’t want to become the franchisee for the KFC in Albion, which would require a bigger time and financial commitment.
“It’s not a failure and it’s not going bankrupt,” Chappius said today. “We have very good customers and I love the people who work there. They are a wonderful, wonderful crew.”
The KFC has 11 employees. Chappius said they are hard workers.
‘We will not shoulder the burden of the destruction that is a direct result of the IJC’s gross mismanagement of Lake Ontario water levels, and the IJC needs to compensate New York for the severe damage to the homes and businesses along the shoreline. That’s what this lawsuit is all about.’ – Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is filing a lawsuit against the International Joint Commission for its mismanagement of Lake Ontario water levels that caused catastrophic damage to shoreline communities.
As a direct result of the IJC’s mismanagement, extremely high water levels exacerbated damage to residences and businesses, swept away large swaths of the shoreline, and upended the lives of thousands of New Yorkers twice in the past three years. Property owners have suffered severe erosion and loss of vegetation, while the State sustained more than $4 million in property damage that it still has not been able to fully repair. The lawsuit argues that the IJC must compensate the State for the destruction resulting from water level mismanagement.
“The facts of the matter are plain: The IJC’s function is to manage the Lake Ontario water levels, and they failed – period. They have been wholly unresponsive and have taken no action to make the situation better,” Governor Cuomo said. “We will not shoulder the burden of the destruction that is a direct result of the IJC’s gross mismanagement of Lake Ontario water levels, and the IJC needs to compensate New York for the severe damage to the homes and businesses along the shoreline. That’s what this lawsuit is all about.”
Specifically, the complaint asserts the following causes of action:
• Negligence: IJC breached its duty by failing to take sufficient steps to protect the interests of New York property owners on the Lake Ontario shoreline.
• Nuisance: Based on the severe flooding that resulted from IJC’s mismanagement, IJC was or should have been substantially certain that its conduct would cause an invasion of the State’s interest in the use and enjoyment of its land.
• Trespass: IJC failed to increase outflows from Lake Ontario to lower water levels and abate flooding, which constituted an invasion of property.
In an attempt to mitigate exposure to property owners, the State repeatedly called on the IJC to release as much water from the Moses Saunders Dam as possible. Rather than protect shoreline communities, the IJC has favored commercial shipping interests. In a June 8 letter to the U.S. and Canadian Chairpersons of the IJC, the Governor, on behalf of the State of New York, called on the commission to take immediate action to correct its water management protocols to remedy the ongoing threat to the citizens and businesses caused by Lake Ontario flooding.
The Governor demanded that the IJC reimburse New York for its costs, and make additional funds available for resiliency projects and other protective measures made necessary by the IJC’s acts and omissions. The IJC has failed to address any of these demands. Instead, the IJC has recently reduced the outflows slightly notwithstanding continued record-high water levels. As laid out in the DEC’s complaint, the IJC can no longer hide behind a claim of sovereign immunity and must now answer for its negligent conduct and failure to adhere to obligatory requirements to address high water levels. The IJC’s failure to take action compels this legal action.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Time and time again, Governor Cuomo has called on the IJC to put the safety and integrity of New York’s shoreline communities ahead of shipping interests. And repeatedly, the IJC failed to act. New York State is making significant investments to improve the resiliency of homes and businesses along Lake Ontario. We are now demanding that the IJC do the responsible thing, and take action to safeguard our communities from high water.”
In 2017, New York State responded quickly to the crisis and took immediate action to protect communities by delivering critical state resources to help communities and businesses rebuild. The State committed $117 million to rebuild communities along the Lake Ontario shoreline that were devastated by high water levels in 2017, only to once again this year experience record-high water levels in these same communities. Following these events, the IJC should have recognized the significant potential of future devastation from rising waters and taken action to lessen the extent of damage caused by flood waters.
Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport, said, “Taxpayers and businesses along the southern shore of Lake Ontario have suffered significant damages and this legal recourse is necessary to obtain justice for them moving forward. I commend Governor Cuomo for initiating this action.”
This year, and to prepare for anticipated, future high water levels on the lake, Governor Cuomo established the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative, or REDI Commission and committed up to $300 million to support its efforts. The multi-agency REDI Commission is charged with developing a plan to increase the resiliency of infrastructure along Lake Ontario’s waterfront while strengthening the region’s local economies, which are heavily dependent on summer tourism.
The commission is currently examining areas susceptible to damage caused by the rising waters, including those hit hard in 2017, in order to develop a package of new state actions ranging from legislative changes to aid packages to executive actions that will not just rebuild the shoreline, but improve resiliency to withstand unforeseen weather events. The state anticipates it will have spent $45 million in response and damage costs for 2019, and as part of REDI’s comprehensive examination of projects to promote resiliency and economic development in the affected region.
In addition to delivering millions in funding to help restore residents and businesses affected by the rising water-levels on Lake Ontario, New York State has deployed more than 1.5 million sandbags, hundreds of pumps, and 11,000 feet of temporary dams in eight counties along Lake Ontario in preparation for damage caused by high water levels. New York State will continue to take aggressive action to ensure residents and businesses are protected from these high-water levels, but the state should not have to bear the costs without any action from the IJC.
Editor’s Note: State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, issued this statement: “Today’s announcement that New York State would be suing the International Joint Commission for damages caused by flooding connected to Plan 2014 is long overdue. Although the Attorney General’s office declined to act on my proposal to sue the federal government for damages caused by Lake Ontario’s flooding back in May, I am pleased to see they have had a change of heart and will now seek financial compensation for the residents, localities, and businesses along the lake’s shores.
“Lake Ontario property owners, localities, and businesses have been devastated by flooding in two of the last three years in large part due to the International Joint Commission’s Plan 2014, which was approved in the last days of the Obama administration. That is why I was the first elected official to call on going after the International Joint Commission for damages. These businesses, localities, and residents have been forced to live with dangerous flooding that has caused immense financial strain due to the implementation of Plan 2014. New York State cannot continue to be the sole provider of emergency relief funding for residents impacted by Lake Ontario’s flooding, and it is time for the federal government to take responsibility for the damage it has caused.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2019 at 10:32 am
Village also wants feedback on logo, projects
HOLLEY — The village will be hosting a fall festival on Oct. 17 that also includes a chance to tour the old Holley High School, which is being turned into apartments and the offices for the village government.
The fall festival will be at the front lawn of the former school, 1 Wright St., from 3 to 7 p.m. Tours of the building will be on a first come, first served basis from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Home Leasing, a Rochester company, started construction in November 2018 on a $17 million transformation of the former Holley High School, a building that has been vacant for more than two decades.
Home Leasing is turning the site into 41 senior apartments as well as the offices for the Village of Holley. The village expects to move the village offices into the former school in January.
Village officials also want to hear from the community about revitalization projects in Holley, as well as a new logo and tagline to promote the community.
The festival also includes a scarecrow decorating contest, with people encouraged to bring their own materials to dress a scarecrow between 3 and 6 p.m. Judging will be at 6:30 p.m. Participants need to preregister by Oct. 10 at saldrich@bergmannpc.com.
There also will be pumpkin decorating at the festival, with cider and donuts available.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2019 at 9:46 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: Stephen Winner, drum major for the Gates Keystone Club, leads the band through the center aisle in a processional at the end of the Blue Mass on Oct. 22, 2017.
ALBION — The Knights of Columbus in Albion welcomes first responders for the fourth annual Blue Mass at Holy Family Parish (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church) on Oct. 20.
The Mass begins at 10:30 a.m. at the church at 106 North Main St. The service will be an opportunity to honor and pray for law enforcement officers, corrections officers, coroners, firefighters, and medics.
The service will include music by the Gates Keystone Club (Police Pipes and Drums). The band formed in 1998 to “for the purpose of honoring our fallen brothers and sisters and to participate at official ceremonial events.”
Greg Dugan, one of the leaders of the Knights of Columbus, has pushed for the Blue Mass locally. Dugan, owner Greg’s Barbershop, was critically injured in a motorcycle accident on Aug. 6, 2012. He was seriously injured in the accident, breaking both knees, both wrists, separating his pelvis, fracturing his left hip, and lacerating his left leg.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 October 2019 at 8:56 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Lyndonville United Methodist Church Pastor Olga Gonzalez and member Ruth Hedges display some of the items which will be available during the church’s fourth annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 12.
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville United Methodist Church’s pastor, Olga Gonzalez, is anxiously awaiting the church’s fourth annual Autumn Festival this Saturday.
Gonzalez began serving as pastor at the Lyndonville church July 1, 2018. She had heard such nice things last year about the festival and was looking forward to it, when she realized she would be in Cuba on a mission trip.
“Now I want to invite all the people this year to come and shop,” she said.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature homemade baked goods, a room full of craft items and fresh produce on the lawn, said organizer Ruth Hedges.
Many donated gift certificates and baskets will be up for bids during a silent auction, which will end at 1:30 p.m.
Hedges urges everyone who attends to “think Christmas presents, while helping the church as well.”
Lunch will be available, consisting of beef on weck or Salen’s hot dogs with macaroni salad, baked beans and a beverage. There will also be cups of chili.
Other activities include face painting for children and shopping in the church’s thrift store.
Resales Thrift Store opened on March 31 and will be open during the Autumn Festival. The store has had an outpouring of support from the surrounding community, both with donations and customers, Hedges said.
The store could always use more volunteers. It is open 15 hours a week, she said, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Anyone interested in helping can call Hedges at (585) 866-9133 or by e-mail at recanham@yahoo.com.
The Harvest Festival is just one of many activities and programs which the church is sponsoring.
The church this past Monday began a six-week study of Adam Hamilton’s book Creed: What Christians Believe and Why. Used in conjunction with a six-session DVD, the book explores the Apostles’ Creed and Foundational Christian truths, such as the purpose of life. The group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Wesley Lounge upstairs, led by Anne Hyndman. The study is open to anyone. Those planning to attend are asked to contact the church office to make sure they have enough books.
Darcy Brabon has organized Lyndonville Youth Serving Seniors, a group of youngsters who want to help seniors in the Lyndonville area. In September, the group went to the Lyndonville cemetery and cleaned the headstones of veterans. Each month they will work on a new project, such as raking leaves for people or taking paper products to those who might need help making cards. This group is looking for new ideas on who or how to help seniors. It is open to any young person who would like to participate.
The church will still continue to have its Mini Mall for children during the Lyndonville Christmas celebration on Dec. 7. Festivities will be relocated to the Fellowship Hall this year, so Hope Resales may remain open in the basement.
Divorce Care meetings led by Sharon Allen continue to run periodically throughout the year, when interest is shown. Help, hope and healing are offered through this support group which meets weekly.
Anyone interested in any of the church’s projects may contact the church office at (585) 765-9313.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 October 2019 at 9:49 pm
MEDINA – Construction is expected to start tomorrow (Wednesday) on Medina’s dog park on North Gravel Road by the village’s former compost plant.
The Friends of the Medina Dog Park raised $15,000 for the park, which will be on North Gravel Road by the village’s compost plant.
The first phase includes fencing for three enclosures – for small dogs, large dogs and an agility area. There will also be benches and waste stations with bags for dog poop.
A ribbon cutting is tentatively expected for Oct. 26.
With the second phase, The Friends of the Medina Dog Park wants to add agility equipment, and water and rinse stations. The Medina Village Board agreed to set aside about 1 acre of the land for the dog park, which will be the first in Orleans County.
Construction is also expected to start next week on another citizens-led project. A new splash pad will be constructed at Pine Street Park. A group of residents have raised more than $150,000 for park improvements, including the splash pad. The park will also have new playground equipment and pathway that will include flowers and butterfly gardens.
Mayor Michael Sidari said the community is fortunate to have local residents spearheaded projects to improve the quality of life in the village.
Three local residents are part of the new class for LEAD NY, a two-year program for agricultural and food leaders in the state.
Jessica Decker of Kendall (Quality Systems Manager for the Brockport plant of Bonduelle USA), Matthew Toussaint of Medina (Partner/Manager of Toussaint Farms LLC in Medina) and David Bittner of Lyndonville (Orchard manager for Bittner-Singer Orchards in Appleton) have been selected to participate in the intensive leadership development program.
LEAD New York, established 32 years ago as the Empire State Food and Agricultural Leadership Institute, has inspired nearly 500 graduates to take on leadership roles and make meaningful contributions in virtually every segment of the food, agricultural and natural resource industries of the Northeast.
LEAD New York consists of seminars, workshops, and field travel experiences both in and out of New York State, including a week-long international study trip. It is designed for women and men who provide leadership to the food, agricultural and natural resource industry. The program focuses on leadership skill development, self-awareness, civic engagement, a greater understanding of rural issues and cultivating leadership networks.
Participants enter the program with diverse backgrounds, goals and levels of leadership experience, but all share a common commitment to the future of New York’s food and agriculture system and rural communities. Through LEAD New York they will become immersed in the latest trends, issues, perceptions and technological advancements in food and agriculture and get hands-on experience through facility tours and face-to-face meetings with influential figures.
Class members improve leadership and communication skills including public speaking, meeting management, and effective listening while building valuable professional relationships. The program enhances an overall understanding of agriculture and our food system from production to consumption, allowing individuals to seek creative solutions to today’s problems and anticipate tomorrow’s needs.
For more information about LEAD New York, click here.
Press Release, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., Western District of New York
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Andrew Campbell, 33, of Albion pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Andrew Campbell
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, who is handling the case, stated in July 2018, an individual contacted the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office after discovering a disturbing video on a desktop computer that belonged to the defendant. The witness and Campbell lived together on and off and Campbell left the computer at the residence when he was made to vacate the residence by the witness in June 2018. In addition to the desktop computer, Witness 1 also turned over a laptop computer and hard drive.
A forensic analysis of the desktop, laptop, and hard drive revealed more than 65 image files and more than 20 videos containing child pornography. Some of the images depicted the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler, and other depictions of violence.
The plea is a result of an investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Randy Bower, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 29, 2020, at 1 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 October 2019 at 12:01 pm
ALBION – The school district has shortage of substitute teachers and substitute teachers’ aides, an issue that is prevalent throughout the region, said Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent.
The Board of Education wants to see the extent of the problem of Albion, and asked Bonnewell to put together a report for how often substitutes are unavailable as teachers and aides.
Bonnewell said a tight labor market with a low unemployment has made it challenging for districts to have enough substitutes.
“The reality is there are not enough people signing up to be substitutes,” Bonnewell said at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. “People are employed so they’re not waiting for their phone to ring for a job.”
The issue was raised at Monday’s board meeting when the board followed the Albion Teachers Association in agreeing to modify the ATA contract with the district. The change will allow teachers to put off contractual prep time during the school day to fill in where a substitute teacher or aide is needed. The teachers will be paid $25 per hour when they give up the prep time during the school day.
Albion has boosted the sub pay in recent years. The district has raised the hourly pay for teacher aides from $10.40 an hour in 2017-18, to $11.10 an hour last school year to $11.80 in 2019-20, partly to reflect rising minimum wage rates.
Certified substitutes are paid $100 a day this year, the same as in 2018-19. The year before that, certified subs were paid $95. Noncertified substitutes are paid $5 less per day.
Kathy Harling, the Board of Education president, said the district should consider adding more teachers’ aides.
Bonnewell said a full-time aide cost about $50,000 with benefits, salary and retirement, and that would only fill one aide. He said there are usually three or four substitute teacher aides needed each school day.
In addition to the report about percentage of unfilled classes that need substitutes, the board wants to see the attendance overall rates for teachers and teachers’ aides. Higher attendance from staff would also reduce the need for substitutes, board members said.
