Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is calling out the Majority for its inability to present a finished state budget. The budget, which was due on April 1, is now over three weeks late with no end in sight.

Without a finalized proposal, local organizations such as school boards will have to prepare their own budgets without any idea of how much revenue they will be getting from the state.

“The delayed budget is a slap in the face to our local school districts courtesy of Gov. Hochul and the Majority in Albany,” said Hawley. “How can our school boards create their budgets if they don’t even know what funds they will be getting? This isn’t just a mild inconvenience. They are setting our schools up for failure. We need real leadership if we want to provide for our local school districts.”

What was supposed to be a time when the state Legislature was not scheduled to be in session has turned into a colossal waste of taxpayer funds. Currently, Gov. Hochul is costing taxpayers $40,000 per day in per diems and mileage to bring members back to Albany.

That’s nearly $300,000 that could have been avoided had the Majority presented a budget on time. Hawley has introduced a proposal that would prevent the governor from receiving a paycheck until the budget is passed. Currently, the same standard is applied to the state Legislature, and Hawley believes this should be the case for the governor as well.

“The fact that the governor can continue to hold up budget negotiations and still cash her paychecks is completely ridiculous,” said Hawley. “Working New Yorkers across this state understand that if you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. We cannot continue to waste taxpayer dollars while making zero progress on the budget. There’s no reason why Gov. Hochul should not be held to the same standard as every other elected official in the Capitol.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Fred Miller presents a proclamation on Tuesday to Office for the Aging leaders Melissa Blanar, left, the director; and Meghan Bevins, assistant director.

The County Legislature commemorated the OFA’s 50 years in Orleans County. The office opened in may 1975. It has expanded to 14 employees and now has its fourth director, Melissa Blanar. The OFA has grown through federal and state grants, legislators said.

Some of the services include home-delivered meals, congregate meals, nutrition counseling and education, health promotion and wellness, evidence-based interventions, respite and caregiver support, legal services, NY Connects information and referral, health insurance counseling and assistance programs, and transportation coordination for medical appointments.

The OFA also has many dedicated volunteers giving “countless hours” to support senior citizens.

“The Orleans County Legislature hereby recognizes and commends the Office for the Aging’s exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment over the past five decades,” the proclamation states. “Their tireless efforts have not only enriched the quality of life for countless individuals but have set an enduring standard of compassionate service.  As we celebrate this extraordinary milestone, we express our deepest gratitude for their invaluable contributions and congratulate them on 50 years of exemplary service to older adults.”

The OFA welcomes people 60 and older to the Spring Jubilee on May 16 to celebrate “Older American’s Month.”

Call the OFA at (585) 589-3191 for information and tickets.

National Grid is seeking to charge customers 20 percent more in a rate increase over the next three years, raising the average bill about $25 a month.

“We recognize that this proposal comes at a time when affordability is top-of-mind for our customers,” said Phil DeCicco, National Grid’s New York General Counsel. “We worked hard to strike a balance that prioritizes energy affordability and ensures grid resiliency — especially in light of the record number of damaging storms we’ve seen in upstate New York — while deferring other programs and initiatives that would add to our customers’ bills.”

National Grid said residential electricity customers using an average of 625 kilowatt-hours per month would see an estimated total monthly bill increase of $14.32 in the first year, $6.44 in the second year and $4.34 in year three.

Residential natural gas customers using an average of 78 therms per month would see an estimated total monthly bill increase of $7.66 in the first year, $8.08 in the second year and $9.18 in year three, National Grid said.

The rate increase plan goes to the Public Service Commission. National Grid would to implement the higher rates beginning in September.

 National Grid said highlights of the three-year proposal include:

• Critical investments to ensure the reliability and safe operation of the company’s energy delivery system that serves 2.3 million Upstate New York residential and business customers, including capital investments of $1.4 billion in the electricity delivery system and $351 million in the natural gas system in the first year.
• Enhanced system resiliency and reliability measures to manage and reduce the impact of frequent severe weather and enable continued strong storm response.
• More than $290 million in bill discounts for vulnerable Upstate New Yorkers, including approximately $72 million in the first year.
• Infrastructure investments to support economic development, connect clean energy, and enhance security.

“The joint proposal assures National Grid’s ability to maintain the overall reliability, resiliency, and cost-effectiveness of the energy systems that serve more than two million Upstate New York customers. It also offers new and targeted programs to better meet the needs of our customers and communities,” Decicco said. “We look forward to receiving additional feedback from our stakeholders during the upcoming public review process.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Middleport Community Choir director Ric Jones leads the choir during a rehearsal at the Middleport Community Church, in preparation for their annual spring concert May 4.

MIDDLEPORT – The Middleport Community Choir and the Middleport Bell Tones will celebrate the fading of winter, the spirit of spring and the promise of new beginnings at their annual spring concert, according to choir director Ric Jones of Medina.

The concert, titled “Arise: Songs of Spring and Renewal,” is scheduled at 4 p.m. May 4 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 133 Telegraph Rd.

“This concert weaves together harmonies of hope, rebirth and the natural beauty that blossoms anew each year,” Jones said. “Featuring a diverse repertoire, our program reflects the many faces of renewal – the thawing of frozen earth, the return of birdsong and the quiet strength that comes with change and growth. Let the music stir your soul like the first warm breeze of the spring and celebrate with us the eternal rhythm of seasons turning.”

Some of the songs the choir will perform are “Like a River in my Soul,” “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and “This is my Father’s World.”

The Middleport Community Choir was formed in 1999 by the late Herb Koenig to sing with a brass ensemble which was visiting from Germany. They had such a good time and formed such strong camaraderie they decided to keep the choir going. Jones has been its director for 22 years.

Mark Christensen, one of the original members, said Jones is a great director.

“He brings out the best of the voices in the choir,” Christensen said.

Ric Jones of Medina, director of the Middleport Community Choir, and accompanist Debby Clark of Lockport wait for the choir to get seated to begin rehearsing for the upcoming concert “Arise! Songs of Spring and Renewal” May 4 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Middleport.

Other original members are Carol Blumrick of Middleport, Kelly Eick of Medina and Joy Bohnet of Lyndonville. The Bell Tones director and choir accompanist Debby Clark has also been involved from the beginning.

“When Herb first founded the choir, I immediately joined, as I love singing,” Blumrick said. “I have been involved ever since. The thing I love most about being involved in the choir is the camaraderie with all the members. Some of us have traveled to Germany together and have diligently done fundraisers to keep the choir ‘afloat.’ We have members who may not be able to participate in every scheduled concert, but it is a testament to the group that folks keep returning for every concert they are able to perform in. All are made to feel welcome.”

“The Bell Choir has been a part of the Community Choir since the choir was established,” Blumrick said.

“They’ve packed up their bells and traveled to Germany with us when we went on tour there. Some of the Bell Choir members are also in the vocal choir, too, but having both groups allows for different talents to shine.”

Debby Clark has led the Bell Tones and accompanied the choir since its founding. She said it was started after someone donated a set of handbells to the United Methodist Church in Middleport. Currently there are positions for 11 ringers, but they average nine.

“When we are planning a concert, Ric gives me an idea of what the choir is planning to sing and I try to pick music that will complement his songs” Clark said. “I have to choose songs that use no more than three octaves.”

Two of the songs Clark chose for the upcoming concert are “Grace and Majesty” by Jason Krug and “The Peace of Christ” by Douglas Wagner.

The choirs rehearse separately – the Community Choir at the United Methodist Church and the handbells at the Lutheran Church – and then join for a final rehearsal the week before a concert.

Choir members come from Niagara, Orleans and Erie counties.

There is no admission charge to attend a concert, but a free will offering is accepted.

ALBION – Creating beautiful pictures and giving them away is nothing new to Carol Culhane.

A talented, self-taught artist, Culhane recently painted a poster to commemorate Orleans County’s 200th anniversary.

At the Orleans County Legislature’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, Culhane presented the poster to Legislative chair Lynne Johnson and vice chair Bill Eick.

“It was an honor to accept artist Carol Culhane’s tremendous painting in honor of the Orleans County bicentennial,” Johnson said. “It really is quite beautiful with stunning detail. We look forward to having it on display at the county administration building for the public to enjoy.”

This wasn’t the first time Culhane has donated one of her artworks to the county. In 1990 she painted a poster depicting historical aspects of Orleans County and donated the design to Orleans County Chamber of Commerce for a coverlet.

Culhane has been painting since she was seven years old and came home from school one day and painted her portrait from a wallet-size school picture on a piece of onionskin.

“I’ve had so many blessings in my life, helping people and touching their lives with my art,” she said.

Her first professional attempt was painting a sandwich board in the early 1970s for Charles Nesbitt when he decided to enter politics and ran for town councilman.

She has never had an art lesson, she said, yet she can paint portraits (even Elvis), landscapes or animals.

The late Capurso, who was president of the Orleans County Historical Association, had the idea for the poster. Capurso often spoke of how a pioneer lived on the Courthouse Square. He pushed to have a historical marker on the lawn in 2013 for William McAllister and his wife, who were Albion’s first settlers in 1811.

Culhane’s father was a decorated Rochester policeman, and her first husband, now deceased was a Vietnam veteran, as is her current husband, Jerry Culhane. This has resulted in her having tremendous respect for police officers, military people and the injured or ill.

She has painted signs for extra money and names on boats. She has created commemorative coins and painted vehicles for members of Ducks Unlimited. Designing and painting Wounded Warrior ornaments for patients at Walter Reed Hospital and traveling there to present them became a passion for a number of years. Twenty-seven years ago, she began buying, painting and donating ornaments to raise money for Hospice of Orleans County.

In Rochester, a memorial paying tribute to Rochester area veterans lost in Vietnam is lined with their portraits painted by Culhane.  She also has designed a Challenge commemorative coin for Lockheed Martin.

In spite of all the honors accorded her through the years, she is particularly proud of the poster she recently presented to the Orleans County Legislature. She explained the idea was the result of a meeting she attended in 2017 of the Orleans County Historical Association. Al Capurso was president and distributed his end-of-the-year annual report. On the cover was a simple image of a log cabin, dense forest, the Courthouse and the clerk’s building.

“He explained that before the county buildings were built there was just a cabin in the woods,” Culhane recalled. “After the meeting he approached me and said, ‘Some day I wish you could do a painting that shows the pioneer’s cabin to the present time.’”

Carol Culhane is hugged by Lynne Johnson after Culhane donated the painting to the county. It will be displayed in the County Administration Building.

In 2013, Capurso commissioned a historical marker for the courthouse lawn to commemorate the first settlers of Albion – pioneers William McAllister and his wife, who built the cabin in 1811, situated where the clerks’ building now stands. I kept his design all these years in hopes I would have the opportunity to recreate Al’s vision.”

Culhane explained Capurso was a kind and giving man who devoted his time and efforts to serve his community. Although he has passed away, his influence and love for history of this county lives on, she said.

Last fall Culhane learned there was a committee tasked with planning the county bicentennial.

“I thought this would be a great opportunity to share Al’s vision and finally fulfill his request,” Culhane said. “I presented the story to the committee and showed them the cover of the report. I suggested how fitting it would be to commemorate the bicentennial and Al’s legacy. The committee saw Al’s vision and agreed to allow me to do the painting.”

In creating the design, Culhane said it was obvious the majestic county courthouse and the fireproof clerk’s office would be perfect to spotlight the architecture displayed in many parts of our county. The cabin is the style built by the pioneers in the early 1800s, which includes the oxen. The animals were used by the settlers to pull their wagons as they traveled here to settle, and they were strong enough to use to build their cabins and work the land. The buildings are painted on a background of a streetscape of Albion in the mid 1800s, facing north.

Proceeds from the sale of prints of the painting will be donated to the Orleans County Historical Association to continue preserving the county’s history, Culhane said.

Culhane has 500 prints of the posters at 18 inches by 24 inches. They are $10 each. For more information about acquiring one, contact her at (585) 738-3016 or by email, cecjcculhane@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of Isabella Zasa

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley this morning planted an Acer tree in the Public Square in honor of the 200^th anniversary of Orleans County and the Erie Canal.

Pictured from left include Holley Mayor Mark Bower, County Legislator John Fitzak, Erie Canal Recreationway Commission member Ken DeRoller and County Historian Catherine Cooper. Bower, Cooper and DeRoller are all members of the county’s bicentennial committee.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – These students at the Oak Orchard Primary School helped plant a sugar maple tree at State Street Park thus morning.

The Village of Medina held its annual Arbor Day celebration this morning, and students from oak Orchard again were part of the planting process, shoveling dirt where the new trees are planted.

Medina will plant 49 trees in the village this spring. The locations include James Street and Main Street, Ann Street and West Center Street, West Avenue from James Street to Maple Street, State Street along the park and in State Street Park. Several of the trees are memorial ones that will have plaques.

Chris Dix, an employee with the Medina Department of Public Works, sets a sugar maple in the park this morning.

Medina has been designated a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation for the village’s commitment to planting trees every year. For the past 20 years, Medina has planted about 50 trees every year.

Even with those new trees, the village tends to be at a net negative each year, typically taken down more than 60 a year, including many ash trees in recent years, said Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent.

Mary Lewis, the Tree Board chairwoman, thanks the Oak Orchard Glee Club for performing at today’s celebration. Lewis is joined by Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman. They announced the Glee Club is this year’s recipient of the “Friends of our Urban Forest” Award.

The Glee Club, led by teacher Andrea Busch, has been performing at Arbor Day the past three years.

Nick Reese, a Medina senior, wrote a new song, “Oscillating Futures,” that was performed by the Glee Club. Reese is headed to Fredonia State College in the fall to major in music composition.

“I will be the future, the trees taller than me. I will be the future. We are the water, the earth and seed. It’s up to me. I will be the future, no fighting, no regret.

“I will be the future, would you believe in me? I will be the future, the trees taller than me. I will be the future. We are the water, the earth and seed. The future’s up to me.”

Serenity Chin, close to center with microphone, and other members of the Glee Club sang at this morning’s celebration.

These third-graders in Mrs. Zambito’s class help plant a sugar maple. The two with the shovels include Emma McGrath, left, and Alana Hoffmeister.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved $83,349 in youth programs. The money comes from the state through the Office of Children and Family Services under the Child and Family Services Planning Guideline.

The Orleans County Youth Bureau and Department of Social Services developed a joint plan for how to spend the money in the county.

The funding for Orleans is in three categories: Youth Development Program – $44,768; Youth Sports & Education Opportunity Funding – $20,000;  and Youth Team Sports – $18,581.

The agencies will be allocated Municipal Youth Development

• ARC GLOW Camp Rainbow – $5,000
• GLOW Works, Inc. (GWYH: Healthcare) – $1,000
• GLOW Works, Inc. (GWYH: Manufacturing) – $1,000
• Hoag Library Summer Reading – $1,000
• Lyndonville school district – ROAR Program – $2,500
• Medina Joint Recreation Committee – $2,000
• OC Cornell Cooperative Extension – $1,000
• Orleans County Juvenile Adjustment Services – $16,000
• Village of Albion Recreation – $4,553
• Orleans County Youth Bureau Annual Awards – $2,000
• Orleans County Youth Bureau Family Game Night – $ 2,000
• Orleans County Youth Bureau – $ 6,715

The following agencies will be allocated Municipal Sports & Education Opportunity Funding:

• Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy – $ 1,250
• Town of Kendall Recreation Program – $ 2,500
• Village of Albion Recreation – $16,250

The following agencies will be allocated Municipal Youth Teams Sports Funding:

• Albion Soccer Club – $9,500
• Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy – $6,294
• Orleans County Youth Bureau – $2,787

ALBION – The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have joined an exclusive group for earning national accreditation.

The local health departments, GO Health, are among 17 of the 58 in the state with national accreditation. The local department also is now among 400 in the country out of 3,000 with the distinction.

The Orleans County Legislature this week commended public health director Paul Pettit and the staff for pushing for the accreditation, a process that started in 2019. He highlighted the efforts of Carie Doty and Kristine Voos for serving as co-coordinators for the accreditation process.

Accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board is awarded to health departments that meet or exceed a comprehensive set of quality standards and measures, Pettit said. As accredited health departments, GO Health will continue to prioritize evidence-based practices, innovative solutions, and strong partnerships to ensure a healthier future for the residents of Genesee and Orleans counties, he said.

“We’ve been able to provide and efficient and quality service to the residents of Genesee and Orleans counties,” Pettit said.

GO Health earned the accreditation on Feb. 27. The two counties worked together as a health department for 13 years now, with a joint board of health and other shared staff.

The two counties combined employ about 50 employees in public health. Each county has its own health department, but they share seven department heads, including Paul Pettit as the public health director.

One county can also pull from another county if there is a staffing need, such as a vaccination clinic. Working as integrated departments has allowed the two departments to better balance surges during the Covid pandemic with Covid testing, vaccinations and providing communications in a cohesive manner, county officials said.

The Genesee and Orleans Health Departments also have received joint county grants for public health initiatives in the two counties. The partnership has allowed the two counties to fill workforce gaps, drive efficiencies and look for innovative ways to advance the two-county collaboration, according to county officials.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – The Albion Central School District seeks nominations from staff and community members for the Educator of the Year award.

Each year, the Board of Education presents this recognition to a staff member during the Annual Board of Education Recognition Reception in June. We will accept nominations through May 9.

If you would like to nominate someone for this award who you feel is an exemplary ACS educator, please send the following information:

1. Name of educator you wish to nominate
2. Reasons this person should be awarded Educator of the Year. Demonstrate how this individual strives to demonstrate our Mission, Vision and Core Values.
3. Please include your name in case we need to contact you for more information.

SEND NOMINATIONS (either via email or hard copy) TO:

Albion Central School District Office

ATTN: Ms. Cindy M. Ishmael

324 East Avenue

Albion, NY 14411

(cishmael@albionk12.org)

Press Release, Orleans County Job Development Agency

ALBION – The Orleans County Job Development Agency is now accepting applications for the department’s 2025 Summer Youth Employment Program.

In order to be considered for the program, an applicant must be a county resident between 14 to 20 years old (must be 14 at the time of application), coming from a household that meets certain income guidelines. Applicants in foster care or households that receive cash assistance, Medicaid, HEAP, SSI or SNAP are automatically eligible.

“Through this program, we strive to provide young people with the opportunity to earn money and gain meaningful work experience,” said Kelly Kiebala, director of the Orleans County Career Center in the Job Development Agency.  “Participants are able to gain exposure to various career pathways while exploring their interests and developing their workplace skills that better prepare them for future job opportunities.”

Applications, income guidelines and additional information for the program are available from the Job Development Agency website (click here).

Priority for job placements will be given to applications received by April 30. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until May 31 or until all spots have been filled.  Those with questions can call or text Peter Anderson at (716) 387-4081 or email OCSYEP@orleanscountyny.gov. Please note that submitting a completed application does not guarantee selection into the program or work site placement.