ALBION – The membership Chris Bourke has been endorsed for sheriff by two unions representing deputies, both at the local and state-wide levels.

Chris Bourke

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the  Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the New York State Deputy Sheriff’s Association, which represent deputies from across New York State, for their support,” Bourke said today. “Words cannot not express the admiration and respect I have for the Orleans County Deputy Sheriffs that put their life on the line day after day to serve the people of Orleans County. Together with Michael Mele as  Undersheriff, I look forward to leading the Sheriff’s Office into the future and serving the people of Orleans County.”

Bourke, a Carlton resident, has been the undersheriff for the past three-plus years. He has worked with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for 35 years, starting his career as a correction officer and then was a deputy sheriff before working 18 years as a lieutenant. He was supervisor of the Marine Patrol, and also was a K9 officer for 20 years.

Bourke is challenged for sheriff in this year’s election by Brett Sobieraski, a Kent resident and sergeant with the Rochester Police Department. He supervises the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and is a team leader on the SWAT Team. He also is an instructor at the Monroe County Law Enforcement Academy.

The Orleans County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association voted to officially endorse Bourke for sheriff, according to a March 18 letter from Alex Breuilly, president of the union for the local deputy sheriffs.

Thomas M. Ross, executive director of New York State Deputies Association, sent a letter to Bourke on April 10, informing him of the endorsement, citing Bourke’s experience, working his way up from his first position as a corrections officer to undersheriff, which Ross said makes Bourke “clearly the best candidate to serve the citizens of Orleans County and the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office.”

Ross said he has experience working with Bourke when Bourke was a deputy and in administration for the Sheriff’s Office. Ross said Burke looks for the “right answer” and strives to be fair.

“Being fair does not mean that parties will always agree,” Ross said in his letter. “But even in disagreement, there is respect in recognizing that decisions are made based on facts, not on loyalties or friendships. I trust you will continue to have success as a leader taking on the top spot in the office you have been a part of  for over 30 years.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A World War I cannon is hoisted from a trailer this morning at State Street Park. The cannon returned to Medina following more than a year of restoration work by Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration, in Altoona, Pa.

The B.L. 60 Pounder British field gun was a fixture at State Street Park since 1935. It was hauled away on March 12, 2018 for its restoration work.

These veterans capture the moment of the cannon being lifted from the trailer. They include from left Ken Schaal, Larry Szatkowski and Dave Higgins.

Local veterans gather around the cannon after it was put back at State Street Park this morning.

The cannon was falling apart. Dave Seedenberg of Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration was in Medina this morning to watch the cannon be put back in pace at the local park.

Seedenberg completely stripped and disassembled the cannon, and needed to fabricate some new parts. The big 15,000-pound gun was reassembled and painted with historic accuracy.

“It’s absolutely stunning,” said George Bidleman, owner of Orleans Ford who paid the $40,000 restoration cost. “It’s beautiful.”

Local veterans including Earl Schmidt (left), the County’s Veterans Service Agency director, push the cannon in place.

There are only 10 of the cannons like this remaining, with five in Europe and five in the United States, said Jim Freas, a past commander of the Butts-Clark Post for the American Legion in Medina.

“We have one of them,” Freas said. “It’s priceless.”

The cannon needed a little push to be centered on the concrete pad.

The Orleans Renaissance Group pushed to have the cannon restored. Chris Busch, chairman of the ORG, thought it might take a few years to raise the money. But Bidleman offered to cover the entire cost of the cannon restoration.

The ORG also raised $12,000 for three new flag poles, a new granite slant for a plaque about the cannon, and other site improvements. Orleans Ready Mix also donated the concrete where the cannon is displayed.

The new flag poles will carry flags for the United States, Great Britain and France. The cannon was manufactured in 1916 by Elswick Ordnance Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was used in battle in France and fired 2,871 rounds during its first tour. It was returned to England in 1917 for repairs and reissued to battery in France, September 1918, firing an additional 1,471 rounds.

George Bidleman, left, is presented a photo of the cannon with local veterans by Glenn Whitmore, commander of the American Legion Post in Medina.

“When George stepped forward we couldn’t believe it,” Whitmore said. “His heart is bigger than he is.”

Bidleman shook hands with each veteran at the park today, thanking them for their service. He said he was happy to help with the restoration of a prominent local landmark.

Whitmore said the cannon will be rededicated during the Memorial Day celebration on May 27. He said it will be a big event, and he welcomed veterans of all eras for the observance, and then an additional celebration at the American Legion, which is marking its 100^th anniversary this year.

“It’s something that’s not being taken away because we’re losing so much of our history every day,” Whitmore said about the cannon. “Memorial Day is going to be a big day for this village and county.”

WJW Associates in Syracuse delivered the cannon to Medina this morning. The trucking company picked up the cannon in Altoona on Tuesday and brought it to Salamanca last night, before leaving this morning for Medina.

Jeff Karol of WJW said he got a lot of friendly honks and waves bringing the cannon up on Route 219 to Buffalo and then the Thruway this morning.

George Bidleman, left, watches the cannon be delivered to its spot in front of State Street Park.

Ron Ettinger, left, of Lyons Collision in Medina helps steer the cannon in place while a group of people, including Medina Mayor Mike Sidari (center), help push the cannon back on the concrete pad.

Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration put a small plaque on the cannon noting the restoration efforts were completed this year. The cannon was rusty with rot in spots and was missing chucks that Seed recreated.

Jeff Lyons, left, of Lyons Collision works with John Beauman of Beauman’s Garage in Lockport to remove straps from the cannon. Beaumont’s Garage brought a crane with a rotator to remove the cannon from the trailer.

Congressman says Senate holding up confirmation of new IJC members

Press Release, Congressman Chris Collins

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Lake Ontario levels continue to rise, Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) is warning that a new round of south shore flooding and erosion is likely with harsh spring weather.

Collins has continually pointed to the International Join Commission and its Plan 2014, which was approved at the close of the Obama Administration, as the culprit for continued flood concerns.

“The water levels are increasing at a rate of ½ inch per day on average and this is putting shoreline property owners and businesses at risk,” said Congressman Collins. “As I have said before, we cannot wait until our community is impacted by another flooding to take action, especially when this situation could have been prevented.”

As a result of growing flooding and erosion concerns, Collins has authored a letter to United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer imploring them to confirm new IJC Commissioners.  The Trump Administration has nominated for Assemblywoman Jane Corwin to serve as the new IJC Chair along with two new commissioners.  These appointments are currently awaiting Senate confirmation.

“The IJC’s current management of Lake Ontario water levels continues to be disastrous for shore communities.” added Collins.  “Only with new IJC Commissioners can we get a new review of Plan 2014, and ultimately better management for lake waters.”

Lake shore counties Niagara and Orleans are already contemplating states of emergency, while emergency coordinators are already requesting sandbags and pumps in an attempt to preserve and protect those who will be affected.

“What will make a big deference is the winds.  If we get a strong nor-easter, the waves will push the already high water to extremes, that’s when the real devastation will hit. If it does, we are prepared to issue a State of Emergency as we did in July of 2017,”  said David Godfrey, chairman of the Niagara County Legislature’s Community Safety and Security Committee.

“Our Emergency Management Office and our volunteer fire companies are standing by to help our residents.  We are ready to deploy sandbags, having stockpiled about 6,000 at the Newfane Highway Department garage, and will call for more as needed.  The state is also ready to help fortify the shoreline, by deploying National Guard troops and equipment like a 50-foot, water-filled barrier known as an aqua dam,” Godfrey added.

“Our residents never completely recovered and now the fear is back,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman. “The county’s emergency services workers and volunteer fire companies are as ready as possible for flooding after the hard lessons learned two years ago. We have already asked for 100 pallets of already-filled sandbags and will surely need more.”

“We were blindsided in 2017, but we have been working together so we’re hopefully ahead of the game,” Johnson added.  “The state agencies are on alert. They are ready to assist our emergency managers and they know the impact we had in 2017.”

Photo courtesy of FMC Middleport Plant

MIDDLEPORT – FMC Middleport Plant employees recently collected and donated nearly 1,000 pounds or a half-ton of food to help needy community residents during the spring holiday season through the Middleport Area Community Food Pantry.

Pictured include from left: pantry supervisor Nancy Huntington, pantry volunteers John and Melanie Shuttleworth, FMC employees Joe Burkett, union steward Bonnie Difino, and John Burinsky; and Dr. Roberta Kloda, FMC Middleport Plant manager.

FMC employees participated in the effort working alongside Local 1180 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and FMC plant management. The pantry serves more than 60 local families on a continuous basis.

“Our entire FMC Middleport team was very generous in collecting and contributing such a large volume of food for use by the Middleport Area Community Food Pantry,” said Dr. Roberta Kloda, FMC Middleport plant manager. “We are very fortunate and know how important it is to share with those in our community who are in need.”

MEDINA – Pine Street Park has been an important part of the community for a long time, said nearby resident Tom Hungerford.

Hungerford has joined with Nicole Goyette, who also lives nearby, and Bob and Maureen Sanderson to raise $200,000 to make improvements to the decades-old park.

The idea to renovate the park was Maureen’s, who recalls the pool at Street Park in the 1940s and 1950s. Last summer she and her husband Bob, Hungerford and Goyette formed the Pine Street Park Project Committee and began to formulate plans for raising the money to bring the park back to life.

The park was formerly the site of tennis courts, which were removed 14 years ago when they needed costly repaving. New tennis courts were installed at the new high school on Maple Ridge Road in the early 1990s.

The committee contacted Ben Frasier, a Lyndonville native, whose Buffalo company Parkitects designs parks.

His design for Pine Street includes a splash pad, a butterfly garden and new playground equipment. There will also be a merry-go-round (spinner) similar to the one which delighted children in State Street Park.

Two youth play lacrosse in Pine Street Park. Sawyer Kingsbury, 12, left, and his brother Sam, 14, live in the area and often come here. They think it’s great the park is going to be restored with new playground equipment, a butterfly garden and splash pad.

The splash pad will be 30 feet in diameter and water will circulate out to water plants and trees. The splash pad is the first of its kind for Parkitects, Maureen said.

“There will still be the ball field and lots of green space,” Hungerford said.

“This is a very used park,” Goyette said.

Maureen said the park is in a very visible area.

“All the families who come to town for Thomas the Train come down Park Avenue, and the park is the first thing they see,” she said.

“We had visited the park and saw how dilapidated it had become,” Maureen said. “We have grandchildren now and want them to have a nice, safe place to play.”

In March, the committee launched a corporate fund drive, and raised more than half of the $200,000 needed.

“Businesses were very generous. Those who couldn’t give money offered materials or gifts in kind,” Goyette said. “Takeform made beautiful booklets with pictures describing our goal to send out with our requests. Now we are giving community members an opportunity to donate to our cause.”

This rendering from Parkitects shows the improvements planned for Pine Street Park.

Any donation is appreciated and may be made to Orleans Renaissance Group, P.O. Box 543, Medina, 14103.

Goyette said there is a huge youth presence in the area, and she hopes the new park will attract more.

“I know my three kids will get a lot of use out of it,” Hungerford said.

Tentative plans call for having the splash pad completed by the end of July and the playground by fall.

“This park will be classic and timeless,” Goyette said.

“And the equipment will be safe,” added Bob.

23^rd annual event on May 15 is sold out

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Tammi Pritchard, left, an employee at Medina Memorial Hospital, and Cindy Perry, director of Outreach, Education and Wellness for Community Partners, are planning the 23rd annual For Women Only May 15 at White Birch in Lyndonville. Pritchard holds one of the many baskets which will be raffled off, while Perry has two of the tickets for the event, which always is sold out.

LYNDONVILLE – The 23rd annual For Women Only to benefit cancer services is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting. The event is already sold out.

Scheduled May 15 at the White Birch Golf Course with the theme “Stories Behind the Mask,” the event this year will feature a Medina native as guest speaker.

Mercedes Wilson

“We are excited about having Mercedes, because she’s local,” said Cindy Perry, director of Outreach, Education and Wellness at Community Partners, speaking about Mercedes Holloway Wilson.

At 28, Wilson, the mother of four children, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

Wilson said she has always had the desire to help women reach their full potential, but after her cancer diagnosis she seized the opportunity to educate women about her story and help them become advocates for their own health and wellness. She is the founder and executive director of “For Our Daughters.”

This year’s featured cancer survivor will be another local woman, Leslie Allen.

For Women Only features hors ‘d oeuvres, desserts, raffles and entertainment by the Kendall Lawnchair Ladies.

Many big-ticket items have been donated for the raffles, including a kayak package, overnight stay and play at Batavia Downs, a bike and helmet, wine tasting for 10, season’s passes to the White Birch and luggage. Donations of items and baskets are still welcome.

There will also be a jewelry vendor, chocolate tasting, a free hot/cold mask for everyone, a massage therapist and financial advice for women by Julianna Duda.

One thing about this event, said Perry, is that all the money stays in the area to help people with cancer and provide mammograms to uninsured or under-insured individuals.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Contractors haul dirt to the canal embankment on the north side of the Erie Canal near Brown Street in Albion this afternoon.

Trees were removed from this section more than a year ago, and the stumps were also taken out. That left a steep embankment, but the contractor for this phase of the project has been hauling dirt to the embankments to smooth them out.

The Canal Corp. has a goal of having an easy to maintain, mowable slope by the canal. The Canal Corp. said it will be planting shrubs near the top of the towpath, grass and wildflowers on the slope of the embankments and small trees about 25 feet from the slope of the towpath.

The state Canal Corp. has hired Hohl Industrial of Tonawanda and Tioga Construction of Herkimer to remove tree stumps, and do packing and grading of the embankments where trees were cut down in late 2017 and early 2018.

The contractor takes another load of dirt to the canal embankment, west of Brown Street.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Students in Holley’s Middle School/High School Geometry in Construction class on Thursday and Friday will install the barn they have built for Homesteads for Hope, a non-profit community farm that is open to people of all abilities in the Rochester region.

Weather permitting, the students will transport their “work in progress” to H4H on Manitou Road. Students are scheduled to be on site from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day to complete the installation of the barn that will house small animals.

Holley math teacher Russ Albright and technology teacher Tim Rogers co-teach Geometry in Construction, with students rotating between math days and building days each week. There are 12 students in this year’s class, with the majority in 10th grade.

The class helps students learn how math concepts can be applied to real-world problems to create solutions. Students combined their math and construction skills to build a 16’ x 20’ barn for H4H this year.

In the fall, students went on a fieldtrip to the H4H farm so they could better understand how this organization operates and where the barn will be placed on the property. By housing animals like chickens and rabbits in the barn, it will provide new opportunities for young adults to care for the animals on the farm. The barn installation is part of the Phase I plan for H4H.

The barn features a gambrel roof, sliding barn doors, windows and a loft on the second floor. Students constructed stairs to the loft, designed to maximize floor space. A metal skin siding will be added to the barn once it is in place. Students planned for the project by working on a scale model of the barn. The barn was staged on a specially built platform at school before it was dismantled and transported to H4H to be installed permanently.

The skills students learn in this class will be carried with them beyond high school to be used in future jobs or to make home repairs.

“Students enjoy this class because they can see the real-world application of math,” said Rogers. “Many students who don’t traditionally perform well in math class are performing much better in this class.”

The scores from last year’s Regents Exam continue to show that Geometry in Construction students score better than traditional geometry class students. Regardless of how they do on the Geometry Regents exam in June, they leave class feeling proud of completing a community service project that helps others.

Kendall is moving polling place from school to the Town Hall

The slate is set for the May 21 elections for the local boards of education.

Here is who is running for the volunteer board seats at the local districts in Orleans County.

• ALBION – There are four candidates running for two five-year seats on the board. David Sidari is seeking re-election. He has served on the board for 20 years. Another incumbent, Wendy Kirby, isn’t seeking re-election. The other candidates include Joyce Riley, Gregg Boose Sr., and Linda Weller. Riley and Weller have previously served on the Board of Education.

• HOLLEY – There are two open three-year seats but only one candidate, incumbent John Heise. The other position will likely be determined by write-in votes.

• KENDALL – Chaley Swift is the incumbent and running for the five-year seat with no opposition. Kendall is moving the location of the polling place from the elementary school gym to the Kendall Town Hall. Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• LYNDONVILLE – Three people – incumbent Harold Suhr, Vern Fonda and Kristin Nicholson– are running for three open seats. Terry Stinson and Rick Mufford, current board members, aren’t seeking re-election to three-year terms.

• MEDINA – In Medina, four people are running for three open seats, including incumbents Wendi Pencille and Lori Draper. Kellie Schrader-Hurrell and Mary Eileen Hare are also running. Brenda Lindsay isn’t seeking re-election.

The candidates with the two highest number of votes will receive a three-year term and the candidate with the third most votes will receive a two-year term.

‘Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death,’ – Paul Pettit, Public Health director for Genesee and Orleans counties

Press Release, Public Health Departments in Orleans and Genesee

National Infant Immunization Week ((April 27 to May 4) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this significant observance! Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of Genesee and Orleans counties, proclaims the many benefits and accomplishments vaccines have on our communities.

“Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death,” he said. “When you get vaccinated, you not only protect yourself but you also help protect the people around you who might be too young or too sick to get vaccinated themselves. This is called ‘community immunity’ or ‘herd immunity.’ If enough people stop getting vaccinated, more outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, will occur.”

Most parents choose the safe, proven protection of vaccines. Giving babies the recommended vaccinations by age two is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases, like whooping cough and measles. These diseases can be especially serious for infants and young children. Parents are encouraged to talk to their child’s doctor to ensure that their baby is up-to-date on vaccinations. It is important to follow the recommended immunization schedule to protect infants and children by providing immunity early in life, before they encounter potentially life-threatening diseases.

The recent outbreak of measles in our country has reached the highest number of cases since the disease was eliminated in 2000.  Most recent data shows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 695 cases of measles from 22 states. The return of the disease occurs when an unvaccinated traveler visits a country where there is widespread measles transmission, gets infected with measles, and returns to the United States and exposes people in a community who are not vaccinated. Once measles enters an under-vaccinated community, it becomes difficult to control the spread of the disease. When measles enters a highly vaccinated community, outbreaks either don’t happen or are usually small. This is why taking proper precautions and receiving the vaccine is so important to the health of our community.

Below is a summary of the vaccines children should receive by 2 years of age:

1. The Varicella vaccine protects against chickenpox. Symptoms of chickenpox include rash, tiredness, headache, and fever. Complications of the disease include infected blisters, bleeding disorders, encephalitis (brain swelling), and pneumonia (infection in the lungs). Children need 2 doses of chickenpox vaccine. CDC recommends children receive the first dose between 12–15 months and the second between 4–6 years.
2. The DTaP vaccine combines protection against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Symptoms of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis include sore throat, mild fever, weakness, and swollen glands in neck. Complications of these diseases include swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis, death. Children need 5 doses of DTaP vaccine. CDC recommends infants receive the first dose at 2 months, the second at 4 months, the third at 6 months, the fourth between 15–18 months, and the fifth between 4–6 years.
3. The Hib vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenzae disease. Symptoms of Haemophilus influenzae include fever and chills, headache, nausea, excessive tiredness, and altered mental status. Complications of these infections may include loss of limbs, brain damage, or hearing loss. Children need 3-4 doses of the Hib vaccine. CDC recommends infants receive the first dose at 2 months, the second at 4 months, the third at 6 months (if needed), and the last shot between 12–15 months.
4. The Hepatitis A vaccine protects against the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Symptoms of HAV typically do not appear until 4 weeks after exposure or may not occur at all. Symptoms that may appear include fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin). Complications of the disease include liver failure, arthralgia (joint pain), kidney, pancreatic, and blood disorders. Children need two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine. CDC recommends babies receive the first dose when the child turns 1 and the second should be given 6-12 months later.
5. The Hepatitis B vaccine protects against a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Symptoms of HBV are fever, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice. Complications of HBV can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. Children need 3-4 doses of the HBV vaccine. CDC recommends infants receive the first dose at birth, the second dose is given at 1-2 months, the third at 4 months (if needed), and the last is given at 6-18 months.
6. The Influenza (Flu) vaccine protects against flu virus. Symptoms of flu include fevers, chills, coughing, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, and muscle or body aches. Complications of flu may include sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the heart, brain or muscles, organ failure, and even death. The influenza vaccine is started at 6 months and is needed every fall or winter for the rest of your life. CDC recommends children 6 months and older receive the vaccine once a year.
7. The MMR vaccine combines protection against measles, mumps, and rubella. Symptoms of these diseases may include fever, headache, rashes, and eye irritation. Complications of measles, mumps, and rubella include deafness, brain damage, swelling of the spinal cord, infection of the lungs, and death. Children need 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. CDC recommends the first dose should be given between 12-15 months and the second dose between 4-6 years.
8. The Polio vaccine protects against the infectious polio disease. Symptoms of the disease may include muscle and joint weakness and pain, sleep-related breathing disorders (such as sleep apnea), general fatigue (tiredness) and exhaustion with minimal activity, and muscle atrophy (muscle loss). Complications can include paresthesia (feelings of pins and needles in the legs), meningitis, paralysis, and death. Children need 4 doses of polio vaccine. CDC recommends the first dose should be given at 2 months, the second at 4 months, the third between 6-18 months, and the fourth between 4-6 years.
9. The Prevnar vaccine protects against pneumococcal disease. Symptoms include coughing, fevers and chills, difficulty breathing, and chest pains. Complications of this disease include brain damage, hearing loss, blood infection, and even death. Children need 4 doses of Prevnar. CDC recommends the first dose should be given at 2 months, the second at 4 months, the third at 6 months, and the fourth between 12-15 months.
10. The Rotavirus vaccine protects against the contagious rotavirus. Symptoms of rotavirus include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Complications of the disease include severe diarrhea and dehydration which can lead to death. Children need 2-3 doses of rotavirus vaccine. CDC recommends the first dose is given at 2 months, the second is given at 4 months, and the third is given at 6 months (if needed).

Protecting your baby from vaccine-preventable diseases begins even before your baby is born. Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services of Genesee and Orleans Counties, educates on what vaccines mothers should get when they are pregnant.

“All pregnant women are recommended to receive the Tdap and influenza (flu) vaccine during each pregnancy,” he said. “The recommended time to get the Tdap shot is during the 27th through 36th week of pregnancy and the influenza shot can be given at any time during flu season, typically October through May. Pregnant women who receive these vaccines are also helping to protect their babies from diseases for the first several months after their birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated.”

In addition to mothers, it is also important for immediate family, such as spouses, grandparents, and anyone who will be in close contact with a new baby to receive the Tdap vaccine and the influenza vaccine during flu season.

While babies may experience some discomfort immediately after receiving vaccinations, it’s important to remember the pain is temporary, while the protection is long term. You work hard to help keep your baby safe and healthy!

For more information on infant immunizations, click here.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments participate in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. This federally-funded program will assist families who are uninsured or underinsured receive childhood vaccines at no cost. For more information, please contact your local health department.

ALBION – Orleans County officials are planning on a June 11 ribbon-cutting celebration for a 23,000-square-foot addition to the County Administration Building.

Contractors have been working for a year on the $10 million project. The addition will be used by 50 county employees from the Health Department, Board of Elections, information technology department and the Legislative office and staff. The building is connected to the current Administration Building with the addition on the south side.

The new space will include a meeting room for the Legislature with about 60 seats. The current Legislative chambers has about 30 seats and is one of the smallest municipal meeting rooms in the county.

The county is receiving a state grant for $3,682,748 towards the project as part of a healthcare initiative. That state grant includes funds to create space at the neighboring Mental Health Building for a primary doctor from Oak Orchard Health. State Sen. Robert Ortt also secured a $200,000 state grant towards the addition.

The County Legislature last week voted to seek proposals from firms to relocate office supplies, files and IT equipment from the current county buildings to the new site for the departments affected by the move. Those materials and equipment are expected to be moved to the new addition on the weekend following the June 11 ribbon cutting.

(Editor’s Note: This article was updated from an earlier version that said the Medina Memorial Hospital had agreed to help pay for an ambulance. The negotiations haven’t started, with no commitment yet from the hospital.)

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department often transfers patients at Medina Memorial Hospital to hospitals in Buffalo and Rochester.

The first 22 days of April, Medina FD did 54 interfacility transfers from Medina Memorial, Fire Chief Tom Lupo told the Village Board last week.

Those trips occupy a crew for at least a couple hours, and put wear and tear on the ambulances.

Medina tries to replace an ambulance every two years, and the cost is typically about $160,000. Lupo and village officials are asking Medina Memorial Hospital to chip in for the cost of a new ambulance.

Lupo wants to ask Medina Memorial to contribute $5,000 annually towards a new ambulance, and with that contribution could rise to $10,000 in future years.

The village wants to set up negotiations with the hospital. The Village Board authorized Lupo to represent the village with the hospital.

The Village Board last week voted to declare a 2009 ambulance as surplus and donated the vehicle to the Orleans/Niagara BOCES program in Medina, where the vehicle and engine will be taken apart by students training to become mechanics.

Press Release, Utica National Insurance Group

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School District is one of 156 school districts and Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in New York State to receive the Utica National Insurance Group’s School Safety Excellence Award for 2018 at the Titanium with Honors level.

The honor is presented annually and recognizes school districts’ safety efforts as they work to help keep students, staff and visitors safe. Lyndonville Central School District received its award at Utica National’s 39th annual school safety seminar at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel in Batavia, one of seven such seminars the company hosts in the state.

Lyndonville officials accepted a certificate to commemorate the district’s safety efforts and a $500 award for use in furthering those efforts from Utica National representatives.

Utica National’s School Safety Excellence Award Program has three levels (titanium, platinum, and gold) in which schools can earn a meritorious distinction by meeting specific criteria to enhance overall safety. Through the program, schools with their own transportation, schools with contract transportation, and BOCES are evaluated. Categories covered include bullying prevention programs, playground safety and other areas, and are measured using specific, quantifiable surveys.

“Safety and health concerns continue to be a priority in our school districts,” said Brian Saville, Resident Senior Vice President in Utica National’s Educational Institutions Unit. “Districts that go ‘above and beyond’ to provide a safe, healthy and focused culture for learning are to be applauded, and we’re pleased to count Lyndonville Central School District among them.”

Saville noted that, beyond the recognition itself, an added benefit of following the safety program is the chance to pinpoint specific threats to safety. “The time to address those threats is before a loss happens, which really helps contribute to the safety culture that districts are working toward.”

Provided photo

ALBION – Oak Orchard Bowling in Albion on Sunday hosted about 50 people – veterans and heir family members. The bowling outing was made possible through the Orleans County PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program. Randy Hanks, owner of the bowling alley, is pictured (second from left in front) with the group on Sunday.

The event provided comradery and friendships among veterans and families in the community.

Bowling, and pizza with salad were provided at the event. Many more events are planned throughout the year. Contact Catherine Schmidt, volunteer coordinator for the program, at (585) 589-3223 for more information.