Photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The state Department of Transportation next week will start milling and repaving Route 31 in the Village of Holley. The DOT has sign on Route 31 on the western end of the village, telling motorists the project will start on April 10 and to expect delays trying to use the road.

The DOT next year will pave Route 237 in the village.

Melissa Ostrom’s book, Unleaving, highlights courage and resilience of 19-year-old sexual assault victim

Melissa Ostrom

HOLLEY – An author from Holley has her second novel out today. There will be a book launch celebration at Lift Bridge Book Shop from 2 to 4 p.m. at 45 Main St., Brockport.

Melissa Ostrom last year debuted with her novel, The Beloved Wild, which focused on pioneers who settled in Western New York. That book was set in Orleans County.

Ostrom’s new book also takes place partly in Orleans County, although the county isn’t specifically named. Instead, the main character Maggie comes to stay at her Aunt Wren’s cottage along Lake Ontario, in a small town between Rochester and Buffalo.

The book includes some well-known local landmarks, such as Swan Library, the Lake Ontario State Parkway, Redman Road, Lake Ontario, Dinosaur BBQ and many others.

Unleaving deals with difficult themes – sexual assault on a college campus and victim-blaming after the perpetrators are kicked off the football team and out of school.

Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport is hosting a book launch today from 2 to 4 p.m. for Unleaving, a 304-page novel by Melissa Ostrom of Holley. The book is published by Feiwel & Friends, a division of Macmillan.

Maggie is a 19-year-old college student who is gang-raped in college. She leaves that college town in Vermont and heads to her Aunt Wren’s cottage along Lake Ontario. Wren is a sculptor whose latest work is a statement of Wren’s own childhood sexual abuse.

Maggie arrives at Aunt Wren’s and can barely get out of bed and function. But she gets her strength back, and connects with some of Wren’s neighbors and also makes new friends in a book group. Wren’s neighbors – a young father who is an artist, a mom fighting addiction – are overcomers in their right and their resilience empowers Maggie.

Another sexual assault victim at the college sends Maggie an email, sharing about her rape. Maggie reaches out to that victim who is back in Maggie’s hometown. Maggie goes back home to visit that young woman. On that trip she realizes she is mostly reviled on campus because she reported her rape, which led to six football players being expelled.

Macmillan, in its description of the book, calls Unleaving “urgent and timely.”

“Melissa Ostrom explores the intricacies of shame and victim-blaming that accompany the aftermath of assault,” Macmillan states.

The book is getting strong reviews on Goodreads, an average of 4.52 stars out of 5. Click here for more on Unleaving and Ostrom.

The author teaches English literature at Genesee Community College. She previously taught English at Kendall Central School.

Photos by Tom Rivers

EAST SHELBY – This house at 5582 East Shelby Rd. is a total loss after fire this morning. The fire started in the kitchen and quickly spread throughout the house.

Firefighters were dispatched for a structure fire just after 5 this morning.

“It was pretty much fully engulfed,” said East Shelby Fire Chief Andy Beach. “We saved as much as we could.”

East Shelby firefighter Dan Culver sprays water on hot spots inside the house at about 8:30 this morning.

A husband and wife lived at the house with their five dogs. The husband was at work when the fire broke out, Beach said. The woman and three of the dogs were able to get outside. Two of the dogs died in the fire, Beach said.

The Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary shelter while the Orleans County Animal Shelter temporarily keeps the three dogs.

East Shelby was assisted at the scene in fighting the fire by Alabama, Barre, Medina, Oakfield and Shelby fire departments.

Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

No other information is available.

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 5, No. 14

Capt. George A. Hoyt, Company C, 8th N.Y. Heavy Artillery

This studio photograph, taken circa 1863, shows Capt. George A. Hoyt wearing a Union frock coat and holding a pair of gloves. Placed on the chair to the left is a kepi with crossed artillery pieces, signifying his service with the 8th New York Heavy Artillery.

Born in 1830/1 at Dansville, New York, Hoyt came to Gaines in 1855, marrying Julia McOmber and quickly becoming a well-respected harness maker. In August of 1862, he received a commission as a lieutenant with the 129th New York Infantry which was later converted into an artillery regiment.

Sgt. Thomas Jasper Dean of Company I wrote home to his mother at Byron on June 23, 1864, following the regiment’s engagement with Confederate troops in advance of Petersburg:

“Directly South of Petersburg about 4 miles behind breastworks we took last night ben skirmish fighting all day. Dear Mother & All Friends whom this may interest…Our company lost in Wounded yesterday but 7 perhaps more but think not. They have not all come in yet. We cant tell precisely. the Rebels are charging there position in front of us. they appear to be massing there troops for a charge on our works. Col Bates was wounded last night besides quite a number of other officers killed and wounded…I led the company into the charge last night. Our men has been marched much there spirits are verry low…” (sic)

The following day, Pvt. James Sherman of Company G wrote home:

“Since I wrote you last the regt has been in another of those terrible charges. We did not lose many men but we lost one of the bravest that ever drew a sword & that was Lieut. Col. Bates. He fell while leading the men within four rods of the enemies breastworks shot through the bowels…There was no officer left to command our company the Capt being in command of the second Batallion & all the sergeants being absent or wounded…” (sic)

According to Maj. Erastus Spaulding, after the charge described by Dean and Sherman, the unit held their position within several yards of the enemy position and “entrenched in the night under severe picket-fire.” The following morning, the enemy had abandoned the position thus allowing the 8th N.Y.H.A. to occupy the works until that evening when the unit “withdrew a distance of a mile…”

At some point during the advance on June 22, 1864, Capt. George Hoyt suffered a gun shot wound. Some records indicate a wound to one of his legs while others indicate a wound to his ankle. He was tended to by the regimental surgeon and sent home to recuperate. During his furlough, Dr. William McKennan of Albion tended to Hoyt until his untimely death on July 5, 1864. According to McKennan, Hoyt suffered “traumatic tetanus induced by [a] gun shot wound of the leg,” his death was caused by lockjaw.

A widow’s pension application filed by Julia Hoyt, a 32-year-old mother of three, illustrates the hardships suffered by so many women as a result of the ravages of war. Her oldest daughter, Marilla, had just celebrated her sixth birthday before her father was sent home to recover. The youngest daughter, Octavia Artilla, was just shy of 18 months.

Julia Hoyt never remarried, her financial support derived solely from her widow’s pension which she carried up until her death on February 2, 1917. Among the affidavits and other documents is a letter penned by Octavia Hoyt Mather, her mother’s “only living heir,” requesting money to pay for her mother’s burial; $12.00 to pay for Dr. William Burbank’s bill, $102.00 for an undertaker, and $6.00 to Mt. Albion for burial.

In the years after the war, Octavia Mather attended regimental reunions in place of her father. George Hoyt had already left for war when she was born and according to several accounts, she became “the daughter of the regiment.” It was said that when Hoyt received word of his child’s arrival, he asked Col. Peter Porter “what shall I name my baby daughter?” Porter responded, “Why name her after our regiment, Octavia Artilli 8th heavy artillery.”

The Hoag Library and Orleans County Historical Association are co-sponsoring a Civil War Series in April, featuring a program entitled “When Did the Civil War End?” with Dr. John Daly of SUNY College at Brockport on April 16 at 12 p.m. I will present a program entitled “The Legacy of Rufus Bullock: Racial Liberalism and Reconstruction” on April 30 at 6 p.m. A number of other programs will take place throughout the month.

ALBION – Candidates for town elected positions turned in their petitions to run for elected office this week, with several races taking shape.

In Ridgeway, three candidates are running for town supervisor. Brian Napoli, the incumbent, is challenged by current town councilman David Stalker, owner of Medina Taxi, and Michael Maak, who retired as a captain with the Medina Fire Department.

Napoli and Stalker will square off in a June 25 Republican primary. Stalker also has the Conservative Party line. Maak is running under the Democrat Party line.

Murray also will have a rematch for town supervisor with incumbent Robert Miller facing Joe Sidonio. Miller won a close election over Sidonio in November 2017, in a race separated by 6 votes. Both have submitted petitions for the Republican and Independence parties. Sidonio also has the Conservative Party line.

Murray also has contested races for the two Town Council positions with Dirk Lammes trying to unseat either Lloyd Christ Jr. or Neil Valentine.

In Barre, Kerri Richardson, leader of Clear Skies Above Barre, submitted petitions to run for the Barre Town Board under the Conservative Party line. She is among four candidates seeking a spot on the board against Republican candidates Bradlee Driesel and Margaret Swan, and Democrat LuAnn Tierney. None of the four candidates is currently on the board.

In Gaines, Ron Mannella is retiring as highway superintendent after this year. However, he wants to serve on the Town Board. He is one of three candidates for two positions. Mannella submitted petitions for the Republican line. So did Corey Black. Mary Neilans has the Conservative line. Mark Radzinski is running to succeed Mannella as highway superintendent.

Here is a list of the candidates who submitted petitions in the 10 towns. The deadline to turn in petitions was Thursday at the Orleans County Board of Elections. There is a chance any of the petitions submitted this week could be challenged, and the election commissioners could decide the petitions aren’t valid. Some the petitions aren’t final.

(R = Republican, D = Democrat, C = Conservative, I = Independence, WF = Working Families)

Town of Albion

Town Supervisor: Richard Remley (R)

Town Council: Darlene Benton (D), Terry Wilbert (D)

Highway Superintendent: Michael Neidert (R, D)

Town Clerk: Sarah Basinait (R)

Town of Barre

Town Supervisor: Sean Pogue (R, I)

Town Board (elect 2): Bradlee Driesel (R, I), Margaret Swan (R, I), LuAnn Tierney (D) and Kerri Richardson (C)

Highway Superintendent: Dale Brooks (R)

Town Justice: Rick Root (D)

Town Clerk: Maureen Beach (D)

Town of Carlton

Town Supervisor: Gayle Ashbery (R)

Town Council members: Dana Woolston (R) and John Fitzak (R)

Town Justice: Patricia Russell (R)

Town of Clarendon

Town Supervisor: Richard Moy (R)

Town Council: Allen Robinson (R) and Bruce Hovey (R)

Highway Superintendent (elect 1): Tracy Bruce Chalker (R, C) and Robert J. Frieda (R)

Town Justice: Thomas DiFante (R)

Town Clerk: Susan Colby (R)

Town of Gaines

Town Supervisor: Joseph Grube (R)

Town Council members (elect 2): Corey Black (R), Ronald Mannella (R) and Mary Neilans (C)

Highway Superintendent: Mark Radzinski (R)

Town of Kendall

Town Supervisor: Anthony Cammarata (R)

Town Council: Barbara Flow (R), Margaret Lynn Szozda (R)

Highway superintendent: Warren Kruger (R)

Town of Murray

Town Supervisor (elect 1): Robert Miller (R, I), Joe Sidonio (R, C, I)

Town Council members (elect 2): Lloyd Christ, Jr. (R, I) Neil Valentine (R, I) and Dirk Lammes (R, C)

Town of Ridgeway

Town Supervisor (elect 1): David Stalker (R, C), Brian Napoli (R) and Michael Maak (D)

Town Council members (elect 2): Sarah Fisher (R), Mary Woodruff (R) and Duane Payne (R)

Highway superintendent: John Olinger (R)

Town Justice: Joseph Kujawa (R)

Town of Shelby

Town Supervisor: Edward Houseknecht (R),

Town Council members: Jeffrey Smith (R) and John Pratt III (R)

Highway superintendent (elect 1): Michael Fuller (R, D) and Dale Root (R, C)

Town Justice (elect 1): Dawn Keppler (R) and Mark Wambach (C, WF)

Town Clerk: Darlene Rich (D)

Town of Yates 

Town Supervisor: James Simon (R)

Town Council members: John Riggi (R) and Susan Hrovat (R)

Highway superintendent: Roger Wolfe (R)

Town Clerk: Michelle Harling (R)

Candidates will square off in June 25 primary

ALBION – The two candidates for Orleans County sheriff both submitted petitions this week to run under multiple party lines for Orleans County sheriff.

Chris Bourke

Chris Bourke, the current undersheriff, and Brett Sobieraski, a Rochester Police Department sergeant, both submitted petitions to be the candidate for the Republican and Independence parties. In addition, Bourke submitted petitions to run under the Conservative Party.

They are both seeking to succeed Randy Bower as sheriff. Bower opted against running for re-election.

The candidates need at least 3.75 percent of the signatures of the registered voters in each party to qualify for the party line. Normally a candidate would need at least 5 percent of the signatures of registered voters in a party but the state reduced the number to qualify this year because the election calendar has moved up.

Normally the primaries are in September. This year the primary will be June 25.

Sobieraski and Bourke both have been attending numerous events in the county, seeking support for their candidacies.

Brett Sobieraski

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.

Sobieraski, a Kent resident, started his career in Lockport and worked there for four years. He grew up in Lockport, where his late father John was a detective. His uncle also worked for the Lockport PD and Sobieraski’s cousin is a police officer for Lockport.

Sobieraski went to the Rochester Police Department about 26 years ago. He supervises the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and is a team leader on the SWAT Team. Brett is also an instructor at the Monroe County Law Enforcement Academy.

In addition to the petitions to run for sheriff, other candidates for county offices include the seven current county legislators. They include:

• Legislators at-large (countywide): Merle “Skip” Draper (R) of Medina, E. John DeFilipps (R) of n Clarendon and Don Allport (R) of Gaines.

• Legislator District 1 (towns of Clarendon, Barre and most of Shelby): Bill Eick (R) of Shelby

• Legislator District 2 (towns of Yates, Ridgeway and small portion of Shelby): Lynne Johnson (R) of Lyndonville

• Legislator District 3 (towns of Albion and Gaines): Fred Miller (D)

• District 4 (towns of Carlton, Kendall and Murray): Ken DeRoller (R) of Kendall

Miller is the lone Democrat on the Legislature. He isn’t facing opposition from a Republican.

The petitions aren’t final, yet. People can file an objection to a candidate’s petitions. Those objections will then be reviewed by the election commissioners.

Ex-addict shares story of recovery after decade of drug abuse

LYNDONVILLE – Stephen Hill thought he could handle it. He was 14 and started smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.

He was a freshman on the school’s hockey and lacrosse teams, playing with juniors and seniors. The older students introduced him to the party scene.

They all seemed to be having a good time. Hill wanted to fit in with that crowd.

“That first drink and first drug changed my life forever,” he told about 300 students this morning during an assembly at Lyndonville Central School. “Once you get into it, it’s so hard to get out of it.”

Hill as a freshman tried marijuana and one of his team’s captains encouraged him to sell marijuana to other students. Hill used that money to buy marijuana for himself. Then he tried cocaine. Then it was prescription painkillers that he took from a friend’s sister who had her wisdom teeth out.

By his sophomore year of high school, Hill said the drugs were taking over his life. He was failing classes. By his junior year he was kicked off the sports teams and was in drug treatment.

The programs didn’t help him break free from drugs. It wasn’t until he was 24, when he turned away from drugs and alcohol. That was about 6 ½ years ago.

“I was the one who was insane,” he said. “I was completely out of mind. I couldn’t see life without it.”

Dr. Aaron Slack, middle-high school principal at Lyndonville, introduces Stephen Hill to about 300 students in grades 6 to 12 during this morning’s assembly. Slack said the opioid epidemic is harming the local community and country.

Hill, while facing felony drug charges in two states, completed a year-long drug treatment program. When he finished the program, he was welcomed at the treatment program as an employee, helping others gain sobriety.

He also returned to college after flunking out when he was 18. He was successful in community college and then graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and is currently a student at Brooklyn Law School.

Hill shared his experiences with Lyndonville students today, telling them he wasn’t trying to scare them straight or use fear to motivate them to stay away from drugs. He doesn’t think those approaches are very effective.

Many people turn to drugs and alcohol to fit in, or to cope with sadness and anxiety, he told students. These days when he feels anxious or sad, he goes for a walk or to the gym. He often will call a friend. The emotions are temporary. Before he would use drugs to cope, and then he would feel more anxious when withdrawals kicked in.

Stephen Hill is now a law school student who also speaks at schools about the dangers of drinking and using drugs.

He would then be desperate to get a drug, doing things he couldn’t imagine to feed his addiction.

He said addiction is often progressive and fatal. He sees marijuana and alcohol as precursors to harder drugs. He tried cocaine and heroin when his judgement was clouded by marijuana and alcohol. He was nearly killed in a 4-wheeler accident when he was under the influence.

Hill said there are lots of ways to have fun without using drugs or alcohol.

“Go out there and take those healthy risks,” he said. “Just don’t risk your life.”

He also urged students to get help for themselves or their friends if they are using drugs and other substances, including nicotine. Vaping has become popular among teens and young adults, and Hill said that vaping is highly addictive. He struggled with that while trying to break free from drugs.

Hill grew up in Rockland County, north of New York City. He didn’t use drugs to escape neglect or abuse. He was in a loving home with three brothers and doting parents. He excelled at sports. His three brothers didn’t get into drugs, but they suffered from his addiction as he destabilized the family, getting arrested and being so unpredictable.

Hill said he was derailed by his drug abuse, and he regrets the hell it put his family through. He missed his grandfather’s funeral because he couldn’t cope while fighting withdrawals. Hill developed a bad reputation at his high school, and that hurt the chances for his younger brother to make sports teams and have friends over to the family’s house.

He regrets the “collateral damage” to his family and friends, saying addiction is a family disease because it impacts more than just the addict.

He has made amends with family members, but he said many of his friends continue to keep their distance.

Hill urged students to accept themselves and others, and not include drugs and alcohol in their idea of fun.

Student leaders, especially, need to show a better way of socializing that doesn’t include drugs and alcohol.

“I was insecure and I wanted to fit in,” Hill said. “I should have been OK with who I was.”

Hill also is addressing Batavia students this afternoon. The Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse invited him to speak at the local schools today.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s Head Start Program

Provided photo: Community Action Board members organizing and supporting Sweet Cheeks Diaper Drive include from left: Esther Leadley, Barb Shine and Debbie Miller.

April is nationally recognized as the “Month of the Young Child” to emphasize the unique needs and rights of young children and their families.

In response to the Month of the Young Child, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s Volunteer Advocacy Committee is sponsoring a  “Sweet Cheeks” Diaper Drive to assist in meeting the ongoing needs of Community  Action’s Head Start program for young children.

The Head Start Program promotes school readiness through education, health/nutrition, social/emotional, and family support services for local children age birth to 5 years who are income eligible. Community Action Head Start Program enrolls over 300 children in Orleans and Genesee counties annually.

“We provide developmentally appropriate comprehensive services at licensed agency centers, licensed day care partners and in the homes of children and families,” said Bonnie Malakie,  director of Children and Youth Services for Community Action.

The “Sweet Cheeks” Diaper Drive is being supported by over 40 local business entities in the two counties over the next two months. Customers, employees and the public are asked to donate disposable diapers (any size) and/or baby wipes in hampers at these locations. These donations will help off-set  the cost of supplies utilized in the Head Start program and will count as part of the local match required by the funders.

Business or nonprofit entities interested in helping local young children may sponsor a Sweet Cheeks Diaper Drive donation hamper by contacting Barb Shine, Community Action Board member at 716-474-4459.

Look for the hampers at your local businesses and organizations. Individuals interested in dropping off a package of disposable diapers/wipes may take donations in Orleans County to 401 East State St., Albion or in Genesee County at 5073 Clinton Street Rd., Batavia. Look for the containers as you enter the lobby.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A hamper to collect diapers is set up at Hoag Library in Albion.

Photo courtesy of Tim Archer, Albion Interact advisor

ROCHESTER – Members of the Albion High School Interact Club recently visited East High School in Rochester as part of a “cultural exchange.” Albion students spent the day shadowing East students, learning about their school, life in an urban area, and ways that they can “learn from each other as we push past stereotypes.”

Next fall East High students will visit Albion and experience life in a rural area. The AHS Interact Club initiated the program seven years ago.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – Matt Hammitt, a Christian recording artist and speaker, addresses 400 people during the 16t annual banquet for the Care Net Center of Greater Orleans in Albion. The packed dinner was at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Hammitt was the lead singer and songwriter for the band Sanctus Real from 1996-2016. He has been the recipient of three Dove Awards, has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

He shared how the demands of his life as a musician, performing 150 to 200 concerts a year, took a toll on his family, which includes his wife of 18 years, Sarah, and their four children, including a 8-year-old son, Bowen, who was born with pediatric heart disease.

Matt Hammitt sings “Lead Me,” a song he wrote about fighting for your family. He said fathers need to do more than provide financially for their families. They need to be emotional and spiritual leaders, too.

Hammitt continues to work as a musician, but has backed off on a heavy touring schedule.

He urged the men to be active fathers and husbands, and take on a leadership role in their family.

John Gerhardt, chairman of the board of directors for Care Net, welcomes the crowd to the banquet. The event typically raises at least $40,000 to $50,000 for Care Net, which relies on donations from many churches and Christians in the community.

The center is in its 28th year. Last year there were 576 client visits to the center, which is at the KFC/Subway plaza on South Main Street in Albion.

Care Net provides limited ultrasounds to confirm a baby’s heartbeat. Care Net did 51 ultrasounds last year. The center also provides free pregnancy tests, and did 52 of those tests last year.

The center also offers STI testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, peer counseling, parenting and healthy relationship education, and post-abortion support.

The center also has two “blessing boutique rooms” with supplies for families, including clothing, diapers, wipes, formula and toys. Last year, 244 people used the “blessing boutique.”

Wende Woods was introduced as Care Net’s new executive director. She joins the organization after working as the director of a children’s ministry at a church in Inlet near Old Forge in the Adirondacks. She also has been the director of a community youth center in the Adirondacks.

She is engaged to John Swick, the long-time Middleport police chief.

Woods said she was drawn to Care Net, which offers lots of support to families and women who are pregnant.

Pastor Randy LeBaron of the Albion Free Methodist Church shares an opening prayer at the banquet.

Tim Archer served as emcee for the banquet. He said supporters of pro-life organizations like Care Net are more determined to serve their communities after the state recently passed “aggressive pro-abortion legislation in Albany.”

Raul Scott gives the benediction at the banquet. He is the husband of Kim Scott, who was the center’s executive director until she passed away from cancer on Jan. 18. She had the vision to move the center to a more prominent and accessible location in the community, at the plaza at 168 South Main St.

Care Net staff join Matt Hammitt for a group photo after the banquet. Pictured from left include: Wende Woods, executive director; Sharon Sugar, office manager; Matt Hammitt; Jocelyn Wilson, client advocate; and Kathy Baker, RN and nurse manager.

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State grant covering the costs for Community Action

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Elmer W. Davis Inc. Roofing in Rochester works on putting a new roof on the Main Street Thrift Store in Albion this afternoon. The company started work on the project on Monday and is expected to be on site until mid-May.

The building for the Main Street Store is owned by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. The agency purchased the building from the American Legion and moved the thrift store to the site in 2014 after 25 years in the downtown.

A state grant for $358,124 is covering 100 percent of the costs for a new roof, new HVAC units, front doors, upgraded plumbing and some interior renovations.

Testa Construction of Rochester is the general contractor for the project.

Photos courtesy of Stephanie DiGiulio

Two bald eagles are pictured today at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Stephanie DiGiulio of Albion took the photos. She was thrilled, as a Albion graduate (home of the Purple Eagles), to take photos of the majestic creatures.

She didn’t want to give out an exact location for the eagles, so they don’t get disturbed from an influx of visitors.

ALBION — Three trustee positions will be up for election on May 6 at Hoag Library. Voting is from noon to 7 p.m. with the library’s annual meeting to follow at 7 p.m.

There are two trustee positions with terms for four years, and one trustee with a three-year term.

Candidates for the trustee positions can pick up petitions at the library. Those petitions need to be signed by at least 25 people, ages 18 and older, in the library’s service area, which is the towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton in the Albion school district.

Candidates need to turn in their petitions to run for the board by 5 p.m. on Monday. Those petitions are to be turned in at the library, 134 South Main St.

The State Police announced on Wednesday the agency would no longer release mugshots of people who have been arrested unless it’s “for specific law enforcement purposes only,” such as searching for a wanted or missing person, said Trooper James O’Callaghan, public information officer for Troop A of the State Police, which is based in Batavia.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed for the mugshot ban, saying predatory people and businesses often put mugshots on websites and then demand payment to have the images removed.

The mugshot ban was approved as part of the state budget. The Legislature and governor have given law enforcement agencies discretion for releasing the photos.

Local law enforcement agencies are waiting for more details about the ban.

Roland Nenni, the police chief for the Albion and Holley police departments, said he hasn’t received any guidelines about the mugshot ban from the State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force released a mugshot on Wednesday of a person facing drug and grand larceny charges. The Task Force also hasn’t received any guidelines about releasing mugshots, said Joe Sacco, the supervising investigative officer for the Task Force.

Chad Kenward, the Medina police chief, said he doesn’t tend to release mugshots unless it is a major arrest, a missing person and a warrant suspect. He said he hasn’t received any information about the details of the mugshot ban from the state.

In Genesee County, Le Roy Police Chief Christopher Hayward said he checked with the Committee on Open Government and local police agencies aren’t prohibited from releasing mugshots. He temporarily stopped providing mugshots to the media, but has resumed releasing those photos.

“We are allowed to use our discretion when releasing mugshots and therefore going forward we will resume the policy of providing mugshots to the media,” Hayward said in a message to news organizations and the community.