By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 February 2025 at 11:28 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Patty Coffee, director of PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion, accepted a $1,300 donation today from the great-grandchildren of the late Judy Grabowski. From left the great-grandchildren include Caleb, Leah and Eli Prior of Hilton.
The money came from a Super Bowl Square fundraiser with some of the players donating extra for PAWS. There are 100 squares in the fundraiser and each square is $10, but many gave more than that to support the animal shelter on Gaines Basin Road.
The money nearly doubled the $685 the family was able to donate last year from the fundraiser.
The donation was presented today by Grabowski’s family on what would have been her 87th birthday. PAWS was one of her favorite organizations to give to, said her daughter, Elizabeth Pera of Hamlin.
Grabowski was known as “Mema” to the great-grandchildren. She was a Holley resident who donated often to PAWS in memory of friends who passed away, and as memorials for pets in the family that also passed.
Coffee said the donation would likely go towards vet bills for the animals or towards utilities for heating and electricity. There are currently 12 dogs and 12 cats available for adoption at PAWS.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 February 2025 at 8:48 am
Provided photos
ALBION – National Guard members arrived in Albion this morning just before 8:30 and headed to the Orleans Correctional Facility to help staff the prison where many of the corrections officers are on strike for the third day.
The National Guard will be assisting at Orleans and Albion correctional facilities. Gov. Kathy Hochul mobilized the National Guard after strikes at more than 30 of the state’s prisons. She said the strikes are illegal work stoppages due to the Taylor Law which doesn’t allow public employees to go on strike.
“National Guard members will support and supplement current correctional staff on site to ensure safety and security with tasks including distributing meals and medication to incarcerated individuals and help maintain general order and wellness in the facilities,” according to a news release from the Governor’s Office on Wednesday. “Additional members are expected to report for duty in the coming hours and days.”
About 3,500 National Guard members have been deployed to prisons around the state following an executive order from Hochul.
The governor has approved additional overtime compensation for correction officers and other staff who are reporting for duty and actively working to secure the prisons.
An independent mediator also has been retained “to help bring a quick and immediate end to this illegal work stoppage,” Hochul said.
The corrections officers say the facilities are unsafe and understaffed. They aren’t seeking more money, but instead are focused on better working conditions in the prisons.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2025 at 9:10 pm
Another winter weather advisory went into effect at 2:39 this afternoon, not long after a lake effect snow warning expired.
The National Weather Service issued the winter weather advisory until 4 a.m. Friday for Orleans, Niagara, Monroe, Wayne and northern Cayuga counties. Those areas can expect 4 to 7 inches of snow.
“Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands,” the Weather Service said. “If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.”
BATAVIA – UConnectCare has promoted Kathy Hodgins as its chief executive officer. The Medina resident will lead the nonprofit agency that helps people with substance use prevention, treatment and recovery.
Hodgins has worked for the agency for 23 years. She succeeds John Bennett, who resigned to become director of network development with Forward Leading IPA’s WeLinkCare social care network. Her first day in her new role was Feb. 8.
Hodgins has held several key positions with UConnectCare since starting as a chemical dependency counselor in 2002, most recently serving as chief clinical officer for the past five years. She also was the agency’s director of Treatment Services in Orleans County from 2012-18, assistant director of Treatment from 2009-12 and assistant director of Forensics and Satellite Services from 2006-09.
As chief executive officer, she will oversee a staff of that has expanded to about 150 employees and an annual budget that has grown to about $13 million.
“I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to contribute my expertise in collaboration, implementation of policy and procedures, and dedicated leadership to our organization,” Hodgins said. “My experience in all aspects of the agency has prepared me well to manage complex issues, ensuring that UConnectCare continues to operate smoothly and effectively in delivering outstanding patient care.”
Hodgins said she aspired to become the agency’s CEO someday and credited the mentorship of Bennett and David Markham, the executive director before Bennett.
“I have been able to accomplish much in Orleans County when I was a director because John gave me the autonomy and he knew that I had the best interests of the agency at heart,” she said. “And I completed my master’s degree under Dave Markham, and I did my internship at his marriage and family practice. I have been privileged to work with such patient-focused individuals.”
Hodgins received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Buffalo after earning a bachelor’s degree in social work from Brockport State College and an associate’s degree in human services from Genesee Community College.
A licensed social worker and credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor, Hodgins also is an adjunct instructor at Genesee Community College, where she implements lesson plans on the use, misuse and abuse of drugs and alcohol, and supports the Royal Employer Assistance Program as a counselor.
Her civic involvement includes Leadership Genesee, Leadership Orleans, Genesee Community College Human Services Advisory Board, Orleans Recovery Hope Begins Here and WNY Chemical Dependency Consortium.
Hodgins said her leadership style is one that allows directors the freedom to try new things and work across departments and other community agencies for the common good.
“I embrace collaboration, and I like change; I’m a change agent,” she said. “I’m proud of the way the agency has grown to be able to provide what we call a ‘continuum of care.’ People can come into UConnectCare and start with detoxification, they can go to inpatient, they can go to residential, outpatient. For such a small town, we provide a wide range of services.”
She said she is looking forward to the expected opening of a residence for women and children in Albion this spring and the integration of the main building’s waiting area on East Main Street in Batavia.
“We have a DOH (Department of Health) grant that we will use to combine the two waiting rooms (treatment and methadone) into one,” she said. “That definitely will help reduce the stigma.”
Hodgins called The Recovery Station (on Clinton Street Road) “a hidden gem” – a place where those in recovery can not only receive valuable services but also enjoy a drug- and alcohol-free social setting.
“Our goal is to utilize that site more and more,” she said, noting that she wished it could have been located in the city for easier access.
Hodgins and her husband of 42 years, Michael, have three grown children and seven grandchildren. Michael is currently on the list to receive a second heart transplant. The couple is awaiting word from the Cleveland Clinic.
“The same week that I found out I was hired as CEO, my husband was notified that he is on the list for the transplant,” she said. “That was cause for a dinner celebration at Bent’s Opera House (in Medina).”
Pilot program focuses on Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties
Press Release, Independent Living of the Genesee Region
BATAVIA – Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), serving Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, is excited to announce the recent awarding of a $371,176 grant by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
This funding will establish The Independent Living Youth Project (ILYP), a two-year pilot program aimed at providing enhanced services for disabled youth and their caregivers.
The grant will fund two Independent Living Youth Specialists who will offer direct services and support to children and youth under 25 years old with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers, helping them navigate this complex system.
“We’re thrilled to launch this pilot project, which will enable us to provide focused assistance to youth under 25 years old and their families,” said Rae Frank, director of Independent Living of the Genesee Region. “Navigating a complex system can be challenging for this population, and additional support will assist them to succeed.”
Connecting to Our Existing Aims
As a peer-directed, regional advocacy service and program provider for people of all ages with mental, physical, intellectual, sensory or developmental disabilities, ILGR is dedicated to ensuring that these individuals can live their lives as they choose, free from institutional care and restrictive environments.
While our Independent Living Specialists serve all ages, we recognize that disabled children and youth, along with their caregivers, often require specialized services and support. Their families report higher out-of-pocket medical expenses, spend more time coordinating their child’s healthcare, and sometimes reduce or stop working due to their child’s health.
Many families seek assistance with applying for public benefits and need direct support to navigate the process. Additionally, parents face challenges in developing the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a child’s school support. Adolescents with disabilities often struggle to transition to adult services, self-advocate, find employment and live independently.
Youths with disabilities and their families deserve a comprehensive, community-based, family-centered and coordinated system of care.
“The Greater Rochester Health Foundation is thrilled to be able to support the Independent Youth Living Project, a program that empowers youth with disabilities and their families,” stated Rachel Betts, Responsive Grant Program Officer at the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. “The challenges these families face are significant, but with specialized advocacy, direct support, and a focus on independence, Western NY Independent Living can make a meaningful impact.
“By providing resources like educational advocacy, assistance with benefits, and youth leadership opportunities, this initiative will equip these young individuals with the skills and services they need to thrive in their communities. The Independent Living Center’s commitment to improving the quality of life for these youth is both inspiring and necessary, and we are excited to fund this program that will bring about real, lasting change for so many families in our community.”
For more information or support contact (585) 815-8501.
Independent Living of the Genesee Region is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies which offers an expanding array of services to aid people with disabilities to take control of their own lives.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21, the same age requirement that already applies to purchasing handguns from federally licensed dealers.
Individuals under 21 have used assault weapons in some of the most devastating shootings in U.S. history, including the 2022 mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo in which 10 people were killed.
Gun violence is a national crisis, claiming over 46,000 lives in 2023 — the third-largest number of gun-related deaths in American history. Assault weapons, originally engineered for military combat to maximize damage, are frequently used in mass shootings because of their ability to inflict catastrophic harm in mere seconds.
More than 85 percent of deaths in public mass shootings involving four or more fatalities were caused by assault rifles. Furthermore, shootings involving assault weapons or large-capacity magazines result in more than 2.5 times as many people being shot compared to incidents involving other firearms.
“Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in America today,” Gillibrand said. “Year after year, deadly assault weapons inflict devastating and avoidable harm on our families, schools, and communities, causing children, parents, and teachers to live with the fear that the next school shooting may happen in their community.”
The Age 21 Act’s restrictions on the sale of assault weapons, handguns, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, and related ammunition to individuals under the age of 21 would apply to both federally licensed and private sellers. Additionally, the legislation would bar most individuals under 21 from possessing these items, with limited exceptions for specific circumstances such as service in law enforcement or the armed forces.
“The Age 21 Act offers a critical safeguard to prevent such tragedies, decreasing the threat of gun violence against our kids,” Gillibrand said. “I am proud to support this legislation, and I will fight hard for its passage this Congress.”
The Age 21 Act was originally introduced by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). In addition to Senator Gillibrand, it is cosponsored by 17 senators: Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Governor appoints mediator to resolve ‘illegal work stoppage’
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced she has signed an Executive Order activating members of the New York National Guard to help ensure the safety and security of New York State’s correctional facilities while the illegal and unlawful work stoppage by correction officers continues.
This Order also provides authority for additional overtime compensation for correction officers and other staff who are reporting for duty and actively working to secure our facilities.
Governor Hochul also directed the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the Office of Employee Relations to retain independent mediator Martin Scheinman to help bring a quick and immediate end to this illegal work stoppage. Earlier today, New York State filed an injunction under the Taylor Law and a judge granted a temporary restraining order mandating striking correction officers to cease the illegal activity.
“These disruptive and unsanctioned work stoppages by some correction officers must end as they are jeopardizing the safety of their colleagues, the prison population, and causing undue fear for the residents in the surrounding communities,” Governor Hochul said. “In an effort to resolve this illegal work stoppage I have directed the appointment of highly respected independent mediator Martin Scheinman who will begin work immediately to return striking correction officers back to work. While I am confident we will resolve this illegal strike, I am grateful for the thousands of correction officers and staff that are continuing to report for duty – I thank them for their continued service and for doing the right thing.”
Earlier today, more than 3,500 members of the New York National Guard started reporting for duty as advance crews are at correctional facilities ahead of the larger deployment to determine logistical needs and roles and responsibilities.
National Guard members will support and supplement current correctional staff on site to ensure safety and security with tasks including distributing meals and medication to incarcerated individuals and help maintain general order and wellness in the facilities. Additional members are expected to report for duty in the coming hours and days.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2025 at 4:23 pm
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley has joined 16 other Republicans in the State Legislature in sending a letter to Go. Kathy Hochul, blaming her administration for failing to make prisons safer for staff.
Hawley and the other legislators addressed the letter to Hochul and Daniel F. Martuscello III, commissioner of NYS Department of Corrections and Supervision.
“We write to you today to make an appeal on behalf of our Correctional Officers statewide for meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving growing concerns over the safety and stability of our correctional facilities,” the letter states. “Measures taken to improve these areas have continued to fail, rendering all individuals within them at significant risk for danger.”
Correction officers are on strike at 30 of the state’s 42 prisons. The strike started on Monday at Elmira and Collins, and spread to more than 20 by Tuesday including Albion and Orleans.
DOCCS reported a record 1,760 assaults on prison staff last year despite recent declines in the population of incarcerated people, Hawley noted.
“New York has seen historic increases of violence for both inmate-on-inmate and inmate-on-officer populations,” states the letter from the legislators.
The letter is signed by Assemblyman Matthew Simpson (114th District), Senator Jake Ashby (43rd District), Sen. James Tedisco (44th), Sen. Mark Walczyk (49th), Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano (3rd), Assemblyman Michael Durso (9th), Assemblyman John Mikulin (17th), Assemblyman Matthew Slater (94th), Assemblyman Chris Tague (102nd), Assemblyman Scott Gray (116th), Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (117th), Assemblyman Robert Smullen (118th), Assemblyman Joseph Angelino (121st), Assemblyman Brian Miller (122nd), Assemblyman John Lemondes (126th), Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (130th) and Assemblyman Steve Hawley (139th).
“1,760 violent incidents against prison staff in a single year is not just an outlier, it’s a trend brought about by Gov. Hochul and her friends in the Majority who rewarded criminal behavior through radical policies such as the HALT Act,” Hawley said in a news release. “Since day one I’ve been firmly against these initiatives. I’ve seen the pain correctional officers and their families go through every day and it’s past time we say enough is enough. The governor needs to get her priorities straight. Our state’s safety depends on it.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2025 at 3:59 pm
A strike among corrections officers that started on Monday at Collins and Elmira prisons has now spread to 30 prisons, said the union representing the corrections officers.
The strike isn’t sanctioned by the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association. The Taylor Law doesn’t allow corrections officers or public employees to legally go on strike.
There are 42 prisons run by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
“Currently there are approximately 30 correctional facilities in which officers/sergeants are participating in either protesting current working conditions inside the prisons or refusing to enter for their scheduled shift,” said James Miller, spokesman for NYSCOPBA, the union for corrections officers. “There are several facilities that are not participating and are operating normally.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday said she was preparing to mobilize the National Guard to help staff the prisons if the strike doesn’t end today. Miller said the National Guard is on standby but he is unaware if any Guard members have been deployed to a prison.
“The leadership of NYSCOPBA met with DOCCS officials and representatives of the Governor’s Office yesterday morning to discuss the well documented concerns of the members that has led to the current situation,” Miller said in a news release. “Negotiations with the State have continued throughout today between NYSCOPBA and the Governor’s Office towards a resolution.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2025 at 1:48 pm
Corrections officers determined to not return to work until HALT Act rescinded
Photos by Tom Rivers: Corrections officers say mandatory overtime keeps them from seeing their families. This group is outside on Gaines Basin Road today. There was another group directly across from the main entrance to Orleans Correctional Facility. More than 100 people were gathered despite temperatures in the teens.
ALBION – More than 100 corrections officers are gathered across from the Orleans Correctional Facility on day 2 of a strike at the facilities. It’s part of strikes at about 25 prisons in New York, as COs pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature to rescind the HALT Act which officers say has made the prisons far more dangerous with little repercussion if inmates attack staff or other incarcerated people.
The strikes started at prisons on Monday at Collins in Erie County and Elmira in the Southern Tier. By Tuesday the strike spread to more than 20 prisons including the two in Albion: the women’s prison, Albion Correctional, and the men’s medium-security prison, Orleans Correctional.
Officers on strike today told the Orleans Hub they aren’t seeking more money. The strike is mostly about rescinding the HALT Act and improving staffing. COs say more officers are needed to cut down on mandatory overtime. Some officers say they regularly are working 80 hours a week and are not able to spend much time with their families.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday said she was preparing to mobilize the National Guard if officers don’t end the strike today.
Correction officers say their top priority is rescinding the HALT Act which they say drastically limits solitary confinement for inmates. That has put other inmates and staff at risk of attacks with little repercussions to inmates who hurt others and break prison rules.
The gathering of COs outside Orleans Correctional on Gaines Basin Road was bigger today than on Tuesday. They were joined by many recent retirees.
“This has been a long time coming,” a CO at Orleans Correctional said.
He and his co-workers are determined to stay on strike until the HALT Act is ended.
“It’s up to the Governor’s Office,” said the CO who declined to give his name, fearing retaliation from the state.
Donna Vanderlaan is retired from Albion Correctional the past 5 ½ years. She worked there as a CO for 21 years, and started with two years at Bedford Hills. She said recent state policies have made the prisons less safe, and the shortage of staff are burning out the COs and other workers.
Vanderlaan said the state is overworking the COs and putting them in jeopardy. She has been out in the bitter cold the past two days.
She is amazed by the residents dropping off pizza, water, hand warmers, and wood to burn in barrels.
There has been so much pizza, the retired COs have brought some to the staff working inside the prisons.
“The community is definitely showing lots of support,” one of the COs said. “They’ve been phenomenal.”
COs who were inside the prisons working when the strikes started have now been in there for over 30 hours.
Vanderlaan said the striking staff are staying outside, trying to pressure the governor to change policies, especially the HALT Act.
“This isn’t about money,” Vanderlaan said. “They’re fighting for their lives and for the people who can’t be out here. With the 24-hour shifts, you have no life. We have people falling asleep on their ride home.”
There is a line of about 100 vehicles along Gaines Basin Road stretching from near the prison’s main entrance to past the American Legion Post.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2025 at 9:02 am
ROCHESTER – The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce honored Karen Kinter of Oak Orchard Health with an Athena Award last Thursday. Kinter and 26 other women who lead businesses and organizations were recognized with the awards.
Kinter, an Albion resident, has served as CEO of Oak Orchard Health since September 2022. She became CEO of Oak Orchard after more than 20 years in the industry and vast experience establishing, stabilizing and growing Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Before joining Oak Orchard, Kinter served as CEO of Regional Health Services FQHC and Vice President of Specialty Revenue Programs at Rochester Regional located in Rochester, where she had financial, operational and strategic responsibility for programs across a large health system.
The Athena Award for Kinter recognizes her leadership of an organization with sites in Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Hornell, Lyndonville, Medina and Warsaw.
Originally founded in 1973, Oak Orchard Health has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services including primary care, pediatric care, vision care, dental care, behavioral health, as well as nutrition and outreach services for everyone located in the communities they serve.
Kinter was chosen as one of 27 finalists for an Athena Award. She and Oak Orchard were one of four finalists for the Athena International Organizational Award. The other finalists include Lifespan of Greater Rochester, USC Builds and Zea Proukou PLLC.
The award was established in 1982 to honor a woman-owned or woman-led business or organization that fosters a culture encouraging women employees to achieve their full leadership potential. Greater Rochester Chamber, in partnership with its Women’s Council affiliate, has been presenting this award annually since 2018.
Karen Kinter attends the Athena Awards banquet at the Floreano Riverside Convention Center on Feb. 13.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2025 at 8:09 am
Artists urged to be part of the show that opens July 18
File photo by Tom Rivers: Kim Martillotta Muscarella, owner of the Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion, poses in April 2022 with two of her paintings, of an acorn woodpecker and red-headed woodpecker, both acrylics on Masonite.
ALBION – Kim Martillotta Muscarella is working on the schedule of art shows for 2025 at the Marti’s on Main art gallery.
She wants one of the shows to highlight Orleans County and the Erie Canal, which are both celebrating their 200th anniversaries this year.
Muscarella welcomes artists to display paintings, photographs, sculptures, quilts and other art forms for the bicentennial show. The opening reception will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 18.
Artists can submit photos of complete art or their ideas for new art for the show by April 4. For more information, contact Muscarella at (585) 590-9211.
Muscarella will display up to two works from artists in the juried show which is not limited to people who live in Orleans County. She is excited to see the art and the different ways artists express themselves in highlighting Orleans County and the Erie Canal.
Muscarella also is planning an environmental show after the bicentennial display. The environmental show will open on Aug. 15. Artists can submit photos of their work or ideas for the show by May 1 by texting Muscarella.
Marti’s is located at 20 South Main St., a prominent historic building that used to be the offices for the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2025 at 7:41 am
ALBION – Applications are now being accepted for a new class offering 10 weeks of instruction for small business owners or people looking to start a new business in Orleans County.
The Orleans Microenterprise Assistance Program can accommodate 15 students each class. A new class will run on Thursday evenings from April 3 to June 5 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Route 31 in Knowlesville.
The most recent class from the fall 2024 included 14 graduates, which brings the total to 558 people who have completed MAP since it started in 2002. More than 200 have started a variety of businesses in the county.
The 10-week program covers topics such as legal requirements for starting a business, forms of ownership, business plan development, taxation for sole proprietors, marketing and advertising strategies, bookkeeping and record keeping, banking essentials, pricing goods and services, and cost analysis.
To see the application to be in the program, click here. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. on March 14.
Prospective entrepreneurs aged 18 and older, who maintain a permanent residence or business physically located in Orleans County, are encouraged to apply.
The course fee is $300. However, financial aid is available for qualifying applicants based on financial need. Interested individuals can complete the application online in under 10 minutes or contact OEDA with further program questions at (585) 589-7060 ext. 1 or MHolland@orleansdevelopment.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 February 2025 at 5:56 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Snow blows cross Gaines Basin Road in a field near the Orleans Correctional Facility today at about noon.
The driving conditions have been difficult today. A travel advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. on Wednesday. A lake-effect snow warning also remains in effect until that time.
Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director, urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.
“If you must travel, use extreme caution,” he said in a post on social media. “Things may be perfectly fine in one spot and a complete white out in another. Snowfall is forecasted to increase this evening, making the blowing snow conditions and visibility even worse. There have been multiple accidents and cars off the roads as a result of the current conditions.”
BATAVIA – Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), serving Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, is excited to announce the recent awarding of a $371,176 grant by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
