Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27), Rep. Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Rep. Brian Higgins (NY-26), Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) released the following statements after sending a letter to the Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao urging the Pilot Records Database (PRD) be taken out of beta testing and implemented as a requirement for all pilots to input data so that it may be used by all commercial airlines.
Section 203 of P.L. 111-216 of the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 requires the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) to create a database that would provide air carriers with information regarding the pilots’ training, certifications, qualifications, and other information relating to employment history. This database is important for commercial airliners to make informed hiring decisions. In December 2017, the FAA released its PRD beta test online, 7 years after they were supposed to.
“Ten years later, the crash of Flight 3407 still weighs heavily on our community,” said Congressman Collins. “The families have worked tirelessly to make our skies safe. The Pilot Record Database is one of the last pieces of the puzzle and it is time for it to be fully implemented.”
“On the 10th anniversary of the Flight 3407 tragedy, the best way to honor the memories of the innocent lives lost is to ensure we make permanent these critical and essential aviation safety standards,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I join my colleagues, and the Families of Flight 3407, in urging Secretary Chao to put the safety and well-being of passengers first by implementing the Pilot Records Database to ensure only qualified, responsible pilots are navigating our skies.”
“The National Transportation Safety Board’s study of the crash of Flight 3407 provided direction for how to improve flight safety based on the lessons learned from this tragedy,” said Congressman Brian Higgins. “A number of changes have led to safer skies for the travelling public but we aren’t done. Creation of a Pilot Records Database was one of the measures driven by the Families of Flight 3407 and implemented by Congress years ago. Finalization of this component that brings transparency to who’s flying our plane is long overdue.”
“As we honor those whole tragically lost their lives on Flight 3407, we continue to look for ways that we can work together to ensure the safety of the American people,” said Tom Reed. “The creation of the PRD was an encouraging step. Today we sincerely ask that it be implemented as a requirement to be used by all commercial airlines throughout the United States.”
This provision was included in the legislation after an investigation revealed that Colgan Air hired the captain of Flight 3407, without full knowledge of his complete training record which showed that he failed three “check rides” prior to operating the aircraft.
The bi-partisan letter signed by the four members of Congress adds pressure to Secretary Chao to implement the PRD, which is vital for commercial airliners to determine the qualifications of a pilot prior to hiring. Since August of 2017, the implementation of this provision has been pushed back four times and currently slated for May of this year.
Contributed Story Posted 12 February 2019 at 2:28 pm
Contributed Photo – The Holley-Kendall wrestling team earned the Division 2 (small schools) Sportsmanship Award at the Section V championships held this past weekend at SUNY Brockport. In the front row are Jakob Silpoch, David Farruggia, Nathan Schoonmaker, Jayden Pieniaszek, Tristyn Moyer, Dylan Clemons, Bruce Rasmusson, and James Fox. In the second row are Eli Stanton, Mike Clark, Zach Dann, Frank Golisano, Dawson Custer, Garrett VanLogten, Robert Torres, Erik Balys, and Jayden Gibaud-Mastowski. In the third row are Rob Peters (official), Coach John Grillo, Coach Coach Rich Williams, Brendan Cairns, Donald Blosenhauer, Damyon Famoly, Zane Cristakes, Frank Flynn, Austin Berns, Jacob Affronti, Austin Dean (coach behind last row), Cade Aina, Coach Lucas Silvis, Coach Mike Silvis, and Section V Officials Coordinator Frank Marotta.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2019 at 1:04 pm
LYNDONVILLE – The Board of Education sees the benefit of having a student representative on the board, to hear directly from a member of the student body about school activities and the impact of some board decisions.
Medina has a student on the board, although in a non-voting capacity. The student also can’t sit in on executive sessions where personnel and possible litigation are discussed.
The Medina student representative was approved last May in a public vote by the community.
If Lyndonville wants a student representative, it also needs the public’s support in a vote. The Lyndonville BOE can decide up until April whether it wants to put the matter up for a vote in May 21.
“It would be a benefit for the board to hear from the students and for them to see the interworkings of the board,” said Ted Lewis, BOE president.
In Medina, the High School Student Association president serves as the student representative. Medina also has an alternate.
Harold Suhr, a Lyndonville BOE member, said he would support having several students on the board, to increase the student viewpoints. He said it’s impossible for one student to represent all students.
The state law limits districts to one student representative on the board, said Jason Smith, Lyndonville school superintendent.
Districts may be able to have a bigger pool of alternates. That’s something the district will research.
“I see it as a positive,” said Susan Hrovat, a Lyndonville BOE member. “I don’t see a negative.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2019 at 12:00 pm
District will consider if it should hire own bus drivers for service
LYNDONVILLE – The school district may be looking at a significant increase in the costs of transporting students.
The district’s current transportation provider, Student Transportation of America (Ridge Road Express), notified Lyndonville it won’t accept a renewal of the contract at a cost-of-living rate.
STA wants to keep providing service to Lyndonville, but said the contract needs to be rebid to reflect higher operating costs.
STA also has provided the service to Albion the past 30 years and that contract was rebid, with STA the low bidder – at a 30 percent increase.
The company has told school leaders the rising minimum wage is pushing up operational costs with bus drivers and aides getting paid more money.
Under Andrew Cuomo, who is starting his ninth year as governor, the minimum wage in Orleans County has gone from $7.25 to $11.10 this year. In 2020 it will be $11.80 and then $12.50 in 2021.
Joe DiPassio Jr., Lyndonville’s school business administrator, has tentatively budgeted for a 44 percent increase in transportation costs or $308,064. That would go from $701,300 to $1,009,364.
“I’m hoping it won’t be that high,” he told the Board of Education on Monday.
Lyndonville is rebidding the bus contract and it may be a joint bid with Barker and Roy-Hart. The economies of scale could get the three districts a better deal, said Jason Smith, Lyndonville’s district superintendent.
The districts will use a consultant to try to reach out to more transportation companies. Albion only had two bidders. STA’s bid was actually about half the cost of the other company’s proposal.
Lyndonville’s low bid for the service may be less than the $308,000 increase DiPassio put in the budget. He didn’t want to underestimate the cost and have the district scrambling to find the money. State aid will cover about 90 percent of the cost, but there is a lag of about a year in that reimbursement, DiPassio said.
He is putting together a tentative budget by March 1, because Lyndonville’s projected budget for spending and the tax levy need to be submitted to the state. The budget can be modified before it goes to a public vote on May 21.
Lyndonville’s budget right now calls for a 2 percent tax increase, which stays under the tax cap.
Transportation is the biggest increase facing the district. Given the big hike, Board of Education members said a better option might be for the district to provide the service with its own employees.
Lyndonville owns the buses, with STA providing drivers, a manager and a mechanic.
Bus drivers are in short supply. STA guarantees the district won’t be left without a driver for a bus run.
“We’ll look at every option given the cost increases,” said Ted Lewis, the BOE president. “We’ll look at all options to try to minimize the impact to taxpayers.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2019 at 11:24 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The front entrance of the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School is pictured this morning with tough weather conditions.
The dramatic extremes of winter weather continue today, this time with blowing snow and ice. It was about 60 outside a week ago.
The past two weeks Orleans County has experienced bitter cold, near blizzard conditions, an ice storm, flooding, temperatures below zero and two different warm-ups in the 50s to 60s.
Today it’s cold in the 20s. A winter weather advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. today with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected, about a tenth of an inch of ice, and winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour.
A wind advisory also is in effect from 1 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday. There will be southwest winds from 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2019 at 10:32 am
Although numbers for team, district doesn’t want to jeopardize other shared programs with Medina
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville varsity boys soccer players will continue to play on a merged team with Medina for at least the next four years, the Lyndonville Board of Education decided on Monday during a contentious board meeting.
Many Lyndonville parents have urged the district to bring back its own boys soccer team. Lyndonville has played with Medina the past six years with Medina hosting the team. Both districts have an upcoming varsity cohort with nearly 20 players from each school. There are 11 players on the field at once and each team should have some substitutes.
Some Lyndonville parents said a combined team will mean many good players will be cut and won’t play, or will be on the bench when they could be playing for their own school.
Susan Hrovat said the merged programs boost opportunities for Lyndonville students.
The board admitted it has been a difficult decision.
“I’m so torn on this it’s painful,” said board member Steven Vann. “To bring soccer back isn’t worth losing all the rest of it.”
Vann said the agreements are “an all or nothing deal.”
Richard Mufford, Lyndonville’s board vice president, disputed that, saying the eight shared programs are intended to be looked at individually.
Medina wouldn’t drop Lyndonville from the other agreements because Medina would otherwise struggle to field their own teams and their programs would be diminished.
“They’re in as much need of us as we are of them,” Mufford said.
He said the intermunicipal agreements were supposed to be temporary and evaluated on a frequent basis, looking at student numbers and other issues.
Lyndonville and Medina have eight shared programs with Lyndonville hosting the boys volleyball, girls varsity soccer and the musical program. Medina hosts a merged boys varsity soccer, varsity football, cross country, the marching band and swimming.
Medina school officials wanted stability and a long-term commitment from Lyndonville. Normally the agreements between the districts are for one or two years for each program. This time the agreements will be for four years.
“We’re trying to be creative and innovative by doing things,” said board member Susan Hrovat. “We’ve provided more opportunities than I ever remember.”
Ted Lewis, the Lyndonville BOE president, said the merged programs have given Lyndonville students new opportunities with football, swimming, cross country and the marching band, which aren’t offered at Lyndonville. The merged teams also ensure other programs will continue.
“That speaks to adding and maximizing opportunities,” he said.
Lyndonville in recent years has typically only had five to 8 players on the boys soccer team. This past season it had 12. Lewis said the district has a declining student enrollment.
“Yes, for a few years we have the numbers,” he said. “But with the current demographics we’ll go back to a number of five or six players.”
Ted Lewis, the BOE president, wants stability in the merged programs.
The merged team passed with a 5-2 vote. Mufford and Terry Stinson both voted against the merged boys soccer, but backed the other seven intermunicipal agreements.
Mufford is a Medina graduate. He said both schools are great communities. He wants to see more support for the merged teams. Right now, only the family members of the players tend to go to games.
That differs from Lyndonville basketball games and other sports where Lyndonville has its own team. Those games are big community events, he said.
Mufford would also like to see more games played in Lyndonville with the merged team. Medina is in Section 6 and Lyndonville is in Section 5. The Section 6 referees by contract can’t work on a field in Section 5 for league games, Lyndonville school officials said. That has limited Lyndonville to hosting a few non-league games and exhibitions.
Stinson also said the community needs to embrace the merged teams as a Lyndonville team, and show support for the athletes from both schools.
Katie Whipple has a son on the team. She said the Lyndonville and Medina kids each play on their own modified and JV teams, and then some players are left out with the merged varsity team. She said Lyndonville should be focused on trying to have as many kids opportunities to play as possible. Some who have played since seventh grade will see their soccer careers end by the time they are juniors and seniors, she said.
When the board was voting, Whipple’s husband Patrick interjected and told the board it wasn’t following its policies for decision-making.
“You are being negligent in your duty,” Whipple yelled.
He was told to “stand down” and leave the room by board members. Whipple obliged and left the meeting after back-and-forth shouting.
Board member Kelly Cousins acknowledged the issue has stirred passion from parents. She said that participation from the community is an asset for the school district, she said.
Cousins said she spoke with a Medina board member who told her Medina didn’t want Lyndonville to leave the merged boys soccer.
Cousins said Medina isn’t dictating the decision-making at Lyndonville. However, Medina would see Lyndonville’s departure from a merged boys soccer as hurting the relationship between the two districts, Cousins said the Medina board member told her.
“I’m not willing to take that risk,” Cousins said about straining the partnership between the two districts.
Board member Sue Hrovat of Lyndonville said she had a similar conversation with a Medina board member, who told Hrovat Lyndonville’s exit from that agreement would be viewed unfavorably with the other shared agreements. Hrovat supports staying with Medina, for all of the programs.
“I know that this is the best thing for our school long-term,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2019 at 10:54 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – A Ridgeway home was engulfed in flames and destroyed this evening. Firefighters were dispatched to 3358 Bates Rd. at 6:18 p.m. for reports of a structure fire.
Larry and Corina Sword live at the house and weren’t injured.
Firefighters from the western battalion – Ridgeway, Lyndonville, Shelby, East Shelby and Medina – all responded to the scene.
Fire investigators were called in to try to determine the cause of the fire.
Medina brought its ladder truck to try to put out the flames upstairs in the house while other firefighters worked to put out the fire below.
Firefighters try to get the fire under control. It was in the low 20s outside.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2019 at 3:49 pm
MEDINA – The Village of Medina will be getting $55,000 from the Orleans Economic Development Agency to build a new pedestrian bridge over Oak Orchard Creek on Maple Ridge Road.
The EDA’s board of directors approved the allocation on Friday. The money comes from a revolving loan fund that needs to be phased out.
Medina also will use $130,000 from the Town of Shelby for the bridge. That $130,000 also is from the revolving loan fund through the EDA.
The state is making the economic development agencies around the state close out the funds. The remaining funds can stay local if there is a project identified by March 31. The projects need to serve low-to-moderate income residents, or improve handicapped accessibility at a public space.
If a project isn’t identified that meets the state criteria, the funds need to be sent back to Albany.
The section of Maple Ridge by the creek has become busier with a housing development, several new businesses and also the GCC campus center. There are also about 200 available acres in the area being promoted for development by the EDA.
The pedestrian bridge and sidewalks on Maple Ridge have been sought by the village for several years but Medina didn’t receive grants for the project.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2019 at 11:43 am
Courtesy of Cobblestone Suites: The proposed 58-room hotel in Medina will look similar to this Cobblestone Suites hotel in Pennsylvania.
MEDINA – Developers of a proposed 58-room hotel on Maple Ridge Road are looking at a late spring to summer ground-breaking on the project.
The new Cobblestone Inn and Suites hotel will be on Maple Ridge Road, next to Pride Pak and almost across the street from Genesee Community College.
Cobblestone said the project will be $6,750,000, which includes paying the EDA $50,000 for 5 acres of land. The hotel owner estimated it would create 12 full-time jobs when its open with an average salary of $29,000. The project will create 275 construction jobs.
The 3-story hotel would be Cobblestone’s first project in New York. It will be the first chain hotel in the county and is expected to keep more visitors in the county for overnight stays, boosting occupancy and sales taxes. The occupancy tax is used to promote tourism in the county.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency on Friday approved a $250,000 loan to Medina Hospitality LLC for furniture, equipment and fixtures for the project. The Orleans EDA approved the loan through its Orleans Revolving Loan Fund. That fund is being phased out and this will likely be the last loan through the program.
BriMark Builders has been working on the project in Medina for a few years. It secured Planning Board approval from the Village of Medina and Orleans County in 2017. BriMark is based in Neenah, Wisc.
Cobblestone Inn and Suites has built about 80 hotels with most of them in small towns, typically working with investors in the host community. An investor from Pennsylvania is leading the effort to build the project in Medina.
The project includes 65 parking spots, an access drive, outdoor patio, sidewalks, dumpster enclosure, and an optional future gravel truck parking area.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2019 at 10:17 am
Provided photo
BUFFALO – This group of veterans and their families from Orleans County are pictured outside the KeyBank Arena on Saturday when they attended a Buffalo Sabres game (a 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings).
A group of 54 attended the game through the Orleans County PFC. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Volunteer Program, which aims to provide social opportunities for veterans and their families.
Most of the people in the group took a bus to the game. Catherine Schmidt, program coordinator, said more events are planned to bring veterans and their families together.
This photo was taken outside the KeyBank Arena with the bronze statues of “The French Connection”— Rick Martin, Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert. The French Connection accounted for 1,116 goals and 2,573 points in 2,396 games together. They were a dominant force during the 1970s.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2019 at 9:32 am
Photos contributed
MEDINA – Albion Elementary School children recently attended the Teddy Bear and Doll Clinic at Medina Memorial Hospital. They visited the nurses’ station, where nurse manager Mary Dunham (pictured) patched up their dolls and Teddy Bears with splints and Band-Aids.
The hospital welcomes kindergarteners for the Teddy Bear and Doll Clinic. The students are urged to bring in a stuffed animal or doll that could be bandaged with pretend injuries. The hospital hopes the event will help children to feel more comfortable if they ever need to go to the hospital.
Kate Brauen, pharmacist at Medina Memorial Hospital, greeted children from Albion Elementary School during the Teddy Bear and Doll Clinic. The children learned medication safety and what a pharmacist does.
Students were also served a healthy snack during the Teddy Bear and Doll Clinic. Children taste tested some new foods and learned about healthy eating.
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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2019 at 8:02 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Crab apples are frozen in ice at Mount Albion last Thursday after freezing rain coated the area in ice for about two days.
A winter weather advisory has been issued for Orleans and most of Western New York for Tuesday from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m.
That National Weather Service in Buffalo said Orleans and the Niagara Frontier can expect 3 to 6 inches of snow and about a tenth of an inch of ice.
“Winds gusting as high as 40 mph may bring down a few tree branches and result in isolated power outages,” the Weather Service said.
The snow and freezing rain will result in slippery roads and reduced visibilities, including during the morning and evening commute, the Weather Service said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2019 at 7:08 pm
Teresa and Thomas Norton were killed a week ago in accident on Route 98
Photos by Tom Rivers
ELBA – There was a candlelight vigil today in Elba at the crash site where an Albion mother and son were killed a week ago.
Teresa Norton, 53, and her son Thomas, 22, were headed northbound on 98 when the hit a patch of deep snow. Teresa Norton was driving a 2008 Suzuki and slide sideways into the path of a 2011 Chevrolet pickup truck. The Chevrolet struck the passenger side of the Suzuki. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene by a Genesee County coroner.
Teresa Norton’s son David Robb and daughter Kimberly Albanese light candles in memory of their mother and brother.
Albanese said the family is reeling from the deaths. She said her mother was known for her kindness.
“She was the sweetest person,” Kim said.
Her mother was a doting grandmother to two 2-year-olds. Kim is also 8 months pregnant.
She thanked the community for rallying around the family since the accident a week ago.
“We appreciate everyone’s outpouring of support,” she said.
David Robb, in red hat, and Corey VanAmeron, Kimberly Albanese’s fiancé, hand out candles for the vigil.
Kamryn Nickel helped organize the vigil. She was friends with Tom Norton. They attended the mud bogs together in Waterport. Tom enjoyed fishing and was good at fixing things. He worked at Walmart.
“Tom was a very sweet person,” Nickel said. “He had a lot of love to give.”
About 25 people attended the vigil near the scene of the accident, between Egerton and Townline roads.
Family and friends made this cross of candles in memory of Teresa and Thomas Norton.
VICTOR – Medina’s varsity winter guard team is shown competing Saturday in Victor. Medina came in second with 65.60, which was behind Corning Painted Post with 65.96.
Victor hosted its 20th annual winter guard show and all 3 of Medina’s guards competed. Winter guard is a hybrid performance art form that combines elements of music, dance and military-like precision marching. Winter guard came into existence 30 years agond is an international sport.
In the Novice class Medina took 1st place (no numerical scores). In the RA class, Medina came in 2nd with 57.10, bested by Eastridge with 58.35.
In other classes Victor came in 1st in Cadets with 55.56; Geneseo in Senior class with 45.70; Batavia 1st in A1 with 64.70; Gates-Chili in Independent A with 71.25; Victor in Scholastic Open with 72.0; Lancaster in Independent Open with 68.40; and the Brigadiers in Independent World with 74.20. (The ARC of Yates performed in exhibition and it was obvious how much this group of adults put their hearts into performing.)
Medina’s next competition is Feb 16 at East Syracuse Minoa. Medina’s home show is March 9.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 February 2019 at 9:39 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Nate Sherman, shown here driving against Albion’s Michael DiCureia, and his Mustang teammates look to lockup outright possession of the Niagara-Orleans League title with a win over Akron on Tuesday.
Having already clinched at least a tie for a school record fourth straight Niagara-Orleans League championship, Medina takes aim at claiming outright possession of the crown as the Mustangs host Akron on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Medina is currently 10-0 in N-O competition (15-3 overall) and two games ahead of runner-up Wilson (8-2) with two games remaining. The Mustangs will close out the N-O campaign on Thursday at Wilson which visits Roy-Hart on Tuesday.
During this current title run, Medina captured the N-O crown outright during both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons and shared the crown with Newfane last year at 10-2.
Lyndonville, which has already locked up the Genesee Region League Division 2 title, will host Kendall at 7 p.m. Monday to close out the league campaign. The Tigers are 11-2 in the league and 16-2 overall. Kendall, which is 5-7 in the league and 8-10 overall, has won five of its last eight games after a slow 3-7 start to the season.
Weekly schedule Monday Boys Basketball: Rochester Prep at Holley, 5:30 p.m.; Albion at Akron, Kendall at Lyndonville, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Akron at Albion, Kendall at Notre Dame, Barker at Holley, 7 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Basketball: Akron at Medina, Barker at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Wilson at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Medina at Akron, Newfane at Barker, 6:30 p.m.; Kendall at Lyndonville, Holley at Alexander, 7 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Basketball: Holley at Alexander, 7 p.m.; Finney at Lyndonville, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Finney at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday Boys Basketball: Medina at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Barker, 6:30 p.m.; Newfane at Albion, Notre Dame at Kendall, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Albion at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Barker at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.
Friday Girls Basketball: Nardin at Medina, 7 p.m.
Saturday Boys Basketball: Buffalo Science at Albion, 12:30 p.m.
