Makenzie McGrath of Medina first recipient of the honor

Provided photo: Medina music teacher Kyla Leno-Denise, left, congratulates Makenzie McGrath on being awarded the Scholar Artist Award from the Orleans County Music Educators’ Association.

The Orleans County Music Educators’ Association has created a new honor to recognize and celebrate graduating music students who demonstrate commitment and leadership in their respective music programs, while also prioritizing academics and maintaining good grades.

Makenzie McGrath, a senior at Medina, is the first recipient of the award. She received it during Saturday’s All-County Music Festival in Kendall.

“It is the intention of OCMEA to make this a long-standing recognition for years to come,” said Zach Busch, president of the Music Educators’ Association and a band teacher at Holley.

His wife Andrea, a Medina music teacher and vice president of the OCMEA, pushed to create the award. Mrs. Busch presented it during Saturday’s concert.

County music teachers were asked to nominate students who met the following criteria: a GPA of 90.0 or above, active participate in their school’s music department, and leadership in their school district and/ or community.

Makenzie McGrath has a GPA of 98.28 and is a leader in her music department. She plays clarinet in the high school wind ensemble, tenor saxophone in jazz band, sings soprano in choir and is the drum major of the Mustang Marching Band. McGrath also is involved in Medina’s Winter Guard, and both theater and dance productions at her school and in her community. She plans on attending college next year to major in music education.

“Beyond her musical talent and leadership, what truly sets Makenzie apart is the kindness and thoughtfulness she shows to others,” said Medina music teacher Kyla Leno-Denise in nominating McGrath. “In every rehearsal, she is patient and understanding with peers, taking the time to offer constructive feedback and encouragement without ever seeking recognition. Her positive attitude and willingness to support others foster an environment of collaboration and mutual respect. Makenzie has an innate ability to make others feel comfortable and confident, which is an essential quality in a team-oriented setting like the music classroom.”

McGrath was one of four nominees this year. Other nominees included Logan Trillizio from Medina, who was nominated by Matthew Jaeger, high school band director at Medina; Mallory Kozody from Albion, who was nominated by Michael Thaine, high school band director at Albion; and Owen Schultz from Holley, who was nominated by Zach Busch, band director at Holley.

“I am so proud of Makenzie and all of the other students who continuously go above and beyond to make Orleans County an amazing place for music education,” said Andrea Busch. “All four of this year’s nominees are outstanding young men and women, and I cannot thank them for the positive impact they have made.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Makenzie McGrath, second from left, sings during the All-County Festival on Saturday at Kendall. She is next to Mallory Ashbery, left, and Madelyn Elliott, to the right of McGrath.

Board members not in agreement in moving forward with bond to finance project

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Village Board is looking at a one-bay addition to the fire hall to accommodate a new ladder truck due to arrive around this Christmas. The board hasn’t reached agreement on a bond to pay for the addition.

MEDINA – The Village Board has received an estimated price for an addition to the fire hall: $1,041,590.

That is significantly less than the $6 million the village was looking at for a two-bay addition plus upgrades to the existing fire station.

The $6 million was deemed far too costly by the Village Board about a year ago. The board has debated the past year how to proceed. It prefers a one-bay addition, although the board hasn’t committed yet on starting the process for a bond to pay for the addition.

The MRB Group in Rochester presented a design and estimated cost for the one-bay addition in a Dec. 12 report to the board.

A 1,750-square-foot addition to the fire station would be an estimated $700,000 for construction costs for a steel, masonry and concrete building. That includes HVAC, plumbing, electric, lighting and a fire alarm system for a facility that would a free-standing building with a truck bay and a unisex bathroom.

Although a freestanding building and independent of existing fire station, the new building would be connected for architecture and mechanical, electrical and plumbing purposes, the MRB Group stated.

Other costs include:

• Utilities at $35,250 for sanitary sewer lateral, 500-gallon oil/water separator, connection to existing sanitary sewer and roof leaders
• Site improvements at $19,525 for mobilization, excavation for foundation and pad, seal and crack fill parking lot, and concrete pads for doors.
• Design and construction contingency at 15 percent for $113,216. That makes for $867,991 estimated construction costs.
• Estimated soft costs (20 percent) or $173,598 for architectural; mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering services; surveying fees, geotechnical; construction management; SEQR (environmental impact statement); fiscal fees; bonding fees; legal fees; and net interest.

That puts the overall estimated costs at $1,041,590.

But Mayor Marguerite Sherman said there remain unknowns with the project. There may not be many bidders given the project has been downscaled so much. Some contractors may not be interested in what is now considered a small project, she said.

There could also be some environmental surprises that could push up the costs.

She suggested the village pursue seeking a bond for $1.5 million to cover the construction costs and some possible surprises. If the cost is less or if the village secures other revenues through grants, Sherman said the bond amount would be less than the $1.5 million.

She wants the village to keep moving forward on the project because a new ladder truck is expected to be ready in December. As it stands with the timing, a new building might not be ready until February 2026.

The board on June 26, 2023 accepted the bid for $1,698,995 from Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc. to build the new fire truck with a 100-foot-long ladder. The truck will replace a nearly 30-year-old ladder truck with a 75-foot ladder.

The new truck will be taller than the current one and won’t fit in the bay at the fire station. The current ladder truck has a clearance of 10 feet, 4 inches but the space in the fire station is 10 feet, 6 inches. The new ladder truck will have a clearance of 13 feet.

Trustees Debbie Padoleski and Mark Prawel want to wait on taking out the bond until more details are known on the costs to the village for the fire hall addition. Padoleski said taxpayers will want certainty on those details if the village starts the process for a bond.

Padoleski said the village made a “bad decision” by committing to a ladder truck without a solid plan for the addition.

Trustee Jess Marciano and Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the ladder truck is clearly needed and delaying on that truck would have only pushed up the costs for the truck.

Sherman said the village is seeking grants for the addition, and she is meeting with a representative from U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney’s Office and an official from the state Homes & Community Renewal to help pay for the addition.

“I feel in my heart I’m doing everything I can to find funding,” Sherman said at this evening’s Village Board meeting.

Any commitments to help with the project won’t come right away, Sherman said. She wants the village to keep moving forward, knowing the bond could be reduced if additional funding comes through.

Prawel said the board shouldn’t have committed to a new truck without knowing how it would be paid. Prawel joined the board on April 1, 2024 after the vote on the ladder truck.

“I’m not convinced we need a new truck,” Prawel said at this evening’s board meeting.

He said he disagrees with Fire Chief Matt Jackson’s contention it is critical to have a new one.

Marciano rejected that reasoning from Prawel. She said a recent inspection showed the truck is in disrepair.

To cancel the order for the new fire truck would cost the village a 10 percent penalty or about $170,000, plus the village would still have an old ladder truck without a new one coming. Sherman said she thinks the penalty now would be $250,000 to cancel the order.

Marciano said it is reasonable for village taxpayers to foot the bill because it is village equipment. She welcomes grants and assistance for the project.

“I would love for Chuck Schumer to buy it for us,” she said.

Padoleski said she worries the village is becoming unaffordable for many of the residents. The bond payments for the fire truck and addition will only make it worse for people, raising their taxes even more.

The board will spend April working on the 2025-26 village budget. Padoleski said some tough choices may need to be made on village services to bring down the tax burden.

“Something has to go some people can afford to live here,” Padoleski said.

Village resident Carol Callina spoke at this evening’s meeting and she suggested the board consider eliminating the police department and having the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office take over patrolling the village and responding to calls in Medina.

Marciano said Callina is the first resident to make that suggestion in a  public meeting.

The board will meet again on Feb. 24. Sherman said more information should be available then about grant possibilities and other potential federal and state aid.

She agreed the village could face some tough choices during the budget process.

The average price of regular unleaded gas is up 4 cents in the past to an average of $3.14 in the United States, while the New York state-wide average is up a penny to $3.18, AAA is reporting today.

“Amid the threat of tariffs, the national average for a gallon of gasoline ticked up four cents from last week to $3.14,” AAA said in a news release. “Fluctuations in gas prices depend on several factors including global supply and demand and the price of crude oil, which could be impacted by tariffs.

“The slight increase in fuel prices this week could be due to markets and retailers reacting to news of potential tariffs,” AAA said. “Crude oil prices, however, remain stable, ranging from $71 to $75 per barrel this morning compared to $74 to $79 per barrel last Monday.”

Here are the average prices for counties in Western New York:

• Orleans, $3.248
• Genesee, $3.185
• Wyoming, $3.185
• Livingston, $3.193
• Monroe, $3.178
• Niagara, $3.101
• Erie, $3.130
• Chautauqua, $3.317
• Cattaraugus, $3.175
• Allegany, $3.233

For drivers who use diesel fuel, the national average price is $3.65, down one cent from last Monday. The New York average is $3.97, up 2 cents from last Monday, AAA reported.

Provided photos

Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, has been out and about in Orleans in the past few weeks.

He was in Kendall last Wednesday for the finale of a euchre tournament between residents of Kendall and Hamlin. Orly is shown next to Bill Hardenbrook of Kendall.

The Kendall team triumphed over Hamlin in a  friendly rivalry going back 71 years.

Orly also stopped by Dustin’s Pizzeria in Holley last week to highlight the Super Bowl as one of the busiest food holidays of the year. (Orly was happy to see the Kansas City Chiefs get walloped by the Philadelphia Eagles in the game.)

Photo by Tom Rivers

Our beloved ox also needed to satisfy a hunger craving and made a beeline to the Village House Restaurant where he scarfed down a Greek salad and some pie.

You can follow Orly’s adventures on the Orleans County Tourism social media accounts on Facebook (click here) and Instagram (click here).

Gov. Kathy Hochul today announced the Village of Brockport has been awarded a $4.5 million NY Forward grant.

“‘It’s all in Brockport’ became our shared vision as we dreamed of what our village could become with a NY Forward grant,” said Brockport Mayor Margay Blackman. “The Brockport of our NY Forward dreams is one that works for all – young, old, university student, resident, visitor, tourist. The water brings people, Brockporters say, and we will invest in our waterfront to establish Brockport as the premier, inclusive recreation community on the Erie Canal. What I’m especially proud of today is that 6 people, including our grant writer, crafted a successful proposal, in house, in 2 short years.”

The village seeks to transform its historic downtown corridor into an accessible tourist destination and a home where visitors, residents and people of all abilities can recreate, socialize, live and age in comfort, according to a news release from the Governor’s Office.

The governor also announced the City of Canandaigua will receive the bigger $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the Village of Phelps will get a $4.5 NY Forward grant. Canandaigua, Phelps and Brockport are all in the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, which also includes Orleans County.

 “By investing in the future of these Finger Lakes communities, this funding will revitalize their downtown areas by building vibrant and thriving destinations where businesses, families, and visitors can flourish,” Governor Hochul said in a news release. “With our Pro-Housing Communities initiative, we’re giving local leaders the tools to transform their cities, towns and villages into hubs of opportunity, culture, and affordable living. This is how we build stronger, more connected communities that work for everyone across New York.”

Canandaigua, Brockport and Phelps will now develop a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners, according to the news release.

The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI and NY Forward grant funds in revitalization projects that are poised for implementation, will advance the community’s vision for their downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s investment.

Photos and information courtesy of Medina Band Boosters: The Medina varsity winterguard is shown during competition on Saturday.

Medina’s Varsity and JV guards traveled to Victor on Saturday for their fourth competition this season. A total of 27 guards attended to compete in 8 classifications.

Medina’s RA guard performed in the Cadet class and came in 2nd place out of 5 competitors with a score of 49.30.

Medina’s Varsity Guard competed in the A1 class and came in 3rd out of 5 with a score of 52.09

Both guards have added elements to their shows to further convey their show’s theme. For the guard members they have to learn new choreography each week.

Their next competition is Saturday at Corning-Painted Post, followed by Lancaster on March 1 and Medina’s home show on March 8.

The Medina JV guard competed on Saturday at Victor.

ALBION – A missing 13-year-old boy from Albion has been found and is unharmed, the Albion Police Department reported.

Eli Sample had been missing since Saturday. He has returned to his family.

“The Village of Albion Police Department is extremely thankful for the calls and tips that lead to his safe return,” the Police Department stated in a news release.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The elementary chorus performs on Saturday at the Kendall school auditorium as part of the All-County Festival.

The event is organized by the Orleans County Music Educators’ Association.

There are 88 students in the elementary chorus from Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts.

The All-County also included 78 students in the junior high band and 66 in the high school chorus, making 232 students in the All-county Groups.

There will be another All-County Festival on March 8 in Lyndonville featuring the top students for the elementary band, junior high chorus and high school band.

At the beginning of the concert on Saturday in Kendall, a moment of silence was observed for Josh Peters, a 16-year-old Kendall student who was killed in a car accident on Wednesday.

The elementary students were led by guest conductor, Annelle VanNortwick, a general music and chorus teacher at Clinton Elementary School in West Seneca.

The students performed four songs: “A Joyful Song,” “Mary Had A Little Blues,” “Why We Sing” and “Feel Good.”

The junior high band played “Wild Blue,” “When Summer’s In The Meadow,” “Tripwire” and “Byzantine Dances.”

The students started rehearsing together for the first time Friday and the next day had their concert.

Matthew Tichy served as guest conductor of the Jr. High All-County Band. He is the band director at Mill Middle School in Williamsville. He also performs with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Syracuse Orchestra. He is a member of the Blue Stars and Bluecoats of the Drum Corps International.

Ryder Jones of Medina sings a solo during “City Called Heaven.”

Elliott Michki of Albion conducts the high school chorus in “The Dreamer.”

Four vocal and chorus teachers in Orleans County led the high school chorus, with the teachers each serving as guest conductor for a song. Michki, Albion High School chorial director,  led the group in “The Dreamer” while Kelly Marzano of Holley Jr./Sr. High, led them in City Called Heaven.”

Rachel Trillizio of Medina led the students in “Set Me As A Seal” while Jennifer Neroni-Trupo of Lyndonville conducted “Take On Me.”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Rollin Hellner holds a schedule for Cruisin’ in Medina, which begins the 2025 season on May 30 in the parking lot of the Medina Senior Center.

MEDINA – With final approval from the Medina Village Board, local developer Rollin Hellner is “gung ho” to begin his second season of heading car shows in the village.

Hellner first took over the events last year when David Green announced he was stepping down after decades of being in charge.

“I’ve been coming to these shows with my father, who has a 1967 Mustang, since I moved here in 2015,” Hellner said. “I was disappointed to think there might not be a show after all these years, and I couldn’t let that happen. It’s not only important for people to have something to do, but I didn’t want to see it go away. Medina is not just a great place to live and do business, it’s a great place to visit, as well. I want to see it continue to grow and improve.”

The car shows again this year will be in the parking lot of Medina Senior Center, across from the Walsh Hotel, which Hellner owns.

While the parking space is smaller than the previous location in the canal basin, Hellner said car enthusiasts and collectors were happy with the new site, for the most part, attracting 40 to 50 vehicles on average. He said they also had cars last year which had never attended before, including a Mustang owner from Lewiston who attended every week.

Hellner was happy to have received approval to have live music this year and announced a schedule of entertainers, which include Highway 31, Stanton, Ken Ryan and the Professionals, Darryl Brown and Chill Factor and yet unannounced entertainment on July 26 at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Recorded music or a disc jockey will provide music on alternate weeks.

The night at the fair has been changed to July 26, the last Saturday night in July, at the request of the fair officials who commented on the large number of antique vehicles and the crowds typically at the fair on the last Saturday. Last year had one of the largest participations of antique vehicles, Hellner said.

Cruise-ins will start a week early this year, with opening cruise on May 30. Every night will have a different theme, starting with Country and Truck Night on June 6; Corvette Night on June 13; Mustang Night on June 20 and Hot Rod Night on June 27. Beginning in July, the fifth will be Bike Night; followed by British and Foreign Night on July 11; Camaro Night on July 18; Mopar Night on Aug. 1, Van Night on Aug. 8, ‘50’s Night on Aug. 15; and ’60s Night on Aug. 22.

As in the past, Cruise Nights will end for the season with Super Cruise on Main Street on Aug. 27, a Wednesday, featuring Terry Buchwald as Elvis. A rain date for the final show is Sept. 3.

Hellner added this year’s cruise-ins are going to be “cool.” One week he is going to showcase a 1947 Mack firetruck, owned and restored by local funeral director Tim Cooper. He has contacted the company and got the full build sheet on the truck.

Although Hellner keeps busy with multiple renovation projects throughout the area, vintage automobiles are a passion of his. He owns a 1935 Rolls Royce. He is planning to promote Medina’s Cruise-in at Buffalo’s Motorama, where he is entering his car. The show takes place March 28 to 30 at the Convention Center.

Hellner also shared that his Rolls will appear in a movie, The Panic, about J.P. Morgan, which features two scenes shot in Buffalo and one in Youngstown. The movie is scheduled to be released this year.

MEDINA – Mary Woodruff has reason to be excited about the 2025 Hometown Heroes program she started in 2019.

For the first time this year, there will be soldiers from the Revolutionary War and another from the Civil War.

Pvt. Daniel Roberts served in the 7th Co. 8th Regiment of Connecticut troops during five years from 1776 to 1780.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Mary Woodruff, who started the Hometown Heroes banners in 2019 in Medina, is ready to accept applications for 2025.

While the application says veterans who have a banner must live or have lived in Orleans County, Woodruff has made an exception for Roberts for two reasons. Daniel Roberts is said to have served five years and nine months in the Revolutionary War in Connecticut. Woodruff previously did not have a Revolutionary War soldier represented and Roberts has a strong connection to Orleans County. Daniel’s grandson Ziba Roberts Jr., who served in the Civil War, lived in a stately homestead on East Shelby Road, just south of what is now East Shelby Community Bible Church.

Daniel’s and Ziba’s ancestors include Virginia Kropf and Norma Fisher of Medina, their deceased siblings Eugene Baker and Mildred Green and a host of descendants of the late Orren and Lee Roberts of Medina.

After making the decision to allow Daniel to have a banner, the announcement came out about a Revolutionary War soldier who lived in the town of Shelby and is buried on the Maple Ridge Road Cemetery, located on farmland owned by the late Murray Baker, just west of Millville. Baker is Virginia Kropf’s uncle, with whom she lived from the time she was 12. She and the former Barbara Boyle, who lived across the street, spent hours playing in that cemetery.

Last fall, the Sons of the American Revolution were notified about the grave of Benjamin Darling and a ceremony was held there to place a marker on his grave. It is presumed Darling and Roberts quite possibly served in the same regiment. It is documented they both served in Connecticut.

Darling’s great-great-great-great-grandson James Walker from Michigan came for the ceremony, and upon learning about the Home Town Heroes banners, he indicated a desire to have one for his relative. He has spent years researching his family ancestry and although he located his relative’s grave in Shelby, he has been unable to find a picture or information on where Darling lived in the town of Shelby.

Benjamin Darling was born July 6, 1758 in Lunenburg, Mass. He served with the 7th Connecticut Regiment and saw action at the Battle of Monmouth, N.J. and Germantown, Pa. before his regiment moved to Valley Forge, where they spent the cold winter of 1777. He died Feb. 7, 1841 at the age of 82.

Orleans County historian Catherine Cooper was able to find reference to Darling having lived on the east side of East Shelby Road, but it is not known if his home was near the Roberts homestead. She also learned Darling had a son who was a master builder and is credited with building at least 60 structures in the town of Shelby. This now leads to the speculation, could he possibly have built the Roberts homestead where Ziba Jr. lived?

Ziba Roberts Jr. will have a banner this year for his service during the Civil War. Ziba Jr. was born July 31, 1840 and died Dec. 22, 1898. He was captured May 23, 1862 near Lynchburg, Va., and held prisoner for a time in the caverns, where they caught rats to eat.

This is the sixth year for the Home Town Heroes banners, and Woodruff can’t believe how it has grown every year. The first year there were 38 and the next year 78. By the fourth year, it had hit 120. That’s when DPW head Jason Watts told Woodruff they were running out of poles to put them on.

“So many people have been patiently waiting for the 2025 banners,” Woodruff said. “And they are already calling for next year.”

Although the printing company has raised the price of banners by $5, Woodruff is keeping the price at $200 for new banners, because of the generosity of people who have sent her donations.

This past year saw 80 new banners added. A new banner is hung for three years and then it is offered to the family. New ones are put up on Main Street and East and West Center, stretching outward from the four corners downtown. The bulk have been World War II, Vietnam War and Korean Conflict veterans, Woodruff said. Recently, more National Guard people have been submitted and a new category, Space Force allows for banners for any veteran who is employed in any capacity in the space program. A category for Revolutionary War soldiers has also been added.

If a banner has hung for three years and the family wants to continue it, there is a $120 charge to get a new banner for another three years. The families must make out a new application, however, which can be printed from the website www.heroesofmedina.com. Donations or payments should be mailed to village clerk Jada Burgess at 119 Park Ave., Medina, NY 14103 and marked “for Home Town Heroes.”

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with the Orleans County Department of Social Services Welfare Fraud Investigative Unit, has arrested 9 individuals involved in welfare fraud.

The arrests follow a lengthy investigation into fraudulent activities that resulted in the theft of public funds.

The following individuals were taken into custody:

• Victoria Taylor – arrested for welfare fraud 4th degree totaling $2,640 and grand larceny 4th degree.

• Brittanie Makowiecki – arrested for welfare fraud 3rd degree totaling $6,373, and offering a false instrument for filing 1st degree.

• Jean Johnson – arrested for welfare fraud 3rd degree totaling $5,572, grand larceny 3rd degree, and offering a false instrument for filing 1st degree.

• Raylene McGuire – arrested for welfare fraud 4th degree totaling $1,202 and offering a false statement for filing 1st degree.

• Nicole Brady – arrested for welfare fraud 4th degree totaling $2,556.

• Kelly Taylor – arrested for welfare fraud 5th degree, totaling $787.

• Robert McElwain – arrested for welfare fraud 4th degree, offering a false instrument for filing, totaling $1,164.00 in fraudulent claims.

• Christopher Tetrault – arrested for welfare fraud 4th degree totaling $1,162, grand larceny 4th degree.

• William Scott Jr. – arrested for welfare fraud 4th degree totaling $2,318, grand larceny 4th degree.

The investigation revealed that the suspects submitted false information to obtain public assistance benefits to which they were not entitled, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators Kevin Colonna, Devon Pahuta and Brian Marsceill, working alongside the DSS Welfare Fraud Investigative Unit, conducted a thorough investigation into the fraudulent activities, Bourke said.

“The arrests serve as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding public resources, protecting taxpayers and ensuring that individuals who exploit the welfare system are held accountable,” Bourke said.

All suspects were processed, issued desk appearance tickets and will be arraigned in the Town of Albion Court on Feb. 11.

RIDGEWAY – A fire consumed a grocery store in Wilson on Jan. 28. When the call went out at 7 p.m., Wilson firefighters found they needed more help in containing the blaze at the Wilson Lakeside Market.

State Sen. Rob Ortt highlighted the Wilson fire during news conferences on Friday at the Ridgeway Fire Hall and the Wilson Volunteer Fire Company. Ortt said many volunteer fire departments find themselves often with too few firefighters at emergency scenes. He worries the situation will become more dire with communities unable to protect themselves due to a shortage of trained volunteers.

“It is not a given that these departments have the manpower to handle what will be thrown at them,” Ortt said at a news conference at the Ridgeway fire hall on Friday. “I want to raise the challenge and concern for our rural communities.”

Ortt highlighted five proposals in the Legislature that could help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

The legislation includes:

• S2314 – Extends tuition free course benefits to volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers.
• S2720 – Creates a wage tax credit for employers who employ New York national guard members, reservists, volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel
• S3527 – Relates to enacting the volunteer emergency services mileage reimbursement tax credit
• S3529 – Relates to volunteer members of village fire companies. (This law would allow the percentage of non-resident volunteer members in village fire companies to exceed 45 percent of the actual membership of the fire company.)
• S2008 – Authorizes municipalities to fund training of firefighters; allows a municipality to recoup the cost of sending a firefighter to training school from another municipality that hires that firefighter within three years of their training. (The legislation would allow a municipality to recoup the cost of sending a firefighter to training school from another municipality that hires that firefighter within three years of their training. Current law allows for this recoupment when the individual is a firefighter.)

Ortt attends many fire department banquets at this time of year from January through April in Orleans, Niagara and western Monroe. He said a small group of volunteers are responding to the majority of the calls, and those volunteers seem to be getting older.

“The red line that protects us is getting thinner and thinner,” Ortt said.

He noted fire departments are trying to draw more members, including on April 26-27 for RecruitNY. Ortt said the volunteer fire service tends to have families of firefighters, with younger generations drawn to it because of the examples of their parents and other family members.

Justin Niederhofer, director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, said the county will be doing a study of the local fire service, looking at different options including the possibility of more paid firefighters.

The RecruitNY open houses welcome everyone in the community, and give them a chance to see roles they could serve in their fire department.

“We got to find a way to bring in people who have maybe never thought about being a firefighter,” Ortt said.

He believes it has a universal appeal of offering people a strong sense of purpose and giving back to their community, as well as camaraderie.

Justin Niederhofer, the director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, said local fire departments are using mutual aid to respond to many calls.

“We are facing a recruitment problem,” he said. “We need more people. We can’t face the job we are tasked to do without more people.”

He said the county will be sending out an RFP to seek proposals from firms to help the county with a study of the local fire service, and perhaps reimagine how that service could best be provided in the short-term and long-term. That could include a hybrid of volunteers with more paid firefighters. Right now Medina has the only career firefighters, and they also run an ambulance service for western Orleans. Niederhofer said

Many departments with paid personnel also face staffing challenges, Ortt said, and that includes paid EMS and police. Municipalities are often competing with each other for the staff, Ortt said.

Justin McAdoo, age 20, loves being a volunteer firefighter with Ridgeway. He joined on his 16th birthday, the first day he could. He said he has been able to invite 10 to 15 people who have joined local fire companies.

Justin McAdoo, 20, has been a part of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company for nearly five years, joining the day he turned 16. He was the department’s firefighter of the year in 2024 and already has been promoted to lieutenant in the department.

McAdoo’s mother Kristin is the deputy chief and his grandfather Don Marchner has been an active firefighter for more than 50 years.

McAdoo shares his love of being a firefighter with many of his friends, and he estimates 10 to 15 have joined a local fire company.

“They see that I enjoy it so much,” he said.

That may be part of the recruitment effort, having current firefighters be ambassadors in welcoming more people to join.

Niederhofer said many of the local departments also are allowing 16- and 17-year-olds as restricted members to get them involved as younger members. As restricted members they can take training and help at emergency scenes with changing air packs and cleanup but they can’t do active firefighting.

He is reaching out to local schools to see if the restricted membership could be promoted.

“If we can tap into local schools, it may spread,” he said.