Rendering by Wendel: The project includes replacing the district’s track with a new one with synthetic lanes. Lyndonville hasn’t been able to host a home track meet in at least a decade because of the current cinder track is deemed subpar by the Genesee Region League. A grass soccer field with improved drainage would be part of the track site, but there won’t be a new concession stand.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2023 at 12:41 pm
LYNDONVILLE – The school district is presenting a $19,505,384 capital project to voters on Dec. 14, a plan that will address several needs for the school campus without raising new taxes, said Sharon Smith, the district superintendent.
“There is nothing shiny about what we’re doing,” Smith said today. “We’re taking care of the house. We’re fixing our roofs, the heating systems, the bathrooms. We’re being good stewards of our school home.”
Voting will be from noon to 8:30 p.m. in the foyer of the Stroyan Auditorium at 25 Housel Ave.
The project includes:
A new synthetic track with a natural grass regulation soccer field in the middle and better drainage added for the site. This enables the school to host home track meets for the first time in more than a decade, and the track can be used by the community.
Entrances for both school buildings renovated to improve security and safety.
Demolition of the wing known as the “metal building” with replacement on the same footprint of four new classrooms. School officials say the metal building has outlived its expiration date, and it is not cost-effective to renovate.
Replacement of the roof in the areas that were not part of the emergency roof projects.
Heating and cooling (HVAC) improvements
Lyndonville has about $4.3 million in capital reserve funds for the local share of the project. State aid will cover the rest.
The district worked with Wendel, an engineering and architectural firm, to finalize the project. An initial list of facility upgrades and site improvements was over $50 million. Smith said the goal was to pick priority items without increasing taxes.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata speaks during the May 23 Orleans County Legislature meeting, asking the legislators to increase the local sales tax sharing with towns and villages. The county has kept them at the same level since 2001. There will be a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. today about the proposed $92 million county budget.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2023 at 9:18 am
ALBION – Most of the Orleans County town boards and all four of the village boards this spring passed resolutions, asking the County Legislature to increase sales tax sharing with the towns and villages.
The county has frozen those municipalities to the same amount since 2001 – $1,366,671. Since then the total local sales has more than doubled. The towns and villages asked for the same 14 percent from 1996 when the total local sales tax was $9,499,138.
Last year it was $22.5 million. Through the first three quarters of 2023, the sales tax is up 2.7 percent in Orleans County from $18.48 million to $18.98 million.
If the county went to a 14 percent share it would have to increase the amount to towns and villages to $3,150,000 – a $1,783,329 increase.
But the 2024 county budget doesn’t give an increase. It’s the same $1,366,671. Legislators have said the county faces increasing state mandated costs, especially for the Medicaid program.
Jessica Marciano, a Medina village trustee, also spoke at the May 23 Legislature meeting and said a bigger amount of the local sales tax would help the Village Board with its budget, easing some property tax pressure in the village.
“We’re flat and we have been flat for many years,” said Tony Cammarata, the Kendall town supervisor who has been pushing for more sales tax for towns and villages. “They’ve have had double-digit increases in sales tax. But they seem to have other priorities in place versus what we were hoping for.”
Cammarata said an increase in sales tax would help the municipalities deal with inflationary increases, and would help knock down the property taxes, and possibly could be used for projects in a town or village.
“We were just hoping they would see a little light in the tunnel to help us out,” he said. “Whatever they give us we appreciate because they don’t have to give us anything.”
Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer, in his budget message said the state government is causing a loss of over $3 million in federal funds through the eFMAP Medicaid reconciliation for the Affordable Care Act enhanced payments. The state eliminated that money from counties, Welch said. The county also will lose out on $1.1 million in annual Medicaid to State (formally MMIS) payments, he said.
The county will have a public hearing today at 4:30 p.m. on its proposed $92 million budget, which calls for a 3.25 percent tax increase.
Lynne Johnson, the Legislature chairwoman, said the county continues to faces high inflationary pressures, while trying to meet the needs of capital projects with roads and bridges, and improvements for county-owned buildings.
Cammarata said he would like there to be continued dialogue about the local sales tax, and appreciation for the burdens facing all the local municipalities.
“We were asking for hep so we could do things to help our residents,” Cammarata said. “We’re trying to improve their lives, that’s why we’re electing officials.”
The sales tax amounts allocated for the villages and towns for 2023 include:
Press Release, Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
KNOWLESVILLE — The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will offer a free program on Wednesday, December 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 12690 NY-31, Albion, to share tips on how caregivers can navigate the busy holiday season while also caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
“At the Alzheimer’s Association, we know the holiday season can be stressful, as well as joyous, when a loved one has dementia,” says Andrea Koch, director of education and training for the WNY Chapter. “This program will offer creative techniques to help keep the holidays enjoyable for all.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2023 at 8:07 am
ALBION – Hoag Library will host a discussion on immigration’s impact on Orleans County this evening.
The Community Coalition for Justice has organized the event that begins at 6:30 p.m. Panelists include Sheriff Chris Bourke, retired Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin, LynOaken Farms general manager and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery president Wendy Wilson, Cassandra Bocanegra from NY Immigration Coalition, and Leonel Rosario, a former farmworker who now runs the award-winning Mariachi De Oro in Medina.
Karen Watt of Albion, a fruit grower who serves on the boards for Oak Orchard Health board and the National Center of Farmworker Health, also will be a resource during the discussion, said Bob Golden, one of the organizers of the event.
The public is welcome to attend. Golden said beverages and snacks will be available.
Community Coalition for Justice includes members from six churches, the Albion Betterment Committee and the Hoag Library. Golden and Kim Remley are the acting chairs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2023 at 8:10 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – A kitchen fire damaged a home in Carlton this evening. Firefighters were dispatched to 931 Vinecliff St. at about 6 p.m.
The house is owned by Jody Sugar. She wasn’t home at the time of the fire. Her son was able to get safely outside, and so were the family’s dogs.
Firefighters were able to put out the fire with extinguishers, said Justin Niederhofer, the Orleans County Emergency Management director and a Carlton firefighter.
He said there is extensive damage to the kitchen. He suspects the stove may have been leaking propane gas, but the cause hasn’t been determined yet.
Carlton was assisted at the scene by several fire departments.
Stipends range from $500 to $1,250 depending on various training courses
Photo by Tom Rivers: An Albion firefighter is up high in the ladder truck on Sunday, directing water on the Frank’s Auto Center which was engulfed in flames on Route 31 in Albion.
Press Release, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services today announced the start of a 60-day public comment period for draft regulations establishing New York’s first training stipend program for volunteer firefighters.
As part of Governor Hochul’s effort to strengthen and stabilize New York’s volunteer fire service, $10 million was secured in the FY2023-24 State Budget to offset the costs of training courses which volunteer firefighters are required to complete. The program’s draft regulations were published in the State Register on November 29, 2023 and will now undergo a 60-day public comment period.
“The role volunteer firefighters play in our communities cannot be overstated, and with so many departments facing recruitment and retention challenges, it’s critical we support these brave men and women who keep our communities safe,” said New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray. “Training is an essential component of firefighting and by offsetting its cost, New York is making it easier for volunteer firefighters statewide to continue serving their communities, without impacting their own bottom line.”
Volunteer fire departments serve approximately 9 million New Yorkers, nearly half of the State’s population. In recent years, however, more than three-quarters of these departments have reported a decrease in the number of individuals willing to volunteer and serve.
This is further compounded by the increased operational responsibilities beyond fire protection to include vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, and weather-related rescue operations. At the same time, calls for service have increased 29 percent from 1997 to 2020.
As part of the effort to strengthen and stabilize the state’s volunteer fire service, the Division’s Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) will administer the stipend to volunteer firefighters for completion of the following training courses completed on or after August 31, 2023:
Additionally, a local fire training stipend may be authorized for the completion of any OFPC training course or equivalents, as determined by OFPC, up to $500.
Stipends are for first time course completions of the listed OFPC course or equivalency as determined by OFPC. Students must be a member of good standing as determined by their department and stipend applications are submitted by the fire chief.
To be eligible, fire departments must have submitted fire reporting for the previous calendar year and complete the annual fire department demographics form. This regulation also authorizes volunteer fire departments to pay volunteer firefighters a training stipend, subject to local funding, for the completions of certain courses, identified by the Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $100 million is now available for zero-emission school buses under the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.
The New York School Bus Incentive Program provides funding to make clean buses and the associated charging infrastructure more affordable for public school districts and bus operators that contract with them while reducing pollution, and improving air quality in communities across the state, particularly those that are underserved.
Today’s announcement supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and New York State’s requirements that all school buses in New York State be zero-emission by 2035.
“New York State is empowering school districts to embrace zero-emission school buses which will provide our leaders of tomorrow with healthy and clean transportation today,” Governor Hochul said. “Ensuring electric school buses are at the forefront of student transport is a critical health investment and demonstrates the benefits of clean energy while reducing harmful emissions to improve air quality and protect our precious environment.”
Administered by The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), NYSBIP provides incentives to eligible school bus fleet operators that purchase zero-emission battery electric vehicles (BEV) or hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). This funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis with incentive amounts starting at $114,000 and covering up to 100 percent of the incremental cost of a new or repowered zero-emission school bus, depending on the type of vehicle.
Larger voucher amounts are available for priority districts that include high-need school districts and disadvantaged communities, as defined by the New York State Climate Justice Working Group. Additional incentives are also available for fleets removing internal combustion engine buses from operation, purchasing wheelchair accessible buses, or purchasing buses with vehicle to grid capability.
(Editor’s Note: All five school districts in Orleans – Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina – are considered priority districts. Albion and Medina are also categorized as “high need rural” while Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville are “average need,” according to the state.
The program also provides rebates to eligible school bus fleet operators who purchase and install eligible charging infrastructure in association with newly purchased zero-emission school buses. School bus fleet owners (the school district or their contractor) are also eligible to receive $25,000 per bus for charging infrastructure, or $35,000 if they serve a priority district. Fleet owners that have completed electrification plans are eligible to receive $55,000 per bus for charging infrastructure, or $65,000 if they serve a priority district. Vehicle manufacturers and bus dealers can also continue to apply to offer their vehicles on a rolling basis.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2023 at 1:08 pm
ALBION – An Albion man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court this morning to aggravated driving while intoxicated and could face up to 6 months in the county jail, as well as 5 years of probation when he is sentenced on Jan. 31.
Brandon Woodhams, 31, said in court today he had been drinking and his ability to drive was impaired on Aug. 10 in Gaines, when he had a child under age 15 with him.
Woodhams was given a breathalyzer and recorded a 0.23 percent BAC, about three times above the legal limit for DWI.
In other cases:
• Cal Share of Kendall was sentenced to a year in the county jail by Judge Sanford Church.
Share admitted to violating his probation in a previous court appearance. He is on probation for driving while intoxicated.
He admitted to drinking alcohol on several occasions including twice when his ignition interlock device indicated he had been drinking, for failing to report to probation on six occasions, for having an adulterated urine sample and for not doing any of his community service.
Public Defender Joanne Best presented three letters of support for Share, providing testimonials to his good character as an employee, friend and family member.
Judge Church said Share has been on probation three times. He noted that Share tried to deceive Probation with an adulterated urine sample.
• Angel Marrero, 46, of Rochester was arraigned on three different alleged burglaries, with two in Clarendon and one in Murray. Those burglaries allegedly happened in June and July.
He was arraigned on two counts of burglary in the second degree, one count of grand larceny in the third degree for stealing property worth $6,700, one county of grand larceny in the fourth degree for taking property worth $2,000, one county of petit larceny and two counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree.
The judge set bail at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.
• Kevin McEwen, 41, of Kendall was arraigned on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree criminal use of a firearm, and second-degree menacing.
McEwen allegedly fired two rounds from a Glock near a person on Sept. 18 in Kendall, not intending to hurt the person but make the person scared. He has already posted $1,000 cash bail.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 November 2023 at 11:32 am
Provided photo: Mike Randall will perform his solo impersonation of Charles Dickens Presents: “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 16 at Barre Center Presbyterian Church.
BARRE CENTER – Mike Randall, retired feature reporter for WKBW Channel 7, will present his critically acclaimed rendition of Charles Dickens in “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 16 at the Barre Center Presbyterian Church.
The solo performance will begin at 7 p.m. and feature Randall in what has been acclaimed as “an exquisite, moving performance.”
Randall’s appearance comes from an invitation by Albion native Charles Nesbitt, who has invited Randall to the Albion area several times in recent years to do his impersonation of Mark Twain and Dickens.
Having performed his Mark Twain show for 51 years and now the Dickens show for 16 years, Randall has been to Orleans County a number of times throughout the years.
“The first time I brought Charles Dickens to Orleans County was 2009 at the Carlton Methodist Church for two performances, with a return engagement in 2021,” Randall said.
Randall is a lover of Buffalo history and when he discovered Charles Dickens performed in Buffalo in 1868, he decided to recreate Dickens presentation of his most well-known story, “A Christmas Carol.”
Randall started performing as Mark Twain in his first year of college, just to see if he could do it. His first show was May 14, 1972 at Rosary Hill College. He celebrated his 50th anniversary of the show on May 14 last year at the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda.
“Mike Randall is a gifted performer who once again brings the spirit of Christmas to Orleans County,” Nesbitt said. “The beautifully decorated Barre Center Presbyterian Church is the perfect place to experience an evening immersed in Charles Dickens classic story.”
Randall said coming to Orleans County has always been special for him. He and his wife Kathy are avid campers and have a favorite spot at Golden Hill State Park.
“As a reporter for WKBW-TV I would always enjoy my trips to the country to cover stories,” Randall said. “And now I have family in the county. My son, his wife and my grandchildren live in Medina.”
In addition to his 40 years as an award-winning feature reporter on Channel 7, Randall also spent several years as chief meteorologist. He has also performed a variety of roles in theaters across the country, and spent time as the Marvelous Magical Burger King, where he perfected his abilities as a magician and live family entertainer. He is a member of the Puppeteers of America, and was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in September 2017.
Tickets to see Randall as Charles Dickens at Barre Center Presbyterian Church are $20 and available at Orleans Travel Bureau at 21 East Bank St., Albion, or from church members. A limited number will be available at the door.
BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health was awarded the Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Badges for Health IT and Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).
CHQR badges recognize Health Centers that have made notable achievements in the areas of access, quality, health equity, health information technology, social risk factors screening, and Covid-19 public health emergency response using Uniform Data System (UDS) from the most recent reporting period.
“We’re excited to receive this recognition, especially the Health IT badge,” said Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health. “With a vast base of over 30,000 patients in rural areas, technology helps us keep our patients healthy. Whether it’s by using our electronic medical records system or our patient portal, our providers and patients have access to information that helps Oak Orchard diagnose and treat our patients efficiently.”
Oak Orchard Health was awarded the Health IT badge because it met all the following criteria:
Adopted an electronic health record (EHR) system.
Offered telehealth services.
Exchanged clinical information online with key providers’ health care settings.
Engaged patients through health IT.
Collected data on patient social risk factors.
“Oak Orchard has been staying at the forefront of technology to document medical information efficiently and improve our access to patients,” said Jason Kuder, Chief Information Officer for Oak Orchard Health. “We encourage our patients to use the patient portal because they will have access to their medical information, be able to ask questions of their medical providers, and request medication refills. Telehealth has been a breakthrough for our patients because of the challenges many have with transportation and other barriers that keep them from coming into the health centers. Now they can receive medical or behavioral health care from home using their telephone, tablet or computer.”
What is a patient-centered medical home?
Oak Orchard Health has been a certified Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) since 2012. This certification means our patients can count on high-quality health care delivered with an emphasis on care coordination and communication. The focus is on comprehensive care which is a team effort. That team includes physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, nurses, nutritionists, educators, and care coordinators. Our Care Team’s goal is to provide each patient with the best care uniquely suited to his or her specific needs.
About Oak Orchard Health
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. Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Hornell, Medina, and Warsaw. With the addition of the Mobile Medical Unit and Mobile Dental Unit, we will further increase access to care for our patients.
Photos courtesy of Roy-Hart Central School: (Left) Hailey Pasnik and Abigail Glyshaw played in the Senior High Area All-State Orchestra. (Right) Reed Hughes, Addyson Kiner-Ronson and Benjamin Hickman were part of the Junior High Area All-State Orchestra.
Posted 29 November 2023 at 9:20 am
Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School
MIDDDLEPORT – Five students from the Royalton-Hartland Orchestra Program participated in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Area All-State Honors Festivals over the month of November.
These students auditioned in the Spring of 2023 and were selected among string students from Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties to participate in the festivals.
Three Roy-Hart students – Benjamin Hickman, Reed Hughes and Addyson Kiner-Ronson – were selected for the NYSSMA Junior High Area All-State Orchestra which was held on Nov. 3-4 at Akron Central School.
Two students from Roy-Hart – Abigail Glyshaw and Hailey Pasnik –were selected for the NYSSMA Senior High Area All-State Orchestra on November 17-18 at SUNY Fredonia.
Congratulations to these students who worked very hard to be selected for their respective Honors Ensembles!
Farmers could be forced to use older, more toxic pesticides to control pests
Press Release, New York Farm Bureau
ALBANY — Harvest season has wrapped in what has been a challenging year for New York’s farmers, including a wet growing season and increased pest and disease pressures.
Farmers need safe and effective risk management tools at their disposal to grow food needed to feed a growing population. This is why New York Farm Bureau is asking Gov. Hochul to veto the so-called “Birds and Bees Protection Act” (S1856-A/A7460) that would ban an entire class of pesticides and treated seeds known as neonicotinoids.
The bill is deeply concerning, especially because of the precedent it sets. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and its scientific expertise should maintain the authority to properly review and register risk management tools, something the legislature is attempting to strip away. This is the same justification cited by Gov. Hochul in her veto message earlier this month of S5957/A5949, that would have allowed local governments to ban the use of certain pesticides in freshwater wetlands.
Seeds treated with neonicotinoids were designed to be safer and reduce pesticide use. In many cases, it uses 99 percent less of a chemical versus traditional broadcast spraying. While New York Farm Bureau shares the same goal as supporters of the legislation, to always look for ways to reduce our environmental footprint, we believe the result of this ban will force farms to revert to spraying greater amounts of older, more toxic pesticides as well as increasing tillage to combat harmful pests. This would release more carbon from the soil and increase the likelihood of soil erosion, creating additional environmental and climate issues for the state, moving us backward.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2023 at 9:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Traffic heads down Main Street in Albion this morning after about 2 inches of snow fell this afternoon. The roads were slippery and there were several accidents in Orleans County.
Other parts of Western New York received a foot or more of snow. East Aurora was leading the snowfall tally with 16.5 inches as of about 10 a.m., according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
On Wednesday, there is a chance for about another half inch of snow in Orleans. The high is forecast for 33.
The high temperatures in the following days are forecast to be by 46 on Thursday, 42 on Friday, 42 on Saturday and 44 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Christmas trees shine on the Orleans County Courthouse lawn this evening.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2023 at 7:02 pm
Photos courtesy of Medina Fire Department
MEDINA – Jeffrey Tuohey smiles today with a cake on his last shift at work after 22 years with the Medina Fire Department.
Tuohey will retire next week as a firefighter and paramedic with the Medina FD. Fire Chief Matt Jackson praised Tuohey for his dedication to the department and community. He never called in sick during his career, Jackson said.
Pictured from left include Medina firefighter Adam Fisher, firefighter Jeff Tuohey, Fire Chief Matt Jackson and Captain Jonathan Higgins.
Fisher holds the red line plaque that was given to Tuohey as a gift from the Medina Firefighters IAFF Local 2161. Jackson and Higgins hold the axe plaque which is a gift from the Medina Firefighters Benevolent Association.
The Fire Department also announces two new full-time additions: Tiffany Petry and Stephen Baxter.
Petry is a local resident and volunteer with the Shelby Fire Company as a firefighter and EMT. She is the first woman career firefighter for the Village of Medina.
She starts on Dec. 11 and will work with the first platoon.
Baxter is a seasoned paramedic with commercial EMS experience from both inside and outside of New York, Chief Jackson said.
Baxter starts Dec. 10 and will be assigned to the second platoon.
Petry and Baxter will both be attending an upcoming Recruit Class at the NYS Fire Academy.
BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health was awarded the Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Badges for Health IT and Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).
