By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2018 at 7:46 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Leaders of the Albion Elks Club on Wednesday presented $500 grants to four local organizations, including Orleans – Recovery Hope Begins Here, a new organization that connects people struggling with drug addiction to local resources and mentors.
Pictured from left: Lynda Standish, esteemed lecturing knight for the Elks; Darryl Szklany, exalted ruler for the Albion Elks; Wayne Litchfield, treasurer of Orleans – Recovery; Kim Lockwood, fund-raising chairwoman for Orleans – Recovery; Tami Ashton, vice president; Don Snyder, president; Karen Ward, Elks grant coordinator and past exalted ruler; and Tim Keller, chairman of the Elks trustees.
Orleans – Recovery Hope Begins Here will open an office at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex in Albion on Dec. 1.
The Elks also presented $500 checks to the Warrior House and AYSAP, the Albion youth football and cheerleading program. The Warrior House provides a hunting retreat for wounded veterans in Shelby and other services for veterans and their families.
Pictured from left: Lynda Standish and Darryl Szklany of the Albion Elks; Ed Spence, director of operations for the Warrior House; Geno Allport, AYSAP commissioner; and Tim Keller and Karen Ward of the Elks.
The Elks also awarded a $500 grant to COVA, the local ambulance provider.
The Albion Elks has 277 members, making it one of the largest service organizations in the county.
The organization also gives out $2,000 in scholarships annually.
This year the Elks Club nationally is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2018 at 6:57 am
MEDINA – The Village of Medina will be receiving a grant for $1.3 million to help with a $5.3 million upgrade of the village’s sewer plant.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the funding on Wednesday, part of $270 million announced state-wide for projects through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017.
Medina will be upgrading equipment at the wastewater treatment plant. The state will pay $1,331,545 of the $5,326,181 project.
Mayor Michael Sidari said the village is pursuing other state and federal funding t help with the improvements.
“I’m thankful for the governor to consider us with the grant,” Sidari said on Wednesday. “We’re looking forward to support from other agencies to lower the cost to Medina residents.”
To date, $750 million in Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and Intermunicipal Grant funding supports nearly $2.65 billion in total project costs for vital drinking and wastewater infrastructure projects statewide, Cuomo said on Wednesday.
Combined with 0 or low-interest financings through the State Environmental Facilities Corporation, New York taxpayers will save nearly $1.8 billion. Furthermore, these projects are expected to support more than 47,000 jobs in the construction, supplier and service sectors.
“Investing in our state’s water infrastructure is critical to regional growth and prosperity and maintaining safe, healthy communities,” Cuomo said. “By improving our water infrastructure, we are protecting our natural resources, laying the groundwork for future prosperity and helping to create a stronger, healthier, New York for all.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today announced nearly $6 million in funding will be injected into six, much-needed bridge and culvert repairs in Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties as part of the BRIDGE-NY program that was a component of last year’s state budget.
A recent study by CNBC ranked New York’s infrastructure as some of the worst in the nation, with 10.5 percent of bridges ranked as deficient and 60 percent of roads classified as in poor or mediocre condition.
“I am very pleased to see our hard-fought victory for more upstate infrastructure funding is finally yielding tangible results,” Hawley said. “At a time when too many lawmakers set their sights on funneling more and more of our resources to fix downstate calamities like the MTA and LaGuardia Airport, it is more important than ever to focus on addressing upstate’s needs and that starts with our deficient roads, bridges and highways. Rest assured, maintaining the longevity of programs like BRIDGE-NY, PAVE-NY and increasing CHIPs funding will be among my top priorities come next year’s session.”
A list of BRIDGE-NY projects in the 139th Assembly District are as follows:
• $1.111 million to Orleans County for Transit Road over W Branch Sandy Creek
• $1.081 million to Genesee County for Sharrick Road over Murder Creek
• $907,000 to Genesee County for Tower Hill Road over Spring Creek
• $787,000 to the Town of Alabama (Genesee County) for Meadville Road over Canal Creek
• $686,000 to Monroe County for Lake Road W Fork over Sandy Creek
• $1.082 million to the Town of Batavia (Genesee County) for Upton Road over Bowen Creek
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2018 at 12:32 pm
Orleans County with about 42,000 people is one of the smallest counties by population in the state. However, three residents – Chuck Nesbitt, Paul Pettit and Dr. Tom Madejski – are leading state-wide organizations after being picked for the posts by their peers.
Chuck Nesbitt
That’s a distinction Orleans County can take pride in. Although we are small in size we aren’t settling for second-rate leadership. In fact, three prestigious groups with membership from throughout the state are turning to Orleans residents for direction.
Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer, on Sept. 25 was elected president of the New York State Association of Counties, a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York.
Nesbitt, an Albion resident, has also served as president of the New York State Association of County Administrators and Managers since 2008. He has been the county’s chief administrative officer since 2005.
He was called “an experienced and respected county leader,” by Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell, the immediate past president of NYSAC. “He will be a tremendous asset to NYSAC during a time when the county voice must be included in state and federal policy decisions.”
As president of NYSAC, Nesbitt said will advocate for counties in Washington and Albany. Many state and federal policies have big impacts on local municipalities. Nesbitt wants NYSAC to track the impact of existing and new state mandates on counties and county taxpayers. Under this initiative, a “Mandate Monitor” will examine the impact of implementing the Raise the Age law and the ongoing impact of other state mandates that consume most or all of the property taxes collected at the county level.
Paul Pettit
Another county official is leading a state-wide association. Paul Pettit is the Public Health director for the Health Departments in Genesee and Orleans counties. He started on June 1 as president of the New York State Association of County Health Officials.
Pettit, an Albion resident, brings a voice for health departments from the rural counties. He has been praised for leading the collaboration among Orleans and Genesee, where the two counties share a director, and other staff and a combined Board of Health.
Pettit and Brenden Bedard, deputy director/director of Community Health Services for the two health departments, also have been picked for the third cohort of The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health initiative.
Kresge’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health is designed to provide leaders with additional knowledge and skills to face the public health challenges in their communities. The initiative is designed to develop local public health leaders in pairs and each pair includes the health officer and a future leader from the public health agency.
Dr. Tom Madejski of Albion also has taken the reins of an influential state-wide organization this year. Madejski on March 24 was appointed president of the Medical Society of the State of New York.
Dr. Tom Madejski
Madejski works in Medina with General Physician, P.C., on Ohio Street. He is also president of the medical staff at Medina Memorial Hospital, as well as medical director of the Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center in Albion, and Absolut Care in Gasport.
As president of the Medical Society, Madejski oversees all the public health and legislative activities of the state’s principal professional organization for physicians and will work to protect and defend the rights of all patients in New York state.
During his 25-plus years with the Medical Society, Madejski has worked on a wide range of issues including: advocacy for HIV testing and treatment for newborns, electronic interchange of health data with privacy protections, reducing social ethnic and other healthcare disparities, and the opioid crisis in WNY and throughout the state.
Madejski and the Medical Society advocate for improved access and the betterment of health for our patients at both the state and federal levels.
We wish Nesbitt, Pettit and Madejski well during their tenure leading these organizations, and look forward to seeing what they bring back to the county from their experiences.
(In addition to these three, Scott Schmidt of Medina, the chief coroner for Orleans County, also has served as president the past nine years for the NYS Association of County Coroners & Medical Examiners.)
You’re here checking the site, so you know: Orleans Hub is a vital resource for our community. Day in and day out, we share information and insights that matter to those who live and work in the towns, villages and hamlets of our county. Local advertisers help make the Hub possible, and so can you.
Donate today to keep Orleans Hub healthy and accessible to all. Thank you!
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 November 2018 at 12:18 pm
Still time to enter a float in the Nov. 24 parade
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mary Lou Tuohey hugs her daughter Nicole at the kickoff on Oct. 13 for The Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Medina. They have been big fundraisers and advocate for the event for the past several years.
MEDINA – It’s not too late to enter a float in this year’s Parade of Lights Nov. 24.
Parade chairman Jim Hancock said they have extended the deadline for entries until Nov. 21.
In addition, the parade committee has announced the grand marshals for the 10th anniversary parade.
For the first time in its history, the parade will have two grand marshals – Mary Lou Tuohey and her daughter Nicole.
Mary Lou is a local businesswoman and true supporter of her community. Nicole, although born with a genetic disease called Triple X Syndrome, has surpassed all expectations as she grew into adulthood.
“We are pleased to have Mary Lou and Nicole serve as our Grand Marshals this year,” Hancock said. “They epitomize true volunteerism and giving from the heart.”
Mary Lou, who was formerly a nurse, opened her business, Case-Nic Cookies, on Main Street in 1995. Both she and Nicole have supported the Parade of Lights every year, plus many other community events and local fundraisers.
Nicole attended Rainbow Pre-School where she excelled, in spite of being told as a child she would never, walk, talk, run or ride a bike. She and her mom have been big supporters of the Alzheimers’ Association. Nicole lost both of her grandparents to the disease. The Tuoheys have raised large sums of money in the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s.”
Nicole Tuohey of Medina walks a 3.1-mile course on Sept. 16, 2017. The event in Elba was a benefit for The Arc of Genesee Orleans, helping to fund disability services and the Mary Anne Graney Memorial Scholarship for students in the two counties.
In fact, according to Hancock, Nicole herself raised more than $8,000 during the last eight years for the walk-a-thon.
Mary Lou said she was very surprised when Hancock came into her store to tell her.
“I am honored,” Mary Lou said. “I never expected it.”
Awards for this year’s parade include a $1,000 Grand Prize; six Best in Class categories; the Littlest Elf Award for best incorporation of youth and children in their float; the Star Award for outstanding creativity; the Community Spirit Award for the entry which best represents their community; and the Santa’s Pick Award for the float Santa would likely pick as the most whimsical.
File photo: State Sen. Robert Ortt speaks on May 30, 2017 during Memorial Day at Kendall.
State Sen. Rob Ortt (R,C,I,Ref-North Tonawanda) on Thursday will be attending the White House as a guest for a special conference, which is being coordinated by the White House’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
This event will examine how veterans and their families are currently supported through state and federal government relationships. As a veteran and a state legislator, Sen. Ortt is uniquely positioned to lend his first-hand experience with state and federal veteran services and help bring to light any positive or negative aspects of the way veterans receive care.
“I am thrilled to be headed to the White House where I’ll have the opportunity to share my first-hand experiences with policymakers and senior administration officials and assist in improving care for our veterans,” said Ortt. “Our men and women of the armed forces and their families sacrifice so much in service to our country and it is imperative that they are provided with every service necessary once home. For many service members, battles against invisible scars such as depression and PTSD are far from over once they return back to the states, and it is important that our state and federal governments continue to communicate when it comes to caring for our veterans. I am honored to be part of this process.”
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Sen. Ortt is keenly aware of New York State’s mental health programs and services available to veterans. While President Trump’s administration has been very active in crafting legislation to aid families and caregivers of wounded veterans, improving access and availability to these programs continues to be an ongoing effort.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2018 at 10:13 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Board of Elections will begin counting 561 absentee ballots and 85 affidavit ballots at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
The results of those ballots is awaited for the eight-county 27th Congressional District. The polls on Nov. 6 showed Chris Collins with a lead of about 2,900 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast.
Nate McMurray, Collins’ challenger, conceded on election night, but then insisted all the votes need to be counted before declaring a winner.
There are about 11,000 absentee and affidavit ballots to be counted. McMurray would need to get about 65 percent of those votes to pull ahead of Collins.
“We said from the beginning that every voice must be heard, and we remain committed to ensuring that our service members, retirees, college students, and others who voted absentee are allowed their right to choose their representative in Congress,” McMurray said in a statement today. “Unlike my opponent who hid from voters and hoped to end the race before all the votes were counted, I will see this race through to the last vote. This is democracy at work, and we will continue to fight so that every vote is counted.”
McMurray won in three of the eight counties, but both Orleans and Wyoming gave Collins strong support.
The vote at the polls on Nov. 6 in Orleans was 4,505 for McMurray and 7,269 for Collins. In Wyoming, it was 4,608 for McMurray and 8,281 for Collins.
Collins is in the lead for a fourth term to Congress despite being indicted on insider trading charges about three months ago.
Collins campaigned for the importance of keeping the seat in Republican control to ensure an ally for President Donald Trump. Collins was the first member of Congress to support Trump’s campaign in early 2016. The local congressman has frequently appeared on television news programs as an advocate for the president.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 November 2018 at 8:15 am
MEDINA – Members of the Senior Center of Western Orleans filled the Senior Center on Monday for the November board meeting and annual free Thanksgiving dinner.
The meeting included election of officers for 2019. Elected were Lynn Creasey, president; Lee Smith, vice president; and Sherry Tuohey, secretary.
After the meal catered by Chap’s Diner in Elba, K-9 officer Lt. Todd Draper with the Medina Police Department demonstrated the abilities of his dog Kye.
Kye is a Belgian Malinois, a breed raised in Holland for its ability to assist in police work. Kye is certified in patrol, tracking and narcotics detection.
The Belgian Malinois is the same breed which accompanied soldiers when they went after Osama bin Laden, Draper said.
Medina K-9 officer Lt. Todd Draper and his dog Kye presented demonstrations at the Medina Senior Center Monday after their Thanksgiving dinner. Watching at left is Senior Center president Lynn Creasey. Director Kelly Shaw is seated at right in the rear.
“A Belgian Malinois’ nose is 1,000 times more sensitive than a human’s,” Draper said. “We can smell a pizza, but Kye can separate every ingredient on it.”
A police dog can be trained in arson, bomb detection or narcotics. Kye is used for narcotics detection, such as marijuana, heroin, hash, cocaine and crack cocaine. Draper demonstrated how the substance they want Kye to detect is put in a towel and then hid. As in an actual situation, Draper gave Kye a sniff of a towel, then locked Kye in the kitchen while he hid the towel. It was only seconds after he was let loose before Kye discovered the towel in a cabinet.
Interestingly, Draper gives Kye his commands in Dutch. He only needs about six words (such as heel, sit, stay), and Draper said it was easier for him to learn Dutch than it would have been to teach the dog English.
Draper said he and Kye are a team. They work and live together (although Kye is kept in a dog house), and it is Draper’s hope when Kye has to be retired as a police dog, he will be able to keep him.
Lt. Todd Draper, K-9 officer with the Medina Police Department, watches as Kye, his Belgian Malinois, locates a hidden object during a demonstration Monday at the Senior Center of Western Orleans in Medina.
Photos and article courtesy of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Program
KNOWLESVILLE – Twenty Orleans County 4-Hers kept things cooking during the Produced in New York (PiNY) silent cooking competition at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Nov. 3.
“Participants prepare their own original recipe featuring items grown or produced in New York State,” Orleans County 4-H Program Coordinator Kristina Gabalski said. “4-H youth are evaluated on their demonstration skills as well as the taste and nutritional value of their finished products.”
Recipes this year featured pumpkin, cheese, apples and carrots, as well as chicken, pork and ham.
The PiNY program is an opportunity for youth ages 8-19 to demonstrate their food preparation skills while promoting a wide variety of agricultural products grown or produced in New York.
4-Hers with the highest cumulative scores qualify to participate in the Produced in New York competition in the 4-H Youth Building during the New York State Fair in August.
Makenzie McGrath, 11, of Medina competed in the Junior Division and made cheesecake stuffed apples.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 November 2018 at 4:03 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: District Attorney Joe Cardone is shown speaking at a community forum on Nov. 30, 2017. He is leading the effort for the new program to compel motorists to get insurance.
ALBION – Orleans County is expanding a traffic diversion program to include people caught driving without insurance.
The county since 2010 has had a traffic diversion program for many first-time traffic offenders for infractions such as speeding, failure to yield, and failure to obey a stop sign.
They pay a $200 fee and enroll in a defensive driving class. In exchange, the ticket is dismissed. In fact, it will never show up on the driver’s record. In more than eight years, the fees paid just passed $1 million, said Susan Howard, the coordinator of the program and also the assistant district attorney.
That money has all stayed with local municipalities, and has been shared by the county, towns and villages.
About 5,000 people have participated in the program since its inception. The county beginning on Nov. 1 expanded the program to include people without automobile insurance.
If there are no other infractions, the drivers will likely be accepted in the program. The fee is $400, and they must get car insurance and complete a test about safe driving.
District Attorney Joe Cardone has been leading the effort to expand the program. The county is partnering with the New York Public Safety Company, which will provide mobile license plate readers to patrol cars for law enforcement agencies in the county.
New York Public Safety Company will receive $140 of the $400 fee. The company will also help manage the insurance diversion program and is looking to open an office in Albion.
“There is a great cost to community of people driving without insurance,” Cardone said.
With the diversion program, people who are caught without insurance won’t face criminal charges. And they will be spared up to $2,500 in fines and other costs. They also won’t lose their license.
If they complete the program, pay the $400 fee and show proof of insurance, the ticket will be dismissed.
“Our diversion program has been extremely successful,” Cardone said today. “Orleans County is now first in state to do it with insurance. We expect some of the other counties will do it.”
Lou Piccone, a former Buffalo Bills wide receiver, is the New York director of New York Public Safety Company. He said the goal of the program is compliance, to have all motorists get insurance.
That should reduce the premiums for the people who have been paying for insurance, because right now they pick up the costs for those in accidents without coverage, he said.
“No one should be on the road uninsured,” Piccone said today by phone.
The company is partnering first with Orleans, and then expects to expand the program in the state.
“It’s a manageable county,” Piccone said about Orleans. “There is a diversion program already in place and that allows the county to put this in play very easily.”
(Editor’s Note: Generations Bank recently completed a merger with Medina Savings & Loan.)
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the New York State Department of Financial Service have approved Generations Bank’s application to form a limited purpose commercial bank.
The sole function of the new subsidiary is to allow municipalities and other public entities to make deposits with Generations. New York is the only state that requires public funds be held exclusively in a commercial bank.
The move positions the bank to pursue new opportunities for growth, as well as the growth of the communities it serves.
“The limited purpose commercial bank is an important development for Generations and for our communities,” commented Menzo Case, President and CEO of Generations Bank. “By placing funds on deposit with Generations, our local towns, villages and schools can be sure that their funds will be put back to work, right here in our community, creating opportunities for growth and building our local economy.”
Generations Bank partners with businesses, municipalities and residents across the Finger Lakes Region and Western New York. Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Seneca Falls, Generations Bank serves the community from 11 retail locations in Seneca Falls, Auburn, Waterloo, Geneva, Union Springs, Phelps, Farmington, Albion and Medina.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday signed legislation to provide an annual increase in the rate of compensation for Gold Star Parents who have lost a child in the armed services during a time of war.
Under current law, Gold Star Parents are paid $500 annually with no provision for an annual increase. This new legislation amends the executive law to allow for an annual increase at a rate equal to the percentage increase of benefits set by the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
“Supporting our veterans and their families has always been a top priority for this administration, and this critical legislation will help ensure military families who have suffered the greatest loss get the support and benefits they so rightly deserve,” Governor Cuomo said. “I am proud to sign this measure into law and I will continue our work to honor those brave New Yorkers who paid the ultimate price to protect our democracy and to support their families.”
The Gold Star annuity is a special income-eligible annuity to recognize the emotional loss and financial implications of parents whose child has died serving this country, as there are many instances in which the deceased contributed to the financial well-being of his or her parents. Since its implementation in 2008, the Gold Star Parent Annuity has not been increased, despite inflation and other economic factors causing prices to rise. This annual increase will ensure the support we give to Gold Star Parents will not fall behind, the governor said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 November 2018 at 9:54 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Rick Cary, a member of the Holley Fire Department, communicates on his radio at the scene of a serious accident on Route 31 in Murray on Monday evening.
MURRAY – The volunteer firefighter who was seriously injured on Monday responding to a fire call has been identified as Jared Thomson, 27, of Albion.
State Police report that Thomson was traveling eastbound on Route 31 just after 5:30 p.m. He was driving a 2005 Chevy Silverado and had activated the blue flashing lights so he could respond to an emergency call.
Thomson is a member of the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Volunteer Fire Company. State Police say he failed to observe a 1995 International truck traveling east bound on Route 31 and struck its rear end. The grain truck was headed to Howard Farms.
Thomson was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital for multiple injuries.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in the investigation. State Police report this is an ongoing investigation.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 November 2018 at 9:02 am
Contributed Photo – Helping to lead the Holley boys to the 1990 state championship was this quartet of, from left, Lee Dillenbeck, Keith Jarosinski, Frank Mitchell and Chip Sugar.
And now there are three!
Kendall made school and Orleans County history on Sunday when the Lady Eagles edged past Fort Ann 1-0 to capture the state Class D girls soccer championship.
The Lady Eagles, which claimed the crown on junior Hailee Mitchell’s 30th goal in the season midway through the second half, join the Holley boys, which captured back-to-back state Class D championships during the 1990 and 1991 seasons, as the county’s only state soccer champions.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Hailee Mitchell is congratulated by teammates after scoring the winning goal in Sunday’s state championship game against Fort Ann.
The 1990 Holley boys squad earned the county’s first state soccer crown by rallying to edge Southold High from Long Island 2-1 in overtime on two goals by Keith Jarosinski in the second 10 minute overtime period. Southold had taken a 1-0 lead in the first overtime period.
Coach Dan Orbaker’s Hawks advanced to the title contest by downing North Collins 2-1 in overtime in the Far West Regionals and by blanking Roxbury 4-0 in the state semifinals.
Jarosinski, who finished with 40 goals, headed a quint of Hawk players who earned Genesee Region League All-League honors which included Chip Sugar (22 goals), Lee Dillenbeck (15), Frank Mitchell (8) and Hai Nguyen (6). Dillenbeck is now Lyndonville’s athletic director and boys varsity basketball coach.
Holley then accomplished a rare feat by repeating as state champions in 1991 by downing Eastport from Long Island 3-1 on two goals by Andres Rick, a senior exchange student from Sweden, and one by Orlando Perez. Rick had a total of 35 goals on the season.
Orbaker’s Hawks blanked North Collins 3-0 in the Far West Regionals and downed Worchester 4-1 in the semifinals to gain a return trip to the state title contest.
Contributed Photo – Leading Holley to its second straight state championship in 1991 was this quartet of, from left, Andres Rick, Jeff Dinehart, Hai Nguyen and Ian Casperson.
