Village also expects to try again for Restore NY funding

File photo by Tom Rivers: Downtown Albion is pictured last winter. The Main Street lift bridge has been closed for nearly two years, reducing traffic for some of the Main Street businesses.

ALBION – The Village of Albion submitted applications last year for the $4.5 million Forward NY program and for up to $10 million in a Restore NY grant.

Albion was denied in both applications in what grant writer Jay Grasso said are very competitive programs among municipalities looking to help their downtown business districts, and tackle other housing and tourism initiatives.

Grasso, owner of G & G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, was encouraged by the strength of Albion’s applications and he wants to try again for the state funding. He said municipalities that receive those larger grants often miss the cut the first time.

The Village Board has scheduled a tentative 6 p.m. public meeting on Sept. 12 at the Village Hall to hear from building owners and residents about the programs.

“There was good feedback to the applications,” Grasso said during Wednesday’s Village Board meeting. “I think the village is primed for it.”

Grasso said the state wants to see bigger “transformational” projects that can be a catalyst for other investment in the community. The projects don’t have to be in the downtown.

The applications last year included a trail that extended from the downtown to Mount Albion Cemetery where the village sought funding to replace the roof on the chapel.

Albion’s Restore NY grant application last year totaled $11 million in projects. That list has Grasso convinced Albion should pursue the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, rather than the $4.5 million Forward NY grant.

Once he hears from business owners, non-profit organizations and village officials about potential projects, Grasso said he expects to submit a letter of intent in October to apply for either the Forward NY or larger DRI. He also said he will go after the Restore NY grant.

The Restore NY program could bring up to $10 million to revitalize distressed commercial and residential sites, providing 90 percent of the costs. The program funds reconstruction, structural repairs, repair and replacement of mechanical systems, energy efficiency upgrades, and demolition.

Forward NY or the DRI provides matching funds for building owners to create residential space or upgrade facades and make other improvements. The village could receive 100 percent funding towards public-benefit projects, such as upgraded parking lots.

Potential projects for building owners could include:

• new construction (residential, mixed use, hotel, etc.)
• renovation of existing buildings
• facade improvements
• renovation of new retail, office, co-working, commercial, industrial, recreational or cultural use

ALABAMA – A section of Route 63 near the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will remain closed to traffic until Sept. 13, the state Department of Transportation said.

The road was closed to motorists on July 1 and was anticipated to reopen on Sept. 1. But that has been pushed back about two weeks for a federal culvert replacement project.

Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted detour that utilizes State Route 77, Gasport Road and Route 31. Local traffic will be able to access Route 63 up to the immediate work zone. The refuge remains open.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – With the 2024-25 school year quickly approaching, the Albion Central School District continues to be deeply concerned regarding the Village of Albion’s decision to eliminate its crossing guard.

The village budget was passed on Thursday, April 25, and the district was notified of the change in early June, not by Village of Albion trustees, but by the Albion Police Department. According to Mickey Edwards, Superintendent of ACS, it was Lt. Brandon Annable, the position’s previous supervisor, who called to notify the district of the change.

As they were notified in June, and Albion school district had already passed its budget that May, the District and its Board of Education were shocked.

“No one wants to see any of our students injured while crossing the road,” said ACS Board of Education President Wayne Wadhams.

“The safety of our students has to come first,” ACS Board of Education Vice President Linda Weller said. “All students get bussed, except those closest to the school and those are village students who need a crossing guard.”

As soon as they were made aware the village had not included a crossing guard in its annual budget, Edwards said the district looked into hiring for the position directly.

“We have always prioritized the safety and security of our students,” Edwards stated. “Putting students at risk is never an option.”

“I understand that money is tight but I don’t think that our children’s safety is a place to cut funding,” BOE member Kurt Schmitt said. “These are village children that are walking home and we need to keep them safe. If the school was legally allowed to hire the crossing guard, we would.”

It was during this time Bond, Schoeneck & King, the District’s law firm, advised that, due to section 208-A of the NYS General Municipal Law (click here), the school district is not legally allowed to directly employ the primary crossing guard.

Bond, Schoeneck & King also advised the district that the only time in which it is allowed to enter an agreement with a village or police department, with the purpose of directly hiring a crossing guard, is to increase the number of school crossing guards already employed by the respective village or police department.

Consequently, for this to be possible, the village or police department would already need to have a crossing guard on their payroll.

For at least the last decade, the Village of Albion has employed the crossing guard that has been supervised by Albion PD. In the absence of an employed guard, Albion Police Chief David Mogle has said that his officers will help to provide coverage.

“We are going to do the best we can,” Chief Mogle said. “We will do what we have to do to protect the kids.”

The Albion PD has two officers on duty at a time, meeting the department’s minimum staffing requirement, to help ensure the officers’ safety when attending calls. According to Chief Mogle, while the department tends to be busier in the afternoon there is still the potential for the officer filling in as the crossing guard to be called away, no matter the time of day.

“We hope that the school and the village are able to hash it out and find a dedicated guard to fill the position,” Chief Mogle said.

This is not the first time the Albion BOE has discussed this issue, according to Weller.

“The first time was in 2017 when the village first tried to get rid of the crossing guard and the district tried to work with the village to find a solution,” Weller explained. “As a Board, we thought this matter had been solved as it has been a village budgeted item since before I was on the board. This isn’t a new law, why they (the village trustees) chose to cut it out of the budget this year, only the village can answer that.”

“This is the second time, since I’ve been on the school board, that this issue has come up,” Wadhams added. “We need to find a long-lasting solution to prevent this from becoming an annual problem.”

ACS’s School Resource Officer Deputy Matthew Prawel agreed and emphasized that drop-off and pick-up times are an especially important part of his day.

“It should come as no surprise that our students’ most vulnerable moments are when they are outside our buildings during arrival and dismissal times,” Prawel said. “My presence is most needed when students are getting on and off buses to ensure the safety of our students as they enter and leave our buildings.”

His job isn’t over once students have boarded or unloaded from the buses, he is also in charge of ensuring transportation on and off campus runs smoothly.

“My focus is on making sure our students, staff and visitors are all safe while they are at Albion Central Schools,” Prawel said. “I strap on the yellow traffic vest twice a day for both our Middle School and High School dismissal times. For me to cover the crosswalk, in addition to the district’s driveways, would not be possible and leave people at risk.”

Morning arrival isn’t any easier, according to the District’s SRO.

“Drop-off time is especially difficult as the avenue is used heavily for people commuting to work at that time,” Prawel said.

“Whether the school was on the avenue or not, that would be a high-risk area for someone crossing Route 31 in the mornings.”

The school district and Prawel emphasize the importance of the work and dedication of the Albion Police Department and its ongoing assistance in keeping our school and village community safe.

“We are incredibly grateful to Chief Mogle and the rest of the Albion Police Department, for continuing to be great partners in prioritizing the safety of our students, staff, and greater Albion community,” Edwards said.

“I couldn’t do it without their support,” Prawel agreed. “The Albion Police Department is integral in ensuring our school and village community remain safe.”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: An addition to this year’s Resource Fair at Medina Memorial Hospital will be a “Lumps and Bumps Clinic” with surgeon Dr. Devon Huff, shown here comparing notes with Jorgie Lang, office coordinator in the surgery clinic.

MEDINA – This year’s Resource Fair sponsored by Orleans Community Health on Sept. 12 will have several new features. The event will run from 4 to 7 p.m.

Topping the list of new features will be a Lumps and Bumps Clinic with surgeon, Dr. Devon Huff.

Huff will see people with lesions, warts or skin tags and offer to remove them if appropriate.

“It is often very difficult to get an appointment to see a dermatologist and get evaluated,” Huff said. “If a pathologist can tell us what it is, we can remove it with minimal scarring.”

Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach, said features such as the Lumps and Bumps Clinic are reasons why more people will come.

Huff joined Orleans Community Health at the beginning of the year, where he spends one/half day in the clinic and one day a week in surgery. His full-time affiliation is with Kenmore Mercy Hospital in Buffalo.

Huff said working in a small hospital has its advantages, as long as you stick to what a small town hospital can do.

“It’s nice not to be stressed out and the people here are so nice,” he said.

He said it is important to build back the prominence of a hospital in a small town, so people will know what it has to offer.

Robinson praised Huff, calling him a “dedicated yet modest general surgeon with a great deal of experience in wound care.”

Huff came to Buffalo from the sun-soaked Ventura County in California in 2003 for medical school, Robinson said. He married a fellow med school alumna, who is now a pediatric emergency room doctor at Oishei Children’s Hospital. They have two daughters, aged 5 and 9.

Beyond the operating room Huff’s diverse array of hobbies includes real estate development, where he has had success beathing new life into older homes though renovation projects, Robinson said.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Huff finds joy in outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing and mountain biking. He loves to travel, especially to national parks, where he enjoys expanding his love of photography.

“Dr. Huff’s dedication to patient care, coupled with his diverse interests, promises a unique and enriching contribution to the healthcare community,” Robinson said.

In addition to the Lumps and Bumps Clinic, the Resource Fair will offer tours of the hospital at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.; a chance to meet with representatives from several countywide organizations; Stop-the-Bleed training from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and a chance to talk with hospital personnel regarding patient portal, billing, health insurance and more. All are free.

There will also be an opportunity to register for testing in radiology and/or for a hospital blood draw at $10 per test.

It is also noted a second Stop the Bleed training is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 18 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.  The training teaches participants how to recognize life-threatening bleeding, apply direct pressure, use tourniquets and pack wounds.

Press Release, International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board  

Recent Lake Ontario forecasts indicate that under average water supply conditions, water levels are expected to remain near average through November 2024 and well within the expected range for this time of year.

“Water supply conditions have resulted in one of the longest periods of sustained near long-term average water levels on Lake Ontario,” said General Quander, United States Co-Chair of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.

Lake Ontario, which has been within (+9 cm/- 15 cm and +3.5 in/- 5.9 in) of the seasonal long-term average since the start of calendar year 2024, is anticipated to continue its gradual seasonal decline through the fall months. The risk of high-water levels remains low for the six-month forecast period.

In consideration of the current and projected conditions, the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board plans to use its minor deviation authority to deviate from Regulation Plan 2014 through October 18, 2024.

This minor deviation is expected to provide more predictable water levels on Lake St. Lawrence and the upper St. Lawrence River for recreational navigation, while having minimal impacts on other interests throughout the system. The Board also plans to use its minor deviation authority to conduct a temporary flow reduction in early September to facilitate in-water inspections of Hydro-Quebec facilities.

Regulation Plan 2014 is the set of rules that govern Lake Ontario outflows, which influence water levels across the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system. A rule within Plan 2014 known as the “September Rule” prescribes flow increases through the Moses-Saunders Dam if the water level of Lake Ontario measures above 74.8 m (245.4 ft.) at the beginning of September.

This photo from Aug. 9 shows the sunset from the shore in Barker.

Increased Lake Ontario outflows cause water levels of Lake St. Lawrence, immediately upstream of the Moses-Saunders Dam, to decrease. This reduction in Lake St. Lawrence water levels could negatively impact the recreational boating community in the final weeks of the season.

Therefore, the Board will use its authority to deviate from Plan 2014 and adjust flows through October 18, 2024, to target a minimum weekly mean water level of Lake St. Lawrence of 73.1 m (239.8 ft).  The Board cautions that levels may drop below this minimum target for periods during the week if strong easterly winds occur. As required by the Directive, the Board plans to fully offset the impacts of the deviation by increasing flows starting on October 19, 2024.

“As water levels throughout the system continue their gradual seasonal decline, the Board encourages recreational boaters to monitor the water level forecasts to determine the optimal time to remove their vessels and equipment for the season”, said Dr. Wayne Jenkinson, Alternate Canadian Co-Chair of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board acknowledges it was a “long shot.” The village applied for a Bridge NY grant to fix the Brown Street bridge, which has been closed for about a decade.

Village Board members worry about the deteriorating condition of the bridge. They say paint and pieces are falling into the canal.

The village didn’t get the grant that sought $5,574,000 to overhaul the bridge, but Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said the board isn’t going to sit back and accept the bridge’s sad fate.

Jay Grasso, the village’s grant writer, said other projects were approved in the county for Bridge NY money. He said the state tries to spread out the funds around the state.

“Only so much can go into Orleans County,” he told the board on Wednesday.

The Village Board back in February reached out to the county, state and federal levels for help with the deteriorating Brown Street bridge. The structure from 1912 has been closed to vehicular traffic since July 18, 2012 after an inspection by the state Department of Transportation showed serious deterioration of major elements of the steel truss floor system.

The board wants the bridge to get a major rehabilitation or be removed. A letter has been sent to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, State Sen. Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson. But Riley says the response has been “crickets.”

The bridge is owned by the state Department of Transportation. The village was able to get DOT permission to apply for the Bridge NY grant.

The bridge remains open for pedestrians, but village officials said rusty bridge pieces are falling into the canal. The board included photos in the letter of the bridge, calling it a “biohazard” for the Erie Canal.

“You can see clearly from the pictures the erosion of paint, rust, steel fragments, missing bolts and concrete that have fallen into the canal,  contaminating it and its tributaries, like Sandy Creek,” according to the letter from the board.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) drafted a letter to Gov. Hochul on Wednesday requesting that the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulation delay its enforcement start date from Jan. 1, 2025.

Following conversations with constituents and local business owners who rely on trucks for their operations, Hawley has learned that the implementation of the program – which resulted from an effort to curb excess emissions from shipping trucks – is already producing problems businesses are struggling to accommodate in this short timeframe. Hawley is asking for the delay until the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority conducts and concludes the highway and depot charging needs evaluation.

“The New York State Automobile Dealers Association (NYSADA) and the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) have already expressed concerns with the regulation’s implementation next year, and their claims need to be heeded” Hawley said.

“As a government we need to start listening to all stakeholders who will be affected by decisions New York State makes.  In this case, it would appear that truck dealers and trucking businesses have never been consulted. Unfortunately, this happens over and over again with the State of New York.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – About 100 people gather outside the chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery at the start of a cemetery tour on Sunday evening. The Ingersoll Memorial Foundation is in front.

The event closed out the four cemetery tours organized by the Orleans County Historical Association. Other tours included West Ridgeway Cemetery, the Orleans County “Poorhouse Cemetery” in Albion, St. Mary’s Cemetery in Medina.

The Mount Albion tour drew the biggest crowd. People were able to go inside the chapel which is dedicated in memory of former Albion Mayor Donna Rodden.

Albion Village Historian Sue Starkweather Miller led the tour with retired county historian Bill Lattin. Starkweather Miler said the chapel from 1875 needs significant repairs to the roof and other improvements.

A committee has been formed to spearhead fundraising for the project, which could top $100,000. Besides Starkweather Miller, other committee members include Tony Wynn, Toni Plummer, Tim Archer and David Snell.

Sue Starkweather Miller discusses how on Aster Day people decorate the gravestones of loved ones with asters, flowers which are a sign of remembrance. Aster Day used to be a big celebration at Mount Albion around Sept. 15.

Mount Albion was developed in the rural cemetery movement, creating a park-like setting. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the first site in Orleans County on the National Register.

There are about 22,000 people buried in the cemetery but not all have gravestones. The clerk’s book at the cemetery keeps a record of everyone at Mount Albion, Lattin said.

Sue Starkweather Miller shares about Donna Strickland Rodden, the first woman to serve as mayor of Albion. She was in that role from 1973 to 1983. She was a big proponent of historic preservation and pushed to have Mount Albion and the downtown business district named to the national registers of historic places.

She was a “brilliant woman” who earned two doctorates and also a master’s degree in journalism. Rodden worked in New York City before returning to her hometown where she was a school librarian and class advisor, as well as the village mayor. She also ran a gift shop and wrote a song about Mount Albion that was played at the cemetery tour called, “Top of the Tower.”

Bill Lattin holds a carved frame made by Jerome Gumaer, who lived from 1843 to 1912. Gumaer carved the frame while a prisoner of war at the Libby Prison at the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va.

Sue Starkweather Miller discusses the life of Henry “Hank” Porter who worked as a chief illustrator for Disney. Porter joined Disney in 1936, and worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, including the scene when the Dwarfs leave the mine singing “Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, it’s home from work we go.”

He was part of the team that created Fantasia and Donald Duck. Porter also is credited with the iconic looping “D” is Disney’s signature.

During the World War II era, he was one of Disney’s most prolific artists, creating more than a thousand insignia and emblems for the military, other US Government agencies and charity organizations involved in the war effort, according to an article in Cartoon Research.

Porter died of cancer at age 50 in 1950. Lattin showed a self portrait by Porter in 1921 when he was in art school at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Porter painted himself lighting a cigarette.

Bill Lattin shows a button that has been in his family for generations. Robert Capstick, a Civil War soldier, gave it to Lattin’s great-grandmother Sarah Harding who used to live on West Countyhouse Road. Capstick was destitute but he had the brass button and gave it to Harding in appreciation for nursing him back to health.

The button is from the inauguration of George Washington in 1789 and declares “Long Live The President.” Capstick is buried at Mount Albion.

Sue Starkweather Miller highlights George Bullard, a state assemblyman and attorney. He was very active in local civic affairs. In his will he left 24 acres to the Village of Albion that became Bullard Park. The park opened in 1928.

Bill Lattin speaks at monument for the Whitmore family, which he said is one of his favorites at Mount Albion. The monument is shaped like a houses. It has oaks and acorns, which are symbols for strength and endurance.

Lattin said the monument reflects the patriarchy of the day. It lists the name of the man, Samuel S. Whitmore (1802 to 1883), in big bold letters. His spouse, Laura Nowlin, is referred to as “his wife” in smaller letters. Very seldom, if ever, is there a monument that lists a woman’s spouse as “her husband,” Lattin noted.

Mount Albion was considered a pre-eminent place to be buried, a “status cemetery,” Lattin said. Many people who weren’t from Albion opted to have their grave site at Mount Albion, he said.

Sue Starkweather Miller discusses the life of George D. Harris, a prominent local builder and contractor. His office was on the canal. He died in 1918 at the age of 50.

The painting is by Peter West, who gave it to Harris in exchange for work. The rod and reel in the painting were owned by Harris. (West’s grave was also a stop on the cemetery tour. He was a professional animal painter.)

Three of Harris’s granddaughters attended the tour on Sunday, and his grandson listened by speaker phone.

As a contractor Harris built many new homes in Albion and redesigned others, including the former Swan Library, the Trolley Depot next to Swan Library, Jacob Landauer’s home on West State Street, the Baptist Parsonage, remodeled the Citizen’s National Bank, remodeled the Village Hall, built the Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital and built a high school at the two bridges in Carlton which has since been demolished.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – Sheriff Chris Bourke is pleased to announce that the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with New York State and Project Lifesaver.

Project Lifesaver is a public safety, non-profit organization that provides law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and caregivers with a program designed to protect, and when necessary, quickly locate individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, Down Syndrome or another type of cognitive disorder, making them prone to the life-threatening behavior of wandering or becoming lost. The average search and recovery time of an individual enrolled in Project Lifesaver is only 30 minutes!

Project Lifesaver relies on proven radio technology and specially trained search and rescue teams. Individuals enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small transmitter on the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized frequency signal. If an enrolled individual goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the individual’s area. First responders will then use the individualized frequency to locate the position of the individual.

Undersheriff Don Draper, Deputy Ashleigh Stornelli, and Deputy James White are currently trained in Project Lifesaver. Additionally, Deputy Stornelli and Deputy White are Project Lifesaver instructors, and will be responsible for training additional Orleans County Sheriff’s Office personnel in Project Lifesaver.

At this time, project lifesaver equipment is made available to qualified individuals, free of charge. The cost associated with the equipment is subject to change, based upon funding made available to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, through various agencies.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to, and takes seriously, the safety of our most vulnerable residents. If you have any questions, please email lifesaver@orleanscountyny.gov.

By Mike Pettinella, UConnectCare Publicist

BATAVIA – “We are best when we serve others,” said the keynote speaker at Wednesday afternoon’s Overdose Awareness Day observance, using the words of famed anthropologist Margaret Mead to illustrate how citizens can unite to save the lives of those beset by substance use.

Speaking to about 150 people at Austin Park in Batavia, Rob Kent, president of the Virginia-based Kent Strategic Advisors, LLC, and former general counsel for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, shared the story of when Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a society.

“The student expected her to say fish hooks, whatever, clay pots, grinding stones. But she said, ‘That’s not it,’” Kent said. “She said the first sign in ancient civilization was a femur, a thigh bone that was broken and then healed.

“And that mattered because if you broke your leg at that time, you died, you were gone. So, it showed that someone took the time to take care of that person, to heal them, to get them back to strength. She said that helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts.”

Kent suggested that those in the audience “are the signs of civilization and the reasons that we are best when we serve others.”

“In the history of the U.S., we’ve overcome wars, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, pandemics, epidemics,” he said. “We have a history of stepping up and helping others in need. We can do that here. However, we won’t succeed by always telling others what they need to do. We need to do it ourselves, and I won’t give up.”

Kent, a native of Central New York, is a longtime advocate for people who struggle with a substance use disorder, treatment providers who help and the recovery community. He previously worked for the state’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports.

Event sponsored by GOW CARES Alliance

He was one of several speakers at the annual event, which was sponsored by the GOW CARES Alliance, formerly known as the GOW Opioid Task Force. Sue Gagne and Amy Kabel, co-chairs of the alliance’s Family, Loved Ones & Allies work group, coordinated the observance along with Jay Baran, GOW CARES Alliance coordinator.

Genesee & Orleans Health Department employees Grace Marzolf, left; Laiken Ricker and Sherri Bensley assist an attendee at one of two dozen agency vendor booths.

Overdose Awareness Day is a worldwide movement to end overdose and to remember without stigma those who have died while acknowledging the grief of family and friends left behind. This year’s theme was Together We Can.

“That highlights the power of our communities when we all stand together and when we all work together,” Kent said, “As we gather on this day, I think of the people who are not here (due to an overdose death) and the people who I never got to meet who I know through their families and friends who love them.”

Concerning the potency of drugs today, Kent said, “I’m scared because having now worked in Washington in the White House, the drugs are getting more lethal and they’re incredibly effective at capturing someone.”

“And they’re not going to get less lethal. I would love to tell you they will, but they won’t,” he said. “We’re losing the equivalent of a small U.S. city every year … over 100,000 people … Fentanyl has changed everything.”

He noted that people more people are dying from drugs laced with fentanyl, and he said that society needs to hold government accountable for letting the cartels continue to flourish.

Pettit cites ‘shift in the playing field’

Locally, 145 people have died from a drug overdose in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties since 2019, said Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee & Orleans Health Departments.

Paul Pettit

“Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury mortality in the nation,” he said, reporting that there were 76 fatal overdoses in Genesee and 35 in Orleans since 2019 and 34 in Wyoming since 2020. “One is too many; 145 is unacceptable.”

Pettit said there has been “a shift in the playing field” in recent years, from prescription drugs to heroin to fentanyl and now to cocaine, methamphetamine and other “recreational” drugs.

He did share some good news in that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of overdose deaths nationwide declined for the first time last year since 2017, and that there has been only one opioid-related death in Genesee County thus far in 2024.

Pettit pointed to the numerous initiatives supported by the health department, including analysis of wastewater to see what drugs are being used, a text for Naloxone (Narcan) line, Naloxboxes in businesses and public places, and increased Naloxone access and training.

The Rev. Erin Martin, a pastor at City Church, recounted her time in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, specifically a place called MacArthur Park.

“You go down there, and it’s so evident of the overdose and substance abuse right there in the park,” she said. “And we were with a group of people that you would go there and offer hot dogs and just asked people if they wanted prayer for anything. Then, we would direct them to a free recovery program and, honestly, it broke my heart.

Martin: That’s somebody’s love one

“It opened my eyes, but it broke my heart because I have a 20-year-old son, and I kept thinking, that’s somebody’s son, that’s somebody’s daughter, somebody’s mom, somebody’s grandpa, somebody’s dad. And while only a percentage took the opportunity to go to recovery, we let them know that recovery is possible and they’re not alone.”

Martin quoted Galatians 6:2 from the Bible: Carry each other’s burdens.

“We are here to help one another. We are here on this earth to be together,” she said. “You see, everybody needs people to laugh with, people to share things with and to celebrate life with. But friendships aren’t just about enjoying the good times together. Friendships are about sharing all times together, and that includes the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Lynda Battaglia, director of Genesee County Mental Health & Community Services, said that losing someone to an overdose can have a devastating impact that ripples across the community.

“It leaves significant grief for those left behind and while we remember those we have lost, we also heighten our dedication to reduce stigma surrounding those affected by substance use,” she said. “Every single person here today has the ability to be an agent of change.”

Battaglia said family members emphasize that their loved one “should not be defined by their diagnosis or the addiction that stole them, but should be remembered as human beings.”

“I am hopeful that the collaborative efforts by the Genesee and Orleans Fatality Review Boards help raise awareness and changes the lens from which people see addiction and overdose.”

Powerful words from a “COA”

(Left) Susan Adams, left, and daughter, Jamie Torrence, are doing their part to help those struggling with substance use disorder. (Right) Animals from Josh Frega’s Funny Farm, including Bebu the Emu (pictured) as well as geese, baby goats, rabbits and chickens, participated in the event.

Chris Budzinack Jr., son of the UConnectCare supportive living counselor who served as emcee for the event, told of growing up as a COA, or child of addiction.

He said thought that the constant fighting, yelling, his father being in and out of jail, and the family’s multiple changes of address were part of a normal life.

Only when his father finally faced his demons, reached out to God and turned his life around 15 years ago, did the young man see how his upbringing was all wrong.

“Because someone was there for him and walked with him, it allowed my dad to work on himself and become a better father and a better husband,” Budzinack Jr. said. “And the more people that gathered around us, the better our lives had gotten and we grew as people at an amazing rate.”

He said he was the first of the family to graduate from high school and went to complete what he called Leadership School.

“I have a steady job now, a beautiful wife and two kids,” he said. “I can say that recovery is possible and help is available because you’re not alone.”

CEO Bennett: A call to action

UConnectCare Chief Executive Officer John Bennett said Overdose Awareness Day is “not just a day of remembrance, it is also a call to action.”

Bennett, who has worked in the substance use treatment field for 40 years, said, “We must push for policies that prioritize mental health and addiction treatment.”

“Change begins with awareness and education, and it is our responsibility to ensure that those in need of help have access to compassionate care and recovery services.”

He said that “it boggles my mind that when we advocate for more treatment and recovery options, the community comes out with pitch forks against us.”

He and the other speakers urged people to share their stories and the stories of the loved ones they’ve lost in order to break down the stigma that often surrounds addiction.

Susan Adams of Batavia is one of those people who shared the story of her stepson, Jason, who died of a fentanyl-laced heroin overdose in October 2018. Adams was attending the observance in support of her daughter, Jamie Torrence, who works for UConnectCare.

“Jason was 32 and he left two children and one unborn,” said Adams, mentioning that he struggled with drug use since he was a teenager. “We thought he was doing OK. He had a job and kids and a baby on the way.”

She said she continues to make herself available to help others overcome their problems with drugs.

“If you can help one person, it’s worth it,” she said.

More than two dozen agencies and businesses from Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties participated in the event.

For more information about the GOW CARES Alliance, email jbaran@uconnectcare.org.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Classic car lovers strolled Main Street in Medina on Wednesday evening, admiring more than 250 vehicles on display for the annual Super Cruise to close out a season of car shows.

Milo the dog was popular, too, with the people. He is owned by Mike Evans of Lockport, right with beard. Evans brought a 1973 Volkswagen Type 181 for the car show. It was his first time in the show.

Car owners had to pay a $10 entry fee for the first time. Evans didn’t have a problem with that expense. “It helps offset some of the costs,” he said.

These cars include a 1935 Rolls-Royce owned by Rollin Hellner at left, and the 1965 Plymouth AFX owned by Greg Sanderson at right.

Hellner, one of the car show organizers, said only a few car owners spoke against the $10 fee being charged for the first time. Hellner said the fee goes towards the costs of the show, which included entertainment, advertising and trophies. He noted many other car shows charge an entry fee. This Saturday’s Olcott Beach Car Show has a $20 entry fee.

Hellner said the Medina car show was promoted on radio stations in Western New York. He also went to shows in Buffalo, trying to bring more cars to Medina for the show. He saw some first-timers from East Aurora, Buffalo and other communities.

“I want people to experience Medina who have never been here before,” Hellner said. “I’m real happy with the  turnout and feedback.”

The back end of a 1965 Ford Mustang owned by Royce Stinson is in front in this photo. The cars drew lots of people to Main Street, where a section was closed to traffic.

Terry Buchwald continued a Super Cruise tradition performing as Elvis. Here he is singing and dancing to “Don’t Be Cruel.” Buchwald has been an Elvis impersonator for over 30 years.

Buchwald entered the scene on a motorcycle.

Dennis Lapp brought a 1951 Ford F1 to the car show.

This 2020 Dodge Challenger owned by Todd Pendars has a theme celebrating the super hero, “The Thing.”

ALBION – Village Trustee Greg Bennett wants to see the school zone, where the speed limit is reduced to 15 or 20 miles per hour, be extended from East Avenue down McKinstry south to at least the railroad tracks.

Bennett lives close by on Chamberlain Street. He sees how McKinstry is a popular spot for kids walking to school in the morning and back to home in the afternoon.

The school zone is currently on East Avenue with a 20 mph maximum. Bennett wants that slower speed limit on McKinstry, too.

He said many drivers bypass East Avenue in the morning and afternoon to avoid the slower speed limit on East Avenue. That puts more vehicles on McKinstry, when kids are on foot.

Police Chief David Mogle said a school zone may have to be on the road right in front of the school. He said more research is needed.

It’s possible the village could just post a slower speed limit on McKinstry if it can’t be designated a school zone.

Fire Chief Jeremy Graham said more pedestrians have been hit on McKinstry than East Avenue in recent years.

The board plans to discuss the issue in more detail at the next board meeting on Sept.11.

ALBION – There is no one in the position of crossing guard with the new school year a week away.

The Village Board cut the position as part of the 2024-25 budget that was approved on April 25. However, Trustee Greg Bennett said that school district wasn’t notified about that until after the fact. Bennett was elected on March 19 and started April 1. However, he said he wasn’t aware the crossing guard was to be eliminated in the budget.

“It was a surprise to me and it was a surprise to them (the school district),” Bennett said during this evening’s Village Board meeting.

The village has borne the expense of the position, about $5,000 a year. The school district believes it is not allowed to legally pay for the position and it has to fall on the village.

Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said the village can’t afford the expense and the school district should pay for the crossing guard who is at the intersection of Route 31 and McKinstry Street from 7 to 8 a.m., and 2 to 3 p.m. on school days.

Bennett said he is concerned the school year could begin without a person helping to stop traffic when kids need to cross the street.

“It’s a pivotal position in our school and community,” Bennett said. “We’re trying to find a resolution.”

The Albion Police Department has agreed to fill in the role to start the year, although the APD could be called away from the scene on other calls.

Bennett said a back-up plan needs to be in place, perhaps with the school resource officer stepping in if Albion police officers need to respond to another emergency or law enforcement call. The SRO is a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Bennett said the village should have let the school know the crossing guard was in danger of being cut during the budget process, not after it was finalized.

Riley said the school district hasn’t been great at communication either with the village. She said the district didn’t let village officials know it was soliciting proposals from other law enforcement agencies when it switched from the APD to the Sheriff’s Office to start the school year in 2022.

Bennett and village attorney John Gavenda said there may be language in the law to allow the school district to pay for the position. Gavenda said it is “confusing” and may only allow for an “add-on” or a secondary crossing guard. More research is needed, he and Bennett said.

Bennett also suggested that the village and district look at splitting the costs of the position.