By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2018 at 10:24 pm
More restaurants and wineries involved for third annual Farm-To-Table Dinner as crowd gets bigger
MEDINA – The third annual Farm-To-Table dinner in Medina included a record crowd of 220 people, as well as four restaurants, six wineries and dessert from the Shirt Factory Cafe.
It made for a memorable evening for the crowd that gathered for the five-course meal on a closed-off section of Main Street.
“We’re lucky everyone works so well together,” said Kara Zambito, general manager of Zambistro, one of the four restaurants that prepared meals for the dinner.
Her husband, Michael Zambito, has been a driving force behind the Farm-to-Table, and has reached out to many of the wineries and restaurants.
Jerod Thurber of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery serves a Riesling from the winery on Ridge Road in Medina.
Zambistro prepared the meal for the first Farm-to-Table, which had 137 guests in 2016. Last year it increased to 200 and Zambistro partnered with Mariachi De Oro. This dinner included new restaurants Mile 303 and Sourced Market & Eatery. The Shirt Factory, which has new owners, also was part of the effort with pastry chef Abby Thaine preparing summer berry chocolate cake.
All of the ingredients used in the meal were locally sourced and farm-fresh, provided almost entirely from the vendors at Canal Village Farmers’ Market. Proceeds from the dinner go to the market.
Jim and Kathy Baker, owners of Chateau Niagara in Newfane, were one of six wineries at the event in Medina. They praised the cooperation among the restaurants, wineries and the local government in putting on the event.
They were impressed to see how Medina shut down a section of Main Street, blocking it off from traffic with a fire truck at one end and a payloader at the other end.
The downtown, with the well-kept and occupied historic buildings, made for a dazzling setting, the Bakers said.
“This is a gorgeous old downtown,” Mr. Baker said while opening a bottle of wine. “It’s a beautiful venue.”
Summer Waite, a waitress with Zambistro, carries the first dish of the evening – roasted corn hush puppy – prepared by Zambistro.
Benji Pecoraro, head chef at Mile 303, and Katie Misiti, kitchen manager at Sourced Market & Eatery, get one of the courses ready for the crowd. This dish was prepared by Sourced and featured a beef brisket.
The tickets for the event sold out within 45 minutes of being available on July 6.
Sourced Market & Eatery prepared one of the courses with beef brisket, rye berry salad, quick pickle, and cherry mustard vinaigrette.
Tickets were $100 and were hot commodities. There were 200 available, and then another 20 seats for the corporate sponsors – Pride Pak, Takeform Architectural Graphics and LaBella Associates.
Wine from Chateau Niagara would be served with the second course, Chile Verde Empanada from Mariachi De Oro.
Leonel Rosario of Mariachi De Oro welcomed the chance to be part of the dinner again this year.
“I love being a part of the community and working together with all of the other businesses,” he said.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York has committed $2.5 million to build or improve 14 playgrounds at State Parks across New York, including Lakeside State Park in Carlton.
This funding is part of the Governor’s goal to modernize 100 State Park playgrounds by 2020. The park improvements reflect the state’s Connect Kids to Parks program, which aims to draw more youth to the outdoors by offering free day-use park entry to fourth-grade students and their families, and a new transportation grant program to help school children visit state parks.
“Quality playgrounds are a magnet for families, drawing children to parks and inspiring New York’s youth to enjoy healthy recreation throughout their lives,” Governor Cuomo said. “These improvement projects build on New York’s efforts to make state parks more user-friendly, safe and fun, and will encourage residents and visitors to experience the Empire State and discover our great outdoors.”
Under the initiative, State Parks will replace outdated playgrounds at parks with modern, code-compliant equipment and in distinct areas for young and older age groups. Playground improvements will be coupled with site improvements, including shade trees or canopies, seating, water fountains and trail/walkway connections to the rest of the park.
The State Parks include:
Capital District
Taconic State Park at Copake Falls
Central New York
Two playgrounds at Fair Haven State Park
Long Island
Wildwood State Park
Finger Lakes
Lakeside State Park
Seneca Lake State Park
Western New York
Beaver Island State Park
Evangola State Park
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park
Mid-Hudson Valley
Mills-Norrie State Park
North Country
Higley Flow State Park
Keewaydin State Park
Southwick Beach State Park
Southern Tier
Taughannock Falls State Park
The playgrounds are funded by Governor Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020 state park revitalization plan, which includes a commitment to add or improve 100 playgrounds by 2020. NY Parks 2020 is a multi-year commitment to leverage $900 million in private and public funding for State Parks from 2011 to 2020. The 2018-19 State Budget allocates $90 million toward this initiative.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more 250 individual parks, historic sites, golf courses, recreational trails and boat launches, which are visited by 71 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2018 at 2:55 pm
ALBION – A Holley man was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison today for felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
James Nottingham, 38, of Thomas Street has three prior felonies and seven previous misdemeanors, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.
The DA asked County Court Judge Sanford Church to sentence Nottingham to incarceration, “considering his conduct and prior criminal history.”
Joanne Best, the public defender, asked for probation or a split sentence with local jail time. She said Nottingham has been working full-time the past 10 months and the DWI on Feb. 6 in Murray was his first criminal since 2013, and first crime involving alcohol since 2009.
“I messed up by drinking,” Nottingham told Judge Church. “The only thing I can do is move on with my life. I have a good job and want to take care of my kids.”
Nottingham also was ordered to pay court surcharges and a fine of $1,000.
In other cases in County Court today:
• A Buffalo man who fired a gun inside O’Brien’s Tavern on Dec. 10 was to be sentenced today but that was moved back until Sept. 13 so a presentence investigation report could be completed by the Probation Department.
Patrick Casanova, 24, has been in the Niagara County Jail for a drug possession charge. He wanted to be sentenced today for criminal possession of weapon in the second degree. But Cardone and Judge Church both wanted to have the presentence investigation report completed before sentencing.
Casanova could face up to 7 years in state prison for the charge in Orleans County. Casanova wasn’t targeting anyone when he fired the gun into the ceiling at O’Brien’s, police said.
• A Medina woman pleaded guilty to attempted hindering of criminal prosecution in the second degree and could face up to 60 days in jail and three years on probation.
Nikki Buzard admitted in court today to driving a car and taking two co-defendants away from State Street Park in Medina after the two allegedly robbed two people at gunpoint on March 8.
Buzard could have faced up to a year in jail, but as part of a plea deal the sentence will be no more than 60 days in jail.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Aaron Sugar of Albion rides a bike in the bicycle rodeo at National Night Out on Aug. 1, 2017. Albion police officer Will Francis helped run the activity at Bullard Park.
ALBION – The Albion Police Department would like to remind everyone that National Night Out at Bullard Park is less than a week away.
The fourth annual event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 7 and will be the biggest one so far.
Our mission is simple. We want an event where families can come for a night and be entertained at no cost and eat for free in an environment that is free of violence, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Our goal is to have those that attend walk away with a positive contact that can assist with any needs a person may need. We strive to make this event a one-day event that lasts all year long.
This year we will have many demonstrations from law enforcement, firefighters and EMS along with over 40 other organizations providing entertainment and give-a-ways. Mercy Flight will be arriving at with an aircraft that everyone is welcome to tour and sit in.
We will have bikes on hand for kids to ride in an obstacle course with police officers and to receive a free bike helmet. There will also be free food and water for everyone.
We are very excited to doing a “Battle of Belts” competition again this year to promote vehicle passenger safety. The competition entails teams of 4 who compete to see who is the fastest getting into car and fastening their seatbelts. Each contestant then must switch seats and again fasten their seat belts. The time ends when each person has sat in each seat in the car. This event is fun to participate in and even more fun to watch. There is still time to enter and details can be found on the event Facebook Page listed below.
A Webinar (click here) was hosted by the Population Health Collaborative recently where Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni gave insight on what the National Night Out Event is all about.
Governor Andrew Cuomo issued the following statement: “Today, in solidarity with Pope Francis and in honor of my father, I will be advancing legislation to remove the death penalty – and its ugly stain in our history – from State law once and for all.
“By declaring the death penalty inadmissible in all cases and working to end the practice globally, Pope Francis is ushering in a more righteous world for us all. The death penalty is morally indefensible and has no place in the 21st century.
“Pope Francis’s decision is a validation of my father’s principled stand against the death penalty in the face of overwhelming support for capital punishment. My father staked his political career on his opposition to the death penalty and never backed down, saying it ‘demeans those who strive to preserve human life and dignity.’
“As Governor, Mario Cuomo vetoed legislation reinstating the death penalty 12 times in 12 years. He did this because he believed the death penalty was wrong and he had the courage to stand firm in his beliefs – so much so that he was willing to lose his office rather than capitulate. Pop was right then, and he is right now.
“The death penalty was reinstated in New York under the Pataki administration but halted by the courts in 2004. In his final years, my father continued to advocate for eliminating the law from the books, calling it a ‘stain on our conscience.’ Today, in solidarity with Pope Francis and in honor of my father, I will be advancing legislation to remove the death penalty – and its ugly stain in our history – from State law once and for all.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2018 at 8:07 am
32 have now earned Scouting’s top rank from Troop 59 in past 16 years
Ron Boyd, a mentor and volunteer in Troop 59, puts the Eagle kerchief on Xander Apicella. Jake Thurley, not in photo, put the kerchief on his brother Dalton Thurley, right.
CLARENDON – Six Boy Scouts from Troop 59 in Clarendon are the latest to earn their Eagle rank, bringing the number of Eagle Scouts to 32 in the past 16 years from the troop.
Xander Apicella, Matt DeSimone, Dalton Thurley, William Harrington, Jake DeSimone and Ben Downey held their Court of Honor celebration on Wednesday at the Disciples United Methodist Church, where the troop meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Scoutmaster Jak Kohmann praised the scouts for their dedication. They pushed themselves to earn merit badges and complete projects in the community.
“They do the work,” Kohmann told the group gathered at the church for the Court of Honor. “They have a true commitment. Without that dedication these six wouldn’t be up here today.”
Eagle Scouts need to earn at least 21 merit badges, but many of the scouts in Clarendon go well beyond that. They have completed projects at Hillside Cemetery, the Clarendon Historical Society, Clarendon Fire Hall and the town park. The projects need to take at least 100 hours, but Kohmann said the Clarendon Scouts put in at least 150, with some taking 400 hours to complete.
“They turn into young men and they get jobs,” Kohmann said about the Eagle Scouts. “We stay in touch and I see these people out in the community and they are pillars of the community.”
Jak Kohmann speaks during the Court of Honor on Wednesday evening. He said the Eagle Scouts are self motivated. Behind him include Ben Downey, Matt DeSimone and Jake DeSimone.
The six new Eagles all presented Kohmann with a mentor pin during the Court of Honor. They also recognized John Crandall, the assistant scoutmaster, and others who have supported their Scouting journey.
Xander Apicella began as a Webelos in the fifth grade. He created a firemen’s memorial at the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company for his Eagle Scout project. He is entering his junior year at University of California at Santa Barbara, where he is majoring in physics and minoring in writing.
Jake DeSimone started as a Tiger in the first grade. For his Eagle project, he constructed and landscaped a flower bed at the Clarendon Fire Hall. He is pursuing a business degree at Monroe Community College.
Matthew DeSimone, Jake’s younger brother, also started scouts in the first grade as a Tiger. He renovated the park pavilion in Clarendon for his Eagle project. He is pursuing a degree in business/pre-law at Geneseo State College.
Ben Downey started scouts in the second grade as a Wolf. For his Eagle project, he installed a fence at the memorial at Hillside Cemetery. He is currently doing commercial and electrical work for Edwards Electric and Communications in Rochester.
These new Eagle Scouts recite the Scout Oath. They include Will Harrington, Xander Apicella and Dalton Thurley.
William Harrington started as a Tiger Scout in the first grade. He constructed a display wall with lighting in the Clarendon Historical Society for his Eagle project. He is majoring in biology, chemistry and music in a pre-vet program at Elmira College.
Dalton Thurley joined scouts in the first grade as a Tiger. He cleaned and repaired the veterans’ section of Hillside Cemetery for his Eagle project. He will be studying mechanical electrical engineering technology at Alfred State beginning this fall.
Kohmann has served as Scoutmaster for 16 years, including several years after his son aged out of the program. Derek Kohmann, now 27, was the third of the 32 scouts to earn his Eagle under Kohmann.
Kohmann worked 30 years at Kodak and then another eight years at the Holley Pharmacy until he retired in April. He found scouting to be a needed break from the stresses of his job.
“This was a nice release from that,” he said. “I have a good time here.”
The Clarendon troop also has many engaged parents and several active volunteers. Kohmann does the paperwork after the scouts earn their badges and ranks.
He intends to stay active in the troop “as long as the kids keep coming.”
Will Harrington hugs Melissa Ierlan after presenting her with a mentor pin. Irelan helped many of the Eagle Scouts identify their projects in the community.
John Crandall, the assistant Scoutmaster the past nine years, says the many Eagle Scouts in the troop show others that the coveted rank is attainable.
“Once they see their peers get an Eagle, it inspires them,” Crandall said.
His son Jacob, 20, earned his Eagle. Another son, Jeremy, needs three more merit badges and has to complete his project to become an Eagle. Jeremy, 17, expects to become an Eagle next year.
Crandall also praised Melissa Ierlan for connecting many of the Eagle Scouts to their projects. Ierlan is president of the Historical Society and the town’s code enforcement officer.
“She helps with the logistics,” Crandall said. “She has tons of contacts.”
Ultimately, Crandall said Kohmann sets the tone in the troop, and keeps the scouts engaged.
“Jak is very regimented and available for the boys,” Crandall said. “You won’t find someone more dedicated to Boy Scouts. He makes it attainable to the boys.”
Kohmann said the troop welcomes more scouts. They can stop by the Disciples United Methodist Church on a Thursday evening for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2018 at 9:30 pm
There was a big increase in the number of children from Orleans County who attended a Salvation Army in Penn Yan from last Thursday until Tuesday.
There were 22 kids ages 6 to 12 who attended the camp from the county, up from six last year.
“There isn’t one kid who didn’t absolutely love it,” said Andrew Szatkowski, who volunteered to help families fill out the forms electronically.
The change from submitting the forms by paper to electronics was a difficult barrier for many families. Szatkowski was trained to do the paperwork and met with families at local public libraries to get the forms submitted online to the Salvation Army.
Szatkowski attended Camp Troutburg, a former Salvation Army camp in Kendall, when he was a kid and he said it was a big highlight of his childhood. He wanted others locally to have a similar experience.
He and his wife Sara served as chaperones for the bus ride there Thursday and then back to Orleans County on Tuesday. Szatkowski also was at the camp on Monday when he joined his brother in serving 300 Chick-Fil-A meals to the 170 campers and staff. Jimmer Szatkowski opened a Chick-Fil-A in February in Cicero near Syracuse. Jimmer donated the food on Monday.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Andrew Szatkowski of Medina helps unload a bus from Community Action that brought the kids back from camp on Tuesday. Szatkowski helped sign up many of the children for camp, and was a chaperone on the bus ride there and back.
Szatkowski pushed to have more local children attend the camp. Several people stepped up to help with the effort.
Brenda Jo Nanni of Holley knitted soap bar bags for each of the campers and gave them each a small toy in case they felt homesick. Someone also gave each camper a new pillow, pillowcase and travel kit.
Mackenzie Sullivan, a registered nurse and nursing supervisor from Orleans Community Health, donated her time as nurse to check medications before children left for camp to ensure all kids were set to go. Community Action also helped to sign up kids, scan documents, and provide facilities and direction.
Dirk Climenhaga, a staff member at Hoag Library in Albion, also helped sign up four children for the camp.
Szatkowski’s wife Sara, besides serving as a chaperone, checked medications and helped comfort kids who were homesick.
Szatkowski said the children gained confidence during the time away, overcoming some initial fears about being away from home. At the camp they went fishing, took swimming lessons, used a lower-ropes course, played Gaga ball, attended church and enjoyed other activities.
“The ride home was easy,” he said. “They all slept.”
The camp was free to the children who attended with some of the Red Kettle donations going towards the cost.
Szatkowski would like to double the number of children attending the camp next year from Orleans County. The most from the county is 41, which was about a decade ago.
“This place provides a safe, loving, and fun environment,” Szatkowski said. “They were happy. They loved it.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2018 at 4:50 pm
MEDINA – Six tattoo artists did 121 tattoos on July 22, raising $7,000 for the PAWS Animal Shelter during a “Totally Pawsome Tattoo Fundraiser” at Canalside Tattoo Company.
The benefit was intended to last from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but demand kept two of the artists working until midnight.
Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo Company, opened his business for the day and worked as a tattooer with Tyler Vercruysse and Joshua Schutrum of Canalside, Lonnie Froman of Froman Ink in Medina, Sommer Froman of Inktellectuals Tattoo in Buffalo and Andrew London of London Ink in Albion.
“We chose the artists we did because they all got their start or are from Orleans County,” Ramsey said. “We are a charitable company but we believe in keeping charity among Orleans County, where we make our livelihood.”
Tyler Vercruysse works on a tattoo during the benefit. He did tattoos for 13 hours. He also suggested doing the fundraiser to help PAWS.
Ramsey said several of his customers have adopted animals from PAWS, which is located on Gaines Basin Road in Albion.
“We here are all animal lovers and we have all supported animal adoption and rescue organizations in the past,” Ramsey said. “PAWS was very receptive to our idea of the fundraiser and we are very happy they were willing to come spend their day here with us as well.”
Ramsey said many other tattoo studios do similar benefits.
“It’s great for the community and helps build awareness of the animal shelters in need as well as the local tattoo artists and tattoo studios willing to donate their time,” he said. “What separates our event from some others is that we all worked for free that day. Donating 100 percent of the proceeds to the organization.”
The tattooers did 121 tattoos with a suggested donation of $50. Ramsey said many people gave more than the $50 and other people made donations, which pushed the total to $7,000.
There was a long line on Main Street before the doors opened at 11 a.m. for the benefit.
BATAVIA – The Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA) is very pleased to announce that the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) will open on August 13. This will allow patients to receive methadone to treat their addiction.
GCASA has been providing Medication Assisted Treatment since 2004. Like many other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, patients require medication to treat their medical conditions. Dr. Matthew Fernaays, GCASA’s medical director, has prescribed naltrexone and buprenorphine for patients for several years, with great success for some patients. But they don’t work for all patients. With the opening of the OTP, he will be able to prescribe methadone to treat a patient’s addiction, increasing access to appropriate treatment services for residents in Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.
“The ability to provide methadone treatment in our rural area will help so many people in our community,” said Kathy Hodgins, Senior Services Director at GCASA. “Those who are unable to drive to Buffalo or Rochester daily will be able to access the care they need to treat their addiction right here in Batavia. This is huge for our community.”
Methadone is highly regulated and monitored. Licenses were obtained by NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Research shows that most communities with similar programs have decreased rates of crime because people are able to get the help they need, instead of having to steal to maintain their drug use.
GCASA is very excited to be able to offer this treatment to help fight the opioid crisis.
“We want to see people in recovery,” said John Bennett, GCASA executive director. “We are working hard to fill in the gaps that currently exist in treatment services. We know that there are many pathways to recovery and we are grateful to be able to provide another path with methadone.”
GCASA has been serving Genesee and Orleans Counties for over 40 years. Services include prevention education and outpatient and residential treatment for individuals with substance use disorders; and an employee assistance program.
For more information, please call 585-343-1124 or visit gcasa.net.
2 History professors will perform as U.S. generals
Provided photo: Derek Maxfield, left, and Tracy Ford will portray Union generals Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman during a presentation on Dec. 5.
Press Release, GCC
BATAVIA – The History Club at Genesee Community College invites everyone to the Batavia campus on the first Wednesday evening of every month this fall to witness the Historical Horizons Lecture Series.
• The Fall 2018 line-up kicks off on Wednesday, September 5, at 7 p.m. with “The Jewels of War: Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan and the Battle of Antietam” presented by the author of Shepardstown in the Civil War, Kevin R. Pawlak, an Albion native.
The Battle of Antietam is America’s bloodiest single day. In totality, twelve hours of fighting on September 17, 1862 left approximately 23,000 casualties. During this lecture, Pawlak will assess the dramatic events of the battle from the unique perspective of the commanders on the field.
• Then, on Wednesday, October 3, at 7 p.m. Pulitzer Prize-winning professor of history from New York University, Steven Hahn will discuss his latest book, A Nation Without Borders. This is an important reinterpretation of 19th Century America, a kind of coming-of-age story especially significant for its contribution to the scholarship on the Civil War period.
“A massive and masterly account of America’s political and economic transformation between 1830 and 1910 . . . Hahn describes his book as telling ‘a familiar story in an unfamiliar way.’ It is much more than that. Attempting a synthesis of a century’s worth of American history is a daunting task. Writing one as provocative and learned . . . as this one is a triumph, nothing less.” – David Oshinsky, The Washington Post
• On Wednesday, November 7, at 7 p.m. David A. Bell, Sidney and Ruth Lapidus Professor in the Department of History at Princeton University, will present on his latest book, Napoleon: A Concise Biography. In this work Bell emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility – for both good and ill – that Napoleon represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the greatest generals in European history. At 30, he had become absolute master of Europe’s most powerful country. In his early 40s, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome, fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic.
• On Wednesday, December 5, at 7 p.m. in a unique presentation, GCC professors Derek Maxfield and Tracy Ford will present “Now we stand by each other always” – an engaging conversation between Generals Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. The two-man play is based on historic resources and references. Together, they recount the important meeting and conversation held at City Point, Virginia in March 1865 when the two Union generals discuss the campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas and consider how to close out the Civil War.
All lectures in this series begin at 7 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building. All lectures are free and open to the public.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2018 at 8:21 am
State Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) sent a letter on Tuesday to the NYS Public Service Commission, sharing concerns about the lack of funding in Orleans and Niagara counties for broadband expansion, and also asking the Commission to develop a plan for expanding high-speed Internet to the two counties.
Last week, the Public Service Commission deemed Charter Communications has failed in its agreed-upon build-out promises, leading to disputes between the telecoms company and the state.
“Many families who were depending on Charter to deliver broadband are now questioning whether or not they will be left in the dark with regard to high-speed Internet,” Ortt said in a statement. “I support the state’s desire to hold Charter accountable but I also worry about the underserved communities who are no closer to receiving the high-speed internet they were promised.”
The state’s Broadband Program Office was tasked with allocating previous funding, including $500 million from State Legislature and $170 million from FCC. But Ortt said there was a “wide disparity” in how funding spent in counties, with little of the dollars approved for Orleans and Niagara.
The average county received $35.3 million, but Orleans was only awarded $36,699 and Niagara, $197,820, Ortt wrote in a letter to John Rhodes, chairman for Public Service Commission
“Although this funding disparity is alarming, residents were assured that the disparity did not mean that they would be without broadband,” Ortt writes. “Since Charter’s merger required them to build to 145,000 addresses at no cost to the state, it seemed that my district would be receiving broadband without an investment from the BPO.”
But now with Charter expelled from the state, the company won’t be extending high-speed service to the additional addresses.
“While Charter has slacked in this process, the revocation creates large issues for my constituents and residents across New York State,” Ortt wrote to the Commission.
Ortt urged the Public Service Commission to develop plan if it follows through with the Charter revocation.
“Although I agree with the Commission’s sentiment that Charter’s pace has been unacceptably slow, I fear that, without proper planning, this penalty could end up harming the residents it was intended to protect,” Ortt wrote to the Commission.
KENDALL – The Orleans County Sheriffs’ Office and the Town of Kendall Fire Department, in cooperation with the Kendall Central School District, will conduct an active shooter exercise at the Kendall High School on Saturday at 9 a.m.
The training exercise will consist of officers from the Sheriff’s Office, Holley Police Department and Albion Police Department as well as emergency first responders from the Kendall Fire Department and Monroe Ambulance.
Approximately 20 volunteers will be at the exercise to role play as either students or staff.
Press Release, Preservation League of New York State
Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from October 2015 shows the Tug Urger when it was in Albion.
ALBANY – The Preservation League of New York State is seeking support for its efforts to protect the historic Tug Urger and other Erie Canal vessels that provide an authentic link to the past.
The League recently learned that the New York State Canal Corporation, under the New York Power Authority (NYPA), has plans to beach the tugboat Urger, flagship of the Erie Canal and beloved “teaching tug.” This vessel has introduced thousands of school children and members of the public to New York’s navigable waterways, reinforcing the role of the Erie Canal in making New York the Empire State.
Tug Urger used to travel up and down the canal system for school field trips and public events. Now the Canal Corporation and NYPA want to pull it from the water and make it a dry-land exhibit at a NYS Visitor Center off the Thruway in Montgomery County. NYPA’s plans would permanently disable the Urger and prevent it from returning to service.
The League is launching an advocacy campaign to call attention to the plight of the Urger and to call on the Canal Corporation and New York Power Authority to work with stakeholders to develop a plan for the fleet of historic canal vessels, more than a dozen of which are slated to be scuttled off Long Island to create artificial reefs for sport fishing and recreational diving.
According to Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League, “The Erie Canal is an engine for recreation and tourism with significant economic benefits for canal communities, businesses, and New York State. The Preservation League has been working for years to help communities in the Erie Canal Corridor address their unique preservation challenges and revitalize canalside assets.”
Through more than $600,000 in grants, technical services, workshops, awards and the Industrial Heritage Reuse Project, the Preservation League has helped individuals, not-for-profits and municipalities throughout the canal corridor. Loans from the Endangered Properties Intervention Program (EPIP) have added more than $300,000 in support.
“As we mark the 100th anniversary of the Barge Canal, it seems like a remarkably poor time to remove historic resources from the National Historic Landmark NYS Canal System,” continued DiLorenzo.
“It’s hard to imagine the future of the canal system without Tug Urger and other significant historic vessels on the water,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “These vessels convey the sense of New York State pride, stewardship, and heritage that are integral to a thriving, living waterway.”
According to Dan Wiles, president of the Board of Directors of the Canal Society of New York State, “The 1901 Urger already had a storied career even before plying Barge Canal waters in the 1920s, serving as a fishing boat on Lake Michigan. As one of the State’s maintenance workhorses, its presence overlaps nearly all of the years of the Barge Canal, now celebrating its centennial. It has been appreciated by generations across these many years and across New York State. It is one of the essential links between that past and the future. We all need it to continue this mission on the waterway, being shared by communities throughout the canal corridor.”
In addition to the effort to save the Urger, the League is also calling on the Canal Corporation and New York Power Authority to work with stakeholders to develop a plan for the remainder of the fleet of historic canal vessels, which currently numbers 57.
Senator visited Albion’s high school shop class on Nov. 21 to promote legislation
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Photo by Tom Rivers: U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand visited the shop class at Charles D’Amico High School on Nov. 21, 2017 to promote legislation that would allow schools to seek federal funding for 3D printers, laser cutters, computerized machine tools and other new equipment.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that following her push, the bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act was signed into law today.
The legislation includes provisions based on two of Gillibrand’s bipartisan bills that would promote technical skills training and prepare students for high-demand, good-paying jobs in the 21st century economy. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act reauthorizes funding for career and technical education programs.
“I am very excited to announce that important provisions from my bipartisan Computer Science Career Education Act and my bipartisan 21st Century SHOP CLASS Act have just been signed into law as part of the Career and Technical Education reauthorization,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Companies across New York have many high-tech jobs available, and these provisions will help train students with the technical and computing skills they need to fill these jobs. This is great news for our state, and I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that our schools have the resources they need to better prepare students for high-quality jobs, no matter where they are in the state.”
Gillibrand’s provisions were included in the larger Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which was signed into law today. Her bipartisan Computer Science Career Education Act would help provide more opportunities for students to learn computer science skills, especially for women, minority, rural, and low-income students across New York State who are underrepresented in STEM careers, in order to prepare them for in-demand careers in computer science. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2024, one in every two STEM jobs will be in computing, and there will be 1.3 million job openings in computing occupations due to growth in the field. However, fewer than 50,000 students graduate each year with bachelor’s degrees in computer science.
The legislative package also included provisions from Gillibrand’s bipartisan 21st Century Strengthening Hands On Programs that Cultivate Learning Approaches for Successful Students (SHOP CLASS) Act, which would prepare teachers to offer expanded training for students across New York State in advanced manufacturing technologies like 3D printers, laser cutters, and computerized machine tools. Modern manufacturing is increasingly high-tech and creates complex technical jobs that require technical-skill training.
The Computer Science Career Education Act is cosponsored by Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), and the 21st Century SHOP CLASS Act is cosponsored by Senator Todd Young (R-IN). Both provisions from Gillibrand’s bipartisan legislation would help train the future workforce for the 21st century economy and give more students the training needed for high-demand, good-paying jobs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 July 2018 at 2:19 pm
KNOWLESVILLE – There were about 24,500 people who attended the Orleans County 4-H Fair for six days last week, not including the vendors and exhibitors.
That attendance is about average for the fair, said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, which runs the fair.
However, Batt said the 24,500 is impressive given the rain early in the week and threats of bad weather later in the week.
“We consider it a big success because of the forecast and threat of the storms,” he said.
The parking lot off Wood Road was sold out or nearly full on many of the evenings, which pushed more parking to two parking areas off Taylor Hill Road.
Parking per vehicle was increased to $7 this year. The fair estimated the carloads were bigger this fair, averaging about 3.75 people per vehicle.
The Orleans fair is a youth fair where alcohol isn’t allowed. There also isn’t a demolition derby or big-name bands.
The focus is on 4-H exhibitors, with other entertainment, including midway rides.
These nine 4-H’ers competed in the grand master showmen competition on Friday, featuring the top showmen from nine different breeds of animals. They include, from left: Emma Mathes, master showman for meat goats; Kaylee Nesbitt, beef cattle; Jamie Schieber, llamas; Rylie Lear, swine; Will Trembley, sheep; Nicole Mryzwka, dairy goats; Liz Jurs, dairy cattle; Madison Bale, horse English; and Morgan Bakutis, horse Western.
The master showmen had to show nine different types of animals. Lear won the competition as grand master showman with her cousin Mryzwka the reserve champ.
Andrew Uderitz of Albion leads his dog Tank through agility tests on Friday morning, including passing through a tunnel.
Colette Randolph, 5, of Knowlesville gets ready to do the small fry pedal tractor pull.
Through more than $600,000 in grants, technical services, workshops, awards and the Industrial Heritage Reuse Project, the Preservation League has helped individuals, not-for-profits and municipalities throughout the canal corridor. Loans from the Endangered Properties Intervention Program (EPIP) have added more than $300,000 in support.
