By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2018 at 3:21 pm
Brian Sorochty
Shawn O’Mara
HOLLEY – Village residents can hear directly from the six candidates running for the Village Board during a forum on June 13 at the middle-high school auditorium.
The forum begins at 6 p.m. and is sponsored by The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.
The event is set up as a forum and not a debate. Candidates will give opening and closing statements, and will respond to questions submitted by the audience.
Three incumbents are running in the June 19 election, including Mayor Brian Sorochty and two current village trustees – Connie Nenni and Kevin Lynch, the deputy mayor.
The other candidates include Shawn O’Mara for mayor and Alexa Downey and Robyn Schubmehl for village trustees.
Sorochty works as Vice President of Engineering for an engineering/construction company. He said the village is seeing significant progress including the imminent construction of the old Holley High School, turning a vacant structure into senior housing and the village offices.
Holley also has been awarded $4.5 million in grants to fix many village sidewalks and upgrade the water system.
The village also was approved for a $165,600 state grant to develop a brownfield opportunities area program. That plan will help Holley develop strategies for improved housing, business and tourism opportunities.
Sorochty also said Holley is applying for a Bridges and Culvert grant, seeking about $900,000 to replace the undersized bridge on Veterans Memorial Drive and minor road widening to allow trucks to turn into the Industrial Park.
O’Mara is a Gates police officer. He has worked 25 years in law enforcement, including the beginning of his career with the Holley Police Department.
O’Mara supports Holley’s grant efforts. His campaign literature calls for stabilizing village taxes, reducing unnecessary spending and “providing excellent customer service from all village departments.”
The June 19 election will be from noon to 9 p.m. at the village office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2018 at 11:43 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The summer park supervisors in Albion include, front row, from left: Kyle Smith, Kendall Eibl, Kiara Smith, Charlyne Olick and Sarah Graham. Back row: Alex DeSmit, Gerardo Solis, Kyle Thaine, Owen Foos, Lauren Freeman and Kaitlyn Van Skiver. Missing from photo: Preston Flugel.
ALBION – The Village of Albion will run a six-week summer parks program beginning June 20 through July 27.
The village will have paid park supervisors on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bullard Park and Pee Wee Park, which is part of Bullard on Route 31, at the east end of the village. There will be recreational and arts and crafts activities available for free for boys and girls, ages 5 to 16. The program is open to children in the Albion Central School district.
Parents and guardians are urged to attend registration the first week of the parks program to meet the supervisors and fill out important paperwork.
The parks program will also offer the following camps: tennis for grades 5-12 from June 25-29; wrestling for grades 6-12 from July 2-6; volleyball for grades 6-12 from July 2-6; baseball for grades 4-8 from July 9-13; and tennis for grades 5-12 from July 16-20.
John Grillo is the recreation director. This summer’s program has added weekly fitness challenges as well as special events, including presentations from the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and the Genesee-Orleans Youth Bureau on making good choices.
The annual senior citizen picnic will be July 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Children’s Carnival will be July 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2018 at 10:23 am
Residents share displeasure about tree-clearing
Brian Stratton, director of the Canal Corp., told the group at the Hoag Library that the tree removal was necessary to keep the canal safe.
ALBION – Canal Corp. officials agreed with local residents that the embankments where trees were cut down last fall are still an unsightly mess.
It’s going to look bad for most of the rest of 2018, Canal Corp. officials said on Wednesday during a meeting at Hoag Library.
But it will start to look better not long after when the canal’s navigational system ends on Oct. 10. The Canal Corp. is working on a contract to have the stumps and root systems removed, and also to have grass or a “grassy material” planted on the slopes, said John Callaghan, the canal’s deputy director.
The tree removal started last October when the Canal Corp. hired Mohawk Valley Materials from Utica to remove trees on 146 acres of canal-owned land from Medina to Fairport. The loss of trees upset many residents who lost privacy and felt the canal was diminished with the trees chopped down.
Bruce Schmidt of Gaines told the Canal Corp. during Wednesday’s meeting that the public and local elected officials were caught off guard by the tree clearing.
“A lot of this was a surprise to people,” Schmidt said.
He urged the Canal Corp. to share more details with the next phases of the “vegetative management plan.”
David Mellen, director of construction management for the Canal Corporation, said the Canal Corp. has held six public meetings now about the project. The Canal Corp. values the public input, he said.
David Mellen, director of construction management for the Canal Corporation, said the Canal Corp. would have been “reckless” to allow the trees along the embankment.
During Wednesday’s meeting Mellen went over why the tree cutting was necessary, especially in Orleans County where 50 acres of trees were removed. Mellen said many sections of the canal in Orleans were identified as high risk for compromised embankments due to tall trees right by the canal. Those trees have roots that burrow deep in the soil, making the canal vulnerable to leaks and potentially to catastrophic blowouts, he said.
Brian Stratton, director of the canal Corp., noted the canal was originally built about 200 years ago, from 1817 and 1825. It was last expanded in 1918. Trees in the past century have sprouted up on embankments, which makes the canal vulnerable, not only from the roots but in case a tree topples over.
“We want to make sure the canal continues to go, that it continues to be beautiful, and that it continues to be safe,” Stratton told about 60 people in a packed meeting room at the library.
This rendering from the Canal Corp. shows a compromised canal with tree roots burrowing into the soil.
This rendering shows the preferred condition of embankments without any trees.
The tree clearing made it to Spencerport until being halted in early February after a lawsuit from the towns of Brighton, Pittsford and Perinton.
The contractor was able to complete about 65-70 percent of phase 1 of the tree removal until the work was stopped, Mellen said.
The company has some cleanup work that remains in Orleans County and Brockport. It has until June 30 to finish the work. That doesn’t include stump removal and grass plantings, which are part of phase 2.
Residents asked if more trees will come in Orleans County by the canal. Mellen said all of the trees identified as high risk have been removed from the county. No more are planned to be cut down.
Bruce Schmidt of Gaines said residents and elected officials weren’t fully aware of the impact of the tree removal.
The Canal Corp. was asked about the loss of privacy and if any new screening will be added. Callaghan, the Canal Corp. deputy director, said the agency will put in smaller trees away from the embankment for screening. The Canal Corp. will meet with homeowners on a case by case basis, with input from arborists.
One canal resident in Knowlesville said her house sits below the canal and the tree clearing has left her property exposed.
“It’s just horrible coming home from work everyday and seeing my home,” she said. “It’s annihilated.”
John Callaghan, the canal’s deputy director, said embankments will look better after this navigational season. He went over some of the next steps, including stump removal and backfill of voids. There will be grading, seeding, some drainage construction, and vegetative screening. The Canal Corp. also wants to add more access points so towpath users aren’t cutting through private backyards.
Lynn Hill, a Barre town councilman, said the Canal Corp. shouldn’t have left embankments in such an unsightly condition this year. He was angry with the lack of specifics in how the Canal Corp. plans to create grassy slopes where the trees used to stand.
“The place looks like hell right now with just stumps hanging there and no vegetation,” Hill said. “There’s no going back. You’ve cut down the trees.”
Mellen said the details of the next contract are being worked out. The contract will be approved with work to start in the fall after the canal navigational season ends and water is drained from the system.
Many of the Canal Corp.’s top leaders were at the meeting in Albion. They were thanked for their presence by Albion Mayor Eileen Banker and Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature. They asked that the Canal Corp. consider residents’ concerns in the next phases.
Paul Hendel, a member of the Murray Town Board and chairman of the Orleans Economic Development Agency, said the canal is a critical resource for the county and effects many businesses.
Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty said the tree-clearing has made other trees vulnerable to strong winds.
Hendel told the Canal Corp. that the EDA and local communities want to be partners in realizing the potential of the canal as an economic driver.
Johnson noted the county and the Village of Medina will be developing comprehensive plans to realize the potential of the canal as a cultural, economic and tourism attraction.
Brian Sorochty, the Village of Holley mayor, said some of the canal neighbors in Holley have lost additional trees since the tree-clearing. The canal trees provided a buffer and wind break for trees by homes. Once the buffer was gone, other trees were more vulnerable. Sorochty said three of his trees have toppled from wind since the canal trees were removed, and one of his neighbors has lost several trees.
“There are ramifications and it’s not just privacy,” Sorochty said. “There is now a wind issue. It’s noticeably different and it’s forever changed.”
Callaghan said the Canal Corp. is determined to address residents’ concerns.
“We have a ‘If we broke it, we’ll fix it’ mentality,” he said. “Our goal is to make the residents more safe.”
Provided photo: Service Learning seventh-graders at Albion Middle School recently spent a day loading a tractor trailer full of gently used items that will be shipped on a container to needy families in the remote mountain region of central Nicaragua. These students include, from left: Terry Green, Ulises Ledesma, McKenzie Olmstead and Hailey Crawford.
“The kids worked hard and once again gained an appreciation of the many blessings we enjoy as American citizens,” said their teacher, Tim Archer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2018 at 10:43 pm
Apex will pay $70K to have town, citizens’ group review preliminary scoping statement
BARRE – It was a packed town hall this evening with the Barre Town Board holding a public hearing about two proposed meteorological towers.
Apex Clean Energy, developer of the proposed Heritage Wind in Barre, wants to have a 262.5 foot high met tower at 5140 Angevine Rd., on land owned by Jon and James Peglow. Apex also wants a met tower that would be 196 feet high on Root Road, on land owned by Richard Miller.
Both towers would be temporary and sited in an residential/agricultural district. Apex last year constructed a met tower on Thorpe Road.
The towers provide important meteorological information, as well as data on wind strength and consistency.
“Let’s allow the met tower and see the data,” said resident Tom Hicks. “Maybe it’s data we all need to know.”
Tom Hicks, a Barre resident, urged the town to approve a special use permit for the met towers so the company, Apex Clean Energy, can determine the wind strength and consistency, and discover other data that could be useful in siting a project – or not siting one if the wind isn’t strong enough.
Iva McKenna, a member of the Clear Skies Above Barre citizens’ group, said Apex hasn’t shared any data from the first met tower. She said the company has been a divisive presence in town, securing leases when information about the project isn’t fully available to the community.
She didn’t blame residents for signing leases, when she said $15,000 to $25,000 is offered for each year.
She urged the Town Board to look out for the good of the entire town.
Her husband, George McKenna, also addressed the board. He said the town should be aware of the full scope of the proposed project, and Barre should be getting surveys of all residents to gauge their opinion.
He worries only a small percentage would benefit from the project to the detriment of many.
Town Supervisor Sean Pogue said the Town Board is considering a survey. If the project moves forward, Barre will negotiate a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) arrangement where Apex pays local governments.
McKenna said the Town of Arkwright received $30,000 from a wind developer for having a met tower go up. He said Barre should be paid as well.
Pogue said he wasn’t aware of any towns being paid for met towers. He wanted to check with Arkwright officials on that revenue.
The Town Board will meet again at 7 p.m. on June 13 to vote on whether the met towers will be given special use permits.
Apex wants to ultimately wants to construct a 200-megawatt project in Barre. The company has submitted a preliminary scoping statement for the project.
As part of the PSS, the company has to provide $350 for each proposed megawatt to have the project reviewed by the host municipality and other citizens’ groups.
A judge determined Barre would receive $40,000 in intervenor funds and Clear Skies Above Barre would have $30,000. That will allow the groups to hire environmental attorneys and experts to review the Apex submission.
Kerri Richardson, Clear Skies president, said the group will contract with an environmental law firm and other experts. Pogue said Barre will hire Alan Knauf, a Rochester attorney who specializes in environmental issues, and environmental scientists and engineers from LaBella Associates. Barre will meet with its team on July 18 to discuss how it will review the PSS.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 6 June 2018 at 4:17 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Charlie Brigham, shown here making a tag at second base during last Saturday’s regional win over Midlakes, and his Rams teammates will face Seton Catholic of Binghamton in the state Class B semifinals on Friday.
Having already captured their first sectional and regional baseball titles, the Roy-Hart Rams are now taking aim at an even bigger prize – a state diamond championship.
The Rams begin that quest when they take on Seton Catholic of Binghamton in the Class B state semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday at Maine-Endwell High School near Binghamton.
“We’re excited and ready to compete but we’re approaching this one exactly the same. We’re not changing anything” said Roy-Hart Coach Mike Tarnowski. “Our aim and our focus all season has been to take it one pitch at a time, one at bat at a time and one inning at a time and win them.”
The victor will advance to Saturday’s Class B state title contest against the winner of Friday’s other semifinal between Center Moriches and Albany Academy. The final is scheduled for 1 p.m. at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton.
Roy-Hart, which brings a 19-2 record into the semis, advanced by defeating Section V champion Midlakes 10-1 in the Far West Regional last Saturday at Frontier Field in Rochester.
Seton Catholic advanced by nipping Adirondack 3-2 in the Central Regional. The Saints, which captured the state Class C title in 2013, also reached the state semis last year dropping a 8-7 decision to Albany Academy in 9 innings.
Roy-Hart featured a balanced 13 hit attack along with some clutch relief pitching by senior Jake Bruning (1 hit, 8 strikeouts in 5 innings) in the win over Midlakes. In the previous outing, the 12-9 Section VI Class B title win over Olean, eight Rams contributed to a 14 hit attack.
The Rams lineup includes senior pitcher/centerfielder Jake Bruning who is hitting .442 with 20 RBIs, junior first baseman/pitcher Charlie Bruning (.436, 16 RBI), senior shortstop Al Xapsos (.431, 20 RBI). eighth grader outfielder Gavyn Boyle (.429, 24 RBI). senior third baseman/pitcher Ben Schwab (.419, 28 RBI), junior third baseman/pitcher Walker Samanka (.368, 14 RBI), junior second baseman Charlie Brigham (.324, 18 RBI), freshman catcher Noah Hardy, sophomore outfielder Mike Huntington, senior designated hitter Andrew Srock and junior designated hitter Karson Grover.
SHELBY – Residents in western Orleans County are welcome to attend a public hearing on July 18 to comment about a comprehensive plan for the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates and the villages of Medina and Lyndonville.
The plan covers a broad array of topics, including socioeconomic trends – housing; land use – zoning and development; infrastructure and utilities; environment; historic, cultural, and municipal resources; parks; open space and recreation; economic development; transportation; and sustainability.
For each topic area, the plan summarizes existing conditions, identifies issues and opportunities and outline recommendations and action items.
A committee with officials from the municipalities has been working on the plan for about 18 months. The Western Orleans Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee has completed a draft of the plan, a 339-page document that is available by clicking here.
The July 18 public hearing and information session begins at 6 p.m. at the Shelby Town Hall, 4062 Salt Works Rd.
“The draft WOCP is the result of 18 months of hard work by Committee members and the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development,” said Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon, who also chairs the Committee and is responsible for revising the WOCP.
He urged western Orleans residents to review the plan and provide some input. Comments can be directed to the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development – the agency facilitating this process. Copies of the Plan and comment forms can be found at the town and village halls of Shelby, Ridgeway, Yates, Medina and Lyndonville, the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, and the Yates Community Library.
Comments should be submitted to the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development at 14016 Route 31, Albion NY, 14411. Additionally, an electronic comment form can be found on the Department’s webpage.
Questions about the WOCP or the public involvement process should be directed to Sarah Gatti at the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development by phone at 585-589-3187 or email at sarah.gatti@orleanscountyny.gov.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2018 at 11:26 am
Moses Sherman taught at Albion from 1950 to 1975.
ALBION – Moses Sherman was a high-energy band director for Albion from 1950 to 1975. He was a big promoter of Albion’s bands and had concerts recorded as albums to raise funds for the program.
The albums and concerts weren’t limited to the Purple Eagles. Sherman reached out to his friends who led strong programs and they performed at Albion. That includes the Holley Hawks state champion band that was led by Ray Shahin.
Those vinyl records from 40 to 50 years ago have been tucked away in Alec Sherman’s home. About two years ago he thought there might be interest in the community if the records were digitally remastered and released as CDs. Frank Zicari of Albion, a former band student with Moses Sherman, has spent more than a year on the project, re-recording the music and eliminating some of the scratches.
“He was very meticulous,” Alec Sherman said about Zicari. “It was a very time-consuming job.”
Zicari was able to digitally remaster eight of the albums, ranging from 1964 to 1974.
The albums include two from 1964: The Concert of Champions, including The Albion Grenadiers, The Irondequoit Crusaders, Holley Hawks, and The Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band, and the 1964 Spring Concert. Zicari also has remastered CDs from the 1965 Spring Concert, 1967 Spring Concert, 1968 Spring Concert, 1969 Spring Concert, 1973 concerts and 1974 concerts.
Alec Sherman has CDs available of Albion band concerts from about half century ago.
Alec Sherman played the cornet, a small brass instrument like a trumpet. He graduated in 1968 and saw first-hand his father’s devotion to the music program.
“It was his baby,” Alec said. “It was his life.”
At times during a 25-year career at Albion, his father led the marching band, the concert band, the senior band, a dance band, intermediate band for seventh- and eighth-graders and even the elementary band.
Moses Sherman was a creative fundraiser, using the albums to generate money for the program. There were also many bake sales and dances – “whatever they could do to raise funds for uniforms,” Alec said.
The remastered CDs are available for $35 each and Sherman will use the proceeds for $500 annual scholarships given each year in memory of his father (to be awarded to a graduating senior who is active in the band program) and also for Alec’s mother, Margaret McKirdy Sherman, who was a teacher at Albion. Her scholarship is a humanitarian award going to a graduate with a record of community service.
Moses Sherman grew up in a small town in Vermont. He earned a degree at Ithaca College and first worked at Tully, a small school district in Central New York. He was hired at Albion in 1950 and stayed until 1975. He finished his career in Massena in northern New York.
Sherman passed away in 1997. His father had tremendous pride in the Albion band, Alec said.
He pulled out a news clipping from 1964 which showed the band came in fifth out of 53 youth bands that competed in Toronto. According to the article, the band had 84 musicians, 17 in color guard and seven twirlers. In 1972, Sherman took the band to England for a competition.
The annual spring concerts were a big deal, too. Sherman not only had other top-ranked local bands join Albion, but he also brought in professional musicians. The May 23, 1969 concert included Dr. Leonard B. Smith, director of the Detroit Concert Band and an “eminent cornet virtuoso.” Rafael Mendez, a professional trumpet player from California, also played in Albion.
“He wanted to show the kids if you work hard, some day you might be able to do what these guys do,” said Alec, who is a retired U.S. history teacher at Albion. He also coached basketball, softball and track.
For more information about the CDs, contact Alec Sherman at alecsherman1950@gmail.com or click here for more information on the Albion Alumni Foundation website.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2018 at 8:54 am
Megan Gotte works as nurse, and is active with PTA
Megan Gotte is pictured on Mother’s Day, after about a month of enduring chemotherapy.
GAINES – Megan Gotte has proven her devotion to others in her job as a registered nurse for HCR Home Care. She tends to patients in their homes in Orleans and Genesee counties. She was featured in many news stories after a blizzard on March 12, 2014, when she rode a snowmobile to visit homebound patients.
Gotte and her husband Jason have two young sons and she has been a regular volunteering in their prekindergarten and first grade classrooms on Fridays. She is active in the Albion PTA and often spends four nights a week at Bullard Park for coach pitch and T-Ball.
However, Gotte’s life changed about two months ago when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Her friends are planning a June 23 basket raffle and benefit for the Gotte family at the Medina Theater. The event will be from 3 to 9 p.m.
“We love her,” said her friend, Amy Ainsworth-Herman, a nurse at HCR. “She would do the same for us.”
Gotte, 40, has been diagnosed with Stage 3B triple negative breast cancer. Her cancer started out the size of a marble and grew to 9.5 centimeters in three weeks.
She will continue with chemotherapy every week through August and then will have a double mastectomy, followed by five to six weeks of radiation.
She is determined to beat the disease, saying she has every reason to live with sons Jax, 7, and Leo, 5.
Gotte had long curly hair two months ago. She is adjusting to the side effects of chemotherapy.
She said she is thankful HCR has allowed her to do a reduced workload from home. She can’t visit patients right now, and her compromised immune system is keeping her out of her kids’ classrooms as a volunteer.
Her family and friends have stepped up to help care for her children and get her to medical appointments.
“I have awesome friends,” Gotte said on Tuesday at her home on Kent Road.
One of the items that will be at the benefit on June 23 includes a breast cancer awareness cleat signed by Kyle Williams of the Buffalo Bills.
Gotte first worked as a nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital and then joined HCR about five years ago. Two of her nursing friends, Colleen Herriven and Amy Ainsworth-Herman, have been working on the benefit on June 23. Besides baskets up for raffle, there will be food and music from deejay JT Thomas.
A Facebook event’s page lists many of the items that will be available at the raffle including a breast cancer awareness cleat signed by Kyle Williams of the Buffalo Bills and an autographed hockey stick from Zach Bogosian of the Buffalo Sabres.
A GoFundMe also has been established to support the Gotte family to help with out-of-pocket medical costs and other expenses.
Megan Gotte’s friends have also made #GotteStrong stickers and shirts to support the family.
LANCASTER — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership on Monday honored Congressman Chris Collins, R-Clarence, with its annual “Spirit of Enterprise Award,” given in recognition of his support for pro-growth policies in the first session of the 115th Congress.
The Chamber’s “Spirit of Enterprise Award” is given annually to members of Congress based on their votes on critical business legislation as outlined in the Chamber’s How They Voted scorecard. Members who supported the Chamber’s position on at least 70 percent of those votes qualify to receive the award.
Collins was rated at 93 percent in support of Chamber priorities, based on 14 House votes. (With seven votes in the Senate that were identified as Chamber priorities, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer voted in favor 29 percent and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was at 14 percent, according to the scorecard.)
“It’s a good time to be doing business in America, thanks to a slate of legislative accomplishments that laid the groundwork for more economic growth and job creation,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “These efforts to advance commonsense, growth-oriented legislation will help Main Street American businesses thrive. We commend Congressman Collins for his commitment to promoting and protecting American free enterprise and economic prosperity.”
The award was presented June 4 at Sealing Devices in Lancaster, a member of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. Sealing Devices is one of the largest privately-held manufacturers of sealing products in North America.
“We know Chris is fighting for Buffalo Niagara employers every day in Washington. The Congressman understands what it’s like to an employer – not a common trait among members of Congress,” said Dottie Gallagher-Cohen, president & CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. “His focus on federal policies aimed at lowering costs, encouraging investment and creating jobs is exactly what we need.”
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is a regional chamber of commerce and privately-funded economic development organization. Partnership members employ more than a quarter of a million people in the Buffalo Niagara region.
Collins is the representative for the 27th Congressional District, which includes Livingston, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties and parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara and Ontario counties.
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
Photo by Tom Rivers: Fruit trees at Watt Farms in Gaines are shown in bloom on May 9.
ALBION – Orleans County is accepting enrollment of additional parcels in certified agricultural districts during the month of June, pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law.
This annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property which is predominantly viable agricultural land. During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from County Agricultural District No. 1, which in 2016 became the sole agricultural district in the county as a result of a consolidation process.
This opportunity supplements, but does not replace, enrollment in an existing agricultural district during the eight-year, formal review process. The next eight-year anniversary review — the only time during which parcels can be both added and removed — will not occur for several more years. Presently, there are over 116,200 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1.
Requests for inclusion in District No. 1 this month will be evaluated, in order by the Orleans County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, the Orleans County Legislature, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Enrollment forms are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development both in-person and online by clicking here.
Completed forms should be sent by July 2nd to:
Sarah Gatti
Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
14016 Route 31 West
Albion NY 14411
Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that your property will be added to Agricultural District No. 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify your property for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment. For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact your local assessor.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2018 at 1:14 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Brandon Dillenbeck, a top 10 graduate for Holley, accepts congratulations and citations on Monday from Lynne Johnson (left), chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, and Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
Hickory Ridge Golf & Country Club hosted the 32nd annual Academic Excellence Awards Dinner on Monday, when the top 10 graduates from Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina were recognized. (Albion has its own honors convocation for students with cumulative GPAs of 90 or higher.)
Students were praised for their academic achievements, and urged to keep working hard in college and in their careers.
Jacob Bensley, a top 10 student at Medina, heads to the podium to be presented with a medallion and citations.
Tim Bow, a 2005 Lyndonville graduate, served as keynote speaker. He works as a lawyer in Chicago for Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Miami School of Law in 2013, after attaining a bachelor’s in political science and bachelor’s of music in saxophone from Northwestern University in 2010.
Bow said the local students are fortunate to have been raised in a small town where the relationships are more authentic.
“Growing up in Orleans County is an asset,” he said.
Their career path likely won’t be a straight line. He advised the top 10 grads to keep moving forward in the face of setbacks and adversity.
Kierstyn Christensen of Kendall earned a top 10 rank for the Class of 2018.
Mercedes Benedict is recognized as one of Lyndonville’s top graduates.
Raine Oakley of Kendall gets a hug and congratulations from Julie Christensen, the school district superintendent.
Dr. Aaron Slack, principal of Lyndonville High School, recognized the top 10 students. These three include from left: Cassie Maynard, Taylor Paniccia and Kennedy Smelski.
Shelby Green of Medina is congratulated by Mark Kruzynski (center), the district superintendent, and David Sevenski, president of the Board of Education.
Mark Kruzynski, Medina Central School superintendent, has a hearty handshake for Toby Kiebala, one of Medina’s top 10 grads.
The top 10 students include:
Holley: Hannah Bailey, Matthew DeSimone, Nina DiLella, Brandon Dillenbeck, Alexander Lane, Melody Purtell, Jessica Sedore, Dakota Thompson, Dalton Thurley and Hanna Waterman.
Lyndonville: Mercedes Benedict, Brody Brown, Heaven Flood, Paige Gardner, Mariah Grabowski, Skyler Lear, Miranda Lembcke, Cassie Maynard, Taylor Paniccia and Kennedy Smelski.
Medina: Jacob Bensley, Alyssa Beyer, Andrew Fuller, Shelby Green, Jack Hill, Ian Joseph, Brigid Keller, Madison Kenward, Tobias Kiebala and Hannah Sones.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with Albion Police Department will host a child car seat check point on Saturday during the Strawberry Festival.
Certified child passenger safety technicians will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. on Park Street at the County Courthouse parking lot. They will inspect car/booster seats to assure children are in the correct seat for their size and age.
According to data, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ranging from 1 to 13 years of age. Preventative measures, such as proper installation of car seats, boosters and seat belts can lower many deaths and injuries. Informing and instructing parents and caregivers on child safety and proper installation of car seats is critical to saving young lives.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 June 2018 at 9:00 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart pitcher Charlie Bruning is shown here in action on the mound during the regional win over Midlakes as the Rams became the fifth Niagara-Orleans League team to compete in the state baseball playoffs.
When Roy-Hart took to Frontier Field in Rochester this past Saturday to face Midlakes in the Class B Far West Regional the Rams became the fifth Niagara-Orleans League school to compete in the state baseball playoffs.
Roy-Hart was victorious over Midlakes by a score of 10-1 to advance to this Friday’s Class B state semifinal against Seton Catholic of Binghamton at Maine-Endwell High School near Binghamton.
In previous years for the N-O League, Wilson and Albion have both competed in the state playoffs four times while Medina and Newfane have each made one appearance.
Wilson has the distinction of being the only N-O school to capture a state diamond championship as the Lakemen defeated Rome Catholic 5-2 in the 1983 title contest after nipping Mattituck 4-3 in the semifinals.
The Lakemen also appeared in the inaugural state final in 1982 losing to Little Falls 12-5. The Lakemen downed Draper 13-8 in the semifinals.
Wilson also made the state semis in 1996 bowing 5-4 to Catskill. The Lakemen advanced by nipping Seton Catholic 4-3 in the regionals.
The Lakemen’s other appearance was a 1985 regional loss to Tioga by a 5-1 margin.
Newfane is the only other N-O school to make it to the state finals losing 10-4 to Windsor in 2004. The Panthers advanced by defeating Hornell 3-2 in the regionals and Skaneateles 7-1 in the state semis.
Albion made it to the state semifinals in 1999 losing to Johnson City 9-1. The Purple Eagles advanced by downing Wayland-Cohocton 10-5 in the regional.
The Purple Eagles other three state appearances were regional losses to Victor in 2004 (9-0) and to Pittsford Sutherland in both 2010 (6-2) and 2014 (3-2).
Medina advanced to the state semis in 2003 losing to Carle Place 9-1. The Mustangs had bested Sodus 4-0 in the regional.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2018 at 8:18 am
Bonnie Baldwin lets out a big smile when congratulated by Margy Brown, president of the Board of Education.
ALBION – The school district honored a sixth grade teacher as the Educator of the Year for her commitment to helping all of her students learn, including those who are struggling the most.
Bonnie Baldwin has taught sixth grade English the past five years, and started her career with 14 years as a fifth grade teacher.
Baldwin has many strategies to engage students in the classroom, said Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent. Sixth grade is a transition year for students as they adjust to their first year in the middle school and more demanding school material.
When students struggle, Baldwin stays optimistic in helping students grow their confidence.
“She will find ways to engage them,” Bonnewell said on Monday during a recognition program for teachers and staff.
Margy Brown, the Board of Education president, said her family is forever grateful to Baldwin for helping one of Brown’s sons have a breakthrough in the classroom.
“She gave him the confidence to be successful,” Brown said.
Baldwin said she has been fortunate to have many mentors as teaching colleagues. She mentioned the late Leslie Kish and “an incredible team of fifth grade teachers” to start her career, including Susan Davis and Jennifer Ashbery. In the middle school, she worked next to Jonathan Sanford and other dedicated teachers in her “sixth grade family.”
“Each and every one of them has helped me to fully understand the educator I strive to be – one who is dedicated to helping each child discover his or her true potential and self-worth and to value the power of the written word,” Baldwin said.
The school district on Monday also recognized retiring teachers and staff including:
• Ann Capacci, physical education teacher in high school for 39 years, she also was a very successful volleyball and softball coach, leading Albion to 6 league titles and 3 sectional crowns in volleyball, and three championships in softball. Matt Peterson, the high school principal, praised Capacci “for her enormous heart and compassion for kids.”
• Nancy Wickman, high school chemistry and biology teacher for 34 years, had great camaraderie with the students. “Her passion for science is unmatched,” Peterson said.
• Lee Anne Jedamski, CSE secretary for 14 years
• Debbie Wood, physical teacher for 32 years in middle school
• Kim Toombs, family and consumer science teacher for 32 years in middle school
• Ralph Englert, sixth grade teacher for 33 years
• Doug Mergler, technology teacher for 33 years in middle school
• Carol Smith, cafeteria monitor for 26 years in middle school
• Sally Conley, cafeteria monitor for five years in middle school
• Carol Neibert, typist for more than 20 years in buildings and grounds
• Virginia Bauer, cleaner for more than five years in buildings and grounds
• Larry Gaylard, custodian for 24 years with buildings and grounds
• Linda Weller was also recognized for her five years of service on the Board of Education. She served on the district’s Wellness Committee, Process and Protocol Committee and was the district’s designee on the Hoag Library board of trustees. She also attended numerous programs through the New York State School Boards Association.
Nancy Wickman is retiring after 34 years of teaching high school science. She is shown with Matthew Peterson, the high school principal.
Larry Gaylord worked 24 years as a custodian for Albion. He is congratulated by David Sidari, a member of the Board of Education.
Deb Wood retired after last school year following 32 years as a physical education teacher. She also was a successful coach for Albion, winning more than 100 girls varsity basketball games. She also coached softball and golf.
Carol Smith was praised for 26 years of service as a cafeteria monitor. Margy Brown shows her a book that will be placed in the library in honor of Smith.
Kim Toombs is retiring as a middle school family and consumer science teacher. Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal, said Toombs has been a dedicated teacher who also inspires her students with community service. Since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she and her students have made several hundred pillows and ponchos for breast cancer patients in the Rochester area. Her classes have delivered the pillows and ponchos to the Pluta Cancer Center through Strong Memorial Hospital, the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, and Highland Hospital in Rochester.
The following teachers also attained tenure:
• Brooke Beatty, elementary school physical education
• Stephanie Schepis, elementary school classroom teacher
