By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2018 at 9:18 am
Richard DeCarlo
GAINES – Richard DeCarlo on Monday resigned from the Town Board, citing personal reasons.
DeCarlo previously was on the board as town supervisor. He returned as a Gaines elected official on Jan. 1, 2016, after being elected to a four-year term as councilman in November 2015.
Town Supervisor Joe Grube said he expects the Town Board will fill the vacancy soon. He wants to check with the Board of Elections about the procedure for making an appointment.
DeCarlo leaves nearly two years on the term. The person appointed would be named for the remainder of this year. The final year will be up for election this November.
As town supervisor, DeCarlo led the town through several water district expansions. A retired industrial arts teacher from Churchville-Chili, DeCarlo also started and developed Heritage Estates, which has 163 units off Brown Road in the Village of Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2018 at 8:54 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: John DeFrancisco, a state senator from Syracuse, speaks during the Orleans County Republican Rally on Oct. 19 at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
Rob Ortt has joined several of his Republican colleagues in the State Senate in endorsing John DeFrancisco for governor.
DeFrancisco is a long-time state senator from Syracuse. He is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Andrew Cuomo for governor. DeFrancisco’s path is easier since Brian Kolb, a state assemblyman from ear Canandaigua, announced on Friday he wouldn’t be running for governor. Many of the Republican chairman in upstate were backing Kolb.
DeFrancisco announced the support of his State Senate colleagues on Monday, including Joseph Griffo, Bill Larkin, Rob Ortt, Mike Ranzenhofer and Patty Ritchie.
Ortt is from North Tonawanda. His district includes Orleans, Niagara and a portion of western Monroe counties.
“John DeFrancisco possesses the qualities we need in our next Governor,” Ortt said. “I’ve been fortunate to know John as a personal friend and professional colleague. He’s a brilliant public servant with the utmost integrity. He doesn’t shy away from a fight and he says what’s on his mind even if it’s not what you want to hear. And while those tendencies may be frowned upon in Albany, that’s exactly what the people of this great state deserve.”
The executive committee of the Orleans County Republican Committee is scheduled to meet Feb. 24 to make its endorsements for governor, and other state and federal offices.
DeFrancisco, 70, spoke during the Orleans County Republican Rally on Oct. 19. He is the Senate Majority Leader in Albany, the second in command. The Syracuse resident has nearly 30 years as a state legislator.
Cuomo appears to be heavily favored for re-election to a third term. He has $30 million in his campaign war chest, and Democrats have a significant enrollment advantage statewide over Republicans.
But DeFrancisco said George Pataki faced a similar daunting challenge in 1994 when he ran against Mario Cuomo. Pataki at the time was a state legislator after serving as mayor of tiny Peekskill.
DeFrancisco told Orleans Republicans on Oct. 19 it feels like déjà vu as Andrew Cuomo pursues a third four-year term. Both Cuomos were talked about for possible runs for U.S. president while they were long-serving governors.
DeFrancisco said both presided over significant population losses and economic decline upstate, while pushing a liberal social agenda on the state.
“Everything he does has a purpose, and that is to benefit himself,” DeFrancisco said about Cuomo. “He wants to promote his national image.”
DeFrancisco favors across-the-board tax cuts, rather than targeted tax breaks and incentives for some businesses.
“We got to have everyone benefit,” he said.
State Sen. Rob Ortt introduced DeFrancisco during the Oct. 19 event.
“He’s a fighter,” Ortt said. “He fights every day for the values of Upstate New York and Orleans County.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2018 at 7:59 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
An icicle hangs in Albion on Monday. After a cold start this morning with temperatures at 15 degrees, it will warm up to a high of 29 and be mostly sunny today, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Wednesday is forecast to reach 46, followed by a high of 49 on Thursday.
Friday is forecast for a high of 34, although snow showers are likely before noon.
Saturday will hit a high of 31 and Sunday will reach 42, according to the Weather Service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2018 at 5:17 pm
Jimmer Szatkowski
CICERO – A Medina native has left a corporate career to open Upstate’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant.
Jimmer Szatkowski plans to open the Chick-fil-A next week in Cicero near Syracuse. The restaurant is scheduled to open on Feb. 22.
Szatkowski worked 20 years with IBM as a supply chain executive. He decided to make a career change and left Raleigh, NC and returned to upstate to work on opening the Chick-fil-A.
Szatkowski told the Syracuse Post Standard he was drawn to Chick-fil-A’s focus on community service.
He applied to become a franchise owner and was picked last June. Szatkowski said Chick-fil-A covers much of the start-up costs, making it more attainable for a franchise owner to open a new restaurant.
When a Chick-fil-A opens a new restaurant, it usually rewards first 100 customers with a free meal every week for a year. Szatowski instead will offer a free meal each week for the first 100 people who register to perform a day of service in the community with him and his family.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today applauded President Trump’s budget proposal that includes funding for a state-of-the-art fitness facility at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
Last year, Collins corresponded with the Air Force to request that funding for this facility be expedited to be included in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget instead of the original proposal for FY21.
“This project needed to be prioritized because the men and women of the 914th Airlift Wing and the Air National Guard 107th Airlift Wing have struggled to meet their physical fitness requirements,” said Collins. “The combination of grueling winters and a current facility with no indoor track forced some service members to delay their fitness tests, running the risk of not being eligible to serve when called upon. This is unacceptable and I thank President Trump for taking these needs into consideration when drafting his budget.”
Aside from not having an indoor track, the current facility has become physically dangerous due to a lack of space for equipment. Because of these conditions, servicemen and women are bused to local universities and fitness centers to meet their needs. Delaying this project to FY21 would have cost the Air Force more money in the long run, Collins said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2018 at 1:29 pm
Provided photo
ALBION – Patty Putnam Mitchell, an active member of the Albion NY Rocks group, joined other members of the group on Friday in delivering hand-painted rocks with Valentine’s messages to residents of The Villages of Orleans, a nursing home in Albion.
Mitchell is shown with a stroller full of Valentine’s rocks. The group previously delivered hundreds of rocks in December with Christmas designs and messages.
“Local rock painters had a blast working on these rocks, that not only carry messages of love but were painted with love,” said Lori Laine, leader of the group. “Many of the residents still had their Christmas Rocks on display in their rooms and they were more than pleased to receive the Valentine rocks to add to their collection.”
Laine said the residents were thrilled to receive painted rocks.
“A few of the residents asked how much they cost,” Laine said. “Our response was, ‘We charge a smile for them.’ I can honestly say we were overpaid as we got so many smiles. That’s what this rock project is about: community, friendship and encouragement.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2018 at 1:01 pm
BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is seeking nominations for a new honor, a Genean Award to be presented on April 28 during a Swing Fling at Batavia Downs.
“Why Genean you ask?” GO Art! Said in an email today. “Well simply put we decided that we needed to have our own unique awards (like the Oscars or Tony awards) for GENesee and OrlEANs Counties, to recognize a few of the amazing people and organizations we have within our counties.”
The nomination deadline is March 9. GO Art! Wants to recognize the following:
• Organization of the Year – This award honors a not-for-profit or for-profit arts organization for its achievements in 2017.
• Individual Artist of the Year – This award honors an individual artist in any discipline for their achievements in 2017 or career-long body of work.
• Supporter (of the cultural sector) of the Year – The award honors an individual or an organization outside of the arts and cultural sector for their work directly aiding in the arts and/or cultural sector.
To nominate someone or an organization for the 2018 Genean Awards, click here.
In response record number of flu cases and hospitalizations in each of last 3 weeks
Press Release, Gov. Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he is advancing a 30-day budget amendment to encourage pharmacies to enroll in the New York State Vaccines for Children Program, which provides vaccines to children and individuals regardless of their ability to pay.
The legislation would codify the executive order temporarily allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages 2 to 18. The legislation, which increases convenience and vaccine accessibility for New Yorkers, would permanently suspend the section of state education law that limits the authority of pharmacists to administer immunizing agents to anyone under age 18.
“As flu diagnoses continue to grow, we must do everything we can to ensure all New Yorkers have access to the flu vaccine to protect them now and in the future,” Governor Cuomo said. “I urge all New Yorkers to protect themselves and their families, get a flu shot and join us in stamping out the spread of this dangerous virus.”
Since the governor signed the executive order on January 25, 2018, more than 6,300 New Yorkers ages 2 to 18 have been vaccinated at pharmacies. The legislation encourages vaccination and helps protect children who are traditionally among the populations most vulnerable to influenza.
There have been four pediatric influenza deaths this flu season, with a fifth pediatric death currently under investigation, and 8,317 children under the age of five have been diagnosed with lab confirmed influenza and 731 have been hospitalized. Parents and guardians with children between the ages of 6 months and 24 months are still encouraged to see their primary care provider for the vaccination.
Additionally, to support the increasing demand for pediatric vaccinations as a result of the executive order and to ensure cost of the shot is not a barrier to getting vaccinated, the governor called on individual physicians to enroll in The New York State Vaccines for Children Program. This is a federally-funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children that are eligible.
A child is eligible for a Vaccines for Children Program vaccine if he or she is younger than 19 years of age and meets any of the following criteria:
• Uninsured (do not have health insurance),
• Underinsured (have commercial health insurance but the insurance does not cover the flu vaccine, or the insurance caps coverage at a certain amount or number of visits),
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2018 at 11:26 am
Provided photos
ROCHESTER – Michela Hanlon, a senior at Kendall Central School, runs from the cold water of Lake Ontario on Sunday during the Polar Plunge. The water was at 39 degrees on Sunday.
A group from Kendall Central School raised $1,675 for the Special Olympics on Sunday at the Polar Plunge at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester.
The group from Kendall includes, bottom row, from left: Lizzie Sutphen, Michela Hanlon, Shianna Patten, Adriana Passarell and Kierstyn Christensen.
Top row: Lyndsay Wright, John Rath, Megan Hardenbrook, Nate Warters, Mickey Gardner, KCS staff and team captain Kevin Watson and Lovette French.
Kevin Watson (left), Kendall’s athletic director and middle school administrator, heads for the water.
Michela Hanlon, Lovette French (a security guard at Kendall) and Adriana Passarell enjoyed the Polar Plunge, which is a fund-raiser for the Special Olympics.
There were about 2,000 participants in the Plunge, who raised about $175,000.
A team from Holley also jumped into the lake. The Holley group raised $665. Anyone with photos of the Holley participants is welcome to send them to news@orleanshub.com.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 12 February 2018 at 7:32 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KENDALL – Ryan Barrett and Hanna Hofstra sang their way to the “Most Colorful” Award for their animated performance of “A Whole New World” in the Jr./Sr. High Acts division.
It was a night of song, dance and comedy Friday evening at Kendall Central Jr./Sr. High School as the Kendall Central chapter of AFS and the Class of 2020 hosted the annual Kendall’s Got Talent program.
Kendall students and alumni performed. The most memorable acts received “Paper Plate Awards.”
Two Kendall graduates Bethanie Mason (Class of 2001) and Kaitlyn Curtis (Class of 2008) served as judges for the event. They also performed. Mason is now a Kendall Central school nurse and Curtis teaches math at Kendall Central.
The first alumni act featured Cody and Carley Lester (Class of 2010 and Class of 2015) performing, “The House that Built Me.”
Elementary students Jonny Conte, Nicholas Cole, Aidan Kwiatkowski, Vinnie D’Agostino, C.J. D’Agostino, Brooke Rodas and Brady Werth (not in order shown) performed a skit satirizing Olympic synchronized swimming. The blue tarp served to mimic pool water. The ensemble received the “Most Colorful” Award in the Elementary Acts category.
Irelynn Maloney and Alivia May received the “Star Quality” Award in the Elementary division for their performance of “Fly.”
Caleb Henion and Megan Hardenbrook joined forces to sing “Somewhere Only We Know.”
Elementary students Amberlyn Pruner and Lana Strapp danced their way across the stage.
Emily Brundage received the “Out of This World Performance” Award in the Elementary division for her rendition of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”
Michela Hanlon and Kierstyn Christensen took home the “Star Quality” Award in the Jr./Sr. High Acts division for their dance performance.
Brothers Eric and Kirk Warren were awarded the “Out of This World Performance” in the Jr./Sr. High Act division for their hilarious “Who’s on First?” skit.
Brandi Stephens sings “Lost Boy” in the Jr./Sr. High Acts division.
The evening wrapped up with a performance by the AFS 2018 Crew who helped make the evening such a success. This year’s AFS advisors are Mirjam Bauer and Katie Driesel.
EAST SHELBY – Firefighters from the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company spent about three hours this morning using a controlled burn to take down a house at Fletcher Chapel Road/Bigford Road.
YATES – The Yates Town Board amended its Wind Energy Facilities Law on Feb. 8, part of its ongoing effort opposing plans by Lighthouse Wind to install as many as 71 industrial wind turbines along shoreline communities in Orleans and Niagara counties.
“Since the Lighthouse Wind project was introduced in 2014, the Town Board has worked to learn as much as possible about the impacts and benefits of these industrial-scale projects,” said Town Supervisor Jim Simon. “The amendments reflect that continuing effort, and in particular, the recommendations of two agencies well-placed to balance impacts and benefits.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends no wind turbines within three miles of the Lake Ontario shoreline for the Town of Yates in order to avoid possible severe impact on avian flyways and habitat, and the Vermont Public Service Board recommends turbine setback distances at residences such that, “…each turbine and any sound producing equipment located within the footprint of the turbine array shall be set back horizontally no less than ten times the turbine’s height as measured from the base to the tip of a blade in the upright vertical position.”
Additionally, the Town of Yates has performed an exhaustive, two-year setback study which has provided a statistical validation of the proposed setbacks.
“The Lighthouse Wind proposal for the Town of Yates is not appropriately sited,” Simon said. “It does not protect and accommodate the concerns of the town, and is most definitely not consistent with all local laws and ordinances.”
The Town Board also unanimously approved a resolution on Feb. 8 reaffirming their formal opposition to the Lighthouse Wind project within the Town of Yates citing concerns about how the proposal would circumvent local control for siting large-scale industrial projects; how the project would create significant negative visual impacts from aesthetic points in the community and region; how the noise impacts in the current rural area would, based on World Health Organization standards and those recently adopted by the State of Vermont, negatively impact the health and the quality of life of residents.
In addition the Town Board said the proposed turbine project would introduce new hazards such as shadow flicker, ice shedding and blade throw; the project would present risks to the property values of adjoining property owners not part of the project; avian flyways and habitats and bat populations may be severely impacted as documented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the unacceptable possibility of encroachment on the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station could jeopardize operational mission effectiveness and make the air base subject to closure in the next Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC); and there are significant wetland and other surface and sub-surface hydrological resources that would be negatively impacted by the large-scale terrain modification required for the project.
“We are called to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens for current and future generations and to preserve the rural, agricultural and leisure-based character of our community,” Simon said.
BATAVIA – All three of Medina’s Winter Guards performed in competition in Batavia on Saturday.
The Varsity guard, pictured above, won first place with a score of 69.43.
In the Cadet class Medina took 1st place out of 3 units, but again no numerical scores were handed out.
In the Novice class Medina was one of four units that performed with no scores or placements handed out. For the Medina’s Novice’s first time out, the girls were enthusiastic.
All thee Medina guards will perform on Feb. 17 at Victor.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 February 2018 at 8:57 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Trenton Jones and his Mustang teammates will be taking aim at earning a pair of home court victories this coming week to claim at least a share of a third straight Niagara-Orleans League title.
The formula is a simple one for the Medina High boys basketball team, score two home court wins this coming week and the Mustangs claim at least a share of a third straight Niagara-Orleans League championship.
Medina moved back into a share of the N-O lead by scoring a key 66-57 victory over visiting Newfane on Friday. That win leaves the Mustangs and Panthers deadlocked for first place at 8-2 with just two games remaining on the league season..
The Mustangs finish the N-O campaign by hosting Barker (0-10) on Tuesday and Akron (2-8) on Wednesday while the Panthers visit Akron on Tuesday and rival Wilson (7-3) on Thursday. Wilson, which is just a game back and still mathematically in the title chase, also visits Albion (6-5) on Tuesday.
If successful it would be the first time Medina has won three straight N-O championships since the Mustangs claimed the title during the 1984-85, 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons.
Medina senior Jalin Cooper is also looking for a couple of big games as he is currently just 27 points from becoming the Mustangs career scoring leader. Cooper, who has scored 339 points to date this season (19.9 average) has 1,254 career points which is second only to Levi Pace’s record total of 1,280.
The streaking Roy-Hart boys squad, which has won 4 of its last 5 games after a dismal 1-5 start to the league season, will look to finish at the .500 mark with a win at Barker on Thursday.
In local Genesee Region League action, Lyndonville will host Kendall in a girls game on Tuesday. The Tigers will then visit the Eagles on Wednesday in a boys contest.
Weekly Schedule Monday Boys Basketball: Alexander at Lyndonville, Kendall at Pavilion, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Alexander at Holley, 7 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Basketball: Barker at Medina, Newfane at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Wilson at Albion, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Medina at Barker, Albion at Wilson, Akron at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Kendall at Lyndonville, 7 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Basketball: Akron at Medina ,6:30 p.m.; Alexander at Holley, Lyndonville at Kendall, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Medina at Akron, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday Boys Basketball: Newfane at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Barker, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: Barker at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
Friday Girls Basketball: Albion at Lockport, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Boys Basketball: Medina at Orchard Park, 12:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2018 at 8:21 am
Nicole Henchen sent in this photo of a snowy owl she took on Saturday at 1:20 p.m. on Waterport-Carlton Road in Waterport.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory until 7 p.m. today for Orleans and other Western New York counties including Niagara, Monroe, Erie and Genesee.
“There will be the likelihood for some freezing rain,” the Weather Service said. “The ice will result in difficult travel conditions. Ice accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch are expected.”
The Weather Service said the freezing rain will cause slick roads. Drivers are urged to slow down and use caution.
The temperature is forecast to reach 35 today, with a chance for freezing rain between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. There is a chance for snow between 7 pm. and midnight.
