By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2017 at 7:48 pm
ALBION – Joanne Best was appointed today to be Orleans County’s next public defender.
Best of Clarendon will succeed Sanford Church, who is leaving the position to serve as the next county judge. Church has been the public defender for about two decades.
Best, who has a law office in Brockport, worked as an assistant public defender under Church.
She was appointed to a two-year term, effective Jan. 1, at an annual salary of $80,662.
John DeFilipps, the Legislature chairman, congratulated Best on the appointment and noted she will be the first woman to serve as the county’s public defender, representing low-income residents accused of crimes.
The office represents indigent defendants in Orleans County Court, thirteen local Justice Courts, and the New York State Parole System.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2017 at 7:35 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature voted today to raise the eligibility levels for disabled residents to qualify for reductions on their county taxes.
The county in 2007 passed a local law that capped the income levels at $11,399 for disabled residents to receive an exemption. (At $10,500 to $11,399 in annual income, a disabled resident was receiving a 5 percent discount on county taxes.)
Residents, in the amended law, can now have incomes up to $23,899 and receive a 5 percent exemption on their county taxes.
The previous law gave disabled residents a 50 percent discount on their taxes if their income was $3,000 or less annually. Disabled residents can now have incomes up to $15,500 annually and qualify for the 50 percent reduction.
The county has a sliding scale exemption rate, ranging from 50 percent off to 5 percent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2017 at 6:53 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
This mud-covered bike is now visible after the canal has been mostly drained. This bike is pictured today just west of the lift bridge on Route 63 in Medina.
A child’s bike is in the canal just east of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge in Albion.
Here is another look at the bike in the canal in Albion.
ROYALTON – The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call at 9:20 this morning reporting that a hunter had fallen from a tree stand in the woods behind 4562 Royalton Center Rd.
Unsuccessful life-saving treatment was given to the 68-year-old man at the scene where he was pronounced deceased.
Emergency units from Gasport Chemical Hose Volunteer Fire Company, Terry’s Corners Volunteer Fire Company, Mercy Flight, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police responded to the scene and located the man who was lying unresponsive at the base of his tree stand.
Initial investigation indicates the man appeared to suffer from a medical emergency while up in the tree stand and then fell from the tree stand to the ground. Niagara County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Bureau is continuing to investigate the incident.
The victim’s name will not be released at this time pending notification to his family.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2017 at 2:34 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The village’s Christmas celebration continues to grow. Saturday will be the fifth Christmas tree lighting at Veterans Park. The number of decorated trees is up to 68, the most since the celebration started in 2013.
Community organizations and residents pay $30 to decorate a tree. This year there are 18 new organizations participating this year.
The Hughes and Whipple families decorated this tree, “To honor Lyndonville, a wonderful community to raise a family.”
The celebration starts at 8 a.m. with a community breakfast at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. There are many activities throughout the day, including horse-drawn carriage rides, a basket raffle, wine tasting, caroling, and other events, including Santa’s arrival at 5 p.m. Santa will flip the switch to turn on the lights for all 68 trees.
This tree was decorated in memory of Clayton and Gerrie Fletcher.
The angel at the top of this tree honors the memory of Megan Dix, who was shot and killed on Aug. 25. This tree was decorated for Dix by her family, the Duncansons.
The Lyndonville Bus Garage is among the many community organizations to decorate a tree.
This photo from Dec. 3, 2016 shows a boy among the trees after they were lighted up for the first time. The tree lighting will be 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Provided photo: Local students at the leadership conference, include, from left: Heaven Flood (Lyndonville), Elijah Sones (Medina), Malik Abdulghani (Lockport), Nick Anderson (Royalton Hartland), Ariane Wachob (Lyndonville) and Angela Wachob (Lyndonville).
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Six students from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center recently attended the annual New York State SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference in Albany.
Malik Abdulghani, Nick Anderson, Heaven Flood, Elijah Sones, Angela Wachob and Ariane Wachob are SkillsUSA chapter officers for OCTEC. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.
There are 300,000 students and instructors who are members nationwide. The Fall Leadership Conference provides student officers training on SkillsUSA, leadership skills, teamwork and public speaking. Over 370 students and advisors attended.
Nick Anderson of Roy-Hart said the students learned a lot from the breakout sessions, speakers and activities that ran from morning till night.
“We learned about teamwork, communication skills and got to know other officers from all across the state,” Nick said. “It was one of the coolest things I have ever been a part of. Everyone was very friendly.”
Ariane Wachob of Lyndonville said it was very exciting because it is her first year in SkillsUSA. “It was a great experience because it allowed me to get to know the other officers and our advisors better. I think being a member of SkillsUSA has been eye-opening because it is more professional and helps you mature.”
SkillsUSA students came all across the state for the three-day conference at the Desmond Hotel. OCTEC Advisor Kara Kirk says meeting students from all over the state is a great way to make students better-rounded and build their confidence. For Malik Abdulghani of Lockport that was one of the best parts.
“I still stay in touch with the other state officers,” he said. “I came home with a whole page of phone numbers. But most of all, we got to know one another and that is the best thing. As a family, we grew close.”
Elijah Sones of Medina said, “It’s a great way to learn new skills and bring them back to the school to teach other SkillsUSA members.” Mrs. Kirk says the students already conducted one training at the center. “I was very impressed with what the officers taught the other students. They did a fantastic job sharing what they learned.”
The students also earned a great achievement; all of them were awarded their Statesmanship Pin. It is bestowed to students who studied and learned the history and current leadership of SkillsUSA. The students had to speak with different officials and take an oral test on the organization, along with knowing the SkillsUSA creed and motto.
“I am so proud of the students and what they achieved,” says Mrs. Kirk. “They did a great job representing our school.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2017 at 9:55 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Workers from LeFrois Builders are shown on Tuesday on the roof of the new transportation facility in Albion for the Regional Transit Service.
The new $4 million facility is expected to ready in mid-2018. The 13,000-square-foot is located behind the Orleans County Highway Department on West Academy Street.
RTS has run a public transportation service in Orleans County since 2003. It has six buses in the county, and they are parked outside by the County Highway Department on West Academy Street.
The new facility will allow the buses to be parked inside. The building will include eight indoor bus bays, three bus maintenance bays, a vehicle wash bay, storage for parts and materials, administrative office space, a break room with kitchenette, and designated parking.
Federal aid funneled to the state will pay 80 percent or about $3.2 million of the cost, while the state pays 10 percent and RTS pays the other 10 percent, Bill Carpenter, CEO of RTS, said during a June ground-breaking for the project.
KENDALL – This Snowy Owl was spotted today around 8 p.m. in Kendall by the entrance of the Lake Ontario State Parkway by the Lakeshore/East Jones Beach Road. Snowy Owls used to be an unusual sighting in Orleans County but in recent winters many have come to Orleans County.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 28 November 2017 at 7:11 pm
HOLLEY – The first major project of the Village of Holley Development Corporation (VHDC) – the acquisition and sale of the eight “Diaz homes” in the village – was successful, but the Board of Directors and members of the local development corporation are currently pondering their future.
The board of the VHDC met Monday evening for the first time since May 8. The board met to review final details of the sale of houses that were vacated after a leak by the former Diaz Chemical in January 2002.
The VHDC also discussed what it said were burdensome New York State reporting and training requirements that create a substantial challenge in moving forward to other projects for an LDC (local development corporation) of their size.
Dan Schiavone, president of the board, reported that he has spoken with all the buyers of the former Diaz homes. He said the transition from EPA to VHDC ownership and then the sale to private owners earlier this year was a success.
“The homes are in private hands, and hammers can be heard in some of them,” Schiavone said, noting that many new owners are in the process of improving the homes which stood empty for more than a decade.
The VHDC received 10 percent from sales of the properties and the EPA received 90 percent. Schiavone said the VHDC received $15,000 from the sales.
He discussed the challenges he has faced since the VHDC was formed in 2015, meeting NYS reporting requirements which include a certified financial audit and annual report. Schiavone said the level of the audit necessary will cost the VHDC $5,000 – meaning the VHDC could run out of money in just a few years simply by trying to comply with state requirements.
The VHDC had to seek out an accounting firm in Rochester to find someone with the certification to complete the audit and annual report, and Schiavone said the state so far has refused to grant any waivers for the reporting requirements even though the VHDC has only had a handful of financial transactions in its history.
“With the sale of the eight Diaz homes, our mission is accomplished,” Schiavone said. “We have no reason to be gloomy.”
However, he explained he is not optimistic that the state will back-off on financial and training requirements for board members which may make it difficult for the VHDC to continue.
Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty, who has been a major proponent of the VHDC, attended the meeting. He encouraged the VHDC to try to continue and said he has contacted Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s and State Senator Robert Ortt’s offices to see if any help can be provided.
VHDC members also discussed reaching out to other local LDCs to inquire how they cope with the expense of staying in compliance with the state.
Board members decided to wait and see what responses they get from legislators and other LDCs before deciding the best way to proceed.
Schiavone said if the difficulties involved in continuing the VHDC are too great, it could cease to operate and the $15,000 would be distributed, “to community projects which meet our mission and vision.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2017 at 4:43 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters work to put out a fire in Clarendon today at 4214 Fancher Rd. The house and garage were a total loss after fire quickly spread through the structures just before noon.
The Red Cross is assisting the homeowners, Jim and Marg Dale.
The Red Cross also is assisting a family that lost their home to a fire in Royalton, Niagara County, this afternoon.
Three adults and two children are without a home after the fire at 8448 Bunker Hill Rd. in Royalton. The rear of that house was fully engulfed in flames when the Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters arrived on scene after 2 p.m. The lone occupant of the house was able to escape to safety with the family dog, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The two-story structure in Royalton and the contents are a total loss.
The Red Cross reports the agency also provided immediate emergency assistance today to 7 people affected by a fire at east Delevan in Buffalo and 5 people at a fire on Niagara Street in Niagara Falls.
In Clarendon, firefighters worked to get water on the fire that destroyed a house on South Fancher Road.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2017 at 12:56 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – A fire late this morning destroyed a house and garage at 4214 Fancher Rd. The fire was reported at about 11:30 a.m. The house is owned by Jim and Marge Dale.
The fire is under investigation and no cause has been determined, but firefighters said it looks like the fire started in a garage and quickly spread into the house.
The fire spewed dark smoke on Fancher Road, north of Route 31A and south of Route 31.
Several fire departments responded to the scene, including Clarendon, Holley, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, Albion and Brockport.
Robert Margis, a Clarendon firefighter, keeps a steady stream of water on the fire.
Rob Conner of Albion helps straighten the hose so firefighters could get more water on the fire.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 November 2017 at 9:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Shelby Town Supervisor Merle “Skip” Draper said the town has made some revision to the overlay district after getting more feedback from residents.
SHELBY – The Town Board unanimously approved a revised Wildlife Refuge Protection Overlay District on Monday following a public hearing where the board heard support and opposition for the district.
The town in June had approved a 3,000-foot buffer north of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. That buffer is now 2,000.
Town Supervisor Merle “Skip” Draper said the town has received more feedback from residents who wanted a reduced buffer. The revised district also includes more uses that were originally prohibited in the district.
Frontier Stone has a state permit to open a mine in Shelby near the refuge. The new overlay district also prohibits mining.
If there wasn’t an overlay district, Frontier wouldn’t have a green light on the project, anyway, Draper said after the hearing. Shelby doesn’t allow mining in a residential/agricultural district. Frontier would need a variance or change in zoning to operate a 215-acre quarry on Fletcher Chapel Road. The land is owned by Zelazny Family Enterprises, LLC – Chester, Jim and Ed Zelazny.
Frontier last month filed an Article 78, a legal challenge against the town with a focus on the overlay district. The company cited many procedural errors by Shelby in passing the overlay district in June. The town failed to get opinions from the Town and County Planning Boards on the district, and also didn’t properly notify neighboring municipalities about the district, according to the lawsuit.
Joe Piccotti, an attorney for Frontier Stone, said the company has satisfied the state Department of Environmental Conservation after a nine-year application process for a mining permit.
Frontier also says the town didn’t properly account for the positives with the proposed quarry, including supplying water to the refuge during a drought and other mitigation efforts that would help the refuge.
Joe Piccotti, an attorney for Frontier, spoke during the public hearing on Monday. He said the overlay district violates the town zoning law and comprehensive plan.
He said Frontier has worked tirelessly on the project to meet the state’s standards for a mining permit. That application took nine years.
“The DEC’s findings couldn’t be clearer: the mine will not result in a significant negative impact,” Piccotti said during the hearing.
The town is violating the state law by proposing an additional mining setback, he said. He also criticized Shelby for having the public hearing on a Monday at 5 p.m., just a few days after Thanksgiving. That didn’t allow for adequate review from the public, he said.
Dan Spitzer, a land use attorney working for Shelby, didn’t agree that the town had been deficient in the procedural shortcomings cited by Frontier. But rather than duke those issues out in court, Spitzer said it’s easier to redo some of the notifications and send the overlay district to the Planning Boards for their input. (Both the Town and County Planning Boards approved resolutions supporting the revised overlay district.)
Dan Spitzer (left), an attorney for Shelby, said the town is well within its right to restrict land uses. Town Councilman Dale Stalker is at right.
Spitzer said a town is well within its right to set restrictions on land use and to pinpoint locations in towns for those restrictions.
Two residents voiced their concern that the town is headed for an expensive legal fight.
“It was inevitable that litigation would be the result of this local law,” said Todd Roberts, a farmer with land in the overlay district. “Is that really the best use of our tax dollars in the Town of Shelby?”
Roberts was also concerned the district would restrict his rights as a farmer and reduce his property values.
Thurston Dale tells the Shelby Town Board he worries the overlay district will result in protracted and costly litigation for the town.
The overlay district will prohibit “incompatible” uses with a refuge, such as mining, blasting for non-agricultural purposes, junkyards, telecommunication facilities, airports and airstrips, motor vehicle repair shops that aren’t home businesses and some other uses, according to the town.
Spitzer said the overlay district doesn’t put any restrictions on farming activities. He said keeping away a quarry should improve property values.
“This is about protecting the agricultural land and open space,” Spitzer said.
The overlay district will allow blasting if it is for an agricultural purpose, and will allow motor vehicle repair shops if they are home businesses. The overlay district also has been amended to allow motels/hotels if they have 24 units or less. The amended district will also allow commercial campground and recreational vehicle parks if they do not exceed 10 acres.
Three uses that had been prohibited in the overlay district – agricultural product processing facilities, agricultural product distribution centers, and kennels – have been removed and will be allowed uses in the amended district.
Local resident Thurston Dale chastised the Shelby officials for doing the process “a– backwards.”
“The lawyers will have a picnic,” he said. “I for one don’t want to pay for it.”
Karen Jones, a member of Citizens for Shelby Preservation, said she supports the town’s efforts to keep a quarry from opening near the wildlife refuge.
Other residents thanked the Town Board for pushing forward with the overlay district and seeking to protect the wildlife refuge and quiet neighborhood for residents near the refuge.
“We all knew the time would come when the Town Board would have to stand strong, listen to their attorneys and their constituents, and do the right thing for the residents of Shelby and for the Wildlife Refuge,” said Karen Jones, a member of Citizens for Shelby Preservation. “In this effort, we wholeheartedly support you, and trust you will continue to protect the valuable asset that is the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.”
Brian McCarty of Dunlap Road said a quarry in that area would be very disruptive to residents.
“We’re not just protecting the wildlife refuge,” he said. “We’re protecting the people who live in those areas. I didn’t move out here to be near a quarry.”
The Town Board also approved a negative declaration for the State Environmental Quality Review Act, saying the overlay district would not have a negative impact on the environment. The lack of a SEQRA declaration was one of the issues cited by Frontier in the Article 78.
The SEQRA vote and the establishment of the overlay district were both unanimous votes by Town Supervisor Merle “Skip Draper, and board members Steve Seitz Sr., Dale Stalker, William Bacon and Ken Schaal.
Shelby and Frontier have their first court date for the Article 78 proceeding on Dec. 15 in State Supreme Court.
Provided photo: (L to R) Ariane Wachob (Lyndonville), Deseree Brewer (Lockport), Samantha Pozzobon (Albion), Chandler Heary (Lockport) chat with Officer Kenneth Allore, Officer David Ambrosia and K9 Kay.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Students in the Security and Law Enforcement and Certified Personal Trainer programs recently had guest speakers in from Customs and Border Protection to talk about their careers and working with K9 Kay, who is a detector dog.
K9 Officer David Ambrosia and Officer Kenneth Allore, who are assigned to the Port of Buffalo, talked to the students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center about homeland security and the fight against terrorism and human and drug trafficking.
Officer Ambrosia told the students that he has been an officer for ten years and worked with Kay for four years. Canine officers agree to the additional responsibility of training and caring for their police K9s. Positions working with a K9 are highly coveted in law enforcement.
“I worked very hard to get this cool job,” he said. “I would advise you to learn about this job by interviewing people about it, working hard and making yourself likeable.”
Qualities of K9 officers are being approachable and friendly because they receive more attention from the public and have to interact with a wide variety of people.
Officer Ambrosia had to undergo additional and extensive training to prepare working with a K9. He told the classes that his partner Kay cost $75,000.
“She is a Dutch Shepard from the Netherlands and even has her own passport,” Ambrosia said. “She lives and travels with me.” “She is six and a half years old and still has a lot of life in her. But when she is ready to retire, I get to keep her.”
Officer Allore talked about searching vehicle and thanks to Kay’s “stereo” nose they are able to find narcotics and humans rather easily.
“She has an amazing ability to smell each components in any item. She helps us search vehicles, freight and people. You would be amazed at how clever people are trying to hide things when they go across the border, but nothing gets past her.”
The officers then went outside and demonstrated on a car and some boxes how Kay sniffs out drugs and human beings. The students were fascinated by how quickly she was able to find the hidden items, along with Officer Allore, who was hiding in the trunk, and how well trained she is.
“As always, I am very grateful when law enforcement professionals are willing to give of their time to help our students learn about different careers,” said Steve Browning, Security and Law Enforcement teacher.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) proudly announced today that seven single-lane bridges that cross the Erie Canal throughout Orleans County will be receiving major repairs.
Bridges in the towns of Murray, Albion, Gaines, Medina and Ridgeway will undergo concrete and steel truss repair as well as painting in some circumstances.
“I am pleased to announce that a number of bridges throughout Orleans County will be rehabilitated,” Hawley said. “These bridges were built around the turn of the 20th Century and have carried countless residents closer to their destinations, but no one should have to hold their breath crossing them. Routine maintenance and construction of local infrastructure is paramount to ensure our community is safe and functioning at its best, and that starts with secure and reliable bridges.”
A list of bridge repairs are as follows: Bennetts Corners Road, Telegraph Road and Transit Road in Murray; Densmore Road in Albion; Gaines Basin Road in the Town of Gaines; Bates Road in the Village of Medina and Marshall Road in the Town of Ridgeway.
Construction is anticipated to begin this coming summer and expected to be completed by the summer of 2020.
