6 candidates seek 3 spots on Town Board

Photos by Tom Rivers: Vassilios Bitsas speaks during Thursday’s candidate forum at the Shelby fire hall. About 100 people attended the forum that stretched more than 2 ½ hours.

SHELBY – The town has perhaps the most hotly contested election this year with six candidates seeking three positions on the Town Board.

Five of those candidates were at a candidate forum on Thursday at the Shelby Fire Hall with about 100 people attending the 2 ½-hour forum moderated by County Legislator John Fitzak.

The Town of Shelby Republican Committee organized the forum. The committee has endorsed incumbent Scott Wengewicz for another two-year as town supervisor, and also has endorsed Mike Moriarty and Vassilios Bitsas for town councilman.

Jim Heminway has forced a primary against Wengewicz for town supervisor. Larry Waters Sr. and incumbent Ed Zelazny also forced a primary for the councilmen.

There will be nine days of early voting from June 14 to June 22 at the county Board of Elections in Albion, and then voting on the June 24 primary at the Shelby Town Hall.

Zelazny, a farmer, did not attend the forum. He and councilwoman Linda Limina often vote against the majority on the board, especially with the budget and financial issues.

“Not participating in a ‘debate’ run by the same crew that rigged it two years ago,” Zelazny posted on Facebook. “No rules, no agenda, no fairness and a fixed deck of questions to serve their agenda. I’m not playing along. If you have questions about town business or anything else, you know how to find me.”

Zelazny said he isn’t a “yes man.” He said he has proven to be a fiscally conservative town official.

“Some people say I don’t say much,” he posted on Facebook. “That’s fine. I’d rather listen, show up, and vote right than talk in circles.”

County Legislator John Fitzak served as moderator of the forum, which took many questions from the crowd.

The crowd was urged to submit hand-written questions. They were collected by supporters of candidates from both sides. Fitzak urged the speakers to keep it civil.

Heminway and Waters have been at many board meetings the past two years or so, and have been a frequent critic of what they said is financial mismanagement by Wengewicz.

They both referred to a state comptroller report’s that was critical of the town supervisor’s oversight of town finances.

They both said Wengewicz and the town government make it too difficult to obtain public information, often requiring people to fill out Freedom of Information Act requests and then face long waits for the information.

Scott Wengewicz said the town has made progress on several fronts during his tenure as town supervisor.

Wengewicz started as town supervisor on Dec. 13, 2022, taking the position after Jeff Smith stepped down. Wengewicz was appointed by the board to fill the vacancy.

He is retired from a 30-year career as a Border Patrol agent. He has opened two businesses in Medina/Shelby: Mystic Dragon’s Lair and Patriot Guns.

He sees many successes from the town government, while working through the difficult challenges with the accounting software.

Shelby was able to keep a wind turbine project from advancing and opposed a sewer pipeline along Route 63 that would have dumped waste water into the Oak Orchard Creek.

The town has upgraded the town hall, the parking lot and replaced two dump trucks, while tending to other town business, Wengewicz said.

He said he has pushed to keep expenses down. He said budget he prepared and submitted as the tentative budget would have kept the town tax rate flat at $3.40 per $1,000 of assessed property in 2025, but the rate went up after the other board members weighed in.

Wengewicz noted the town was able to convince New Leaf Energy not to pursue two turbines that would peak at 633 feet. New Leaf sought two turbines on Route 63 on land owned by the Smith family.

The project was proposed by Borrego Solar System Inc. Borrego spun off the development side of its business to ECP, which named the new company, New Leaf Energy.

“There’s still a lot to do,” Wengewicz said about moving the town forward.

He said residents are welcome to stop by the town hall and he will answer their questions.

“I’ll show you whatever you want to see,” he said. “I have nothing to hide. You can see everything.”

Jim Heminway said his management experience would benefit the Town Board if he became town supervisor.

Heminway pushed back on some of Wengewicz’s comments. Heminway said the turbine project went away because of resident opposition, not because of the Town Board. Many residents signed a petition opposing the turbines.

Heminway said Shelby’s relatively low tax rate is due to reassessments that significantly increased the town’s tax base, and also led to higher tax bills for residents.

Wengewicz also worked with Royalton town officials to allow Shelby to tap into their water system, bringing a lower-cost option to part of Shelby. Wengewicz said the water from Royalton should be about half the cost as from Medina.

Heminway, however, said Wengewicz did that while alienating the Village of Medina, and Shelby so far doesn’t fully account for a blended rate with water mixed together from the two systems. Wengewicz said the blended rate will soon be known. The town is waiting on the first quarterly water bills to go through to provide data for determining a mixed rate.

Heminway is retired as chief operations officer for Monroe Electronics in Lyndonville. He worked there from 1998 to 2019. He also worked for American Sigma and Baxter Healthcare.

“I’ve had a lot of experience working in very diverse groups, getting different people together,” he said. “I spent a career managing people and products.”

Heminway is a current village resident who used to live on Dunlap Road, outside the village. He said the current board takes an “adversarial approach” with the village that could prove detrimental to the overall community.

He said the village faces increasing dire financial straits, with its taxes going up and facing rising costs to provide police, ambulance, fire protection and other services.

He noted that while Shelby has long felt Medina was overcharging on water, Shelby officials didn’t find resolution with the village.

“We have to reestablish that relationship with those folks,” he said. “We’re all in this together. The way things are going with taxes, we’re going to sink together.”

Shelby has the Medina Business Park which is an attractive option for businesses. But Heminway said they need to be businesses that “don’t damage our natural resources.”

The community also needs to work to solve a housing crisis where there are too few options locally. Businesses that come to Shelby will need places for employees to live.

He said Shelby should strive to be fair with the village and not be another force that works against the village.

The candidates were asked how to help the village so it doesn’t dissolve as a village government.

Vassilios Bitsas said communication and transparency should be a focus from the Town Board.

All five at the forum said they value the village services, especially the police and fire department. Waters was the lone candidate to say more of the local sales tax needs to be shared by the county government. The County legislature has kept the towns and villages collectively at about $1.3 million since 2001. The county keeps about 95 percent of the local sales tax.

Heminway said the leaders of the Shelby, Ridgeway and Medina governments, as well as the county legislators from the community, need to get together regularly to go over the local issues and see how they can better work together.

“There needs to be more communication with our neighbors,” Heminway said. “We’re not that big.”

Vassilios Bitsas, age 25, works in the day-to-day operations with the family’s restaurant – Country Club Family Restaurant in medina – and three Cusimano’s Pizzeria locations in Medina, Lockport and Brockport. The family employs 250 people, and Bitsas said clear communication and valuing employees are keys to the businesses’ success.

Bitsas said he wants to be more involved in the community, and bring a younger adult’s perspective to the board, while seeking the input from residents and other board members.

“I just want to serve you guys and do what is best,” he said.

Bitsas said more affordable housing, and more housing options should be a priority so more people can choose to stay in the community. He said many of his peers are of the age when they are looking to buy a hose, and too often they have to pick outside or the Medina/Shelby area because there are few options.

“My goal is economic growth, to bring more businesses in to ease tax burdens on others,” he said. “We need more housing. There is no where to raise your family right now.”

Mike Moriarty said infrastructure needs to be improved to bring in more companies.

Mike Moriarty, 41, is the general manager at Pride Pak, a fruit and vegetable processing business on Maple Ridge Road. He also is an electrician.

Moriarty said he isn’t a political person. “I’m Pro-Shelby,” he said. “I’d like to see Shelby thrive, and that’s it. End of story.”

Moriarty noted Pride Pak is a $37 million company with 70 employees locally. It opened in Medina in 2016.

“We’ve stayed strong and we’re expanding,” he said.

He said the Orleans Economic Development Agency was critical in bringing Pride Pak to the community. He said Shelby should work closer with the Orleans EDA to bring in companies that are a good fit for the community.

Moriarty said he watches many of the Town Board meetings online through YouTube and is astonished by the bickering.

“It’s the same thing over and over,” he said. “There is no moving forward running meetings like that.”

Shelby needs to work with the county and village to make sure the infrastructure is adequate to serve businesses and residents.

“We have fallen way behind on infrastructure,” he said. “We need to get our infrastructure straightened out so businesses will come here. We’d love to see more businesses by Pride Pak, and see Pride Pak expand.”

Larry Waters said the Town Board needs to do better managing town finances.

Larry Waters works as the corporate inventory manager for Champlain Valley Equipment, overseeing a $130 million budget. Waters has attended many meetings in the past couple years. He said the board’s “fiscal irresponsibility” is the biggest motivator for him running for councilman.

“I’m very well prepared to take on this task and to help right the ship,” he said. “I want to put myself in a position where I can help to turn this thing around.”

Waters said many in the community are reeling from rising tax bill, from dramatic increases in their assessments to overspending at the government level.

The current board often leaves him frustrated. The board doesn’t provide answers to his questions during meetings, and doesn’t get back to him after the sessions.

“They are not transparent at all,” he said. “You have to fight tooth and nail. You have to submit FOIL requests for things that should be handed to you.”

Shelby also needs to figure out a way to bring public water to areas without a waterline. Wengewicz noted the costs are too expensive to serve some areas with too few houses to cover the costs of a water district. While some residents without public water want a waterline, others are happy with the well water and don’t want the added expense of public water, Wengewicz said.

He acknowledged “it’s a balancing act” with bringing in more businesses and still maintaining the rural flavor of Shelby, and also not jeopardizing the wildlife refuge and other natural resources.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: From left, Samantha Rae Hughes and Matt Martin of Lockport pose with Craig Lacy in front of the former NAPA building at 345 Main St., Medina. Martin and Hughes have recently purchased the historic building which dates back to 1834. The new owners plan to capitalize on the building’s proximity to the canal.

MEDINA – Believed to be the oldest and one of the most historic buildings in Medina, the former home of Medina Parts/ NAPA is about to make new history under new owners.

Owned since 1925 by the Lacy family, Craig Lacy has sold the building at 345 Main St. to Matt Martin and Samantha Rae Hughes, life partners and real estate investors from Lockport.

Except for Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market using the space free of charge during winter months for the last three years, the building has been unused since NAPA unexpectedly sold the business name out from under Lacy in 2022, resulting in his closing the doors in May that year.

Martin and Hughes came to Medina last summer due to an interest in the Medina Cold Storage. Hughes had lived with her parents in Medina for several years as a child, so she has special feelings for the village, she said.

Photos courtesy of Samantha Rae Hughes: Samantha Hughes, who recently purchased the former Medina Parts building with her partner Matt Martin, stands in the planned events space, which overlooks the canal.

While in Medina last year, they walked down Main Street, ending up in the Canal Basin.

“I’m in love with buildings that have history,” Hughes said. “I saw this building and I kept walking back and looking at it again.”

“The first time we walked this far, Craig was working in the basement and I asked if he was the owner,” Martin said.

“He took us on a tour and we fell in love with it – the look of it, the history, the potential it has,” Hughes said.

“I saw them overlooking the canal and I thought they were boaters,” Lacy said. “Two weeks later, Matt called and said, ‘We’d like to make you an offer on your building.’”

“Working with Craig has been awesome,” Martin said. “We’ve purchased a number of buildings in recent years, but Craig has been the most wonderful to work with.”

Lacy said he hadn’t been thinking seriously of selling the building, but it was nice to meet someone who had a vision for it.

Martin and Hughes shared their tentative plans for the building.

“We have an agreement with the Canal Corporation for the next 16 months to rent the building out as an art gallery for ‘Art Along the Canal,’ beginning July 1,” Hughes said. “Artists from all over will be invited to come and showcase their works. It will be nice to bring people back into the building.”

(Left) This is the view from one of the windows in the event space being developed in the former Medina Parts building on Medina’s Main Street. (Right) A view of the canal basin will greet people on the rooftop lounge the new owners are planning for the former Medina Parts building at 345 Main St.

Hughes did say the Canal Village Farmer’s Market will be allowed to finish their winter season in the building, and use the space until the end of this month, when they will move back to West Center and West Avenue.

The back space of the building will become an event space, suitable for celebrations and parties, Hughes said. Creation of a rooftop lounge overlooking the canal is in the plans, to be rented for showers or for the public just to come and enjoying one’s lunch. Preliminary plans include a brewery after the art show ends and an Airbnb on the second floor.

This article by former county historian Bill Lattin in Sept. 28, 1984 in The Journal-Register shows the building in three different eras and describes one of two devastating fires which occurred during its existence.

“We will try to figure something out for the basement (which houses a historic jail) so people can go down there and take pictures,” Hughes said.

Immediate work will include making the restrooms handicap accessible and other cosmetic (temporary) changes to spruce up the area for the art show. Renovations to the back room will start as soon as possible, with the intention of keeping that space for use by the community.

“Lockport used to have such a nice Main Street, until Urban Renewal came along,” Hughes said. “Coming here and seeing Medina’s Main Street is kind of sweet.”

For Lacy, the situation is bittersweet.

“We came within a month of celebrating our 100th year in business here, and that got swiped right out from under us,” he said. “But I feel very good about the building’s sale. I didn’t have a vision for this place and I’m real happy with what these people have planned.”

The Lacy family has claimed ownership of the sandstone building since Craig’s grandfather M. Cady Lacy and his partner Charles Haak started the Medina Cylinder Regrinding Co. in 1921.

“They had both lost their jobs when the Central Foundry closed in 1921,” Lacy said.

Botsford Fairman originally built the structure in 1834, which housed a grocery, bank and insurance office on the first floor; the Masonic fraternity on the second floor; and the Odd Fellows on the third floor. On April 15, 1861, the building was destroyed by fire.

Lacy noted that because it was built of Medina sandstone, which does not burn, only the interior was gutted, and Fairman rebuilt the arcade using the original foundation. In 1869 the property was sold to Jonathan A. Johnson of Yates, who converted the arcade into a hotel called the Johnson House.

Only the walls remained of the building at 345 Main St. after a fire in 1923. The walls survived because Medina sandstone doesn’t burn.

In April 1872, the hotel was bought by a real estate man from Jefferson, Ohio, named Henry S. Bancroft, who remodeled the hotel, adding the 60-foot tower and a fourth floor. While the addition of a gas-illuminated clock in the tower was spectacular, its financial success was another story. Ownership changed several times before Albert H. White purchased it in 1886, renaming it White’s Hotel.

White owned the landmark for 25 years, but soon leased it to others. In 1914, a local brewer from Orient Street, George F. Stein, bought the hotel, naming it Steinhof. The Salvation Army acquired the property in 1917 to use as a residence for the homeless and destitute.

According to Ed Grinnell’s Medina – Here’s to Our Heritage, the building burned again on Jan 4, 1923, leaving it almost in total ruin. “Forty-eight years after the tower was built, Medina’s most visible and best-known landmark was no more,” Grinnell wrote.

Enter M. Cady Lacy and Charles Haak in 1925, who bought the ruins, reduced the walls to two stories, added a section to the canal side for their machine shop and started selling auto parts.

According to Grinnell, “If longevity means anything, this building which saw so many heartbreaking failures, was now a success.”

As automobiles became more popular, the auto parts business took over, Lacy said.

“In 1941, we leased the machine shop to Phinney Tool & Die, who moved to West Center Street after World War II when they needed more room,” he said.

Haak died in 1947, ending the partnership with his grandfather, and the business was incorporated as Medina Parts Co., Inc. Craig’s dad John joined the business after the war, retiring in 1980.

Craig had started working there in 1962, while still in high school.

“All I ever did every holiday and vacation was hang out here,” he said. “I never considered it a job. My son Nicholas joined the business in 2010, taking over until we closed in May 2022, when NAPA bought him out.”

The parts counter of Medina Parts and Machine Shop is shown in this 1910 photo provided by Craig Lacy, grandson of one of the company’s founders.

In spite of its use throughout the decades, 345 Main St. has become famous for an interesting incident, believed to have occurred in the mid 1870s.

Grover Cleveland, who would become mayor of Buffalo, New York state governor and the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, had a ward named Frances Folsom, who lived with her mother at her aunt’s home at 300 North Main St.

While visiting the Folsoms one day, Cleveland borrowed a horse and buggy from a friend, Don Bent, in Medina. As he rode down Main Street, Medina police officer Henrie Fuller recognized the horse and carriage, but not the driver and assumed they were stolen. He took Cleveland into custody, and it is speculated he would have been taken to the jail in Lacy’s building, where he was detained until it was proven he was not a thief.

The jail, which was Medina’s first lockup, was used until 1908, when the village built City Hall. It is believed to be the oldest existing jail in Orleans County.

Hughes said she and Martin will do everything possible to keep the Lacy legend alive and incorporate the building’s history into any future plans.

Farmers’ Market will need new home during winter months

Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: Gail Miller, manager of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market, talks with vendors in January 2024 inside the former NAPA Auto Parts building. The vendor in front is from Human Farms and Greenhouse in Appleton.

With the sale and new uses planned for the former Medina Parts/NAPA building at 345 Main St., the Canal Village Farmers’ Market will have to make other plans for the winter months. The market has been using the front part of the former store free of charge for the past three winters.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate these past few winters to be able to relocate the Canal Village Farmers’ Market indoors at 345 Main St.,” said Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group, which sponsors the market.  “The market wouldn’t exist without the generous support in so many ways of people throughout the community. We are very grateful to Craig Lacy for his kind generosity in allowing the market to use his building. It’s been a true lifesaver and has allowed us to operate a great winter market.”

Busch said the new building owner, Samantha Rae Hughes, “has also been tremendously kind to us.” ORG is very excited for the future at 345 Main St.

“As for what the market will do for winter 2025 – that is to be determined,” Busch said. “Our new facility at 127 West Center St. planned from the NY Forward Grant award will not likely be completed by then. Hopefully, an opportunity of some sort will present itself. We’ll have to wait and see. That said lots of cool things will be happening with the market in the next year or two.”

Photos and information courtesy of Country Mouse Nursery School

KENDALL – The sign outside of Morton Baptist Church has welcomed preschoolers from the Kendall-Hamlin community since the fall of 1974. This year marks 50 years of preparing children for kindergarten and their school career.

To celebrate past teachers, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Unterborn and present teacher, Mrs. Grimm invite former students and their families to reconnect.

On Sunday, June 8, there will be an open house at Morton Baptist Church (1152 County Line Road, Morton NY) from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Come take a walk down Memory Lane. Say Hello to your teachers and former classmates. Bring a favorite photo to add to our collection and share your favorite memories.

Community welcome to attend retirement party June 14 in Pembroke

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

Dr. Mary Obear

CORFU – After decades of exceptional service in family medicine, Mary Obear, MD, PhD is preparing to retire at the end of May, leaving behind a profound legacy of healing, leadership and community commitment.

Her patients will be seen by Shannon Bartlett, ANP, and Kevin Beuler, PA, at Oak Orchard Health’s Corfu office.

A retirement party will be held in her honor on June 14th from 2-5 PM at the Pembroke Community Center. Family, friends, current and past staff and patients, and people in the community are welcome.

Dr. Obear has been a family physician in private practice since 2002 at Pembroke Family Medicine, which grew to three locations (Batavia, Alexander, and Corfu).

On July 1, 2020, she combined her multi-location practice with Oak Orchard Health because of their common mission to provide high-quality primary care to everyone. At that time, we dedicated the health center to Dr. Obear.

“It is with mixed feelings that I announce my retirement from Oak Orchard Health on May 30th, 2025,” said Dr. Obear. “I have cared for patients in Genesee County and beyond for over two and a half decades (that’s a quarter of a century!). It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and my time at Oak Orchard Health has been very important to me. I feel it’s time for me to begin my next chapter of my life, traveling and seeing my family who live all over the country. I leave my patients in the care of Shannon Bartlett, ANP and Kevin Beuler, PA. I have supreme confidence in them. They are both skilled practitioners and are compassionate and caring with patients.”

Dr. Obear is well known in the community and serves in many volunteer roles. She is on the Board of Health for Genesee County and the Board of Directors at Crossroads House and Gateway House.

Retirement party when and where: June 14 from 2-5 p.m. at Pembroke Community Center, 116 East Main Street, Corfu, NY

Oak Orchard Health

Founded in 1973, Oak Orchard has grown into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone in our communities. Currently serving over 34,000 patients at nine locations in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Hornell, Medina, and Warsaw.

Oak Orchard also has two mobile units for medical and dental services. Oak Orchard Health is a recognized NCQA patient-centered medical home, 501(c)3 nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), and has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval®. For more information, visit our website at www.OakOrchardHealth.org.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – These Medina students work on making gift bags out of wrapping paper during IMPACT Day at Medina Jr./Sr. High School on Thursday. The bags will be used by the Oak Orchard Elementary School at their Christmas store during the holiday season in December.

These students are in the library making the gift bags. They were among 120 students working on service projects inside the school and in the community for the 8^th IMPACT Day.

The community service projects originated in 2016 from the IMPACT (Influencing Many People As Concerned Teens) students with staff rallying behind the effort.

Medina Jr./Sr. High had a half day of school today and students volunteered to help with many projects.

Some of the off-school projects included at Mt. Pleasant, the YMCA, Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, Medina Railroad Museum, East Shelby Fire Department, Shelby Fire Department, St. Peter’s Church, Medina City Hall/Fire Department, Medina Historical Society, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, Orleans Community Health and canal path.

Skyla Sootheran makes works on double knots on the edge of a blanket with unicorns and stars. Students made several blankets as part of Project Linus, where the blankets are distributed to children in hospitals and shelters to help them feel less anxious.

Alex Wilson, left, and Alex Drum yank weeds out of a big flower box leading into the school. They later planted flowers at the site.

Alex Drum, a sophomore, said she looks forward to IMPACT Day every year.

“It’s the enjoyment and feeling I have that I helped out the community,” she said.

Asia-Lynn Neuhaus, left, and teacher aide Bonnie Lotz do some weeding in front of the school.

Cole Callard paints part of the border that will be used on the number 5 for a display of “2025” at graduation next month.

Eric Valley and Sophia Goyette mark out the letter 5 that will be cut out and painted white. Valley and his students have made the large numbers in recent years and the Mustang logos on campus.

From left include Lucy DiCureia, Adelynne Lacy and Grace Goodrich making tray favors that will go to residents of the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital.

Amonte Mortensen-Chamblee, left, and Roxy Hyde work on the tray favors. The finished product is shown in front.

Keren Sanchez, left, and her sister Ashley worked on dusting off trophies in one of the display cases.

Series starts May 28 featuring first Norwegian settlement in U.S. at Kendall

Press Release, Orleans County Historical Association

Provided photo: A historical marker at the intersection of Norway Road and Bald Eagle Drive  in Kendall highlights the Norway Colony.

GAINES – The Orleans County Historical Association once again welcomes the community to their monthly history talks.

The talks are held from May through October on the last Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse on 3286 Gaines Basin Rd. The talks are free and donations are gladly accepted.

This year’s presentations will spotlight the 200th anniversary of Orleans County and the Erie Canal.  The schedule includes:

• May 28: “The First Norwegian Settlement in the U.S. – Kendall, NY (1825)” – Dee Robinson, retired Gaines town historian, will share the fascinating history of how the Norwegians came to the United States and made their way to Kendall, settling on Norway Road.
• June 25: “The Life of Joseph Ellicott, Surveyor of the Wilderness” – You won’t want to miss Dennis Upton, a storyteller and re-enactor as he brings to life the story of Joseph Ellicott who was an agent of the Holland Land Company and helped to survey and sell land in Western New York as well as advocate for the Erie Canal.
• July 30: “The Haudenosaunee Confederacy” – The Confederacy consists of six Indigenous nations whose traditional lands encompass New York State. Guest speaker Kae Woodruff Wilbert will share their history in New York State and Orleans County.
• August 27: “Orleans County Fruit Culture as Living History” – Guest speaker Amy Machamer, Owner of Hurd Orchards, will share her experiences and insights about the rich and unique fruit culture of Orleans County.
• September 24: “The Erie Canal & The Burned Over District; History is not Accidental” – Retired history teacher Doug Miller will share how multiple religious ideas and beliefs, of which some were uniquely formed, developed and spread along the Erie Canal in the early 19th century.
• October 29: “New York State Historical Markers” – Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper has updated the 2001 Orleans County historical markers book and will share information on some of the new markers that have been installed in the County during the last 24 years.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Congressman Joe Morelle both issued statements against the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that made it through the House of Representatives, 215-214, on Thursday.

Congressman Joe Morelle, D-Rochester, issued this statement:

“President Trump and House Republicans passed a budget proposal that slashes Medicaid, Medicare, and nutrition assistance programs over a trillion dollars and will eliminate health insurance coverage for 13 million Americans.

“The bill also saddles American taxpayers with $5 trillion in new debt.

“All to pay for the largest tax cut for millionaires and billionaires in our nation’s history.

“This is cruel, irresponsible, and un-American. I will do everything I can to fight to stop it.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul issued this statement:

“New York Republicans in Congress caved to the billionaire class at the expense of the constituents they serve. With the passage of this budget, the Republican delegation tore up SNAP benefits, slashed funding for affordable housing, killed clean energy projects and enacted the largest Medicaid cut in history — and they did it all while still managing to roll over on the SALT cap. Pathetic.

“New Yorkers deserve representatives who are fighting to bring down the cost of their families’ medical and grocery bills, not line the pockets of the ultra-wealthy. In Albany, I’m working around the clock in service of everyday New Yorkers — our state desperately needs its leaders in Washington to do the same.”

Press Release, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Photo from DEC: Dylan Kampnich is shown with his son and a record-setting 37-pound, 9-pound catfish.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the first state record fish of the year.

On May 3, while shorefishing with his son, Dylan Kampnich of Dexter reeled in a 37-pound 9-ounce channel catfish from Black River Bay in Jefferson County. Mr. Kampnich’s record-breaking catch surpassed the previous state record catfish caught in 2022, also from the Black River, by 13 ounces.

“We are so fortunate to have incredibly diverse and affordable fishing opportunities across the state,” DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Congratulations to Mr. Kampnich on his record-breaking catfish. This catch is a great example of what New York’s abundant waterways have to offer and the thrilling news of this catch will certainly get anglers excited about getting on the water this season.”

Channel catfish are the largest members of the catfish species that live in New York. They feed primarily on the bottom at night and are most easily caught using live bait such as worms or baitfish. When hooked, catfish can provide a challenge for even the most experienced anglers.

Mr. Kampnich submitted details of his winning catch as part of DEC’s newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which tracks state record fish and recognizes anglers who catch any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for that species.

Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch along with a species-specific sticker commemorating their achievement.

Press Release, Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon

ALBION – Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon said that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will begin summer hours the Tuesday after Memorial Day, May 27. Summer hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are in effect until Labor Day.

Residents are asked to be in line by 3:15 p.m. to be served. Those taking CDL exams must be in the DMV by 1:30 p.m. so there is enough time allowed to complete the exam.

“The DMV has been especially busy of late and we are doing our best to get people through the line as quickly as possible,” Hanlon said. “One way to expedite the process is to understand what documents you need to process the transaction and have your paperwork in order.”

Hanlon said many questions about DMV transactions can be answered at www.dmv.ny.gov.  In addition, the DMV Document Guide at https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/dmv-document-guide will provide a detailed list of what you need to bring to the office to make your visit a success.

Hanlon also reminded residents that you need a Real ID/Enhanced License to fly domestically.  If you currently have a star or a flag on your license, you are compliant. Also keep in mind that if you have a passport, this will work as well. If you have more REAL ID questions please visit https://www.tsa.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs.

Last, residents can always visit the Orleans County Clerk’s page (click here) for up-to-date information on hours and valuable information for the Orleans County Clerk’s Office and the Orleans County Department of Motor Vehicles.

BROCKPORT – Zoe Seniuk of Albion, daughter of Denise Johnston-Burris and John “Jack” Burris, graduated summa cum laude on May 17 from SUNY Brockport, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree.

She will be attending the University of Buffalo School of Law beginning in August of this year.

Editor’s Note: Send news about college graduations and achievements to news@orleanshub.com.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Patrick Olles, left, and Lukas Moore are both certified master technicians from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

Press Release, Pat’s Auto Repair

ALBION – Patrick Olles, owner of Pat’s Auto Repair at 13305 West Lee Rd., recently received ASE Master Technician Certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Olles joins mechanic, Lukas Moore of Pat’s Auto Repair, in earning the ASE master technician certification.

Olles and Moore have both passed exams A1 through A8 in the Automobile and Light Truck test series. Pat’s Auto Repair is an ASE Blue Seal of Excellence-recognized business. Olles opened the auto repair business in 2015.

ASE offers a series of certification exams for professionals specializing in automobile and light truck, collision repair and refinish, medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, transit bus, alternate fuels, automobile service consultant, undercar specialist, and parts specialist.

Upon passing at least one exam and providing proof of two years of hands-on work experience, a professional becomes ASE certified. Every five years, professionals must be retested to remain certified.

Certified professionals wear blue and white insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of expertise; employers display those credentials in the customer service waiting area.

Established in 1972 as a non-profit organization, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a driving force in the transportation industry. As an independent third party, ASE upholds and promotes high standards of service and repair through assessment, certification and credentialing of current and future industry professionals, and the prestigious ASE Blue Seal logo identifies professionals who possess the essential knowledge and skills to perform with excellence.

Today, there are approximately 250,000 ASE Certified professionals at work in dealerships, independent shops, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools, and colleges throughout the country. For more information about ASE, visit www.ase.com.