The school budgets in Albion, Holley, Kendall and Medina all received strong backing from the public today.

ALBION: The $42,320,666 budget passed, 332 to 73, with 82.0 percent in favor. The budget keeps the tax levy at $8,449,039. This is now the 16th time in the past 18 years that taxes have either stayed the same or decreased.

“Thank you to everyone who voted today,” said Superintendent of Schools Mickey Edwards. “It is with your continued support we are able to promote the success of our students and staff here at Albion. We’re looking forward to another great year for our Purple Eagles.”

Other propositions also passed:

• Spending up to $650,000 for bus purchases from reserve funds, approved 352 to 52.

• Establishing a capital improvement reserve fund for up to $15 million, approved 330 to 69.

• Proposition to collect $664,510 for Hoag Library, approved 317 to 87.

There are two seats up for election and voters elected Kelly Kirby with 306 votes and incumbent Linda Weller with 208. Tim McMurray, 113 votes, and Derek Reiner, 137, also were on the ballot.

HOLLEY – The proposed $29,615,000 district budget was approved in a 340-113 vote or with 75.1 percent in support. The budget represents a 2.4 percent spending increase with taxes up by 1.49 percent.

Voters also approved:

• A proposition to authorize spending up to $363,000 to replace school buses – 332 to 121

• And a proposition to collect $206,840 for the Community Free Library – 362 to 94

There were five candidates for four positions up for election for the Board of Education. The three candidates with the highest number of votes will each serve a three-year term. The candidate with the fourth highest total will serve a two-year term.

The totals include: Jennifer Reisman, 313; Salvatore DeLuca Jr., 303; Joseph Flanagan, 300; Shannon Brett, 292; and Allysia Pogel, 202.

KENDALL – The $20,921,832 budget passed with a 189-46 vote or 80.4 percent in favor. The budget will increase taxes by 1 percent with spending up by 2.5 percent.

Voters also authorized spending up to $350,000 from the Transportation Bus Reserve to purchase transportation vehicles. That passed 194-43.

Two candidates ran for one five-year seat on the Board of Education. Colleen Dorney was elected with 143 votes while Scott Martin received 93.

MEDINA – The school district’s $42,162,921 budget was approved with 80 percent in favor, or 228 who voted yes, to 57 who said no.

The budget represents a 2.0 percent tax increase. This is the 15th consecutive year Medina is under a state-imposed tax cap of about 2 percent, said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

There are two candidates for two open seats on the board. Both are incumbents. Jennifer Buondonno received 235 votes, and Alissa Mitchell had 226. There were 8 write-ins.

LYNDONVILLE – Three challengers ousted the incumbents on the Lyndonville Board of Education in a bitter contest.

Voters elected Megan Bruning, 365 votes; Patrick Whipple, 364 votes; and George Avery, 324.

They were elected to three-year terms and narrowly defeated the incumbents: Steve Vann, 312 votes; Board President Ted Lewis, 300 votes; and Susan Hrovat, 299 votes.

The incumbents ran as conservative candidates who said they would push back against some of the social pressures gripping many school districts across the country.

The Lyndonville Teachers Association made an unprecedented move in endorsing the challengers and campaigning against the incumbents.

One of the top issues for the teachers’ union was the current board, led by BOE member Steve Vann, was looking at possible significant changes in the health insurance plan that the LTA said would have left teachers with less coverage. Teachers during a BOE meeting last week said many of their current providers wouldn’t be included in the plan.

Vann disputed those assertions, saying the proposed plan would have offered comparable coverage, and even been an improvement for many of the employees at a significant cost savings for the district.

Whipple, one of the newly elected board members, said the bitterness in the election the past three weeks caught him off guard.

“It’s sad because it’s shown some of things I’ve idealized about this community may not be true,” Whipple said about many personal attacks on social media.

Whipple said he wants the public and school community to have a clear understanding of how decisions are reached at the board level.

Lewis, Vann and Hrovat all said during a meet the candidates event last week they are proud of how Orleans County’s smallest school district has high-achieving students in music, sports and academics. Lewis said the board, administration and teachers were all committed to finding a way to offer in-person classes for all students each day of the week during the 2020-21 year. Many other districts were on a hybrid schedule or had students fully remote.

Voters also approved the following:

• The $17,664,583 budget passed with 366 yes votes to 255 no.

• A proposition for funding the local Yates Community Library at $135,316 passed with 385 yes votes to 233 no.

MEDINA – The village expects to nail down the details to move along a project that would add four fast electric charging stations to the Canal Basin.

The village was approved in April 2023 for $245,184 in state funding for two direct-current fast charger pedestals. Each pedestal has two chargers. The project, however, totalled $317,850.

National Grid agreed to pay the costs over the state grant of about $73,000. However, the village hasn’t received those funds yet from National Grid.

The village’s consultant for the project would like Medina to get the chargers in soon. However, village officials are also concerned that medina has to front the money for the state grant and then wait to get reimbursed. Medina would have to do short-term financing at what is expected to be about $10,000 in interest while it waits to get the state money.

The Village Board sees the fast charging stations as a draw for visitors with electric vehicles. The users will have to pay to use the electric chargers, at a fee to be determined.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman said she will reach out to the Village of Sherman in Chautauqua County which recently put in chargers to see how that community handled the short-term financing and also determined its fee for using the chargers.

“We are moving forward with this,” Sherman said about the chargers.

One resident, Jim Sipple, told the board he thinks the electric chargers would be better left to private businesses. Burger King has units in Medina that aren’t fast chargers.

MEDINA – Village officials have been waiting more than a year for some action on a stone building that was badly damaged in a fire on April 7, 2023.

But the building, with collapsed roof and floors, has largely been untouched in the past year, village officials said.

The three-story structure is the first building on Main Street next to the railroad tracks. Medina officials worry about how steady the building will remain. A year ago an engineer felt it was stable.

But village officials eye the site with concern after it went through a winter and a big pile of rubble remains inside the building.

The village has cited owner Jeff Fuller due the building’s ongoing disrepair. Fuller appeared in Ridgeway Town Court on Monday morning and Town Justice Joe Kujawa set a trial for July 29.

Fuller has told the village he wants to make the repairs and has a contractor lined up. But little has happened in 13 months. Fuller did not have insurance on the site.

Code Enforcement Officer Dan Gardner said it’s a difficult situation for all parties, a project requiring a big expense with no funding apparently in place.

Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development for the Orleans Economic Development Agency, said the building looms next to the railroad tracks and a viable track is critical to five businesses in Orleans County.

“It’s in severe condition,” Barone told the Village Board. “It’s a serious public safety emergency.”

Barone acknowledged there are no easy answers for solving the problem. The village doesn’t want to step in and assume ownership and face a daunting cleanup, demolition or rehabilitation cost.

She would like to see the building stay on Main Street, but she said no one with enough resources has stepped forward in the past year.

“I don’t want to see it go away,” she said about the building. “But I don’t see a viable opportunity. I do see a lot of liability for everybody.”

Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is seeking entries for its annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest.

Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit up to three images that capture the canals’ beauty, vibrancy and character. Winning photos will be featured in the 2025 Bicentennial Erie Canalway Calendar.

Entries must be postmarked by August 30.

Images will be judged in four contest categories: On the Water, Along the Trail, Canal Celebrations & Communities, and Classic Canal. Judges will select first, second, and third place winning images in each category, as well as 12 honorable mentions.

Submitted images must be horizontal format and taken within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which spans 524 miles across the full expanse of upstate New York. It encompasses the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain canals and their historic alignments, as well as more than 230 canal communities.

Download official contest rules and an entry form by clicking here.

Village seeks engineering proposals to design project

Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson listens to a speaker during Monday’s Village Board meeting. Jackson said he favored a smaller addition to the fire hall to accommodate a new ladder truck that is expected in December 2025.

MEDINA – The Village Board has scaled down an addition to the fire hall to one bay so the Medina Fire Department has space for a new ladder truck that is expected to be delivered in December 2025.

The village was looking at a two-bay addition, but an engineering firm said the costs could top $6 million. That is far too expensive for the Medina, Mayor Marguerite Sherman said.

The Village Board may deem a one bay addition is cost prohibitive, too. It doesn’t have a precise estimate on the cost.

The board voted to seek proposals from engineering firms on a design of the project and estimated cost.

The board discussed having Barton & Loguidice do a feasibility study for three options: one bay and two bay additions, and also an option of digging down in the floors and driveway to make more space for the ladder truck. B & L said it would look at the feasibility of all three for $26,000, which is money not budgeted by the board.

The village officials decided to drop the feasibility of the three options, and instead go to an engineering report for the one-bay addition. The board felt the two-bay addition is well beyond the village’s means right now.

The option of digging into the concrete floors, which are already shifting and in disrepair, could have costly unintended consequences, the board and Fire Chief Matt Jackson said.

He suggested doing the one-bay addition as a bare bones option to house the new truck. The new truck is too big by about 2 feet in height to fit in the fire hall.

“I feel a single bay is the most cost effective and the safest,” Jackson told the board.

Board members met with B & L staff to tour the fire station on April 29, and trustees wondered if it was possible to change the order for the ladder truck to a smaller truck that would fit the existing building.

Jackson checked with the manufacturer, and other fire truck makers, and the special order smaller ladder trucks aren’t an option. Board members also wondered about the possibility of canceling the order for the $1.7 million truck. Jackson said there would be a penalty at $172,000 or 10 percent of the truck’s cost and would still leave Medina in need of replacing a ladder truck that is 29 years old and often not reliable.

To then reorder the truck again in the near future would result in a bigger bill, perhaps over $2 million.

“We need a ladder truck no matter what,” Jackson said. “It’s a danger to us and the community.”

Mayor Sherman said she would reach out to state and federal officials for funding assistance with the truck and fire hall addition, and try again to see if the County Legislature would loosen up any of the local sales tax revenue. The county has kept the village and towns frozen at the same level since 2001.

Mike Maak, a mayoral candidate in March and a retired Medina firefighter, urged the board to look long-term and not put too much money in the current fire station, which was built around 1930 originally for the DPW. The floors weren’t intended to hold such heavy fire trucks, Maak said.

“This is not a new problem and it’s not going away,” Maak said.

He believes the village should look to build a modern public safety building for the fire and police departments, a facility that could serve the community for the next hundred years. Putting it outside the historic district also would give the village more flexibility in the design, Maak said.

But Sherman said the village doesn’t have the money for a big new building.

“We have to shake the trees for money,” she said. “There has to be someone who can help us achieve.”

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – Medina Central School District on May 16 hosted the first Medina Community Oscars at the historic Bent’s Opera House with 170 people in attendance.

The grand ballroom was simply fashioned with golden gunmetal banquet chairs, flowers that draped the apron of the stage adorned with two life-size Oscar statues. As the elevator opened a red carpet ran through the center of the venue, allowing all to have their moment on the “Red Carpet.”

The sold-out event quickly filled. Daniel Doctor, Community Partnership Director for the Medina Central School District, took the stage to welcome attendees and to congratulate all nominees. He then graciously turned the microphone to Julie Webber, Curriculum Director of Instruction for the Medina Central School District who was the Mistress of Ceremony for the remainder of the evening.

The purpose behind the event came to fruition. All individuals, businesses or organizations that either got nominated or won were most deserving. To enhance the excitement of the “opening of the envelope” to unveil the winners, the audience found the musical performances more entertaining.

Ava Blount, a poised and graceful sophomore at Medina and performer at West Side Academy of Performing Arts and Dance, got to repeat her performance of “I Dreamed a Dream”  from the 1980 musical Les Misérables.

Joseph Mangiola, an alumnus of Medina and worship leader at Calvary Tabernacle, took command of the stage focused on low tones and soaring vocals. He sang, “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera.

Holly Lederhouse, a third alumnus of Medina and performer with BGB Studio, provided the audience with her powerful soprano vocals singing “Never Enough” from the film The Greatest Showman.

And the final performer Brandon Noreck, song writer, R&B, Pop and Soul recording artist and alum of Medina Central School District, showed the audience regardless of what happens, “The show must go on.” He sang “Maria” acapella, due to internet failure. The song is from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony which he portrayed for the Medina Musical Theatre Department when it was under the direction of Daniel Doctor. Noreck did not miss a beat nor note as he effortlessly floated his high tenor voice.

Guest speakers in attendance included Mrs. Kathy Valley, a retired teacher from Medina who addressed the audience on the importance of volunteering and charging them to, “Think about it first, then do.”  Mrs. Noori Bibi, a volunteer from Project Life, also gave a message, informing the audience of the work that is done in the Medina community to support children who are in need of receiving an education, medical support and restoration to lost childhood of victims of war and natural disasters. Funds raised at this event will go to Project Life to continue the  support for Ahmed, a 9-year-old Medina student with several health challenges.

This Medina Community OSCARS was a win!  And the winner goes to…

• Spotlight Award: Viviana Neroni
• Community Impact: Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo
• Outstanding Service to Veterans Award: Jennifer Thom
• Boy Scout/Girl Scout Troop Award: Mindy Cogovan of Troop 82096
• Arts and Culture Award: Medina Central School District
• Community Collaboration: Todd Eick
• Outstanding Student Award (K-2) – Hollis Green and Landyn Dorgan
• Outstanding Student Award (grades 3-6) – Lauren Allis
• Outstanding Student Award (grade 7-12) – Roosevelt Mitchell
• Volunteer of the Year: Melissa Valley
• Event of the Year: Parade of Lights, chairman Jim Hancock
• Inspirational Educator Award: Krista Duhow, Medina Jr./Sr. High
• Community Service Award: Medina Rotary Club
• Organization of the Year (under 10 employees) – Case-Nic Cookies, Mary Lou Tuohey owner
• Organization of the Year (more than 10 employees) – Medina Central School District
• Community Leadership: Daniel Doctor
• Unsung Hero Award: Nicole Tuohey
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Hungerford
• Thank You: Kathy Valley

Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions and the Medina Lions on May 15 did vision screening for over 100 elementary students at the Lyndonville School District.

The two clubs have a long-standing history of cooperation in vision screening events throughout Orleans County. Several years ago, a joint purchase of visual screening equipment was undertaken by both clubs.

The vision screening apparatus allows the two clubs to perform vision screening at the local schools to access students who may need glasses. Once students are identified as candidates for further evaluation, they are referred to local optometrists or ophthalmologists for further examination. Nearly 10 percent of the students screened were found to have visual deficits that required follow up investigation.

Early screening and correction of these visual problems is extremely important. Early detection can slow or prevent further deterioration of visual acuity and improve student’s ability and performance in school learning.

The entry level examination can detect other eye problems that may cause poor vision. Not all eye problems can be simply solved with glasses and that is why early visual acuity examinations are essential.

The Lyndonville Lions would like to thank the Lyndonville Central School Leo’s Club and the Medina Lions Club for their efforts during this screening event.

It’s election and budget vote day at the five school districts in Orleans County. Voters must be at least 18 and have lived in their district for at least 30 days prior to today’s vote.

Here is a rundown of the budgets and ballots at the five districts in Orleans County:

• ALBION – The proposed $42,320,666 budget for 2024-25 keeps the tax levy at $8,449,039 and increases spending by 1.2 percent. This is now the 16th time in the past 18 years that taxes have either stayed the same or decreased. Albion’s budget is $323,436 under the allowable tax cap of $8,772,476.

The budget vote will be from noon to 8 p.m. and will be held at the Hoag Library instead of the at the school district’s conference room. The district currently is undergoing a big construction project.

Voters will also see a separate proposition to make bus purchases up to $650,000 from reserve funds, and a proposition also to establish a capital improvement reserve fund for up to $15 million.

There also is a proposition to collect $664,510 for Hoag Library, which is up 1.5 percent from the $654,100 in 2023-24.

There are two seats up for election. Long-time board member David Sidari isn’t seeking re-election. Linda Weller, a current member, is seeking another five-year term. She is joined on the ballot by Tim McMurray, Derek Reiner and Kelly Kirby.

• HOLLEY – The proposed $29,615,000 district budget represents a 2.4 percent spending increase with taxes up by 1.49 percent. Holley also will have a proposition to authorize spending up to $363,000 to replace school buses, and a proposition to collect $206,840 for the Community Free Library. The library funding is up from $200,815.

There are five candidates for four positions up for election for the Board of Education. The candidates include Salvatore DeLuca Jr., Joseph Flanagan, Allysia Pogel, Jennifer Reisman and Shannon Brett.

The three candidates with the highest number of votes will each serve a three-year term. The candidate with the fourth highest total will serve a two-year term.

Voting is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley Middle/High School Foyer.

• KENDALL – The district is presenting a proposed $20,921,832 budget that calls for a 1 percent increase in the tax levy.

The school budget represents a 2.5 percent spending increase, which district superintendent Nick Picardo said reflects increases in special education enrollment, benefit expenses, and year-over-year merit raises.

Voting is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kendall Town Hall.

Besides the budget, voters will be asked whether to authorize up to $350,000 from the Transportation Bus Reserve to purchase transportation vehicles.

Two candidates also are running for one five-year on the Board of Education. Chaley Swift isn’t seeking re-election to her seat on the board. The candidates include Colleen Dorney and Scott Martin.

• LYNDONVILLE – The school district is proposing a $17,664,583 budget for the 2024-25 school year that increases spending by 4.3 percent. The budget would raise taxes by 1 percent or by $46,649 to $4,711,576.

District Superintendent Sharon Smith said the budget keeps robust academic and extracurricular programs for students. She noted AP and college classes are available at no charge to students, while music, the arts and athletics remain a priority. Smith also noted the budget continues to offer free breakfast and lunch for all students, keeps a school resource officer, and has the district geared up for a capital project that could start in the fall.

Voting will be from noon to 8 p.m. in the school’s Stroyan Foyer.

The district will also present a proposition for funding the local Yates Community Library, with an increase from $124,808 to $135,316.

There are also six candidates for three positions on the Board of Education that are three-year terms. The candidates include George Avery, Megan Bruning, Susan Hrovat, Ted Lewis, Steven Vann and Patrick Whipple.

• MEDINA – The school district is proposing a $42,162,921 budget for the 2024-25 school year that increases spending by 5.2 percent or $2,067,106 from the $40,095,815 in the current school year.

The budget proposes a 2.0 percent tax increase, up from $8,814,697 to $8,990,990. This is the 15th consecutive year Medina is under a state-imposed tax cap of about 2 percent, said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

The budget and the election for two board of education members goes to a vote from noon to 8 p.m. at the District Office, 1 Mustang Drive.

The budget maintains all academic, extra-curricular and athletic programs, including modified sports and clubs, Kruzynski stated in a letter to the community.

The district will offer bussing to all students next school year. Medina for about a dozen years has had a single bus run in the morning and afternoon, with an expanded walk zone – 2 miles for students in middle and high school, and 1 mile for those in elementary school.

Medina will add more busses next year and continue with the one morning and afternoon bus runs. It will cost about $525,000 with district reserves covering the cost in 2024-25. After that, state aid will pay 90 percent of the cost, Kruzynski said.

There are two candidates for two open seats on the board. Alissa Mitchell and Jennifer Buondonno are both current members of the board.

Provided photos: (Left) Bella Thom graduated on Saturday from Genesee Community College, about a month before Holley’s commencement. (Right) Cavan Bennage was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success at GCC.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Two Holley seniors recently earned impressive distinctions.

Bella Thom on Saturday graduated from Genesee Community College with an associate’s degree in advanced science.

Aside from taking advantage of Holley’s college precalculus course offering during her senior year, she independently enrolled in and completed both online and in person classes GCC over the past two years.

“My mom really pushed me to do this,” Thom said. “She is my biggest inspiration and support.  It has been a challenging process, but something that I do not regret doing.”

With over 60 completed college credit hours, she will attend D’Youville University in the fall as an incoming sophomore where she will study to become a pharmacist. She will graduate from Holley High School on June 29 in the Top 10 of her class with National Honor Society honors, the Seal of Civic Readiness, an Advanced Regents Diploma and as a three-time Genesee Region All Star soccer player.

“Bella is an incredible young lady,” said Holley Middle School/High School Social Worker Samantha Zelent. “To watch her manage the workload of both her senior year and her GCC classes has been amazing. It has taken a ton of determination and planning on her part. It is not very common to see students demonstrate this level of proactiveness and accomplish a feat such as earning a college diploma before graduating high school.”

Holley senior Cavan Bennage was recognized by the Monroe County Council of Superintendents as a 2024 Outstanding Senior at the 29th Annual Dr. Michael C. O’Laughlin Outstanding Senior Recognition Dinner on May 8.

One senior from each school in Monroe County, as well as Holley and Kendall in Orleans County, is selected for this honor based on their scholarship, leadership, service and character.

“Cavan represents the best we have at Holley. He’s an excellent musician, athlete, student, and an even better person. He’s a tremendous young man with a very bright future,” said Holley CSD Superintendent Brian Bartalo.

Bennage on May 7 also was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) at Genesee Community College. NSLS is the largest leadership honor society in the country. Students are selected for membership based on academic standing or leadership potential, and less than five percent of students nationwide receive nominations. He plans to transfer this membership to the Rochester Institute of Technology chapter where he will be attending in the fall to study engineering.

Press Release, UConnectCare

BATAVIA – The New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, Best Companies Group and Rochester Business Journal have named UConnectCare Behavioral Health Services as one of the 2024 Best Companies to Work for in New York.

This is the sixth consecutive year that the local nonprofit agency, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, has been recognized by Best Companies to Work for in New York, a research-driven program that examines a company’s practices, programs and benefits and also surveys its employees for their perspectives.

UConnectCare was one of 27 businesses in the state receiving the honor in the medium companies (100-249 employees) category.

“As our agency continues to grow, I am especially proud of how our staff has pulled together to provide a wider spectrum of services, while also expressing their satisfaction on the survey in terms of their workplace experience,” UConnectCare Chief Executive Officer John Bennett said. “I am delighted by the level of professionalism and compassion displayed by our employees throughout the organization.”

To be considered, companies must have at least 15 full-time or part-time employees working in New York; be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity; be a publicly or privately held business; have a facility in the State of New York and be in business a minimum of one year.

There were two parts used to determine the rankings. The first consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices and demographics, worth approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation.

The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience, which consisted of 75 percent of the total. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings.

For more information on the Best Companies to Work for in New York program, visit www.BestCompaniesNY.com.

Organization offers assistance to individuals and families fighting addictions

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Orleans County Chief Coroner Scott Schmidt and Susan Howard, assistant district attorney, display a sign at the Country Club Restaurant in Medina, promoting Orleans Recovery.

MEDINA – Get clean or die.

 That is Scott Schmidt’s advice for anyone using drugs.

As Orleans County’s chief coroner, Schmidt sees the devastating impact of overdoses from drug use.

Schmidt and Susan Howard, first assistant district attorney, are both key players in a group called Orleans Recovery.

The organization was originally known as Orleans – Recovery Hope Begins Here. It was started in 2017 by Kim Lockwood, Wayne Litchfield, Chris Crane, Tami Ashton and several others. Jail chaplain Don Snyder and Kathy Hodgins, clinical director at UConnectCare (formerly GCASA), came aboard shortly after, and along with Ashton are now board members of the organization.

“We are rebranding as Orleans Recovery,” Schmidt said.

Orleans Recovery applied for $50,000 from the opioid lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies and received $35,000. Of that money, $20,000 was spent rebranding and organizing the operation. Orleans Recovery solicited more volunteers and held fundraisers to bolster their accounts.

“In order to use the settlement funds, we have to spend it first and then apply to the county for reimbursement,” Schmidt said. “In the meantime, we still have pay rent and utilities for our office and obtain literature, office supplies and other incidentals with our own money. We were almost at critical mass. A generous benefactor advanced us $20,000 so we could get off the ground.

His daughter Hayley has created a logo consisting of a compass, to indicate they are heading in a different direction, Schmidt said.

Orleans Recovery has a redesigned website and offers free Narcan training and free fentanyl test strips.

Schmidt first became involved in Orleans Recovery when the late Wayne Litchfield asked him to speak at a meeting in Kendall about all the deaths from drug overdoses from his perspective as coroner.

“What we were wanting to do was help people with addictions,” Schmidt said. “Wayne talked about more money for a program he wanted to start. As coroner, I see accidental deaths all the time. Three weeks ago, there were two and last week there was one. It’s an increasing battle.”

Schmidt said drug deaths are hitting the county hard. On average he said there are 10 to 13 overdose deaths in the county each year.

“I know so far for the month of May this year, we’ve had at least 3 ODs, but all were saves,” he said. “I know we’ve had quite a few suspected OD fatalities so far in 2024.”

Deaths from drug overdoses are on the rise nationwide, up 360 percent in the last 10 years, Schmidt said. In 2023 in Erie County, there were 435 and already this year, there have been 165. Cocaine overdoses are up substantially state-wide, of which 80% involved fentanyl. Ninety percent of all drug overdoses involved Fentanyl.

“My job is getting more insane with opioid deaths, and they are preventable,” Schmidt said. “I got involved because everyone was talking a great game, but nothing was happening.”

Schmidt urges residents if they can’t stop taking drugs, at least test them so they don’t die. At least two of the recent deaths were from cocaine laced with fentanyl.

Susan Howard has become a key member in Orleans Recovery, Schmidt said.

“My perspective is different from Scott’s,” she said. “I’ve been with the DA’s office for 20 years and 80 percent of the cases coming through our office are drug driven. The number of people coming into drug court has gone down, and if we don’t get them into court, we can’t help them. By getting them in the lower court, we can help them before they do something more serious and end up in real trouble.”

One thing Howard is adamant about is starting up the drug court again if she is elected as district attorney.

“We now start at the felony level, and I want to start while they are still at the misdemeanor level,” Howard said. “Then they have the opportunity to get themselves on track, before drugs have taken over their life and they start stealing or hurting people to get drugs.”

Orleans Recovery’s mission is to bring attention to the community and what they’re doing. They have developed kits containing fentanyl test strips, information on how to use them and two packages with Narcan to possibly stop an overdose.

More than 200 Narcan kits were distributed at the Orleans County 4-H Fair last year, plus more than 60 at the Parade of Lights in Medina last November.

At a recent chicken barbecue Orleans Recovery sold more than 300 chicken dinners. Some meals were given to law enforcement personnel on duty. They were also distributed to people in temporary housing in Albion – 500 dinners in all.

Orleans Recovery has Narcan training scheduled at the Strawberry Festival and Lyndonville’s Fourth of July celebration. They will have a presence at Orleans County’s National Night Out, handing out literature, and will participate in International Awareness Day at the end of August. At the end of September or early October, they plan to have their own Orleans County Night Out and offer free food, possibly at Butts Park in Medina.

Orleans Recovery meets at 5:15 p.m. the third Monday of each month at Suite 190 in the old Arnold Gregory building, 243 South Main St., Albion. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Famed singer will join former band mates in Black Sheep, including Michael Bonafede of Albion

Michael Bonafede, back left, is shown with the Black Sheep band in this photo from the mid 1970s. He is standing next to Lou Gramm, who would go on to be lead singer for Foreigner, which sold over 80 million albums. Gramm will reunite with Bonafede and Black Sheep for a performance June 23 in Albion at the Pratt Theater, which is owned by Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler.

ALBION – A new inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be performing in Albion during a 2 p.m. concert on June 23.

Lou Gramm, the front man of the band Foreigner, will highlight a concert that will include his bandmates from Black Sheep. Gramm was with that group in the mid 1970s before joining Foreigner.

Michael Bonafede of Albion, owner of the Pratt Theater, played drums for Black Sheep. The band wrote its second album at Bonafede’s farm on Gaines Basin Road in Albion. Bonafede recently spotted an etching in concrete at his farm, where he ran Sports ’N Graphics for many years: “Black Sheep rehearsed here 1975.”

Bonafede recently called Gramm to let him know some of the Black Sheep band members would be performing some of their old songs in Albion.

Gramm jumped in and wanted to be part of the fun, and a chance to share the stage with Bonafede on drums, Don Mancuso on guitar and Larry Crozier on keyboard. Alona Kuhns and Luke Crozier (Larry’s son) will both play bass during the June 23 concert. The Black Sheep bass player, Bruce Turgon, is in California.

Not long after that phone call, Gramm and Foreigner were announced on April 21 as inductees into the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Foreigner is shown in an announcement from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that the band will be inducted as part of the Class of 2024.

Bonafede thought Gramm’s schedule might change with the Hall of Fame announcement. Gramm also is touring and performing full sets. But he is committed to the concert in Albion.

“Lou is crazy busy,” Bonafede said. “This is about an enduring friendship. He wants to play with his Black Sheep bandmates.”

The June 23 concert is shaping up to be a big event for the Pratt Theater, a venue on the third floor of an opera house. Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler have worked to bring the site back into a showcase for live music.

Before Black Sheep hit the big time and opened for KISS, the Rochester-based group performed in Orleans County about 50 years ago – at Oak Orchard Lanes in Albion and Medina High School.

Bonafede remembers the Oak Orchard concert. The band was on plywood on the alleys, and the bowling alley ran out of alcohol halfway through the concert.

“The place was mobbed,” Bonafede said.

Black Sheep recorded two albums for Capital Records and shared the stage with Kiss, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, and Hall and Oates, performing in front of tens of thousands of people. Black Sheep broke up in 1976.

Erin Moody in sunglasses and other members of the Pratt Pit Band and Choir had the old opera house venue rocking on April 14 for a concert attended by 300 people.

The June 23 event is capped at 300 tickets at $50 apiece. Eventbrite tickets available online beginning June 1. Check PrattEventCenter.com on June 1 for online sales.

Before June 1, tickets are available in Albion at Digital Ink Arts (585-200-2400), Pretty Sweet Bakery (585-590-4201) and Rise & Grind (585-746-0464).

Bonafede wanted to give local residents a shot at the tickets first. He expects they will go fast once available online.

Black Sheep is planning to perform six songs: “Halfway Home,” “Encouraging words,” “Payin’ Yer Dues,” “No worry no pain,” “Stick around” and “Chain on me.”

There will be a lengthy set to start the concert with the Pratt Pit Band which includes many local musicians.

“I’m super excited this is happening in Albion,” Bonafede said today. “The circumstances have led to a Hall of Famer performing out here.”

Bonafede said many of the leading local performers will be able to share the stage with Lou Gramm, who sold about 80 million albums with Foreigner.

“The pit band is an important part of the concert,” Bonafede said. “I try to get local people. That’s the idea of the venue. It’s a local performance venue that is a unique asset for the community.”