Job Development worker honored for commitment to youths

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Brian Ettinger, left, receives a citation on Tuesday from the County Legislature in appreciation for his 32 years of service to the county. He retired on May 28. He accepts a certificate from County Legislator Ed Morgan and John Papponetti, commissioner of the Department of Public Works.

Ettinger started working with the county in 1992 as a custodian in the Building & Grounds Department. He was promoted building maintenance worker in 1993 and to senior building maintenance worker in 2007.

Ettinger in 2009 transferred to the Highway Department as a motor equipment operator.

“Your efforts across our County will forever be widespread,  long lasting and extremely appreciated,” the citation states from the Legislature.

Peter Anderson, an employment & training counselor at Orleans County Job Development, also was recognized during the Legislature meeting. He accepts a citation from County Legislator Fred Miller.

Anderson received the Helen R. Brinsmaid Professional Award from the Orleans County Youth Board. The award goes to a youth-serving professional whose work exceeds normal expectations.

Anderson has worked with Job Development since October 2018, exhibiting tremendous dedication to the youths and their families, the Youth Board said. He coordinates work experiences for youths and young adults. He interviews young people, provides an orientation and educates them on their responsibilities at the job sites. He also assists with administrative services, trainings for youths, and seeking out work placements.

CLARENDON – The Orleans County Legislation on Tuesday accepted bids for two big infrastructure projects.

Keeler Construction in Barre will be paid $741,742 to replace a culvert on South Holley Road over the east branch of Sandy Creek in Clarendon. Keeler was the low bidder for the project, which will be paid from the county’s Road Fund capital bridge budget.

This is different from the emergency culvert replacement that was completed last week by Keeler on Upper Holley Road. The county hired Keeler for that project last month to replace the culvert after an inspection showed a partial culvert pipe failure.

In a smaller project, the Legislature on Tuesday approved paying Keeler $7,000 to assist the county Department of Public Works with asphalt shimming at the Blood Road bridge approaches in Yates. Keeler will provide a paver, operator and screedman.

The Legislature also accepted a $418,000 bid from STC Construction in Springville to replace a sanitary sewer pump station on Route 31, a project that serves the County Office Building and also the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, the former county nursing home. Comprehensive at Orleans LLC, owner of the nursing home, will pay half of the total costs for the project.

The sewer pump station needs to be upgraded due to multiple pump failures and the age of the pump station appurtenances, legislators said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Contractors work today on reconstructing new tennis courts in Albion for the school district.

ALBION – Tennis camps run by the Village of Albion Recreation Department typically are held at the Albion school tennis courts. But those courts are under construction this summer as part of the district’s capital improvement project.

Albion is still offering the tennis camp, but it will be at the Holley school tennis courts.

There are two different weeks of camps. The first is next week, July 1 – July 5 (except for July 4), and then the following week from July 8-12, except for July 9.

Basic tennis skills will be taught to the beginners with tennis drills and low-level competitive match situations. Scoring, rules and regulations will be taught along with tennis strategies, said John Grillo, the Albion recreation director ad retired tennis coach at Holley.

The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no charge to participants. The camp is funded by the U.S. Tennis Association.

Participants need to get their own transportation to and from the camp. They do not need tennis experience. Tennis balls will be provided. People should bring their own tennis racket. If they don’t have one, a racquet will be available.

The camp will be postponed if it rains or the courts are very wet, Grillo said.

There is no pre-registration. However, email to jgrillo3@hotmail.com if there are any questions.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

HOLLEY/ALBION – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) will visit two local businesses in Orleans County on Thursday.

At 1 p.m., he will visit TeacherGeek in Holley and at 2:30 p.m. he will visit Marti’s on Main Art Gallery in Albion. Hawley is proud to see the success these local businesses have had and is looking forward to visiting their facilities.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to visit these two businesses, which have shown immense ingenuity and creativity as they’ve built their respective brands,” Hawley said. “Local businesses like TeacherGeek and Marti’s on Main are vital parts of the local economy and continue to help our community and state grow.”

ALBION – The concert scheduled for this evening at Bullard Park has been cancelled due to the chance of rain and thunderstorms.

John Grillo, the recreation director, said the concert with Highway 31 has been rescheduled for Aug. 21.

By Drs. Kelsey Izzo and Sarah Smith, Pediatricians, Oak Orchard Health

In upstate New York, we wait for months for beautiful summer weather. It’s finally here but with the sunshine comes new tips for families to stay safe as they enjoy it this time around.

Sun safety

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), just a few serious sunburns can increase your child’s risk of skin cancer later in life. Adults and children need protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays whenever they’re outdoors. How can you avoid this?

• Hats and sunglasses with UV protection protect everyone from the sun.
• Kids need to wear sunscreen. Wearing 30 -50 SPF sunscreen is important for kids and reapply every two hours. If they are wet or swimming, you should put it on again after they dry off. Children under 6 months should not be exposed to direct sunlight at all. They should always be protected from the sun.
• On very hot days, be sure children are hydrated by offering them water as often as possible. The exception is with babies under 6 months. They do not need any additional water; breast milk or formula are enough for infants.
• UV rays are the strongest and most harmful during midday.
• Heat and babies. Summer is a great time to take your children out for a stroll but be mindful of how hot it’s getting inside the stroller, especially if you’re using a sunshade or blanket to shield the sun. Children can overheat. How can you tell? If they are turning red or are sweaty, those are two signs. Also, feel their chest to see if it’s hot. Shorter walks are preferred.
• Babies do not need to wear too much clothing on hot days. The rule of thumb is one more layer that you.

During the hot summer, it’s never a good idea to leave kids in cars for any amount of time. And be sure to check the backseat so that no child is left behind.

Water Safety

Naturally, no child should be left alone in or near water. Drowning is a very real risk. According to the CDC, drowning is the #1 cause of death in children ages 1 to 4.  Stay within arm’s reach of the child even if they’re wearing a flotation device.

Be sure to have a fence around your backyard pool with locked gates. Home doors should be locked so kids can’t get out to the pool area.  Sensors on gates and doors offer added protection and safety.  Remember, even small kiddy pools with 6 inches of water, are still a hazard. Kids still need to be supervised.

Bike riding

• Bike helmets for kids of all ages are recommended. Of course, adults should also wear helmets.
• Limit distractions. No bike rider should be listening to music, they should be aware of their surroundings and hear the vehicles and other bikes that may be in the area.
• Adults can supervise the little ones. Young children shouldn’t be riding alone and certainly not riding on busy streets if there’s no shoulder or sidewalk.
• Knee pads and elbow pads are a great safety idea.
• Kids should let parents and caregivers know where they are going and when they’re expected back. Parents can check in with their kids periodically to be sure they are in a safe location.

Cell phones

Whether it’s summer or winter, less than two hours of screen time per day (ages 2 and up) is a best practice. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media use by children younger than 2 and recommends limiting older children’s screen time to no more than one or two hours a day.

Avoiding screen time before bedtime is another great tip. That includes a TV, laptop, tablet, or cell phone.

Staying healthy in the summer

We’re here if you need us. If you’re looking for a pediatrician for your children, give Oak Orchard Health a call at (585) 637-3905.

SHELBY – The 3-way battle for two positions on the Shelby Republican Committee for District 3 will go down to the absentee ballots, and possibly a coin flip if its remains tied.

On Tuesday night, after all the votes were counted for early voting, primary day and absentees thus far, Bruce Schmidt and Stephen Seitz Sr. were tied with 20. Alana Koneski was in the lead with 25.

There are nine absentee ballots that could potentially come in by the deadline on Tuesday, July 2, said Michael Mele, an Orleans County elections inspector.

He and Janice Grabowski, the other election commissioner for the county, will check with the State Board of Elections on Thursday to see the process if there is a tie for one of the committee positions.

When there was the potential for a tie in the Barre town supervisor race last November, the counsel from the state was to flip a coin if the race was deadlocked after all the votes were counted.

Mele said the local Board of Elections will do a hand count of all the ballots in the race in Shelby, and also the committee race in Yates that is close. For Yates in District 2, there are four candidates for two positions. The vote totals currently are Terry Chaffee Jr., 73; Lynne Johnson, 65, William Jurinich, 54; and Steven Colon, 30.

MEDINA – Spending the night in Medina has been a tradition for Cycle the Erie Canal for all 26 years of its existence. (One year they stayed at the Fairgrounds when the school was doing a capital project.)

There are 650 cyclists already registered for the event this year, sponsored by Parks and Trails New York.

The 400-mile ride takes cyclists along the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany, spending nights in canal villages and visiting historic sites along the way.

Jim Hancock, chair of Medina Tourism Committee, shows tourism booth volunteer Shari Cassidy some of the events planned for Parks and Trails New York’s annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, scheduled July 7 to 14. Between 650 and 700 cyclists will arrive in Medina and spend the night on July 7.

In Medina, the grounds of Wise Middle School becomes “Tent City” as cyclists and their support crew arrive and begin setting up their tents for the night.

Tourism Committee chair Jim Hancock and his team have been busy for months planning to welcome the cyclists, who usually begin arriving around 2 p.m.

He said the school has been a big part of this event nearly every year since “Cycle the Erie Canal” started.

“They open their buildings and have staff on hand to help,” Hancock said. “Cyclists can camp in the gym if they prefer not to be outdoors, have access to the restrooms and showers and use of the cafeteria.”

The Tourism Committee sponsors a shuttle which takes cyclists back and forth from the school to downtown Medina, dropping them off at stops along the way. Main attractions include the Medina Railroad Museum, which will be open until 5 p.m.; the Sandstone Hall of Fame, the Visitors’ Center and canal basin, where Brian Hellner will have his boat ready for hour-long tours on the canal.

Authors’ Note owner Julie Berry sets up a booth in the school full of books on the Erie Canal. She will ship them to the bikers’ home if they wish.

At State Street Park, a concert is planned from 4 to 6 p.m., featuring bluegrass music by Creek Bend. It is free and open to the public, Hancock said. He also plans to have a food truck there.

At Tent City, a welcome booth will be set up by the Tourism Committee, where Guin Panek from Ledge Rock Farms annually provides a tote of sweet cherries for the cyclists, a treat they really enjoy, Hancock said.

Dinner the night of arrival will be catered in the Middle School cafeteria by Zambistro’s, who also provides a send-off breakfast in the morning.

Several seminars of interest about the canal are scheduled in the school on Sunday afternoon and early evening.

From 7 to 9 p.m. at the school, a concert will be presented by Pocket Change with Dave Stockton.

Hancock also extended his appreciation to Todd Eick’s FFA class at Medina High School, who volunteer every year to help unload gear and set up tents.

Also at the welcome booth, cyclists can pick up a rack card with a schedule of the highlighted attractions, a schedule of the shuttle bus and, on the back, a listing of future events planned in Medina.

“After spending a day with us, we know they are going to want to come back,” Hancock said.

After leaving Medina, the cyclists’ destination the next day will be in Fairport. Along the way they have rest stops and snacks provided in Albion and Holley.

ELBA – A winning Take 5 lotto ticket was sold June 24 in Elba at the Crosby’s, New York Lottery announced. The prize-winning ticket is worth $32,520.

Take 5 numbers are drawn from a field of one through 39. The drawing is televised twice daily at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The prize may be claimed up to one year from the date of the drawing.

The Crosby’s site in Elba has prior big winners, including in January 2020 when it sold a $1 million scratch-off ticket from the Triple Double 777 Red Hot game. A 30-year-old Knowlesville woman won that prize.

Claudia Tenney

Claudia Tenney was the victor again versus Mario Fratto, a Geneva business owner who tried to oust her from Congress.

Fratto ran against Tenney in 2022 and received 40 percent of the vote. That showing on a shoestring budget propelled him to try again. This time, he received about 38 percent of the vote to Tenney’s 61 percent.

The district’s boundaries were slightly changed due to redistricting. The 24^th Congressional District used to include about half of Orleans, but will have all of it when the new term starts on Jan. 1.

The sprawling district includes 14 counties. Tenney won 13 of them, including in Orleans with an unofficial total of 1,937 to Fratto’s 1,118.

Tenney issued this statement:

“I am grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support from the voters of NY-24. This landslide victory proves that voters are united behind our aggressive advocacy on behalf of the hard-working people of NY-24 and will not be fooled by desperate lies and baseless attacks from a perennial, failed candidate.

“Our strong work to secure both the northern and southern borders, our relentless fight to protect Second Amendment rights, and our leadership on key issues facing our constituents was heard resoundingly by the voters. Finally, we will now work tirelessly to deliver President Trump back to the White House to return the prosperity and strength to our region that is so badly needed to save our great nation from the disastrous Biden Administration.”

Top 3 for coroner: Schmidt, Woodworth and Sidari

Susan Howard

Susan Howard won a convincing Republican primary for district attorney, getting 2,120 votes to 1,107 for John Sansone.

Both are assistant district attorneys seeking to replace Joe Cardone, who is retiring after 33 years in the job on Dec. 31.

Sansone secured the Republican Party nomination, but Howard forced a primary. She is a lifelong resident of the county, and she stressed those roots in her campaign.

Sansone has worked as an attorney in the county for 28 years, but only recently moved from Lockport in Niagara County to Holley. Sansone had support from law enforcement, including Sheriff Chris Bourke, and the union for the deputy sheriffs and the union for corrections officers and dispatchers.

Howard also has the Conservative Party line. Her victory today gives her the Republican and Conservative lines in the November general election.

UPDATE on June 26 at 7:50 a.m.: Howard issued this statement:

“Thank you to the voters of Orleans County. Thank you to my friends, family, co-workers and other supporters. Thank you to everyone who’s helped us along the way during my campaign and career. Last night’s win was a win for all of us.

“After tallying countywide results, the Orleans County Board of Elections has reported our campaign as the winner of the Republican Primary by a nearly 2-1 margin with an unofficial count of 2,120 votes for Howard and 1,107 votes for Sansone.

“I am truly honored, humbled and grateful.

“With no other candidates on the ballot in November, the campaign is effectively over – though I will continue working hard to earn the support and trust of Orleans County voters.

“I now look forward to getting back to work focusing on the important at the District Attorney’s Office: keeping our communities and families safe.”

County Coroner

There were four candidates seeking three spots for county coroner. Scott Schmidt, the county’s chief coroner, had the most votes with 1,993 followed by Dr. Julie Woodworth with 1,807 and Rocco Sidari with 1,578. Kevin Dann was fourth with 1,213.

Schmidt and Sidari are incumbents. Woodworth is poised to replace Charlie Smith, who is retiring on Dec. 31.

Results of primary in Orleans County:

District Attorney (pick one)

• Susan Howard – 2,120
• John Sansone – 1,107

County Coroner (pick three)

• Kevin Dann – 1,213
• Julie Woodworth – 1,807
• Rocco Sidari – 1,578
• Scott Schmidt – 1,993

24th Congressional District (pick one)

• Claudia Tenney – 1,937
• Mario Fratto – 1,118

Carlton Town Board (pick one)

• John Olles – 182
• Jeffrey Gifaldi – 121

The remaining elections are for members of the Republican County Committee.

Shelby District 3 (pick two)

• Bruce Schmidt – 20
• Alana Koneski – 25
• Stephen Seitz, Sr. – 20

In Shelby District 4 (pick two)

• John Pratt III – 85
• Benjamin Flansburg – 56
• Thomas Winans – 94

In Yates District 2 (pick two)

• Terry Chaffee, Jr. – 73
• William Jurinich – 54
• Lynne Johnson – 65
• Steven Colon – 30