By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2024 at 9:43 pm
Soldier from Albion was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Elks Lodge in Albion dedicated this memorial for Jason Johnston on Aug. 17, 2019. The memorial is in front of the lodge on East State Street in Albion.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature voted today to ask the State Legislature to name Route 98 in the county in honor of the late Jason Johnston.
Johnston, an Albion native, was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009, the only solider killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in the War on Terror.
Johnston was a specialist and paratrooper in the Army. He was on his second tour in Afghanistan when he was killed at age 24. He completed a 13-month-deployment in 2008 and left again for the war-torn country in October 2009.
The County Legislature is asking the state to name the Route 98 corridor in honor of Johnston, or a portion of the road in the county.
“Orleans County gives extreme respect to all of our residents who have served and are currently serving in U.S. military positions,” the resolution states from the Legislature. “Orleans County is especially sorrowful for those that have lost their lives while serving during any war, especially U.S. Army Spc. Jason Johnston.”
In 2014, signs were unveiled naming Route 98 in Genesee and Orleans counties as “Veterans Memorial Highway.” There is sign on Route 98 near the Point Breeze exit off the Lake Ontario State Parkway that was unveiled on May 22, 2014.
County Legislator Skip Draper said the Legislature would support highlighting a section of 98 in Albion in honor of Johnston.
Johnston is survived by his parents, Brad and Jenny Johnston; and his sisters, Carrie, Heather and Holly; and several nieces and nephews.
The Johnston family has been active for many years in the Albion Fire Department.
Brad Johnston joins the Albion Elks Riders for annual dice runs to help raise money for his a memorial scholarship in his son’s name. The annual $1,000 memorial scholarship goes to a student pursuing a career in a helping profession, such as a nurse, doctor, firefighter, counselor or other social services.
“The recipient of the award should be of good character, show dedication, effort and potential while working to the best of their,” according to a description of the scholarship. “Specialist Johnston believed in the Golden Rule – ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2024 at 6:12 pm
County will take lead from state on whether the issue moves forward
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Courthouse is shown on a foggy evening on Jan. 27, 2024 in Albion.
ALBION – Orleans County voters won’t get a chance to vote this November on whether the county should create a district court.
The County Legislature wanted to put the issue to a public referendum in November, but during two recent public hearings the Legislature has been urged against moving forward with a vote, saying there are too many uncertainties with a district court, especially whether the state would cover the salaries of judges, clerks and security.
“We received a lot of feedback and some really good questions that gave us a lot to ponder,” said Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman.
She announced during this afternoon’s Legislature meeting that the district court issue won’t be on the ballot in November. But she said it isn’t a dead issue.
The Orleans County Magistrates Association, a group representing town justices in the 10 towns, has been adamantly opposed to a district court, saying the town courts are serving the local citizens just fine and a district court may not function as well and could cost much more.
The county also received a letter on May 30 from James P. Murphy, Justice of the Supreme Court and deputy chief administrative judge for courts outside New York City.
Murphy said the county’s push to establish a district court is partly due to anticipated funding from the state. The county sees how the state is funding district courts in Nassau and Suffolk counties. However, Murphy said those courts were established more than 60 years ago “under very unique circumstances.”
Murphy advised the county officials he is surprised no one from Orleans reached out to the Unified Court System for input on a complex issue.
The county faces “serious constitutional issues” with the district court proposal, he said in his letter. He said the county’s local law establishing the district court is unconstitutional because it first needs permission from the State Legislature to allow the county to consider a district court.
There have been no bills introduced in the Assembly or Senate of the State Legislature, which enable the county to consider a district court, Murphy said.
The county needs the state legislation first, before it can proceed to a referendum.
In his letter, Murphy said the state assumes the expenses of district court salaries for judges , clerks, officers and other expenses, except for providing the courts facility. That would fall on the local government – the county.
“There are several other provisions of your proposed Local Law that are contrary to New York State law, including but not limited to establishing residency of staff, defining who designates the number of judges and determines their salaries,” Murphy said. “I respectfully submit that the passage of your proposed Local Law is unconstitutional and will not achieve the results that you are hoping to accomplish.”
Johnson said the District Court Committee will likely reconvene in the fall, and will work to draft a resolution to submit to the State Legislature requesting legislation to determine the merits of a district court in Orleans County and the process to accomplish that.
“While I think the concept holds tremendous potential for Orleans County, it has become clear we need the state to be fully onboard and have answers to questions like funding the district court, before we can go any further,” Johnson said.
At some point, 30% of people living in the United States will get a hernia. While males are far more susceptible to them, women are hardly immune.
What is a hernia?
A hernia occurs when there is a gap in the abdominal wall, allowing internal abdominal contents to push through. While hernias can develop anywhere along the abdominal wall, they most commonly appear in specific areas such as the umbilical region (belly button), the groin, or through a prior surgical incision. Understanding the locations and symptoms of hernias is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
One of the primary indicators that you might have a hernia is the presence of a noticeable bulge at the affected site, often accompanied by pain or discomfort during physical activity. Although hernias can cause significant discomfort, they are not always dangerous. However, there are situations where they can become serious. A hernia typically becomes an emergency when a piece of intestine gets trapped inside it, known as an “incarcerated hernia.” Symptoms of an incarcerated hernia include severe pain at the site, a sudden bulge that wasn’t previously noticeable, uncontrollable vomiting, a large, distended abdomen, and the inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement. These symptoms necessitate immediate medical attention, as an incarcerated hernia requires urgent surgical intervention.
Diagnosing a hernia can often be straightforward. Many hernias can be identified through a simple physical examination by a healthcare professional. However, imaging techniques like a CT scan are also commonly used to confirm the diagnosis, especially in complex cases.
The decision to undergo surgery for a hernia is a personal one and should be discussed with a surgeon or other qualified healthcare professional. Surgery is the best option for many individuals, but it may not be necessary for everyone. Some people may manage their hernia with lifestyle modifications and non-surgical treatments, depending on the severity and symptoms.
After a hernia repair, the concern about recurrence is valid. Unfortunately, no hernia repair method guarantees a 100% success rate. Recurrence rates vary, with some studies reporting as low as 0.5% and others as high as 10-12%, particularly in cases involving more complicated repairs. Despite these statistics, many people who undergo hernia surgery experience significant relief from symptoms and a marked improvement in their quality of life.
Understanding hernias, from their causes and symptoms to treatment options and potential risks, is essential for managing this common medical condition effectively. With timely diagnosis and appropriate care, most individuals can lead a comfortable and active life even after experiencing a hernia.
While hernias can sometimes occur due to factors beyond your control, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing one:
Maintain a Healthy Weight: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of developing a hernia. By maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise, you can reduce the strain on your abdominal muscles and lower your risk.
Practice Proper Lifting Technique: When lifting heavy objects, use your legs instead of your back, and avoid lifting objects that are too heavy for you to handle safely. If you need to lift something heavy, ask for assistance or use lifting equipment if available.
Avoid Straining During Bowel Movements: Straining during bowel movements can increase pressure in your abdomen and potentially contribute to the development of a hernia. Ensure you’re getting enough fiber in your diet to promote regular bowel movements and avoid straining.
Strengthen Your Core Muscles: Engaging in exercises that strengthen your core muscles, such as abdominal crunches, planks, and yoga, can help support your abdominal wall and reduce the risk of hernias.
Quit Smoking: Smoking can weaken tissues in the body, including those in the abdomen, which may increase the risk of hernias. Quitting smoking can improve your overall health and reduce your risk of hernias and other related conditions.
Treat Persistent Coughs: Chronic coughing can put strain on the abdominal muscles and increase the risk of developing a hernia. If you have a persistent cough, seek medical attention to identify and treat the underlying cause.
Address Chronic Constipation: Chronic constipation can lead to straining during bowel movements, which may contribute to the development of hernias. Stay hydrated, eat a high-fiber diet, and talk to your doctor about managing constipation effectively.
For those who have already experienced a hernia, understanding the signs of recurrence and seeking prompt medical advice is crucial. Regular check-ups with a provider can help monitor the condition and prevent complications.
Ultimately, awareness and proactive management are key to reducing the risk of hernias and ensuring prompt treatment if they do occur. By taking these preventive steps and staying informed, individuals can lead healthier, more comfortable lives, minimizing the impact of hernias on their overall well-being.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2024 at 1:35 pm
2 earn citizenship in program at World Life Institute
Photos by Tom Rivers
WATERPORT – The World Life Institute celebrated with students who advanced their English and civics skills during a program run with the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.
The World Life Institute held a student recognition ceremony on Monday evening at the school on Stillwater Road.
There were 37 students who earned certificates. Those students work for local farms and agricultural businesses. Two long-time students at the WLI also were recognized for becoming American citizens.
These students hold up certificates for completing ESL classes in the past year. The WLI worked with students from Congo, Mexico, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Tunisia and Honduras.
The students were praised for spending about 15 to 20 hours a week learning English while juggling full-time jobs and often young families.
Harris Lieberman, one of the ESL teachers, congratulates students Hernan Sanchez for his effort and progress through an evening ESL class.
These two women both were recognized for earning their U.S. citizenship. Flor Iniguez, left, lives in Lyndonville and works in human resources for Fish Creek Orchards, where her husband Jose Iniguez is a part owner. Andrea Vargas, right, of Holley works at Kalir Farms in Brockport.
Flor Iniguez has been taking English and civics classes for several years at the WLI. She thanked her teachers for all their effort helping her over the years.
“The teachers gave me all the support I needed,” Iniguez said. “The teachers are wonderful people.”
Flor Inguez and Andrea Vargas lead the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance while Maria Castaneda, who is also an American citizen, holds the flag.
WLI wanted to celebrate Iniguez and Vargas on their achievement of becoming citizens. Fatima Lieberman, a Lyndonville student, played the Star Spangled Banner on her trumpet as part of the occasion.
Iniguez said she is grateful to be an American.
“I love this country,” she said. “I love the people. Many doors can open to you.”
Sue Diemert, a literacy specialist with Orleans/Niagara BOCES, said she is grateful for the partnership with WLI that goes back more than two decades. She congratulated the students on their success, and told them they are fortunate to have many “wonderful teachers.” Diemert has been part of the program since 2000.
The recognition program also included a new venture where students can earn certifications in restaurant management and hotel maintenance through the American Hotel Education Institute. Eleven from WLI have now completed that program.
WLI also is working with five students from the Iroquois Job Corps Center in Shelby on strengthening their English skills.
Deborah Wilson, center, was recognized by Linda Redfield, the program coordinator at right, for her years of service to the program. Wilson is retiring as an ESL teacher but will continue to run a pottery program for the students. She has been doing that since 2006.
“I can’t tell you how many lives she has touched and how many doors she has opened,” Redfield said.
Linda Redfield also thanked contributors to the program, including from left: Marisol Moore from the Brockport Migrant Education Program, volunteer tutor Lorienda Smith and Julia Stewart-Bittle, from the Genesee Valley Arts Council in Geneseo.
Redfield also cited the efforts of Francesca Colon from PathStone, Sandra Rivera from Oak Orchard Community Health and Stephanie Kellogg, the academic manager at Job Corps.
Ali Carter, a member of the World Life Institute, was the designer, architect and builder of the octagonal-shaped school, which opened in 1997.
He shared a quote from WLI founder, the late Dr. Asaf Durakovic. “The issues for the future of humankind have never been more serious. We need an urgent remedy for the wound.”
Dr. Durakovic made that comment about 35 years ago. He helped start the WLI as a humanitarian mission.
Carter said the school, located in a rural area amidst apple orchards, has become “a place of deep learning and a refuge.”
He said many are part of the success of the program.
“Thank you for helping to bring his vision into fruition, a vision of life and eternal hope.”
ROCHESTER – Rochester Institute of Technology conferred nearly 4,500 degrees at all of its campuses in the 2023-2024 academic year. RIT’s academic convocation celebration was held in May and featured remarks by Patricia “Pattie” Moore, a distinguished designer and trailblazing alumna of the class of 1974.
The following residents from Orleans County earned degrees:
Nathanael Strong of Albion received a BS in packaging science.
William Gregoire of Albion received a BS in mechanical engineering technology.
Dwight Dinkins of Medina received an MS in applied and computational mathematics.
Gina Marshall of Holley received a BS in environmental sustainability, health and safety.
Hannah Sones of Albion received a BS in industrial engineering and ME in engineering management.
Keaton Freitag of Kendall received a BS in game design and development.
Erin Aaron of Albion received an ACT and MS in school psychology.
Noah Heinsler of Waterport received a BFA in film and animation.
Jace Conn of Albion received a BS in mechanical engineering.
Toby Kiebala of Medina received a BS and ME in mechanical engineering.
TOWN OF ALABAMA – The New York State Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, today advised motorists that State Route 63 through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in the Town of Alabama, Genesee County, will close to accommodate a federal culvert replacement project beginning July 1. The closure is anticipated to be in place until Sept. 1.
Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted detour that utilizes State Route 77, Gasport Road, and State Route 31. Local traffic will be able to access Route 63 up to the immediate work zone. Access to the refuge will remain open for the duration of the closure.
Motorists should anticipate travel delays and build extra travel time into their schedule. Construction activities are weather dependent and subject to change based on conditions.
Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
BASOM – The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will offer for bid 71 acres of grassland hay in 2 fields of 50 and 21 acres.
The refuge annually provides approximately 1,100 acres of grassland habitat for migratory birds and resident wildlife. Active management of these grasslands is necessary to
provide the highest quality nesting and migration habitat. The refuge haying program helps in this management process by reducing encroachment of broad leaf weeds and shrubs.
Hay will be allocated on a highest bid per field basis for each field. Sealed bids will be accepted until close-of-business on Friday, July 5. An official bid sheet, available from the refuge headquarters, is required to make a bid.
Completed bid sheets can be mailed to the refuge headquarters at 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 and must contain all the information requested.
If you have any questions about the haying program or would like to see the fields, please call Paul Hess at 585-948-5445 ext. 7032.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2024 at 11:11 am
Provided photos: Paint cans fill large boxes on June 15 during a free community paint recycling event held at the former GCC campus parking lot in Albion.
ALBION – The numbers are in for the first community paint recycling event which was hosted by Orleans County.
There were 346 vehicles that stopped by the former GCC campus in Albion to drop off paint.
The tallies included 41,621 pounds of latex/acrylic/water-based paints and 5,394 pounds of oil-based paints.
The event was funded for by the state’s PaintCare Program, which paid Greensheen to collect and dispose of the paint. County residents were able to dispose of their old paint cans at no charge.
Greensheen reported to the county that approximately 90% of all latex paint and cans were recycled, and the oil-based paint will be sent for fuel blending.
GreenSheen has developed their own innovative process to refine recycled paint to create a premium latex paint for reuse.
Orleans County will have its household hazardous waste collection day on Aug. 10 from 8:30 to 4 p.m. Registration is required by call (585) 589-3198. Click here for more information.
The team from Greensheen accepted paint from 346 vehicles.
Bea Good, shown here in her Sheriff’s Deputy uniform, was a national Grandmothers Club advocate. The Medina chapter, known as the Bea Good Grandmothers Club, was active for over 40 years and was a forerunner of the Medina Senior Citizen’s Center.
MEDINA – The Bea Good Grandmothers Club! A club with such an infectiously good-humored name was bound to be popular. But, “Bea Good” was not an exhortation to grandmothers, but rather, the name of the lively and energetic lady who introduced the club to this area and who was also nationally recognized in the Club movement.
But who now remembers Grandmothers Clubs?
The National Federation of Grandmothers Clubs came into existence at an Illinois Convention of Business and Professional Women in the spring of 1934, when Marie K. Brown, having just become a grandmother herself, was interested in knowing how many other ladies present were also grandmothers. Interest in the concept of “grandmothering” took hold.
The ladies applied for and received a charter from the Illinois Secretary of State on April 11, 1938, and the clubs were soon formed throughout the country.
The founders wanted to dispel the notion of grandmothers as doddering old ladies with glasses and wearing shawls, but rather, as lively women who were mentally alert, keenly interested and still active participants in the business and professional worlds.
They believed that “Grandmotherhood is a blessing, not a title,” and that the addition of that title does not mean that life is over, but that a new and enriching chapter has begun.
Their stated goals were:
“To achieve national recognition for Grandmother’s Day,
to glorify grandmothers,
to perpetuate for future generations the peace and liberty which we have enjoyed as citizens of the United States,
to promote better radio programs, better movies, better schools, and better recreational activities for our grandchildren,
to assist in research on children’s diseases and to establish a grandmother’s haven.”
Involvement in Grandmothers Clubs declined during WWII but resumed after the war. Bea Good started a club in Medina around 1945, having just moved here the previous year.
Born Beatrice L. North in 1890 near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Bea was a performing musician by the age of 15, playing piano for the one-reel silent movies at the local movie theater. She graduated to orchestra and later entertained troops and hospitalized veterans and worked as a welder on the war production line.
She married Ray Goode of Brockport, a railroad conductor with the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Bea preferred the spelling “Good,” it worked well with the name of her band “Bea Good and her Bad Boys.”
The Goods lived in Brockport and Niagara Falls before moving to Medina in 1944. They purchased the former home of LeGrand Whedon on the corner of West Center and Ann Streets and converted this stately home, built in 1906 by Watson Barry, coal merchant and bank president, into apartments. They lived there also.
In 1946, Bea Good of Medina, was elected President of the Chicago based National Grandmother’s Club. In August of that year, she entertained some of the national officers at her home: Mrs. Rose Dyvig of Chicago, Il., national vice-president of the organization and a former motion picture exhibitor and Grace A. Gray of Indiana, an early aviator and first female lecturer at the Federal Conservation Dept. of Indiana.
In 1948, Bea was re-elected to a second two-year term as Club President at the Annual Meeting held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thirty-eight states were represented at the convention, and over 300 members attended.
Mrs. Good spoke over the WLOL Radio Station on the Sunday afternoon, assured of a large audience, as the broadcast preceded the World Series ball game. The station was hooked up with Kate Smith, who was sponsor of National Grandmother’s Day. She named the 16 states which had already proclaimed the day. Speaking on behalf of the Club’s 6,000 members, Mrs. Good thanked Miss Smith for her efforts in furthering the national recognition of Grandmother’s Day.
Nationally, the Club flourished with 903 member clubs throughout the country in 1976 and over 25,000 grand-members. Locally, it was a popular club with as many as 90 members in 1968. The Club was affiliated with the Western New York Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Monthly meetings were held at the Presbyterian Church in Medina. The club was involved in philanthropic and community activities. They participated in the 1967 Erie Canal Celebration and had a float in the parade.
“Mrs. Durski drove, and Georgia Coon, Ruth Benham and Mrs. Benham rode in the float” (Minutes, July 12, 1967).
The Minutes of May 10, 1966, point to the link with the Medina Senior Center:
“We had a delicious lunch, after which, a representative of the Newfane Senior Citizens spoke on forming a club here in Medina. Mrs. (Helen) Waldo was appointed in charge of Senior Citizens formation.”
It was a natural evolution – the Senior Citizens would be more inclusive and serve a larger geographic area, while still championing the founding tenet of the Grandmother’s Clubs – that people over a certain age are not decrepit, doddering and disposable, but vital and active members of society.
Bea Good exemplified this to the end. She died on November 27, 1980, at the age of 90. In a Journal-Register editorial on December 4, 1980, Bob Waters wrote:
“Bea kept so busy that life just bounced off her like a moving target. A founder and national revered figure in the Grandmother’s Club Federation, deputy sheriff, welder on the war production line, worker with disturbed and blind youths, a hostess who entertained wounded war vets at her spacious home on weekends, cited and honored by her peers, by the State Legislature, by American Presidents and a Canadian Prime Minister.
But, most of all, to us, she was one of those busy, laughing, industrious souls who brought life and charm and distinction to Medina by living here, being visibly a part of the community, blending service with enjoyment.”
She was survived by a son, Lindsay C. Good of Niagara Falls, and a daughter, Betty (Richard) Carey of Hillsboro, Ohio, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ray died in 1975. He and Bea are buried at Boxwood Cemetery, Medina.
During the current college summer sessions, three graduates of Royalton- Hartland are doing semesters in Europe, two in Italy and one in Spain.
Gabriella Smith, daughter of Craig and Heather Smith, and Cassidy Ohol, daughter of Lisa Haseley-Ohol, are both Rochester Institute of Technology students. They are enrolled in the Scuola de Italiano per Starnieri located in Genoa, Italy. The school hosts the Door To Italy Program which emphasizes language and culture education to be integrated into the students’ major program.
Both students are majoring in Museum Studies. Prior to the academic framework in Genoa, their group did a two-week orientation tour of Northern Italy which included cooking classes and museum visits, along with the history, culture and economics of the area.
Gabriella’s first project is to complete translations from Italian into English a current exhibition at the Museo Castelio D’Albertis. Also included in her tasks will be to assist in digitization of over 1,000 cabinet cards.
Cassidy also assisted in preparing the exhibition with her main focus being to catalogue the main library’s collection and input metadata. Both graduated from Roy-Hart in 2022.
Dominic Peracciny, second from right, is studying in Spain with architecture students from the University of Buffalo.
The third overseas student is Dominic Peracciny, son of Matt and Alexandra Peracciny. Dominic is a student at University of Buffalo majoring in Architecture & Planning. His semester is at the University Pontifica de Salamanca in Madrid.
The group enrolled in this program are all architecture students, studying the context and production of Spanish architecture and its practitioners. Besides studio design, students are involved in seminars in which they explore Spanish master architects and visit landmarks in Madrid and throughout Spain.
These UB students will take weekend trips to other cities during their time in Spain including Toledo, Merida, Lisbon (Portugal), Sevilla, Granada, Segovia and Barcelona. Dominic graduated from Roy- Hart in 2021. Upon completion of the semester, he and a few colleagues will make a quick pre-Olympic visit to Paris and he is also planning on being in Dublin for a few days prior to his return.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2024 at 9:10 pm
Orleans County registered Republicans go to the polls on Tuesday with voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion votes at Hoag Library, Carlton uses the Rec Hall and part of Ridgeway uses the Volunteer Fire Company.
Here is a list of the polling sites:
Albion – Districts 1 through 6: Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
Barre – Districts 1 and 2: Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Carlton – Districts 1 through 3: Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3: Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
Gaines – Districts 1 through 4: Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
Kendall – Districts 1 through 3: Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.
Murray – Districts 1 through 6: Murray Town Hall/Highway Garage, 3840 Fancher Rd.
BATAVIA – UConnectCare (formerly Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) has hired Erik Winarski, a longtime educator and accountant, as its chief fiscal officer.
Winarski, a Rochester native and Canandaigua resident, assumed the role in March. He succeeds JoAnn Ryan, who held the position for 37 years.
Winarski earned a PhD in Education and an MBA in Accounting. He became an associate with two separate accounting firms, specializing in public (tax) accounting and internal audits.
Furthermore, he will earn a Certificate of Advanced Study in School District Business Leadership through SUNY Brockport in August.
Winarski said that the executive position with UConnectCare gives him the opportunity to apply his knowledge of accounting in the nonprofit sector.
“I am excited to work with a capable and dedicated staff at UConnectCare,” he said.
He looks forward to bringing his experience and expertise to advance the mission of UConnectCare, and will be overseeing a staff of four in the Finance Department.
Winarski and his wife, Elizabeth, have two daughters who are in grade school.
UConnectCare has served residents of Western New York for almost five decades. Founded in 1975, UConnectCare started with a focus on the prevention and treatment of substance use disorder in Genesee County, and has grown and expanded to include Orleans County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2024 at 4:14 pm
County will have new district attorney for first time in 33 years
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Republican Primary for district attorney on Tuesday is a matchup between Susan Howard and John Sansone.
ALBION – For the first time in 33 years, Orleans County will have a change in district attorney on Jan. 1. Joe Cardone has served as the county’s top prosecutor since 1992. He is retiring on Dec. 31.
On Tuesday, two of his assistant DAs will battle for the Republican line. John Sansone was endorsed by the Republican Party Committee, but Susan Howard forced a GOP primary. She has been endorsed by the Conservative Party.
Cardone has stayed out of the race on who will be his successor, opting not to pick a side.
Both candidates oppose state legislation that they said benefits criminals, such as bail reform where judges cannot set cash bail on some non-qualifying offenses. The candidates want judges to have more discretion in setting bail.
Susan Howard, 57, touts her lifelong roots in Orleans County. Sansone, also 57, recently moved to Holley. He is a native Lockport resident but has worked for more than two decades in the county as a municipal attorney. He worked as an assistant public defender beginning in 1998 and then joined the District Attorney’s Office as an assistant DA in 2007.
“When I became an assistant DA it changed my life,” Sansone said in an interview last week at Hoag Library. “As an ADA you represent the People of the State of New York.”
Sansone also has prosecuted cases in Niagara County since 2001 as an assistant county attorney doing cases with juvenile delinquents.
Sansone was on a pre-med track at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, earning a degree in biology. He was working as a reporter at the Lockport Union Sun & Journal, covering the crime beat and the Niagara County Legislature.
He was always interested in being a lawyer, and decided to follow that passion, rather than pursuing medical school. He earned his law degree at Ohio Northern University and joined a Lockport law firm as a criminal defense lawyer in 1995. He encountered Cardone in the early part of Sansone’s career, and Cardone convinced him to join the Orleans County DA’s office as an assistant.
Sansone would leave the Lockport law firm, and opened his own law office. He said he didn’t shy away from trials, and that reputation has served him well. As a prosecutor, he said defendants know he won’t accept delays or try to avoid the added time and effort in a trial.
John Sansone is shown outside Hoag Library in Albion. He has worked as an assistant DA in the county since 2007.
As a criminal defense lawyer, on the other side, prosecutors knew they had to have a very strong case if they wanted to go to trial or pursue a plea with a long sentence. His experience as a defense attorney also helps him see potential holes in the prosecutor’s case. He said it would help him present more thorough cases to the grand jury.
Sansone said the position as DA is about holding people accountable for their actions. That doesn’t always mean the longest prison sentence.
In some cases, he supports mandated anger management counseling, and drug and addiction treatment.
“You can be the hammer to get them help,” he said.
But someone who repeatedly breaks the law, putting others in danger, needs to face punishment, Sansone said.
“If people are breaking into garages and stealing others’ property, you need to send a message it won’t be taken lightly,” Sansone said. “The DA position is a very crucial position. The people need the best champion for justice. I will do what I can to hold people accountable.”
Howard didn’t go to law school until she was 33. Before that she was a paralegal and a caseworker with the Department of Social Services.
Her father, the late Richard Schult, owned the Lakeland restaurant at Point Breeze. He also worked at Kodak and flipped houses. He often reached out to a lawyer for advice.
Howard said she wanted to be that person who could help people through a problem. It wasn’t until she did an internship at the DA’s Office that she turned her attention to being a prosecutor. After that experience in 2000, she said she found her passion as a lawyer.
“I was hooked,” she said. “It was exciting. I felt every day we touched people’s lives.”
Howard said she wants to see the office continue to be welcoming to interns. Some years there are as many as three. She said the county needs more attorneys, and she wants to facilitate a great learning experience for them through the DA’s Office.
Howard became a lawyer in 2004, and wanted to work in Orleans County, but there weren’t any positions open at that time. She worked a year in the Niagara County DA’s Office before coming back to Orleans in 2005.
Susan Howard, shown inside Hoag Library, has been an assistant district attorney in the county since 2005, and the first assistant DA since 2011.
In 2011, a full-time assistant DA position was created and Howard took the job. She has been there since. She has run the traffic diversion program since it was created in 2011. It allows some drivers to resolve tickets easily without incurring a court appearance, points on a license or a hike in insurance premiums. It also keeps more of the ticket revenue locally. Howard said the program recently passed the $2 million mark for keeping revenue in the county rather than sent to the state. The traffic diversion program works with about 400 to 500 people a year.
Howard also represents the DA’s Office for misdemeanors and felonies at Town Courts in Albion (in cases with Justice Gary Moore), Carlton and Gaines. The role means she prosecutes the crimes in the state prisons, and also the welfare fraud cases.
She also has handled cases since 2011 at the County Court level, doing indictments and trials. She also does some of the family court prosecutions for juvenile delinquents, where the focus is on helping the families.
“I feel like I’ve been working at this all my law career,” she said about her experience in the DA’s Office. “This is my community. No one will work harder for them.”
Sansone, as assistant DA, is assigned to cases that originate in Barre and Shelby. He also handles some of the cases at the county court level. He also has worked as the municipal attorney for the Village of Holley, and towns of Murray, Clarendon and Kendall.
Howard is vice president of the Orleans County Bar Association and a member of the District Attorneys Association of New York. From the DA Association, she said district attorneys are pressing state legislators to change bail reform and discovery laws. The DAs want more crimes to be considered “qualifying crimes” and eligible for bail, Howard said.
With discovery laws, the association was able to successfully advocate for more time to turn over evidence to the defense lawyers. Howard said the time frames were not realistic and prosecutors and law enforcement agencies still could use more time to process body cam video and other evidence.
She said working collaboratively is the best chance for meaningful change.
“This job is all about leadership and relationships,” she said. “You have to come together and work with other people.”
Both candidates have amassed official support in their campaigns. Sansone has the backing of Sheriff Chris Bourke, the union representing deputies, and a union representing dispatchers and corrections officers. The Holley mayor and town supervisors in Clarendon, Murray and Kendall all back him, saying he has been an advocate for those communities as the municipal attorney.
Howard has the endorsement of retired County Court Judge Jim Punch, who was also a district attorney. Other law enforcement officials have sent letters to the editor in support of her, and so has current Crime Victims Advocate Michelle Werth.
Voting on Tuesday is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the 10 towns in the county.
