YATES – Town Assessor Patricia Laszewski is pushing to complete the first town-wide reassessment in Yates in five years.

There are 1,800 properties in Yates, and Laszewski will be assigning market values to all of them. The values will likely be up for most of the properties. Laszewski said the real estate market has stayed hot, although there are fewer properties for sale right now.

Laszewski led Ridgeway and Shelby through town-wide reassessments in 2023. She has retired from the two towns and remains with Yates in a part-time role.

Ridgeway and Shelby have appointed Julie Cecchini to be their new assessor. She was the assessor clerk in those towns.

Laszewski said Yates property owners will have the opportunity to challenge their assessments through a grievance process in the spring.

Town Supervisor Jim Simon said the reassessment schedule and grievance procedure will be highlighted in an upcoming town newsletter.

The towns in Orleans County used to be on the three-year cycle for doing the town-wide reassessments. Some towns held off in 2022 and 2023, thinking a hot real estate market would slow down. Some towns also have had changes in their assessor and have put of a full town-wide reassessment.

In 2023, Carlton, Kendall, Ridgeway and Shelby all completed full reassessments, at least four years since the last one.

Orleans County’s costs for community college chargebacks were steadily rising so much that county officials decided to cap the amount at $2,050,000. Anything over that and the bill would be sent to towns in the county.

The county in 2020 paid $2,240,251 for community colleges. After the county imposed the cap at $2,050,000 in 2021, the costs dropped in 2021 and haven’t exceeded the $2,050,000 since then – but is getting close.

In 2021, the community college chargebacks to the county was $1,839,535. It dropped to $1,657,803 in 2022, but was up $244,790 in 2023 to $1,908,783.

If the cost tops $2,050,000 in 2024, the extra expense will be divvied up among the 10 towns in the county based on credit hours of residents in those towns.

County Treasurer Kim DeFrank said there is a chance some additional bills could come in this month for community colleges but she expects it won’t exceed $141,217, the amount the county is under the cap.

Community colleges were supposed to be funded with the state paying a third, the student paying a third, and the local town/county paying the other third.

But county officials say the state has pulled back on its contribution, putting more pressure on students and local municipalities.

The County Legislature said it needed to draw a line as the costs rose, putting pressure on the county budget.

Most community college students from Orleans go to Genesee Community College. But Orleans County has paid towards local students who attend other community colleges in the state, and some are far more costly than GCC, including the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Program modified to maximize benefits for small, rural and disadvantaged communities

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $325 million in grants is available for clean water infrastructure projects through the next round of the State’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs.

This action immediately delivers on Governor Hochul’s clean water funding commitments announced in her 2024 State of the State, which include a series of changes to maximize benefits for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.

“New York is committed to funding water infrastructure upgrades because every person has a right to clean water,” Hochul said. “With this additional funding for communities across the state, we are providing critical resources to local economies, creating jobs, and safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.”

This round of WIIA/IMG boasts improvements announced as part of Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State to maximize benefits for rural and disadvantaged communities, including:

• Additional benefits for rural communities. Even with extensive financial support from the State, some municipalities are left passing a large financial burden to their ratepayers. To alleviate this burden on small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, Governor Hochul is directing EFC to increase water infrastructure grants for small rural communities from 25 percent to 50 percent of net eligible project costs. This change will support smaller communities, like those in the Adirondacks, which often struggle with accessing clean water grants and delivering affordable projects.
• Expanding community resources to ensure equitable access to funding opportunities. Small, rural, and disadvantaged communities are particularly impacted by deteriorating water infrastructure and emerging contaminants, and often do not possess the resources and capacity necessary to advance a project for infrastructure improvement. Governor Hochul is expanding EFC’s Community Assistance Teams program that launched in 2023 to provide essential support for updating New York’s critical water infrastructure. The teams are ready to engage with any community that needs help with its water infrastructure. Communities can request a meeting, register for upcoming webinars, and learn more at efc.ny.gov/cat.
• Protecting drinking water. Continuing New York’s national leadership on addressing the threat of PFAS, Governor Hochul is increasing awards for emerging contaminant projects from 60% to 70% of net eligible project costs. This change will help ensure cost is not a barrier for communities working to make life-saving investments that eliminate risks to their drinking water supplies.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) administers the WIIA and IMG programs in coordination with the Departments of Health (DOH) and Environmental Conservation (DEC). Governor Hochul’s plans will expand the success of these programs by assisting municipalities that have often struggled with accessing clean water grants and delivering affordable projects.

Applications and full eligibility criteria will become available at efc.ny.gov on Monday, Feb. 5.

Provided photo: Orleans Community Health is enjoying the conclusion of a very successful year in several areas, including the establishment of a nurses’ recognition program through the Daisy Foundation. Pictured are those on the committee heading the awards program. From left are Cassie Maynard, Leighann VanAuker (in front), Christine Kropf, Jennifer Morgan, Rebecca Mannella and Kim Gray.

MEDINA – After completing a very successful year, Orleans Community Health is looking forward to more improvements in the new year ahead, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach.

Robinson recapped OCH’s statistics for 2023, citing nurse Rhonda Woody’s recognition as a Healthcare Hero, the Wound Care Center named one of the top 10 in the country, Nicole Chapman winning a “Caring Heart” award, Emergency Room visits the highest since 2016, addition of three new surgeons to the hospital, an increase in patient days by 34 percent over 2022 and Primary Care cases at Albion Healthcare Center up 50 percent, the highest in its history.

Most exciting, according to Robinson, is a planned expansion at Albion Healthcare Center, adding two more primary care providers to keep up with the increased demand.

Robinson credits the addition of healthcare provider and Albion native Cheryl Kast for the uptick at the Albion facility, where announcement of the new providers will be made in less than a month.

“Overall, this shows more members of the community are choosing to receive care at Medina Memorial Hospital and the Albion Healthcare Center,” Robinson said. “We remain a steady hand for the community, and we’re here when we are needed – whether it’s routine or an emergency.”

He said the Transitional Care Unit at Medina Memorial Hospital doubled its numbers from the year before. While ER visits were the highest since 2016, the outpatient services were up 20 percent.

“With our full service radiology and award-winning Wound Care Center, people are hearing about Medina Memorial Hospital and choosing to come here,” Robinson said.

About two weeks into the new year, Robinson said they are already seeing increases continue at Albion Primary Care and Subacute Rehab.

In terms of the year ahead, Robinson said the hospital is approaching 99 years and plans are already underway for a 100th anniversary celebration in 2025.

Group will meet monthly throughout year to learn many facets of county

Skip Helfrich has been the Leadership Orleans executive director since the program started in 2018. He leads the class in a discussion on Friday at the White Birch in Lyndonville.

LYNDONVILLE – A new class of Leadership Orleans has started with a two-day retreat on Thursday and Friday. This is the seventh year of the program that graduated 149 in the first six years.

This year’s class is the largest yet with 28 members, and includes representatives from 10 organizations that haven’t been in the program before.

The 28 class members cover many sectors of the community, from agriculture to manufacturing, education and government, small business owners to nonprofit service providers, and a church leader and a director of the local arts council.

The program aims to build the “citizen capital” of the community, helping develop leaders who are educated on the many facets of the community. The class in the opening retreat did many ice-breaker activities to get to know each other. They also learned about their individual strengths and weaknesses, their personality types and how that shapes their decision-making and tendencies.

The class will meet monthly in the coming year, building leadership skills and gaining knowledge, experiences and meeting people from many different sectors in the community.

The program receives a stipend from the county, and there are many sponsors of programs throughout the years. The class members also pay tuition to be in Leadership Orleans.

This year’s class members include:

• Tina Bell, office manager for Art Hill Excavating in Medina
• Trisha Borrero, operations manager for Claims Recovery Financial Services in Albion
• Lisa Bors, public relations director for Arc GLOW
• Walt Breese, president of Subway in Albion
• Darren Brodie, environmental health director for Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
• Melinda Daniels, executive assistant for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Reita Fletcher, branch manager of M&T Bank in Lyndonville
• Gregory Hallock, executive director of Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!)
• Courtney Henderson, owner of Babe Cave Inc. in Albion
• Barbara Koert, assistant director of UConnectCare (formerly GCASA) in Albion
• Liz Mastromatteo, coordinator/assistant principal of Orleans/Niagara BOCES in Medina
• Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library in Albion
• Jeffrey Pasnik, council rep for North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters in Cheektowaga
• Brad Pritchard, principal of Albion Middle School
• Melinda Rhim, coordinator of care management for Orleans County Mental Health Department
• Marsha Rivers, pastor of First Baptist Church in Albion
• Becky Robinson, partner with The Vintage Cigar in Medina
• June Robinson, associate director of quality at Baxter Healthcare in Medina
• Justin Robinson, dairy farmer with Poverty Hill Farms in Albion
• Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health
• Pam Rounds, supervisor at Baxter Healthcare in Medina
• Debbie Schiavone, payroll administrator for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Stacy Silker, court clerk for Town of Ridgeway and Town of Yates
• Tiffany Smith, assistant chief of nursing for Rochester Regional Health
• Lisa Stenshorn, clerk of the Orleans County Legislature
• J.T. Thomas, operations director at Iroquois Job Corps in Medina
• Linda Weller of Albion, president of Info Advantage Inc. in Rochester
• Mike Winter, controller for Western New York Energy in Medina

Skip Helfrich said there are significant changes in how different generations approach daily living, from older people tending to pay with cash and trying to avoid debt, to younger people more geared to paying with debit cards and not carrying cash. Helfrich said the younger generation seeks a better “work-life balance” and doesn’t necessarily want the most overtime hours. The older generation tended to get as many OT hours as they could, seeking that higher pay rate, he said.

It’s going to be cold in Orleans County this week with highs only about 20 degrees most days and lows typically in the teens. Most days have a chance for snow showers with no big snowfall in the immediate forecast.

Today on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the high is forecast to reach 20 with an overnight low of 16, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Tuesday is forecast to reach a high of 21, with an overnight low of 10, followed by a high near 19 on Wednesday with a low of 16.

Thursday will stay cold with a high near 23 and low of 16, followed by a frigid Froday with a high near 22 and low of 10.

On the weekend, the forecast calls for a high of 16 on Saturday and low around 12, while Sunday is forecast to reach 24.

The average price for regular unleaded continues to decline with the national price at $3.07, down a penny from a week ago, while the New York state average is at $3.28, down 4 cents in the past week. A year ago the NY average price was at $3.30, according to AAA.

In Orleans County, the average price is at $3.497 today, compared to $3.511 a week ago, a drop of 1.4 cents.

The price in Orleans has now dropped about 40 cents in the past three months. It was at $3.871 on Oct. 9.

Here are the average prices in Western New York counties today:

• Orleans, $3.497
• Genesee, $3.322
• Wyoming, $3.490
• Livingston, $3.479
• Monroe, $3.255
• Niagara, $3.306
• Erie, $3.438
• Chautauqua, $3.325
• Cattaraugus, $3.289
• Allegany, $3.480

AAA issued this statement this morning about gas prices:

“Since last week, demand for gasoline picked up a bit while total domestic gasoline stocks increased significantly. While prices are down across the board, the slight uptick in demand has limited pump price drops.

“This morning, oil prices range from $73 to $78 per barrel, the same as one week ago. The mid-winter blahs will likely keep pump prices waffling a few cents up and down for the immediate future. Analysts are also keeping an eye on frigid temps that can affect refinery production.

“Diesel prices are also moving lower. The national average price for diesel is $3.92, down three cents from one week ago, and down from $4.61 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.41, down three cents from a week ago, and lower than $5.29 one year ago.”

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian 

“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 3

Rural Orleans County residents have contended with lack of access to broadband service for some time, while their urban neighbors enjoy the advantages of high-speed internet connections.

But the urban-rural disparity in communications is not a new one – mail delivery experienced a similar issue from the 1860s to the early 1900s.

The Free City Delivery Act of 1863 mandated that free delivery of mail to individual homes be established at Post Offices where income from local postage was more than sufficient to cover the costs of providing the service. Before 1863, people were required to go to the post office to pick up their mail, as postage only paid for the delivery of mail from one post office to another.

The service proved to be very popular. Some urban areas even had mail delivery twice daily, this continued until 1950. Meanwhile, rural areas languished.

H. Justin Roberts, participant in the Oral History project, recalled:

“We had to go two miles to get our mail. That would be in East Shelby. In those days, East Shelby, Millville, Knowlesville and all those little places had their own postmark. In the wintertime, neighbors along our road used to take turns going down to East Shelby to get the mail. They would bring the mail up and leave it at each house along the way. Mail was brought up from Knowlesville by horse and buggy. It would have been delivered at the Knowlesville depot.”

Proponents of rural mail delivery argued that if the government provided mail delivery to urban areas, it should provide a similar service to rural residents.

Following several years of political disputation, Rural Free Delivery, a huge undertaking, was established in 1896 though it took some time to implement nationwide. Routes had to be established, carriers hired – 32,000 by 1905.

In Albion, Postmaster R. Titus Coan posted the following description of Rural Route 1:

Beginning on Saturday, December 1, 1900, the carrier will go south to the Albion waterworks standpipe; then west to Mason’s Corners, thence south to Sheldon’s Corners, thence west to Porter’s Corners, thence south to the end of the road; thence west to the Pine Hill Road; thence south to Standish’s Corners; thence west to D. Tower’s corners; thence southeast to West Barre post office; then south to Mull’s Corners; thence east to Hill’s Corners; thence north to Manchester’s Corners; thence east to Grinnell’s Corners; thence north and northeast to Bragg’s Corners; thence west to Wetherbee’s Corners; thence north on West Barre road to Miller’s Corners, thence east to Sanderson’s Corners; thence north to Snyder’s Corners; thence east to Bond’s Corners; thence north to Lee Road, east on Lee Road to Benton’s Corners, thence north to the Albion post office.  (Democrat & Chronicle Nov. 26, 1900.

Homer C. Heady was the Albion carrier.

Carriers had to furnish their own wagons and horses and pay for their upkeep. They carried with them a supply of postage stamps, postal cards, stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers and money order blanks.

They traversed their routes through all kinds of weather, on unpaved roads, six days a week for a salary of $600 ($21,000 approx.). They were finally excused from Christmas Day delivery in 1923.

Rural free mail delivery ended the isolation of rural residents. They could connect to the outside world daily through their mailboxes. They felt that they were finally getting the benefit of a government service. With the introduction of parcel post in 1913, they could shop from home. Sounds familiar.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Noah Harrison, 14, of Albion heads down the sledding hill at Bullard Park this afternoon.

This was the first big snowfall of winter for people to go sledding and get on their snowmobiles.

The sledders braved the hill despite strong winds and temperatures in the low 20s.

“It’s cold but it’s good,” Noah said about the sledding conditions.

Ayden Coston, 14, of Albion takes a tumble of the sled at the bottom of the hill.

Cheryl Lane and her son Elijah, 3 ½, fight through the wind to walk up the hill for a another trip.

Cheryl and Elijah Lane head down the hill.

DeAvion Bloom, right, and Noah Harrison are ready for another go down the hill.

These sledders zoom down the hill.

The snow should stick around for a while. Today there will be high of 24 with overnight low of 13, followed by a high of 20 on Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. holiday) and an overnight low of 15, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

The highs then include 21 on Tuesday, 18 on Wednesday and 24 on Thursday.

By Randy LeBaron

Good morning! Grab your favorite cup. Fill it up. And let’s start this NEW YEAR right… TOGETHER!!!

Last Saturday I joined other volunteers helping out with the Hands 4 Hope Street Ministry. On this particularly cold morning it felt like my hands were frozen after only a few minutes as I wrote down people’s information before praying with them.

At one point I commented about how cold I was to a guy who had come by for the first time only to learn that he was homeless. There I was complaining about having to deal with the cold for only a couple hours when this young man, and a number of others who ended up stopping by, had to deal with the cold non-stop and would probably be grateful for even a couple hours of warm reprieve. It was a humbling realization to be sure.

It reminded me of when I first moved to the area nearly 20 years ago. I had posted a newspaper article by Tom Rivers on a bulletin board in my church. The article focused on the homeless in our community and I overheard people talking about it and not believing that it could be true. Thankfully though, not only have many others become aware of just how real the homelessness situation is in Orleans County but have also been prompted to do something about it.

The Hoag Library is open and warm throughout most days, Christ Church in Albion is a designated Warming Center whenever the temperature drops below 32° (COLD BLUE), and other organizations are finding ways to make an impact on a more individual level. One that has been focused on feeding those in need is the Risen Café in Albion.

In October 2022 God’s Voice Ministries out of Lockport planted a church in the old Club 469 on E. State St. in Albion. In March of 2023 Pastor Terry  Bryant, Assistant Pastor Sarah Ferguson, and Head Chef John Angelucci, along with other volunteers from the church, opened Risen Café with the tagline “Sharing Christ 1 Cup of Coffee at a Time.”

Some things that stuck out right away were that their meals were delicious, affordable, included taxes in the pricing, and they did not accept tips. You heard that right, a decision was made early on that tips for servers would not be accepted but instead if anyone wanted to give a little extra they could support the “Ministry of the Month.” In 2023 a little over $10,000 was collected and distributed to such ministries as: Care-Net of Orleans, Hands 4 Hope Street Ministries, Hospice of Orleans, Trade 180, and Koinonia Kitchen. Throughout January 2024 they are collecting for Community Action.

In a similar vein, there was a fund set up by the church which allowed for someone who may be having a bad day or was simply in need of some encouragement to receive their meal for free. By summertime this had evolved into providing free meals for a number of homeless individuals who had started to frequent both the Café and the church. In August almost $2,000 worth of meals were given away. After realizing that they did not have the funds to keep giving away meals at that rate, while not wanting anyone to have to go without, the idea of the “Pay It Forward” ministry was formed. Now customers at the Café can purchase specific meals which are then hung up for anyone in need to take down and to turn in for whatever food or drink the card says. The “used” meal cards are then left out as a visual to let supporters the fruit of their generosity.

In addition to “Pay it Forward” Risen Café also has a small food pantry and the church, which has a celebration service every Sunday morning at 11 a.m., hosts Redeemed Recovery, a faith-based meeting for anyone with troubles, on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. The members of God’s Voice Ministries also picks one day a month to support and serve at another community-minded organization.

And, for anyone afraid that they might go in for a meal and get the Bible shoved down their throat instead, I personally guarantee you have nothing to worry about. If you have something that you want to talk or pray about you can certainly find someone willing spend time with you but if all you want is great burger served with a smile then that is what you will get. And of course, if you want to buy an extra meal and pay it forward, you too can be part of something special.

See you in two weeks!

Pastor Randy

Churches are welcome to send in notices about cancelled services for Sunday. They should be sent to news@orleanshub.com or text (585) 590-2870.

The following churches have cancelled services for Sunday, Jan. 14, due to the bad weather:

• Christ Church, Episcopal, in Albion
• First Baptist Church in Medina
• First Presbyterian Church Medina is cancelling the Sunday church service and postponing the 3 p.m. Martin Luther King celebration service.
• St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Medina
• Lyndonville Presbyterian Church
• The Lord’s House in Waterport will be closed. All are welcome for a service on a conference call at 10:30 a.m. The call-in number is (425) 436-6378, access code 5473403.
• One Church in Medina
• The River Church in Knowlesville
• Lyndonville United Methodist Church
• Oak Orchard Assembly of God in Medina
• Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church
• Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship
• First Baptist Church of Albion
• Albion Free Methodist won’t have in-person service but will do a live stream on the church’s Facebook page and YouTube page at 10 a.m.
• Gaines Carlton Community Church
• Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God in Medina
• First Presbyterian Church of Albion
• East Shelby Community Bible Church
• The Church of the Abundant Harvest in Millville
• The Grove United Methodist Church in Medina
• Light of Victory in Albion
• Disciples United Methodist Church and Albion First United Methodist Church in Clarendon
• Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Middleport
• Concordia Lutheran Church in Kendall
• Trinity Lutheran Church in Medina

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A car heads north on Main Street in Albion near Bank Street at about 4:45 p.m.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for Orleans and Niagara counties until 3 p.m. with 4 to 9 inches of snow expected, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The heavy lake effect snow will be mainly late tonight and Sunday morning. Winds will gust as high as 60 mph.

“Blizzard conditions will be possible at times late tonight into early Sunday morning,” the Weather Service said.

Traffic moves along Main Street at about 4:45 p.m. when blowing snow reduced visibility.

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‘No one should put themselves, or others, at risk to attend Sunday Mass’

Bishop Michael Fisher of the Diocese of Buffalo is urging people not to brave the weather for Mass this weekend, and instead participate in a service through livestream technology.

The eight-county diocese is under a state of emergency due to high winds, snow and cold.

The Diocese issued this statement from Bishop Fisher today:

“Many areas of Western New York will experience heavy snowfalls and drifting along with extremely high winds, bitter wind chills, and possible power outages. These are dangerous and life-threatening conditions. Please respect the travel bans in our communities. In light of these dangerous conditions, no one should put themselves, or others, at risk to attend Sunday Mass this weekend.

“I have asked those parishes who have livestream capabilities to livestream their weekend Masses. If your community has travel restrictions, or dangerous weather conditions, do not attempt to attend Mass in person. Use the livestream technology to spiritually connect with others in prayer. Also, please check on neighbors who may be in need.

“Please join me in praying for our first responders, utility workers, hospital workers, and all those serving our communities during this storm.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game has been moved from 1 p.m. Sunday until 4:30 p.m. Monday due to a winter “super storm” that poses dangerous driving conditions.

Hochul also announced there will be a driving ban on Thruway for commercial vehicles starting at 9 p.m. That ban for empty trucks/trailers and all tandem trucks will be assessed Sunday morning at 6 a.m. The ban stretches from Henrietta to the Pennsylvania line. Erie County also is imposing a total travel ban starting at 9 tonight.

Hochul and Mark Poloncarz said they didn’t want to put 70,000 fans in danger, many traveling several hours to get to the Bills game. Poloncarz also said Erie County’s sheriff’s deputies will be needed to assist the community on Sunday around the game’s scheduled time, and shouldn’t be tied up directing traffic.

The extra day will be safter for the fans and people working at the stadium, Hochul said in a news conference today with Poloncarz and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

Some areas could get two feet of snow. But even a few inches in powerful wind can result in whiteout conditions, Poloncarz said.