By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2024 at 2:30 pm
Photo courtesy of Tim Archer, Albion Interact Club advisor
ROCHESTER – Albion High School Interact Club students spent the day at East High School in inner city Rochester today as part of a “cultural exchange.”
The students learned about life in their respective rural and urban schools. East High students will come to Albion next fall to experience life “in farm country.”
Interact advisor Tim Archer said it was an enriching experience for both students and staff. This is the seventh year the two schools have participated in the exchange.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2024 at 10:03 am
ALBION – A Lockport man, formerly of Rochester, was sentenced to two years in state prison today after he was found to have cocaine and crack cocaine during a traffic stop in Barre.
Corey Weathers pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree on Oct. 18.
He was given the maximum sentence as part of a plea agreement.
Weathers was stopped on Route 31A (West Lee Road) in Barre on Nov. 22, 2022. Law enforcement found two bags with a white powder that was confirmed to be cocaine, District Attorney Joe Cardone said in a previous court appearance.
Weathers is a second-felony offender. He was sentenced by County Court Judge Sanford Church.
In another case, a Medina man, 21, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree.
When the man was 15 or 16 an 8-year-old girl performed oral sex on him. The incident wasn’t disclosed by the victim until several years later, said John Sansone, assistant DA.
The man could face state prison or he could be sentenced as a youthful offender and get probation. If he is a youthful offender, his name shouldn’t be disclosed publicly.
Provided photos: Students at the Iroquois Job Corps Center learn in programs for brick masonry, carpentry, electrical, commercial painting, clinical medical assistant and certified nursing assistant.
Press Release, Iroquois Job Corps
MEDINA – The Iroquois Job Corps Center is thrilled to join more than 120 Job Corps campuses across the country in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Job Corps program. This momentous achievement is marked by millions of young people whose lives have been forever changed because of the transformative nature of the program.
Born out of the War on Poverty and signed into law as the Economic Opportunity Act on August 20, 1964, Job Corps has provided safe housing, education, career and technical training opportunities, and support services for deserving young people. The Iroquois Job Corps Center, has been a beacon of hope for countless young adults from across the Western New York and Rochester area.
“We are incredibly excited that our campus is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Job Corps and are grateful to all the students, staff, employers, and community partners who have made this possible,” said Dennis Essom the Center Director for the Iroquois Job Corps Center. “With a long track record of successfully placing our graduates into meaningful careers, we look forward to providing ongoing opportunities to young people and being a valuable member of our community for decades to come.”
The Iroquois Job Corps Center is planning several different activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the program. This includes a student essay contest, video testimonials, alumni recognition, in-person events, and much more.
A few of the Center’s upcoming events are our School Staff & Counselor Day on March 14 where high school staff are invited to visit the Center and learn about Job Corps as a next step for their graduating students; a Workforce Council Meeting to discuss, promote, and strengthen local workforce connections on March 21; a Next Step Transition Fair open to our students and local high school seniors on April 10 partnering with local employers, military and college recruiters, and more; and Community Open House Celebrations held on April 18 and 19.
“The 60th anniversary of Job Corps is an incredible milestone and one that is rightfully being celebrated across the country. Throughout its history, Job Corps has made a difference not only in the lives of our students and their families, but in the lives of Americans reliant upon the work Job Corps alumni have been trained to do,” said Donna Hay, President and CEO of National Job Corps Association. “We congratulate the Iroquois Job Corps Center, its students, staff and community partners and thank them for all their hard work and dedication.”
The Iroquois Job Corps Center has the capacity to serve 225 students aged 16-24 in areas such as Brick Masonry, Carpentry, Electrical, Commercial Painting, Clinical Medical Assistant, & Certified Nursing Assistant. In addition, the campus works directly with local and national employers to help them fill in-demand and well-paying positions.
The Iroquois Job Corps campus has immediate availability to safely house, feed, and educate qualified applicants and help place them directly into employment, higher education, or military enlistment post-graduation. It is managed and operated by Education and Training Resources (www.ETRky.com).
Who is eligible for Job Corps? Low-income, 16-24-year-old men and women who are U.S. citizens, legal residents, or authorized to work in the U.S.
For additional information on the program, upcoming events, and/or Job Corps program Admissions, contact: Luke Kantor, Admissions & Career Transition Services Manager at 585-344-3401 or by email at Kantor.Luke@JobCorps.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2024 at 8:48 am
Provided photos courtesy of Rainey Losee
HOLLEY – The Holley Village Board on Tuesday presented certificates to the Holley girls varsity soccer team which went 19-4 this fall and advanced to the state tournament.
The Holley team had an outstanding season as Genesee Region Division 1 Champions, Class C Sectional Champions, Class C Regional Champions and advanced to the NYS Section V Semi-Finals.
Mayor Mark Bower was joined by village trustees Jessica MacClaren, John Morriss and Rochelle Moroz in presenting certificates to the team at the village offices in the former Holley High School.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Joe Morelle on Tuesday participated in a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation titled “Addressing Real Harm Done by Deepfakes.”
During the hearing, Rep. Morelle highlighted his legislation, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, and urged its immediate passage into law.
“Today’s hearing underscored what I have long believed: deepfake pornography is dangerous, abusive, and requires our urgent action,” Morelle said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join today’s hearing and highlight my legislation, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, which would establish both criminal and civil penalties for those who produce deepfakes—creating a strong deterrent to this horrific practice. I look forward to following up on what was discussed today and working with my colleagues to pass the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act into law.”
H.R. 3106, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act will prohibit the non-consensual disclosure of digitally altered intimate images. The legislation makes the sharing of these images a criminal offense and creates a right of private action for victims to seek relief. The bipartisan legislation currently has 52 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.
The hearing on Tuesday featured witness testimony from Dorota Mani, mother of Francesca Mani, who has worked alongside Congressman Morelle to advocate for the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act after their difficulty finding help when Francesca and her classmates were the target of deepfakes at a New Jersey High School. Watch the hearing in full by clicking here.
To learn more about the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act and Rep. Morelle’s continued work to combat deepfake pornography, click here.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Rollin Hellner, left, and Tom Snyder speak with the Village Board on Monday to discuss moving the Friday evening classic car shows from the Canal Basin to the senior center parking lot.
By Ginny Kropf and Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A new team has stepped up to run the cruise-in nights in Medina, which typically bring in 80 to 100 classic cars.
Rollin Hellner and Tom Snyder presented an expanded lineup for the events, with many themed shows from the opening day of May 31 to the season-ending event on Aug. 30. They also want to shift the cruise-ins from the Canal Basin to the senior center parking lot on West Avenue.
They also are proposing the biggest cruise in of the season, the Super Cruise, be held on a Friday. That event has been on a Wednesday with more than 200 cars and special entertainment from Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald.
Hellner said he and Snyder are trying to build on the success from long-time organizer David Green, who stepped down from the role at the end of last season.
“It’s already great,” Hellner said. “People love it.”
Hellner owns The Walsh across from the senior center. He said classic car owners are welcome to use the bathrooms at The Walsh. The restaurant and bar also could provide an overflow lot if the senior center gets maxed out.
Moving up to the senior center would free up parking spaces at the Canal Basin and on Main Street on Friday evenings. Some of the business owners have said the car shows draw a crowd, but have a downside in consuming many parking spots.
“This should ease some of the pressure on Main Street,” Hellner said about the shift to the senior center.
One of the classic car enthusiasts, John Pratt, told the Village Board the car owners like the ambiance by the Canal Basin, being by the water of the Erie Canal and sitting under the trees for shade.
Village Board members said they want to consider the change in location for the car show. Board members said they expect to make a decision during the next meeting on March 25.
Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent, said the Super Cruise on a Friday on a busy Main Street would be tough for the community if that street is closed to traffic. He suggested the car show shift a street away to West Avenue if it’s on a Friday.
Village Trustee Tim Elliott said having the show on Main Street makes it a better destination for the car owners and enthusiasts. He would like the car show to stay on Main Street as a once-a-year event.
The board said they appreciate Hellner and Snyder for taking the reins for the car show this year.
“Thank you for stepping up and taking this on,” said Deputy Mayor Marguerite Sherman. “A lot of people have been worried about it.”
Green, who organized the shows for nearly three decades, is glad the shows will go on, even with some uncertainty right now about the location. He coordinated the shows, starting 28 years ago with Donna Bushover and Donna Mruczek.
“I will still come to cruise nights, but I’m 81 now and it was time to let it go,” Green said. “I couldn’t have done it without all the help I had. It was a lot of work – a lot of walking that night and a lot of time spent going around and getting sponsors for door prizes and the DJ.”
The proceeds from 50/50 tickets went to the Orleans County United Way, which carried insurance for the cruise-ins.
Both Hellner and Snyder own vintage cars. They said Medina has one of the best-attended cruise-ins in the area.
“I’m happy to be involved with cruise nights,” Snyder said. “I remember back when they started and I don’t want to see them go away.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2024 at 10:44 am
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board on Monday approved joining a resolution and letter already signed by at least 370 leaders of cities and villages in the state, seeking an increase in AIM funding from the state.
The state Legislature and governor haven’t increased Aids and Incentives to Municipalities for 15 years. During that time inflation is up 45 percent and the state has imposed a tax cap of 2 percent on municipalities, according to the letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
“This neglect from state government has led to rising municipal tax burdens and harmful disinvestment in essential municipal services and staff,” the letter states.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari will join elected and appointed officials around the state in calling on an increase in AIM. Holley Mayor Mark Bower and Teri Woodworth, Lyndonville’s clerk-treasurer, also have signed on to the letter, which has been circulated by NYCOM – New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials.
The state sets aside $715 million in AIM. Cities get 90.5 percent of this money, while towns statewide receive $47.9 million, and villages share $19.7 million.
Most small cities are getting $100 to $150 per capita in aid. Medina, population 6,047, gets only $45,523 in AIM, while Albion with 5,637 residents, gets even less at $38,811. That is a per capita of less than $8 for Orleans County’s two largest villages.
The letter that the Medina Village Board agreed to sign on calls for a general overall increase in AIM, but doesn’t address the disparity to the villages.
Medina trustees Jess Marciano and Diana Baker said they will be traveling to Albany on March 20 for NYCOM’s lobby day where they may be a better opportunity to press the tiny AIM funds directed to villages.
The letter approved by city and village leaders around the state urges an increase in Aim to help pay for public safety and make communities more affordable.
“Every community has public safety needs and for many local budgets, it is the largest cost driver,” the letter states. “If the State truly wants to ensure affordability and public safety for all New Yorkers, now is the time for an increase in AIM funding for cities, villages and towns.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 March 2024 at 9:00 am
Dr. Joseph Misiti (left), Orleans Community Health medical director and General Surgeon, will be the inaugural recipient of the Bowen Award named for George Bowen (right), who was influential in establishing Medina Memorial Hospital.
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health Foundation is extremely excited about its second annual gala, which this year will celebrate multiple events.
Megan Johnson, director of the foundation, has announced this year’s gala, Eclipse, will not only take place on the weekend of the rare eclipse, but will honor Dr. Joseph Misiti, a longtime surgeon in the Medina community.
The gala is scheduled at 6 p.m. April 6 at Bent’s Opera House.
“The night promises to be a captivating experience for attendees, featuring a live performance by Something Else Rock Band from Rochester,” according to Johnson. “Their energetic beats are sure to get everyone on their feet.”
The opulent affair will be complemented by appetizers, an open bar and an exclusive silent auction.
A highlight of the event will be the inaugural presentation of the Bowen Award, named for George Bowen who worked tirelessly for 15 years to raise funds and led the effort to bring a fully functioning modern hospital to Medina.
Spearheaded by Bowen, dozens of clubs and organizations held fundraisers to finance the hospital, which was built from 1924 to 1925. Bowen served as president of the board of directors of the hospital until his death in 1945, and was such a familiar figure visiting patients, doctors and even the operating room, so much so that he was fondly referred to as “doctor.”
This new award is a prestigious recognition established to honor outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to Orleans Community Health, Johnson said.
This year, the Bowen Award will be bestowed upon Dr. Joseph Misiti, a home-grown Medina native, who has dedicated his entire career to serving his community as a general surgeon at Orleans Community Health since 1982.
Dr. Misiti received his doctorate at the University of Buffalo and completed his residency at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. He is also serving as medical director at Orleans Community Health. His exceptional commitment to the hospital and his generous donation of his surgical practice in January 2021 exemplify the spirit of the Bowen Award, Johnson said.
“We are thrilled to host the second annual Orleans Community Health Gala – Eclipse, bringing together our community for an unforgettable evening of celebration and appreciation,” Johnson said. “This year’s event holds particular significance as we introduce the prestigious Bowen Award and proudly present it to Dr. Joseph Misiti, a pillar of our healthcare community.”
Tickets for the gala are now available for purchase and all proceeds will support the continued growth and enhancement of Orleans Community Health services.
For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities and event details, click here.
Orleans Community Health Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support the quality healthcare services provided by Orleans Community Health to the communities it serves. They strive to engage the community in a unified commitment to Orleans Community Health and facilitate financial support to ensure friends and family have quality healthcare close to home, now and long into the future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2024 at 5:05 pm
7 candidates seeking 3 spots at March 19 election
MEDINA – Recent elections in the village have been quiet, with the candidates typically unopposed.
But the election on March 19 has seven candidates for three positions. Medina will have a new mayor with Mike Sidari not seeking re-election after eight years.
There will be a candidate forum at 6 p.m. on March 12 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, an event sponsored by the Orleans Hub and Lake Country Pennysaver.
There are two candidates running for mayor. Current trustee Marguerite Sherman, a retired special education teacher, is on “The Village Party” line and Michael Maak, a retired Medina firefighter, is running under the “Roots of the Past, Eyes on the Future Party.”
Five people are seeking two trustee positions on the Village Board. Current trustee Tim Elliott and retired village clerk/treasurer Debbie Padoleski are running with Sherman on the “The Village Party.” Elliott is an entrepreneur who currently works for LynOaken Farms. Padoleski retired in 2021 after a 41-year career in the village clerk’s office.
Mat “Austin” Mosher and Jeffrey Pasnik are running with Maak under “Roots of the Past, Eyes on the Future Party.” Mosher is a former Medina firefighter and Pasnik is a council rep for North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters in Cheektowaga. Mosher now works as regional safety manager for United Refining Company and Kwik Fill’s safety and compliance officer.
Mark Prawel, a retired Medina police officer, is running under the “United Party.” He also owns an auto repair shop in Medina.
The candidates see the village at a crossroads, facing $1.7 million for a new ladder truck, an addition to the fire hall with one estimate at $6 million, as well as a looming need to start replacing waterlines that are about a century old.
Many residents say the village taxes are already way too high. The 2023-24 budget raised Medina’s tax rate from $18.85 to $21.15 per $1,000 of assessed property, one of the highest in the region.
Mark Prawel
Prawel, 53, of North Gravel Road said he hears the concern from many of his customers at Prawel Automotive about high taxes. The tax bills have many looking to move out of the village, he said.
“The taxes are really expensive,” Prawel said. “I’d like to see someone with a business mind in there (on the board).”
Prawel retired as a Medina police officer on April 16, 2023. He worked for the village for 16 ½ years. That gave him insight into the village operations. He believes there is room to cut in the village budget and still maintain quality services to the residents and businesses.
“There are a lot of things we could look into,” he said about paring down the budget. “We could be more efficient with our money. All departments could save.”
He worries as the village looks to take on more debt.
“We shouldn’t be spending money we don’t have,” he said.
Prawel has worked as a mechanic since he was 18. He did that full-time while first volunteering and then working for the Sheriff’s Office for 15 years before becoming a Medina police officer. His job as a police officer showed him all aspects of the community.
“I’ve lived here by entire life,” he said. “There are some really nice people in our village.”
Marguerite Sherman
Sherman, Elliott and Padoleski are running as team. Sherman, 61, of Gwinn Street has been a trustee on the board for 10 years and is the current deputy mayor. She also was on the Planning Board for 10 years.
She would like to explore more shared services with the local towns. She was on a committee with Shelby town officials looking for cost savings.
“We all have to be more money conscious,” Sherman said.
The village needs a comprehensive plan to address its water system, she said. An engineer told the board recently the village faced $30 million to upgrade aging waterlines in the near future.
She noted Medina is going to seek grants for infrastructure, blighted properties and to help with the fire truck and fire hall projects.
Despite the challenges in the village, Sherman said the community has many successes, with dedicated volunteers and business owners pushing projects. She said a $4.5 million Forward NY grant will make the downtown and waterfront areas even better.
“We are so fortunate to have so many facets working for the betterment of our village,” she said.
Residents have pushed to upgrade or create a skate park, splash pad, dog park and a disc golf course as well as Boxwood Cemetery improvements. Volunteers also organize a summer concert series, run a visitor’s center and help coordinate planting new trees in the village.
Sherman said the village will miss the leadership of Sidari as mayor.
“Mike has raised the standards and expectations of mayor,” she said. “He has put so much time into it. We’ve worked so hard for so many years to bring things into the village.”
Sherman, Elliott and Padoleski said a bigger share of county’s sales tax and more state aid through the AIM program would make a big difference for the village, taking some pressure off property taxes.
The village receives about $160,000 of the local sales tax that is nearly $25 million in Orleans County. The county has kept the towns and villages frozen at the same level, about $1.3 million for 10 towns and four villages, since 2001.
The village has tried for more village and state funding, but has been stymied.
“We don’t want an adversarial relationship with the county and state,” Sherman said. “But we can’t just give up (on that funding). We want our community to be thriving.”
She said growth in the Medina Business Park with expansions from existing companies and welcoming new ones also would bring in new tax revenue for the village.
Sherman said the budget process is very challenging, to be fair to the village’s 50 employees while also trying not to overwhelm taxpayers.
“It is a lot of stress,” she said. “I don’t sleep at night during the budget season.”
Debbie Padoleski
Padoleski, 62, of Erie Street didn’t expect to make a run for public office. She is uncomfortable seeing her name on political signs around the village. She was motivated to run after she received her reassessments for three properties last year, and the numbers doubled, resulting in a big increase in her tax bills.
“If everything goes up with taxes, we’re in deep trouble,” Padoleski said.
She said the village has tried for years to get more of the sales tax, but county officials have been steadfast in rejecting an increase.
Padoleski brings a deep knowledge of the village inner workings. She can use those skills as part of the village budget process.
She also said the village needs to keep speaking out about the need for more of the local sales tax and AIM funds from the state.
“It can’t just be outrage and stomping our feet,” she said about the local sales tax share and AIM money.
Tim Elliott
Elliott, 39, of Manilla Place helped the village to adopt a vacant registry law where property owners pay to be on the registry and then are assessed an annual fee for each year the sites remains vacant. That law has helped reduce the vacant sites from about 80 to less than 40.
Elliott is concerned about the tax burden for the residents and property owners. Medina is seeking grants to try to ease some of the local burden. But Elliott believes the county needs to free up some of the sales tax revenue for Medina, which he said is a prime generator of that money.
Elliott at one time owned 15 houses in the village. He has reduced that to four properties. He also owned Brushstrokes Studios, Into the Enigma and was part-owner of 810 Meadworks.
He also is a member of the Town of Ridgeway Planning Board and also the Grievance Board.
He worries the county will only take the village’s financial strain seriously if Medina is forced to cut some services. But even then he isn’t sure the county will let go of any of the sales tax revenue.
Elliott said he has never been a “one-issue candidate.” He said he brings an open mind to the position, and tries to research issues and hear from stakeholders before making a decision.
Maak, Mosher and Pasnik are running as a team. They say the current village administration should have had a better plan for purchasing the new ladder and having space for it. The village board also should have a plan for replacing water lines and other infrastructure, the candidates said.
Mike Maak
Maak, 54, of State Street retired in January 2016 as a captain after nearly 27 years with the fire department. He works full-time now as a paramedic with the Gates Ambulance. He is a past chairman of the Big Lakes EMS Council for Genesee, Orleans and Niagara counties.
Maak said the board should have had the fire hall space issue resolved before committing to a new ladder truck. The new truck is expected to be ready around Christmas 2025.
The costs for fire trucks has escalated. The ladder truck from 1995 cost $390,000, with the new one more than four times that cost. And building projects also are far more than expected, with the board looking to pare down a project that came in at an estimated $6 million.
The fire department also has a pumper from 1990 that will need replacement in the near future, Maak said.
“They’ve let things go so long eventually you have to pay,” he said. “They’ve kicked the can down the road for too long.”
Maak thinks a better solution for the fire hall addition may be a joint public safety building for the fire department and police. If it’s moved out of the historic downtown area the village would have more flexibility in the construction, he said.
Medina needs an overall updated comprehensive plan to assess the needs of the village, and work on a schedule for upgrades, Maak said.
He would also push for the village to become an incorporated city, which should result in more AIM funding for the community as well as more of the local sales tax.
Jeff Pasnik
Pasnik, 39, of North Street has worked in the construction industry as a union carpenter for 15 years. The past seven years he has been in the union leadership for a 12-county region, helping the group manage a tight budget.
Pasnik grew up in Middleport, but was part of a Boy Scout troop in Medina as a kid. He has lived in Medina the past 10 years. He is a current member of the Leadership Orleans program.
“I want to be a person of change for this county,” he said.
Pasnik said the current village board has lacked a plan to tackle so many issues in the village, from the fire trucks, to fire hall to other infrastructure.
In his job he sees other parts of Western New York much busier with construction projects, from private projects to public infrastructure. Medina should be seeking federal funds through the new infrastructure bill, Pasnik said.
“The president passed a once-in-a-generation infrastructure program,” Pasnik said. “This is our opportunity to upgrade our water system.”
Mat “Austin” Mosher
Mosher, 52, of Hedley Street works throughout the region at 160 Kwik Fill gas stations as a regional safety manager. He said his experience would be an asset to the village with code enforcement, construction and safety.
“I bring a fresh set of eyes,” he said.
Mosher said he isn’t afraid to make tough choices, even if they are unpopular. But he would like to see the public be more informed about critical decisions in the village.
Mosher said he volunteered as a youth coach and has long felt an obligation to serve the community.
“The timing is right for me to be involved,” he said.
Polls for the election will be open noon to 9 p.m. on March 19 at the Senior Center, 615 West Ave. The terms for mayor and the trustees are for two years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2024 at 2:00 pm
Provided photo
ALBANY – Hannah Brundage of Kendall finished fourth in the state in the American Legion Oratorical Contest. The competition was March 2 at the Crown Plaza in Albany.
Brundage advanced to the state contest after winning the zone competition in Mount Morris. She also won the Orleans County and the 8th District Level contests.
She advanced to the state competition after giving an 8-10 minute speech on the Constitution and then a 3-5 minute additional speech on a chosen piece of the Constitution decided that day.
Brundage entitled her main speech, “Understanding the Government.” She began by asking how many in the audience ever leave home, wondering if they will ever see their loved ones again, not knowing if they would make it back alive?
Her father, Daniel Brundage, experienced that as an Army veteran with the 10th Mountain Division. He served a tour in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq. As a firefinder radar technician, his job was to locate incoming artillery and their trajectories and determine the enemy’s position.
“Putting his life on the line, he was able to save countless other soldiers from a gruesome death,” Hannah Brundage said. “Just like him, thousands of men and women in the military are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect us. Many do not return.”
Brundage urges citizens to educate themselves on the Constitution and the role of government.
“As James Madison said, ‘Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives,’” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2024 at 1:13 pm
Courtney Fannon
KENDALL – The school district is mourning the loss of a special education teacher.
Courtney Fannon, 29, passed away on Friday with her infant daughter, Hadley Jaye.
“Courtney was a special education teacher who served her students with passion and joy each day,” District Superintendent Nick Picardo said in a message to the community. “When she wasn’t in her classroom sharing her love and gift for teaching with her students, she could be found walking our halls with a smile and a friendly hello.”
School is closed today. Counselors will be available at the elementary school for students and staff on Tuesday.
A GoFundMe has been established to help Fannon’s family.
Press Release, Orleans County Emergency Management Office
The Orleans Aware app is available via the attached QR code.
ALBION – Orleans County Emergency Management today released information to help residents prepare for the upcoming solar eclipse and the significant increase in visitors and traffic volume that is expected to result.
Emergency Management also encouraged residents to download its free app, called Orleans Aware (click here), to receive important notifications during the eclipse event on April 8.
“Our office is in full preparation mode right now, planning for what could be hundreds of thousands of visitors coming to the region,” said Justin Niederhofer, director of Orleans County Emergency Management. “I encourage residents to do the same. We know from previous eclipse events in other communities across the country that the disruption can be significant.”
Niederhofer said residents should schedule all non-urgent errands and appointments prior to April 5 or after April 8. In addition, people should ensure they have enough essential supplies such as groceries, prescription medications and fuel prior to April 5.
“The movement of people is our biggest concern, which is one of the reasons all area schools are closed on April 8,” Niederhofer said. “To the extent that people can avoid traveling during the peak time, please do so, and if you must go somewhere, allow for extra time.
Niederhofer said the expectation is first responders will be in high demand, which means the ability to reach people in need is paramount. There is concern that some, especially from out-of-town, may pull off to the roadside or onto the shoulder to view the eclipse, which is unsafe.
“Make a plan for where you to intend to watch the eclipse and ensure you have necessary eclipse glasses to protect your eyes,” Niederhofer said. “Our four local libraries have free eclipse glasses for residents while supplies last.”
Last, Niederhofer said Emergency Management has sped up the release of its new app, Orleans Aware, to be utilized during the solar eclipse. This will allow the agency to connect with residents and visitors, providing information quickly and efficiently to anyone with a smartphone.
“It is imperative for us to be able to reach out to the community quickly in the event of any type of emergency situation,” Niederhofer said. “Plus, this app is a joint effort with our Health Department, allowing us to provide information on a host of public health and safety issues going forward.”
MEDINA – Recent elections in the village have been quiet, with the candidates typically unopposed.
