Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday signed legislation to make it easier for New Yorkers to understand proposed constitutional amendments and other questions put to voters on ballots in New York State.
Under this legislation, proposed amendments and other ballot measures must be explained in plain and clear language that allows voters to understand the practical impact of adopting or rejecting the measure they are being asked to vote on.
“Generations of Americans have fought for the right to vote, and New York is doing our part to ensure access to the ballot box is fair and equitable,” Hochul said. “I proudly signed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York into law last year, and am pleased to enact this new legislation which will ensure New Yorkers are informed and protected when they cast their vote on proposed constitutional amendments.”
Legislation S.1381A /A.1722B requires questions, including proposed constitutional amendments that are submitted to a public statewide vote to be written in plain language. The bill sets a standard for all ballot language to be written at or below an eighth grade reading level, and to be written in a Yes or No format, so all citizens have a fair opportunity to confidently cast their ballots.
When dense and complicated language is used to explain proposed amendments or other questions on the ballot, it can make voters feel confused about the decision they are being asked to make.
As a result, some voters may decide not to vote on these questions at all, or may wonder if they actually voted in accordance with their preferences. By requiring the use of plain language on such ballot measures, the legislation signed by Hochul will help empower New Yorkers at the ballot box to confidently cast their votes and make their voices heard on important questions impacting their communities and the entire state.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2023 at 8:54 am
Graphic from American Farm Bureau Federation
The cost for a classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 people is down about $3, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual marketbasket survey.
The cost is $61.17 this Thanksgiving or $6.12 a guest, down from $64.04 in 2022. The cost this year is still well above the $53.31 in 2021.
The American Farm Bureau Federation members go into grocery stores and check prices in all 50 states in Puerto Rico. They survey prices of the various items used to prepare a classic Thanksgiving feast – turkey, cubed stuffing, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, frozen peas, fresh cranberries, celery, carrots, pumpkin pie mix, pie shells, whipping cream and whole milk.
To reflect an expanded Thanksgiving table, data on boneless ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans is also collected. When including the additional items, the cost of a Thanksgiving meal rose to $84.75 or $8.48 per person, Farm Bureau reported.
In the classic basket, seven of the 11 surveyed items saw a price decrease since last year, including turkey, cubed stuffing, frozen peas, cranberries, pie shells, whipping cream and whole milk. The price of four items rose in price year-over-year – the relish tray (a mix of fresh celery and carrots), sweet potatoes, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie mix, Farm Bureau reported.
A 16-pound frozen whole turkey accounts for 45 percent of the classic Thanksgiving feast at $27.35, a 5.6% decrease from 2022.
“Of all items surveyed this year, pumpkin pie mix ($4.44 per 30 oz. can) and dinner rolls ($3.84 per dozen) had the largest percent increase at 3.8% and 3.0% respectively,” Farm Bureau economist Betty Resnick stated. “Products with the largest percentage drop in prices included whipping cream ($1.73 per half pint) and fresh cranberries ($2.10 per 12 oz.) at a decrease of 22.8% and 18.3% respectively.”
The $61.17 price for the classic meal is the second highest in the survey’s 38 years.
“Despite challenges with inflation and the rising cost of food, farmers and ranchers are working hard each day to provide America with a safe and affordable food supply,” Resnick said in the report for the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Food security plays a significant role in national security, and an abundant and reliable food supply is essential for any free nation. So, this Thanksgiving, as you gather around the table with friends and family, let’s also give thanks to the hard work of farmers and ranchers in providing our food and the national security and well-being that go with it.”
This topic will be explored at a Community Coalition for Justice gathering on Thursday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hoag Library (Curtis Room).
There will be brief presentations from a panel of local people from our farming community and law enforcement. Additionally, there will be immigration statistics provided.
Following the presentations, there will be a question/answer/comment period for attendees.
The Community Coalition for Justice includes the Hoag Library, Albion Betterment Committee, Pullman Universalist Church, People Embracing Diversity and the Social Justice Committee.
Later this week many will be gathering together for a tryptophan-fueled feast and nothing says Thanksgiving dinner like turkey, stuffing, and a myriad of homemade pies.
To that end I took a trip up to the Abundant Harvest Pie & Gift Shop (located within the Knowlesville Fellowship Hall at 3619 Knowlesville Rd.) to meet up with Nate Johnidas, who has been volunteering there every Friday for years, as well as to purchase some pies and learn a little about their process.
For many years people would gather in the Fellowship Hall of The Church of The Abundant Harvest, previously known as Knowlesville UMC, to enjoy a delicious Fish Fry every Friday evening throughout Lent. One of the highlights of those dinners, and I can speak from personal experience here, became the large variety of homemade pies. About 9 years ago, after a number of people had asked if there was a way that they could purchase a pie outside of the dinners, a decision was made to start the shop. Since that time the dinners have unfortunately stopped but the demand for delicious homemade pies is still going.
I spoke with Ruth H., Linda B., Linda S., and Sylvia A., who are the primary pie makers, and learned that they make and sell more than 2,000 pies annually and will sell around 200 pies alone over Thanksgiving week. In fact, if you would like to order pies for this year, you can still put in an order this weekend. The cutoff date is Sunday, November 19th and you can pick your pies up any time the following Monday-Wednesday between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
They offer 18 different types of pie that average $4 for a 6” pie or $10 for a 9” pie. Beyond their highest selling varieties of apple, pumpkin and cherry, they also offer peach, pecan, mincemeat, chocolate peanut butter, and more. To hear a full listing or to order please contact Ruth Higgins (585) 798-4483 or Linda Baker (585) 798-3667.
You can also purchase pies at The Downtown Browsery in Medina or simply stop in at The Pie & Gift Shop between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. any Friday or Saturday. Frozen pies can be purchased anytime but if you would prefer to eat it there with a cup of coffee just call The Fellowship Hall 2 hrs. in advance (585) 798-3173 and they will be happy to bake it for you.
Since I had not called ahead, and didn’t feel like baking, I chose a few 6” pies that only needed to be thawed. I had tried the peanut butter and pumpkin previously, so I already knew that they would be good, but I was intrigued by the one I was not familiar with—pineapple cream. Truth be told it became my new favorite as it was light and the flavor reminded me of ambrosia salad. My buddy Dave Good agreed.
Beyond the homemade pies the shop also has a large variety of gifts, of which many are also handmade, and they do other events such as their Mystery Box Sale on Dec. 2 where you can purchase a Mystery Box for either $1 or $5 and a light lunch of soup and sandwich for $5 of which the proceeds will go to benefit The Church of The Abundant Harvest.
They also offer Free Alzheimer’s Respite Care. Knowing how hard it can be to care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease the volunteers offer families a chance to take a much-needed break and bring their loved one by every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. While there the volunteers will care for your loved one by doing activities with them and feeding them lunch. There are some requirements which you can call the Fellowship Hall to inquire about in advance.
And now, before I say goodbye, I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am truly thankful for so many things this year including you dear readers. It warms my heart when I get greeted as Refill with Randy out in the community and I do appreciate the positive feedback that I have received. I don’t know how much longer I will continue this column, but I will always be glad to share a cup of coffee with a friend whether old or new.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and I will see you again in 2 weeks!
We are fast approaching the celebration of Thanksgiving. Are we truly grateful for the earth and all that it gives to us? If we are, we should reflect this in what we do.
The following are some ways that we can show gratitude toward the earth:
Avoid unnecessary purchases. Buy only what you need. Plan out your meal before you go shopping.
Instead of taking multiple trips back and forth to the grocery store, try to make just one or two trips.
If you are serving turkey, buy a turkey that is range-free and raised without antibiotics if it fits within your budget.
Eating less meat is one of the most impactful choices that you can make to help reduce climate change and conserve natural resources, so, if you are so inclined, you can forgo or reduce the amount of turkey or other meat that you serve and fill-in with veggie side dishes.
Buy local.
Freeze what you can’t eat of your Thanksgiving meal within a few days. Repurpose your leftovers. Try creative recipes (many can be found online) to use and spice-up your leftovers.
Use reusable containers for all leftovers.
If you’re decorating for Thanksgiving, use sustainable décor.
Use water responsibly.
Green Orleans is a small grassroots organization open to Orleans County citizens who are committed to encouraging community members to incorporate actions that will help preserve the environment.
If you are interested in becoming part of Green Orleans or would like to just help out on a project occasionally, contact Sr. Delores O’Dowd at (585) 589-1405.
KENDALL – The Kendall Lions Club welcomed three new members on Thursday. Membership Chairman Mike Cusimano formally inducted Karen and Joe Calabro, sponsored by Lion Steve Giverson, and Dave Gaudioso, who was sponsored by Lion John Becker.
All three new members have already become active participants in the club’s service projects and activities. Before the evening’s meeting members of the Kendall Lions and the Kendall Community delivered 76 food boxes to area residents in need.
The Kendall Lions welcome other community members to participate in our service projects and those interested in becoming a member can reach out to Mike Cusimano, the membership chairman, or any Kendall Lion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 November 2023 at 3:35 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Makenzie Cook, left, is Frog and Sophie Kozody is Toad in the Albion Middle School production of “A Year With Frog and Toad.”
There were performances Friday evening and at noon today with a final show this evening at 7 in the middle school auditorium. Tickets are $5.
The musical is over an hour and follows the woodland adventures of two amphibious friends, the worrywart toad and a perky frog. In the course of a year, they encounter many hopping, crawling and flying companions, including bees, a mouse, snail, turtle, lizards, squirrels and moles.
Julia Graham, center, plays the role of Snail. She is joined by the Snow Dancers (Nicole Loney, left, and Kendall Peruzzini.)
The Snail is happy after successfully delivering a letter from Frog to Toad.
Makenzie Cook (Frog) writes a letter to Toad after Toad said he has never received any mail.
Sophie Kozody (Toad) at right sings “Cookies” with two birds, Aniela Wilson, left, and Ayme Vallejo Morales.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 November 2023 at 9:25 am
UB architecture students create memorial to honor Sydney Gross, who is remembered for vibrant personality
Photos by Tom Rivers: A new sculpture with 23 precast concrete modules was unveiled on Friday at the Lions Park along the Erie Canal in Medina just east of the lift bridge on Route 63.
MEDINA – The University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning accepted the challenge: create a memorial for a former student that would be engaging, reflecting the ebullient personality of the late Sydney Gross.
Gross was a student in the program who left a strong impression on her professors and the other students. She was a very social person who was friends with everyone. She was killed in a car accident in July 2009.
Gross’s family has donated to projects at the UB School of Architecture and Planning in Sydney’s name. They have funded part of a lecture series, paid for the travel of UB students to compete at the solar decathlon in Italy, and also a 10-year alumni symposium.
The family wanted a sculpture in memory of Sydney, a project that would challenge the UB students and also have an end result of bringing people together.
A new sculpture with 23 pieces was unveiled on Friday in Medina along the Erie Canal. It’s close to the Big Apple sculpture on the north side of the canal, just east of the lift bridge on Route 63.
Lori Duckstein smiles after a ribbon-cutting and is thrilled with the new sculpture in memory of her daughter.
Lori Duckstein, Sydney’s mother, commended the UB students and their professors for bringing the sculpture to reality. They worked more than a year on it, including brainstorming sessions with Medina High School art students in Jen Scott’s classes.
“I’m happy with the execution of it,” Duckstein said on Friday, when she made her first visit to Medina. “We want kids to be outside and having fun.”
Sydney is from New Jersey near New York City. She never was in Medina. But she was always welcoming to others, looking to build connections. In that sense, Medina is the ideal location, her mother said.
She thanked the Medina community for accepting the sculpture in a prominent spot in the community.
“It’s in a beautiful town that’s along the canal,” Duckstein said. “It’s accessible.”
The UB students and their professors installed the pieces on Monday and Wednesday, using a forklift. The pieces are several hundred pounds to several thousand. They are arranged in clusters to create a furniture setting.
The arrangement is designed for recreation, reflection, and relaxation for anyone traveling on the canal or trail or as a local resident enjoying the canalside park.
Graduate students in the architecture program at the University of Buffalo met with Medina art students in Jennifer Scott’s class in this photo from February. The UB students met to discuss possibilities of a sculpture as a playground area with artistic elements. One idea shown in the photo called for a “forest of flutes” where people could make sounds and music from flutes. There would also be rocks or stone walls that could be used to make music, too. UB and medina students sketched out many ideas with the goal to not have a static sculpture but create something that would be experiential.
Medina High School Art Teacher Jen Scott said her students benefited from being part of the discussion and seeing the create process from the UB students and their professors.
“The creativity was palpable in the art room!” she exclaimed. “The graduate students from the Architecture Department at UB were engaging and collaborative while working with the high school students. It was exciting to see ideas flying as well as empowering to see the high school students offering their input.”
UB professors Joyce Hwang and Chris Romano also met with the Medina students, and so did Joana Pires Pacheco from the New York Power Authority. They helped the high school students understand the scope of the project commemorating Sydney Gross.
“Remembering and honoring her through this public art installation serves as a landmark that all community members in Medina can enjoy,” Scott said. “Whether students visit the installation for photos, boaters on the canal use it as a landmark, or community members picnic and play there, it will be a powerful public space that will be enjoyed for future generations.”
University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning professors Christopher Romano and Joyce Hwang were professors for Sydney Gross and led the students in creating the sculpture.
“She was a very social student who was connected to everyone,” Hwang said about Sydney. “She will be bringing people together in a new way.”
Romano said the project was very ambitious for 43 students that worked on the sculptures. They created the “curvaceous objects” that are sanded and shaped concrete with bent steel inside.
The 23 modules weigh 25,000 pounds. They also put in 26 tons of stone and sand for the site work about a month ago.
“They aren’t just for sitting,” Romano said about the sculptures. “It’s a conversation starter and a community builder. We hope it brings the public to the canal.”
The UB School of Architecture and Planning worked with the New York Power Authority, the Canal Corporation and Village of Medina officials on the project, as well as the Medina art students.
“It was a project that required us to connect with many people and bridge together many state agencies,” Hwang and Romano said. “In the end, the result is a project that has touched many people’s lives with the ambition to touch many more as they stop for a reflective moment along the Erie Canal.”
UB architecture students are excited and happy at the ribbon-cutting for the new sculptures.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2023 at 10:40 pm
New public art sculptures dedicated today, with more projects in the works
Photos by Tom Rivers: Brian Stratton, commissioner of the NYS Canal Corp. was in Medina today to celebrate the new public art sculptures by the canal between the Glenwood Avenue canal bridge and the lift bridge on Route 63. Stratton also announced several big projects are coming to Medina to better capitalize on the canal.
MEDINA – On a day when Medina celebrated a new public art sculpture by the Erie Canal, state officials announced several big projects are headed to the community to better capitalize on the canal and build on recent successes in Medina.
The new public art sculpture is a memorial to Sydney Gross, a New Jersey native who was a student in the UB School of Architecture and Planning. She was killed in a car accident in July 2009.
The memorial consists of 23 precast concrete modules, weighing anywhere from several hundred to several thousand pounds. The sculptures have bent steel inside to give them their shape.
People can rest or play on the sculptures, which are near the Big Apple sculpture created by Richard Bannister.
The new memorial is set on 26 tons of stone. UB students did the site work about a month ago. The 25,000 pounds of concrete pieces were installed on Monday and Wednesday with a forklift used to move them into place.
UB architecture students join Sydney Gross’s mother Lori Duckstein in celebrating the completion of a year-long project to design and build the sculpture. They met with Medina High School art students in Jen Scott’s classes to get their input last spring and in the fall. There were 43 UB architecture students involved in the project which was led by Christopher Romano and Joyce Hwang, faculty members in the UB School of Architecture and Planning.
• Several other major projects also were announced today for Medina. The state Canal Corp. and New York Power Authority will make repairs to the concrete wall on the northside of the canal near the waterfalls and Horan Road bridge.
• NYPA and the Canal Corp. also want to improve the view for the public to see the Medina waterfalls. That will definitely include better management of the vegetation by the waterfalls and could include an elevated platform. The project is in the planning stages, said Angelyn Chandler, vice president of planning at NYPA for Reimagine the Canals.
The north wall of the canal is shown near the Horan Road bridge. The wall will be repaired, the Canal Corp. and New York Power Authority announced today.
The state also want to give the public a better view of the Medina Waterfalls by the canal. Those waterfalls carry the Oak Orchard Creek through the Medina aqueduct under the canal.
Medina Mayor Mike Sidari said he is grateful for the new public art sculpture in Medina and the upcoming projects.
• The state announced the towpath trail will be upgraded from the lift bridge to the Bates Road bridge, which is about 1.5 miles.
The Rehabilitation of the Erie Canalway Trail & Empire State Trail from the Horan Road bridge to the Bates Road bridge will leverage a $411,495 Federal TAP Grant, the Canal Corp. and NYPA announced.
• J.J. Tighe, director of the Parks and Trails Initiative for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, announced a $2.654 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to establish a vibrant public waterfront park that seamlessly links the gateways at the Medina lift bridge and Horan Road bridge to downtown Medina. It will create an accessible loop designed to unify the community around the Erie Canal.
Designed by City Architects of New York City, the initiative places a premium on recreational amenities for boaters and trail users, promoting a dynamic public space and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
“Our efforts in Medina reflect the goals of the Reimagine the Canals initiative – we are working collaboratively with local stakeholders to enhance and reenergize the Erie Canal so that it remains a vibrant driver of economic activity for decades to come,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “The initial art sculpture unveiled today, and the preliminary ideas being considered to improve the village’s connection to the canal, underscore NYPA and the Canal Corporation’s commitment to leveraging canal infrastructure as a way to encourage year-round visitation to our historic communities.”
• NYPA and the Canal Corp. also announced a major Art Triennial event to be held in Medina every three years with the first in 2025, the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal. The art event will be spread over weeks and months.
The large-scale art event includes support from the Hungerford family in Medina, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, NYS Council on the Arts, and institutional partners from Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery and the Buffalo AKG.
The groups are identify spaces to showcase the art, and work from emerging artist and established ones.
“For generations, Medina thrived as a canal port exporting sandstone to support construction projects around the world, and now this picturesque canalside village is evolving to rediscover itself as an emerging center for arts and culture in Western New York,” said Stratton, the canal commissioner. “By initiating the preliminary design work that will guide future projects that aim to improve and rehabilitate our infrastructure, the Canal Corporation is demonstrating its commitment to Medina, and we are building upon a great foundation already laid by the community.”
UB students and their professors climb on the sculptures for a group photo after a year of hard work on the project.
Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
Replacing the popularity of traditional cigarettes, the e-cigarette was introduced to the market around 2007. Typically branded as a safer alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, e-cigarettes work by using a battery to heat up liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other additives and chemicals.
Various flavors and scents have been used as a marketing technique to increase the appeal of e-cigarette smoking to young people.
According to the 2021 CLYDE Survey administered to 7th, 9th and 11th grade students in Genesee and Orleans Counties by UConnectCare (formally GCASA):
3% of 7th grade students reported vaping with nicotine in the past 30 days
19.7% of 11th grade students reported vaping with nicotine in the past 30 days
11.1% of 11th grade students reported vaping with marijuana in the past 30 days
There are many reasons for vaping by teens and young adults, including peer pressure and wanting to fit in with their friends. However, no tobacco product is safe, especially for adolescents.
Many teens believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking and find the lack of smoke and smell, appealing. Young people who believe that e-cigarettes cause no harm are more likely to use them. It is important for parents and educators to work together to teach adolescents about the health risks associated with e-cigarettes.
How can you talk to youth about vaping? Here are some tips:
Make sure you are aware of the facts first, before you talk with youth about vaping. To learn more about vaping, visit the CDC website or the Surgeon General website.
Consider what they are going through and put yourself in their shoes. Think about what pressures they face at school, at home, and with their friends. Encourage an open dialogue and have empathy throughout the conversation.
Set a positive example by staying tobacco-free. If you use tobacco, it is never too late to quit. For more help or information on quitting, contact your healthcare provider. You can also text, chat or call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or visit the New York State Department of Health website.
Wait for the right moment to start the conversation and try to have a more natural conversation, rather than a lecture.
Avoid scare tactics and connect with what youth care about.
If you have questions or need support, talk with your healthcare provider.
After you talk, let them know that you appreciate them for taking the time to listen and for being honest with you.
Continue to follow-up and keep the lines of communication open. New vaping products such as vaping hoodies and vaping flash drives are introduced to youth on a regular basis. Continue to do your research and stay up to date on any new information related to vaping.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2023 at 2:43 pm
County officials say Orleans faces many rising costs, including from homeless crisis
ALBION – Orleans County’s tentative budget for 2024 totals $92,494,994, which is down 1.5 percent from 93,702,812 in 2023.
However, despite the reduction in spending the county is proposing a 3.25 percent tax increase with the tax levy going up $607,000 to $19,264,000. The levy was $18,657,000 in both 2022 and 2023.
Jack Welch
The county will have a public hearing on the budget at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Orleans County Legislative Chambers, 14016 Route 31 W, Albion.
“Orleans County released its tentative budget that continues to stay below the state property tax cap, even with the tremendous budget pressures we are facing from high inflation and unfunded state mandates,” said Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman. “It is unconscionable that just nine state mandates now account for 98.9% of our total tax levy in this year’s budget proposal but that is the reality we are dealing with as Albany attempts to pass their budget problems onto us.”
Although the levy is up over 3 percent, the tax rate will drop by $1.30 from $9.87 to $8.57 or by 13.2 percent. That is because the reassessments in several towns in the county have boosted the overall assessed value by 19.0 percent or by $358.9 million to $2.25 billion.
The budget was filed on Wednesday by Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer. Welch said putting together the budget was a challenge due to “volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity such as promises broken, the core inflation rate that is twice as high as it was two years ago, continued employment challenges of retaining and hiring new employees, prolonged supply chain issues which have no certainty of the price of goods or the delivery of goods as quoted.”
He said actions by the state government has stressed the county budget. That includes a loss of over $3 million in federal funds through the eFMAP Medicaid reconciliation for the Affordable Care Act enhanced payments. That state eliminated that money from counties, Welch said.
The county also will lose out on $1.1 million in annual Medicaid to State (formally MMIS) payments, he said.
“The second loss we have had to endure is the wireless broadband Congressional Directed Spending funding in the amount of $1.5 million because Orleans County was not the lead agency,” Welch said in his budget statement. “We are moving forward to complete the wireless broadband project in 2024 utilizing our own funds.”
Welch said a homeless crisis for temporary and permanent emergency housing placements has increased the workload for the Department of Social Services. Assisting the homeless as well as other mandated programs through DSS prompted the county to increase the hours for DSS workers from 35 to 37.5 hours per week with a goal of 40 hours per week rather than hiring additional employees, Welch said
“All of these changes have had the greatest impact on the component of the budget titled Economic Assistance and Opportunity,” he said in his budget message. “The 2024 budgeted county cost for these services is 17.5% over 2023 budgeted county cost.”
Nine state mandated programs account for $19,056,290 or 98.9 percent of the proposed 2024 tax levy. For 2023, the “9 for 90” mandates totaled $16,877,758. That is a 12.9% increase for Orleans County, Welch noted.
Lynne Johnson
The 2024 Capital Plan totals $7.8 million with a county cost of $3.5 million without using debt. Highway projects – bridges, roads, culverts and equipment – account for $6.7 million of the capital expense. Technology upgrades also are a significant part in the Capital Plan with departments updating end-of-life platforms, Welch said.
The county also is facing a 7.8 percent increase in health insurance costs, bringing the total expense to about $8 million.
Welch said sales tax revenue has been strong and that takes some pressure off property taxes. The county also is in line for $4.3 million in state and federal funding for bridge work and other highway improvements.
The county budget provides funding for other organizations in the county, with some slated to get an increase and others not.
The four public libraries will stay at $10,000, according to the 2024 tentative budget. The Cobblestone Museum is budgeted for $3,000, when the organization previously wasn’t in the budget but sometimes received $3,000 from the county’s contingency funds.
The budget allocates $200,000 for the Economic Development Agency, up from $190,000 in 2023. The Soil & Water Conservation District would go from $95,000 in 2023 to $97,500.
The Sportsmen’s Federation would see its funding cut from $1,000 to $0.
The Cooperative Extension would at $240,000, even though the organization requested $275,000. The Extension has been at $240,000 since at least 2020. The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council would stay at $4,000.
The annual fee for solid waste and recycling service will increase by $4 to $220. This fee will continue to support the e-waste collection efforts for county residents at three sites across Orleans County.
“The program remains very popular, with high demand for the disposal of CRT monitors and televisions,” Welch said. “The county is also planning to continue to offer the Household Hazardous Waste pick up annually which includes residential tires.”
Sales taxes receipts are budgeted $20.8 million and strong sales tax growth has taken some of the pressure off the tax levy, helping the county to stay below the property tax cap for 2024.
“I commend Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch and all our of department heads for putting together a responsible budget that properly funds our services while maintaining accountability to taxpayers,” Johnson said. “The need for our services has never been greater, yet our employees continue to find ways to meet that demand within the confines of our budget.”
BATAVIA – It is with immense joy and pride that we announce GCC Professor of ESL and English, Kathleen Klaiber, is the recipient of this year’s New York State TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) College ESOL Professor of the Year Award.
Kathleen Klaiber has been honored as the College ESOL Professor of the Year. She has had a distinguished career marked by excellence along the way. Professor Klaiber is a two-time recipient of the SUNY Chancellor Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.
In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Professor Klaiber exhibited exceptional resilience and innovation. Recognizing the diverse needs of students scattered across the globe in six different time zones, she devised the FLEXESOL Approach to Teaching in the High Flex Modality. This groundbreaking initiative showcased her dedication to ensuring a seamless educational experience for students worldwide.
Beyond her individual accomplishments, Professor Klaiber stands out as an active and motivating professional within the NYSTESOL and academic communities. Her unwavering support has significantly enhanced communication and interactions among NYSTESOL members and practitioners.
The New York State TESOL (NYSTESOL) organization proudly advocates, advances, and enriches TESOL education and professionalism throughout the state. Comprising professionals committed to the education of English language learners at all levels, NYSTESOL focuses on classroom practices, research, program and curriculum development, employment, funding, and legislation.
Kathleen Kleiber’s recognition as the State TESOL College ESOL Professor of the Year reaffirms her commitment to excellence and innovation in TESOL education. Her impact extends beyond the classroom, shaping the future of language education in New York State and beyond.
Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
Photo from Schumer’s Office: Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks in June at Har-Go Dairy Farms in Pavilion.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that he has secured an extension for the vital Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program dairy farmers rely on, that was set to expire this year, and which could’ve left farmers facing a “dairy cliff,’ cutting off payments to farmers and harming consumers by raising the price of milk.
Schumer secured the extension of the Farm Bill in the Continuing Resolution budget deal which President Biden signed today.
“Our dairy farmers are the beating heart of Upstate, and when they came to me worried that this year we could be going over the ‘dairy cliff,’ I immediately started ringing the cowbell and promised I would churn up support to ensure these payments wouldn’t lapse,” Schumer said. “I helped enact the Dairy Margin Coverage Program in the 2018 Farm Bill, and I am proud to have secured this vital year-long extension while we work to develop a bipartisan Farm Bill in the next year.”
Schumer explained the “dairy cliff” refers to the expiration of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, a risk management tool that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.
The dairy industry would be the first impacted, as dairy farmers would lose out on monthly payments through the DMC, whereas farmers participating in other support programs are paid just once per year around harvest time. If we went “over the dairy cliff” that would have meant an end to monthly price support payments to dairy farmers who participate in the Dairy Margin Coverage program, supply chain disruptions causing increased milk prices, and potentially billions in wasted government spending as the federal government would be forced to make milk purchases at a highly inflated price.
Schumer fought to include a one-year Farm Bill extension in the Continuing Resolution budget deal and ensure dairy farmers were protected from going over the cliff at the end of the year. The extension keeps the vital Dairy Margin Coverage Program intact for another year to protect NY’s critical dairy industry while also giving members of Congress extra time to continue to work through the negotiations for the full Farm Bill.
The dairy industry is one of New York’s largest contributor to the agricultural economy. According to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Dairy statistics, there are approximately 3,200 dairy farms in New York that produce over 15 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation’s fifth largest dairy state.
By Randy LeBaron
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