Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Eddie Quatro (left), 7, of Albion and his brother Danny, 9, have the binoculars out to watch a condenser from the Graham Corp. in Batavia be loaded onto a barge at about 10 a.m. today.

Eddie and Danny are home-schooled. Their mother Ellie Quatro wanted the boys to see the cranes moving the big piece of equipment onto the barge.

“This is the perfect field trip that came to us today,” she said.

The condenser is about 200,000 pounds. It left Batavia early this morning around 4 a.m. and headed down 98.

Stephanie DiGiulio took this photo and the one below of the condenser going down Route 31A in Barre. A caravan helped move the equipment on the slow journey.

The route included Route 98, to 31A in Barre, then down Gaines Basin Road before turning right on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.

There were people to raise the wires so the equipment could pass through without taking down utilities.

Graham did a similar effort on May 25, 2022, when a condenser was taken from Batavia to Albion by truck, and then loaded onto a barge. That condenser was used for a nuclear submarine. Graham officials declined to discuss the condenser this morning.

The Tug Edna A with Barge 82 is taking the condenser east along the canal. The shipment’s final destination is in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The condenser will be used by the Navy.

The Tug Edna A is owned by the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company of Troy. It picked up the oversize load along the canal just east of the Gaines Basin Road bridge.

There were several onlookers to see the huge cranes move the 200,000-pound package.

The condenser is on site by the canal and a worker checks it before being lifted onto the barge.

These cyclists ride on the towpath and get closer to the heavy equipment moving the package onto the barge.

Legislature leader says Genesee trying to ‘steamroll’ Orleans in accepting STAMP sewer

Press Release, Orleans County Legislature

ALBION – Last night, the Orleans County Legislature voted unanimously for a resolution to preserve the Oak Orchard River and local tributaries in Orleans County.  The Legislature continues to push back against Genesee County’s Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park’s (STAMP) plan to discharge to six million gallons of wastewater a day from STAMP into Oak Orchard River by way of the Town of Shelby.

“Tonight’s resolution and the lawsuit we filed last week to prevent this wastewater discharge are not actions we take lightly, as we have a long record of partnering with our friends in Genesee County,” said Lynne Johnson, Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature.  “But partnerships are built upon being able to have conversations on difficult topics like wastewater and then cooperating on a solution that works for everyone.

“Yet, throughout this process, Genesee County and their economic development agency have not engaged with Orleans County leadership, developed a plan in the backroom to dump wastewater in Orleans County without our input and then, when questioned, just decided to attempt to steamroll us, rather than work together.  I cannot express enough the level of disappointment we feel in their actions.”

Johnson said the resolution clearly states the concerns Orleans County has regarding the wastewater discharge including impacts on tourism, sport fishing, flooding, property damage, declining real estate values and more.  Johnson believes there are other avenues Genesee should be exploring for managing wastewater.

“I have said all along and want to repeat it again, that our legislators are in support of STAMP and the economic development projects that will lead to investment and jobs for our entire region,” said Johnson.  “But that economic growth cannot come at the expense of Orleans County’s natural resources.

Johnson also acknowledged the efforts of New York State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who represents both counties in the State Legislature and has been attempting to mediate a solution.

“We appreciate that Assemblyman Hawley is taking an active role in bringing all parties together,” said Johnson.  “We must work together on an alternative.”

Here is the resolution approved by the Orleans County Legislature on Tuesday:

RESOLUTION NO. 456-923 – SUPPORT TO PRESERVE THE OAK ORCHARD RIVER AND LOCAL TRIBUTARIES IN ORLEANS COUNTY

WHEREAS, this Legislature finds that while the potential economic output generated by the STAMP Project in Genesee County could be beneficial, discharges into waters of Orleans County will have various adverse and substantial economic impact on Orleans County, its residents, and businesses; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that impact to the local infrastructure available for residents and businesses would be limited if STAMP Sewer Works, Inc. were to discharge 6 million gallons a day (6MGD) of wastewater from the STAMP site in Genesee County into Oak Orchard River by way of the Town of Shelby in Orleans County; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that communities with interests in Oak Orchard River and Lake Ontario are concerned with the economic impacts on local real estate values, economic development, and $27 million in annual tourism and recreation revenue unique to Oak Orchard River, tributaries in Orleans County and Lake Ontario, with respect to discharging 6MGD of waste into Oak Orchard River, a tributary of Lake Ontario; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that Lake Ontario is subject to water level fluctuations from the International Joint Commission (IJC) which slows the draining of Oak Orchard River and other local tributaries of Lake Ontario; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that areas of flooding have been mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) includes much of the land within the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (INWR) in the Town of Shelby is within a flood hazard zone; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that increased coastal erosion in recent years has increased flooding along the Lake Ontario shoreline and construction standards in flood areas should be restricted in order to prevent property and other damage due to flooding, and to maintain open pathways for flood waters; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that flood zones in Orleans County have been identified along the following water bodies and their tributaries: Oak Orchard River-Medina, Ridgeway, Shelby; Johnson Creek-Lyndonville, Yates; Fish Creek-Ridgeway, Shelby; Marsh Creek-Yates; Jeddo Creek- Ridgeway, Yates; Erie Canal-Medina, Ridgway, Shelby; Lake Ontario-Yates; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds that other methods of managing wastewater are available in Genesee County that would not result in the same impacts to Orleans County; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that both the design and plan to discharge 6MGD of wastewater from STAMP would stir up sediment and increase pollution in Oak Orchard River and tributaries in Orleans County; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature further finds that the volume and velocity of STAMP wastewater would increase turbidity and hasten erosion along the banks of the waterways in Orleans County; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds that the choice to develop project data based on unlikely events does not fully address or satisfy concerns about sediment, erosion, flooding, and economic impacts; now be it

RESOLVED, that this Legislature find and declares that it is the duty of Orleans County to act to preserve the Oak Orchard River and local tributaries in Orleans County for the economic vitality of affected communities.

Hands-on career exploration showcased trades, manufacturing, agriculture and construction industries

Photos by Tom Rivers: Graham Manufacturing of Batavia’s welding instructor Bill Muoio, left, guides George Issa, an Iroquois Middle School student in Elma, in a welding demonstration on Tuesday at the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia as part of the fifth annual GLOW With Your Hands event. There were 1,102 students at the career exploration including about 200 from Orleans County. Graham has 80 welders currently with 16 more soon to join.

BATAVIA – The fifth annual GLOW With Your Hands career exploration event drew about 1,100 students, mostly from the four rural counties of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming.

The 1,102 students that attended were the most in the five years of GLOW With Your Hands and included 60 from Albion, 38 from Holley, 40 from Kendall, 15 from Lyndonville and 39 from Medina.

Altogether, 30 school districts from the GLOW counties sent students for a hands-on career exploration event with businesses and organizations from the trades, manufacturing, agriculture and construction industries.

Zack Albee, an eight-grader from Alexander, hammers a nail in the nail driving contest. A representative from the carpenters union said there is an abundance of work for union carpenters with so many road construction, solar projects, capital projects at schools and waste-waste plant upgrades.

Dave Hardenbrook, an engineer with Clark Patterson Lee, flies a drone for students to see. Hardenbrook said drones are used for surveying and other site improvement projects. Work that used to take days can be done in 15 minutes with a drone, he said.

“A drone has made some work a million times easier,” he said.

CPL does engineering, architectural and planning work. Hardenbrook told students there are many roles in the engineering business, and more engineers are always needed.

A student climbs into the cab of a tractor-trailer from Swan Equipment & Trucking in Avon. Students sat in the driver’s seat and blew the horn.

“We can always use more truckers,” said Fred Dioguardi of Perry, who works for Swan.

Fred Dioguardi of Perry shows students an excavator and some of the other construction equipment that he hauls for Swan Equipment & Trucking. LG Evans Construction is a sister company of Swan.

Dioguardi started as a truck driver at age 18 and has 30 years in the business. He drives a truck with a trailer that combined are 75 feet long. He said GPS has made the job a little bit easier but he said the toughest part is other drivers on the road who swerve in front of him and don’t obey basic rules of the road.

Edwin, a ninth-grader at Cal-Mum, uses the backhoe attachment on a John Deere tractor. Scott Holmes, the general manager of LandPro’s new Batavia store, provides guidance.

Tim McArdle, assistant principal at Cal-Mum’s middle/high school, said the career expo was a great chance for students to see many different job options in local industries.

“It’s ands-on and you’re talking to the professionals about the best way to get involved in these careers,” he said. “There’s a lot to do in a short amount of time. They are able to keep the students’ attention.”

The Grange Building at the fairgrounds had 40 different vendors with many offering activities to help students learn about those careers. There were more than 60 vendors and exhibitors at the event.

“As a result of the hard work and planning of local workforce advocates, event exhibitors and volunteers, and our sponsoring partners, students across the region are learning more about the good-paying and debt-free careers available to them immediately upon graduating from high school,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Founders Chris Suozzi and Jay Lazarony. “This gives them the awareness of what skills are needed, and the ability they have to succeed across many industries.”

After launching in 2019 with 800 students, GLOW With Your Hands has steadily grown. Last year it added “GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare” in March at GCC in Batavia to highlight careers in the healthcare industry.

“Our annually increasing participation at GLOW With Your Hands is a credit to the full engagement of our schools and the students excited to gain a hands-on view of career opportunities that they may have never contemplated,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair Angela Grouse. “Many of these careers can be successfully launched with our region’s robust training programs and deliver family-sustaining wages and benefits along with rewarding lifestyles.”

Provided photos: Rob Robinson, center, listens to a pair of buskers including Alex Feig at left playing next to Modern Mercantile on East Center Street during last year’s Ale in Autumn/Busker Festival.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Rob Robinson poses in his busker T-shirt from last year’s Busker Festival during Ale in Autumn. The Busker Festival will again compliment Ale in Autumn on Saturday in Medina.

MEDINA – Medina Area Partnership will roll out the red carpet for 700 visitors on Saturday who have purchased tickets for Ale in Autumn and the second annual Busker Festival.

The Busker Festival was an idea of Rob Robinson, who said he has been trying for several years to bring the event to Medina. Last year during Ale in Autumn, 17 entertainers from all across the area came to Medina and were a big hit with participants of Ale in Autumn, he said.

Robinson explained a busker is someone who entertains in doorways or stairwells, hoping for tips. They are not necessarily all musicians, he said. Some are jugglers, dancers, street performers and magicians.

Busker performances will coincide with Ale in Autumn from 1 to 6 p.m. Twenty-one performers from throughout Western New York have committed to attend. They are from Medina, Lyndonville, Lockport and Niagara Falls.

Robinson has mapped out the appropriate sites for the buskers to entertain and said they are spaced far enough apart so one’s performance doesn’t interfere with the next one.

Robinson was a busker himself in Toronto during the 1970s and early 1980s, where he said it is more common than in the States. A pianist and guitar player, he comes by his musical talent naturally, as his mother Virginia Bishop was organist at the old Apple Grove for 30 years.

It was the Apple Grove that brought the family to Medina. He said his mother was playing organ throughout southern Ontario and Western New York, when her agent told her she needed to contact Walt Hilger at the Apple Grove. He told her if she did that, it would be the only gig she would ever need. Turns out, he was right.

The driving motivation for a busker is not making money, Robinson said. It’s being part of a festival and the hope of getting a gig out of it.

“The bottom line is, it’s fun,” he said.

A trio of buskers entertains on Main Street during last year’s Busker Festival, which coincided with Ale in Autumn.

MEDINA – Oak Orchard Assembly of God is embarking on a new mission this year to ensure no school child is cold this winter.

Paster Bryan McDowell has announced the church wants to help schools prepare for cold weather with their first coat drive.

“We are hoping to make this an annual event,” McDowell said. “Anyone can drop off new or lightly used coats at the church office from 9 a.m. to noon during the rest of this week or during the Sunday service.”

They are also collecting hats and mittens.

The donations will be given to Lyndonville and Medina schools to be distributed to students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

The church is located at 12111 Ridge Rd., Medina.

The Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor has announced the winners in the 18^th annual photo contest featuring scenes from the state’s canal system.

Usually there is a winning photo from Orleans County, but this year’s winners didn’t include a scene in Orleans.

There were 314 entries and judges selected first, second, and third place winners in four contest categories as well as 12 honorable mentions. The four categories include Canal Communities, Classic Canal, Along the Trail and On the Water.

“As we approach the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal in 2025, these images reveal to us what makes New York’s canals worth preserving, visiting, and celebrating,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “We congratulate the winners and appreciate everyone who entered and shared the places and activities they love along New York’s extraordinary canals.”

Winning images can be viewed online (click here) and will be featured in the 2024 Erie Canalway calendar. The calendar will be available for free at libraries, visitor centers, and by request beginning in December.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “I send my heartfelt congratulations to the winners of this year’s annual photo contest, and my thanks to all of the exceptional photographers, amateur and professional alike, who participated. This year’s photos help us showcase the remarkable sights and recreational resources along the canal system. As celebrate the bicentennial of the Champlain Canal and prepare for the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s completion, they are a wonderful reminder of the Erie Canal’s legacy, impact, and presence in New York, both today and through generations of our history.”

“Fall in Fairport” was taken by Karen Millspaugh of Bergen and won first place in the “Classic Canal” category.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Medina Area Partnership last week celebrated a ribbon cutting with Rollin Hellner, owner of The Walsh at 525 West Ave. Hellner, third from left in front row, acquired the site in the spring and has expanded the menu and is working to add studio and one-bedroom apartments to the upper floors.

He is joined by local officials, family and friends in the ribbon-cutting, including the front row, from left: County Legislator Skip Draper, Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, Hellner, Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, Barry Flansburg (representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley) and County Legislator Bill Eick.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Hellner is shown with a 24-foot-long shuffleboard table from 1937 that was added to the bar. It was a challenge to get it inside and had to be brought through a window.

The Walsh is open seven days a week. Hellner has been active in real estate development.

He acquired The Walsh from Tim Cooper, following extensive renovations from Cooper. (He is being honored with a preservation award on Oct. 20 from the Cobblestone Museum.) Cooper was able to bring the first floor back, including a banquet hall. He said Hellner brings new energy to The Walsh’s continued renovation with the apartments upstairs.

Rollin Hellner said customers are enjoying the food and drinks at The Walsh, which is managed by Alex Purnell. Emily Plumb, a bartender, is shown in back in this photo.

The Walsh has other specials, including the “Walsh Wednesday” where people can spin a wheel and if it lands on their zodiac sign, they get $5 off.

Hellner said he has made the banquet hall available to local organizations for their meetings, including the Lions Club, Rotary Club and the Medina Sandstone Society. He is working to have the lottery added soon, while also trying to get the apartments ready in 2024.

Photo and information from Orleans County’s Safe Harbour Program

BUFFALO – Orleans County Safe Harbour Program went to Shea’s Performing Arts Center to see the Broadway musical, Mrs. Doubtfire on Satusday. Mrs. Doubtfire taught the participating youth about overcoming adversity, the importance of honesty, and how change (although not easy) is at times inevitable.

Safe Harbour provides lessons in life skills to promote a strong foundation to help children launch into their future.

For information on how you can get your youth involved in the Safe Harbour program please contact Heather Jackson at (585) 589-2837 or SafeHarbour@orleanscountyny.gov.

ALBION – The Cobblestone Society and Museum has stepped up to recognize historic preservation efforts in Orleans County. The organization will honor its first group of preservation award winners on Oct. 20 at Maison Albion.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with music by the Orleans County String Band, a complimentary dinner catered by Zambistro, a cash bar and address by keynote speaker Andrew Meier, Esq. Emcee will be Albion native Brenda Tremblay. A tax-deductible donation for the ongoing preservation work of the Cobblestone Society and Museum will be accepted following the program.

Six historic properties will be recognized for their owners’ dedicated efforts to restore and maintain these outstanding structures in our community.

Properties are the Harriet Greaser Presbyterian Manse at 31 East State St., Albion; the Diana Dragan Reed Home at 349 South Main St., Albion; The Walsh Hotel on West Avenue, Medina; Pine Hill School at 4757 Pine Hill Rd., Barre; Bent’s Opera House on West Center and Main Street in Medina; and Marti’s on Main Street, 20 Main St., Albion.

Tim and Catherine Cooper of Medina restored the Wash Hotel, which goes back to 1852, when the Rochester, Lockport and Niagara Falls Company completed the railroad through Medina. The building was recently purchased by Rollin Hellner.

Cobblestone Society and Museum director Doug Farley encourages Orleans County residents to show their support and appreciation of these historic restorations by attending this event.

Meier is a lifelong resident of Medina, graduate of Syracuse University College of Law and a partner in WSM Elder Law, with offices in Medina and Lockport. He owns the c.1876 Hart House Hotel, formerly R.H. Newell Shirt Factory, which he rehabilitated in 2005. His next project is a c.1880 Eastlake “stick style” home, which will be rehabilitated over the next 24 months.

Emcee Brenda Tremblay hosts a classical music program on 91.5FM each weekday morning, streaming at classical915.org. She has earned three Gracies from the Association of Women in Radio and Television, many AP awards and a national Gabriel Award. She also produces and hosts the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s radio concerts at 8 p.m. Monday nights and collaborates with WXXI news to cover the arts across all media services.

Her passion is singing and she has performed with choirs at Carnegie Hall, Westminster Abbey and in the Forbidden City in Beijing. She currently serves as music director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Brockport.

Reservations for the evening must be made by Oct. 10 by e-mailing director@cobblestonemuseum.org or calling (585) 589-9013. Indicate a choice of filet of sirloin/chicken French or vegetarian risotto.

Provided photos: Pine Hill School, owned by Steve and Paula Nesbitt, was built c.1835 of fieldstones.

Diana Dragan Reed’s home at 349 South Main St., Albion, was built in 1876 and took seven years to build.

Bent’s Opera House is located on the third floor of this historic Medina sandstone building at the corner of West Center and Main streets in Medina. Medina native and entrepreneur Roger Hungerford purchased the building to save it from crumbling into the street. It is now home to boutique hotel rooms, an upscale restaurant and events center.

The Queen Anne Presbyterian Manse at 31 East State St., Albion, has been privately owned for more than 30 years and is now occupied by Harriette Greaser and her daughter. Harriette and her late husband Phil brought the property back to grandeur.

Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina all sending students to event

Photo by Tom Rivers: Nick Prest of Albion hammers a nail during last year’s GLOW With Your Hands in Batavia. Albion had 90 students in grades 9 to 12 attend the career exploration program on Sept. 24, 2022.

Press Release, GLOW With Your Hands

BATAVIA – The 5^th annual GLOW With Your Hands – Manufacturing is coming back to the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Tuesday and is anticipating its largest turnout of students and vendors since its inception in 2019.

Over 1,000 students from 29 school districts across the GLOW region will be arriving at the fairgrounds for the day-long career exploration event. The five Orleans County school districts – Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina – are all participated.

Approximately 65 businesses will provide hands-on activities and simulations in the advanced manufacturing, agriculture, food production, skilled trades sectors as well as the various branches of the military. Students will have the opportunity to learn about career opportunities in their own backyard that offer good-paying opportunities immediately after high school graduation.

“In 2022, approximately 3,000 students participated in workforce development events and programs, and we are on pace to host another 1,000 students at our event,” said Chris Suozzi, GLOW With Your Hands Co-Founder. “Thanks to the dedication of committee members, school engagement representatives, vendors, and other local workforce experts, we are building a workforce blueprint that regions across the state and country are modeling.”

LandPro Equipment and National Grid both return as the event’s Platinum sponsor bringing two popular vendor stations that students look forward to experiencing. National Grid will have its team members on site to simulate linework and LandPro will have members from its team operating various John Deere equipment. There also will be multiple trade and contractor organizations putting on displays of bricklaying, electrician work, pipe installation, and more.

“GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing allows the next generation of workforce candidates to interact with representatives from our local industry to experience the type of employment available right here in their own backyards where students can experience real-life examples of the type of work that could be available to them after high school graduation,” said Jay Lazarony, GLOW With Your Hands Co-Founder. “Since 2019 we have seen a 40% increase in participation at GLOW With Your Hands, and that is due to not only our community partners but companies investing in the GLOW region where our talented and educated workforce are prepared to meet the workplace demands of area employers.”

Press Release, Orleans County government

CARLTON – Orleans County with officials from the Town of Carlton and Modern Disposal Services will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall located at 14341 Waterport Carlton Road for the residents of Carlton.

We are fortunate to having a countywide solid waste program for all of our residents.  We are challenged providing this service on private roads with commercial vehicles that weigh 33 tons and require a turning radius of 31 feet.  For everyone’s safety, these vehicles should not be traveling more than 50 feet in reverse.

Together we will be exploring how we may provide a safe and efficient collection of our solid waste and recycling material. Over the past five years, these private lanes have narrowed in their right-of-way for a variety of reasons.

Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient and economical service for our approximately 15,000 customers. Many of us are aware of the challenges we have been having and it is time to come together and explore solutions to improve our service.

In the near future, we will also be having an informational meeting for the residents of the Town of Yates.

ALBION – Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be in Orleans County on Oct. 12 to present new flood maps.

FEMA officials and representatives from the state Department of Environmental Conservation will present the maps and will take input from the public from 3 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Hoag Library, 124 South Main St., Albion. (There is a chance the meeting will need to be rescheduled if there is a federal government shutdown.)

Emergency management officials at the county, state and federal level have been working to reduce the effects of severe weather and natural disasters.

FEMA issued the following press release about the flood maps and the meeting on Oct. 12:

On July 17, FEMA released preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Orleans County for public comments. The new maps (click here) give updated information about communities’ flood risk and are used to identify areas that may require flood insurance coverage.

The previous maps for Orleans County were developed in the 1970s and ’80s and some areas show significant changes.

FEMA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation invite residents to learn if they were affected, and what actions can be taken to protect themselves.

The open house doesn’t include a formal presentation. Residents can attend at any time between 3 and 7 p.m., for any length of time. At the open house, residents will be able to talk one-on-one with FEMA representatives, to learn more about their flood risk and to get information on potential changes to flood insurance rates and requirements.

If you already have flood insurance, please bring a copy of your declaration page. Residents can also see preliminary versions of the Flood Insurance Study report and the FIRMs here. They can also see the updated preliminary maps compared to the old paper maps using the Old Paper Effective vs. New Digital Preliminary Data viewer.

The previous FIRMs for Orleans County were paper maps dating from the 1970s and 1980s. Because they will be available online, the new maps provide an additional level of transparency for residents. They also help community members make decisions about how to protect themselves from future flood events. The maps and FIS report are the basis for each community’s floodplain management regulations.

Due to these map changes, some properties in Orleans County may no longer be in the high-risk flood zone, known as the Special Flood Hazard Area. If the building will be outside the high-risk flood zone on the new FIRM, flood insurance is no longer federally required. Flood insurance is still recommended, for both homeowners and renters.

Some properties may be included in a high-risk flood zone for the first time. This may lead to those affected property owners being required to buy flood insurance. Flooding is the number one natural disaster in the United States. Community members should know their current flood risk and use the available tools and programs to make their property and community safer.

To request a reasonable accommodation (sign language, real-time captioning or other), please email Michael.Foley3@fema.dhs.gov or FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov, or call (833) 285-7448, FEMA’s Civil Rights Resource Line.

To learn more or to access the flood maps, visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn about flood insurance. You may also contact a map specialist at the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) at (877) 336-2627 or FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.

Provided photo: Pictured from left to right: Deputy Director Gibbons Doxey, Graphic Communications instructor Karen Krull, Graphic Communications students Caylee Sword, Jadean Gold and Blayzz Cassidy, and Legislator Jesse Gooch.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

LOCKPORT – Niagara County Legislator Jesse Gooch and Myrla Gibbons Doxey, Deputy Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (NCDMH) honored students from the Orleans and Niagara Career and Technical Centers’ Graphic Communications Programs at Tuesday’s meeting of the Niagara County Legislature.

The students were recognized for their creative and unique designs for community messaging flyers and bus bench advertisements that encourage people experiencing a mental health and/or substance use concern to contact the County’s 24-hour crisis phone line at (716) 285-3515 or 988.

“These students developed messaging that will resonate with their peers because who understands what young adults face better than other young adults,” said Gibbons Doxey. “We are tremendously impressed with their great work.”

“My students really identified the importance of working within the community,” said Susan Staddon, Niagara Career and Technical Center’s Graphic Communications Instructor. “The idea that the Department of Mental Health came to our classroom and wanted to include students speaking to students with their artwork made a powerful impact, and it continued important related conversations throughout the project.”

“The students were so pleased to be given the opportunity to do something so significant for their community,” said Karen Krull, Orleans Career and Technical Center’s Graphic Communications Instructor. “It was a privilege to be part of this life saving project.”

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Lead is a metal that is toxic to our bodies. Young children under 6 years old are most at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are rapidly developing. A child with lead poisoning can experience learning difficulties, lower IQ, difficulty paying attention, organ damage and anemia. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

“Lead poisoning is preventable,” stated Gabrielle Lanich, Lead Program Coordinator of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “It is important to stop children from coming in contact with lead hazards before poisoning occurs.”

The Genesee County Health Department has expanded their Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grant, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to include Livingston and Wyoming Counties. The grant now includes Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

The Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (HUD) Grant addresses lead-based paint hazards, as well as certain health concerns, in homes and apartments in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW) counties. In order to be eligible for these funds, homeowners and property owners must meet all of the following requirements:

• Tenants or homeowners who are income eligible (limited funds for vacant units, call for more information)
• Building was built prior to 1978
• At least one child under the age of 6 living in the home, or visiting 8 or more hours a week, or a pregnant female
• Lead-based paint hazards in the home
• Current on tax and mortgage payments
• Other requirements determined on a case by case basis

Rental property owners are also required to match 10% of the total project costs. For example, a rental property owner would be required to pay $2,000 for a $20,000 project. Rental properties must have 4 units or less. All recipients are required to maintain ownership of the residence for 5 years after the project is completed.

Applications can be obtained by contacting our lead program staff or found on the GO Health website (click here).

Possible contracted work may include:

• Painting
• Window replacement
• Entry door replacement
• Porch repair or replacement
• Bare soil treatment/landscaping
• Other general repairs

All work is completed by pre-approved local contractors trained and EPA-certified in lead-safe work practices. If you would like to be added to our list of contractors, please contact the Genesee County Health Department.

Our GLOW Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) team collaborates with HUD to offer education on preventing lead poisoning and how to renovate safely. If you have any lead related questions, contact the GLOW CLPPP team.

For more information, help determining eligibility, or to be added to our list of contractors, contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or Health.GOlead@co.genesee.ny.us.  You can also visit GOHealthNY.org for an application.