Press Release, Environmental Protection Agency

HOLLEY – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is overseeing treatment of contaminated groundwater and soil at the at the Diaz Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Holley.

In July 2023, contractors completed repairs and restarted the treatment process which was shut down in December 2021 because excessive steam was escaping from the well field. The contractors repaired the surface seals of over 200 heater wells and capped the well field with concrete.

The treatment is projected to take up to four years to clean up the remaining contamination at the site. After the cleanup is completed, the contractors will remove the treatment equipment and regrade the site to make sure that it has proper drainage and will re-plant vegetation to prevent erosion.

The thermal treatment system uses heat to convert the contaminants in the soil and groundwater into vapors, which are captured through an extensive vacuum-based extraction system. The extraction wells capture and convey the vapors to a system that treats the vapors by compression, cooling, condensation, and by using granular activated carbon. The system will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pilot Program

In 2018, EPA initiated a pilot program, overseeing the construction and operation of a small-scale system to treat approximately 10% of the contaminated soil and groundwater on the former plant grounds at the site.

Under EPA and USACE oversight, USACE’s contractor built the first phase of the system, which began operating in August 2021. Based on the success of this pilot system, EPA and USACE determined that a larger system should be constructed to treat the rest of the contamination on the remaining 1.5 acres of the site property and that the system should be constructed in two phases.

Noise Reduction

The equipment used to heat the soil and capture the vapors generates constant noise. Noise levels are monitored daily at the Diaz Chemical property line and the noise produced at the site must not exceed 65 decibels during overnight hours, which is equivalent to the sound from a normal conversation.

To ensure that the noise is as low as possible, the contractor installed the piping in a way to reduce noise. The contractor is also installing noise absorbing blankets at select locations to reduce the daytime and nighttime noise levels.

Odor Reduction

Heating soil can also produce odors. Organic compounds become vapors as soil temperatures increase. Although all potentially harmful compounds are captured and treated, the treated vapors may still have an odor. The vapors released from the treatment system are tested for the presence of harmful compounds using air monitoring equipment placed around the perimeter of the property. The contractor monitors the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As an additional measure to reduce the odor on the site, the contractor removed and disposed of several tons of contaminated concrete from the site.

Pipe failure during testing

In December 2022, after completing repairs and before restarting the treatment system, the contractor used an air compressor to pressurize and test the system. After a couple of minutes of operation, an approximately 120-foot 6-inch PVC pipe in the treatment building became over-pressurized because of a closed valve and failed along its entire length.

No personnel were injured when the pipe ruptured. The contractor replaced the piping, which is made of different material, modified its pressure testing procedures, and repaired the damage in the treatment building.

Background

The Diaz Chemical Superfund site includes the five-acre former Diaz Chemical Corporation facility located at 40 Jackson Street in the Village of Holley, New York. Diaz Chemical manufactured specialty organic chemicals for the agricultural, pharmaceutical, photographic, color and dye, and personal care products industries. The facility released chemicals into the environment from 1975 to 2002.

A reactor vessel overheated in a process building in January 2002 causing its safety valve to rupture. Approximately 75 gallons of a chemical mixture was released through a roof stack vent. The release was a mixture of steam, toluene, and 2‐chloro‐6‐fluorophenol, as well as related chemicals. The mixture landed on properties in the residential neighborhood immediately next to the facility and was visible as red-colored droplets. As a result of the release, several residents voluntarily relocated to area hotels.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and EPA sampled indoor air, soil, interior surfaces, and household items in the affected neighborhood. The data indicated that there were no immediate or short-term threats to people’s health.

In 2002, NYSDEC required the continued operation of a groundwater extraction and treatment system via a trench which Diaz Chemical installed under NYSDEC oversight at the Diaz Chemical facility as an interim measure in 1995. This system provided partial containment of the groundwater contaminant plume.

Diaz Chemical filed for bankruptcy and abandoned the facility in 2003, leaving behind large volumes of chemicals in drums and tanks. EPA removed these chemicals and dismantled the Diaz Chemical production buildings between 2003 and 2007. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 2004.

With assistance from USACE, and under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act, EPA purchased eight houses among the affected properties and provided the owners of those homes with relocation assistance. In addition, two individual tenants were assisted with relocating into new rental locations.

EPA performed a study to determine the nature and extent of contamination, assess potential risks to people’s health and the environment, and develop, screen, and evaluate alternative treatment technologies. Based on the study, EPA determined that site-related contamination did not exist in the surrounding residential area and, therefore, a neighborhood cleanup was not necessary.

EPA selected a cleanup plan for the site in September 2012 under federal law that included thermal treatment of the contaminated soil and groundwater at the Diaz Chemical property and natural processes to address the groundwater contamination downgradient of the source areas. The cleanup plan also included building demolition to allow access to contaminated soil at the site.

EPA transferred the eight properties to the Village of Holley Development Corporation (VHDC) in June 2017. Working with a local realtor and law firm, VHDC sold the houses in September 2017 and shared the proceeds with EPA.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Knights of Columbus donated $2,000 to the local veterans group Operation Honor from the proceeds of the Knights’ annual golf tournament held on July 29.

Pictured, front row, from left: Jenn Thom from Operation Honor and Grand Knight Jim Mirand.  Second row: Dave Bellucci, Merle “Skip” Draper, Jim Gardner, Bob Fox, Archie Washak and Steve Winans, all of The Knights of Columbus.

This is the second year the Knights of Columbus was able to donate to Operation Honor, an organization that supports the veterans of Orleans County. Operation Honor will have its annual 5K on Saturday, November 11.  The walk/run will start at 11 a.m. at Jr. Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club.

Press Release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is happy to announce the completion of our newspaper digitization project. You can now access all of our Medina Newspapers online at nyhistoricnewspapers.org.

Our newspapers are still available on microfilm in the library as well.

The following papers are available:

• The Medina Tribune (1857-1951)
• The Medina Register (1882-1911)
• The Medina Daily Journal (1903-1932)
• The Medina Daily Journal and Medina Register (1932-1971)
• The Journal-Register (1970-2014)

Newspapers are fully searchable and can be downloaded as pdfs. Lee-Whedon Memorial Library was able to digitize all of our papers with the assistance of grants provided by the Western New York Library Regional Council.

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Some of our Albion Middle School students last Tuesday were lucky enough to have a special guest from West Africa come and speak to their class.

Keith Ellenberger is a West African Christian missionary, currently visiting with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, and has spent his entire life in countries like Mali and Senegal. According to Ellenberger, his family has resided on the African continent for approximately 100 years working as missionaries.

According to Middle School Principal Brad Pritchard, Ellenberger’s visit comes as part of a series of enrichment classes being offered at the Middle School this year.

“We have many different enrichment classes this year covering a variety of subjects including art, health, PE/SEL and history,” Pritchard said. “In each of these classes, students will have the opportunity to connect with special guests, all from various disciplines, whose life experiences correlate to our students’ lessons.”

During his visit, Ellenberger spoke to some of Albion’s seventh and eighth-grade students in David Skrip’s Social Studies classes about what life is like in Africa, highlighting both the similarities and differences of the areas. Though they are an ocean apart, Ellenberger helped the students draw connections between Albion and West Africa especially through agriculture.

“These visits are important because they help our students connect and contextualize the curriculum they are learning to the real world,” Pritchard said.

According to Tim Archer, a service learning liaison, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church has partnered with the district over the last several years by providing multiple missionary guests to share their experiences and bring a new perspective to our students.

As of now, there are many other guests and projects planned for the school year, including local history field trips and an Erie Canal project.

MEDINA – A Local Planning Committee has a difficult task of trying to prioritize and pick $4.5 million in projects to recommend to state for funding through the NY Forward program.

Medina has $8.7 million in 22 potential projects and the committee needs to determine which ones are most deserving of funding.

The planning group is asking the public to weigh in through an on-line survey (click here). People are asked to do it once. As they pick projects and assign funding to them, the $4.5 million pot will get whittled down. The survey will close on Friday.

“This will help identify the most desirable project for the local committee to consider,” Mayor Mike Sidari posted on the “Medina, This Village Matters” Facebook page. “Please only do the survey once. This is for both resident and non-residents.”

Sidari is one of the members of the committee that is reviewing the projects to submit to the state for its review. The committee meets again at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 at the Medina school district office.

Evaluating the Projects – Several criteria have been established to help evaluate the projects including how well the project supports Main Street, enhances the waterfront, promote tourism, improves “liveability,” catalyzes investment and benefits the community.

The more criteria a project meets, the more likely that project is to create positive change in downtown Medina, officials said.

Here are the 22 projects in the survey, with the amount requested from NY Forward in parentheses.

Canal Basin Park (Multiple Options)

• ALTERNATIVE A ($2 million) – This alternative is the most transformative, with significantly expanded green space, pedestrian pathways, and gathering areas. This alternative includes 53 parking spaces.
• ALTERNATIVE B ($1.5 million) – This alternative expands the green space area along the canal and enhances pedestrian connections to the waterfront. This alternative includes 71 parking spaces.
• ALTERNATIVE C ($1 million) – This creates a multi-functional pedestrian promenade space at the rear of the Main Street buildings that can be used for seating, outdoor dining, and temporary events. This space can also accommodate loading and deliveries. This alternative includes 45 parking spaces.
• ALTERNATIVE D ($500,000) – This alternative creates a small pedestrian plaza area at the north end of the East Center Street alleyway which can accommodate gathering and outdoor dining. The rest of the basin is kept as is. This alternative includes 83 parking spaces.

• Canal Village Farmers Market at 127 West Center St. ($300,000) – This project will renovate the existing building at 127 West Center Street to create a year-round space for the Canal Village Farmers Market. Expanded vendor space, public restrooms, a visitor center, and green space will also be included on the site.
• Canal View Bar/Tasting Area at 135 East Center St. ($100,000) – This project will create a bar/serving area with an exterior patio overlooking the Canal Basin in the rear of the Modern Mercantile building.
• 409-413 Main St. ($200,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 409-413 Main Street into 3 new one-bedroom apartments and 1 new two-bedroom apartment.
• Knights of Columbus Building Accessible Community Space ($150,000) – This project will make facade improvements to the Knights of Columbus building and install a lift at the rear entrance to make the 200-person community event space on the second floor ADA accessible for public use.
• 424 Main Street ($250,000) – This project will create 4 new apartments on the upper floors of the building at 424 Main Street. The commercial units on the ground floor will also be renovated.

The parking lot at the southeast corner of Main and Center streets could see $1 million in upgrades to improve circulation, add trees and better connect to Main Street businesses and the Canal Basin.

• 433 Main Street ($300,000) – This project will create a new two-bedroom apartment on the upper floors of the building at 433 Main Street.
• Community Arts Workshop and Gift Store at 509 Main St. ($150,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 509 Main St. to create a community arts and crafts workshop and gift store.
• Bunkhaus Apartments at 511 West Ave. ($100,000) – This project will renovate the Bunkhaus Hostel to create 4 one-bedroom apartments targeted for short- and long-term rental housing for professionals, snowboards, and/or tourists.
• Author’s Note Bookstore at 519 Main St. ($200,000) – This project will create a two-bedroom apartment unit on the second floor for short- or medium-term rental, targeted at artists. The basement of the building will also be renovated to create an event space to be used for book clubs, workshops, etc., or by other community groups.
• 521 Main Street ($150,000) – This project will renovate the second floor of the building at 521 Main Street into a new one-bedroom apartment and two Airbnb units.
• Walsh Hotel Redevelopment at 525 West Ave. ($550,000) – This project will complete renovations to the upper floors of the Walsh Hotel as part of a larger project to create 22 studio and one-bedroom apartments.
• Arenite Brewing Company at 339 Main St. ($400,000) – This project will create a microbrewery and tasting room with outdoor seating overlooking the canal at 339 Main Street.
• Avanti Pizza Upper Floors Renovation at 500 Main St. ($600,000) – This project will renovate the upper floors of the Avanti Pizza building into a mix of residential and office space.
• Hart House Hotel Renovations at 113 West Center St. ($500,000) – This project is the last phase of a larger project to upgrade the Hart House Hotel with a formal lobby, café, spa, outdoor event space and gastropub.
• Lee-Whedon Memorial Library at 620 West Ave. ($500,000) – This project will create an addition on the library with new tutoring rooms, meeting rooms, and quiet rooms for community use. The existing library building will also be renovated to create an expanded children’s area and new entry.
• Medina Theatre Renovations at 601-611 Main St. ($150,000) – This project is the first phase of a larger project to upgrade the Medina Theatre. This project will renovate the existing marquee and facade, make cosmetic improvements to the theatre, and prep the building for a future restaurant and conference space.
• Downtown Wayfinding Signage ($250,000) – This project will install a system of directional, informational, and interpretive signage at key locations and destinations to guide visitors throughout downtown.
• Public Lot Connectivity Improvements Description ($1 million) – This project will improve the public parking lot at the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets with better circulation, shade trees, and improved connectivity to the Canal Basin and Main Street businesses.
• East Center Street Alleyway Improvements ($400,000) –This project will enhance the alleyway that connects the Canal Basin across East Center Street to the public parking lot. The alley will have landscaping, lighting, seating and signage.
• Canal Basin Park Gateway Signage ($150,000) – This project will install two large, gateway signs at the Mill Street entrance to the Canal Basin (off Main Street) and at the East Center Street alleyway entrance to the basin.
• Small Project Grant Fund ($300,000) – The Small Project Grant Fund would provide support to downtown business and property owners to implement smaller-scale projects like façade improvements, window replacement and other repairs.

Press Release, Author’s Note

Ally Condie photo by Erin Summerill. The author will discuss her new novel Monday at Author’s Note in Medina.

MEDINA – Author’s Note, Medina’s independent book store, will welcome No. 1 New York Times Bestselling author Ally Condie at 6:30 p.m. Monday, to discuss and sign her new novel The Only Girl in Town.

Condie, the author of the mega-bestselling Matched trilogy, will also discuss her novel at Woodward Memorial Library in Le Roy at 6 p.m. Tuesday. In addition, she will visit several area schools.

The Only Girl in Town is a contemporary young adult novel with a fractured-reality twist, according to Author’s Note owner Julie Berry, also a New York Times Bestselling author.

For July Fielding, nothing has been the same since the summer before her senior year. Once, she had Alex to be her loyal best friend, the one who always had her back. She had Sydney, who pushed her during every cross-country run, and who sometimes seemed to know July better than she knew herself. And she had Sam, who told her she was everything.

Now, July is alone. Every single person in her small town has disappeared. No family. No Alex or Sydney. No Sam. July’s only chance at unraveling the mystery of their disappearance is a series of objects, each a reminder of the people she loved most. And a mysterious message, “Get them back.”

Though never named outright as depression, it’s clear from the journey through her recent history that July is struggling with loneliness, loss and a sense of isolation that has left her feeling like an outsider, separated from others.

National Book Award-winning author Robin Beneway describes The Only Girl in Town  as “an eerily beautiful and lyrical story of loss, grief and how quickly relationships can change, while also changing us.”

Yamile Saied Mendez, the Pura Belpre award-winning author of Fume, A Reese’s Book Club selection, calls it “fast paced, unputdownable and full of heart and complicated emotions. As soon as I reached the end, I turned back to the beginning to catch the clues I had missed as I raced through the pages. An unforgettable story.”

Condie’s visit is part of a promotional tour sponsored by Penguin Randon House, which brings her to the region in part because her novel is set in a fictional town drawn from her experiences living in upstate New York when she was a young mom.

In addition to authoring the No. 1 New York Times Best-selling Matched trilogy and its companion novel, The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe, Condie is also the author of Summerlost, an Edgar Award winner.

The Monday evening event at Author’s Note is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend, signed books can be ordered at www.authorsnote.com. Contact Author’s Note at (585) 798-3642 for more information.

The Tuesday evening appearance at Woodward Memorial Library is also free, but registration is requested by calling (585) 768-8300 or logging on to www.woodwardmemoriallibrary.libcal.com.

Fluids associated with subsurface drilling also seen in refuge

BASOM – Contractors have paused drilling with the construction of a nearly 10-mile-long sewer line along Route 63 after sinkholes have been observed in the right of way of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

There also are fluids associated with subsurface drilling that appeared on the refuge surface outside the perimeter of the right of way, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement this afternoon about the wastewater treatment pipeline for the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP).

“Contractors working for Genesee County Economic Development Center have paused drilling activities,” according to the statement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the ongoing investigation.”

The sewer construction is the focus of a lawsuit from Orleans County, which alleges the Genesee County Economic Development Center didn’t properly form a subsidiary, STAMP Sewer Works, for the project, and doesn’t have a right to seek construction easements in Orleans, which is outside Genesee County, among several issues cited by Orleans with the project.

Orleans economic development officials also are concerned the discharge of treated water from STAMP, at up to 6 million gallons a day at full capacity, could limit economic development efforts in Medina by overtaxing the creek.

GCEDC notes engineering reports say there would be another 10 million of daily capacity for the creek from the Medina sewer plant if STAMP were at full capacity. The first two tenants at STAMP, Plug Power and Edwards Vacuum, would have a daily discharge of 50,000 gallons of treated wastewater GCEDC said.

By Estela Sanchez Cacique, Patient Engagement Services Manager, Oak Orchard Health

Getting health care services isn’t always easy. At Oak Orchard Health (OOH), we focus on breaking down barriers to care for our patients.  At OOH, we understand that at times it can be difficult to get the care you need. That is why we will work to help you navigate through any barriers to care by providing support services that are free of charge to our patients. Offering these services is what makes a community health center different from other healthcare options in the region. Our Community Health Workers are here to help provide services directly to our patients or refer them to local community agencies.

Need transportation for medical or dental visits?

Oak Orchard Health has eight vans stationed at our health centers that can provide transportation services to and from your appointments at no charge. Please give us at least three days’ notice so that we can plan to accommodate your trip. Unfortunately, our vans are not handicap accessible but folding wheelchairs are the exception if the patient is mobile and can get themselves in and out of the van without any assistance. If you require assistance getting in and out of our vans, we recommend that you bring someone along who can help you.

We provide medication delivery services if there are no copays on any of the prescriptions. Or we can take patients to the pharmacy to pick up their medications, whether that is on the way home from their appointment or another day.

Oak Orchard Health provides transportation services for specialty care visits, or any type of testing or lab services not offered at OOH, even if it is in Rochester.  We also provide transportation to the local food pantry, if a patient is home-bound but needs a food basket delivered. OOH is also available to meet that need by delivering it directly to the patient’s home.

Have you seen our Mobile Medical Unit?

We have a state-of-the-art Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) which is out in the community at libraries, community events, and other partnering agencies. The MMU is where you can get same-day appointments, physicals, and referrals to other community agencies. We look forward to working collaboratively with our local County Health Departments, partnering agencies like Head Start programs, and organizations for the homeless to bring the Mobile Medical Unit closer to those in need.

English isn’t your first language? No problem.

At Oak Orchard, we have Bilingual (English and Spanish) Community Health Workers on staff along with a Bilingual medical provider who speaks Spanish at our Batavia location. We also use interpretation services for other languages that are not available in-house. For patients with ASL needs, Oak Orchard Health uses an in-person ASL interpretation service.

Open enrollment for health insurance started June 1, 2023!

If you have not already recertified for your health insurance through the New York State of Health, now is the time to do it. During the pandemic, you did not need to recertify but that has now changed. If you receive health insurance through the New York State of Health, you need to reach out to a facilitated enroller to ensure there is no gap in your coverage. Some of our Oak Orchard Health locations also have facilitated enrollers working out of their health centers. For more information, please contact your local Oak Orchard Health Center or the marketplace website: www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov

Sliding Fee Scale Program or health insurance?

If you are uninsured or have a high deductible plan, we offer a sliding fee scale program that can help offset the cost of some of your medical costs here at Oak Orchard Health. This program offers patients discounts on services based on family size and annual income. Patients approved for the Sliding Fee Program must also pay their co-pay at the time of the visit.

The bottom line is that we are here to help you get the healthcare services you need. Call Oak Orchard Health at (585) 637-3905 to discuss any of these support services if you need them.  

‘Critical issues that actually impact New Yorkers’ daily lives will get drowned out by the mudslinging of national and state politics’

Press Release, NYS Association of Counties

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) is calling on Governor Hochul to veto legislation (S.3505-B/A.4282-B) that will require local elections outside of New York City be held on even years, when the federal and state offices are on the ballot.

The measure was passed in the dark of night during the final hours of this year’s legislative session, with no input from the local governments it would impact and little public notice.

Last week, during its annual Fall Seminar conference, delegates unanimously adopted a resolution asking Governor Hochul to veto this legislation for several reasons, including but not limited to the fact that it curtails local home rule authority, will result in less attention to local issues at stake in local elections, will not result in taxpayer savings or more efficiency, and was not vetted by local leaders or subject to public hearings.

NYSAC represents all of the elected officials in the 57 counties impacted by this proposal, including more than 300 town supervisors who also serve on their county boards of supervisors. New York City, which has dozens of majority members in both the Assembly and Senate, is exempt from this action.

“Every year, politics gets more and more divisive and substantive issues drift further and further off the radar,” said NYSAC President and Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “By moving local elections into the same year as our often toxic and divisive federal and state elections, the critical issues that actually impact New Yorkers’ daily lives will get drowned out by the mudslinging of national and state politics. The residents of our communities deserve better. They deserve to hear substantive debate about the issues that matter, which this legislation will only make harder. That’s why we’re calling on Governor to veto this bill.”

Evidence has shown that the longer the ballot, the higher the likelihood that voters will not vote for down-ballot races, which is where local candidates will fall, due to ballot fatigue. Counties have seen no analysis that this proposal would save any money as there are city races and county offices including sheriff, county clerk and district attorney that will still be held in odd years, negating any purported savings.

NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario said, “To blatantly target certain local governments and exclude all others such as libraries, school districts, cities and villages, it just doesn’t make sense. This bill turns the phrase ‘all politics is local’ on its head and will erode the local democratic ideals that have driven this nation since its founding. We do not need Albany and Washington to control the narrative in our neighborhoods and communities, and this act will reverberate negatively for years to come. Let the people decide when to hold their important local elections.”

West Barre UMC, Salvation Army and Emma Reed Foundation give to agency

Provided photo: Pictured from left include Sharon Miller, a representative from the West Barre United Methodist Church; Renee Hungerford, Community Action’s executive director;  Jeanette Worsley, Community Action case manager; and Melinda Daniels, Community Action’s executive assistant.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee has received generous donations from several local organizations to help support the Albion Emergency Services Department.

West Barre United Methodist Church – Thank you to the West Barre United Methodist Church. Your generous gift of $1,491 is sincerely appreciated. $465 will be used for school supplies and the remaining $1,026 will help support our food pantry.

The Salvation Army – Thank you to the Salvation Army for gifting brand-new backpacks to 100 students. Our school supplies drive could not have been a success without you.

Emma Reed Webster Foundation – Thank you to the Emma Reed Webster Foundation for your donation of $500. This was used to help purchase school supplies that helped 111 students prepare for a new school year.

The Albion emergency food pantry has seen an exponential increase in visitors this summer these past few months; providing emergency food to 625 people and supplying hygiene or household supplies to 187. If you or anyone you know is in need, call us at (585)589-5605 to schedule an appointment, or visit us at one of the locations below.

Albion: 409 E State St. and Batavia: 5073 Clinton Street Rd. – Walk-in service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon  on Fridays and are closed daily for lunch from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Holley: 75 Public Square – Appointments are available Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Village imposing 35% hike on non-profit in Visitor’s Center

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jami Allport, director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, is shown on the third floor of the Albion Visitor’s Center, where the Ministry of Concern is a tenant. The village is raising the monthly rent by about $400.

ALBION – The Village of Albion is raising the rent for the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern by 35 percent or by about $400 a month.

That will be a hardship for the agency, and may mean the Ministry of Concern will have less money to assist people in need locally, said Jami Allport, the director for the Ministry of Concern.

She attended last week’s Village Board meeting and asked the board not to impose such a steep increase for an agency that is mostly funded by donations.

The board is raising the rent from $1,146.67 to $1,550.96 a month. That amount also includes utilities.

“We’re a great tenant,” Allport told the board. “We’re clean. We don’t rock the boat.”

Joyce Riley, the village’s deputy mayor, said the Ministry of Concern rate was well below market rate and what the village has been charging other tenants.

The Ministry of Concern uses 2,386 square feet on the third floor at the village-owned 121 North Main St. At $1,146.67 a month, that is 48 cents a square foot. With the new rate at $1,550.96, the square footage is 65 cents a month.

That is below the $1.65 a foot paid by Assemblyman Steve Hawley for 860 square feet on the first floor ($1,416.77 total); $1.30 by the Orleans Economic Development Agency for 1,686 square feet on the second floor ($2,196.06 total); and the $1.40 a foot for Darlene Benton of Paradise Healing Arts, who uses 289 square feet for $405 a month.

“In order to do right by everyone in the village we have to raise the rent,” Riley responded to Allport.

Riley said the village offers a fair price when the rent also includes the utilities, and some cleaning and other services by the village.

Allport said the new rent, effective in October, hits the agency as it prepares for an extra busy fall and holiday season, when it sees more demands for services.

She asked the board to consider a smaller incremental rate increase.

The Ministry of Concern has six staff working out of the space, and also has two employees that run a furniture program, picking up and delivering used furniture and appliances.

The agency assists people in emergency situations. It just finished helping 116 families with back-to-school supplies in Genesee and Orleans counties.

“We’re here to help people who can’t get other help,” she said. “We’re here to build the community up.”

Allport said the office space in the Albion downtown has been a good fit. But she said the agency will need to determine what it can afford.

“We don’t want to get in a financial situation where we can’t serve,” Allport said. “We like where we are but we have to look at what we can sustain.”

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley have both issued statements about a new background check to buy ammunition.

Statement from Rob Ortt:

“Last week, the latest attack on New Yorkers’ 2nd Amendment rights went into effect, with new taxes, fees and burdensome new requirements for background checks on ammo purchases. The latest infringement has led to long delays, increased costs, and even forced some businesses throughout the state to close their doors for good.

“Not surprisingly, consumers and businesses are frustrated. I voted against this latest infringement on our 2nd amendment rights.

“Despite what Albany politicians would have you believe, these ridiculous new mandates – which are being challenged in court – will do nothing to curb illegal gun violence in our state. All it will do is drive out small businesses and make it more difficult for New Yorkers to exercise their constitutional right to protect themselves at a time when New York continues to become more dangerous.”

Statement from Steve Hawley:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) bashed New York state’s new ammunition background check mandate.

Beginning September 13th, a background check is required prior to the purchase of firearm, rifle or shotgun ammunition and the responsibility for initiating NICS background checks for firearm, rifle or shotgun purchases has shifted to the State Police.

Gun dealers and licensed ammunition sellers must now contact the State Police online to process these background checks, which include an additional fee. An automated phone system is expected to be active sometime next month.

Hawley is disappointed that the Supreme Court did not recognize the state’s overreach on our Second Amendment rights and is committed to reversing this mandate in the State Assembly.

For any questions or concerns about this new background check provision, please contact the New York State Police directly either by phone, 1-877-NYS-NICS, or email, nysnics@troopers.ny.gov.

“This new mandate from the state government is yet another attempt to infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens of New York,” Hawley said. “Policies like this are pushing New Yorkers out of our state and putting our small businesses in a difficult situation. Already we are seeing business owners reporting hours-long wait times for background check approvals. Businesses would never do things this way on their own and the state is now forcing them to operate in this new inefficient and confusing system.

“While this mandate is currently in effect, I will not stand for our rights being chipped away at piece by piece. I would encourage anyone who has questions to go through the proper avenues and contact the state police so that they can properly navigate this new regulation. As your assemblyman, I will continue to fight for your rights and reverse disastrous policies like this.”