ALBION – A group that has been working for more than a decade to upgrade Bullard Park announced its next goal for the site on Route 31: a new lodge.

The committee that initially formed as “Rebuild Bullard” has helped push the first two phases of improvements at Bullard.

Phase one included swapping out old playground equipment with new. That was complete in 2016.

In 2020 and 2021, the village was able to get phase two done with a new splash pad, amphitheater, pavilion with bathrooms and a walking trail.

This year saw the completion of new basketball courts, a disc golf course as well as a scoreboard for the youth football program.

Ron Albertson, has been one of the leaders of the effort to upgrade Bullard. He said the group is now ready to work on getting a lodge in the park that could be rented out year-round. He said other communities, including Spencerport and the Town of Sweden, have lodges that are popular for events and activities.

The Village Board gave its permission for the Bullard group to reach out to an architectural firm to propose renderings of the lodge and possible locations.

Albertson and John Grillo, the village’s recreation director, said it’s in the beginning stages of collecting information and a design for the site.

The group would like to pursue a state grant to help pay for the project.

Grillo said other communities with lodges at their parks charge to rent them out, and that pays for the facilities to be cleaned and other expenses.

The Bullard group likes having the lodge on the west side of Bullard back where there used to be pavilions. But a professional engineer and architect will be consulted for their opinions.

Village Board members thanked the group for pushing upgrades at Bullard. The board would like to see improvements at some of the pocket parks too, especially on the west side of the village.

Grillo said the village has applied for a grant to put new fencing on Lafayette Park on West State and West Park streets, and would like a half court basketball court there. Albertson said St. Joseph’s Park on Clinton Street is limited with parking, but he could see that site as a potential dog park in addition to the current playground.

Press Release, Gov. Hochul’s Office

Governor Hochul on Wednesday signed legislation to protect New York consumers from medicine price-gouging and ongoing financial consequences related to medical debt. Additionally, the Governor signed bills what will curb predatory subscription services, and confusion over the price of many goods and services.

“As costs and inflation continue to creep up, consumer protection is one of the ways that our state is giving New Yorkers more purchasing power and keeping hard-earned money in their pockets,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation will help to protect individuals struggling with medical debt, unwanted subscriptions, and confusion over prices at the register. No one should have to jump through hoops to protect their finances and today we’re taking steps to help New Yorkers on their journeys toward financial freedom.”

• Legislation S.608C/A.5653B prohibits the sale of medicine for an unconscionably excessive price during a drug shortage (as declared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Generally, an “unconscionably excessive price” may include a gross disparity between the price being charged by the seller during the abnormal disruption of the market, and the price charged immediately prior.

• Legislation S.4907A/A.6275A prohibits hospitals, health care professionals and ambulances from reporting an individual’s medical debt charged to a medical card to credit agencies. A medical card is a credit card offered by providers specifically for the payment of health care services, products or devices.

According to a 2023 study from the Urban Institute, 740,000 New Yorkers have medical debt on their credit reports with people of color twice as likely to have medical debt referred to a credit bureau and low-income people three times more likely. By prohibiting hospitals, health care professionals, and certified ambulances from reporting medical debt to credit agencies, this legislation will make it easier for New Yorkers to get jobs, secure credit, rent an apartment, pay for their children’s education and build long-term wealth.

• Legislation S.5941B/A.3245D requires businesses to notify consumers of an upcoming automatic renewal or a continuous service charge 45 days prior to the charge. It also requires businesses to include instructions for how to cancel automatic renewals or continuous service charges as part of the notice to the consumer.

• Legislation S.1048A/A.2672B requires businesses to clearly post the highest price that a consumer might pay for certain transactions, including any surcharges. The legislation also establishes a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation.

Businesses in New York are permitted to offer two-tiered pricing systems in which the credit card price for certain sales transactions is posted alongside the cash price. By requiring businesses to post the highest price that a consumer might pay, this legislation helps to promote transparency and ensure that consumers are informed about their purchases.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Susan Oschmann accepts a “Community Service Award” from Albion mayor Angel Javier Jr. It was presented during Wednesday’s Village Board meeting.

ALBION – Susan Oschmann made it a mission two years ago to get new basketball courts at Bullard Park.

Oschmann rallied the community, including basketball legend Roosevelt Bouie, in getting two new courts complete. They opened on Oct. 26.

The Albion Village Board on Wednesday presented its first “Community Service Award” to Oschmann in appreciation for her efforts leading the charge for the new courts.

“The Village of Albion presents this award in acknowledgement of your commitment to serving others and your community,” states the award which is signed by Mayor Angel Javier and Tracy VanSkiver, the village clerk/treasurer.

The previous court was back further in the park and the surface wasn’t level with asphalt heaving in sports. The hoops were missing nets and were seldom used.

Oschmann pushed for the project not long after moving to Albion from Kendall. She wanted kids, including her grandchildren, to have a place to shoot basketballs with friends.

She has been friends with Bouie since they were kids. Bouie was a big star at Syracuse University and he helped secure $40,000 in funding from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation.

The village and Bounce for Bullard so far have raised $98,000 for the project with another $10,000 in in-kind services.

Judge Sanford Church donated money to pay for two of the basketball hoops. The Albion United Methodist Church donated $45,000 towards the project. The Wendel engineering firm did designs and renderings for the basketball courts that helped Albion pursue grant funding. The Orleans County United Way also helped pursue grants and set up a non-profit organization to advance projects at Bullard.

Oschmann said there is still more to do – about $50,000 is needed for more fencing as well as benches for spectators in a shaded area and working outdoor lights.

Two donors have offered to pay for two of the benches, Oschmann told the board on Wednesday. Those donors would like a memorial plaque to be on the stainless steel benches.

Oschmann also was a key organizer for “Santa’s Hometown Parade” this past Saturday in Albion.

Albion boys and girls basketball players play on the new courts at Bullard Park on Oct. 26, when the new paint was dry and the courts were made available for the first time to the community.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health’s For Women Only, held in October at White Birch Golf Course, had a touching and unique feature.

During the event, the community came together for a special cause – a fundraising initiative dedicated to supporting cancer services.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Devon Heveron of Lyndonville, left, signs her grandmother’s name on a tree of life painted by artist Carol Culhane. The tree was featured at Orleans Community Health’s For Women Only in October at White Birch Golf Course.

“The event not only aimed to raise essential funds, but also sought to create a meaningful and personal experience for attendees,” said Scott Robinson, director of marketing at Orleans Community Health.

At the center of this touching event was a unique artistic contribution by local artist Carol Culhane. She created a tree adorned with leaves for attendees to inscribe the names of loved ones they wished to honor. This interactive and soul-stirring artwork allowed participants to contribute to a collective expression of solidarity and support in the fight against cancer, Robinson said.

“As guests were given the opportunity to add a loved one’s name to leaves, the tree transformed into a living tribute, embodying the strength of a community standing together against the challenges of cancer,” Robinson said. “Carol’s thoughtful design not only captured the essence of the event, but also provided a tangible representation of the shared commitment to making a difference in Orleans County. The leaves on the tree stand as a testament to the unity and resilience of a community dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer.”

Last week, Culhane donated the framed artwork to Medina Memorial Hospital, where it now hangs in the hospital’s Imaging Department.

“Our team was thrilled to accept the finished piece of artwork,” Robinson said.

Culhane is a self-taught artist, who has made it her mission to support local heroes, veterans and charitable organizations.

“I enjoy doing artwork for different causes because I can,” Culhane said. “I have been given a gift and I have done my best in my life to give and share it. I am a humble person and I have lived a successful life in terms of refining my skill as an untrained artist. As I realized I have a talent that could provide a mechanism for people to share, enjoy and give to others, I found great joy in doing so.”

Culhane has designed and painted hundreds of Christmas ornaments for Wounded Warriors, Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star mothers. She was chosen to paint portraits of veterans on a Vietnam Memorial in Rochester and she painted the murals at Golisano’s Children’s Hospital, to name a few. Each year, she designs and donates ornaments for a fundraiser for Hospice of Orleans County.

“Interacting with all walks of life, for example, children, elders, military, I have an opportunity to know each and everyone’s life story,” she said. “Whether it was a child full of joy and excitement at our tree farm or those fighting a serious disease; a member of our military who gave so much of his/her body and soul; or an elderly person so wise who shared their story with me, blessings came in many ways. My pen, pencil and paintbrush have been my blessing to share with others.”

MEDINA – The Village of Medina Planning Board last week approved the site plan for an 8,000-square-foot expansion at Vivus Technologies.

The business at 591 Mahar St. plans to put up a new 80-by-100 foot building. The company manufactures washers and other cleaning equipment.

Medina also approved a variance for the project. The village code requires a 50-foot setback for buildings when a commercial lot abuts a residential district. Vivus will have a 25-foot setback. The village approved the variance for the project, which is on a dead-end street.

The existing facility was previously used by Takeform before that company moved to Maple Ridge Road.

The Planning Board last week also approved the site plan for solar panels to be put on the roof of the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue. The project has a capacity to generate 1.296 megawatts of power to be used onsite, with any excess to be sold on the grid, said Dan Gardner, the village’s code enforcement officer.

Law enforcement agencies in Orleans County will have increased patrols for driving while intoxicated beginning today until Jan. 1.

 “As the anticipation of attending gatherings to celebrate this holiday season increases, higher traffic volume is also expected to increase resulting in higher risk in crashes, including impaired-driving crashes that could cause injuries or deaths,” said Sheriff Chris Bourke, the Orleans County STOP-DWI coordinator.

He encourages motorists to have a plan to not drink and drive.

Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti also announced today Niagara County law enforcement will be part of the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign from today through Jan. 1.

Photos from Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

YATES – Katlyn Moore, Orleans County Sheriff’s animal control officer, holds an injured snowy owl on Sweet Road in the Town of Yates on Tuesday morning.

She was dispatched to the site at 7:36 a.m. She discovered the owl in a field and it appeared to have a broken wing, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.

Moore hands the owl to DEC Officer Nathan Godson. He responded as well as Brandi from Little Critter Rescue. The snowy owl was transported to a vet for treatment, Bourke said.

CARLTON – The Carlton Town Board didn’t have enough votes to approve spending $22,350 in a contract with Monroe Ambulance for 2024.

The board is down a member following the resignation of Debbie Yockel, effective Dec. 1. She was appointed the town clerk on Tuesday following the resignation of Karen Narburgh.

The board needs 3 votes to pass a resolution, and contract proposal from Monroe was 2 votes in favor and 2 against.

Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery and Councilman Dana Woolston voted for the contract while council members Brian McCue and Charlie Ricci were against it.

The vote followed public comments when several residents said they were concerned about not enough ambulances being available in the community, resulting in frequent delayed responses even in critical emergencies.

The $300,000 contract calls for Monroe to station an ambulance in Albion 24 hours a day, seven days a week and one in Holley for at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Monroe also will draw on ambulances in Monroe County if there is a need in Orleans County.

Carlton was the seventh of the seven towns in a consortium to vote on the contract. It was approved by the first six – Albion, Barre, Gaines, Clarendon, Murray and Kendall.

It’s unclear if the $300,000 contract among all seven towns is null and void. At least one town, Murray, made its commitment contingent on all seven towns approving the deal.

The state is making $50,000 available to promote sports and physical recreation activities for youth in Orleans County.

The Genesee-Orleans Youth Bureau will administer the funding from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Applications are due to the Youth Bureau by Dec. 31. Non-profit and community-based organizations are eligible to apply.

Grants can fund coaches, instructors, referee fees, equipment and uniforms, facility and field improvements, adaptive sports equipment and programming, and other needs.

Interested organizations can email the Youth Bureau for more information at youthbureau@co.genesee.ny.us or call (585)344-3960.

MURRAY – Voters in the Murray Joint Fire District elected two fire commissioners to five-year terms on Tuesday, and also approved creating capital reserve accounts.

Chris Middleton was the top vote-getter for “Commissioner A” with 46 votes, to 27 for Tom Knight and 22 for Dave Knapp, an incumbent and original commissioner for the joint fire district.

For Commissioner B, David Smith was elected with 56 votes, followed by 37 for Joseph Morlino and 4 for Greg Johnston.

Voters also approved a proposition to create reserve accounts with 79 yes and 16 no.

The fire district will establish repair and replacement capital reserve accounts for apparatus and motor vehicles, equipment and buildings.

Courtesy of Kendall Central School – Most of the capital project includes upgrades to the elementary school.

KENDALL – School district residents approved a proposed $12,680,000 capital today with a vote of 102 in favor and 41 against.

Kendall’s recent capital projects have focused on the junior-senior high school. This proposed project is primarily at the elementary school.

The work at the school is an estimated $11,122,076 and includes site improvements with new paving, a new playground with age-appropriate equipment.

Inside the elementary school, projects include safety and security upgrades to interior doors, entryways, and alarm systems, as well as energy- efficient classroom lighting, corridor enhancements and auditorium upgrades, according to the district.

The project includes $153,089 in work at the junior-senior high school for common area improvements with new flooring and lighting.

In the transportation building, two bus lifts would be replaced at a cost of $1,065,278.

A roof would also be replaced for the Buildings & Grounds facility at a cost of $339,557.

District officials say the project won’t result in a tax increase. The state is covering 74 percent of the costs. Kendall has 15 percent of the expense already in a capital reserve fund. The other 11 percent is money Kendall has been paying in debt from prior projects that will be retired.

The project will go into the design phase to be submitted to the State Education Department in the summer 2024. After SED review/approval, construction is expected to start in the spring 2025 and be complete the end of 2026.

Press Release, FMC in Middleport

MIDDLEPORT – The team at FMC Corporation’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport gathered recently to celebrate a truly remarkable employment milestone – the 50th anniversary of FMC team member Donna McCloy.

McCloy is currently a Safety Program Specialist at the Middleport facility. She joined FMC Corporation in 1973, and has played a number of roles during her five decades of service to the company.

During the 50th anniversary celebration, McCloy received a number of gifts in recognition of her service, as well as video messages of congratulations from many senior leaders at FMC’s corporate offices in Philadelphia, Pa., including FMC Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Douglas.

Press Release, Heritage Wind

ALBION – Heritage Wind has announced four local organizations as awardees from the project’s community grant program. Launched in 2020, this program supports community organizations throughout Orleans County working to build healthy communities, support economic development, foster environmental sustainability, and promote education.

“We are proud to once again support the good work of the Orleans County community. With this round of funding, Heritage Wind has contributed over $85,000 to the greater Orleans County area” said Carmen O’Keefe, Senior Development Manager, Apex Clean Energy.  “We are proud to join with so many dedicated local organizations to support the needs of the area.”

The latest grant recipients are: Orleans County Joint Veterans Council, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association (Western New York Chapter), Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming Counties Chapter NYSARC, and The Village of Medina Fire Department.

Orleans County Joint Veterans Council ($2,000) – “My thanks to the generosity and their grant application process of Heritage Wind we are able to upgrade our computer system and applications that will help us better schedule and record our drivers and vets to make sure they get to the medical appointments in a timely manner,” said Owen Toale, veteran and group volunteer. “Thank you Heritage Wind for this much needed grant.”

The council provides no-cost transportation to veterans from Orleans County to any VA directed medical appointments. Twenty-eight volunteers have logged over 5,500 hours and have driven close to 55,000 miles serving the veterans of Orleans County. The funding this organization received from this grant cycle will be used to purchase new computers and updated software to help scheduling for rides.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association ($2,000) – Senior Director of Development Lynn Westcott states, “We are so grateful for the generous support Apex Clean Energy and Heritage Wind continues to give to the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter.”

This grant will provide funding to help the organization’s Orleans County’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This event raises funds for ongoing research and support services for families with a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

GLOW ARC ($6,300) – Arc GLOW (formerly Arcs of Livingston Wyoming and Genesee Orleans) is a parent- and family-driven not-for-profit organization that empowers and supports people of all ages with a broad spectrum of emotional, intellectual, and developmental disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy and neurological conditions.

“Arc GLOW is so incredibly thankful for the generosity of Heritage Wind in giving us a grant to purchase a set of steel doors with an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mechanism at our East Academy Day Habilitation site in Albion,” said Lisa Bors, public relations director for Arc GLOW. “With this money, we will be able to ensure the safety of our individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that we serve. Additionally, we will now be able to fully utilize our entire space.”

The Village of Medina Fire Department ($600) – These funds will be used by the municipal department to purchase four pediatric stretcher restraint systems. This will ensure that each ambulance will have a 5-point harness available to help transport youth patients safely. In addition to providing to the Village of Medina, they are the primary ambulance for the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates, and Village of Lyndonville; through mutual aid agreements their ambulance responds throughout Orleans County, northern Genesee County and eastern Niagara County.

Counting this year’s recipients, Heritage Wind has awarded over $85,000 to community causes and non-profit organizations since the start of development. These grants are part of a larger community grant program by Apex Clean Energy. During 2023, Apex has contributed over $1 million to community groups across the country. Since 2017, over $ 4 million in funds have been awarded to local communities nationwide.

Heritage Wind is committed to being a strong community partner to local governments, area businesses, and non-profits working to improve people’s lives across the region. The community grant program will open an additional round of grant funding this spring. To learn more or apply for a future grant, visit www.heritagewindpower.com/grant.

Albion fire chief says not enough ambulances available to serve community, often resulting in long waits

GAINES – The Gaines Town Board approved a contract with Monroe Ambulance to provide service in the town for 2024, making Gaines the sixth of seven towns to approve the agreement. Carlton is the last of the seven and the Town Board meets this evening at 7 to vote on the contract.

File photo: Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham

Monroe upped the contract from $181,200 in 2023 to $300,000 next year. The agreement for 2023 would have been $200,000 but Kendall didn’t pay anything towards ambulance coverage this year.

Among the seven towns in the agreement only Gaines is seeing a decrease, down from $24,600 in 2023 to $12,030 next year.

The other six will all pay more as part of the contract. Here are the financial terms for the other six town for 2024 (with 2023 in parentheses): Albion at $155,820 ($84,400), Barre at $13,740 ($8,000), Carlton at $22,350 ($14,800), Clarendon at $25,350 ($18,800), Kendall at $17,850 ($0) and Murray at $52,860 ($30,600).

The leaders to the towns divvied up the town shares based on call volume. An Albion resident, Jason Dragon, said he believes an error was made and some of the Gaines calls were put in the town of Albion. Part of the village of Albion is also in Gaines, and Dragon said he suspects those Gaines calls in the village were mistakenly put in Albion’s numbers and is part of the reason Albion is seeing a huge increase while Gaines goes down.

“As a taxpayer in the Town of Albion I would hope Gaines would pay its fair share,” he told the Gaines Town Board.

Tyler Allport, the Gaines town supervisor, said he would ask Richard Remley, the Albion town supervisor, to verify that the village calls were properly accounted for each town.

Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham also spoke during the Gaines Town Board meeting on Monday and he said the current ambulance coverage is deficient for the Albion fire protection area in Albion and Gaines.

Albion firefighters are often first on the scene for an EMS call. What used to be a 5-minute wait for an ambulance to arrive and take over for more serious EMS calls has often turned into 30 minutes to an hour, Graham told the Gaines officials.

He looked at the data since April 2023 when Monroe first started as a primary ambulance provider in central Orleans. Graham said there have been 180 EMS calls, and 68 times Albion firefighters have responded because an ambulance wasn’t available nearby.

“Monroe Ambulance can’t provide us with enough ambulances,” the fire chief said. “The patients get very upset and irate with the wait.”

The $300,000 contract calls for Monroe to station an ambulance in Albion 24 hours a day, seven days a week and one in Holley for at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Monroe also will draw on ambulances in Monroe County if there is a need in Orleans County.

Allport said stationing two ambulances 24-7 in Orleans County would have cost $500,000.

Dave Bertsch of Carlton, a long-time medic with COVA ambulance, said the community is getting less service despite more cost for ambulance services. COVA closed late last year due to financial challenges. COVA did not receive any government aid from the local towns.

There often isn’t an ALS ambulance available for central Orleans, Bertsch told the Gaines officials.

“I said it last year that we’re going backwards and we’re still going backwards,” he said.

Charlie Ricci, a Carlton town councilman, asked the Gaines officials if they would be willing to partner with Carlton in a contract with Mercy EMS for ambulance services. The Gaines officials didn’t comment on that request.