By Randy LeBaron

“I could never do what you do.”

That is a comment that I have repeatedly heard from people over the past 1 ½ years since I started working as the Spiritual Care & Bereavement Coordinator for Hospice of Orleans. The implication is that working with patients who are dying, along with family members who are grieving, on a daily basis would be too emotionally exhausting. I get it.

I probably would have said the same thing to someone in my position a decade ago after experiencing Hospice from the other side. Even my wife gets concerned at times and asked me once, after I had officiated a number of funerals in a short time span, “When did your life become all about death?”

I don’t know if I have an answer to that but, as far as a response to the original comment, I am quick to respond by sharing how much I appreciated all of the help that I received from Hospice staff when my mother was dying from brain cancer and that I try to focus on how I could bring some sense of peace and comfort to others who may be going through a similar situation.

I also know that I am not the only one who feels this way or who shares a similar purpose in what they do. Many of the staff that I work with at Hospice of Orleans have also been impacted by their own personal losses and they too have chosen to use those experiences to fuel their passion to help others. I cannot share everyone’s story at this time but, over the next couple of weeks, I do want to share a few.

Today I would like to start with our Director of Advancement, Julia Alt, who oversees such things as: fundraising, philanthropy, event planning, and community relations. If you golfed in our tournament this past July, enjoyed an evening at The Toast for Hospice, or joined us last Fall for Hospice of Orlean’s Walk to Remember, there is a good chance that you have already met Julia.

Julia’s first encounter with Hospice came when her grandmother was placed in a Hospice Home in Monroe County after battling a 2-year illness. Julia, who was living in Atlanta, GA at the time and flying up on the weekends, was impressed not only with the care given to her grandmother but also to herself and her family as the staff would often check in with them to see how they were doing, if they needed anything, and to let them know of any changes in her grandmother’s condition. The experience made such an impact that just 6 months after her grandmother’s passing Julia felt God leading her to use her marketing background to assist a nearby Hospice Center in Atlanta.

Not too long after Julia moved back north to her husband’s hometown of Barker, NY. After settling in she sent in her resume and, after being hired last fall, quickly became an integral part of the Hospice Team. When asked what she would want others who may be considering hospice care for themselves or their loved one to know Julia responded that, “Hospice gives people time.”

As the person who has taken the phone call of a distressed caregiver who wants their loved one to be admitted but, in waiting until the very end there wasn’t time before the patient’s passing, Julia wonders how much better it may have been for both the patient and the family if they had allowed Hospice to step in sooner. Perhaps the family could have spent more quality time together, the caregiver could have been given more support, and the patient could have had a more peaceful passing. That is what Hospice can offer

One of the many misconceptions about hospice care is that it is only for cancer patients or only at the very end of someone’s life. The fact is that anyone with a terminal diagnosis of 6 months or less can qualify to receive assistance. I personally have had patients who were still very active, had healthy appetites, and chose to live on their own when they started services. Hospice helps to maintain the quality of a person’s life for whatever time they have left and it is not a sign that they or their family are giving up. If anything it means that they are accepting of their diagnosis and are choosing to focus on being at peace and pain free while they make the most of their time with family and friends.

I will be forever grateful not only to those from Hospice of Orleans who made it possible for my wife and I to care for my mother at home as long as we did and to the staff at The Aurora House in Spencerport who gave me the gift of being able to be a son, and not just a caregiver, during mom’s final two weeks with us. That is the reason why I am able to bear the weight of others who are going through grief, because others helped to bear the weight of my grief when I needed it most.

Come back in 2 weeks to hear the testimony of two more of my colleagues and, if you would like to join me and others from Hospice for this year’s Walk to Remember on October 7th (my mother’s birthday). 

See you in two weeks!

Pastor Randy

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Medina varsity cheerleaders and their coaches did a car wash today outside the high school as a fundraiser. Pictured from left include Ahlyssha Miller, Paisley Pasnik and Mahri Harmer-Owen.

Mahri Harmer-Owen gives the car’s bumper and grille a cleaning.

The Medina cheerleading squad includes eight members. Christina Reddy is the group’s head coach. She said the funds from the car wash will help assist the team in the upcoming season, which includes home varsity football games and the Niagara-Orleans Game Day competition at Wilson on Oct. 17.

Cheerleading is considered an official sport. Reddy said the cheerleaders support the football team and work to get the crowd involved and energized.

Some of the funds may be used to help the cheerleaders with the cost of cheer shoes, socks and bows for their hair.

Rachel Domaracki, one of the cheerleading coaches, joined the cheerleaders in washing this Ultra car.

The car washes were $5.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – John McCarthy, right, and Scott Grimm spent several hours today painting the Santa House at Rotary Park. They did the green first in the morning and were doing the white trim around noon, with the tan siding and red door to follow.

They two volunteered for the task after being asked. The said the Santa House will be looking good for the Christmas season, including the Parade of Lights and the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration on Nov. 26.

Scott Grimm paints near the top peak of the Santa House.

The Santa House is a focal point of Rotary Park at the corner of Main and East Center streets.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to declare Asian Lunar New Year a public school holiday across New York State.

Legislation (A.7768/S.7573) will ensure schools are not in session on Lunar New Year, underscoring Governor Hochul’s commitment to supporting and protecting New York’s AAPI community.

“By designating Lunar New Year as an official school holiday, we are taking an important step in recognizing the importance of New York’s AAPI community and the rich diversity that makes New York so great,” Governor Hochul said. “It is not just a day off from school – it is an opportunity for our children to learn about and celebrate their own or different cultures and traditions.”

Legislation (A.7768/S.7573) amends the education law to declare Asian Lunar New Year a public school holiday statewide. The legislation requires that all public schools close for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Editor’s Note: The new legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023. The Asian Lunar New Year is the first day after the second lunar month after the winter solstice in the preceding  calendar year. The new one falls om Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “The Lunar New Year holiday will give thousands of Asian students in our state the ability to gather together and celebrate with family and friends without having to sacrificing their education. I hope this will also shine a light on the culture and traditions of our Asian friends and neighbors, and in a time where we have seen hate and violence against Asian communities, this will open people’s eyes, encouraging tolerance and acceptance. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and signing this important legislation.”

Legislator on EDA board says Legislature unlikely to approve that request

ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency, an organization focused on spurring business activity in the county, is seeking a $50,000 funding increase from the Orleans County Legislature for 2024.

The county allocated $200,000 for the Orleans EDA for 2023, up from $190,000 in 2022.

The agency’s board of directors on Friday approved a $385,000 budget for the EDA in 2024. The agency has been waiting on several larger projects to move forward in the past two years, including renewable energy projects and expansions at local companies.

The EDA generates some of its revenue through fees, which are usually 2 percent of the total investment in a project. A $3 million expansion, for example, would net $60,000 for the EDA if the project received assistance from the agency.

The EDA has had some cash-flow challenges. It received a $500,000 loan from the county in October 2022 to be paid back over three years at 3 percent interest each year. The terms call for the EDA to pay the county a third of the principal each year.

The first payment of $166,666.67 plus $22,500 is due March 1, 2024. The second payment of $166,666.67 plus $10,000 in interest is due March 1, 2025. The third payment of $166,666.66 plus $5,000 is due March 1, 2026.

The agency is seeking a 25 percent increase from the county in its annual government allocation. But Skip Draper, a county legislator and EDA board member, said the county has its own challenges and he doesn’t expect much of an increase from the county for the EDA in 2024.

Draper said the county was notified by the state that it is reducing reimbursements for several social services programs that are mandated by the state. That could be a $3 million hit to the county, Draper said.

“It’s unlikely,” Draper said about the $50,000 increase being approved. “The mandates are up (from the state0 but the reimbursements are down.”

John Misiti, the EDA board chairman, said the county loan has helped the EDA through a challenging year. He said he expects a turnaround for the EDA finances soon.

“We are navigating through a  tight year,” he said. “We need a big project to hit.”

Genesee needs 4,800 more units in next 20 years

Press Release, Genesee County Economic Development Center

BATAVIA – City and Town of Batavia officials and the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) announced the creation of the Batavia Home Fund, an incentive-styled program designed to improve and grow the area’s housing stock.

The fund was created to address shared housing goals and establish methods to fund beneficial activities to enhance the area’s housing stock, including investments to rehabilitate vacant and blighted buildings as well as the conversion of rental properties into single-family homes. Seed funding for the fund has been provided through a grant of $100,000 that was recently approved by the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation, a GCEDC affiliate.

“Maintaining a vibrant, strong residential housing stock within the City helps to eliminate blight and encourage smart, sustainable growth,” said Batavia City Council President Eugene (Geno) Jankowski, Jr.  “The creation of such a fund furthers the City’s strategic goal of enhancing our housing stock as we have recently experienced through investments to create residential units at City View Residences and Liberty Square.”

“The Batavia Home Fund compliments the Town’s focus on agricultural, commercial, and industrial growth,” said Town of Batavia Supervisor Greg Post.  “It’s important that as we continue to generate investment from these sectors with our economic development and public sector partners, we will have quality housing stock for the people who are pursuing these careers.”

The Batavia Home Fund will be supported by host benefit agreements with developers and homebuilders for future multi-family housing projects in the City and Town. Projects will be considered by a committee of City, Town and GCEDC officials to determine how funds raised will be utilized.

The new program mimics the successful Batavia Pathway to Prosperity (B2P) program, which enables brownfield remediation projects with funding from projects with a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement (PILOTs) in the City of Batavia.

“With the successful remediation of brownfield sites in the City, we believe the next step in Batavia’s growth is to provide a more robust offering of housing options,” said Batavia City Manager Rachael Tabelski.  “The intent of the Batavia Home Fund is to encourage and incent developers and homebuilders to view Batavia as a market opportunity and in turn work with community stakeholders to identify areas where housing options can be developed.”

GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde said the city and town-led effort supports public demand for housing investments and the capacity for a growing manufacturing workforce to contribute to the economy and community.

From 2015-2020, Genesee County’s private sector employment increased 4.4% along with Batavia’s food and beverage sector growing to almost 1,000 employees. These statistics and data support the county’s need of approximately 4,800 units over the next 20 years as determined in a housing study conducted by Labella Associates in 2018.

“Improving Batavia and Genesee County’s housing stock will only enhance manufacturing growth opportunities,” Hyde said. “With our food and beverage cluster nearing 1,000 workers at the Agri-Business Park and Plug Power and Edwards Vacuum set to hire hundreds of engineers, technicians, and operators at STAMP, this fund is ideally suited to attract and retain talented professionals so they can live in close proximity to their places of employment and contribute meaningfully to our community.”

MEDINA – Residents of Orchard Manor Rehabilitation Facility enjoyed an evening of Oktoberfest Thursday with family members, staff and community guests.

Due to the warm, sunny day, the event took place in tents outside the facility and featured a German band, German food and a bounce house for the children.

This is the 39th year Orchard Manor has held Oktoberfest. The Frankfurters, a German-American band from Buffalo featuring Swiss Alpine hors and bell ringers has been performing at the facility since 1984, according to activities director, Jamie Murphy.

Staff in Orchard Manor’s kitchen prepared sausage, rolls, sauerkraut, German potato salad, soft pretzels and cheese and German chocolate cake, much to the delight of all the residents.

There was also beer, apple cider and hard cider.

“I’m not sure which they liked best, but it was all a hit,” Murphy said.

Tom and Kim Fuller are dressed for Oktoberfest Thursday at Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility. They assisted with the festivities for residents.

ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency expects it will be surveying recent graduates of small business training program to hear from the entrepreneurs the strengths and weaknesses of the eight-week class, and hear if they have ideas to make it better.

The EDA has been offering the program for since 1999, with 567 people completing the Microenterprise Assistance Program.

Matt Holland is the new leader of MAP following the retirement last month of Diane Blanchard, who was the coordinator of the program for about two decades.

The EDA is open to tweaking the program, perhaps expanding it to 10 weeks. The organization wants to hear from MAP grads on how well the program prepared them to run a business and if there are any topics that could use more attention.

“We want to set them up to succeed,” said John Misiti, chairman of the Orleans EDA board of directors.

He praised Blanchard for her long-term commitment to the program. He said the EDA is always looking for continuous improvement.

The EDA expects it will reach out to graduates from the program in the past five years. The EDA wants to hear how many of those grads are in business, how many started a business but closed, and how many opted not to venture out with a business.

Some of the class sessions focused on:

• Development of comprehensive business plans
• Marketing and advertising
• Business organization
• Tax, accounting, insurance and financing
• Specialized computer application
• Creating effective leadership

The EDA may want to add a session on developing an online presence and online marketing, said Gabrielle Barone, the EDA vice president for business development. She believes an online presence makes a big difference for many small businesses.

Michael Dobell, the EDA executive director, said the change in leadership with MAP is a chance to take stock of the program and look for ways to make it better – with lots of input from the recent graduates.

“Let’s talk to them and see how MAP could have helped them even more,” he said at today EDA board meeting.

The survey should provide lots of feedback for the EDA as it looks to upgrade the program, board members said.

“Let’s see if there are any common stumbling blocks that we could address in MAP,” said board member Ed Urbanik. He said running a small business right now is “a tough environment.”

The program also has made grants available to some of the recent grads to help with equipment or to be used as working capital.

The EDA was awarded a $300,000 state grant about a year ago to help small businesses. The grants have ranged from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $35,000. The grants can be used to buy equipment or be used as working capital. About $33,000 remains to be disbursed from that grant. The EDA also received a previous $200,000 grant to assist small businesses.

The EDA would like to apply again for that grant program, Dobell said.

The agency isn’t offering the training class this fall, but will get back to offering the classroom instruction in the spring. There are usually 10 to 20 students in each class.

The EDA is directing people interested in small business training to try an on-line course offered through Niagara County Community College this fall. Those grads are eligible to apply for the grants offering through the EDA.

Letters of intent due by Sept. 29

Press Release, Rochester Area Community Foundation

In an effort to expand and enhance its support for each of the rural counties in its service area, Rochester Area Community Foundation will infuse up to $50,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations helping to improve the quality of life for residents in Orleans County.

This new funding opportunity is part of an intentional strategy by the Community Foundation to increase access to critical services, tackle disparities faced by residents, and bolster services of the nonprofits on the front lines. This effort aligns with the Foundation’s main goals of creating a more equitable community and strengthening our region’s vitality.

“The pot of money is $50,000 for this first round,” said Mary F. Holleran, senior vice president, of communications for the Rochester Area Community Foundation. “How many grants and the amount of each depend on the number of applications. In Wayne County, for example, grants ranged from $1,000 to one for $20,000. In Yates County, one grant was $10,000 and one was for $15,000 and several were smaller.”

The first step in the grant application process is for nonprofits serving Orleans County to submit letters of intent (LOIs), which serve as a brief, initial outline of the need for grant funding. LOIs are now being accepted through the Community Foundation’s online portal at www.racf.org/GrantPortal, which will connect to the Regional Grantmaking 2023-24 Application. Submissions must be made by Sept. 29.

Select applicants whose projects align most closely with the Foundation’s impact areas — poverty, academic achievement, racial equity and understanding, arts and culture, historical preservation, environmental justice, aging — will then be invited to submit full applications for further consideration of funding.

This grant round includes additional funding opportunities for nonprofits serving Orleans, Genesee and Livingston counties. This past summer, additional grant dollars were made available in Wayne and Yates counties, in partnership with the Foundation’s geographic affiliates there. A total of 30 nonprofit organizations serving those two counties received grants.

If a nonprofit has questions about eligibility or the grant portal, please email grants@racf.org.

About Rochester Area Community Foundation: In 1972, a group of local residents founded Rochester Area Community Foundation as an endowment to provide ongoing and long-term support for the Rochester-Finger Lakes region. The Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and other nonprofit organizations to establish charitable funds or contribute to existing permanent funds that help address the region’s current and evolving needs. In its first 50 years, the Foundation has distributed more than $674 million in grants and scholarships throughout our region and beyond.

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

HAMLIN – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today announced a temporary closure of the Sandy Creek fishing access site on Route 19 (Lake Road East Fork) in the town of Hamlin, Monroe County, due to maintenance of the parking lot.

The site is anticipated to be closed starting today and will reopen Sept. 16.

Spectrum customers have lost access to Disney, ESPN channels

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today directed the Department of Public Service to hold Spectrum Northeast, LLC and Spectrum New York Metro, LLC (collectively “Charter”) accountable and ensure the company delivers refunds for New York consumers who have experienced disrupted service amid the ongoing cable dispute between Charter and The Walt Disney Company (Disney), two of the largest entertainment companies in the United States.

Nearly 15 million cable viewers nationwide – more than 1.5 million in New York State – lost access to ESPN and other Disney-owned channels on August 31 when Disney and Charter were unable to renew a distribution deal.

Governor Hochul has directed the Department of Public Service to ensure Charter is providing customers with appropriate refunds for any period that customers cannot access Disney-owned channels during the dispute.

“It’s simple: if you pay your cable bill, you deserve to get the services you pay for,” Governor Hochul said. “An ongoing corporate dispute is forcing customers to miss some of the highest profile televised events of the year – the least these companies can do is provide a refund. Disney and Charter must continue negotiating in good faith to ensure affordability and consumer choice. I also urge Disney to continue providing its programming under the terms of the prior agreement while negotiations continue. My Administration is committed to consumer protections for all New Yorkers.”

Governor Hochul is urging the companies to resolve this dispute as soon as possible. As the contract negotiations continue, more customers are becoming aware of the lapse in certain programming and understandably have questions about refunds.

New Yorkers have lost access to channels that broadcast a variety of different programming, including some of the highest-profile televised events of the year: the U.S. Open, the Bills playing the Jets on Monday Night Football, and family-friendly shows.

The Governor’s directive to the Department of Public Service (DPS) is to reduce confusion and ensure that all customers are refunded. DPS sent a letter to Charter today as part of their efforts to hold the company accountable and swiftly deliver refunds to customers who have been affected by the lapse in Disney-owned programming.

Department of Public Service CEO and Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said, “Governor Hochul is giving voice to millions of New Yorkers who are frustrated that they cannot view all of their cable channels, and who have a right to be refunded for services that they are unable to access. The Department of Public Service will work diligently to ensure Charter provides customers appropriate bill credits in a timely manner.”

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a video press conference on Thursday to announce her Training and Nutrition Stability Act, legislation to help prevent jobseekers from losing their SNAP benefits.

The bill would rectify loopholes within the SNAP Employment and Training program that can cause a SNAP recipient to lose benefits due to receiving wages as part of their job training. By doing so, it would help ensure that SNAP recipients continue to receive critical nutritional assistance while gaining skills, working to secure employment, and eventually achieving self-sufficiency.

“Loopholes in SNAP’s E&T program force job seekers to make an impossible choice: to participate in job training and potentially lose desperately needed nutritional assistance, or to give up employment opportunities in order to keep food on the table,” said Senator Gillibrand. “My Training and Nutrition Stability Act is a commonsense fix that will provide jobseekers with sustained nutritional assistance as they seek to expand their skill sets and secure good-paying jobs so that they no longer need to rely on SNAP. I’m committed to getting this bill passed and making sure working families have the support they need to get back on their feet.”

The SNAP Employment and Training program offers a variety of services to help SNAP recipients secure employment, including work experience opportunities, job search assistance, and educational and vocational programs. It also offers participants a variety of supportive services to overcome other common barriers to sustained employment, like reimbursements for transportation, child care services and safety equipment.

Under current law, SNAP E&T program participants risk losing their SNAP eligibility, and subsequently their ability to participate in the E&T program itself, because of the extra income they earn through the program.

The Training and Nutrition Stability Act would fix this issue by excluding wages derived from a public workforce training program from SNAP income calculations. This change would allow participants to maintain their nutrition benefits and maintain their enrollment in high-quality training programs leading to better outcomes, permanent employment, and self-sufficiency.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), and Rep. Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) lead this bill in the House.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to help high school students succeed – both in and out of the classroom.

Legislation (A.514-A/S.5650-A) ensures parents and students receive information on what advanced placement courses are offered, how to enroll in them, and the benefits of participation.

Legislation (S.1732/A.6091) establishes peer selected student governments either in high schools or district-wide where there currently are none.

This is Governor Hochul’s latest commitment to New York’s students as they head back to school, building on multiple announcements this week to expand and support a diverse teacher workforce, expand childcare centers at SUNY campuses, and ensure school districts and BOCES have Covid-19 tests and masks available.

“Education is the great equalizer for young New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “This legislation proves that we’re not just changing policy – we are creating environments where every family has the knowledge to best support their kids on their educational journey and students have the opportunity to practice civic engagement through opportunities in their own classroom.”

Legislation (A.514-A/S.5650-A) amends the education law to require all school districts and charter schools to provide information to parents and students about the availability and benefits of Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the school on an annual basis.

Such notices shall include the benefits of participating in AP courses, a description of the courses offered in the current and following school years by a district or charter school and how to prepare and enroll in them, as well as a description of the academic and non-academic support the district or charter school provides, including financial assistance relating to the cost of participating in AP courses. Such notice must be provided electronically or by mail and be posted on the website of the district or charter school.

Legislation (S.1732/A.6091) amends the education law to require that student governments in high schools or district wide are established where they currently do not exist. The board of education or trustees of every school district serving high school students in grades nine through 12 with no districtwide or school building peer selected student government must establish a student government system.