Team from United Way available to help access free installation, discounted rate for low to moderate income households

ALBION – “The internet has changed our world,” said Nyla Gaylord, grant writer for United Way of Orleans County and coordinator for United Way’s Connect Orleans collaborative.

Gaylord is part of the initiative to bring affordable wireless broadband to every resident of Orleans County. Online shopping, social media, phone and video calling, e-mail, banking, live sports events, music, television shows, news, movies, and more, are all now just a click away, – “If it is available, If you can afford it and If you know how to use it,” she said.

County officials have been pushing for about a decade to have high-speed internet service available throughout the county.

Sharon Quill

Gaylord and the United Way team of two Connect Orleans outreach workers, Sharon Quill and Karen Sanders, are helping low-to-moderate income households in the villages of Albion, Holley, and Medina and the towns of Albion, Gaines and Shelby prequalify for a grant that pays for free installation of wireless broadband service and free equipment, a $650 benefit.

These communities are targeted because at least 51 percent of households meet the criteria for having low to moderate income. They are also screening people to see if they qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which can save them $30 a month.

In partnership with the Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative, funded by the United Way, the team connects people with digital literacy mentors who offer one-on-one coaching in how to use internet-based technology like smart TV’s, phones, tablets and more.

“What we are finding is that most people can significantly lower the cost of their internet service by unbundling from cable and switching to wireless broadband. Some people are saving over $100 a month,” Gaylord said.

The difference between cable and wireless technology is that cable comes through a wire, such as phone lines, while broadband comes through the air.  The new Ambient wireless broadband service, sponsored by Orleans County using federal funding, will significantly expand the availability of internet access, consumer choice in service providers and the opportunity to “unbundle” from cable packages and save money.

“Many people, especially older people and people with disabilities don’t know they now have options in how they get internet-based services – options that will save them money,” Gaylord said. “Change is hard. It is a bit scary to think about switching from cable to wireless. The cable companies want you to ‘bundle,’ but with this service, you get access to the internet and can subscribe to only the options you want. It is like ordering off a menu instead of buying a meal deal. That is why our Connect Orleans team is available to help every step of the way.”

Gaylord is enthusiastic about the work the United Way team is doing.

“The whole team is enjoying meeting people and talking to them about this new service,” she said.   “When we help people save money, or get internet access for the first time, we know we are really making a positive difference in their lives.”

This week, households in the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina and the towns of Albion, Gaines and Shelby will receive post cards in the mail with information on how to contact the Connect Orleans team for information on the new wireless broadband service and cost saving benefits, such free installation and a free wireless receiver.

This equipment will allow access to wireless internet services through Ambient Broadband and is funded by the Community Development Block Grant administered by Orleans County.  If residents are also eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) they can save $30 a month which would make the basic service free. The basic service enables users to email, browse the web, stream music and use social media. Three levels of data plans are available, depending on usage needs.

During the month of June, the Connect Orleans outreach workers will be available at the following locations:

Karen Sanders will be in Medina at the MAAC Thrift Depot at the corner of Starr and Orient streets in Medina on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Sharon Quill will be at Save-a-Lot in Albion on Thursdays and Fridays from 1 pm to 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 3, will be a busy day for the team. Sanders will be at the Medina Community Yard Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while Quill is at the Holley June Fest.

The following weekend the Connect Orleans team will be at the Strawberry Festival near the Bounce for Bullard activities near the canal bridge.

As weather permits, Sanders and Quill will be doing “pop-ups” outdoors in the Holley, Medina and Albion area. Orleans County residents will be able to stop by and learn more about service availability and their options for using lower cost wireless broadband service.

The team will be distributing free recyclable grocery bags from 211 of Western New York and will have information on how to unbundle from cable service and use common streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime and Netflix, as well as free entertainment options such as Amazon Freevee and Roku channels.

To schedule a time to talk to a Connect Orleans team member, call (585) 493-6014 and leave a message. The Connect Orleans website www.connectorleans.net has information and a contact form, or email: connect@orleansunitedway.org.

211 of Western New York can take calls 24/7 and will route the contact information to Connect Orleans. Every effort will be made to return all calls and contacts within 24 hours on business days.

Households not eligible for the free installation and free equipment can purchase the Ambient Broadband service directly through the company at www.Ambientbroadband.com.

ALBION – A new program underway at Community Action in Albion is intended to further the agency’s mission of “giving a hand up, rather than a handout.”

On Thursday morning, staff and volunteers began planting a community garden in the back yard by the canal.

The idea came about when director Renee Hungerford attended the first Stone Soup graduation, a program Hungerford developed to teach families how to prepare food.

“A woman approached me and said it would be nice if we could distribute seedlings so people like her homebound mother could plant some food,” Hungerford said.

From left, Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action; director Renee Hungerford; and Jeff Atwell, energy auditor for the Weatherization Program, look over materials donated for their community garden.

Hungerford wrote to SowRight Seeds asking for a donation and they sent a ton of seeds, she said.

“We began offering seed packets to our clients and then started a wide variety in our office windows, so we could distribute growing plants at planting season,” Hungerford said.

She next wrote to Vego Garden to request raised beds. They offered six metal beds, but Hungerford asked for only three.

Next, they received a donation of fertilizer from Dunham Farms in Knowlesville. Another very generous donor provided the soil.

“Many hands of staff and volunteers went toward planting, watering and assembling,” Hungerford said. “This is not just a garden of produce, but truly a garden of love.”

Community Action has refrigerators for their food pantry behind their buildings, so when the plants start to produce, the vegetables can be picked and refrigerated for families to help themselves.

“We hope families will come out and weed and help care for the beds,” Hungerford said. “We hope it will be therapeutic for them.”

Jeff Atwell, Melinda Daniels and Jackie Dunham prepare the beds for planting a community garden in the back yard of Community Action on West State Street in Albion.

Provided photos: Jacob Dorpfeld will be making these benches and stools for a new boutique hotel in Portland, Maine.

Article courtesy of Sharon Baker

Jacob Dorpfeld

MEDINA – Jacob Dorpfeld, a custom furniture maker in Medina, has been picked to make 125 hand-crafted benches and stools for the guestrooms for The Longfellow Hotel, a 48-room boutique hotel under construction in Portland, Maine.

The hotel, named after legendary poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is slated to open this fall and will mark the first independent, full-service hotel to open in Portland in 20 years. The Post Company is designing the five-story, ground-up building in Portland’s historic West End neighborhood.

The interiors will feature paired-back minimalism and traces of rugged elements in a nod to Portland and American craftsmanship, and are blended with a warm ambiance for relaxation and restoration, says Spencer Fried, lead designer for the hotel at the Post Company.

Dorpfeld, 33, runs his business out of his Ridge Road home. His online posts of his custom-made furniture on Etsy caught the eye of the designers of the hotel.

When choosing the interior furniture, “it was important we used American craftsmanship and a lot of wood,” Fried says. “We saw Jacob’s Etsy shop and were impressed with his pieces, which convey a modern aesthetic but with styling of times past. His work was perfectly transitional in our eyes.”

The Post Company provided design materials including a Shaker stool and asked Dorpfeld to design a bench with a profile that was more streamlined and modern. The resulting sample “was lovely and just as we imagined,” Fried said.

Dorpfeld is making 7’6″ wooden benches for 42 rooms, and 87 smaller round and rectangular stools for the hotel.

He has handmade and sold more than 400 Danish Modern style benches for customers around the country during his five years in business. In addition to making other custom furniture such tables, chests, and dressers, Dorpfeld also designed and installed custom closet cabinetry, library bookshelves and wet bars.

Dorpfeld’s designs and furniture typically include mortise and tenon joinery and other traditional joints, and he enjoys collaborating with consumers on custom furniture as well as working with designers on commercial hospitality and restaurant projects.

You can view his work at www.jacobdorpfeld.com and purchase items from his Etsy store (click here).

Bronze statue in honor of Charles W. Howard to be dedicated June 10; more parade entries sought

Photo by Tom Rivers: The concrete footer that will be the base for a new bronze statue was poured in early May at Waterman Park on North Main Street. A bronze statue looking like Santa Claus will be dedicated after  the parade on June 10 at approximately 11:30 a.m. The 24-foot-long mural of Santa in flight over downtown Albion was created by Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward in 2018.

ALBION – The upcoming 35^th anniversary Strawberry Festival has a theme “Here Comes Santa!” The festival committee wants to celebrate the dedication of a bronze statue of Santa Claus.

The Albion betterment Committee has been raising money for the statue for about a decade. It will be dedicated after the parade on June 10 at about 11:30 a.m.

The statue is in honor of the late Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa school in Albion from 1937 to 1966 and also operated Christmas Park. Howard is revered in the Santa community and a school still bears his name in Midland, Mich. that trains people portraying Santa Claus.

The Albion Betterment Committee encourages people, especially in the parade, to wear Santa hats, elf costumes or other Christmas costumes.

Participants in the Strawberry Festival 5k/8k will be giving Santa hats for the race at 8 a.m. on June 10 and the shirt for the race has a Santa and strawberry design. Click here for more on the race.

June Persia, the festival chairperson, said the event is coming together and will include some changes due to the Main Street lift bridge being out of service for a major rehabilitation project.

The parade route will end by turning onto West Bank Street, instead of crossing the bridge. With the bridge out of commission, that has allowed organizers to use part of North Main Street for some activities.

The section from Bank Street to Beaver Alley will host a cornhole tournament on Friday evening, June 9. There also will be alcohol available in a wine and beer tent in an event organized by Dubby’s Tailgate.

Persia said the festival mainstays will be back with about 60 craft vendors signed up so far, a full food court, a classic car show and a lineup of bands and entertainment.

She welcomes more floats and entries in the parade that starts at 10 a.m. on June 10. Those floats are needed to space out the marching bands and other musicians in the parade. For more information about being in the parade, reach out to Persia at 585-704-1994.

The “amazing turtle race,” which features 1,000 rubber turtles floating on the Erie Canal, will have a different starting point. The turtles are usually launched from the Main Street lift bridge. This time they will be let go from a Sheriff’s boat.

“I’m looking to bring the community together and to welcome people from outside Albion to see what our village is really about,” Persia said. “This has been a very successful event in the village. We want to see it grow.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The drums, sound equipment and other instruments are ready for Sunday’s musical performances at the Pratt Opera House at 110-114 North Main St. in Albion.

This will be a rare musical event on the stage, one of only few in the past century. The event on Sunday starts at 2 p.m. and is expected to continue until 4:30 or 5 in an event called, “Sharing – the Joy of Music: Act 1.”

Michael Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler has been working to restore the opera house since 2005. Bonafede hopes Sunday’ performances will be the beginning of a new era of live music on the third floor stage of the Pratt Music Hall. He has welcomed many of his friends and local musicians to perform on Sunday, and also is extending an invitation for other musicians to perform a solo on the stage, or bring their own band or play with the Pratt Music Hall Pit Band.

The pit band includes: Alona Kuhns – Bass; Don Mancuso – Guitar; Doug Egling & Marj Ketchum – Horns; Erin Moody – Vocals; Gary Simboli – Keyboard & vocals; Karen Conn – Vocals; Kate Egling – Vocals; Leon Corky Zak – keyboard; Lonnie Froman – Percussion; Mike Bonafede – Drums; Ron Albertson – Vocals; Shannon Vanderlaan – Vocals, Warren Jayne – Guitar.

The sound technicians include Larry “Rose” Crozier and DJ Button, with Mark Scarborough serving as the theater tech.

People are welcome to watch the musical acts in the theater. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs, a cushion or a blanket for the show.

The Pratt Music Hall, built in 1882, has been a long-term project for the Bonafede-Koehler family and their friends.

They will be filming a promotional video for the theater as part of Sunday’s performance.

Tickets are available for free but people need to reserve a spot by calling Michael Bonafede at 585-749-1413, Judy Koehler at 585-749-1515 or DJ Button at 585-200-2400. Musicians seeking to perform should also call Bonafede.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney   

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) voted in favor of H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

Tenney said this agreement reins in the Biden administration’s out-of-control spending, protects vital services for our nation’s seniors, veterans, and military personnel, defends small businesses and hardworking families from aggressive IRS overreach, and addresses our nation’s worker shortage.

This legislation passed the House by a vote of 314-117.

“The Fiscal Responsibility Act is the single largest deficit reduction package in our nation’s history,” Tenney said. “It will deliver billions in immediate savings and takes concrete steps to reduce our spending and hold Joe Biden accountable. It is an important part of restoring fiscal responsibility and accountability in Washington.”

“This bill includes the largest recission of misappropriated funds ever, clawing back billions of dollars from wasteful Democrat programs and returning it to the American people. This bill also freezes non-defense discretionary spending for 2023 and limits future spending to 1% growth; the first time Congress has curbed and capped non-defense discretionary federal spending at this level,” she said. “The bill also reclaims unspent COVID funds, eliminates funding for Joe Biden’s new army of IRS auditors, zeros out taxpayer funding to China through the Global Health Fund, and implements new work requirements for federal benefits to boost employment and enhance accountability.”

“Joe Biden’s excessive spending and irresponsible policies have put our nation on the brink of an unprecedented economic crisis. By implementing these spending cuts and achieving these important fiscal reforms, we are holding the White House and Senate Democrats accountable. There is much more work to be done, and this legislation marks the start of the process, not the end of it. House Republicans will continue to lead the way to limit out-of-control spending, save taxpayer dollars, reduce taxes, and grow our economy.”

Specifically, the Fiscal Responsibility Act will:

• Reduce annual non-defense discretionary spending below Fiscal Year 2023 levels, the first discretionary spending cut in 11 years. Importantly, the bill includes an immediate 11% cut on the woke and weaponized bureaucracy while increasing funds for national defense, veterans, and border security. This amounts to the largest cut in non-defense discretionary funding in history. It also caps the growth of non-defense discretionary federal spending at 1% annually for the next five years;
• Implement the most significant reforms in two decades to SNAP and TANF to boost work requirements for these programs, save taxpayer money, stimulate economic growth, and lift Americans out of poverty;
• Eliminate $400 million from the CDC’s “Global Health Fund,” which allocates taxpayer funds to China and other programs, making it the largest rescission package in history;
• Establish the first-ever statutory Administrative Pay-Go, ensuring President Biden and all future presidents are finally responsible for the full cost of their executive actions;
• Expedite and reduce costs for energy and infrastructure projects through the first substantial reform to NEPA since 1982;
• Eliminate the funding for new IRS auditors in the total FY24 staffing request;
• End the outrageous three-year COVID-19 halt to student loan payments, resulting in an estimated monthly savings of almost $5 billion for taxpayers;
• Impose a funding cap of 99% for any Continuing Resolution (CR) to compel Congress to finally do its job and ensure a functional appropriations process that includes marking up and passing all required 12 appropriations bills;
• Secure full funding for critical veterans programs and national defense priorities while safeguarding Social Security and Medicare; and
• Reject all of President Biden’s proposed $5 trillion in new tax increases, government mandates, and federal programs.

By Mike Pettinella, GCASA publicist

Provided photo: Patty Chaya, left, Genesee Community College dean of students, and Shannon Ford, director of Prevention at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, have announced a College Prevention Initiative grant to provide services at GCC.

BATAVIA – With a renewed emphasis on health and wellness, the administration at Genesee Community College is confident that a two-year grant to provide alcohol and drug prevention services through Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse will make a positive difference in students’ lives.

“In recent months, especially since Covid, we’ve put a lot of energy into opening a new wellness office,” GCC Dean of Students Patty Chaya said. “And the health and safety of our students has always been a main priority. This collaboration with GCASA is going to be really great, and it’s coming at a perfect time to build our wellness program.”

Chaya recently learned that GCASA received the grant – about $98,000 annually for two years – from the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. It will enable GCASA to hire one full-time and one half-time prevention educator to work at GCC.

OASAS has awarded several of these College Prevention Initiative grants to State University of New York or City University of New York community colleges, utilizing federal funding relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Plan Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.

The purpose is to implement evidence-based practices and strategies, including individual and family-focused programs and/or community-level environmental change strategies to prevent or reduce substance misuse.

Shannon Ford, director of Prevention at GCASA, wrote the request for funding proposal, which then was submitted to OASAS for approval. She said her agency and GCC have been seeking a way to collaborate and provide prevention services for the past several years.

“We’re pleased to be able to provide services at the college and are in the process of accepting resumes for the educator positions,” Ford said. “Our plan is to use the BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) and CASICS (Brief Cannabis Screening and Intervention for College Students) evidence-based programs, both of which have produced successful outcomes.”

The two prevention educators will work out of an office in the Dean of Students area on the second floor of the campus’ main building, Chaya said, adding that they will work closely with the college’s wellness specialist, Meghan Bernard.

“Actually, we have a number of offices that will be working together with these new hires,” she said. “One is our College Village residence halls – our population down there.

“I find that I meet with a lot of those students in my office for infractions. And having them meet with one of these GCASA counselors as a sanction may be really helpful, even though they don’t think so all the time. It may help them get back on their feet.”

Chaya acknowledged that there could be underlying factors that lead to students’ use of drugs and alcohol, and that’s where the wellness piece comes in.

“Some of the things that we are looking to work on is peer pressure, lack of connection the students have, disabilities, food insecurity, mental health concerns, poverty or lack of financial resources, lack of resources due to their rural location and a family history of substance abuse,” she said. “Maybe they’re struggling with parents getting divorced or a breakup of a relationship. And they really could use some counseling.

“So, in addition, we’ll provide them counseling and we’ll also provide them some sort of assessments for their substance use and hopefully get them back on their feet again. I mean, this is not just a problem with GCC; it’s very widely spread across the United States.”

Substance misuse can have lasting consequences for college students, including poor academic performance, assaults, injury and increased risk of developing substance use disorder.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2019, almost 53 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month and about 33 percent engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame.

“Family history and other risk factors, such as peer approval and perception of harm, can lead to problems with drugs and alcohol,” Ford said. “Having this grant gives us a unique opportunity to reach young adults with specific, age- and culturally-appropriate prevention approaches.”

Chaya emphasized that GCC Campus Safety will play a role in the program.

“My hope is that we can provide some training for campus safety personnel as well as other people on campus, such as the wellness office and my office in the Dean of Students and the Human Services program – and just provide training for the staff so we can sustain the benefits of the grant. By doing this, when it ends in two years, we can keep it going,” she said.

She said it’s all about giving students “a second chance” to reach their potential.

“Students want to meet their goals, but sometimes peer pressure or their use of some of these substances may affect their attendance at class,” she observed. “They may actually go to class high and they don’t remember what was said in class. And they have a greater likelihood of probably getting in trouble around here. We don’t want to see that. We have a very safe campus, and we want that to continue.”

The outreach will include GCC students receiving services through the college’s Educational Opportunity Program and the Adult Education Opportunity Center, Chaya noted.

“We also have – which sometimes people forget – online learning. And just because somebody is an online learner, as long as they’re GCC students, they can use our services,” she added. “They may also need the assistance of counseling or alcohol and drug counseling. Because after Covid, these are people that sometimes were home and smoking weed or drinking, and we need to figure out how they can get back to living a great life and doing well with their academics.”

Chaya said the BASICS and CASICS programs are vital to identifying the risk factors and providing avenues to deal with the issues that are hurting their academic and social progress.

“Sometimes, when they’re using, there’s a lack of motivation that leads to low grades, and many times they don’t believe that their excessive use of substances can lead to a substance use disorder,” she said.

A concentrated effort will be placed upon students living at the College Village on-campus residence halls.

“Students smoke marijuana in their rooms in the residence halls and don’t want the fire alarm detector to go off, so, they cover their fire alarm fire detector, which is a big no, no,” Chaya said. “And some are suspended because of this and lose their housing privileges because it’s putting everyone at risk.”

For more information about the grant or to apply for the prevention educator positions, contact Ford at sford@gcasa.org.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Blossoms at an Albion fruit orchard are pictured on May 9, 2018.

Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning & Development

ALBION – Orleans County is accepting enrollment of additional parcels in its existing, certified agricultural district during the month of June, pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law. The annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property that consists of predominantly viable agricultural land.

During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from County Agricultural District No.1, which in 2016 became the sole agricultural district in the County as a result of a consolidation process.

This opportunity supplements, but does not replace, enrollment in an existing agricultural district during a more comprehensive review process held once every eight years. The next eight-year anniversary review – the only time during which parcels can be both added and removed – will not occur until 2024.

Presently, there are over 117,116 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1, including an additional 279 acres through eight lots last year.

Requests for inclusion in District No. 1 will be evaluated, in order, by the Orleans County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, the Orleans County Legislature, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. To enroll, owners must complete and sign a Letter of Intent for Annual Enrollment form.

These are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development (589-3197) or online by clicking here.

Completed forms should be sent by July 1 to:

Corey Winters, Planner

Orleans County Department of Planning & Development

14016 Route 31 West

Albion, NY  14411-9382

Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that an owner’s property will be added to Agricultural District No 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify your land for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment. For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact your local assessor.

Any qualifying lot must be included entirely rather than partially.

Four residents of Orleans County have been promoted in the New York Army National Guard. Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announced the promotions for the following:

• Walter Adams of Holley and assigned to the 427th Brigade Support Battalion. He received a promotion Jan. 17 to the rank of sergeant.
• James Bolton of Lyndonville and assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 204th Engineer Battalion. He received a promotion March 3 to the rank of sergeant 1st class.
• William Kelly of Holley and assigned to the Headquarters and Support Company, 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion. he received a promotion March 2 to the rank of master sergeant.
• Robert Reis of Kent and assigned to the Company D, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment. He received a promotion Jan. 4 to the rank of sergeant 1st class.

Army National Guard promotions are based on a soldier’s overall performance, demonstrated leadership abilities, professionalism and future development potential. These promotions recognize the best qualified soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

Army National Guard Citizen Soldiers who serve our state and nation are eligible for monthly pay, educational benefits (from the state and federal government), travel across the globe, technical and leadership training, health and dental insurance and contributions towards retirement programs similar to a 401(k).

Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

Provided photo: from left include Dr. Christopher Patridge (Associate Professor of Chemistry at D’Youville and Western New York American Chemical Society Section Chair), Roy-Hart science teacher Colleen Burkett and Gary Bell, the Roy-Hart High School Principal.

MIDDLEPORT – Royalton-Hartland High School teacher Colleen Burkett was recognized as Outstanding High School Science Teacher of the Year by the Western New York American Chemical Society (WNY ACS).

The ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information.

“I am honored to be recognized as the Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year by the American Chemical Society,” Burkett said.  “I have been a member of this professional society since college and have seen so many wonderful educators and scientists recognized for their efforts in their field of expertise. I am honored to be included in that list of individuals!”

Burkett received her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in 2006 from the College of Wooster.  Following this she joined the University of Arizona’s Surface and Imaging Facilities as a research assistant. She completed her Master’s in 2017 at Arizona and began as a chemistry teacher at Royalton-Hartland High School in January 2018.

Superintendent Jill Heck remembers fondly when Burkett came to work for the district, “She was experienced, knowledgeable and had such a great background in chemistry from her work in the field.  We were fortunate to get her on our staff, and she will continue to be an asset to Roy-Hart Central School District in the future.”

Burkett also teaches both Regents Chemistry and College Chemistry through Niagara County Community College. She has developed a new curriculum through a professional development grant and implemented a modern classroom format often referred to as “Flipped Classroom”, with student-centered self-paced learning.

She has ensured that her students meet academic benchmarks while remaining up-to-date and well-informed on science industry topics and progress.

“The single best thing about being an educator is seeing the ‘lightbulb moment’ for a student,” she said. “It’s the moment that they finally make a connection between something we’re learning and a real-world phenomenon. It’s the moment that they finally grasp a difficult topic we’ve been working on for a while. I know most of my students won’t go on to study chemistry beyond high school, but I love getting kids excited about science in their real lives and I hope they carry this enthusiasm with them into the future.”

Burkett is known for offering support to her fellow teachers at Roy-Hart with her expertise in digital tools and learning management systems. She is very dedicated to her students, colleagues and the community.  Burkett is grateful for the support she receives in return.

“This award also made me incredibly thankful for a supportive administration,” she said. “My principal, Gary Bell, and superintendent, Jill Heck, have given me the freedom to explore new and interesting teaching methodologies in my classroom and we see it paying off dividends in the way my students are motivated to learn! A big thank you to Sarah English from Sweet Home High School, who has been a great mentor over the past five years. It would also be remiss of me to not thank my parents, Thomas and Cynthia Burkett, who were excellent examples of dedicated educators in the Western New York region.”

ALBION – Two women were sentenced to incarceration in Orleans County Court today by Judge Sanford Church.

Imani Williams, 33, an incarcerated woman at the Albion Correctional Facility, received a sentence of 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison for attempted assault in the second degree.

Williams pleaded guilty to the charge on March 22 and admitted she struck another inmate with her hand after being pushed by that inmate in the Albion Correction Facility. That person suffered facial lacerations and an orbital fracture, and suffered substantial pain from the injuries, said Susan Howard, assistant district attorney.

The judge issued an order of protection for the victim. Kathleen Casey, Williams’ attorney, said Williams has expressed her remorse and has been taking anger management classes.

The sentence will be served after Williams complete her current sentence in state prison for attempted robbery in the second degree.

Kreisandra Colon, 32, of Lyndonville was sentenced to 364 days in county jail for endangering the welfare of a child. She allegedly had been using drugs in front of a child.

She was terminated from a treatment court option after failing to meet conditions of the court. She acknowledged she used cocaine and attempted to bring in urine for a drug test so her urine wouldn’t show she had been using cocaine.

Colon said during a March 29 court appearance that she wants to stop using drugs, but has struggled.

In another case in county court, the sentencing of Joe A. Cortez, 40, of Batavia was delayed so Cortez could have a psychological evaluation. His attorney, Frederick Rarick, made the request which was supported by District Attorney Joe Cardone and ordered by Judge Church. Rarick said an evaluation by a phycologist may determine that Cortez is incompetent.

Cortez faces up to nine months in the county jail for second-degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

Cortez is currently in Genesee County Jail. He faces first-degree rape and third-degree rape in Genesee County for allegedly having forcible sexual intercourse with a juvenile victim under the age of 17.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s Office

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) announced to the people of the 139th Assembly District his mobile office hours for June 2023.

As a public servant, Hawley believes informing the public about his availability is one of his highest priorities. The office hours will be attended by Assemblyman Hawley’s staff members and they are ready to help any constituent with their needs.

“I want to encourage everyone to visit whenever they feel like. My office is ready to take your calls and help address your needs,” Hawley said.

The office hours are as follows:

• Erie County at Newstead Public Library, 33 Main St., Akron, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6
• Genesee County at GCC, Conable Technology Building, Room T124, from 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6
• Monroe County at Seymour Public Library, 161 East Ave., Brockport in the Ellwanger Room, from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21
• Erie County at Newstead Public Library, 33 Main St., Akron from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27
• Genesee County at GCC, Conable Technology Building, Room T124 from 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27

Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which includes parts of Erie, Genesee, Monroe, and Orleans counties.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Miguel Velazquez, CEO of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, speaks to the Orleans County legislature last week. Velazquez said the organization is making big investments in the RTS Orleans bus service in Orleans County.

ALBION – Ridership remains down significantly for public transportation in Orleans County from the levels just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.

In the fiscal year from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, RTS Orleans had 43,532 riders. Three years later, in the 2022-23 fiscal year, ridership was 24,815, which is 57 percent of where it was just before Covid hit.

Miguel Velazquez is CEO of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, the parent organization of RTS Orleans. The RGRTA oversees the Regional Transit Service for eight counties. Velazquez shared the data with Orleans County legislators last week, and told the group that RGRTA remains committed to Orleans and is making investments in new buses, signs and other technology.

Public transportation providers across the nation are about 65 to 70 percent back to their pre-Covid levels for ridership, Velazquez said.

The RGRTA has 12 employees for RTS Orleans, operating six buses in Orleans County. The daily ridership is about 120. Denise Klos serves as operations manager for RTS Orleans.

There are regular routes Monday to Friday serving Albion and Medina with connections to Genesee and Monroe counites, and some service on Saturday. Dial-A-Ride is available throughout the county. The bus fares are $1, with rides for free for veterans. Since the free rides were made available for veterans in 2020, about 1,000 of those rides have been provided. The ride passes are coordinated through the local Veterans Service Agency.

RTS Orleans buses take people to stores, medical appointments, to work at businesses and for classes at Genesee Community College in Medina. The Dial-A-Ride service takes buses off a set course with advance notice.

“On behalf of the Legislature we can’t tell you how thankful we are to have transportation services for our residents,” said Lynne Johnson, the County legislature chairwoman.

RTS Orleans expenses were at $897,850 in the last fiscal year, with only $434,314 in revenue: with $263,817 from the county’s mortgage recording tax, $85,000 from federal aid, $30,244 from state, $30,103 from county, and $25,140 in fares and contracts. The service operated at $463,536 loss in the past fiscal year.

RTS Orleans officials highlighted recent investments in the Orleans operation. It completed a new transportation facility in 2018 with vehicle storage, office and maintenance space. It is seeking $250,000 from the federal government for an automated washing bay at the facility on West Academy Street next to the Orleans County DPW.

There is an electric vehicle charging station at the transportation facility. That charging station has been used about 600 times, saving more than 1,500 gallons of gas, Velazquez said.

RTS Orleans will be getting four  new vehicles in 2023 – 26-foot-long vehicles with 18 seats that are ADA accessible. The remaining two buses will be replaced in 2024-25.

The service started in Orleans County 20 years ago as OTS – the Orleans Transit Service. RTS Orleans will be replacing 66 OTS bus stop signs with RTS Orleans markers. So far 20 have been replaced in Albion with the rest in Medina and Orleans County to be completed in 2023. They are being installed by the Orleans County Department of Public Works as a contracted service.

RTS Orleans buses also will be getting on-board technology. The procurement of a new computer-aided dispatch system is underway. It will allow for real-time information to customers and ability to expand into different service types, Velazquez said.

Jim Bensley, the county’s commissioner on the RGRTA board, praised Velazquez and the organization for their commitment to Orleans County. He said RTS Orleans strives for on-time performance, which can be challenging when bridges are under construction delaying traffic.