Press Release, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang

BUFFALO – New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang today announced the guilty plea and sentencing of Joanne Florek, 55, of Albion in connection with charges that she defrauded the Workers’ Compensation system of more than $80,000 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Florek began receiving workers’ compensation benefits in September 2018, after claiming that she was injured while on duty at Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, where she worked as a nurse.

Subsequently, Florek made multiple representations to her insurance carrier, PMA Companies, Inc. (PMA), through statements to physicians and the completion of various questionnaires, that she had not returned to work in any capacity, nor had she collected earnings from any other source since her injury. Under State law, injured employees are expected to provide truthful information regarding their work activity to insurance carriers and the Workers’ Compensation Board during the time they are receiving benefits.

An investigation by the Offices of the Inspector General, which includes the New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General, determined these representations to be untrue. Instead, the investigation revealed that Florek had been working – as a bookkeeper and as a personal care aide – while at the same time collecting over $80,000 in indemnity benefits from the workers’ compensation carrier that were intended to offset wages lost due to her inability to work.

Following her arrest in June of 2022, Florek was charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Insurance Fraud in the Second Degree, five counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, and a violation of Workers’ Compensation Law §114(1) (Penalties for Fraudulent Practices), all felonies.

On January 10, 2023, Florek pled guilty to Petit Larceny under Penal Law §155.25, and on May 23 was sentenced to a conditional discharge, conditioned on her paying restitution in the amount of $40,000.

“Workers’ Compensation fraud imperils a critical safety net for all New Yorkers, one designed to enable injured workers to provide for themselves and their families,” said Inspector General Lucy Lang. “My office will continue to work diligently to identify such fraud and to seek accountability for those who put their own interests above those who truly need and deserve support.”

The Inspector General thanked PMA for their cooperation with the investigation, the New York State Police for their assistance with Florek’s arrest, and Orleans County First Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard for prosecuting the case.

CLARENDON – The Town of Clarendon Highway Department has been awarded a full work zone package through the NYS Local Technical Assistance Program Center – Cornell Local Road Program.

Town Highway Superintendent Tracy Chalker applied for the work zone safety equipment which is funded by a grant through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The safety equipment includes cones, safety vests, work zone signs, and stop-slow paddles for setting up a proper work zone.

“We know that many agencies have difficulty getting work zone equipment, especially when it’s stolen or damaged due to circumstances beyond their control,” said David Orr, director of the NYS LTAP – Cornell Local Roads Program. “Good work zone signs protect the workers, improve communication with the public, and make the work more efficient by allowing it to be done faster.”

The program is awarding 28 of the work zone packages that are valued at $1,900 each.

MEDINA – A Rochester woman who was driving a stolen car and crashed into a fence in Medina was sentenced to three years of probation today in Orleans County Court.

Alivia Williams, 20, also will have to pay $2,597 in restitution within six months for the fence that was destroyed.

“She was in a very stressful situation that day and made a very bad decision,” her attorney Jeffrey Mallaber told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Williams was driving her mother to Medina Memorial Hospital when Williams crashed into the fence.

Williams told the judge she is learning a trade and is committed to doing better.

The judge noted she has a parole violation and a criminal history, but he said he would give her one more chance to make changes through probation, and not incarceration. She was sentenced on the charge of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree.

In another case, Joe A. Cortez, 40, of Batavia was scheduled for sentencing and faced up to nine months in the county jail for second-degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

However, his attorney Frederick Rarick requested the sentencing be delayed so he could review a psychological examination of Cortez that was ordered in Genesee County Court. Cortez 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.

Judge Church pushed back the sentencing for Cortez until May 31.

Homeless placements up from 45 to 80; County declared state of emergency last week over possible migrant influx, saying not enough resources available

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, speaks during Tuesday evening’s Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the White Birch in Lyndonville.

LYNDONVILLE – Orleans County has experienced a big increase in homeless residents, with spots in-county maxed out, requiring the county Department of Social Services to utilize motel and hotel rooms in Genesee and Niagara counties.

In July 2022, the county secured temporary housing for 38 homeless residents within the county and for seven who stayed out-of-county.

But in April last month, the in-county homeless residents were up to 51, with the county DSS finding housing out-of-county for 29 other residents, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.

He said homelessness is a “silent issue” that has grown in the county, from 45 people needing housing assistance in July 2022 to 80 last month.

He spoke at Tuesday’s meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities, which includes village, town and county officials.

A week ago on May 17 the county declared a state of emergency due to a possible influx of migrants/asylum seekers.

Welch said none have arrived to Orleans, as far as he knows. There were rumors last week that busloads of 200 to 300 migrants were headed to the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Welch said he fielded numerous media queries about the rumor that has proven to be false.

He does worry that migrants and people seeking asylum could show up unexpected in the county, and Orleans would need to provide services for them.

He said that would be a big challenge. The blizzard around Christmas showed how difficult it was to open shelters with cots.

Albion and Medina schools did open up as shelters with volunteers on hand to help staff the sites for about 100 people at the two locations.

“We couldn’t even get 50 cots from the Red Cross on Christmas weekend,” Welch told the local officials on Tuesday evening. “If (migrants) do arrive, where would we put them?”

He has spoken with the governor’s office and Gov. Hochul’s staff told him the state is not looking at Orleans as a location to house migrants and asylum seekers.

But he still is concerned asylum seekers and migrants could arrive in the county and need assistance.

“We’re not without compassion, we just truly don’t have the resources to help these people,” said Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature.

The local homeless population has increased party since the certificate of occupancy was removed at the Holley Hotel last Aug. 24. That displaced 28 residents, including 14 who were taken to hotel rooms in Batavia. Others were able to stay with family and friends, or secure other housing.

Johnson said people who are homeless often struggle with mental health issues, substance use disorder, and many are not motivated to make changes. They can be “onerous” cases for the local DSS staff to try to resolve or connect to resources, she said.

The increase in homeless cases has been exhausting for the DSS staff, especially when people are placed out of county and need access to services.

She noted that declaration from the county wasn’t made because of the incoming farmworkers for local fruit and vegetable farms. Those workers through the federal H2A program have housing provided by the farms.

“We need our H2A workers for our farms,” Johnson said.

MEDINA – The Health Foundation of Western and Central New York created the Health Leadership Fellows program in 2004 as one strategy to accomplish its mission of improving outcomes in the communities served by the foundation.

Since the program began more than 300 leaders in Western and Central New York have graduated and 47 team projects have been implemented.

One of the projects currently being implemented was introduced to Orleans County recently through the efforts of Dean Bellack. He is part of a team with Dave Zapfel of Gerard Place, Buffalo; Millie Tomidy Pepper from the YWCA in Batavia; and Jana Capaccio from Horizon Health Services.

Bellack’s sessions started in March 2022 and will conclude in September. Their program design develops skills to create community connections, learn project development and how to work with diverse backgrounds and personalities.

 “Our team is testing whether virtual experiences have merit to help with social isolation and loneliness,” Bellack said. “The National Academies of Sciences 2020 report found approximately 24 percent of people 65 years and older are considered to be socially isolated. This same group reports 43 percent of them feel lonely.”

(Left) Carol Bellack looks through a book listing the hundreds of places and events a senior can experience through virtual reality. (Right) Dean Bellack, a participant in a Health Leadership program, explains the new questions a senior is asked to answer before and after taking part in a virtual reality experience. The program was introduced a week ago at the YMCA.

Recently, more than 30 seniors were invited to the YMCA to try a virtual reality experience.

Nick Zarcone, formerly of Batavia and the regional manager for Virtu-Well, set up the program at the YMCA. Seniors were given a list of 20 questions to answer, relating to how they felt, if they were often depressed or ever felt alone and excluded. After having their virtual experience, they were asked to answer the same questions again.

Overall, the theory behind Virtu-Well is if a senior is happy and doing things they enjoy, he/she will be healthier.

A book, with pictures of hundreds of places and experiences, is provided for seniors to choose what they would like to do. A senior named Sandy wants to travel the world and chose to “visit” Japan. As she sat with the virtual reality goggles on, she gestured with her hands and looked around the room, presumably seeing the sights in Japan.

The Rev. Vince Iorio has always wanted to visit the Pyramids and Sphinx. He gets his wish here at the recent Virtu-Well experience at the YMCA.

Mike Goheen of Lyndonville became a fighter pilot, and like all the experiences, as he sat with the goggles on, his experience was shown on a big screen for the audience to share.

“I always wanted to fly in a fighter plane,” Goheen said after his experience. “It was very realistic, and I wasn’t dizzy.”

Diane Fry of Basom came with her husband Clayton. She went swimming in a coral reef.

“I’ve tried snorkeling before in the Bahamas, and I was scared,” she said. “This was pretty neat.”

The Rev. Vince Iorio has always wanted to visit the Great Pyramids and see the Sphinx in Egypt.

“That’s on my bucket list,” he said.

He sat mesmerized during his virtual visit.

“I wanted to see more,” he said, after removing his goggles. “It was good, but too short.”

Experiences were limited to five minutes a person because of the large turnout of volunteers who wanted to try it.

As an example of the many things to “do,” choices include many large cities and states, swimming with dolphins or sharks, swimming with turtles in Hawaii, visiting the North Pole, attending the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, exploring the coral reefs in the Philippines, sky diving and much more.

When the team completes their project later this summer, their findings will be submitted as a project paper. These projects will be used to further study or action by the Health Foundation to invest in more research or funding for programs.

MEDINA – More than 20 volunteers who donate their time to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Food Pantry were recognized at a luncheon today at the church.

“Without volunteers we couldn’t do what we do,” said Jim Hancock, who last year was recognized for his involvement all 40 years of the Food Pantry’s existence.

The Food Pantry serves about 30 families a month. Before Tuesday’s luncheon, 10 families came for food, said Robin Dubai, who has been involved with the Food Pantry for more than 30 years, most of them as organizer.

The Rev. Akhtor Sokeil shared a story about helping the hungry and said ministries like the food pantry are gospel.

“They are sharing God’s love,” he said.

Food Pantry staff acknowledged support from St. Peter’s Church, food donations from the the local library and Scouts.

The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday.

Grimm said they were blessed with volunteers, as she read their names – Janet Husung, Robin Dubai, Marian Fry, Michelle Capstick, Bill Bixler, Denny Dubai, Barb Filipiak, Gloria Gruber, Bob Hoffman, Edee Hoffmeister, Kathy Iorio, Jan McCloy, Ann McElwee, Peggy Pearce, Diane Mazur, Mary Keppler, Cindy Hewitt, Marilyn Hiwiller and three new volunteers, Sharee Canham, Lois Donovan and Marie Socha.

(Left) Robin Dubai, who has headed St. Peter’s Food Pantry for most of its 41 years, applauds volunteers and shares their accomplishments in providing meals. (Right) Jim Hancock, treasurer for St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Food Pantry, welcomes volunteers to a luncheon today.

Dubai also praised The Grove Methodist Church for all their donations, and the cooperation with Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God’s Food Pantry, headed by Donna Poore.  She said they help each other out if one of the other’s supplies get low.

Dubai thanked Kathy Iorio and Diane Mazur for their efforts in putting double bags together and filling bags with food items. Each bag holds nine to 12 pounds of food and each family gets two bags.

She also thanked Sally Grimm for scheduling volunteers and keeping monthly reports, and her husband Denny Dubai for restocking. She paid a special tribute to Bob Hoffman, who meets the trucks delivering food every week and unloads the boxes. Last year, he lifted 4,022 pounds, Dubai said.

“We can’t do this job without him,” she said.

Ray Lavesque was mentioned for going out of his way to deliver food to a client who moved to Middleport.

Dubai concluded by dedicating the luncheon to Grimm’s mother, who was a volunteer in the Food Pantry’s early years and kept in touch with how it was during throughout her life. She passed away recently at 100.

Lunch was provided by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and cookies were donated by Mary Lou Tuohey from Case-Nic Cookies.

Farm markets, fresh market vendors sought for new effort

Provided photo: Amanda Mrzywka, owner of Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses, is pictured with Marie Gabalski, Nutrition Program Coordinator at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County.

Press release, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension are seeking farms, markets, and other fresh market vendors to participate in accepting FoodRX vouchers as part of phase two of the Stone Soup Project, supported by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York Blue Fund.

FoodRX vouchers will be provided in collaboration with Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital to people who have health concerns and have difficulty accessing fresh food due to low income.

FoodRX vouchers will be given at the discretion of participating medical providers within the Orleans Community Health System with a projected start date of July 1. Vouchers can be redeemed for local produce, dairy, meat, eggs, food producing plants, or a CSA/food program.

The goal of the program is to help those who receive vouchers manage certain conditions – such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity – through improved access to locally produced and nutritious food. Grant funding for this program will allow for $200 per family/household.

Amanda Mrzywka, owner of Navarra’s Farm Market and Greenhouses, which is a participating vendor, expressed enthusiasm and excitement for the new program. She said that many families  could use the vouchers towards their CSA/Box subscriptions.

For those interested in being included on the list of participating vendors, farmers and growers, reach out to Marie Gabalski by June 9 at 585-798-4265 x139 or by email at meg365@cornell.edu. Additional vendors may join after June 9, but they will not be listed on the FoodRX voucher.

Village urged to address $12.5 million in ‘priority one’ replacements

Photo by Tom Rivers: Matt Zarbo, a managing engineer with Barton & Loguidice, said 21 miles of waterlines in the village need to be replaced in the next 10 to 15 years. He urged the Village Board to work on putting in new infrastructure to replace waterlines that are at least 75 years old.

MEDINA – The village’s water distribution system has more than 20 miles of waterlines that are soon in need of replacement, and the upgrades wouldn’t come cheap, the Village Board was told on Monday by an engineer with Barton & Loguidice.

The estimate to replace 21 miles of waterlines would be in the $30 million to $35 million range, said Matt Zarbo, a managing engineer with Barton & Loguidice.

The village’s water distribution system was studied by the engineering firm, and Zarbo said many of the waterlines are at least 75 years old, with some dating pre-1900s.

“You can’t do all at once,” Zarbo told the board on Monday. “It’s not fiscally feasible but you need to plan for now. Your system is definitely antiquated.”

He grouped the waterlines in need of replacement into three priority groups. He based that ranking partly on whether there is low water pressure in the lines and a history of leaks.

Priority one includes 40,118 linear feet, nearly 8 miles, and would cost an estimated $12,338,550.

Priority two covers 38,487 linear feet, about 7.3 miles, and would cost an estimated $11,345,250, while priority three is 31,716 linear feet, about 6 miles, at an estimated $9,699,080.

“You have 21 miles of watermain that need to be replaced soon,” Zarbo said. “You’re in $30-$35 million range to replace all of it. Those are huge numbers.”

He urged the board to plan over the next 10 to 15 years to replace all areas. Priority one should be addressed very soon, and Zarbo believes the village has a very good chance of securing state and federal aid for a big project.

There are grants to cover up to $5 million or 60 percent of a project. The village could maximize that $5 million grant if it pursued a project for at least $8.5 million, Zarbo said.

The village currently has low water rates – about half what most municipalities charge in the region, Zarbo said. The water system has about 2,200 users and could take on debt to pay for new waterlines, and still have low water rates, he said.

He presented some financial scenarios and the impact on water costumers:

• A $12.5 million project with a $5 million grant would increase the average annual cost of water by $113 from the current $280 to $393. That’s at a 0 percent rate over 30 years for financing.
• A $3 million grant and financing at 2.5 percent over 38 years would increase the water cost by $176 a year to $456.
• Medina could finance a $12.5 million project without a grant. That cost over 38 years at a 2.5 percent rate would be an average of $231 per water user, putting the annual cost at $511.

Zarbo said there is more money available this coming year for water projects due to a federal infrastucture bill and also a state bond act. Normally, he said municipalities have about a 20 to 25 percent chance for the grants, but he said this time the likelihood is closer to 50 percent.

Medina’s low-to-moderate household income increases the village’s chances for funding. One factor that hurts the application is the project is necessitated to address a public health issue, he said.

The current water quality is good, but the system is showing its age, Zarbo said.

The village could break the priority areas into smaller projects and do many projects until all the work is done. But Zarbo said there is an economy of scale of doing larger projects with financing for the construction and mobilizing contractors.

The village needs to decide soon whether to pursue a WIIA grant (Water Infrastructure Improvement) for priority one areas. Those applications are due July 28 but a lot of work needs to be done before that to prepare the application, Zarbo said.

The Village Board voted on Monday to be the lead agency for the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) which is an early step needed as part of the application.

Mayor Mike Sidari said the board will continue to discuss the issue, and whether it will pursue a grant and the size of a project. Doing some of the initial work, such as the SEQR, doesn’t obligate the village to follow through with a project.

If the village replaces waterlines, Zarbo said new sidewalks may also need to go in because waterline construction would unearth some of those sidewalks.

He also recommended the village do a study of its sewer system, and perhaps consider replacing sewer lines in conjunction with the waterlines. That would save some money to do both while the ground is torn up.

Zarbo did share some good news. The 3-million-gallon concrete water tank on Maple Ridge Road is in good shape. An internal inspection didn’t show any rust from any rebar. Zarbo said the tank should be good for at least another 10 to 15 years.

Press Release, Arc GLOW

Four seniors in each of the GLOW counties have been awarded the 2023 Mary Anne Graney Memorial Scholarship administered by Arc GLOW.

The $1,000 scholarship award winners — Saniiya Santiago, Nicole Cartwright, Ava Quincey, and Morgan Brace — were chosen out of 18 candidates, and are planning to pursue careers related to healthcare or working with people with disabilities.

Saniiya Santiago, a senior at Batavia High School, is planning on going to SUNY Genesee Community College (GCC) this fall, and then Roberts Wesleyan University to continue her education in social work.

Santiago wants to become a social worker to help kids who have disabilities, or who are struggling in school or in their home life. She said she wants kids to feel comfortable to talk to her about anything, or if they just need somewhere they feel welcome in a peaceful, calm environment.

As a junior, Santiago mentored kids at Batavia Middle School, and this year is taking a college course called “Intro to Education.” This class teaches how to work with students who have disabilities.

“I am a teacher’s aide at the GLOW YMCA working for the Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) program,” Santiago said. During this program, she has gained experience working with children with disabilities, solidifying her career choice.

She also participated in a Day of Caring at the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia. Santiago said it was amazing watching the kids communicate with braille and using their senses to get around the school.

Nicole Cartwright, a senior at Keshequa Central School District, is planning on going to SUNY Cortland to major in childhood education and minor in special education.

Growing up, Cartwright always knew she wanted to work with children. She enjoyed helping her younger sister and younger cousins learn in creative ways. As she grew, Cartwright started working at Swain Ski Resort as a ski instructor.

It was here she learned how much she loved working with children with developmental disabilities.

“One of the first ski lessons I gave was to a young girl who was hearing impaired. The lesson was successful, and it made me so happy to see the excitement on her face as she succeeded in each step with learning how to ski,” Cartwright said. “I had multiple students that season with special needs, and it made me realize what a positive impact patience, kindness and being a positive role model can have.”

She is also a member of the Keshequa National Honor Society. As a member, she has participated in many community service activities, one of which being a clean-up day at Camp Stella Maris.

While a student at Keshequa, Cartwright said certain subjects haven’t always been easy for her. However, between perseverance, hard work and help from her teachers, she became a top scholar in her graduating class. Cartwright wants to be the type of teacher she’s had the pleasure of having; always being there for students and encouraging them to never give up.

Ava Quincey, a senior at Holley Jr./Sr. High School, is going to SUNY Geneseo for the childhood with special education program.

She became inspired to become a special education teacher last winter when helping elementary schoolers make gingerbread houses to bring home to their families for Christmas through the Rotary/Interact Club.

“I was assigned to a special education classroom. I was able to sit down with students and assist them with hands-on instruction, verbal reassurance and kindness,” she said. “In return I received grateful smiles and giggles from the students. Volunteering to help children with special needs was one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.”

Quincey keeps busy in and outside of school as she plays in band and volleyball. She performed in her school musical and partakes in Lisa’s Dance Boutique. Quincey is the Interact Club vice president, National Honor Society secretary, Student Council vice president, and senior class treasurer.

Morgan Brace, a senior at Letchworth Central School, will be going to Houghton University to study inclusive childhood education and sports recreation and wellness.

Brace plays volleyball, basketball and softball. She is the president of Student Council and participates in the Leadership in Action class, National Honor Society, Big Buddy and Spectrum.

Brace can also be found in the community volunteering at concession stands, craft shows, and creating backpacks for children in need. She also organized a dozen projects which benefit her school and community through Leadership in Action.

“Most recently I put together a charity basketball game at Letchworth Central School that raised $4,000 for the Autism Nature Trail,” Brace said. “I absolutely love working with children who have special needs. I feel that it is important to work with these students, especially to make sure they receive the education they deserve.”

Now in its 18th year, the Mary Anne Graney Memorial Scholarship is given out to area high school students planning to attend college to pursue a degree in human services, special education or a field related to helping people with developmental disabilities.

It is in honor of Mary Anne Graney, a special education teacher who died in 2004. The scholarship is funded by the Friends & Family 5K, scheduled this year for Sept. 16 in Elba. In all, 59 scholarships — including this year — have been awarded since 2006 to local high school students.

MEDINA – A gun shop in Medina is a business for which Scott Wengewicz saw a need.

Patriot Guns was recently opened by Wengewicz, his wife Kathy and their daughter Cassandra Boring at 339 North Main St.

Their background explains their interest in weapons.

Patriot Guns has opened next to Mystic Dragon’s Lair at 339 North Main St.

Wengewicz, the Shelby town supervisor, spent 20 years as a Federal agent for the U.S. Border Patrol; Kathy was a U.S. Customs officer; and along with Cassandra’s husband Steve Boring, they are disabled veterans. In addition, Scott spent 10 years in the Air Force, Kathy served 14 years in the Air Force as an investigator and Steve was in the Army for six years.

Scott has been mining his whole life and Cassandra has always been interested in minerals. A business they started in their basement got so big, Scott said he had to rent a storefront. Their businesses, Mystic Dragon’s Lair and Patriot Guns are located in the building on North Main Street owned by Rita Zambito.

In addition to rifles, shot guns and pistols, Patriot Guns sells knives, camp stoves, gun cleaning supplies, multi-hand crank flashlights (to charge cell phones), first-aid kits, flashlights, freeze-dried foods which last 25 to 30 years, water filtration, Bug Out Bag, survival bags, ammunition, backpacks and more. They hope to expand into hiking, fishing and camping equipment, Steve said. New inventory is posted on the business’s Facebook page.

Patriot Guns also will be offering a New York state pistol permit course in the near future.

Patriot Guns is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cassandra performs Reiki healing classes and Shamanic healing services and sells crystals at Mystic Dragon’s Lair, next door to the gun shop.

A highlight at Mystic Dragon’s Lair is a life-size replica of Ildrys, a blue dragon known as “Guardian of the Forest.” Scott commissioned an artist to create the dragon, and each scale was individually cut, he said. It is the only one like it in the world.

The date for upcoming “Dungeons and Dragons” will be posted on the Mystic Dragon’s Lair Facebook page.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Kathy Blackburn, chairwoman of the Medina Municipal Tree Board, presents a “Friends of our Urban Forest Award” to Jason Watts, superintendent of the Medina Department of Public Works.

She presented the recognition during Monday’s Village Board meeting. Watts and the DPW were honored for their efforts planting about 50 trees annually in the village. The DPW also sets up for the annual Arbor Day festivities in Medina.

Blackburn said Watts and the DPW put in a lot of work to get all the trees planted.

“Every time we call they are so wonderful,” Blackburn said. “They are a great group.”

Backboards will cost another $10K; Medina seeks funding help from Town of Shelby

MEDINA – The Village Board accepted a construction bid this evening for two full-size basketball courts at Butts Park.

The village approved paying Super Seal Sealcoating of Penfield $122,319 for the project.

The village will use $110,000 in money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The board also has been informed the Medina Sports Boosters will contribute $13,200 towards the project, Mayor Mike Sidari said.

The $122,319 for the two new courts doesn’t include four backboards, two for each court. That is another $9,846, putting the total cost at about $132,000.

The Village Board voted this evening to approve the court construction. The board is hopeful the Town of Shelby will contribute towards the project.

Trustee Marguerite Sherman attended a recent Shelby Town Board and asked the town to pay for at least the backboards. The Town Board hasn’t voted on the matter.

“We don’t know what Shelby will do. We have no idea,” Sidari said at the meeting.

About $3,000 could also be saved if the village and other municipalities haul the stone for the courts.

Melissa Valley from the Medina Mustang Boosters has been leading the effort to get new courts at Butts Park on South Main Street. Currently there aren’t outdoor courts in Medina.

CARLTON – The Town of Carlton has been awarded $1 million towards the renovation of Nesbitt Manor along Johnson Creek, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced today.

The project will provide seven rooms for rent and an event space. A neighboring carriage house will be renovated as full-service café, kitchen and patio space, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Hochul announced $146 million statewide in Restore New York grants. The Carlton project is the only one listed for Orleans County.

The Village of Albion also applied for Restore NY funding, and still could receive a grant, said Jay Grasso, the village’s grant writer.

“We still have a shot,” he said in an email about Albion.

The City of Batavia in Genesee County also was awarded $1.85 million for “Carr’s Reborn,” a project to renovate Carr’s department store.

Restore NY supports municipal revitalization efforts across the state, helping to remove blight, reinvigorate downtowns and generate economic opportunity in communities statewide. The program, administered by Empire State Development, is designed to help local governments revitalize their communities and encourage commercial investment, improve the local housing stock, put properties back on the tax rolls and increase the local tax base, Hochul said in a new release.

“These Restore New York grants will help to reimagine downtowns across our state and transform vacant, blighted and underutilized buildings into vibrant community anchors,” Governor Hochul said. “Thanks to a more than $146 million state investment, we are breathing new life into communities from Hudson to North Hempstead, jumpstarting new economic activity and helping ensure that New York State continues to be a place where people come to live, work and raise their families.”

Provided photo: NY State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and members of the Senate Republican Conference speak in Albany today, seeking an report on the state expenses thus far in responding to the influx of migrants.

Press Release, NY State Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, along with members of the Senate Republican Conference, today requested a full, transparent accounting of taxpayer dollars being spent on the ongoing migrant crisis, and introduced several pieces of legislation in response to the crisis.

In a letter to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, members of the Senate Republican Conference requested a full accounting of taxpayer dollars being used by the state to respond to the migrant crisis. In an effort to keep the public informed, they requested that every dollar spent be updated and made public by the Comptroller’s office, similar to the way Covid funding was tracked throughout the pandemic on the agency’s website.

“The handling of this crisis has been a failure of leadership from Democrats on the state and federal level,” Ortt said. “It’s been exacerbated by a complete lack of transparency and communication. With $1 billion or more of taxpayer money being used, the public deserves a full and accurate accounting of exactly what those funds are being used for and who is receiving them.”

The State Budget adopted earlier this month included $1 billion for reimbursement of 29 percent of the costs related to the migrant crisis for New York City as follows: $741 million for shelter costs $162 million for the National Guard, $137 million for health care, $26 million in public assistance and $25 million for relocation of families to permanent housing.

“While New York City has chosen to be a sanctuary city and has been more than willing to accept the influx of migrants from the southern border crisis, few other municipalities in the State have made such designation. As such, the rest of the State should not be subjected to the inability of New York City to provide care to these individuals,” the Senators wrote.

The Senators also announced several new pieces of legislation will be introduced to address the crisis, including bills that would:

• Prohibit the housing of migrants on SUNY campuses (STEC);
• Prohibit the housing of migrants in K-12 schools in New York City (LANZA);
• Prohibit the housing of migrants in K-12 schools throughout the state (WEIK); and
• Institute the New Yorkers Combating Alien Recidivism and Ending Sanctuary (NY CARES) Act, prohibits local governments and entities thereof, including sheriffs’ departments, municipal police departments and district attorney’s offices, from adopting laws or policies which impede or interfere with the enforcement of federal immigration laws. S.6964 (Senator Dean Murray)

“When Democrats rushed to declare New York a sanctuary city, they ignored the financial costs and consequences of their actions. Despite receiving $1 billion in aid in the state budget to manage this self-inflicted crisis, Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Hochul are instead looking to pass costs and responsibilities onto upstate communities and SUNY campuses that lack the infrastructure and financial resources to handle this issue. This is absolutely unacceptable and I’m proud to join my Senate Republican colleagues in taking action to ensure our region’s taxpayers aren’t responsible for the mayor and governor’s costly political grandstanding,” said Senator Dan Stec of the North Country.

Last week, the Senate Republican Conference sent a letter to Governor Hochul requesting transparency on the decisions being made around the migrant crisis. They also introduced legislation to:

• Ensure local control by clarifying a local state of emergency supersedes one declared by the Governor when the two are in conflict, and to
• Protect vulnerable populations from being displaced in order to house migrants.

“My Democratic colleagues can continue to bury their heads in the sand, but the migrant crisis here in New York is not going away anytime soon. We need a plan and solutions, and New Yorkers deserve complete transparency,” Ortt said.