Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature presented four proclamations during its meeting on Tuesday. In the top photo, Legislator Bill Eick reads a proclamation declaring May 7-13 as “National Travel & Tourism Week.”

Standing to accept the proclamation include, from left: Lora Partyka of Partyka Farms in Kendall and the Country Barn Quilt Trail, Doug Farley of the Cobblestone Museum, Ginny Kropf of the Medina Railroad Museum, Faye Conley of the Bent’s Opera House and Dawn Borchet, the county’s tourism director.

Eick and legislators said travelers spend $30.9 million annually in Orleans County on lodging, recreation, restaurants, retail shops, agriculture, attractions and second homes, supporting over 510 jobs in Orleans County.

Sportsfishing is the county’s top tourism attraction at a $28 million annual impact.

The county’s occupancy tax continues to increase each year, with a record $111,013 collected in 2022.

Borchet, the tourism’s director, thanked the many local businesses and organizations that invest in their sites to bring in visitors to the county.

County Legislator Fred Miller reads a proclamation declaring May as National Foster Care Month. He is joined by Holli Nenni, the county’s Department of Social Services Commissioner and DSS employees Lianna Scipioni and Judianne Gearing.

“For the nearly 400,000 youth in foster care across our country, the best path to success we can give them is the chance to experience a loving home where they can feel secure and thrive,” legislators stated in the proclamation. “Whereas, strong support structures provide children with the environment needed to learn, grow and reach their greatest potential.”

The Legislature recognizes the efforts of foster families, social workers, faith-based and community organizations, and others that are improving the lives of our young people in foster care across our county.

County Legislator Skip Draper presents a proclamation to Matt Tracey of the Orleans County chapter of ABATE (American Bikers Aiming Towards Education). The proclamation declared May as “Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month in Orleans County.”

There will be a motorcycle safety rally at 2 p.m. on May 7 outside the Orleans County Courthouse. Bikers will then go on an awareness ride throughout the county.

Legislator Fred Miller presents a proclamation to Melissa Blanar, director of the Office of the Aging, that declared May as “Older Americans Month.”

“Orleans County includes a growing number of older Americans who contribute their time, wisdom, and experience to our community,” legislators said. “Whereas, communities’ benefit when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have the opportunity to participate and live independently.”

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Provided photo: Assemblyman Steve Hawley speaks at the joint Assembly-Senate press conference.

ALBANY – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) was joined by his Assembly and Senate colleagues on Wednesday at a press conference lambasting the Assembly and Senate Majority Conferences for their failure to deliver a cost-effective, serviceable state budget in a timely manner.

After five emergency spending extenders, New York is without a functional budget 25 days after the budget deadline. Hawley considers the ordeal an ”embarrassment.”

“It’s an embarrassment that power should be held unilaterally by one side yet wielded so inefficiently and carelessly,” Hawley said. “New Yorkers have made their needs painfully clear: this state needs to work on its affordability and public safety crises. Yet the majority has reportedly made no plans to address either in meaningful ways.”

“This trudged-out budget process is just another in a long line of examples of how this majority is unfit for the monopoly on power that it holds. If it can’t serve the people effectively, it doesn’t deserve to serve at all,” Hawley concluded.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – RPS Companies of Spencerport is making quick work of the demolition work for the new Taco Bell in Albion.

The company has removed a 36-foot-high water tank, as well as guard rails and chain link fencing at 118 West Ave. Part of the water tank is shown in the foreground of the top photo.

RPS brought equipment, including an excavator, to the site on Friday. On Monday it started taking down the water tank, guard rails and fencing in a parking lot that once served the former Liptons’ facility in Albion.

RPS expects to be on location for about two months doing the site work, including utility connections. Milling at the site is to start today.

Mulvey Construction is the general contractor for the new Taco Bell, which is owned by Hospitality Syracuse.

The new 2,600-foot could be ready in August. About 40 percent of the 1.33-acre lot will be green space. The chain-link fences will be replaced with ones made of wood.

MEDINA – On Saturday, Independent Bookstore Day will be celebrated by nearly a thousand independent bookstores across the country, and in honor of the day,  Author’s Note at 519 Main St. has planned a day full of events, treats and fun.

Julie Berry, owner of the business and a New York Times best-selling author, has chosen the theme for the day: “A Bookstore is a Garden. Grow Yourself.” Author’s Note will be lavishly decorated with a botanical theme. Berry has also announced the visit of six authors, who will greet customers and sign copies of their books.

Julie Berry, owner of Author’s Note at 519 Main St., stands by a display of her works. She is promoting Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, with a day full of events and visits from six authors.

The store will open earlier than usual in honor of the day, which celebrates, promotes and highlights the value independent bookstores bring to readers, authors and local communities, Berry said.

At 9:30 a.m., New York Times Bestselling Author Edward Ashton will be in the store until 11 a.m. to greet readers, answer questions, make recommendations and sign copies of his science fiction titles.

New York Times best-selling author Kalynn Bayron from Ithaca will include a visit to Medina High School to tell students about her recent middle grade novel The Vanquishers. She will sign books, recommend titles and greet readers at Author’s Note from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Her other new young adult novel is My Dear Henry, a Jekyll and Hyde remix.

Award-winning Buffalo author Dee Romito will sign books from noon to 2 p.m.

Local author Peggy Thomas will sign her book Hero for the Hungry: The Life and Work of Norman Borlaug and greet fans from 1 to 3 p.m. Her book is a beautifully illustrated biography for young readers of the 20th-century American agriculture scientist whose innovations in crop varieties founded the Green Revolution and fed hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.

Two other authors local to Medina are Darlene Baker and Randall R. Reese.

Baker, author of Going through the Gears, will be at the store from 3 to 5 p.m. to share her journey from a woman trucker to author and how she captured the story in her series of books.

Reese is a Medina native and award-winning screenwriter, comedy improv instructor and author of the Coal Miner’s War, based on the story of the Ludlow Massacre. He will be at the store from 3 to 5 p.m.

These authors who are appearing Saturday at Author’s Note include, from left: Peggy Thomas, Darlene Baker and Randall Reese.

Throughout the day, customers will share in scavenger hunts, various activities, games and treats. They can win a year’s supply of free audiobooks, gift cards and gift baskets. Several IBD-exclusive items supplied by the ABA will be available for sale or giveaway that day only.

This will be Author’s Note second Independent Bookstore Day celebration and the 10th anniversary of the event sponsored by the American Bookselling Association. Last Year, Author’s Note chose the theme “A Bookstore is a Candy Store for the Mind.”

“This year will probably be better for your teeth, but there will still be plenty of treats and sweets,” she said.

Berry explained Independent Bookstore Day was created to help communities, book lovers, authors and booksellers celebrate together all the community, fun and imaginative richness a locally-owned independent bookstore brings them that other means of obtaining books can’t bring.

“We bring authors in all year round to educate and inspire readers, and we support other types of cultural programming, such as musical concerts and swing dances,” Berry said. “We supply books in bulk to area libraries and schools. We create a gathering space for people who love books, and we serve as a delightful destination store for area shoppers. But, in addition, indie bookstores return two and one-half to four times as much revenue to their local economies as chains do. And we work hard to foster literacy and reading for all ages, and especially for the kids in our communities.”

She added in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the rise in online bookselling, chain stores and e-readers caused many people to predict the death of the independent bookstore. Yet, between 2009 and 2018, the number of independent bookstores rose nearly 50 percent. Harvard Business School researcher in a landmark 2020 study explained that indie bookstores thrive in an online-heavy book market by differentiating themselves along three lines – Community, Curation and Convening.

“We’re here because of the incredible support of our customers, who believe in the value of shopping small and shopping locally,” Berry said. “As much as we hope to celebrate what Author’s Note, as an indie bookstore, adds to the region, we especially want to use this day to toast and thank our customers for their loyalty and encouragement, which we rely on.

More information about Independent Bookstore Day festivities at Author’s Note can be found by logging on top AuthorsNote.com or calling (585) 798-3642.

HOLLEY – The Village Board on Monday approved a $2,116,716 village budget that will increase taxes by 1.8 percent.

The budget increases the tax rate by 2.0 percent from $16.92 to $17.26 per $1,000 of assessed property. The tax levy, what the village collects in property taxes, will go from $1,004,300 in 2022-23 to $1,022,300 in 2023-24.

Mayor Mark Bower said the Village Board imposed a spending freeze on Feb. 1 which allowed Holley to have more money from the current budget to carry over into the next fiscal year to help prevent a bigger tax increase. The village also is able to tap into some of its federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with some of the expenses.

Bower said all village employees will get 2 percent raises in the new budget. The village, however, will need to look at updating salaries to stay competitive with other municipalities, especially for its electric workers, Bower said.

The budget for 2023-24 includes the following departments or categories with 2022-23 in parentheses: Department of Public Works, $429,573 ($367,492); Police, $328,980 ($324,000); Office, $302,202 ($300,049); Employee Benefits, $173,562 ($167,179); Debt Payments, $154,000 ($139,137); Water Fund, $515,720 ($493,636); and Sewer Fund, $212,679 ($172,248).

The Holley village budget no longer includes the fire department. That is now managed by commissioners in the Murray Joint Fire District. The tax rate for that district is $1.82 per $1,000 and isn’t in the village taxes.

The village’s new fiscal year starts on June 1.

MEDINA – Coming to the village starting next week will be a welcome sight: a paver.

Medina will have about $750,000 worth of state-funded paving done on village streets, Mayor Mike Sidari said.

The village is using its CHIPS funds and more than $600,000 from the state as an official touring route. The CHIPS and touring route funds are both managed by the state Department of Transportation.

Mayor Sidari said he is grateful for the funding and the smoother streets.

Keeler Construction in Barre will be the contractor for the paving. The areas to be paved include:

• Main Street from railroad tracks to Commercial Street
• Prospect Avenue from lift bridge to West Center Street
• Park Avenue from Main Street to the village clerk’s office
• West Center Street from Main to Prospect
• North and South Academy from Ohio Street to Catherine Street
• Genesee Street from Park Avenue to West Oak Orchard
• South Avenue from Main to Gwinn Street

MEDINA – The Medina school district won’t be increasing the tax levy in the 2023-24 school budget.

This is the 14^th time in the past 16 years the district won’t be increasing property taxes, District Superintendent Mark Kruzynski said.

“I am pleased to present a budget for the upcoming school year that balances the community’s financial needs with the educational, social, and emotional needs of our students,” he said.

The district’s proposed budget is $40,095,815, which represents a 0.53 percent spending increase from the $39,884,316 in 2022-23.

The tax levy is unchanged at $8,814,697. The tax rate for the current school year was $16.47 per $1,000 of assessed value before equalization rates were applied, which vary by town. The Orleans County Department of Real Property Tax will set the final municipal tax rates in August.

Medina’s budget would be 72.7 percent funded by the state with overall state aid at $29,139,269, an increase of $530,555. Those are the numbers from the governor’s executive budget in January, but the state budget remains at an impasse and is nearly a month late.

“Considering the current state of the economy, the board and administration worked extremely hard to control costs for our community,” said LuAnn Tierney, president of the Medina Board of Education. “As a result, we are thrilled to be able to adopt a budget that represents the board’s commitment to providing an excellent education for our students at a cost that the district taxpayers can continue to support.”

Voting for the budget and board candidates will take place on May 16 from noon to 8 p.m. in the District Office Boardroom. Voters must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States and resident of the district for at least 30 days before the vote.

There are also three open seats on the Board of Education for three-year terms. LuAnn Tierney, Steven Blount, Corinne Ryan and Annette Allis submitted petitions to run for the BOE.

Tierney and Allis are seeking re-election while current board member Arlene Pawlaczyk isn’t running again.

For more information on the candidates, click here to be directed to the school district website.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A group of clergy members took the oath of office and were sworn in as chaplains for the Orleans County Sheriff’s office. Pictured form left include Dan Thurber, Don Snyder, Randy LeBaron, Brandon Carmichael, Tim Lindsay, Rebecca Allis, Eddie English, Bilal Huzair and Sheriff Chris Bourke.

County Clerk Nadine Hanlon administers the oath during the Orleans County Legislature meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

The Sheriff’s Office has chaplains on call every day, with the clergy taking turns. The chaplains are volunteers and are not paid. They do ride-alongs and offer spiritual support to employees of the Sheriff’s Office if requested.

They also are available to go to a scene where there has been a tragedy or crime and offer support for families or victims of crimes.

The chaplains also attend public events throughout the year with the Sheriff’s Office.

MEDINA – Staff for Congresswoman Claudia Tenney are in Medina today until 1 p.m. to meet with constituents. The office hours initially were scheduled to be on April 27.

Tenney’s staff will be at the village office at 119 West Ave. During the mobile office hours, constituents can receive one-on-one assistance from Tenney’s team of expert caseworkers on issues with federal agencies, including the Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, or Passport Agency. People can walk in and don’t need to have an appointment.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is disappointed that the Assembly Majority has moved to block his legislation, A.2062, from passing in the Assembly chamber.

The bill would have eliminated the registration fee for Gold Star mothers and Gold Star family members for their distinctive license plates. Gold Star family members are families of veterans that served in the military and made the ultimate sacrifice, and Hawley has always been an ardent supporter of showing those families the respect they deserve.

“It’s really disappointing and frustrating that the Assembly Majority cannot vote on something that would go such a long way for families who deserve our support,” Hawley said. “The blocking of this bill tells me that despite whatever the Majority may say in regard to supporting our families of veterans, they don’t really care when it comes to meaningful action.”

The blocking of this bill recalls an issue several years ago that Hawley also championed, which was the granting of free college tuition to Gold Star family members that also faced questionable pushback from the Assembly Majority. Hawley believes New York can do better for its Gold Star families.

“There’s not much to say other than it’s another example of New York failing to show up for those who showed up for New York,” Hawley said. “It suggests our state government needs a real re-evaluation of values and character.”

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – The school district has once again been named a Best Community for Music Education by the National Foundation of Music Merchants (NAMM), marking the 16th consecutive year to receive the recognition.

The award program honors outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education.

There are 830 school districts across the country to receive the distinction this year, but few have sustained Albion’s excellence when it comes to music education. No other school in Orleans County received the recognition while only Pembroke made the list out of Genesee County. (Editor’s Note: Other nearby schools to receive the honor include Roy-Hart and Akron. Among the GLOW counties, Geneseo, Mount Morris, Perry and Pioneer also were honored.)

Albion prides itself on a long tradition of entertaining chorus, band and drama programs. This fall, the high school performed The World According to Snoopy and the middle school brought Dear Edwina to the stage. The concert season began with the annual high school Veteran’s Day event to honor our troops. Senior Tea, a long-standing tradition, showcased an array of musical talents as the class of 2023 showcased their vocal and instrumental skills.

Nick Andrews plays the role of Uncle Fester and sings a love song to the moon – “The Moon and Me” – in Albion’s production of The Addams Family in late March. Albion performs two musicals a year in both the high school and middle school. The high school spring show each year regularly receives many awards from the Stars of Tomorrow in the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.

The holiday season is always a festive time as each school hosts a holiday concert within the month of December. Right before winter break, select high school chorus and band members spent time in downtown businesses and streets caroling for the community. High school musicians also took part in the Hometown Holiday event this school year. Additionally, students and alumni performed for a packed audience at the annual Albion High School Alumni Foundation concert.

During both semesters, Albion was proud to send numerous students of all grades to the two All-County music festivals. Collaboration was key when band directors worked together to put on an all-district instrumental concert in early March in front of a standing room-only crowd in the high school gym.

The drama departments brought beloved characters to the stage this spring. First, the middle school transformed the auditorium into a distant land with The Jungle Book. Then, the high school performed a spectacular showing of The Addams Family. The latter included a live orchestra composed almost completely of current students, staff and Albion alumni.

Lindsey Almeter, elementary music teacher, leads the young musicians during the all-district concert on March 1.

Throughout the school day, all students from kindergarten through 12th grade are taught or given the opportunity to take a variety of music classes. High school students in the music history class enjoyed a tour of the Parsons Pipe Organ Builders during the school year while the high school choir welcomed guest conductors from the Eastman School of Music and Nazareth College. The district is also fortunate to include a musical therapist on staff.

Music remains a constant presence at Albion through the end of the school year with spring concerts scheduled in May and June. The Purple Eagle marching band will be on proud display at community events including the Strawberry Festival and Lilac Festival parades.

All musical events and performances throughout the school year are open to the public and, other than the four stage productions, are free to attend. The continual support and collaboration with alumni and community members helps keep music education alive and thriving.

Founded in 2006, the NAMM Foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. The organization represents the generosity and philanthropy of the music products industry and is funded through trade association activities and donations. For more information, visit NAMMFoundation.org.

Provided photo: Unused prescription medication is packed up after being dropped off on Saturday at the Orleans County Public Safety Building. Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson is at left and Sheriff Chris Bourke is at right. Correction Officer Tyler Ajitsingh is at center.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday once again participated in the National Prescription Take-Back Event that was sponsored by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The collection event was staffed by deputy sheriffs and yielded 697.6 pounds of unused medication and sharps.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has participated in the National Prescription Take-Back Program since 2012 and has collected a combined weight of over 12,000 pounds of unused medications and sharps.

The Sheriff’s Office will continue to support future collection events with the purpose of safely disposing unused medications and to reduce the potential for criminal diversion. Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson organized this year’s event.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – A stone shed burns in the backyard of a home at 2755 Oak Orchard Rd. in Gaines this afternoon at about 2 p.m.

Albion and Carlton firefighters put out the fire, which was on Route 98 just south of the Cobblestone Museum. No additional information is available.

Press Release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

MEDINA – The annual meeting of the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library will be held at the library on Monday, May 8, at 7 p.m.

Agenda items include voting on a trustee position, the presentation of the annual report and the presentation of the proposed budget. Trustee Isabella Mark is seeking re-election to the Board for a five-year term.

The Board has prepared another conservative budget for 2023-2024. The library is asking for an increase in the library tax of 2.81% which is under the New York State tax cap for the library. The property tax levy will increase to $580,913.

“The library continues to operate a conservative organization,” said Cynthia Kiebala, the Lee-Whedon board president. “Costs have risen in nearly every aspect of our operations and so we must ask for an increase in order to maintain services. We are proud of our staff and our high standards of service.”

Residents of the Medina Central School District are invited to attend this public meeting. The budget vote will be at the library on Tuesday, May 9, from noon to 8 p.m. The library is located at 620 West Ave.