New Comfort Inn hotel in Medina, Airbnbs, hotel at Bent’s fuel increase

Photo by Tom Rivers: The new Comfort Inn & Suites in Medina opened on March 18, 2022. This photo shows Medina Sandstone Society members in the lobby and front desk area on March 16 for a tour before the opening.

ALBION – Orleans County exceeded $100,000 in bed tax revenues in 2022 for the first time.

There is a 4 percent occupancy tax on hotel rooms and other lodging. That tax added up to $111,013 in 2022.

That topped the previous record high of $79,102 in 2021. The third most was collected in 2020: $58,438.

The county’s occupancy tax has been trending up, increasing annually in recent years. Besides the past three years the totals include $58,424 in 2019, $51,002 in 2018, and $45,374 in 2017, according to data from the county treasurer’s office.

The county is seeing more short-term vacation rentals such as Airbnbs. A 58-room Comfort Inn & Suites opened on March 18 last year in Medina, giving the county its first branded hotel. Bent’s Opera House also opened 10 hotel rooms in 2021.

Kim DeFrank, the county treasurer, said those new lodging options are the biggest reason for the boost in bed tax.

The county sets aside the bed tax to fund tourism department and initiatives to bring in visitors. The increase in funds allowed the county to hire a sportsfishing coordinator in December 2022, filling a position that had been vacant for nearly five years. Ron Bierstine will promote the county’s top tourism draw of sportsfishing. He will be attending more of fishing shows, including in Pennsylvania and Ohio where the county draws many of its fishing visitors, said Dawn Borchet, the county’s tourism director.

The county also has stepped up its digital advertising on Facebook to promote events in Orleans to attract more visitors to the area, Borchet said.

“The campaigns that we have done on Facebook have increased our traffic on our website and additional requests for brochures on Orleans County to be sent to visitors considering our area,” she said.

The county tourism in 2021 also added a billboard along the Thruway in Batavia, promoting the fishing opportunities in Orleans with salmon and trout. That billboard was paid for over two years with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Borchet said the billboard gets noticed

“Just this past weekend our office, was at a show in Edison, NJ and we had people come up to the booth, letting us know they noticed the billboard on the NYS Thruway,” she said.

Sportsfishing has a total economic impact of $28 million in Orleans County, according to the NY State DEC Anglers Survey for 2017. Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393. County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571.

The tourism department promotes local festivities, museums and other attractions. Click here to see the county’s tourism website.

Farm Bureau sees lots of good, some bad in executive budget

Gov. Kathy Hochul presented her $227 executive budget proposal today, and Rob Ortt, the State Senate Republican Leader, said it adds billions in spending without making the state a more affordable and safer place to live.

Here are some of the reactions to Hochul’s budget proposal:

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt: “In the midst of an unprecedented affordability crisis, the Governor presented a state budget that continues to tax and spend without providing any real relief to struggling New York families and businesses. New York is facing a public safety crisis, and yet, there was no specific plan to fix the state’s disastrous bail laws.

“Instead of presenting solutions to make New York more affordable, this budget adds billions of dollars in new spending and imposes a new payroll tax that will hurt downstate New York businesses.

“As the budget process moves forward, the Senate Republican Conference will continue to focus on solutions to make New York safer, stronger, more affordable, and more free.

“New York needs a rescue plan – this isn’t it.”

New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher: “Gov. Hochul said today, ‘Don’t forget the farmers,’ and she didn’t in the proposed state budget. Her economic development plan, prioritized in her budget address, includes a refundable investment tax credit for agriculture that will incentivize improvements on family farms across the state. This is especially needed following years of low commodity prices, high inflation, and a pandemic, all things that have caused deep concern in the farming community.

“We greatly appreciate this important step forward from the governor, but also express concern that a higher minimum wage rate tied to inflation will be a step backwards. Farms are small businesses facing significant inflation costs, just like all New Yorkers are confronting. Making the cost of production even more expensive raises a red flag for those in the business of feeding this state.

“New York Farm Bureau thanks the governor for additional proposed funding for agriculture, including increased state procurement of local food, $10 million to eliminate food scarcity which would support farm markets and supply chain improvements, support for NY FarmNet to address mental health needs in the farming community, and $400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund which includes assistance for farmers to implement sustainable best management practices.

The School Administrators Association of New York State issued this statement: “Regarding the governor’s education budget priorities, SAANYS applauds the proposed 10 percent ($34.5 billion total) increase in state aid to schools, which is inclusive of a $2.7 billion increase in Foundation Aid to achieve its full phase-in.

“SAANYS also supports the governor’s commitment to increasing funding for school-based mental health care; securing insurance coverage for mental health programs and services; and funding to expand prekindergarten and corresponding funding for childcare.

“However, SAANYS is disappointed that the governor has not included additional state funding to provide universal meals for all students. Commented SAANYS Executive Director Kevin Casey, “Assuring all students are provided with healthy school meals is at the core of preparing young people to succeed and thrive at school. No student should go through the day hungry or anxious about accessing their next meal. Providing universal school meals is a commonsense way to fully support our students and families, especially during these difficult economic times.”

Peter Baynes, NY Conference of Mayors executive director: “It is difficult to fathom that an Executive Budget with a $7 billion increase in spending, proposed by a Governor with an oft-stated strong belief in local governments, fails to invest one additional dime in our cities, villages, counties and towns.

“Abandoning local governments, as this budget largely does, will only make New York a less attractive place to live and work. To make matters even worse, the Governor also mistakenly lays New York’s housing shortage problem at the feet of local officials and proposes to allow the State to override local zoning and land use decisions.

“Holding municipalities solely responsible for housing growth ignores the fact that not every community has the developable land or buildings, necessary infrastructure, sufficient demand or builder appetite to meet an arbitrary housing growth threshold set by a state government than cannot possibly know the needs and conditions of individual communities.”

Renee Vogelsang, Better Buildings NY coalition member and NY director of Frack Action: “Once again, Governor Hochul is demonstrating that she’s serious about saving New Yorkers money and moving toward a clean energy future with her executive budget.

“By including the All-Electric Buildings Act and crucial subsidies for low and middle-income New Yorkers to retrofit and electrify their homes and help pay their utility bills, Governor Hochul is protecting hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers from the inhumane choice between eating and heating that too many are forced to make this winter.

“But these budget commitments are not enough to fulfill the provisions of New York’s Climate Action Plan. The Governor’s ambitious housing agenda lays out 800,000 units of new housing which must be built climate-friendly to give more New Yorkers the opportunity to live in healthy and affordable electric homes, and minimize infrastructure costs for everyone.

“It is also essential to fundamentally reform existing public service laws to align with the Climate Act. With the 100 foot rule, and ‘obligation to serve’ still in place, New Yorkers will continue to be forced to subsidize gas utilities’ outdated, inefficient energy infrastructure projects costing current gas customers more than $200 million a year. The NY HEAT Act will protect low and middle income-New Yorkers’ wallets, and we urge the Senate and the Assembly to include both in their one-house budgets.”

New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta issued this statement: “For years, NYSUT members have been fighting for proper school funding and staff levels. The governor’s proposed budget is a historic step in the right direction that promises to dramatically improve our schools and the communities they serve.

“However, we have grave concerns about the proposal to expand the number of charter schools. This will have a devastating impact on our public schools, especially for our state’s most underserved students. History shows that the corporate charter school industry is interested in making profits, not in the well-being of all students, educators and families. Charters exclude students who don’t fit their business model, and they operate without input from the public or accountability to taxpayers. Where public schools unite our communities, charter schools fracture them.”

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy: “Public safety, economic revitalization, and workforce development were centerstage during Governor Hochul’s FY2024 budget announcement – three initiatives Greater Rochester Chamber is proud to continue supporting.

“Greater Rochester is facing an unprecedented rise in gun violence and crime which directly and adversely impact our ability to succeed. The need for qualified, reliable workers is among the most pressing concerns we hear from leaders of businesses of all types and sizes throughout our region.

 “We look forward to working with Governor Hochul in her efforts to address these issues and remove the barriers inhibiting our region from reaching its potential. That includes revisiting those policies that are enabling violence and crime, revamping New York’s talent strategy, and making New York a state that fosters growth and innovation rather than hindering it.”

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) issued this statement: “The number one reason New Yorkers are moving out of state is because this state is too expensive, but today we heard yet another ‘tax-and-spend’ plan that ignores this reality and will only exasperate it further.

“The more people New York taxes out of our state, the less revenue the state will have to spend and the more it will hurt everyone. It’s time for leaders who understand the realities New Yorkers are faced with on a day-to-day basis. Let’s get back to basics and pass a budget that helps people and makes the state safer and more affordable for everyone.”

Michael E. Zurlo, president of the New York State Association of Counties: “As a former county official, Governor Hochul should know that any new costs imposed on New York’s local governments eventually come out of New Yorkers’ pockets in the form of higher property taxes that drive up the cost of both rent and homeownership.

“Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget includes an unprecedented shift that will saddle local taxpayers with up to $1 billion in new Medicaid costs by pocketing Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Program (eFMAP) funds that were intended to go directly to local governments to help hold costs down.

 “Not only does this proposal harm New York’s local taxpayers, but it also subverts Congress’ intent that eFMAP be shared with local governments that contribute to the Medicaid program. In March of 2020, New York Senator Charles Schumer championed that ‘Enhanced FMAP funds are so important because they are immediate and flexible. The state – which gets billions and the most of any state in the nation – and counties use the money they save on whatever they want.’”

“At a time when New York is facing an affordability crisis, the last thing the Governor should do is burden local taxpayers with more costs that will drive up the cost of homeownership and rent, increase business expenses and make New York more unaffordable.

 “We sincerely hope the Governor will reconsider this misguided proposal, adhere to Congress’ intent, and continue to share this federal funding so that so we can do our part to make our state more affordable.”

Governor Kathy Hochul presents her Executive Budget proposal today in the Red Room at the State Capitol. (Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today outlined her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget that reflects a bold agenda to make New York more affordable, more livable, and safer by making smart, responsible investments in mental health care, public safety, housing, education, climate initiatives, and more.

“I’m committed to doing everything in my power to make the Empire State a more affordable, more livable, safer place for all New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “We will make bold, transformative investments that lift up New Yorkers while maintaining solid fiscal footing in uncertain times.”

A Balanced Budget

Hochul’s FY 2024 Budget proposal reflects New York’s steady finances, even as global economic trends send mixed signals. All funds spending is $227 billion, growing 2.4 percent. Deposits to reserves that had been planned for FY 2024 and FY 2025 will be completed by the end of the current year – two years ahead of schedule – for a total of $24 billion secured for a rainy day.

Fixing the Continuum of Mental Health Care 

For too long, New York’s mental health care system has suffered from underinvestment, and the pandemic only made things harder for New Yorkers with serious mental illness. To address the unmet mental health needs of New Yorkers, Governor Hochul will make a long-term, $1 billion investment to transform New York’s continuum of mental health care. This comprehensive, multi-year plan includes allocating:

• $915 million in capital to develop new residential units, plus $127 million in annual operating costs.
• $18 million in capital and $30 million annually to increase operational capacity for inpatient psychiatric treatment.
• $60 million in capital and $122 million annually to expand outpatient services.
• $27.5 million annually to improve post-discharge connections to services through the creation of 50 new Critical Time Intervention care coordination teams.
• $30 million annually to expand mental health services in schools.

Addressing the Housing Crisis

The New York Housing Compact is a comprehensive, multifaceted proposal to address a historic housing shortage in New York State and build 800,000 new homes over the next decade. In addition to setting local housing targets in every New York municipality, emphasizing transit-oriented development, removing barriers to housing creation, and incentivizing new construction, Governor Hochul’s plan includes:

• $250 million for infrastructure upgrades and improvements to support local housing growth and development.
• $20 million for planning and technical assistance to support local rezoning efforts and other solutions to drive growth.
• $15 million for a new statewide data collection effort.
• $4 million to create a new Housing Planning Office within Homes and Community Renewal to support localities in meeting their housing goals and coordinate planning efforts across the state.
• $39.8 million to reduce the risk of lead exposure in rental properties outside of New York City, including $20 million in assistance to property owners for building remediation.
• $50 million for the creation of a statewide Homeowner Stabilization Fund to provide critical home repairs in 10 key communities with a high concentration of low-income homeowners of color.

Driving Down Gun Violence, Combatting Fentanyl and Protecting Public Safety 

Governor Hochul will make major public safety investments aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing quality of life. Funding will expand programs and services to further drive down gun violence, reduce recidivism, address the flow of deadly fentanyl, and improve the efficacy of the court system, which was disrupted by the pandemic.

• $337 million for programs designed to prevent and reduce gun violence, including but not limited to:
• $84.1 million for youth employment programs, of which $37 million is for programs in Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) jurisdictions.
• $70 million for communities to respond to the aftermath of gun violence, of which $50 million is for community capital needs.
• $36.4 million for the GIVE initiative.
• $31.1 million for crime reduction, youth justice, and gang prevention programs.
• $25.9 million for State Police Community Stabilization Units (CSUs).
• $25 million for the SNUG Street Outreach program.
• $18 million for Crime Analysis Centers, including $2 million for crime analysts to combat the flow of fentanyl into communities.

The Executive Budget proposal also includes:

• $52 million in aid to prosecution funding for all 62 district attorneys’ offices.
• $40 million to funding to support discovery reform implementation.
• $31.4 million for alternatives to incarceration programs.
• $20 million for pretrial services.
• $10 million to support stipends for volunteer firefighters who complete core training, providing a recruitment and retention incentive to those who serve their communities.
• $7 million for a new Anti-Fentanyl Innovation Grant.

Addressing the Climate Crisis and Investing in Affordable Energy

New York State has one of the nation’s most ambitious climate plans focused on creating a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations. Governor Hochul will make a transformative $5.5 billion investment to promote energy affordability, reduce emissions, and invest in clean air and water, building on more than $30 billion committed to climate action.

In addition to forthcoming investments from the historic Environmental Bond Act passed by voters in 2022, the Executive Budget includes:

• $500 million in clean water infrastructure funding and $400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund.
• $400 million to provide relief to New Yorkers experiencing high electric bills as well as lowering energy burdens through electrifications and retrofits.
• $200 million for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to invest in enhancing the improving state parks.
• A proposal to implement the Waste Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act to increase recycling rates, save local governments money, and protect the Environment.

New grant program to provide funding for municipalities to investigate and remediate sites contaminated with emerging contaminants like PFAS.

Making Child Care More Accessible and Affordable 

With the actions included in the FY 2024 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul is increasing the State’s investment to an unprecedented $7.6 billion over four years to make the child care system more accessible and affordable. This will put New York State on the path toward improving the process of finding child care, widening program eligibility, and supporting the child care workforce.  In addition, there will be the following targeted investments:

• $389 million in underutilized Federal funds for a Workforce Retention Grant program.
• $25 million in foregone revenue to support the Employer Child Care Tax Credit.
• $4.8 million in State funds for the Employer-Supported Child Care Pilot Program.

Creating a Stronger Health Care System 

Building off last year’s historic $20 billion investment, Governor Hochul’s will continue to invest in high quality health care, address pressing health needs facing New Yorkers, and helping facilities across the state prepare for future public health emergencies. New York’s health care system is among the best in the nation, but the pandemic shed light on disparities in the system. The budget seeks to address these disparities by adding more than $1 billion in health care capital funding, expanding Medicaid coverage for 7.8 million low-income New Yorkers, and improving access to aging services and high-quality long-term care:

• $500 million in multi-year health care capital funding to drive transformative investment that support the State’s health care investments.
• $500 million in multi-year capital grants to support investments in technological investment upgrades, including clinical tech and cybersecurity.
• $967 million to complete consolidation of Wadsworth Laboratories’ five unconnected sites to one site on the W. Averell Harriman Campus in Albany by 2030.
• $100 million to expand Medicaid coverage of preventative health services and access to primary care.
• $157 million in New York State’s nursing homes and $9 million in New York’s assisted living providers, so staff can better provide high-quality care to residents.
• $60 million beginning in FY 2025 to expand the Medicaid Buy-In program so more New Yorkers with disabilities can work and still qualify for coverage.
• $39 million to reduce the risk of lead exposure in rental properties outside of New York City.
• $8 million to revitalize the state’s Emergency Medical Services system and $14 million to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for medical transportation.
• $12 million to modernize New York State’s health reporting systems and build a nation-leading health monitoring and surveillance system.

Boosting New York’s Economy 

The Executive Budget includes proposals to strengthen the state’s economy and accelerate Governor Hochul’s vision of making New York the most business-friendly and worker-friendly state in the nation. The Governor has proposed a significant expansion of the State’s business attraction programming to create good, high-paying jobs in fast-growing industries like tech, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.

The Governor has also proposed indexing New York’s minimum wage to inflation to help workers meet the rising cost of living and a nation-leading plan to offer fully paid parental leave to thousands of New York State employees.

The Executive Budget also adds:

• $425 million to invest in local economies, including $225 million in grant funding and tax credits for the Regional Economic Development Councils and $100 million each for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward.
• $60 million in grant funding to support locally sourced school meals and food retailers in underserved communities and regions.
• $58.5 million to support the State’s robust tourism industry, including funding to promote regional attractions and matching grants to assist counties and municipalities with local tourism efforts.
• $45 million to be made available to GO-SEMI: The Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration to lead the growth of the state’s semiconductor industry.
• $18.8 million to rebuild New York State’s government workforce through critical initiatives to be administered through the Department of Civil Service and Office of General Services.
• $2 million to help Public Assistance recipients recoup stolen benefits.
• $1 million for the Department of Agriculture and Markets to develop a stronger food supply workforce pipeline.

As part of Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunity for New York workers and businesses, the Executive Budget also establishes the Office of Community and Workforce Development in New York City. The Office will require New York City contractors to make best efforts to hire candidates from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and will require the city to consider impacts of penalties for noncompliance on minority- and women-owned businesses, nonprofits, and small businesses.

Supporting Students and Schools 

All New York students deserve a high-quality education, from prekindergarten through college. Governor Hochul will allocate a historic $34.5 billion in total School Aid, the highest level of State aid in history. This funding will help give every child in New York the tools to succeed through a high-quality education.  Funding for education includes:

• $24 billion for Foundation Aid – a $2.7 billion increase from last year – to complete Governor Hochul’s three-year phase-in to fully funding Foundation Aid for the first time in history.
• $1.5 billion in new capital projects for SUNY and CUNY.
• $250 million of the historic increase in Foundation Aid to establish high impact tutoring to address learning loss.
• $125 million expanding prekindergarten to bring the State’s annual support for such programs to $1.2 billion.
• $270 million in new operating support for SUNY and CUNY campuses.
• $400 million in SUNY transformation capital initiatives, including $200 million for research labs at the University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University and $200 million for a digital transformation of IT infrastructure throughout the SUNY system.
• $500 million to create the first-ever New York State matching fund for contributions made to the endowments of SUNY’s four university centers.

Governor Hochul will also eliminate the regional cap on the number of charter schools in New York City and authorize the reissuance of charters due to surrender, revocation, termination, or non-renewal. These changes will permit the issuance of additional charters in New York City and expand educational opportunities for students.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney  

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-Canandaigua) today, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, introduced The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act alongside Congressman Greg Stuebe (R-Fl.).

Additional original cosponsors of this legislation include Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Jerry Carl (R-Ala.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), and Rob Wittman (R-Va.).

This legislation guarantees women and girls a fair playing field in competitive sports by ensuring that school athletics comply with the Title IX recognition of a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This commonsense bill ensures that biological females are not forced to compete against biological men in women’s competitive sports funded through Title IX.

“This legislation is about protecting the equal opportunity for women and girls to fairly compete and succeed in athletics,” Tenney said. “President Joe Biden’s Department of Education and state agencies across the nation are allowing – even encouraging – biological men to participate in women’s sports. This is fundamentally unfair. It deprives women and girls of what so many of us fought for decades to achieve: equal opportunity to train, compete, excel in athletics. The Republican majority has pledged to protect women’s sports, and today we’re delivering on that promise.”

Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Morelle (D-Irondequoit) joined more than 170 of his Congressional colleagues today in reintroducing two key gun reform measures in honor of Gun Violence Survivors Week: a comprehensive national Assault Weapons Ban and the Bipartisan Background Checks Act.

This week (Feb 1-7) marks the date where gun deaths in the U.S. surpass gun deaths in peer countries for an entire year.

“If we’re going to be serious about gun reform, we need to start with two of the most common-sense measures: a national ban on assault weapons and enacting universal, comprehensive background checks,” Morelle said.  “Eight of the ten deadliest mass shootings in recent history involved guns that would have been banned for purchase had we passed this legislation.”

Mass murders carried out in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Colorado Springs were committed by gunmen using a lawfully purchased assault weapon. They are responsible for killing 10 people at a grocery store, 19 children and 2 teachers at an elementary school, and 5 people inside an LGBTQ+ nightclub.

“These military-style weapons have exactly one purpose – to decimate as many people as possible, as fast as possible,” Morelle said. “They are weapons of war and they have no place in our communities. The best way to honor Gun Violence Survivors Week is by taking action to prevent these deadly tragedies, and that’s exactly what these bills will do.”

The Assault Weapons Ban would prohibit the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, while protecting hunting and sporting rifles and assault weapons used by members of the military and law enforcement.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act would require a background check in all places guns are sold – not just in brick-and-mortar stores.

Over 100 outside organizations and 61% of Americans support this legislation, including the American Federation for Teachers, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, Center for American Progress, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, March for Our Lives, Newtown Action Alliance, Junior Newtown Action Alliance, and NoRA.

“Gun violence leaves an indelible mark on each individual and community it impacts. We must support survivors and work to end gun violence so no one else has to endure what they went through,” Morelle said. “Banning assault weapons and requiring background checks are crucial steps towards protecting our community and stopping these devastating mass shootings from taking more innocent lives. I’m proud to co-sponsor these important bills and I look forward to continuing the fight for common-sense gun reforms.”

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina School District will be hosting an information night for families of incoming universal prekindergarten students on Thursday, March 2, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary School.

Anyone wishing to attend or looking for more information is asked to sign up (click here for more information).

To be eligible for UPK, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2023. To be eligible for kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2023.

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. and the event will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. There will be a brief general session for adults in the auditorium, and then participants will visit scheduled locations throughout the building. Please plan to arrive by 5:30 and stay for the duration, in order to receive all of the information prepared. Childcare will be provided for children eligible to attend school in the 2023-24 school year.

Families interested in learning more about Medina’s UPK program are asked to complete the sign up, whether or not you are able to attend the information night. If you are unable to attend, information will be shared afterward on Oak Orchard Primary School’s website and respond to the email address provided on the sign up.

Timeline for UPK application, acceptance, registration and screening:

• Thursday, March 2: UPK Information Night 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at Oak Orchard Primary
• March 2 – April 2: UPK applications accepted at the information night, by calling the Oak Orchard Main Office, or through our website, starting on March 2.
• April 3: Families notified of acceptance into UPK Program or if program capacity is reached, that lottery is to be held.
• Week of April 3: Lottery held, if needed, and registration packets mailed.
• Week of May 1 – May 5: UPK student screening, applicants should bring all registration materials to the screening. A parent and the child are expected to attend the screening. Applicants will be contacted by phone to schedule their screening time.

Any questions can be directed to the Oak Orchard Main Office by calling 585-798-2700, option 3 and then 0, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Please be sure to register for the information night (click here).

Information for kindergarten registration to follow at a later date.

ALBION – A dedicated group of volunteers is nearing 20 years of pumping gas for free at the Crosby’s in Albion at the corner of routes 98 and 31.

The gas pumpers are there on Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m., and they are there in snow storms, bitter cold and punishing heat.

Besides pumping the gas, the volunteers will walk the customer’s cash inside to pay the bill. The group even offers a discount on the gas, with the 10 cents off per gallon paid by the Albion Betterment Committee. Many people decline the discount and that money, usually 50 cents to $1, is donated to PAWS Animal Shelter. Some of the customers also will chip in extra for PAWS.

The Betterment Committee is recent years has donated about $800 annually to PAWS through the donations or declined discounts from gas pumping.

Phil Brady pumps gas for a Crosby’s customer this morning. Brady has been volunteering on Wednesday mornings for about five years.

Gary Kent, one of the Betterment Committee directors, pushed to start the gas pumping back in 2004. He was looking for ways to make the community more senior-friendly.

Many regulars come on Wednesdays, even those with nearly full tanks. They like to see the group of volunteers, and they appreciate not having to step outside in the cold I the winter or the heat during the summer.

“I don’t mind helping out the community,” said Phil Brady, who has been coming most Wednesdays the past five years. “It’s a nice way of giving back.”

Many people still don’t know about the gas pumping volunteers, and the discounts on Wednesday mornings, Brady said. There are people every week who are surprised when the volunteers step forward offering to pump the gas or walk the cash to the store.

Tim Tierney retired in 2015 after a career as a civilian employee at the Orleans and Albion correctional facilities. He started volunteering with gas pumping in 2016. He is there about 80 percent of the Wednesdays.

“You get a lot of people who are happy,” Tierney said about the motorists. “They appreciate not having to get out of their cars and pump the gas or swipe their cards.”

Today in the bitter cold, the volunteers offered to pump gas for younger drivers, especially if they didn’t have on gloves or a hat.

Gary Westlund drives about 40 minutes from near North Chili to be there on Wednesdays to pump gas. Westlund, a former Albion resident, welcomes the chance to be with his buddies – the other gas pumping volunteers.

He has been very reliable on Wednesdays for about 15 years.

Westlund, a retiree from Rochester Products (General Motors), said there are many regulars who come on Wednesdays for a fill-up, even if they didn’t drive much in the past week.

He knows many people look froward to seeing a friendly face on Wednesdays.

Gary Kent, one of the directors with the Albion Betterment Committee, said he appreciates the dedicated group who shows up regardless of the weather on Wednesdays to pump gas.

Westlund was recruited by Kent to be part of the gas pumping team. The two like to joke with each other throughout the morning. They met playing softball together.

“He couldn’t hit a lick but he was a pretty good outfielder,” Kent said, needling Westlund. Kent is a retired Kendall social studies teacher who also coached the varsity baseball team.

Kent laughed when he recalled last summer going up to a car but the driver requested Westlund handle the gas pumping. Westlund likes to wear shorts during the warm weather.

“She told me I don’t want you, I want the one with the nice legs,” Kent recalled this morning, laughing.

Kent said Clarence Winkelmann, Joe Gehl and Mike Wright also have been steady volunteers in recent years at the gas pumps.

ALABAMA – The Genesee County Economic Development Center is proposing $17 million in property tax and sales tax breaks for Edwards Vacuum.

That company is part of the Atlas Copco Group. The exemptions are for the first phase of the Edwards Vacuum’s $209 million semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility at the Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in the Town of Alabama.

The GCEDC board of directors will consider the exemptions during a meeting on Thursday. Edwards Vacuum’s facility will potentially serve the semiconductor industry and advanced manufacturing sectors and create approximately 343 new high-paying jobs, GCEDC said.

The facility is projected to generate more than $13.4 million in future revenues to the Town of Alabama, Genesee County, Oakfield-Alabama School District, and the Alabama Fire Department over 20 years.

The project is estimated to generate $644 million in payroll and projected future municipal revenues, and a $39 benefit to the local economy for every $1 of public investment, GCEDC said.

It’s going to get much colder in Orleans. On Friday, the high temperature is forecast for 9 degrees with an overnight low at minus 3.

Today is forecast to be sunny with a high of 24 followed by a high near 34 on Thursday.

The Weather Service warns there will be dangerously cold wind chills on Thursday night through Saturday morning.

After the deep freeze, the temperatures will rise to a high of 27 on Saturday, 37 on Sunday and 34 on Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

AAA put out a news release today urging drivers to be ready for the cold temps, which can lead to more dead batteries.

“Extremely cold temperatures in the forecast will cause many car batteries to fail especially if they are not driven over the weekend,” AAA said. “Driving your car is the best way to maintain its charge. Call volume on Monday, February 6 is expected to be high as many people will choose to stay home over the weekend and find dead car batteries on Monday morning upon return to work. Motorists should keep this in mind, and they shouldn’t wait until the last minute to make sure their vehicle car starts.”

This year there are many positions up for election at the town and county levels. Paul Lauricella, the Conservative Party chairman in Orleans County, encourages potential candidates to consider running with the Conservative Party line.

People interested can email Lauricella at cadmasterp@aol.com or call at 585-765-9106. They will need to send a submit a letter of intent and fill out a questionnaire.

After that, Lauricella and the party leaders will set up appointments for interviews in front of the committee.

“Endorsements are not guaranteed but all will be heard,” Lauricella said.

Interviews will be Feb. 11 and Feb. 18, so Lauricella encouraged people to submit the paperwork soon.

The local positions up for election this year include:

• County – sheriff and seven legislators
• Albion – town supervisor, two other town board seats, town clerk and highway superintendent
• Barre – town supervisor, two other town board seats, town clerk, town justice and highway superintendent
• Carlton – town supervisor, and two other town board seats
• Clarendon – town supervisor, two other town board seats, town clerk, town justice and highway superintendent
• Gaines – town supervisor, two other town board seats and highway superintendent
• Kendall – town supervisor, two other town board seats and highway superintendent
• Murray – town supervisor, three other town board seats
• Ridgeway – town supervisor, two other town board seats and town justice
• Shelby – town supervisor, two other town board seats, town clerk, town justice and highway superintendent
• Yates – town supervisor, two other town board seats, town clerk and highway superintendent

Press Release, Supportive Care of Orleans

ALBION – The Burger King in Albion will be accepting donations during the month of February for Supportive Care of Orleans

Mark Cammilleri, owner of the Albion Burger King, met with his staff about what nonprofit they wanted to support, and they all agreed that they wanted to give back to Orleans County.

Barb, one of the main employees who works the drive through, suggested the local hospice in Albion.

“We’ve donated to different charities in the past, including Mark’s brother’s involvement with C.A.R.H.A. (Christian Action Relief for Haiti). We decided, why not do something in our own community that will directly help Orleans County?”

Shelby Hollenback, Burger King manager, and her husband printed off the Supportive Care of Orleans logo and set up the donation box for the drive through.

Every month, Mark Cammilleri gives a check to the hospice based on the donations they received. Many times, Cammilleri matches the amount as well. Starting Feb. 1, the Burger King will be having a drive through donate-a-thon for Supportive Care of Orleans.

“We were originally going to do it just for Valentine’s Day, but we decided to start Feb. 1,” Hollenbeck said.

Supportive Care of Orleans is overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity Mark and his staff have shown, said by Julia Alt, development coordinator at Supportive Care of Orleans. Donations from this fundraiser will go directly to help the patients and families served by hospice.

MURRAY – The Town of Murray’s proposed solar law includes four tiers for projects which differs from most of the local towns which divvy the projects into two tiers.

Murray officials have been working on the proposed law for about a year, code enforcement officer Mylynda Kuba said during last week’s Orleans County Planning Board meeting.

Murray is proposing the following tiers:

• Tier 1 (Capacity up to 25 kW) – Permitted in all zoning districts and exempt from site plan review. They could be roof mounted or ground mounted.

• Tier 2 (Capacity up to 1 megawatt and which generate no more than 100 percent of the electricity consumed on the site over the previous 12 months) – Permitted in all zoning districts as accessory structures and subject to site plan review; view minimized from adjacent properties; requires a landscape plan.

• Tier 3 (Capacity up to 5 megawatts and up to 40 acres in size) – Issuance of special use permit and site plan review, and permitted in residential/agricultural and industrial zones; must complete a study to be submitted to local airports for encroachment issues; shall be screened from adjoining uses and any roadway.

• Tier 4 (projects not included in tiers 1, 2 or 3) – Issuance of special use permit and site plan review, and permitted in residential/agricultural and industrial zones; eligible for solar systems PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) and will require a host community agreement fee; same restrictions and requirements as a tier 3 system but with additional requirements including an agricultural impact statement to determine impact on agriculture in town and community; economic impact study to determine economic impact of project on town; and proposal for host community agreement that reflect large-scale impacts of the project.

Kuba, the town’s code officer, said no current solar projects have been submitted to the town, but she said many farmers are being approached about projects.

The town’s proposed code establishes regulations and an application process for projects of all sizes. Kuba said the rules from the town give farmers and larger land owners options to host projects with fewer regulations than going through the state process.

Murray’s law doesn’t address larger battery storage systems for solar. Kuba said town officials want more information on large battery storage projects before establishing regulations.

The town’s law also addresses solar projects that are abandoned or deemed inoperative. Those systems, regardless of size, shall be decommissioned and removed at the owner’s expense.

The County Planning Board recommending Murray approve the proposed regulations.

Photo and information from Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

LOCKPORT – Today at 4:25 a.m., the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division received a 9-1-1 call reporting a reckless driver speeding in the Woodlands, Mobile Home Community.

As deputies were checking the area, a second 9-1-1 caller reported a vehicle had crashed into a home at 435 Knotty Pine Drive.

Upon investigation, deputies arrested the operator Dylan S. West, 21, of the City of Lockport. He was charged with driving while intoxicated (misdemeanor), driving while intoxicated .08% or  more (misdemeanor), speed not reasonable or prudent (violation), and failure to use designated lane (violation), and remanded to the Niagara County Correctional Facility awaiting centralized arraignment.

There were no injuries reported by any of the occupants of the vehicle or home. At this time, there is no estimate of damage to the home.

Press Release, National Agriculture Statistics Service

File photo by Tom Rivers: Apples are outside the Lake Ontario Fruit packing facility on Ridge Road in Gaines.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reminds our nation’s farmers and ranchers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Feb. 6. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.

Last month, NASS mailed the Census of Agriculture questionnaires to every known ag producer in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Conducted just once every five years, the ag census provides a complete account of the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by federal law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113.

The same law requires NASS to keep all individual operations’ information confidential, use the data for statistical purposes only, and publish the data in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation.

“By participating in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, producers show the value and importance of American agriculture,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “This nation owes a lot to our farmers and ranchers for providing safe and abundant food, feed, fiber, and more. To tell this story, we need to hear from all of our farmers and ranchers, no matter how big or small their part of agriculture. If you have already responded, thank you. If not, I encourage you to respond today.”

The Census of Agriculture remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and U.S. territory. U.S. farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included as well as Puerto Rico farm operations which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $500 or more of agricultural products in the ag census year.

“It is important that every producer respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture so that they are represented and reflected in these influential data,” said Hamer. “These statistics will directly impact producers for years. Without their input, our hardworking ag producers risk being underserved.”

Producers who have submitted their completed ag censuses may disregard any additional ag census letters and forms. Whether producers responded online or by mail, they can verify their reports were received by going to agcounts.usda.gov, entering their survey codes, and checking the submitted date under the status column of the My Surveys tab. The status update is not always immediate. The update can take a few minutes up to several days, especially if the questionnaire was returned by mail.

NASS will release the results of the ag census in 2024. Visit nass.usda.gov/agcensus, for more information.

Editor’s Note: The 2017 agricultural census showed farm revenues in New York totaling $5,369,212,000 in 2017. That was down slightly from the $5,415,125,000 in 2012.

In Orleans County, farm products sold for $155.3 million in 2017. That was up 3.3 percent over 5 years from the $150.3 million in 2012 for sales of fruit, vegetables, milk, livestock and other farm products. The 2012 figure was a 48.8 percent jump from the $101.0 million recorded in 2007, according to the Agricultural Census.

Agriculture is Orleans County’s leading industry. The 2017 Ag Census counted 498 farms in the county, which was up from the 487 in 2012. (It was 554 in 2007.)

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Senators Dean Murray and Jack Martins today penned a letter calling upon Governor Kathy Hochul to include support for our small businesses in the Executive Budget. The success of our businesses throughout the state is a critical component to our state thriving economically.

“Today I stand with my Senate Republican colleagues in calling on Governor Hochul to include critically important support for our small businesses in the Executive budget,” Ortt said. “The Covid-19 pandemic caused a great deal of harm to small businesses which are the backbone of our economy. Small business owners and their employees should not be held as bargaining chips to be traded behind closed doors. They must have the unequivocal support of Albany.”

In a letter delivered to the Governor today, Senate Republicans requested:

• Establishing a fixed contribution from employers to the unemployment insurance fund as well as a solvency fund that could draw on other state revenues, settlement dollars or unencumbered Federal funds;
• Designating a portion of the more than $10 billion in discretionary reserves included in the FY 2023 Enacted Budget to this solvency fund to first pay the Interest Assessment Surcharge levied on employers and also offset a portion of UI tax increases assessed against small businesses; and
• Excluding claims for unemployment insurance payments, as a result of COVID-19 or another government mandated closure, from being used as part of the calculation of an employer’s experience rating.