By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2023 at 7:49 am
The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory until 10 a.m. Saturday for Orleans, Genesee, Niagara and Erie counties.
The wind chills are expected to be as low as 15 to 20 degrees below zero.
“The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes,” the Weather Service said. “This is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder.”
Today is forecast for a high of 8 degrees with some snow showers likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Tonight the temperatures are forecast to fall to minus-2 degrees.
The highs on the weekend include 26 on Saturday and 39 on Sunday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2023 at 6:41 pm
‘It’s just magical’ – library director Betty Sue Miller
Photos by Tom Rivers: This painting shows three raccoons working on a concoction while following a recipe in the popular cooking book, Joy of Cooking. It is mounted on the end of shelf with books in the Home and Family section. The cooking raccoons are one of six new paintings at Hoag Library created by Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward.
ALBION – Walk into Hoag Library and there is an eye-catching painting of a fox reading a book, The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. It is mounted on the wall between two book shelves of popular new fiction books. The fox’s eyes look up from the page and make contact with the viewer.
Round the corner and there is another painting near the printer across from the tables of computers. That painting shows a skunk engrossed in Dale Carnegie’s self-improvement book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Stacey Kirby Steward, an Albion native who lives in Spencerport, created six paintings of animals engaged in reading. She thought of the books to pair with the animals, with some suggestions from former children’s librarian Theresa Gaylard.
A grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) funded the project.
Hoag Library executive director Betty Sue Miller, left, and Stacey Kirby Steward hold her painting of a beaver building a dam. The beaver consults “Cathedral” by David Macaulay. In this critically acclaimed book, Macaulay uses pen and ink drawings to show the construction of a great medieval cathedral, the imaginary Cathedral of Chutreaux.
Kirby Steward shows a beaver making an impressive dam with gothic arches. This painting is now mounted over the sink in the children’s library room.
A fox reads The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. This painting is the favorite for Betty Sue Miller, the library director. She likes the fox’s eyes.
Betty Sue Miller, the library director, said the paintings enliven the library, filling spots where you don’t expect to see artwork. They are very pleasant surprises, she said.
“It’s just magical,” Miller said. “Each book fits with the animal.”
Kirby Steward also created a 24-foot-long mural in the main meeting room of swans in flight over a farm field and the Erie Canal, with the Gaines basin Road canal bridge below.
She also design a stained-glass window for the library with a swan. That was a gift from Bill Lattin for when the library opened in July 2012.
Lattin assisted Kirby Steward in installing the paintings today. They were added to walls and book shelves. They are in unusual shapes, especially a 10-inch by 36-inch painting of a bald eagle in a pine tree, reading Frederick Douglass’s autobiography. That painting is next to the biographies near the computer lab.
A skunk seeks self-improvement and reads Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Kirby Steward said she enjoyed thinking of the scenes in the paintings, and how they could be used to add to the library experience at the Hoag.
She received very positive feedback from library users today while she and Lattin mounted them.
She likes that they are located in unexpected places.
“You walk around the corner and you’re surprised,” she said.
There will be a public reception in the near future to celebrate the new paintings. Kirby Steward and Miller also said more could be added in the future showing other animals reading books.
This painting of cardinal rebuilding a nest is at the end of one of the book shelves. It quotes lines from “Surviving” by Maya Angelou.
Where the winds of disappointment
dash my dream house to the ground
and anger, octopus-like wraps its tentacles around my soul
I just stop myself. I stop in my tracks
and look for one thing that can
help me.
A bald eagle reads the autobiography of Frederick Douglass. This painting is 10 inches by 36 inches and is by a shelf in the biography section.
Bill Lattin helped Kirby Steward install the paintings. Lattin said the library features many art pieces. Lattin, a former art teacher at Albion, is pleased to see the library partner with Kirby Steward for one-of-kind art.
Miller said she will submit the project to the American Library Association to highlight for other libraries.
“No other library has this this,” she said. “No other library has someone like Stacey.”
Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a free anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Batavia Town Highway Garage (3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia).
“We encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Genesee and Orleans Counties and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.”
Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.
To save time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.
The next anti-rabies immunization clinics are as follows:
Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)
Thursday, May 18, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 10, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY)
Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 7, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 589-3278 for Orleans County or 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2023 at 3:07 pm
Orleans County Youth Board also wants to honor adults who work and volunteer in service to young people
The Orleans County Youth Board wants to honor local youths for their community service and adults for their work on behalf of children in Orleans County.
The Youth Board each year recognizes about 20 youths for their outstanding community service or if they have taken on an extraordinary role in their family. The nominees should be between 14 and 21. Nominations are due by March 31.
In addition to the youth awards, at least two adults will be honored for their service to young people.
The Helen R. Brinsmaid Memorial Youth Worker Award recognizes a youth-serving professional whose work surpasses normal expectations. The award is open to all youth-serving professionals including administrators, caseworkers, counselors, school personnel, juvenile justice workers and others who work with youth and families.
Four people received the Helen R. Brinsmaid Adult Youth Worker Award in 2022: Heather Jackson, a juvenile probation officer; Annette Finch, who is recently retired as director of community services for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee; and Mike and Cheryl Wertman for their work covering youth sports for the Orleans Hub and the former Journal-Register.
The Eileen Heye Adult Volunteer Recognition Award is given to an adult who provides service as a volunteer to Orleans County youth. The Youth Bureau is looking for nominees who are role models for youths, and give of themselves to better the life of children. This might include working directly with young people through youth groups or organizations or by advocating for youth services.
Last year the Eileen Heye Adult Volunteer Recognition Award was presented to Jaime Allport, a volunteer in the Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program. Allport is at the field on games days, from sunrise to sundown. She keeps track of all the rosters, keeps the stats during the games, and will work the concession stands.
Forms can be downloaded at the Orleans County web site. Click here for more information.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 2 February 2023 at 1:35 pm
Provided photo: OCALS recently held a tutor appreciation luncheon as part of their goal to increase tutors and students. From left are Kathy Punch, community engagement coordinator; and tutors Dennis Seekins, Ann McElwee, Barbara LaBella and Vickie Hutchison.
Orleans County Adult Learning Services, more commonly known as OCALS, is on a mission to grow its organization back to pre-Covid numbers.
OCALS was founded in 2006 by Don and Rose Ruck, then residents of Clarendon, who saw the need for a literacy organization in Orleans County, after Literacy Orleans dissolved and they heard complaints about the need for literacy services in Orleans County.
For the first few years, the organization grew under the sole leadership of volunteers. In recent years, they expanded their services to include not only adults in the community, but school children who were struggling with their reading.
Prior to the pandemic, they had 42 tutors who served 85 people in the county. But when Covid hit in March 2020, the operation basically came to a standstill.
At their annual dinner meeting last September, new president Pam Schuner was introduced, along with Kathy Punch, who was hired as community engagement coordinator. Punch is traveling throughout the county to meet people and make them aware of the need for tutors and students.
Today, they operate with two part-time employees and the rest all volunteers. Along with funding from United Way of Orleans County, they are working to create fundraisers on their own, said Don Colquhoun, vice president and treasurer of the organization.
Their main goal now is to recruit more volunteer tutors and secure more students and adults to serve. To that end, on Jan. 30 OCALS held its first tutor appreciation luncheon. Several individuals recognized were new community engagement coordinator Kathy Punch and tutors Dennis Seekins, Ann McElwee, Barbara LaBella and Vickie Hutchison.
OCALS is gradually getting back to normal. There are now 15 tutors and last year they served 70 people, including community members and school children. This year they are working with students who have trouble reading in Medina and Albion school districts, and plan to be in Lyndonville this month.
They have also been invited to come into Kendall and Holley as soon as they get more tutors. They not only help students in the school, but will do private tutoring outside of school, as well.
Two new board members who recently joined the organization are Jennifer Bansbach and Julie Keller.
Anyone interested in becoming a tutor or who needs tutoring may contact OCALS through Colquhoun by calling (585) 331-1570.
BATAVIA – GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare is beginning to build momentum for the inaugural hands-on career exploration event as organizers announced Platinum Level sponsors at the $5,000 level, including Livingston County Area Chamber Education to Employment, Wyoming County Community Health Services, and United Memorial Medical Center.
It is anticipated that approximately 550 GLOW region students will attend Genesee Community College on March 24. They will learn about exciting career opportunities in the healthcare sector by meeting representatives and professionals from various healthcare organizations.
“We greatly appreciate the support of our sponsors to date as they are integral in making these types of events successful,” said Angela Grouse, Co-Chair, GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “We hope that the commitment of these sponsors will encourage other healthcare organizations to consider participating and supporting an event that can help them address their workforce needs.”
“Business and educational organizations and economic development agencies from across the region are once again collaborating to provide an incredible opportunity for GLOW region students to learn about good-paying careers right in their own backyard,” said Karyn Winters, Co-Chair, GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare.
Sponsorships for the March 24 event are available at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000), and Bronze ($500) levels.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2023 at 8:16 am
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2023 at 2:55 pm
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2023 at 8:53 am
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.”
BATAVIA – GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare is beginning to build momentum for the inaugural hands-on career exploration event as organizers announced Platinum Level sponsors at the $5,000 level, including Livingston County Area Chamber Education to Employment, Wyoming County Community Health Services, and United Memorial Medical Center.
