Provided photo: State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt is surrounded by members of the Republican Conference at the Million Dollar Staircase in Albany.
Press Release, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – The New York State Senate Republican Conference on Monday announced its “Rescue New York” 2023 legislative agenda.
The agenda includes a broad range of common-sense policies to reverse the alarming consequences of “One-Party Rule,” which conference says includes a drastic decline in public safety, a depleted workforce, high taxes, business-crippling regulations, record inflation and increased costs of goods and nation-leading population loss.
“Economic activity has decreased, crime has increased, and people are leaving our state in droves,” said Conference Leader Rob Ortt of North Tonawanda. “We continue to struggle with the economic aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with record inflation and increased costs on everything from groceries to gas and home heating fuels, but One-Party Rule continues to fail to address these important issues.”
The “Rescue New York” 2023 Legislative Agenda is a comprehensive plan to improve public safety, ease the financial burden on middle-class families and small business owners, and restore the quality of life in communities throughout New York State. Components of the Rescue New York plan focus on:
A Safer New York
Restore common sense to our criminal justice system to prevent crime and protect New Yorkers;
Increase efforts and investments to end the opioid and mental health epidemics; and
Support and protect our seniors.
A Stronger New York
Expand economic opportunity and strengthen our workforce;
Invest in infrastructure for the 21st century; and
Help our veterans and military families thrive.
A More Affordable New York
Cut the Empire State’s highest-in-the-nation tax burden and control government spending;
Reduce the cost of living for families and all residents;
Improve New York’s worst-in-the-nation business climate; and
Enact climate policies that ensure access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy.
A More Free New York
Provide a high quality education to all students;
Uphold the rights of New Yorkers; and
Restore accountability in State government.
For more details on the “Rescue New York” agenda, click here.
“We must prioritize making New York safer, stronger, more affordable and more free for every resident,” Ortt said. “Our 2023 Rescue New York agenda addresses these critical areas and will help put our state back on the right path.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2023 at 9:33 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board voted tonight to change the traffic light at the intersection of West Avenue and West Oak Orchard Street.
It will soon become a flashing red four-way stop. The village will add four stop signs at the intersection.
Residents at the meeting tonight spoke in a public hearing in favor of the four-way stop, saying the light is slow to change from red to green, and many vehicles speed up to get through the light and not have to wait.
Mat Mosher said traffic flows better at a nearby intersection that the village made a four-way stop. The board in October 2020 made Gwinn and West Oak Orchard a 4-way stop.
“There will be less speeding if they know they have to stop and not try to beat the light,” Mosher said.
Nancy Palmer also spoke at the hearing and urged the board to approve the four-way stop, saying many drivers try to avoid that intersection.
A letter from resident Gary Lamar urged the change. He lives near the intersection and said many motorists, including truck drivers, race through the intersection to avoid being stuck at the red light.
Board members said they expect traffic will flow easier in that part of the village. Some of the traffic in that area has been diverted since the school district put in a road linking the campus, drawing some vehicles off village streets.
ALEXANDER – Diana Padilla, research project manager at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Substance Use Disorders, Columbia University Medical Center, will be the keynote speaker at a “Reducing Stigma in Our Communities” training in the Village of Alexander.
The session is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Alexander Recreation & Banquet Facility on Route 98.
Hosted by the GOW Opioid Task Force and Genesee County Health Department, the training is designed to help healthcare and social services professionals, as well as members of the general public, learn how to identify and address stigma surrounding opioid use disorder and improve access to services in the Genesee Region.
Padilla has worked in the field of behavioral health for more than 24 years. Her experience includes service provision to communities with substance use, HIV/HCV, trauma and stress, and other psychosocial conditions.
In her capacity as a research project manager, she develops curriculum and is a senior staff trainer for the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction/Prevention Technology Transfer Centers.
Using a cultural and recovery-oriented perspective, Ms. Padilla instructs on how to enhance strategies and interventions to best engage and meet the needs of substance using communities, LGBTQ+ people, diverse and other traditionally underserved populations.
Her areas of expertise include culturally and linguistically responsive services, trauma informed care, community disparities, racial stigma, social determinants of health, and affirming and inclusive best practices with clinical, non-clinical and peer support professionals.
Registration deadline for the free training is Jan. 12. Lunch will be provided. To register, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2023 at 3:36 pm
KENDALL – The Town Board is giving the community a chance to comment on two proposed laws to regulate short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs and Vrbo.
The 7 p.m. hearing on Tuesday has been moved from the town hall to the Kendall Junior-Senior High School at 16887 Roosevelt Highway (Route 18).
The town is trying to regulate the short-term rentals after many complaints from neighbors of some of the sites. Neighbors have concerns about noise at night from parties, trespassing and garbage that isn’t picked up.
The town doesn’t want to allow any new short-term rentals in the waterfront districts north of the Lake Ontario State Parkway. The existing rentals, about 8 to 10, would be grandfathered in and could continue to operate.
Kendall is proposing an annual $1,000 annual licensing fee with the town, and wants to require those property owners have a $3 million liability insurance.
The Orleans County Planning Board last month voted against the proposed regulations, with some of the members saying Kendall went too far in the proposal and left some matters as too vague, such as what is the threshold for being too noisy.
The short-term rentals have become more popular since the start of the Covid pandemic, especially in 2020 and 2021 with many people from cities renting homes for weekend getaways.
Some of the highlights of the proposed laws in Kendall include:
Kendall will continue to allow the pre-existing short-term rentals, but will prohibit them at a location if they are discontinued for six months.
Transient occupancy considered when living or sleeping accommodation provided for compensation for less than 30 continuous calendar days
No new transient or short-term rentals allowed in the waterfront districts, excluding bed and breakfasts which require a separate special use permit.
All applications for a short-term rental license need to include site plans for the property with parking spaces, property lines, driveways and outdoor gathering areas, such as patios and decks.
The town also wants to see floor plans containing the areas for transient space, a list of the owner(s) of the property as well as the manager with contact information, the number of permanent residents at the site (if any), the number of available parking spaces for transient use, a copy of the house rules provided to transients, and a list of neighbors within 150 feet of the property.
The short-term rental owner needs to pay $1,000 to apply for the license and then $1,000 for each annual renewal.
The town can enact penalties for violations that could include improper property maintenance – exposed garbage or litter on premises, failure to return trash containers to their storage location on the day of pickup, failure to maintain property or grounds in a neat and orderly fashion, parking vehicles in undesignated spots such as the lawn, parties that exceed the number of people authorized to be there in the license, failure to adhere to quiet hour restrictions between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., occurrence of excessive noise or nuisances at any other time, and occurrences of transients trespassing on other properties.
A maximum of two people per sleeping or no more than 8 people total in the STR.
No recreational vehicles, campers, trailers or motor vehicles larger than a one-ton pickup truck, other than trailers for boats or jet skis to be launched at nearby ramps.
The locations used as rentals shall not have exterior signage indicating they are a rental. The short-term rentals “shall from all exterior indications be indistinguishable from any conventional dwelling.”
Owners of the rentals need to provide proof to the town of general liability insurance of at least $3 million with respect to personal injury or death, and at least $300,000 with respect to property damage.
The owner needs to provide proof to the town that the septic system is in good working order and has been pumped in the last three years (for sites not on a central sewer system.)
Any violations can result in maximum fines of $3,000, with each continued violation a separate and additional offense.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2023 at 2:41 pm
AAA is reporting that the average price for regular unleaded is up 6 cents nationally to $3.28 a gallon.
In New York the average price for regular unleaded is at $3.452 a gallon today, compared to $3.395 a week ago, $3.638 a month ago and $3.485 a year ago. The diesel price in the state is at $5.319 today, compared to $5.326 a week ago, $5.670 a month ago and $3.730 a year ago.
In Orleans County, the average price is at $3.580 a gallon today, which is down slightly from the $3.584 a week ago.
The average prices in WNY counties includes:
Orleans, $3.580
Genesee, $3.310
Livingston, $3.466
Wyoming, $3.458
Monroe, $3.455
Niagara, $3.356
Erie, $3.449
Chautauqua, $3.613
Cattaraugus, $3.527
Allegany, $3.569
AAA issued this statement today about gas prices:
“The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by six cents. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, gas demand is on the rise amid milder weather. However, the current rate is lower than a year ago. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks fell. Tighter supply and higher gasoline demand are pushing pump prices higher. If demand remains robust and stocks remain tight, drivers could continue to see pump prices increase.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2023 at 11:55 am
ALBION – A new organization has formed to help local residents preserve the environment and reduce their carbon footprint.
Green Orleans will be leading a meeting on Jan. 26 about municipal composting. That session at 11:30 a.m. will be at Hoag Library in Albion. Brian Murphy from NOCO Enterprises LLC will lead the discussion that is open to the community.
Green Orleans is a grassroots organization open to residents seeking a more sustainable lifestyle. The group would like to offer monthly programs.
“We understand that most of these ‘small actions’ may not make a major difference, but we do believe that the more of us who try, the greater the difference we can make,” said Tom Robinson, one of the leaders of the group.
Robinson is a retired school counselor at the Medina school district, and a long-time Medina resident.
“I have gotten involved with this group as I have become more concerned about the environmental changes in recent years and the potential adverse effects these changes may have on my grandchildren,” Robinson said. “My responsibility is to do whatever I can as an individual to assure the inhabitability of our area and the world in which we live, as extreme as that may sound. I hope that others who are so concerned will also do what little bit that they can do as well.”
Green Orleans suggests the following simple steps to help reduce environment impacts:
Consider making fewer short trips in your vehicle by planning better and combining your errands. For example, going to the grocery store, pharmacy and gas station in one trip. This may reduce your mileage and the amount of your carbon emissions.
Consider ride sharing for meetings, events, church, etc.
When you go out to eat, take your own reusable container for any leftover food
Take reusable bags into all types of stores – not just the grocery store
If you are interested in becoming part of Green Orleans, the group suggests attending the Jan. 26 meeting.
For those who are interested, but cannot attend the daytime meetings, you are encouraged to contact either Sister Dolores O’Dowd at sda_albion@rochester.rr.com or Kim Remley at 585-589-5053 (leave message). Robinson urges people to share other ideas on sustainability.
Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
WATERFORD – The New York State Canal Corporation, through the Reimagine the Canals initiative, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are offering competitive grant funding to support tourism and recreation along the New York State Canal System including canal waterways and Canalway Trail.
The 2023 program will support tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements, and events. Applications are open now through Feb. 24.
Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, not-for-profit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes.
The grant program includes two funding categories: Event Support, with an award range of $500 to $3,000, and Tourism Infrastructure & Amenity Support, with an award range of $5,000 to $24,000. Applicants may apply for one or both categories.
“New York’s Canals and their surrounding communities have become destinations for local residents and tourists seeking unique recreational activities and provide opportunities to explore all of what our state has to offer, and it is essential to provide support to ensure continued growth and improvements,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “Through this grant program, we are excited to renew our commitment to preserve and expand all that our shared waterways and trails offer and look forward to seeing visitors enjoying the flourishing Canal System as we continue to build on its role as a cornerstone of the New York experience.”
In 2022, 38 nonprofit organizations and municipalities received NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $259,300. The grants supported 11 tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 27 events.
Interested applicants are invited to attend an informational Q&A session on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 10am. For details, Q&A registration, and online application, click here.
“Investing in recreational amenities and heritage-based events is essential to the Corridor’s health, both in terms of improving residents’ quality of life and by facilitating the economic impacts of tourism. We are pleased to collaborate with the NYS Canal Corporation on this initiative and align our revitalization strategies,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Provided photos: Master Gardener Mark Tucker has extensive vegetable gardening experience and will be offering his Master Your Garden class on Tomatoes on June 3.
Press Release, Master Gardeners of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
KNOWLESVILLE – The Master Gardeners of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension have finalized the lineup for their annual educational series, “Master Your Garden”.
The classes are all taught by Master Gardener volunteers or local professionals. Each class focuses on a different topic related to gardening. Topics range from important concepts in sustainability (‘Less is More Lawn Care’ and ‘Functional Hedgerows’), to gardening for food (‘Edible Landscaping’ and ‘Tomatoes’) and flowers (‘Summer Bulbs’ and ‘Language of Flowers’).
Jena Buckwell, a long-time volunteer with the Master Gardener program, will be teaching the first two classes in the series – ‘Wonderful Weeds’ on Feb. 4 and ‘Functional Hedgerows’ on March 4. Both classes will focus on ways to look at common landscape elements through a different lens, to see benefits and resources that are often overlooked.
“I chose these topics because I think that expanding our views on where and how we provide for our own needs is important,” Buckwell explained. “Growing plants for our own immediate needs – whether it’s to feed ourselves, grow our own heat, or provide building and craft materials – doesn’t need to be mutually exclusive from our goals of providing habitat for wildlife, protecting water and air quality, or from having something beautiful to look at. It can happen in the same space if we take notice of the resources right under our noses and get a bit creative with how we interact with the landscapes that we are part of.”
Jena Buckwell is one of the most frequent speakers in the Master Your Garden series, offering thought-provoking and thorough classes to the public.
The ‘Wonderful Weeds’ class will explore ways to shift the often unrealistic goal of complete elimination of weeds to understanding a bit more of what certain weeds might tell us about the growing conditions and soil health, as well as embracing the positive aspects of weeds such as pollinator food and shelter, human food, erosion control, etc.
In the ‘Functional Hedgerows’ class, Buckwell will highlight ideas and tips of how to manage existing hedgerows or implement new ones that offer advantages to humans, wildlife, and the ecosystem as a whole.
That same concept of incorporating plants with various benefits into existing landscapes or deliberate gardens is echoed by Master Gardener Kristina Gabalski who is leading the Edible Landscapes class with fellow Master Gardener Volunteer Lydia Fernandez on October 7th.
“I just think it’s so interesting that plants serve so many different functions.” Gabalski said. “You can have a very visually pleasing landscape but also reap a harvest from the same space. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, seeds, wild edibles – there are just so many levels of value that plants can offer to us.”
In addition to the practical benefits of plants, many gardeners appreciate the joy and aesthetic value of a beautiful flower garden. In the ‘Language of Flowers’ class on Aug. 5, Master Gardener Brenda Radzinski will touch on the history of how people in the Victorian Times would assign meanings or sentiments to specific flowers or herbs and then arrange bouquets or nosegays that would convey a hidden message to the recipient. Participants will be able to make their own bouquet to take home.
Sue Starkweather Miller shows how to dig up Dahlia tubers in the 2022 Master Your Garden class on the popular flower.
Participants who attended the ‘Dahlia’ class in in the 2022 MYG class series can further their knowledge in the ‘Summer Bulbs’ class on April 1. Master Gardener Sue Starkweather Miller will be teaching participants how to get a head start on non-hardy garden favorites like Dahlias, Caladium and Canna Lilies.
“I am a big fan of dahlias, which can take 100-plus days to begin blooming. I like to start them early because we have a shorter growing season for summer blooming bulbs and tubers,” said Starkweather Miller. “I enjoy this process and thought a class on how to jump start plants indoors might be helpful and interesting to home gardeners.”
Always popular presenter Michael Klepp will also be leading two classes this season – ‘Mason Bees’ on July 1 and ‘Plan, Prepare, Plant and Prosper with Trees and Shrubs’ on Sept. 2, and local business owner Kathleen Contrino of CW Native Plant Farm in Akron will be teaching all about native plants and planting seeds at the end of the growing season in her Winter Sowing class on November 4th.
“I’m so excited about this year’s class lineup, “ said MG Volunteer coordinator Katie Oakes, “There’s something of interest for every kind of gardener. Our volunteers are so knowledgeable and they each have their own passions and niche experiences that they want to share with the public.”
For a full list of the classes with descriptions, visit https://orleans.cce.cornell.edu/. All classes are held the first Saturday of the month, February through November, at 10am at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 State Rt 31 in Albion, NY. Optional $5 donation per class. For more details or to register for any class, please call 585-798-4265 or email Katie Oakes at klo54@cornell.edu.
The Language of Flowers class has been popular in the past, with participants choosing flowers and herbs based on their Victorian meaning to gather a bouquet with a hidden message.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 January 2023 at 5:30 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Scott Wengewicz started as the Shelby town supervisor on Dec. 13. He is pictured after Thursday night’s organizational meeting for the town, where appointments and salaries were set for 2023.
SHELBY – Scott Wengewicz, the new Shelby town supervisor, doesn’t have much interest in being involved in politics.
But he is willing to serve his town and community.
Wengewicz was appointed Shelby’s town supervisor in Dec. 13. He applied for the position after Jeff Smith stepped down as town supervisor on Oct. 12. Steve Seitz Sr. then filled in as acting town supervisor for the next two months.
Wengewicz, 59, is retired from a 30-year career as a Border Patrol agent. He has opened two businesses in downtown Medina. Mystic Dragon’s Lair at 339 North Main St. started in February 2020, offering quartz, gemstones, crystals and other products.
In November, he opened Patriot Guns next to Mystic Dragon. Patriot Guns sells guns, ammunition, camping supplies, hiking equipment and freeze-dried foods. His daughter-in-law Cassandra Wengewicz manages the two sites.
Wengewicz also is a commercial beekeeper with 480 beehives.
He didn’t pay too much attention to Shelby town business until late summer with reports that Borrego Energy proposed two wind turbines at 633 feet tall on land owned by the Smith family on Route 63. Jeff Smith was the town supervisor at the time and recused himself from town deliberations on the matter.
The issue has proven been divisive in Shelby and drew packed crowds to town meetings, especially a hearing on Sept. 13.
Wengewicz watched that hearing through a video that was livestreamed. That hearing on Sept. 13 was adjourned and needs to be reconvened. Wengewicz wants to address the issue again but not until there is a full five-member Town Board. Ryan Wilkins, the former deputy town supervisor, also resigned soon after that hearing which was about possible environmental issues and impacts with the turbine project.
The board will soon do interviews for people who expressed interest and applied for the vacant councilman position.
“We want to get it done as soon as possible,” Wengewicz said about filling the vacancy.
Once there is a full five-member board, Wengewicz said he expects that public hearing will be completed and a review of the project will go forward.
The board also needs to fill another opening with the resignation of Dawn Keppler as town justice on Dec. 2 after being in the role since 1999.
Wengewicz said he wanted to address one of the main complaints about residents during the meetings about the turbines. Many said they didn’t know about the project and other issues facing the town.
Shelby now has a Facebook page for the town. As of this afternoon it has 653 followers. Wengewicz and Shelby officials used the page to provide frequent updates during the blizzard from Dec. 23-25.
The town also has an messaging system where people can sign up for texts and emails about emergencies or other important notices in the town. Click here for more information.
A redesigned town web site also is nearly complete, Wengewicz said.
He is planning to be available to meet with community members at the Medina Senior Center and perhaps some Saturdays at the town hall, just so people can meet him and share some of their concerns. He wants to have those meet-and-greet opportunities because there wasn’t a public campaign for him to become the town supervisor.
“No one got to vote for me,” he said.
Wengewicz already has had one surprise since taking office. He didn’t know there was any pay for the position. It comes with a $10,878 salary.
Shelby is still down one board member and will soon try to fill the vacancy following the resignation of Ryan Wilkins. Pictured from left (going over resolutions at Thursday’s meeting) include Town Clerk Darlene Rich, Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz and Town Board members Steve Seitz, John Pratt and Ed Zelazny.
The Town Board approved appointments during the organizational meeting on Jan. 5, including:
Steve Seitz as deputy town supervisor.
Miranda Bennett as bookkeeper/confidential secretary to the town supervisor, human resources manager and IT program manager.
Dan Wolfe as code enforcement officer.
Bill Bacon as acting highway superintendent in the absence of Dale Root, the highway superintendent.
Dave Moden as fire warden.
Debbie Taylor as fire inspector.
Dale Root to serve as cemetery administrator of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Don Lonnen as cemetery administrator of Millville Cemetery.
Claudell Grimes as dog control officer.
Christopher Woodruff as water superintendent.
Darlene Rich as marriage officer, tax collector, registrar of vital records and records management officer.
Dorothy Nolan as fair housing officer, deputy town clerk, deputy tax collector, deputy registrar of vital statistics and records management clerk.
Claude Grimes, Paul Gray and Mike Reese as part-time town and court constables.
Kirk Myhill as Planning Board chairman.
Craig Lacy as Zoning Board chairman.
Jeff Clark as town attorney.
Councilman Steve Seitz as the department coordinator to the highway department and the liaison to the Orleans County Legislature.
Councilman John Pratt as department coordinator to the town court judges, as liaison to the Village of Medina, and also will represent Shelby on the Joint Youth Commission.
Councilman Ed Zelazny will serve on the Ambulance Committee and also the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Board.
Supervisor Scott Wengewicz as department coordinator to the town clerk.
Lake Country Media as the official newspaper.
Bank of Castile as the official depository for the Town of Shelby.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 January 2023 at 12:13 pm
Tim Petry, president of Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, presents a plaque for 50 years of membership to Rick Quackenbush.
SHELBY – The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s 54th annual installation banquet Saturday night was one of tears – tears of joy for celebrating two member’s 50 years as a firefighter and tears when reflecting on a fatal house fire to which firefighters responded in June.
Dale Watts was master of ceremonies for the evening, which began with a welcome from company president Tim Petry and introduction of invited guests and local dignitaries.
The fire company and auxiliary each lost a member during 2022. A brief ceremony paid tribute to Gary Williams and Gwen Way.
Each also acquired one new member during the past year.
Howard Watts presided at ceremonies installing new officers for 2023. Executive board officers are Tim Petry, president; John Palmer, vice president; Kirk Myhill, treasurer; Tiffany Petry, secretary; Dale Watts, sergeant-at-arms; Karl Haist Jr., chaplain; Phil Keppler, assistant chaplain; and Kali Sturtevant, steward.
Trustees elected are Bill Luckman, three years; Andy Benz, two years; and Gary Lamar, one year.
The Executive Board and Firematic officers are sworn in by Howard Watts during Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s 54th annual installation banquet Saturday night.
Firematic officers are David Moden, chief; Scott Petry, deputy chief; Zach Petry, assistant chief; Crystal Luckman, firematic captain; Hunter Sturtevant, firematic lieutenant; and Tiffany Petry, EMS captain.
New officers of the Ladies’ Auxiliary are Elaine Watts, president; Patricia Fuller, vice president; Robin Watts, secretary; Lori Myhill, treasurer; Marion Fry, chaplain; Kali Sturtevant, trustee for one year; and Mary Herbert, trustee for two years.
Members of Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s Ladies Auxiliary take the oath of office during the installation banquet Saturday night.
Awards presentations began with Tim Petry choosing Bill Luckman as recipient of his President’s Award.
Outgoing chief Jason Watts thanked Dale Banker for his dedication as Emergency Management coordinator and congratulated his replacement, Justin Niederhofer. Then Watts announced his choice for the Chief’s Award.
Outgoing Shelby Fire Chief Jason Watts, left, congratulates David Moden, newly elected chief who was recipient of the Chief’s Award.
“Thirty years ago, David Moden presented me with the Chief’s Award and tonight I present it to him,” Jason Watts said.
He went on to explain he had intended to give up the position as chief last year when he accepted a job as head of Medina’s Department of Public Works.
“I thought I could manage both,” Jason said. “When I needed him, David stepped in and picked up the slack.”
He also commended Zach Petry, Scott Petry, and Tiffany Petry, who kept equipment and training up to par.
Jason went on to describe the heartbreak when the department responded to a fire June 21, in which a young man lost his life.
“We got the call there was a house fire on Freeman Road, and people were trapped and jumping out windows,” Watts said. “We had two trucks on the road within minutes and others from Medina. Everyone on our team knew we did everything we could, yet a 22-year-old perished.”
This was the first fatal house fire Shelby had responded to since 1978, Watts said.
“I was never prouder to be chief of this fire company than during our debriefing after that,” he said. “Tim was in charge of the debriefing. We always claim to be a big family, and it was never more evident than on that day.”
Representatives lined up Saturday night to read proclamations to Howard Watts, third from left, in honor of his 50 years as a member of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. At left is Bill Eick, Orleans County Legislature; Andy Polecki, FASNY; Scott Wengewicz, Shelby town supervisor; Howard Watts; State Senator Rob Ortt; and Eileen Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
He went on to say that what makes a great chief are the firefighters underneath him.
“We are so fortunate to have so many past chiefs to lean on – to offer advice and to look up to,” he said. “One of those people is my dad (Howard Watts), who has shared his knowledge for 50 years. He’s the reason I was convinced to stay on as chief another year, so I could present him with his 50-year plaque.”
The two shared a tearful hug as Jason presented his father with a plaque of the American flag and Shelby Fire Company insignia. Later, all his family gathered around to present Howard with a large mounted gold axe.
Tim Petry asked all the members of the Watts family to stand up. He said all the Watts are always there for any event, and Howard has held every office, except secretary.
A second firefighter, Rick Quackenbush, was also presented a plaque for his 50 years as a Shelby volunteer firefighter.
(Left) Shelby Ladies Auxiliary President Elaine Watts, left, recognized Lori Myhill with the President’s Award at the annual installation banquet Saturday night. (Right) Elaine Watts presents a $5,000 check from the Ladies Auxiliary to president Tim Petry and newly-elected chief David Moden.
Both Watts and Quackenbush received proclamations from representatives of the town of Shelby, Orleans County Legislature, FASNY, Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
Ladies’ Auxiliary president Elaine Watts thanked all the ladies and men who helped during the year. She said they are always looking for new members. She chose Lori Myhill for her President’s Award, and also presented a certificate for 20 years membership to Marybeth Koch.
Elaine then presented a check for $5,000 from the Auxiliary to David Moden and Tim Petry for the firemen.
Tim Petry also commended Dale Root, Shelby highway superintendent, and his crew of Rusty Hofmeister and Bill Wolter for their work in clearing the roads during the blizzard from Dec. 23-25.
Others who were acknowledged were Steve Seitz, who has chaired the annual gun raffle fundraiser for 30 years; outgoing officers, Dawn Petry and Joe Kyle; Jay Grasso, grant writer, as “Friend of the Fire Company” and Crystal Luckman who chaired the banquet.
Tim Petry, right, commends the Shelby Highway Department for their efforts during the recent blizzard. From left in back are Rusty Hofmeister, highway superintendent Dale Root and Bill Wolter. Seated in front are Dale Watts and Dawn Petry.
Reporting to the Orleans County Board of Supervisors in 1923, County Executive Nurse, Grace B. Gillette, reported 18 deaths due to tuberculosis in the county from October 1922 – October 1923.
One of the oldest known human diseases, tuberculosis was so named for the nodules or tubercles which developed on the tissues, especially the lungs. Victims suffered from debilitating lung pain, hacking, bloody coughs and fatigue.
In 1882, scientist Robert Koch discovered that the disease was not genetic or hereditary but was caused by a highly contagious myobacterium tuberculosis. A public health campaign was soon launched to educate the public on preventive measures such as covering one’s mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing.
Nurse Gillette, a graduate of Rochester General Hospital, had been appointed as Secretary of the Orleans County Tuberculosis Association in October 1920, to conduct a tuberculosis survey of the county, present educational programs on the disease and promote sales of Christmas seals.
Her report to the Board of Supervisors in 1923 reflected her diligent work towards the prevention and elimination of this debilitating disease in Orleans County:
Visits to homes of deaths regarding disinfection: 12
Cases of tuberculosis visited: 34
Visits to homes on these cases: 210
She noted that nine patients had been placed in sanitoria. Since Orleans County did not have a sanitarium, patients went to either the state facility at Raybrook, the Niagara County Sanitorium, the Cattaraugus County Sanitorium or the Ontario County Sanitorium.
In addition to co-operating with physicians, social service agents and the Dept. of Health Sanitary Supervisor, the County Tuberculosis Nurse also had to employ tact and discretion in her work. A 1922 memorandum which outlined procedures for County Tuberculosis Nurses advised them to be aware of “the present status of anti-tuberculosis work in the county, local opposition, if any, and cautionary instructions.”
Nurses were also advised to wait for several days or a week before visiting a home immediately after the death or burial of a patient.
Nurse Gillette worked diligently on the educational component of her duties. In the course of 1923, she spoke at 14 Grange meetings, 27 Mother’s Meetings, and held 34 showings of health films at local playhouses and conducted the Modern Health Crusade (a health club) in 84 rural schools. She proposed that forthcoming Christmas seal money should be used for a film machine which could be used in rural districts to show the excellent health films produced by the National Tuberculosis Organization.
It is also interesting to note the role of public schools in this public health initiative 100 years ago. Nurse Gillette noted that all the schools in the county were keeping the Tuberculosis Association Weight Charts on the walls and most teachers were keeping a monthly record, while all students had been weighed at least three times. Loss of weight had been determined to be a symptom of the disease in children. She also noted that 38 rural schools had begun to provide warm lunches to students. These were new developments in the county and resulted no doubt from her assiduous information and education campaign.
(Source: Proceedings of the Orleans County Board of Supervisor’s Report, 1923)
By Kim Pritt, Contributor Posted 7 January 2023 at 3:00 pm
Most adventures start with me at the dining room table with a pile of maps and brochures.
Let’s go on an adventure together….into my Bucket List!
Happy New Year! This edition of Travel Thoughts By Kim kicks off my fourth year of doing these articles. When I was first approached about doing them, I thought there was no way I could come up with interesting things to write about for very long. Well, I guess I was wrong!
I’m often asked “where HAVEN’T you been?” Well, the answer is “a lot of places”! I have an Adventure Bucket List in my head. It never gets smaller because when I complete one and it drops off, I tend to add at least one…..or more…..to the list. My goal when I first started was to try to visit all 50 states and see as much of this beautiful country as I could before I get to the point where traveling just isn’t easy for me to do physically anymore. But, I quickly found out that there is so very much to see and do – it isn’t just a matter of visiting all 50 states. I completed that goal in 2019 and began focusing more on specific adventures and branching out of the United States.
So, I thought I’d kick off 2023 by sharing with you some of the items that are currently rattling around in my head on that Adventure Bucket List. This is nowhere near a complete list – there’s a lot more I hope to accomplish at some point, but you get the idea. You can follow along to see what, if any, of them get completed and what more I add along the way.
I’ve always felt like I didn’t do Texas the justice it deserves. My time there met all the criteria to check it off the list, but I saw so little of the huge state. So, I really want to go back and see more. I’m thinking maybe flying into Houston, visiting a cousin near there, renting a car and driving to Galveston, San Antonio, Austin, and wherever else I can visit in a reasonable distance and time frame and fly back from wherever I end up.
I loved the time I spent in eastern Iowa and would love to go back. But, this time, I want to visit the western part of the state. In particular, I’d love to see the covered bridges in Madison County, IA. The movie “Bridges of Madison County” was filmed there. Also in that same general area, there is a John Wayne museum, a quilting museum, and other cool sounding things to see and do. Who knows what else I may find while I’m there.
I’ve recently added Midland, Michigan area to the list. Albion’s world famous Santa Claus School founded by our own Charles Howard was purchased and moved to Midland after Mr. Howard’s passing. I’d love to see how they are continuing his legacy. Also near there is the Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, MI that I’m told is worth the trip all in itself and the Fantasy Land Christmas Display is in Lincoln, MI. I also have a friend that lives there that I’d get to see at the same time.
All I need for a grand adventure is a plan, a map, and a camera!
I’m obsessed with the idea of driving the Florida Keys. I’ve been to Key West and would love to go again, but this time spending more time to see all of the keys.
I have plans to do the Canadian Rockies at some point. I’d also like to see more of Canada – like the Montreal, Quebec, and Newfoundland areas, at least.
A ride through the Panama Canal is definitely in my future at some point. I’ve been looking at a Caravan bus tour that not only takes you on a boat ride through the canal, but also visits other points of interest in the area. I’ve thought of a cruise, but comparing the two options, I’m thinking I’d enjoy the Caravan tour more….we’ll see.
More international travel is an interest to me. Places I’d love to visit are Germany, Greece, more of the Tuscany region of Italy, parts of the Orient, and, I must say, I get a little excited if I ever think of doing an African Safari. All of these are probably long shots, at this point, but a girl can dream, right?
Who knows where I’ll actually end up spending my adventure time, but these are some of the places that keep popping up when I think about where I may go next. Of course, I’ll share wherever that ends up being with you all and you can always visit my blog here. to read about places I’ve been. On the right side of the page you can scroll to find the “Categories” list and click on “Adventures” to pull up anything I wrote with the adventures tag or you can type in any destination in the search box to see if I’ve ever written about it.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 January 2023 at 1:24 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Sherry Tuohey talks with Dave Lindsay on Friday at the Senior Center of Western Orleans’ Christmas party. Lindsley is crazy about Christmas and created quite a stir with his Grinchy green lighted shoes and reindeer and snowflake suit.
MEDINA – Senior citizens packed the Senior Center of Western Orleans on Friday for their annual Christmas party, which was originally scheduled for Dec. 23, but had to be postponed because of the blizzard.
Seniors were treated to pizza provided by the Senior Center and an array of snacks and desserts which were brought in by the seniors.
Friday is a regular euchre day, so after dinner, the seniors stayed to play cards.
One member, David Lindsay of Medina, is crazy about Christmas and showed up wearing Grinchy green shoes, which lit up when he walked, and a red, white and blue suit of snowflakes and reindeer. He said he loves to dress for the occasion at Christmas, and has another holiday suit at home. He welcomes an opportunity to wear them in public.
Seniors are reminded to sign up for cards from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Euchre is played all three days and pinochle players are welcomed on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. The Orleans County Office for the Aging also offers exercise classes at 11 a.m. each Wednesday.
On Monday mornings, seniors are invited to play six-handed euchre.
The Senior Center is a wonderful place to meet people and enjoy the camaraderie, according to director Kelly Shaw of Gasport.
The gift shop is full of unique and reasonably priced items, including a whole section of jigsaw puzzles, and there is always a puzzle in progress on a table.
Monthly board meetings, followed by a provided or pot-luck luncheon are at 11:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Entertainment always follows, either musical or educational.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2023 at 11:24 am
Bryan DeGraw is hopeful he will start making mead at Leonard Oakes in early 2023
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Bryan DeGraw, co-owner of 810 Meadworks, holds a bottle of Liquid Sunshine, one of five different meads available at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery on Ridge Road.
Friday was a launch celebration at Leonard Oakes in welcoming 810 Meadworks to the tasting room at 10609 Ridge Rd.
810 Meadworks was part of downtown Medina for eight years. It closed its tasting room and also an ax-throwing range on Sept. 22 at 113 West Center St. DeGraw said the business’s insurance tripled in price, making it unaffordable to operate.
Several wineries in the region didn’t want to see Meadworks go. Leonard Oakes was among several that reached out to DeGraw to sell the mead and also make the product.
DeGraw is thrilled 810 Meadworks will continue and remain in the Medina community, where he and his wife Larissa make their home with two children. The DeGraws own Meadworks along with Tim Elliott.
“This is the community I belong in,” DeGraw said on Friday, just before the tasting room celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. “I didn’t want to uproot. I can keep my business alive and partner with Leonard Oakes.”
DeGraw said Meadworks is working to move its production equipment to Leonard Oakes. That includes five 200-gallon fermentation tanks, eight 60-gallon drums, and other barrels and equipment.
The mead production will be separate from Leonard Oakes, which has its own equipment for producing wine and Steampunk Cider.
DeGraw said Meadworks is waiting on final approval from the State Liquor Authority to allow Meadworks to produce mead at the Leonard Oakes location.
“I’m thankful to keep going,” he said. “Leonard Oakes made that possible.”
DeGraw also said the new arrangement will give him more time to focus on producing mead, which is his passion. He was spending a lot of his energy running the tasting room at Meadworks, with day-to-day pressure to keep the bar stocked.
“This will give me more freedom,” he said.
He already has one new mead coming in 2023: a mead made with mulberry.
Right now, Leonard Oakes is carrying five of Meadworks most popular meads: Liquid Sunshine (lavender lemonade with mead), Scarlet A (apple cranberry mead), Raisin d’Etre (cinnamon raise aged in a bourbon barrel with amber honey), Maple Tap (mead with maple syrup, cinnamon nutmeg and vanilla) and Sweet Devotion (black currants, rose petals, black tea, oil of bergamot and local honey).
Bryan DeGraw speaks with two passionate Meadworks customers, George and Mary Jo Harris of Barker. They have been loyal Meadworks customers for about five years. They said they are thrilled Meadworks and Leonard Oakes will be teaming up.
The Harris couple said Meadworks was a destination that made them discover other sites in the community. They used to go to Buffalo for most of their outings, but now come to Medina and Batavia.
“Meadworks was like a second family,” Mary Jo said. “Bryan makes enough different styles that there will be something for everyone.”
When DeGraw posted on Facebook on Sept. 22 that the business would be closing, there was a big reaction from customers, who didn’t want to lose Meadworks. Many bought bottles of mead and gave the business a lifeline.
They encouraged the owners to try to find a way to keep going.
“The response that day I can’t express how thankful I am,” DeGraw said about the customer reaction on Sept. 22. “The outcry was bigger than I thought it would be.”
Cat Holland, the retail manager at Leonard Oakes, is pleased to welcome 810 Meadworks to the tasting room. Leonard Oakes has other products made in New York, including fruit brandy from North Ridge Distillery in Medina.
She is hopeful to do tastings and event with DeGraw as a host, explaining how he makes the different meads. She knows Meadworks will also bring in a passionate customer base.
“It makes sense to offer more for everyone,” she said. “It was a no-brainer. He’s local and we’ve had a very good working relationship with him.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2023 at 9:26 pm
$50K-plus raised so far for foundation that supports ALS patients and their families, funds ALS research
Provided photo: Kyle Holz likes the excitement of the Buffalo Bills on the field and their compassion for each other and the community off the field.
CARLTON – Kyle Holz was amazed to see the donations pour in for a fundraiser started by Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills.
Hamlin previously set up a GoFundMe with a goal of $2,500 for a toy drive in the Pittsburgh area. After Hamlin was critically injured on Monday Night Football, the GoFundMe quickly reached $1 million with donations from all over the country. Then it topped $2 million, $5 million and now is just over $8 million.
Holz was watching the Buffalo Bills game on TV on Monday night when Hamlin tackled Tee Higgins, a powerful Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver who has topped 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons.
The two players had a violent collision on field, and Hamlin, the Bills safety, managed to pull Higgins to the turf. Hamlin got to his feet and then collapsed seconds later. He was in cardiac arrest and needed CPR and a defibrillator to be revived on the field.
Hamlin was taken by ambulance to a Cincinnati hospital. The game didn’t resume after that play and won’t be continued. Hamlin is doing much better four days later. His breathing tube has been removed and he is communicating by voice. He is on the right path for recovery, his doctors said.
Holz was moved when he saw the donations for Hamlin’s GoFundMe, and the outpouring of support from the country for the injured Bills player.
But he also was disturbed to see some people were directing hate and blame to Higgins.
“I felt God leading me to start one (a GoFundMe) to show some love to Tee Higgins,” Holz said.
Holz set up a GoFundMe, with donations that would show support for Higgins while benefitting a cause dear to the player. Higgins during a game last month wore cleats in honor of Axe ALS. The father of Higgins’ agent died from ALS, The Buffalo News reported.
The donations so far have passed $55,000. Holz said he has received many messages from Bengals fans in appreciation for the fundraiser and outreach to Higgins.
Hamlins’ parents have issued a statement asking people to not blame Higgins. Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback, also said Higgins bears no fault or responsibility for the play.
Higgins spoke on Thursday that he was greatly relieved to see improvement in Hamlin’s condition.
“Everything’s OK. He’s doing good, so I’m in a good place right now,” Higgins told reporters on Thursday. “It feels good knowing that he’s OK and doing better makes me feel better inside.”
Holz said the Bills players’ concern for their teammate and the care they’ve showed each other in recent days makes him an even bigger supporter of the team.
“I was a Bills fan because they are so exciting to watch,” Holz said. “Recently with everything that had happened, they showed that they are human and feel more like family than anything. The whole team feels like family.”
Reporting to the Orleans County Board of Supervisors in 1923, County Executive Nurse, Grace B. Gillette, reported 18 deaths due to tuberculosis in the county from October 1922 – October 1923.
