By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2022 at 10:24 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Dawn Keppler is shown in this photo from April 28, addressing the Orleans County Legislature. She shared her concerns about a district court in the county.
SHELBY – Dawn Keppler, a Shelby town justice since 1999, has resigned her position, as well as the associate town judge for Ridgeway and Yates while being investigating by the State of New York Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Keppler’s resignation resolved the matter before the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The Commission notified Keppler in April it was investigating a complaint that she improperly promoted prejudicial and inflammatory content on Facebook, and that she inappropriately lent the prestige of her judicial office to advance the private interests of others.
Judge Keppler resigned from judicial office on Dec. 2, and agreed never to seek or accept judicial office at any time in the future.
“It has been a privilege to serve our community as Town Justice for the last twenty-three years, but I am resigning my position effective at the close of business on Friday, December 2, 2022,” Keppler wrote in a Nov. 21 letter to Steven Seitz, the acting town supervisor for Shelby.
She also sent letters on Nov. 21 to Brian Napoli, Ridgeway town supervisor, and Jim Simon, Yates town supervisor, announcing her resignations as the associate town justices in those towns, and said she appreciated the opportunity to serve the community.
Keppler served as president of the Orleans County Magistrates Association and also was on the board of directors for the NYS Magistrates Association, serving as treasurer.
Robert H. Tembeckjian, administrator for the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, issued this statement on Dec. 20 following Keppler’s resignation:
“Judges must approach social media with caution,” he said. “Public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the courts is shaken whenever a judge originates or republishes social media posts that are insulting to particular individuals or groups, stridently political, or otherwise brash and indiscreet.”
ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State will continue with the $15.00 minimum hourly wage phase-in for upstate counties on December 31, 2022.
Workers outside of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County will see an increase by $1.00 per hour, from $13.20 to $14.20, following a statutorily required economic analysis conducted by the New York State Division of the Budget.
Additionally, the minimum wage for home care aides, which took effect on October 1, 2022, will also increase by $1.00 to $16.20 per hour in counties in upstate New York.
“With inflation and a national labor shortage impacting our state’s economy, my team is doing everything possible to put money in New Yorkers’ pockets and address the rising cost of living,” Hochul said. “Fair, competitive wages are essential for helping families thrive and attracting top talent to our state, and our administration remains committed to using every tool at our disposal to move New York’s economy forward.”
An estimated 200,000 New Yorkers in these upstate counties will benefit from this wage increase, 44% of which are full time workers and of those, nearly 25% are supporting children below age 18. In addition, this increase will help to close the gender pay gap, providing an estimated 110,000 women with greater financial stability.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “By raising the minimum wage, we are helping to lift up our neighbors across New York State. Advancing the multi-year increases has helped businesses adjust to the steady changes while providing low-wage workers the ability to better support themselves and their families.”
ALBION – Orleans County works closely with Modern Disposal Services to provide a countywide solid waste program for all of our residents who participate in our program.
With the anticipated high winds for Friday over Western New York, Modern Disposal Services will be starting their collection service early on Friday at 5 a.m. Due to the high profile of the trucks used by Modern Disposal Services, service will be completed as quickly as possible on Friday for the safety of their crews.
Modern Disposal Services will do their best to complete the collection on the scheduled routes Friday morning.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this creates for our residents along the affected routes,” said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. “Hopefully the collection will be complete before the wind relocates all of the trash and recyclable containers.”
BUFFALO – Patrick E. Fitzsimmons, an Albion native, has been named a partner at Hodgson Russ LLP, effective January 1, 2023, the Buffalo firm announced.
Fitzsimmons is a litigation and cybersecurity attorney at Hodgson Russ and focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense, privacy, and data security matters.
As a criminal defense lawyer, he represents individuals and companies facing criminal investigations and charges. In his privacy and data security practice, Fitzsimmons regularly counsels clients under an array of international, federal, and state privacy and data security laws.
He also assists clients in managing ransomware attacks and other data breaches and advises clients on breach notification obligations. Fitzsimmons currently serves on the Firm’s Security Committee.
A graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law, Fitzsimmons served as an assistant district attorney in the Erie County District Attorney’s Office before joining Hodgson Russ.
Hodgson Russ attorneys facilitate business transactions around the world. As a full service law firm, Hodgson Russ utilizes multidisciplinary work teams to meet clients’ specific, often complex needs. Clients include public and privately held businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit institutions, and individuals. Hodgson Russ has offices in Albany, Buffalo, Greensboro, Hackensack, New York, Palm Beach, Rochester, Saratoga Springs and Toronto.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 December 2022 at 3:30 pm
Provided photo: This gingerbread house made by the Radiology Department at Medina Memorial Hospital is on display in the hospital lobby as part of a contest between departments which began Monday.
MEDINA – After a very successful pumpkin contest which created a lot of interest at Halloween, Medina Memorial Hospital has decided to hold a gingerbread contest, beginning on Monday.
“This is a combination of team building internally, while also providing something in the lobby for visitors to look over while they’re in the building,” said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing for Community Partners.
The only rules in the contest are that gingerbread needed to be incorporated somehow into the design, and it needed to be an edible structure.
Among the submissions is a Medina Memorial Hospital, several houses, a Medina Fire Department ambulance and a North Pole scene.
One creation from the Radiology Department features gingerbread in different areas, and then a cabin with pretzel rods as walls. Reindeer with pretzel legs and a chocolate Santa complete the scene.
The public is encouraged to stop and look at the works of art when visiting the hospital.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2022 at 11:13 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Five large banners will soon be on the landscape in Albion, proclaiming “Shop Local – Albion is Open!”
Michael Bonafede and Karen Sawicz presented the banners during the Albion Village Board meeting on Tuesday evening. Two of the banners are currently up – one on Cobblestone Museum property in Gaines at the corner of routes 98 and 104, and the other on Rick Stacey’s RS Automation property on Route 98, at the Countyhouse Road intersection south of the village.
The three other banners are planned at village parks: Carosol on Ingersoll and Caroline, Vets Park on Linwood and Brown, and Bullard Park on Route 31.
In addition, 20 smaller yard signs with the same message have been placed in the community.
Sawicz, owner of Lake Country Media, wants drivers to continue to go into the downtown and support local businesses. Bonafede owns the Pratt and Day building, and another historic building in the downtown that together are the home for several businesses.
Sawicz said more signage is also needed to help people, especially those unfamiliar with the community, follow detours with the Main Street lift bridge expected to be closed for about 18 months.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2022 at 10:59 am
Provided photo
ALBION – The Five Star Bank branch in Albion recently presented a $300 donation to Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries in Albion. The church meets at the Arnold Gregory Office Building and offers many ministries to the community, including serving 2,000 chicken barbecue dinners for free on Dec. 10.
Pictured from left include Lisa DeCarlo, member of Royal Body; Al Wilson, pastor of Royal Body; Debbie Yockel, assistant branch manager; Pam Kennedy (in back), a Five Star employee; Ykeeta Wilson, wife of the pastor and a leader at Royal Body; Danielle LaDue, Five Star employee; and Somnuck Sangasy, branch manager.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) recently spoke about the announcement to hold a special session prior to the end of the year to raise lawmakers’ salaries.
The session would be held to give lawmakers a salary increase of $32,000 per year. This would make New York’s legislators the highest paid of any state in the country.
“This was not the Christmas present taxpayers had in mind. Any legislator who votes for this should receive coal in their stocking,” said Hawley. “Lawmakers’ pay shouldn’t even be on the list of issues for the upcoming session, let alone a special session of the Legislature.
“The cost of this raise would force almost $14 million in additional costs on taxpayers in the state over the two-year term. With the already-high cost of living in New York, downstate politicians still insist on making life even less affordable for residents of our state. We should be attacking issues such as the high cost of living, high crime and investing in infrastructure to fix our crumbling roads and bridges rather than focusing on issues that only benefit legislators.”
State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt issued this statement:
“The idea that the State Legislature is coming back to Albany tomorrow to vote on a pay raise for themselves is patently offensive to the people we represent.
“It’s no secret that the high cost of living and violent crime are the top two issues for New Yorkers. Yet, Albany’s One Party Ruling Class continues to put their own misplaced priorities first. Their latest scheme: a whopping $32,000 salary increase and a cap on outside income.
“Let’s be clear about what this pay raise will do. It will fill the wallets of lawmakers with the tax dollars of hardworking New Yorkers. It will prevent people with real world experience from serving in elected office. And it will create a permanent ruling class of career politicians in our State Capitol.
“One thing is for certain: the debate about the massive affordability crisis facing New York is over. By giving themselves a pay raise, Albany’s political ruling class is admitting they’ve made our state unlivable if you make less than $142,000.
“This would make the Grinch blush. Taxpayers shouldn’t forget.”
WNY farmers among leaders looking to boost food production in the state
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul
File photo by Tom Rivers – Honeycrisp apples are pictured in October 2016 at the Roberts Circle R fruit stand and farm market on Route 18 in Carlton. NY Farm Bureau says apples face retaliatory tariffs in trade disputes.
Governor Hochul announced that a special working group of state agencies and agricultural community stakeholders will collaborate to support New York farmers and help boost the agricultural industry.
This summer, Governor Hochul and Lieutenant Governor Delgado held a series of roundtable discussions with a diverse group of farmers and industry stakeholders on Long Island, in the North Country, the Hudson Valley, and in the Finger Lakes to hear their concerns about the agricultural industry in the state.
This Strategic Interagency Task Force Lessening Obstacles to Agriculture Working Group, as directed by the Governor in response to the concerns of farmers and industry stakeholders, will be chaired and convened by Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.
“We are working hand in hand with the agricultural community to support the needs of both workers and employers and ensure the prosperity of farming in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “This working group will be critical to tackling several challenges within New York’s agricultural industry, and my administration will continue to work with farmers to address their needs and reimagine farming in our state.”
The group will work alongside representatives from commodity sectors of agriculture to identify challenges and to ensure agencies that interface with the state’s farmers communicate clearly, interact efficiently, and reduce burdensome requirements by focusing on future development.
Feedback received from the sessions, which includes but is not limited to, getting more dairy into our schools, challenges with transportation and finding certified drivers, and the need to have access to new markets around the State’s climate change efforts, will be reflected in the group’s final recommendations. The emphasis will be on administrative actions that can be taken by the Governor and state agencies to provide an immediate and timely response to important issues around supporting and expanding food production in New York.
Based on the conversations, and feedback received through the four roundtable sessions, the Task Force will initially focus on, but not be limited to, the following topics:
Transportation – address challenges involving the movement of agricultural commodities and products while understanding the needs for investment in roads, bridges and other vital infrastructure to bring products to market.
Labor – identify and build the next generation of farmers and farmworkers to support a diverse industry with the skills and workers required to operate modern farms.
The environment – address and remove obstacles to capital investments in manure management, on-farm energy production, and the transition to alternative fuel sources that limit the ability of some farms to meet the State’s climate goals and become carbon neutral.
Housing for workers – increase worker housing to provide workers with a safe living environment that is close to farms and assures for sustained and daily production.
Taxation – provide clearer guidance on property tax administration and improve access to existing tax relief programs.
Farmland protection – review existing programs and identify ways that the State can ensure that productive farmland remains accessible, in production, and continues to feed New Yorkers.
Expand procurement – of local food products by various state agencies to build local food supply chains and better connect with New York farms.
A final report will be provided to the Governor’s Office and will identify actions, as recommended by the working group, that state agencies can take to help streamline business for New York’s farmers.
Members of the working group include representatives from a number of state agencies, including the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; Department of Labor; Department of Transportation; Department of Environmental Conservation; Department of Health, Department of Public Service, Department of Taxation and Finance; New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Empire State Development; and the State Liquor Authority, as well as the following members of the agricultural industry:
Jim Bittner, Owner of Bittner Singer Orchards in Appleton and Interim Director New York Horticulture Society
Kama Doucoure, Owner, Big Dreams Farm
David Fisher, Owner, Mapleview Dairy and President New York Farm Bureau
Jeffrey M. Fetter, President, Scolaro Fetter Grizanti & McGough, P.C.
Susan Jaffe, Owner, Snowdance Farm
Maureen Torrey Marshall, Co-Owner, Torrey Farms based in Elba
Sarah Dressel Nikles, Owner, Dressel Farms
Brian Reeves, Partner at Reeves Farms, and President New York Vegetable Association
Tonya Van Slyke, Executive Director, Northeast Dairy Producers Association
Oscar Vizcarra, Partner, Becker Farms based in Gasport
Kim Wagner, Owner, Stoutridge Vineyard
Jeff Williams, Director of Public Policy, New York Farm Bureau
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We have made a lot of progress over the years when it comes to supporting our farmers, but we have a lot more work ahead of us, especially when it comes to workforce development, agricultural education, and ensuring a strong, vibrant industry for the future. We have an opportunity today to work together with our fellow state agencies and our partners in agriculture to tackle some of the challenging issues before us and find tangible solutions, ensuring New York State continues to lead the nation in agricultural production.”
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “New York farmers face a number of regulatory, labor, and market challenges that limit the ability to grow our businesses in this state, many of which we spoke about with Governor Hochul when she visited my family’s dairy farm this summer. I look forward to continuing that conversation with the SILO Task Force. It is an opportunity to identify common sense approaches to break down barriers and support our state’s food system.”
Brian Reeves, President of the New York State Vegetable Growers Association, said, “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the agricultural sector and at the Department of Agriculture and Markets to find ways to reduce the regulatory burden on New York farms and improve the efficiency of how our state government interacts with those of us in agriculture. A strong farming industry in New York will help ensure that all of our citizens will have access to nutritious, fresh, locally produced food at all times and under all circumstances. In light of the recent pandemic, this is as important as ever.”
Tonya Van Slyke, Northeast Dairy Producers Association Executive Director, said, “As the organization that serves as the voice of dairy farms in New York, the Northeast Dairy Producers Association values the reconvening of the SILO Task Force as an important step toward removing barriers for farmers, processors, and haulers and to facilitate opportunities that strengthen New York’s ag economy. Farmers participated in roundtables and listening sessions to share their concerns directly with state leadership, and we’re appreciative that their feedback is being heard. Labor and environmental stewardship are top priority areas for our family farms. It is critical that we work collaboratively to address the challenges that farmers are facing to maintain a viable agriculture industry for generations to come. New York’s food supply depends on it.”
Jim Bittner, owner of Bittner Singer Orchards and Interim Director of the New York State Horticulture Society, said, “The SILO committee offers those of us in production agriculture a unique opportunity to interact with many departments throughout state government. As a result, we can work together so that the rules and regulations that need to be in place to protect all citizens in New York also take into account the realities and challenges of agriculture. I look forward to dialog that will enable agriculture to continue its role as an economic engine in New York.”
Agriculture is a critically important sector of New York’s economy. The state is home to over 33,000 farms producing some of the world’s best food and beverages. Approximately 20 percent of New York State’s land area, or close to 7 million acres, is farmland. New York is first in the country in the production of major dairy products, such as yogurt and cream cheese, second in the country in the production of apples and maple, and third in grapes and cabbage.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2022 at 8:37 am
Robert Smith overcomes obstacles to downtown revitalization with 3 storefronts, 4 hotel rooms
Photos by Tom Rivers: Robert Smith is pleased with the progress with renovating three Main Street buildings behind him in Lyndonville. He is seeking tenants for the storefronts, and expects four hotel rooms to be ready in April.
LYNDONVILLE – Robert Smith sees lots of potential in his hometown. The Lyndonville native now lives in Palm Springs, Calif., where he has worked as a financial advisor for nearly four decades.
But he comes home often to see family and friends, and to check up on a construction project that he hopes will add to Lyndonville’s quality of life. After more than three years of construction, three of Lyndonville’s Main Street buildings are nearly ready for tenants, and four hotel rooms will be available in the spring.
Smith took on the project, giving the three buildings a major transformation. The buildings don’t have tenants yet, but Smith sees many possibilities for the spaces – from cafes, restaurants, retail businesses, receptions for parties and events, shared work space and a certified kitchen that can be rented out, just to name a few options.
This 1,400-square-foot space looks much different than when it was a liquor store years ago.
“There are a lot of opportunities,” Smith said on Saturday, giving a tour of the nearly finished first floors. “It’s an open footprint. We’re really ready to start entertaining tenants.”
He welcomed people interested in the space to reach out to him at 760-408-8686.
Smith hosted a group on Saturday morning to breakfast and coffee before they went out and set more than 400 wreaths on veterans’ graves. On Sunday he had an appreciation gathering for the contractors who have worked on the project.
Mike Preston & Son Construction in Lyndonville served as general contractor on the Webber Building at 29 South Main St. Papilia and Sons, led by Ferdinando Papalia, did the bulk of the work as general contractor on the two other buildings.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Here is how the building looked in 2018 before the construction started.
The Webber site has about 2,200 square feet of space on the first floor. The next two buildings have about 1,400 square feet in the former liquor store and about 1,500 square feet in the former sweet shop. The site also has outdoor patio space after the former Pennysaver building had to be knocked down when it’s roof caved in in February 2020 due to heavy snow and ice.
Smith said there could be pop-up vendors as tenants who may only need a small amount of room.
John Belson, the Lyndonville mayor, praised Smith for seeing the project through many challenges, including Covid restrictions and supply chain shortages that slowed down construction.
“It’s been trials and tribulations,” Belson said. “It’s been a huge undertaking.”
Some of community members were welcomed inside the Webber building on Saturday. Steve Goodrich, second from left, and Scott Goetze, both members of the American Legion in Lyndonville, spoke to a group on Saturday morning before they went to place wreaths on 441 veterans’ graves. Robert Smith, back left, invited the group inside the newly renovated Webber Hotel/Cafe on Main Street. Jim Simon, Yates town supervisor, is at right.
Smith adapted his overall plan when the Pennysaver building had to be taken down.
“It’s amazing,” Belson said about the repurposed buildings. “Hopefully it will help bring Lyndonville back. Having it come to fruition is good for the town, village and everybody.”
The village was able to help Smith secure a state grant that contributed about $400,000 towards the project.
The buildings have a fresh and modern look, with new plumbing, HVAC and drywall.
Darlene Hartway, one of the owners of Sourced Market & Eatery in Medina, is managing the certified kitchen at the Webber building. She plans to offer cooking classes. She said the kitchen can be renting out by others.
Smith plans a local advertising campaign when the hotel rooms are ready, likely in April. He sees a need for places to stay in Lyndonville with White Birch hosting many weddings and events on Route 63. There are also fishermen and many others who come to the community, including drivers for the Amish and Mennonite communities.
Robert Smith sees lots of potential for Lyndonville’s Main Street with three storefronts nearly ready.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 20 December 2022 at 8:55 pm
MEDINA – Medina High School will honor Distinguished Alumni in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to principal Michael Cavanagh.
This year’s inductees into the Medina High School Alumni Hall of Fame are Elizabeth Cooper Leone, a local sculptor and designer of dolls. Her creations have been purchased by people all over the world, Cavanagh said.
Mercedes Holloway Wilson started a program, For Our Daughters, to encourage young girls’ interest in a healthy lifestyle. She did this while fighting breast cancer. She currently is a host on AM Buffalo and shares recipes for life weekly.
Kate Schirmer Messner is a well-known children’s author, with more than 50 books to her credit.
Christopher Parada is head of the Palace Theater and known for playing Santa Claus and building the Santa Cottage on Day Road, Lockport.
Inductees to the Alumni Hall of Fame are chosen based on excellence in their profession and contribution to humanity, Cavanagh said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2022 at 5:39 pm
Meetings will change from Wednesdays to Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Legislature is shown during a meeting on Monday, which was outside of the usual schedule on the fourth Wednesday due to the holiday season. Pictured from left include legislators Bill Eick, Ed Morgan and Don Allport, county attorney Kathy Bogan, County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch, Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, Clerk of Legislature Lisa Stenshorn and Legislator Fred Miller at far right. Not visible in photo are County Treasurer Kim DeFrank and legislators John Fitzak and Skip Draper.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is making a change in the day for its monthly meeting in 2023.
For at least 25 years, the Legislature has met on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. It was the second Wednesday of the month before being moved to the fourth Wednesday on most months.
In 2023, the Legislature will meet on the fourth Tuesday during the months of January, March, April, May, June, August, September and October. The meetings will be on the third Tuesday for February, July and December.
The sessions are in the legislative chambers of the County Office Building at 14016 Route 31 W.
Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer, said attendance from the public in person and through Zoom video conferencing has dropped, especially this year.
“After the pandemic, it seems like the public has stopped participating in person or online with our Legislature meetings,” Welch said. “In 2022 public participation has been extremely low.”
The Legislature is hopeful the change will result in more attending the meetings or offering comments through Zoom.
“One thing for sure is that participation can only improve with a new day,” Welch said. “This is another example of us asking why we are doing things a certain way. If our best answer is because we have always done it that way, then perhaps it is time to change things up a bit.”
The Legislature made a big change in its meetings in July 2019. That’s when the seven-member body moved from the top floor of the County Clerks Building in the historic Courthouse Square to a new meeting room as part of a 23,000-square-foot addition to the County Office Building on Route 31.
The County Legislature meets upstairs in the legislative chambers of the County Office Building at 14016 Route 31 W.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2022 at 4:00 pm
ALBION – Kolin Vangorder is determined to make the Coffee Joint stay a part of the Albion community.
Vangorder, 20, became owner of the business on Nov. 1, taking over for Albion Police Chief David Mogle and police officer Chris Glagowski. The two members of the Albion PD ran the business for a year, while juggling the demands of their full-time jobs and families.
Vangorder, a 2020 Albion graduate, started working for the Coffee Joint in August. He sent Glogowski a message through Facebook when he saw the business was looking for an employee.
Vangorder was working from home at the time in graphic design and video editing.
“It seemed like fun,” Vangorder said about the job at the Coffee Joint. “I wasn’t getting much people interaction at the time. What could be more fun than working in a coffee shop?”
Vangorder said the job as a barista is more challenging than he expected due to the many types of drinks offered in a coffee shop. But he learned from Heidi Peterson, the site manager, as well as through trial and error.
“It’s more than just pouring coffee in a cup,” he said.
Kolin Vangorder and Heidi Peterson run the Coffee Joint, which is open six days a week in downtown Albion. Peterson and Vangorder both worked for the previous owners.
As the owner Vangorder has added an espresso machine to the lineup of eight different types of coffee and 30 different other flavors. The site now offers lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos.
Coffee Joint is looking to add frozen drinks including smoothies, Frappuccino and protein drinks. Vangorder said Coffee Joint also will be adding breakfast sandwiches prepared on site.
Coffee Joint was open from 7 to 11 a.m. Vangorder has expanded the hours from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
He also has changed the looks inside, with a focus on making the space feel like a living room. Earlier today there were four customers inside on their laptops, using the Coffee Joint’s WiFi network while doing their work and sipping a coffee.
“It’s nice to not be at your house and still be able to feel comfortable,” he said.
The closing of the Main Street bridge doesn’t seem to have hurt the business because more traffic is turning at Bank Street, right by the coffee shop.
Peterson, the site’s manager, worked for the previous owners after several years at Burger King. She said she is optimistic Vangorder will be successful in the downtown.
“There’s so much energy behind Kolin,” Peterson said. “We both love our town and we love our customers. We love what we do.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2022 at 3:20 pm
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Orleans County from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday. The watch also includes Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.
“A rapid switch from rain to snow with sharply falling temperatures into the teens will result in a flash freeze on Friday,” the Weather Service said. “From Friday afternoon through most of the weekend, very strong winds, heavy lake effect snow and significant blowing and drifting snow will be possible. Winds could gust as high as 65 mph Friday into Friday night. Localized blizzard conditions are possible.”
The Weather Service said travel over the holiday weekend “could be very difficult to impossible at times. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility with whiteouts.”
The powerful winds could cause tree damage and power outages.
“The most persistent and worst conditions will be where lake effect snow is most widespread, which is still uncertain at this time,” the Weather Service said. “Cold wind chills as low as 10 to 20 below zero this weekend could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.”
