MEDINA – For the second straight week the blues concert set for State Street Park is being cancelled with the threat of rain.

The Dave Constantino Band was scheduled to perform this evening as part of the Blue Thursdays concert series. There won’t be a rain date because this band and the Growlers Blues Band from last week are booked solid, said Chris Busch, one of the series organizers.

Next week will be the finale for the series with Maria Aurigema.

Press Release, GCASA

BATAVIA – The GOW Opioid Task Force will be conducting the annual Overdose Awareness Day from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 24 at Austin Park.

Task Force Coordinator Christen Foley said the event – started internationally in 2001 – is designed to help raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and remember the lives that have been lost due to an overdose.

“We will hear from speakers who have been affected by substance use and present information from local agencies,” Foley said. “Additionally, there will be live music, family activities, face painting and free Narcan training.”

Attendees also will be offered the opportunity to leave a note on the task force’s memory board for a deceased loved one.

Those interested in having a table at the event or to register for the Narcan training are asked to contact Foley at cferraro@gcasa.org.

MEDINA – A flag burning ceremony delayed from Flag Day on June 14 because of rain was rescheduled for Wednesday night at the Conservation Club in Medina.

Boy Scout Nicholas Reese and his father, Scout leader Michael Reese, and Webelos Scout Savannah Schroth, 10, joined Glenn Whitmore (commander), David Kusmierczak, David Higgins, Peter Huth, Cathy Fox and Carol Callina from the Butts-Clark American Legion Post for the ceremony.

Scout leader Michael Reese walks a flag up to burn barrel for proper disposal.

Nicholas began by reading the meaning of the red and white stripes and stars on the flag, while his father “retired” a piece of flag. The red stripes symbolize courage and the blood shed for the country, while the white stripes stand for purity and innocence. The stars represent the 13 original colonies.

The veterans and Boy Scouts hold a flag burning ceremony twice a year, usually on Flag Day in June and after Veterans Day when they have removed the flags from cemeteries.

Flags are collected throughout the year in Medina at the American Legion on South Main Street, VFW on East Center Street, Generations Bank on Maple Ridge Road and the Veterans’ Services Office in Albion and Ace Hardware in Medina and Albion.

Black smoke billows from a burn barrel during Wednesday’s flag burning ceremony.

The collection of flags on Wednesday included a Canadian flag and a POW flag, something the veterans had not seen before at the flag retirement ceremony.

This was the first ceremony Savannah Schroth, 10, of Medina had witnessed. Her mother Kristina Schroth said her siblings and Savannah’s older brother all served in the military, so honoring the flag was important to them.

“This was a good thing for Savannah to watch,” her mother said.

Carol Callina, formerly Prawel, has become an active member of the Butts-Clark American Legion since joining last October. She had met Legion commander Glenn Whitmore, a Navy veteran, at the YMCA and he encouraged her to join. Callina served in the Navy and spent 40 years as an immigration officer before returning to Medina last fall.

From left, Carol Callina, Cathy Fox and Michael Reese place flags in a barrel to burn during Wednesday’s flag burning ceremony at the Conservation Club.

Scouts from Troop 35 and local veterans teamed up Wednesday night for a flag burning ceremony at the Conservation Club on Bates Road. From left are Cathy Fox, American Legion Auxiliary; Carol Callina, Glenn Whitmore, Dave Kusmierczak and Peter Huth, Butts-Clark American Legion Post; Webelos Scout Savannah Schroth; David Higgins, American Legion; Boy Scout Nicholas Reese and his father Michael Reese, Scout leader.

Group also wins two 2^nd place awards at Elite Dance Challenge

Photo by Tom Rivers: Brandon Johnson, owner of Dance Theater in Medina and instructor for the competitive dance teams, is pictured with many of the dancers on the competitive team. Dance Theater won a first place and two seconds at a national dance competition on July 22 in Cape May, NJ. Amy hazel, in back left, and Emilie Preston, in back second from right, also are instructors at Dance Theater working with the recreational program.

MEDINA – Brandon Johnson and dancers from Dance Theater are basking in a strong showing a national competition.

One group from Dance Theater won the first place as “National Grand Champion” for their performance of Jumanji. They won in the age 13 over group.

Dance Theater also won second place in age 12 under group for “The Power” and another second in the age 13 over group for “These Hands.”

The dancers at nationals included: Elaina Bruce, Sydney Bruce, Adella Dukes, LiLiana Goebel, Lexi Hare, Alexis Jones, Olivia Maynard, Makenzie McGrath, Isabella Monacelli, Hailey Moore, Izabella Murphy, Brook Pisano, Natalie Rath, Gracie Tardibone, Marli Thrash, Carly Voelker, Hailey Walker and Arabella White.

“I felt like all of our hard work paid off,” said Marli Thrash, 17, of Albion. “We are in the studio a lot and we have a really good teacher.”

Provided photos: “Jumanji” – 1st Place National Grand Champion, Age 13 over Group

The dancers have been working on their numbers since September, sometimes putting in five hours a day at the studio. The rehearsal time picks up on breaks and in the early summer as they get ready for nationals.

Dance Theater competed with 28 other studios at the Elite Dance Challenge in New Jersey. Dance Theater sent three different teams and they performed 32 numbers, and advanced to the final dance off for three.

Johnson, 39, is celebrated his 20^th year of owning the dance studio. One of his dance teams won at nationals in 2018.

He was grateful for a chance to see the dance perform at this year’s recital and at the dance competitions without restrictions on crowd sizes, or have to wear masks on stage.

“These Hands” – 2nd Place National Grand Champion, Age 13 over Group

In 2020, Dance Theater did a recital but it was limited to 50 people, including the crowd. He staggered that recital over 10 sessions – 10 hours in one day. Last year the group performed in competitions while wearing masks and with a limit on guests.

This year it was “back to normal” for Johnson and the dancers. He was thrilled to see the groups having fun on stage, and to see the competitive teams advance in the regional competition in Rochester, earning a shot at nationals.

“It does feel good coming out a pandemic,” Johnson said. “It was nice to be back on stage in the competitive dance circuit.”

He praised the dedication of the dance teams. Johnson has about 130 dancers at the studio, with about 30 on the competitive teams. The competitive dancers are at the studio usually two to three times a week, sometimes from 4 to 10 p.m., honing their craft.

“It is a dedicated group of dancers who are looking for a little more,” he said.

Johnson works with the competitive teams, and will bring in guest choreographers to help make the performances even better.

Thrash, one of the dancers, said the group appreciates Johnson’s commitment to the program.

“I’m very thankful for ‘B’ and for everything he has done,” she said.

Dance Theater will have its fall open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 11-12, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Aug. 13. Dance Theater is located at 425 Main St. Call the studio at (585) 590-4643 for more information.

“The Power” – 2nd Place National Grand Champion,  Age 12 under Group

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus program.

Enacted in the Fiscal Year 2023 New York State Budget, the program includes $1.3 billion allocated for the payment of recruitment and retention bonuses to certain health care and mental hygiene workers, a key initiative in the governor’s aim to increase the state’s health care workforce by 20 percent over the next five years.

Bonuses will be awarded to eligible workers who make less than $125,000 annually and remain in their positions for at least six months. Disbursements will be commensurate with the number of hours worked and duration of service within designated vesting periods for up to a total of $3,000 per employee.

“Throughout the pandemic, including the early days when many were hunkered down at home, our health care workers and first responders have shown up day after day to keep New Yorkers healthy and save lives,” Governor Hochul said. “Health care workers are the foundation of our medical system, and we need to acknowledge the sacrifices they have made to bring us through these challenging times. Our bonus program is about more than just thanks, this is an investment in health care and with it we will retain, rebuild, and grow our health care workforce and ensure we deliver the highest quality care for New Yorkers.”

The new HWB provision is authorized under part ZZ of New York’s 2022-2023 Enacted Education, Labor, Family Assistance Health and Mental Hygiene Bill, to facilitate an incentive program for the purpose of recruiting, retaining, and rewarding health care and mental hygiene workers meeting specified eligibility requirements.

Employers eligible for HWB program funding include providers participating in Medicaid with at least one employee, and other providers, facilities, pharmacies and school-based health centers licensed under the state Public Health Law, Mental Hygiene Law, and Education Law, as well as certain programs funded by the Office of Mental Health, Office for the Aging, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, and the Office of Children and Family Services.

Employees eligible for HWB payments provide hands-on health care services and can include certain front line health care and mental hygiene practitioners, technicians, assistants, support staff and aides. They must be receiving an annualized base salary (excluding any bonuses or overtime pay) of $125,000 or less, and can be full-time, part-time, or temporary. State employees who meet the eligibility requirements for the program will be eligible to receive the bonus payments, just as eligible employees who work outside of state government will be.  Such employees will be paid through existing State payroll systems.

Bonuses for employees will be determined by specific “vesting periods,” or hours worked during a consecutive six-month period between October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2024.

Qualified employees who work:

• At least 20 hours but no more than 30 hours per week are eligible for a bonus of $500.
• At least 30 hours but no more than 35 hours per week are eligible for a bonus of $1,000.
• At least 35 hours per week are eligible for a bonus of $1,500.

A qualified employee can receive up to a maximum of $3,000 in total bonus payments over two vesting periods. Employees may not receive bonuses if they have ever been suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program, and must be enrolled in the HWB program by their employer, who are mandated to award HWB funds no later than 30 days after a worker’s eligibility for a bonus has vested.

Eligible employers can submit employees who qualify for HWB payments by creating an account on the online HWB portal, which will be open on August 3, 2022, at www.nysworkerbonus.com. The health care worker bonus portal will open for education sector employers in October.

Additionally, employers must be either currently enrolled and maintain an active MMIS ID with eMedNY or employers that do not have an MMIS ID, meaning they are not enrolled in the NYS Medicaid system, will need to verify that they have a Statewide Financial System (SFS) ID. Eligible employers without eMedNY can enroll at www.emedny.org.

KNOWLESVILLE – The six-day run of the Orleans County 4-H Fair topped 26,000 people last week.

That is slightly below the attendance in 2021 but still made for a busy week at the fairgrounds. The attendance for the six days last week is estimated at 26,176. Last year it was estimated at 27,700.

The numbers are provided by Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County.

Batt considers 25,000 a benchmark for a very successful fair. The weather was cooperative last week, except for rainstorms on Thursday morning and late afternoon. The temperatures weren’t too oppressively hot, either.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Sylvia Bruning of Barre competes in the dairy showmanship competition last week.

Orleans, which has its fair the fourth week in July, also finds itself in competition with Genesee County, which has moved its fair from the third week in July to the fourth week.

Genesee reported an attendance of 75,000 for its fair, which is way up from a dozen years ago when there were only 13,000, according to The Batavian.

Orleans has steady crowds all week, including on Thursday when there was some rain. Friday was the busiest day when the parking lots were at capacity and some people parked along Wood Road.

Zack Welker, one of the ring men during Saturday’s 4-H Animal Meat Auction, exclaims when he sees a bid for Grant Kuipers’ pig. The auction’s sales topped $28,000, which was up about $8,000 from last year’s auction.

There were 43 exhibits in the Trolley Building that were picked to go to the State Fair. This is the first time the 4-H program will have exhibits at the State Fair since 2019.

“I thought it was a great week for our 4-H youth,” said Kristina Gabalski, the 4-H program coordinator. “They come together and support each other and help each other learn new things. Many challenged themselves and went outside their comfort zones by exhibiting in new areas and trying something new like the Iron Chef competition or helping in one of the food stands.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and give back to their community,” Gabalski said. “Their experiences at fair will help them be successful as they move on to college and careers.”

Colleen Pages works with a group of four camels in the ring as part of Hog Diggity Dog & More, which included dogs doing acrobatics and a 750-pound pig that can sing to Old MacDonald Had A Farm.

ALBION – Three people pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court this morning, including a Kendall resident who admitted he was drunk while exceeding 100 miles per hour.

Lazaro Botello, 31, of Kendall pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated for an incident on June 20 when he was stopped in Clarendon. He was charged with unlawful fleeing from a police officer, resisting arrest, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, speeding and DWI.

Botello said he had three beers in an hour before driving. He has a prior DWI.

His plea today to aggravated felony drunk driving satisfies all other charges against him. He faces a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 12.

In other cases:

• Franklin Armstrong, 41, of Medina pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

He has a prior of third-degree assault from 2001. Because of that conviction, he is not allowed to have firearms. However he was in possession of a pistol, rifle and shotgun.

As part of a plea agreement today, he will face a maximum of up to 6 months in the county jail and five years of probation when he is sentenced on Oct. 12.

• Darrin Brown, 32, formerly of Orleans County and now of Lockport, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for taking a 12-gauge Winchester shotgun.

He has been accepted into treatment court. If he completes that program the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor and won’t face any time in jail. If he doesn’t complete the treatment court, he could face a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison.

Brown will also need to pay restitution for the stolen shotgun.

Employees get 2% raises first two years, then 3% for three years

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the ratification of a five-year labor agreement with the Civil Service Employee Association, CSEA, which includes over 52,000 New York State employees in a wide variety of roles.

The agreement, which runs until April 1, 2026, won the approval of more than 80 percent of CSEA members who cast ballots.

“This contract fairly compensates the hard-working men and women of the Civil Service Employee Association who help to deliver critical services to New Yorkers every day,” Hochul said. “I thank President Sullivan for her partnership in getting this agreement over the finish line and ensuring that it acknowledges the valuable contributions of CSEA members to our great state.”

The ratified contract includes raises in each year of the agreement of 2% for the first two years and 3% for the remaining three years. In addition, the contract includes other increases in compensation such as a one-time lump sum bonus of $3,000 and changes in longevity as a result of changes in the health insurance program that will encourage in-network employee participation and help control health insurance costs. The contract also includes funding of labor-management committees.

Civil Service Employee Association President Mary E. Sullivan said, “I would again like to thank our negotiating team for their hard work and dedication to delivering this new state contract. The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by our membership and across all four of our executive branch bargaining units.”

CSEA represents over 52,000 New York State employees in four bargaining units.

About 700 attend event outside middle school in Medina

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Mason Cady, 8, of Kendall rides in a bike rodeo on Tuesday evening at the National Night Out in Medina, outside the middle school.

The event was free to the community and connected residents with local law enforcement officers and other first responders, as well as agencies.

National Night Out was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions and concerns. The event, in its first five years, was held at Bullard Park in Albion.

About 700 people attended the National Night Out.

Penny Miller, left, and Kim Brueckner serve up hot dogs. They were volunteering with Boy Scout Troop 28, which had 800 hot dogs ready for the event.

The Walmart in Albion donated the hot dogs and bottled water. Burger King in Albion donated the ketchup and condiments.

Jonah Fisher, 5, of Albion high fives Sparky the Fire Dog. Jonah’s dad, Medina firefighter Adam Fisher, wore the costume of the friendly dalmatian.

Jack Smith of Medina is next to Jonah, ready to greet Sparky.

The Safety Pup also attended National Night Out and greeted community members.

A lineup of fire trucks was available to tour, including ladder trucks from Albion, Clarendon and Shelby.

David Mogle, Albion police chief, let people take a peek at the Albion PD’s SWAT vehicle which is available for responses in the county and region.

Medina police officer Dustin Meredith assists Gabriella Burtwell, 5, of Medina in completing the bike rodeo course.

Crystal Elliott of Medina gave people a chance to paint rocks. She leads the “Medina Rocks” group on Facebook.

Medina firefighter Dustin Pahura helps Phoenix Konieczny, 5, of Medina aim a hose and direct water at targets.

State Trooper Doug Rich showed people a roll-over simulator to emphasize the importance of wearing seatbelts.

These kids enjoy sliding down and climbing through a bounce house.

The battle of belts was won by Jesse Cudzilo and his family – wife Katie and sons Caleb and Noah. Cudzilo is the new director of the Orleans County YMCA. They topped seven other teams by putting seat belts on, and then rotating to four different seats. They did it in 40.44 seconds.

The 2022 GMC Terrain was made available for the event by Hartway Motors Chevrolet.

These girls put their hands up after getting their seat belts on. They are Ashlyn Fisk, right, and Harmoni Wilson. Other members of team “Oreos” included Caliyah St. Louis and Mia Kujawa. They were the top youth team with a time of 53.16 seconds. Medina Police Department Lt. Todd Draper was referee in back and blew the whistle when they were done.

Press Release, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

LOCKPORT – On Tuesday, August 2, at 5:05 p.m., the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a Larceny from Runnings at 5789 South Transit Road.

The caller stated a black Jeep Wrangler was fleeing the scene northbound on South Transit Road and provided a license plate number for the vehicle. Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Kennedy was in the area when the call came out and located the vehicle on South Transit Road near the Lockport city line.

Deputy Kennedy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. The vehicle then fled into the City of Lockport. Deputy Kennedy continued to pursue the suspect vehicle through the City of Lockport and back into the Town of Lockport on Route 31.

Deputy Kennedy was then joined by Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Redenbach and they continued to pursue the suspect vehicle eastbound on Route 31 into the Town of Royalton. The Middleport Police Department then joined the pursuit to assist as the pursuit then continued into Orleans County still eastbound on Route 31.

Once in Orleans County, the pursuit was joined by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Medina Police Department, Albion Police Department, and New York State Police. Pursuing units included several K-9 units from the various agencies.

As the pursuit continued eastbound on Route 31, an assisting agency was able to successfully deploy spike strips and deflate the passenger side front tire of the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued eastbound before then turning southbound into an open field.

Pursuing units continued to pursue into the field where two of the occupants fled on foot into the woods on the south end of the field. An Orleans County Sheriff’s K-9 was deployed and apprehended the first suspect.

The second suspect continued to flee into the woods. Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputies, Middleport Police, and an Orleans County Sheriff’s K9 Unit entered the woods and began tracking the suspect.

At this time, the Niagara County Sheriff’s helicopter arrived on scene and began searching the area from the air. After an extended search of the area, the suspect was located in the woods and taken into custody.

The cooperation and teamwork of the involved agencies brought this incident to a successful conclusion with four people being taken into custody and charged. The four suspects and their charges are listed below:

• Kelly Simons of Rochester, NY charged with Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle 3rd, Reckless Driving, and numerous Vehicle & Traffic Law violations related to the pursuit. Simons is also being charged with Felony Criminal Mischief in Orleans County for damages done to a farmer’s field as a result of fleeing the police.

• Cory DuBois of Rochester, NY charged with Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd and Resisting Arrest. DuBois also had an outstanding warrant out of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.

• Robert Ball of Rochester, NY charged with Grand Larceny 4th, Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd, and False Personation. Ball also had an additional two outstanding warrants out of the City of Rochester Police.

• Tyrone Graham of Rochester, NY charged with Grand Larceny 4th, Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd, Resisting Arrest, and False Personation. Graham had an additional seven outstanding warrants out of five different jurisdictions.

Simons was processed at the Niagara County Correctional Facility and then turned over to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to answer their charges. DuBois, Ball and Graham were held at the Niagara County Correctional Facility for centralized arraignment for their charges and outstanding warrants.

Editor’s Note: The chase reached Maple Ridge Road in Medina near the beginning of the National Night Out, when several law enforcement agencies were gathered outside Wise Middle School in Medina from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Officers from the Medina Police Department, Albion Police Department and State Police were at National Night Out with three K-9 units and were able to leave and assist in the pursuit and apprehension. Medina officers were able to deploy spike strips on Maple Ridge Road to help slow the pursuit, the Medina PD said.

Cobblestone Museum seeks to have hamlet included on National Register of Historic Places

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Cobblestone Universalist Church, built in 1834, is the oldest cobblestone church building in North America. It is among several historic sites in the Childs hamlet near the intersection of routes 98 and 104. Three cobblestone buildings at the museum – the church, the Ward House and a schoolhouse – are listed as a National Historic Landmark.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society and Museum is one of this year’s Preserve New York grantees, Museum director Doug Farley announced Monday.

A check for $8,000 received on Monday will fund a Cultural Resource Survey of the hamlet of Childs, which will go on to inform a National Register of Historic Places nomination. The Preservation League of New York State and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts are thrilled to help fund this important work, Farley said.

“A successful listing on the National Register will make tax credits available for approved rehabilitation projects by both home and business property owners in the designated area,” Farley said. “National Register listing will also allow the Cobblestone Museum to qualify for certain grant funding that requires NR designation.”

Through its Preserve New York grant, the Cobblestone Museum will work with the Landmark Society of Western New York to conduct a cultural resource survey of the hamlet of Childs. This reconnaissance level survey will be used to inform a National Register historic district nomination, which will include the Cobblestone Museum buildings and surrounding properties. This project seeks to build on the momentum created by the inclusion of the hamlet on the Landmark Society’s 2019 Five to Revive list. The Museum has been in contact with the New York State Historic Preservation Office and has identified preliminary district boundaries, according to Farley.

At its 2022 meeting, an independent grant panel selected 22 applicants in 18 counties to receive support totaling $235,920. Each grant supports important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to the state’s arts and cultural heritage. Many of these grants will lead to historic district designation or expansion, tell the stories of communities throughout the state and allowing property owners to take advantage of the New York State and Federal Historic tax credits. This is even more valuable now, Farley said, with the New York State Commercial Historic tax credit recently expanded for small projects, granting property owners a 30% credit. With this announcement of the 2022 awards, support provided by Preserve New York since its launch in 1993 totals more than $3.5 million for 510 projects statewide.

Erin Anheier with the Cobblestone Society wrote this new grant because she has written several successful National Register nominations in the past, and was best prepared to tackle the task, Farley said.

“We currently apply for about 15 grants each year and receive about 10,” he said. “The check came Monday and work on the Historic Register nomination should start very soon. This grant certainly benefits the Cobblestone Museum, but I am also pleased that his particular grant has many benefits for the entire historic hamlet of Childs.”

The Preserve New York program is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts and the Preservation League, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State legislature.

Since 1993, Preserve New York has been providing funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations that need technical, professional assistance to guide a variety of preservation projects. This historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports and cultural resource surveys funded through this program lead to positive outcomes across New York’s 62 counties, Farley reported.

“The Preserve New York program ensures arts and culture organizations continue to be beacons of New York’s rich history,” said Mara Manus, NYSCA executive director. “By preserving significant spaces and sites, we promote vitality and drive economic activity across our great state. NYSCA applauds the Preservation League of New York State for their stewardship of this crucial opportunity and extends our sincere congratulations to all awardees.”

“The projects funded by Preserve New York exemplify the excellent preservation planning work being done throughout our state,” said Katie Eggers Comeau, vice president for Policy and Preservation at the Preservation League. “With each of these grants, a meaningful historic place takes a significant step toward a more secure future, and we are pleased to be working with such dedicated project sponsors to make this work possible.”

ALBION – The Board of Education on Monday approved a contract with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to have a deputy assigned to the district as a school resource officer.

The district wasn’t able to reach an agreement with the Village of Albion and opted to go with the Sheriff’s Office.

Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, praised the work of Albion police officer Chris Glogowski, who served as the SRO since February 2019. He established great rapport with students and staff, Edwards said.

The district will continue to work closely with the Albion Police Department for lockdown drills and other issues at the school, he said.

Edwards during last month’s board meeting said the village wanted about $20,000 more annually than the previous contract, which expired on June 30. The previous contract was at $81,250 annually.

The superintendent and board also liked how the contract with the Sheriff’s Office was based on a daily rate, and not a lump sum for the school year.

An article in the Orleans Hub last week stated the district was considering having two school resource officers. But Edwards said that isn’t the plan right now. Albion may look to add a second SRO in the future.

For now the district looks forward to welcoming a deputy from the Sheriff’s Office, with a start date on Sept. 1.

Edwards said the county will be reimbursed about $91,000 as part of the first year of the contract. That includes $502.10 per day in the 2022-2023 school year and $510.26 per day the following school year.

Overtime will be $61.05 per hour the first year and $62.53 per hour the second year.

The contract runs from Sept. 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024. The deputy will be off as school resource officer in the summer and will work with the Sheriff’s Office in other duties in July and August.

The Sheriff’s Office will also provide a fully equipped patrol vehicle for the school resource officer.

Kendall and Lyndonville also contract with the Sheriff’s Office for a school resource officer, and Edwards said the Albion contract mirrors the agreements with Lyndonville and Kendall.