Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a total of $567 million is available to help low-income electric and gas utility customers pay off past utility bills.
The financial assistance program includes an estimated $557 million statewide Covid-19 bill credit program for low-income customers adopted on Thursday by the New York State Public Service Commission.
Under the bill credit program, the PSC is leveraging the $250 million from the FY 2023 Enacted State Budget to require utilities to provide a one-time credit to customers enrolled in the Energy Affordability Program that will eliminate unpaid utility bills that have accrued through May 1, 2022. The program also authorizes the same relief for any eligible low-income customers that enroll in EAP by December 31, 2022.
“It’s unacceptable that far too many New Yorkers are at risk of having their lights shut off for failure to pay their utility bills due to financial problems caused by the pandemic,” Governor Hochul said. “To address this, I partnered with the State Legislature to appropriate $250 million toward reducing the burden of utility arrears. Today’s action by the Public Service Commission builds on the budget appropriation and is a major step forward to help vulnerable New Yorkers maintain their utility services while they get back on their feet.”
The Covid-19 pandemic caused significant financial hardship to low-income customers and resulted in the shuttering of businesses and widespread loss of jobs. The number of customers that have unpaid utility bills and the total dollar amount of unpaid utility bills has risen considerably since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, and this bill credit program provides financial relief to the most vulnerable residential customers in order to help them avoid having their utility services terminated for non-payment. More than 327,000 low-income New York households will directly benefit from the program.
Under the bill credit program, all State assistance available for utility bill assistance will be coordinated to ensure maximum benefits to ratepayers and to avoid duplication of efforts. This includes relief available to low-income customers from the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program to reduce unpaid utility bills, estimated at $100 million, coupled with $250 million from the New York State budget appropriation directed to utilities to eliminate pandemic-related unpaid utility bills for low-income households.
Utility shareholders have provided more than $36 million in contributions to benefit ratepayers. The bill credit program is estimated to cost the major utility ratepayers $181 million after they are allocated their share of the budget appropriation, and customer credits and shareholder contributions that reduce the program cost are applied.
This one-time, low-income utility bill credit, which will be applied to affected customers’ bills by the utilities, requires no action by existing low-income customers enrolled in the EAP to receive the benefit.
The bill credit is expected to be applied to customers’ accounts by August 1, 2022. PSEG Long Island and the municipal utilities have been allocated $10.4 million of the $250 million appropriated in the budget to be used for the bill credit program for low-income customers. The PSC anticipates a future proposal by consumer groups and stakeholders to address the substantial increase in unpaid electric and gas utility bills for remaining residential and non-residential customers resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of the overall work to reduce unpaid electric and gas utility bills, Governor Hochul recently launched a new initiative between OTDA and the major utilities to identify more low-income households to enroll in the EAP program, which provides utility bill discounts that save participating households hundreds of dollars per year on utility costs. Any newly eligible low-income customer that enrolls in EAP before December 31, 2022 will be included in the bill credit program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 June 2022 at 8:06 am
ALBION – The village summer parks program is back at six weeks this summer. The program was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19 and last year’s program returned but only for four weeks.
The program runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Mondays through Fridays. It starts on June 27 and runs until Aug. 5.
A team of eight park supervisors will lead recreational games and activities. There will arts and crafts, water games, obstacle courses, bowling trips at Oak Orchard Lanes and many other activities.
The program is free to children in the Albion school district. Parents and guardians are urged to attend registration the first week of the parks program to meet the supervisors and fill out important paperwork.
Most of the action will be at Bullard Park but on some Mondays there will be activities and park supervisors at Lafayette Park on Park and State streets and Veteran’s Park on the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street.
There will be two tennis camps from July 5 to July 8 and July 11 to July 15, as well as a baseball camp from July 25 to July 29.
The children’s carnival, which is open to all kids in the county, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 13.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 June 2022 at 7:14 pm
Bill Lattin, former director of the Cobblestone Society Museum, holds a death mask of Dr. Roswell Park, which is part of Lattin’s collection of Victorian mourning art.
CHILDS – An exhibit showcasing Victorian mourning art prominent in the late 19th century will open June 24 in the Cobblestone Society Museum’s Upper Gallery, next to the Cobblestone Church, with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. The cobblestone Ward House, where a body cooler is displayed, will also be open for viewing.
The exhibit is a collection belonging to Bill Lattin, former director and curator of the Cobblestone Society Museum. He has put together a floor-to-ceiling exhibit of 200 pieces of funeral art and related ephemera.
Lattin said he first became interested in mourning art when he was in college during the mid-1960s. A college professor who taught photography had a collection of antique post mortem pictures from the 19th century and Lattin found them fascinating.
The first piece he purchased was a death mask of Dr. Roswell Park, who was the attending physician when President William McKinley was assassinated. An antique dealer in Brockport sold it to Lattin for $5. He said the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society has one like it, but in a different color.
“From time to time I’d find unusual things and pick them up,” Lattin said. “In the last 25 to 30 years, I became more aggressive about finding things.”
Lattin said the Victorians tried to make death a beautiful thing, as portrayed by the flowers and ornate decorations of many of the items.
Many in his collection are one-of-a-kind (handmade) memorials. Others include manufactured knick-knacks and many memorial prints, as well as art made from hair in shadowboxes. One shadowbox holds a stuffed dove, crucifix and wax flowers.
Another poignant piece is a framed print of a dog, who appears to be in mourning at a young child’s empty bed. The dog is sitting on his hind legs with his head bowed, as if he knows he has lost his playmate.
Visitors to the exhibit will receive a catalog describing each of the pieces, along with a booklet titled “Life and Death of Rich Mrs. Duck, A Notorious Glutton,” in exchange for a donation. The booklet would be used to talk to children about death, Farley said.
Lattin said he previously exhibited his collection of Victorian mourning art about 10 years ago in Proctor Room of the Cobblestone Church. He said it attracted more visitors than any other exhibit he did as director of the Cobblestone Museum.
The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or by appointment by calling (585) 589-9013.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 June 2022 at 5:59 pm
YATES – A group of volunteers and town officials have been busy for nearly a year planning a bicentennial celebration for the Town of Yates.
The festivities will begin in July, with other events planned for August and September.
Prior to 1812, Orleans County was part of Genesee County. After it was subdivided, a parcel of land known as Northton was set off on April 17, 1822. The name was changed to Yates in 1823 to honor Governor Joseph C. Yates.
The first permanent settler in the town was George Houseman, who came from Jefferson County in 1809 and settled three miles east of what would become Lyndonville.
Anyone who would like to read the entire history of Yates will find several publications at the Yates Community Library.
Jim Simon
The bicentennial committee’s goal for the activities is to celebrate and honor the rich history of the town, to instill community pride in Yates and to inspire future generations, according to the 200th anniversary celebration website.
Town Supervisor Jim Simon is chair of the anniversary celebration committee, which includes Susan Hrovat as deputy chair; Dawn Metty, historian; and Brad Bentley, Kelly Cousins, Cindy Grabowski, Ginny Hughes, Russ Martino, Cal Stinson, Georgette Stockman, Joanne Suhr, Valerie Wells, Tom Wenhold and Katie Whipple.
Celebrations will include a display of historical artifacts in the town hall on July 3, with docents, a guest speaker, food and music. There will be an ice cream social from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., children’s games from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., singing popular songs at area churches from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., a barbershop quartet from 2 to 3 p.m. and a school children’s chorale from 3:30 to 4 p.m.
On the Fourth of July, the town will have a float in Lyndonville’s big parade.
Continuing into August, a Street Fair will take place Aug. 19. The town is seeking to close Main Street between Maple and Eagle streets. If not, they will use library grounds, the parking lot behind the town hall and town parking lots. In celebration of the local farmers and their harvests, there will be food trucks, a Civil War encampment at Patterson Park, music, cemetery tours at 6 and 7 p.m., craft vendors and tours of the town hall and the historical artifacts.
A grand finale Lake Fair is being planned for Sept. 24. This will include a 200th anniversary ceremony at the newly upgraded Town Park on the lake on Morrison Road. There will be a ribbon cutting and formal ceremony from 1 to 2 p.m. with keynote speakers, the school band, food trucks, a birthday cake, live music at 3 p.m. and other fun activities for young and old.
Simon hopes to have most of the work at the Town Park completed by the end of August. A $2.53 million grant from the state Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) is funding erosion control, road and parking improvements, an enclosed pavilion with kitchenette and restrooms, trail improvements, bank stabilization protection, a kayak boat launch and handicap accessible playground.
The town has already coordinated with the Yates Baptist Church for its 200th anniversary celebration. All of the historical markers in the town have been repainted, as well as the town hall.
“The Town of Yates represents so much that is good about America – faith and family in a rural and peaceful setting,” Simon said. “Our 200-year heritage is not only preserved, but it is respected and cherished. We are blessed with good and hard-working people, and we are grateful that our ancestors protected our wonderful natural resources, from our fertile farm land to our great lake. Please help us celebrate our bicentennial on July 3, Aug. 19 and Sept. 24. Details are on the town website and in the town hall.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Chris Jacobs (NY-27), Grace Meng (NY-06), and Brian Higgins (NY-26) introduced bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives that seeks to restrict access to enhanced body armor, and they named the measure in memory of Aaron Salter Jr., the retired Buffalo Police Officer and supermarket security guard killed in the Buffalo massacre. He was unable to stop the shooter who was protected by enhanced body armor during the attack.
Chris Jacobs
“Four weeks ago, we witnessed an unspeakable tragedy here in Buffalo when ten people were massacred at a local grocery store,” said Rep. Jacobs. “One of those victims, Aaron Salter, was the security guard for that store and gave his life protecting others who were inside. His heroic confrontation of the shooter undoubtedly saved lives. Unfortunately, the shooter was wearing enhanced body armor that protected him from Aaron’s attempts to take him down. Had the killer not had such armor, the outcome would have been one with much less bloodshed. There is simply no reason for enhanced body armor to be used without restriction on our streets. It puts others in extraordinary danger and prevents the swift termination of a dangerous threat. We have an opportunity to make a real change here, and that is why I am proud to join Rep. Meng and Rep. Higgins in introducing the bipartisan ‘Aaron Salter Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act’ to ensure military-grade armor cannot be used for malicious purposes. I urge every one of my colleagues to support it.”
The Aaron Salter Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act would prohibit the sale, transfer or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians – specifically, those body armor that meets or exceeds a Level III ballistic resistance level as determined by the National Institution of Justice. Presently, there are no federal restrictions on civilians’ access to this level of body armor which can be legally purchased online. Law enforcement, active-duty military and other public servants whose job responsibilities require them to possess body armor would be exempted under this measure.
“Armor designed for warfare has no place on our streets, and the ‘Aaron Salter Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act’ is a common sense step to ensure that enhanced body armor is not in the hands of bad actors,” said Rep. Meng. “Gun violence plagues our communities, and a gunman who is protected by enhanced body armor is even more frightening. Over the last decade, there have been 17 mass shootings where the gunman was protected by some form of body armor. That is two and a half times more than the previous three decades. When would be shooters are able to arm themselves with military grade equipment, our community is at increased risk. We must ensure that our law enforcement community – and everyone who is the first to respond to shootings – are not facing military grade equipment that inhibits their ability to respond to the shooter. I urge all my colleagues in the House to support this legislation to help prevent future tragedies from occurring.”
“Aaron Salter was a 30-year veteran of the Buffalo Police Department, he saved many lives, but ultimately was rendered defenseless due to the shooter’s body armor, allowing a racist shooter’s rampage on a neighborhood supermarket to continue,” said Rep. Higgins. “This is a public safety bill named for a hero, which will protect communities as well as law enforcement dedicating themselves to answering the call in emergency situations.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2022 at 4:32 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club awarded $3,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors today. Pictured, from left, include Rotary Club President Alex Krebs, Leah Kania, Sawyer Braley and James Beach.
James Beach won the $1,250 Edward Archbald Memorial Scholarship, given to a senior who shares Archbald’s love of sports, recreational activities, community service and work experience. James has been an honor roll student, who has been active in the music program while playing on the tennis and golf teams. He also is in the chess and robotics clubs. He worked at Tops and volunteered over 100 hours at the Barre Presbyterian Church. He will be majoring in cybersecurity at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Leah Kania won the Dick Eddy “Service Above Self” Scholarship, a $1,250 award that is given to a student committed to community service and leadership, and who displays high potential for future accomplishment. Leah has been very active in the school chorus, band and drama programs. She has been a Student Council officer all four years of high school and is the current president. She is a member of the Rotary Interact Club, Close-Up Club and Multicultural/Diversity Club. Leah is the class valedictorian who gave more than 125 hours of community service. She will major in vocal performance at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio.
Sawyer Braley was awarded the $500 Rotary Career Advancement Prize for a senior committed to community service, school activities and work experience. Sawyer is an Eagle Scout candidate who has been active on a trapshooting team and on the school’s soccer team. He will be in an advanced welding program at the Kentucky Welding Institute.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2022 at 3:25 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: People enjoy the splash pad at Bullard Park this afternoon with temperatures at 90 degrees.
The National Weather Service is warning people of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and through the evening for much of the state, including Orleans County.
The Weather Service also has issued a tornado watch until 11 p.m., warning of possible powerful winds and hail in Orleans and most of New York.
Orleans could see the showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m., the Weather Service said.
A heat advisory also is in effect until 6 p.m. today with the high temperature at 90 degrees.
The high temperatures the next few days include sunny and 78 on Friday, mostly sunny and 68 on Saturday and sunny and 70 on Sunday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2022 at 11:50 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Firefighters work to put out a fire in a truck on Wednesday outside the Albion Walmart.
The truck was picking up used tires from the Walmart. It had more than 400 tires on it when the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The truck is owned by HTI Recycling of Lockport.
Orleans County Fire Investigator Cole Hardenbrook determined the fire was caused by an electrical issue in the truck box, the Orleans County Emergency Management Agency reported today.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 5:39 p.m. The store was evacuated.
A fire-suppression foam from the Barre Volunteer Fire Company helped to smother the flames and eventually put the fire out.
The store was able to reopen about two hours after the fire at 7:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2022 at 11:00 am
ALBION – The Albion Police Department will be offering a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course to the community.
The course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT).
Topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, the role of professional guardians, civilian response options. There will be examples of things to do in case of an active shooter event.
The Albion Police Department is committed to keeping the community safe and wants to gauge the interest from the community in the class, the department said in an email.
Depending the interest there may be more than one class on different dates. Those interested should send an email to contact@albionpolice.com and mention you are interested in the CRASE training.
The Albion PD would like to offer the trainings within the next month. If a business owner is interested the Police Department would be willing to conduct a training for all of the employees if they cannot attend the training.
Provided photos: The Growlers Blues Band will perform July 28 at State Street Park.
Press Release, Orleans Renaissance Group
MEDINA – “Blue Thursdays” will be a series of free summer concerts at the State Street Park Pavilion in Medina, July through August.
The Print Shop and Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com, both of Medina, are bringing together top regional blues talent for a spectacular summer music series.
The Dave Viterna Band will kick off the series on July 7.
Beginning Thursday, July 7, and running for six Thursday evenings through August 11, the free concert series will feature six bands, starting with Medina’s own Dave Viterna Band.
Concert goers will enjoy top regional talent from the Buffalo area blues scene along with food by Cusimano’s Pizzeria and Parker’s Pit BBQ, with refreshments provided by award-winning establishments Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and 810 Meadworks.
In 2017, ORG facilitated the construction of a 24′ x 20′ timber-frame bandstand/pavilion in State Street Park as an outdoor venue for music events.
“The community has long desired a good outdoor venue for music events such as this,” said Chris Busch, president of ORG.
The group facilitated the construction of the bandstand/pavilion with funding obtained through a private benefactor along with the Medina DPW and some donated materials and labor.
“By the time the site was truly finished and ready, along came Covid and put our plans on hold,” said Busch. “We’ve been planning this event with The Print Shop for sometime and 2022 is the year it’s going to happen. We hope to make this a huge annual event.”
The performers booked for Medina are award-winning blues bands from the Buffalo area.
The concert lineup includes Dave Constantino, left, and Frank Grizanti.
“We wanted to kick off the series with top-notch talent that people here may not have had a chance to experience,” said Busch. “We’re really excited to bring these bands to Medina.”
The 2022 Blue Thursdays line-up includes:
July 7 – Dave Viterna Band
July 14 – Frank Grizanti Band
July 21 – Jeremy Keyes Band
July 28 – Growlers Blues Band
August 4 – Dave Constantino Band
August 11 – Maria Aurigema
“We want to give a big shout out to Dave Viterna who opened the doors to many of these bands for us,” said Busch. “Dave was a great help to us in getting Blue Thursdays off the ground.”
Additional sponsorship for this event was generously provided by Modern Mercantile and Main Street Liquor of Medina.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Gloria Brent, owner of Modern Mercantile and Main Liquor for sponsoring the bands,” said Busch. “We couldn’t have done it without her generosity.”
All the concerts are free and open to the public. Shows run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There are no rain dates.
“For up-to-date gig, any cancellations and venue information, people should go to bluethursdays.com,” said Busch. “If the show is going to be cancelled due to rain or for any last minute news, we’ll post there and on the Blue Thursdays Facebook page.”
Jeremy Keyes, left, and Maria Aurigema will perform this summer in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2022 at 8:03 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A fire with a truck holding 400-plus tires is out and the Albion Walmart has reopened to customers. The above photo was taken at about 7:20 p.m. Firefighters pulled out some of the tires that weren’t on fire.
Firefighters and Code Enforcement Officer Dan Strong tested the air quality and deemed it was safe for people to be in the building. The store reopened at about 7:30 p.m.
About two hours earlier a truck full of used tires was on fire. The truck was backed up to the store at the auto center on the west side. Firefighters had the driver of HTI Recycling of Lockport move the truck away from the store. That likely saved the building from significant damage.
Albion Fire Chief Rob Conner said water didn’t help put out the fire. Instead, they used a special firefighting foam to smother the fire. The Barre Volunteer Fire Company used about 110 gallons of the concentrated foam. When mixed with water that is more than 1,000 gallons that were put on the fire.
No one was injured due to the fire, Conner said.
Orleans County Emergency Management also brought its foam trailer to the scene.
The DEC Spill Team and the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control were called to the scene due to runoff from the foam.
Orleans County fire investigators are on the scene to determine a cause of the fire. An excavator from the Orleans County DPW also will be used to take off the side of the box of the truck so the other tires can more easily be removed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2022 at 6:40 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Firefighters are trying to put out a fire on a truck that is loaded with more than 400 used tires next to the Albion Walmart.
The fire spewed dark smoke on the west side of Walmart. The store has been evacuated.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 5:39 p.m. Barre firefighters were also called to use a special foam to try to contain the fire.
The truck is from HTI Recycling of Lockport. A Sheriff’s deputy said the driver started the truck and felt a pop and then noticed an electrical fire up high in the truck.
Fire investigators have been called.
No additional information is available.
Barre firefighters, including Doug Bentley (lower left), are on scene, trying to put out the fire.
The fire is on the back side of Albion in a truck by the auto center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2022 at 5:06 pm
SHELBY – Residents shared concerns that two proposed wind turbines, that would peak at 650 feet high from the top tip height, don’t fit in with a rural area and would be the beginning of more of the oversized structures for the town.
The Town of Shelby held a public hearing on Tuesday evening about a special use permit and the site plan for the turbines proposed by Borrego Solar System Inc. They are planned for South Gravel Road in an apple orchard owned by the Smith family.
Town Supervisor Jeff Smith recently retired as an apple grower. His family’s property is proposed for the two turbines. He is recusing himself from any votes or official discussion about the project.
Borrego already has completed a big energy project in Orleans County. in 2019 it developed an 8.5 megawatt solar project in the Town of Ridgeway on Allis and Beals roads on land owned by Ken Baker.
The two turbines were presented as a “community wind project” by David Strong, senior project developer for Borrego. He said the turbines could provide enough electricity for 2,000 homes. He said residents could be eligible for 10 percent off their electricity costs through the project.
Several residents spoke during the hearing, including from left: Kathy Colley, Karen Jones and David Reese.
Residents during a public hearing had many questions. Kathy Colley wondered where the parts for the turbines would be manufactured. She wants assurance the two turbines would be properly maintained for years to come. She worries the turbines would have a negative impact on the Oak Orchard River through vibrations.
Others shared concerns that Borrego is using the two turbines to get a foothold in the town, with a bigger project to come. The project, at 10 megawatts, is below the 25 megawatt minimum for a renewable energy project to obtain a siting permit from the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES).
“The two will turn into 20,” said David Reese. “It’s small little bites at the apple. It’sd a domino effect. We’re chipping away slowly of our backyard.”
Reese said the turbines will be disruptive with their enormous size on a rural landscape.
The two Vesta V150 turbines would have a capacity to generate 10 megawatts of power. The hub height is 393 feet with a rotor diameter of 493 feet. With shadow flicker, Borrego officials said in the worst-case scenario the residences and businesses along Maple Ridge Road, Salt Works Road and South Gravel Road will see 19 hours and 34 minutes of shadow flicker a year, or an average of just over 3 minutes a day.
Patti Bushover also is concerned the two-turbine project could lead to more. The public hearing was attended by about 50 people, but there were few younger adults in the room.
“There aren’t young people here,” Bushover said. “You guys are deciding the future and it’s not our future. It’s the future for the young people.”
About 50 people attended the public hearing about whether Borrego should be issued a special use permit and have the site plan approved.
Michael O’Keefe said he supports the project if it stays at two turbines and doesn’t lead to more. He said the community should do as much as it can to meet local energy needs and be less dependent on others.
Phil Keppler, a local beef farmer on South Gravel Road, said he supports the project but would like to see Borrego pay more than the $500,000 it is offering the community to provide more tax relief and help the town keep up with road maintenance.
Wendi Pencille sought clarification on that $500,000, whether it was a one-time payment or if it would be spread over the life of the project, an estimated 15 to 30 years. She also asked if the 10 percent discount on electricity would be based on electricity from renewable energy, which is billed at a higher rate. In that case, the residents might not see a reduction in their electric bills, Pencille said.
Ryan Wilkins, the deputy town supervisor, said Borrego would be responding to questions in writing and wouldn’t give answers during the public hearing.
Resident Jim Zelazny also said Borrego should be paying more to the community. He said the Town of Sheldon in Wyoming County received $936,000 from the wind energy developer in 2018 for 112 megawatts of wind energy. That is about $8,300 per megawatt annually.
With Borrego, if the $500,000 is over 15 years that would be an average of about $33,000 a year or about $3,300 per megawatt annually, Zelazny said, advocating for more money for Shelby.
These residents also spoke during the hearing. They include Judy Smith, Michael O’Keefe and Wendi Pencille.
Judy Smith spoke during the hearing. The turbines would be on her family’s property. She said she has been to the Sheldon wind farms. The two in Shelby would be set farther back from the road than most in Sheldon, she said.
“After seeing it, I felt OK with it,” she said about seeing the Sheldon turbines. “It’s part of the solution, bringing power. Russia has every one over a barrel. I think this is part of the solution. It’s a way for us to be ourselves – to be free.”
Karen Jones of South Gravel Road said the turbines are out of scale for a rural area. She presented a model showing her home at 22 feet high, her barn at 70 feet in height and the turbines at more than 630 feet.
“This turbine will be visible from so much of Orleans County,” she said.
She also said Borrego may sell off the project to a different developer or operator. The company last month announced a sale of over 8.4 GW of solar and 6.4 GW/25 GWh of energy storage to ECP. Borrego officials said it is selling its development arm, including projects in the pipeline, but not the company itself.
“Who are dealing with?” Jones said.
Georgette Stockman also submitted a comment online during the hearing. She said the area has bald eagles and other wildlife with the refuge so close by. She worries the two turbines could be a menace to the eagles and wildlife.
“They are so out of character with a rural area,” she said about the turbines.
LYNDONVILLE – Rebecca Clemens, a senior from Lyndonville Central School, recently earned an associate degree in liberal arts and sciences from Genesee Community College – a month before she graduated from high school.
Clemens started taking Advanced Placement classes in seventh grade and the college-level courses offered at Lyndonville High School. She eventually enrolled in GCC and was able to complete her courses at the GCC-Batavia campus, in the Medina/Albion satellite campuses and online.
She stated her schedule has been busy throughout high school, but it has taught her how to efficiently manage her time. Clemens stated that taking classes through Lyndonville was a cost- effective way to earn a degree. In addition, “it was nice to have the ongoing support of all of my teachers, friends and family.”
Clemens’ mother, Pam, is a teacher’s aide for Lyndonville. She stated her daughter quickly learned to become a disciplined, independent worker with strong study habits. Ms. Clemens added that Rebecca met many new friends throughout her time at GCC.
“It was a different atmosphere with everyone working hard to succeed,” she said. “It changed Rebecca’s perspective (on education) and pushed her to complete her degree.”
High school graduation on June 24 is next for the high-achieving student. Then she plans to shadow a local equine trainer and follow her passion of horses. She hopes this will direct her to a career path and possibly to college for further equine training.
“We are so proud of Rebecca and how hard she has worked throughout high school,” said Lyndonville HS Principal Dr. Aaron Slack. “She has shown tremendous dedication in setting and achieving her goals, and we wish her continued success.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2022 at 9:08 am
Photos courtesy of Brian Bartalo: Ken DeRoller served as a keynote speaker on Tuesday evening for the 36thannual Orleans County Academic Excellence Awards Dinner at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – The Top 10 graduates at Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina were honored on Tuesday evening during the 36th annual Orleans County Academic Excellence Awards Dinner.
The students were commended for their academic success, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when they were forced to abruptly shift to remote learning in mid-March 2020 until the end of that school year.
Some districts continued to have hybrid and remote options for much of the 2020-21 school year.
They students were encouraged to consider community service wherever they live when they are adults. That was the main message from keynote speaker Ken DeRoller, a recently retired Orleans County legislator who has been active in the Kendall Lions Club for 35 years.
DeRoller presented a slide show highlighting local services efforts from residents, from roadside trash pickups, to organizing concert series, raising funds for a new public library in Albion, building a park with a gazebo and war memorial in Kendall, and many other efforts to boost the quality of life locally.
The students were presented certificates and medallions from their school district superintendents and presidents of the Board of Education. (Albion has a separate academic awards celebration where students with GPAs at 90 or above for their high school career are recognized. That totaled 38 students at Albion.)
Holley’s Top 10 graduates include: Kirsstin Louise Althoff, Cora Bennage, Adriana Botello, Kalen Brady, Thomas Dobri, Tatum Gagne, Sara Kingdollar, Rachel Kinsey, Grace McKeon and Deanna Schubmehl.
Kendall’s Top 10 graduates include: Magdalena Aguirre, Emma Allen, Riley Borkholder, Julie Coble, Sara Mattle, Dillon Morgott, Jorden Ostrander, Alexis Ramsdell, Kiersten Rodas and Joshua Smith.
Lyndonville’s Top 10 graduates include: Ethan Gardner, Amanda Garza, Shawna Grabowski, Roman Heinsler, Aasiya Huzair, Ella Lewis, Katherine O’Brien, Karlee Rounds, Maddox Stirk and Jack Whipple.
Medina’s Top 10 graduates include: Dakota Alexander, Thomas Burgess Jr., Joseph Cecchini, Kaylee Lacey, Kristi Oliver, Isaac Pace, Jaxon Phillips, Kristen Trillizio, Hayden Woodroe and Megan Zakes.
