USDA wants to hear from operations with at least $1,000 in revenue
Photo by Tom Rivers: A tractor heads down Main Street in Medina on Saturday morning.
Press Release, National Agricultural Statistics Service
WASHINGTON — Agriculture producers who did not receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture and do not receive other USDA surveys or censuses have until June 30 to sign up to receive the 2022 Census of Agriculture at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail ag census survey codes for responding securely online to every known U.S. producer this November. Hard copy questionnaires will follow in December.
The ag census, conducted for over 180 years, remains the only source of comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. It includes every operation – large or small, urban or rural – from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products are produced and sold, or would normally be produced and sold, in the ag census year.
“The Census of Agriculture is a collective voice that tells the story and value of American agriculture. The data influence action and inform policy and program decisions that directly impact producers, their operations, and everyone they touch – and that’s all of us,” said Barbara Rater, NASS Census and Survey Division director. “This is why a complete count, with every producer getting and taking the opportunity to be represented in these data, is so important.”
On the NASS webpage, producers can also access frequently asked questions, explore past and current ag census data, access tools to help spread the word about the upcoming ag census, learn about ag census special studies, and more.
NASS builds its distribution list for every Census of Agriculture between and during ag census years through the official sign-up webpage and multiple National Agricultural Classification Surveys. To learn more about the 2022 Census of Agriculture, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.
Editor’s Note: In Orleans County, farm products sold for $155.3 million in 2017, the 14th most among NY’s 62 counties, according to the last Ag Census. That was up 3.3 percent over 5 years from the $150.3 million in 2012 for sales of fruit, vegetables, milk, livestock and other farm products. The 2012 figure was a 48.8 percent jump from the $101.0 million recorded in 2007, according to the Agricultural Census.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2022 at 9:15 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Pastor Trellis Pore of the Shiloh Church prays over Albion graduate Sawyer Braley during the annual Baccalaureate service on Sunday evening at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. The service is optional for seniors and half of the class attended the event organized by the Albion Ministerium.
The Rev. Susan Thaine speaks during the Baccalaurate service on Sunday evening.
ALBION – The soon-to-be graduates in Albion’s Class of 2022 were prayed over on Sunday evening by local church pastors, given a blessing and asked to be “counter cultural” by bringing love and kindness in a world that is quick to anger, quick to judgement and slow to forgive.
The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion, gave the keynote message and told the seniors they live in very “important and interesting times” where they are critically needed.
“Do not lose heart – the times are hard and dangerous, but trust me God has placed within you the power for you to choose to live God’s way and change the world for good,” said Thaine, an Albion graduate.
She urged they to act for justice and “live in life-honoring mutuality.” She encouraged them to follow the example of Jesus with mercy and compassion at a time “when division, hatred and intolerance is everywhere.”
“No matter what the next chapter of your life looks like, what matters most is the kind of person you choose to be in the world,” she said. “In the grand scheme of things, who you are is far more important than what you do to make a living, what status symbols or accolades you achieve or what your financial portfolio looks like.”
Russell Kingdollar lights a candle with some assistance from Rose English of The Lord’s House in Waterport. Each graduate lit a candle to signify God’s love and light.
Aurora Serafin reads the Scripture from Colossians 3:12-14.
About 50 students or half the Class of 2022 attended the service, which is optional and organized by pastors in the Albion Ministerium. The 2020 Baccalaurate was cancelled due to Covid. Last year the service was limited to the students and up to two guests per senior.
This year everyone was welcome and Thaine said she was pleased to see a bigger crowd in the sanctuary.
Participating pastors in the service included David Beach of the Gaines Carlton Community Church, Tim Lindsay of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Jim Heiler of the West Barre United Methodist Church, Susan Boring of the Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church, Trellis Pore of the Shiloh Church, Eddie English of The Lord’s House, Susan Thaine of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion, Randy LeBaron of Go Scatter Ministries and Jason Tarnowski of the Albion Free Methodist Church.
The pastors presented each graduate with a cross necklace and prayed with them individually.
Pastor Eddie English of The Lord’s House gives the invocation. He asked God for “powerful protection” over the graduates and asked God “to guard them from all evil.”
Faith Bennett sings “Memory” during the service inside the First Presbyterian Church. Other students sang solos including “You Say” by Zoe Cusson and “Standchen” by Leah Kania.
The High School Clarinet Choir also performed “St. Anthony Chorale” and the High School Choir sang “O Love.”
The seniors are lined up outside on the sidewalk before the service in this photo taken looking though one of the stained-glass windows.
David Beach, pastor of the Gaines Carlton Community Church on Route 104, prays with his grandson, James Beach.
Kimberly Stawicki took this photo of the sunset last week on the south side of the canal in Medina near Fruit Avenue.
BUFFALO – Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State has been selected by Inland Waterways International as the host of the 2025 World Canals Conference, an event that brings together hundreds of canal and inland waterway enthusiasts, professionals and scholars from around the world to learn about a variety of topics related to canals.
The 2025 conference will be held in Buffalo as the State commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening there in 1825. The New York Power Authority, New York State Canal Corporation, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and Visit Buffalo Niagara, are the joint sponsors and will be coordinating all aspects of the conference.
“I am honored that New York State, and particularly the City of Buffalo, will host the 2025 World Canals Conference, providing us with the opportunity to host attendees from around the globe while highlighting a critical part of our state and nation’s history during the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening,” Governor Hochul said. “The Erie Canal has been an integral part of New York’s economy and landscape since Governor Dewitt Clinton began the 10-day inaugural voyage in Buffalo in 1825 on the newly completed canal, culminating in the famous ‘Wedding of the Waters’ ceremony in New York Harbor.”
The World Canals Conference is a key component of a comprehensive, four-month celebration of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial planned at the historic Buffalo waterfront between May and September of 2025. The event will highlight Buffalo’s transformed waterfront Canalside district, which has recently seen more than $400 million in new investment including new hotels, a major sports arena, a children’s museum, retail shops and a fabulous, re-created waterway on the footprint of the original Erie Canal in the Queen City. Today, Buffalo’s Canalside attracts more than 1,000,000 persons annually.
The conference program will be vibrant, relevant and undeniably future focused as canals and inland waterways are inexorably linked with the social, cultural and economic fiber of their surrounding communities.
Accordingly, the event will be structured to embrace discussion of the innovations, opportunities and challenges which are driving healthy and sustainable waterways of the world today. Sessions on waterways and communities, tourism and recreation, waterway management, historic preservation, and inclusion and accessibility will comprise a diverse and compelling conference agenda. International attendees will mark the indelible impact the Erie Canal has brought to North America and beyond and will be able to chart the course for a vibrant and promising future to be shared by inland waterways across the globe.
New York Power Authority Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, Our New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation family is incredibly proud to join Governor Hochul and our partners as we celebrate the bicentennial of New York State’s iconic Erie Canal on a world stage. This international event will not only showcase our still working Canal system but will also promote its continued positive impact on local economies and highlight the endless opportunities for adventure along our network of water and trailways.”
The upcoming conference in Buffalo will mark the fourth time in recent years that New York State has hosted this international event. It was previously held in Rochester in 2000 and 2010, and again in Syracuse in 2017 which marked the 200 years since the start of construction of the Erie Canal in 1817. Specific details regarding the 2025 World Canals Conference will be announced as conference planning gets underway.
Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “For nearly two centuries, the Erie Canal has connected people and commerce across our state, and as the stewards of this iconic waterway, I am thrilled to celebrate its bicentennial alongside Governor Hochul and our colleagues as we bring the international focus of the World Canals Conference back to New York State. This global gathering of inland waterway leaders and canal enthusiasts allows us to truly showcase how our continued investments in the Canal system support recreation and local businesses in canalside communities across upstate New York.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 6 June 2022 at 7:36 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Roman Heinsler, left, and Roy-Hart’s Ryan Mettler will be among the players competing in Tuesday’s Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League senior game at Vets Park in Medina at 7 p.m.
Medina’s Vets Park will host the Niagara-Orleans League vs. Genesee Region League senior baseball game at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
A quartet of players from co-champion Medina including Hayden Woodroe, Xander Payne, Zach Fike and Joe Cecchini and a trio of players from co-champion Roy-Hart including John Conley, Jay Heideman and Ryan Mettler, head the N-O lineup which also includes Tyler Gibson and Brendan LeBaron from Albion; River White and Jack Klodzinski from Akron; Luke Atlas and Tyler Yousett from Wilson; Brady Harrington, Gehrig Wilson and Tyler Baes from Newfane and Jaret Black from Barker.
The G-R squad will include Jack Whipple and Roman Heinsler from Lyndonville; Braxton Zarpentine and Jorden Ostrander from Kendall; Broek Ostrom from Holley; Gaige Armbrewster, Cooper Colantonio and Kaden Cusmano from Oakfield-Alabama; Joey Donnelly, Gunnar Kania and Jake Laney from Alexander; Gavin Shradder, Cody Henry, Vinny DiRisio and Colin McCulley from Notre Dame; Kolbie Walker from Byron-Bergen and Konnor Schroeder from Attica.
Previously played at Genesee Community College, the N-O vs. G-R contest was not held the last two years because of Covid 19 restrictions.
The N-O outlasted the G-R 14-9 the last time the game was played in 2019 at GCC.
Photos and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band
The Sherburne community in Chenango County hosted its 73rd annual pageant of bands from June 2nd through June 4th. This pageant is the oldest and longest running event of its kind in the state.
The Sherburne community, the Volunteer Fire Department and the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District come together to sponsor this event. There were 40 schools from around the state that participated and this was Medina’s second year at the competition. Medina was in Class AA for any event they participated in.
In jazz, Medina competed against two other bands in Class AA and earned 1st place with a score of 99. In concert band, Medina competed against three other schools and came in 2nd place with a score of 84. In small ensemble, Medina performed a clarinet quartet competing against two other schools and earned 2nd place with a score of 93.
The parade is a big event with 36 schools performing and the people in town begin setting up their chairs along Main Street on Friday night down the 3-mile route.
In Class AA Medina earned 1st place with a score of 98.25 and 1st place in color guard with 90. In a separate drumline competition, Medina earned 1st place with 64.5.
Two other events were the White Sabres Drum & Bugle Corps in exhibition and the 3rd Marine Air Wing Rock Band from San Diego, CA.
This was the last competitive performance for the band in the 2021-2022 school year. The season will close with the band banquet.
Photograph by Bill Monacelli – Birds Eye-Snider staff and their families attend their final service at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion, June 1962. Front row, left to right: Eileen Oldershaw, Anne Oldershaw, Rev. Jack Hillary Smith (seated), Marc Withiam, (seated), Marcia Jane Withiam, Audrey Byrne and Alan Byrne. Second row: Peter Oldershaw, Marion Oldershaw, Mrs. Alfred Frane, Sydney Blake, Marilyn Withiam, Charles Withiam, Barbara Byrne and Charles Byrne. Rear: Martha Blake and Mrs. Sydney Blake.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 20
ALBION – The photograph above chronicles a significant event in Albion’s economic and social history 60 years ago: the impending closure of the Birds Eye-Snider Laboratories and the departure of the staff of 40 food researchers and their families who were transferred to the General Foods Laboratories at Tarrytown, New York.
The photograph was recently shared with the Orleans County Dept. of History by Eileen Oldershaw McKelvey, the young lady on the left.
Birds Eye-Snider’s main research laboratory was located in Albion from 1942 to 1962. It was housed in this striking Greek Revival home on South Main Street, Albion built c. 1840 by Zephaniah Clark.
The house was converted and expanded to include two analytic laboratories, a test kitchen, a pilot plant, a soils laboratory and a comprehensive research library. Staff included food technologists, chemists, horticulturalists, bacteriologists, engineers and laboratory technicians.
The research focused on improving the quality of frozen foods and optimizing efficient production methods. Albion staff developed many of the Birds Eye frozen foods products sold nationally and internationally.
In 1960, the laboratory processed and tested seventeen varieties of new frozen baby food lines. The in-house pilot plant, which was an exact duplicate of a regular plant, was used in product development and testing.
New varieties of plants were developed in the two large greenhouses built behind the home. Seed stocks were tested and evaluated at the 106-acre experimental farm on County Line Road. Soils from supplier farms were tested in the soils laboratory.
Staff of Birds Eye Snider Laboratory, Summer 1943 – Front row, from left: Jack Wenrich, Sy Pomper, Ruth Adamy, Fern Chase and Jessie Nenni. Back row: Hunter Cohen, Helen Collins, Bill Lee, Helen DiJuilio, W. Enzie and John Swenholt.
The announcement of the closure in November 1961 came as a surprise to the staff, by all accounts. It was also a blow to the community and the county. Payroll at the facility was significant – $400,000 annually (currently $3.8 million). The staff owned homes in the area, their children were enrolled in schools. Many of the staff and their spouses were involved in the community – the Village Board, School Board, Red Cross, Hospital Twig Association, etc.
Local investors formed the Albion Laboratories to continue horticultural research but that closed in 1965. The home was demolished in the 1970s to make way for a Rite-Aid pharmacy building.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 June 2022 at 5:40 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina second baseman Tyler Kroening goes high over Pal-Mac’s Paul Goodness during the Mustangs Class B Far West Regional loss to the Red Raiders this afternoon at Monroe Community College.
Jumping out to a quick first inning lead, Palmyra-Macedon went on to score an 11-1 five inning run rule victory over Medina in the Class B Far West Regional game this afternoon at Monroe Community College.
Pal-Mac moved on top to stay by scoring three times with two out in the first inning on an RBI single by Ian Goodness and a two-run double by Christian Morrison.
Medina first baseman Zach Fike gets set to put the tag on Pal-Mac’s Isiah Stephens.
Medina had a golden opportunity to get back in the game in the top of the third inning getting the bases loaded with just one out on back-to-back singles by Hayden Woodroe and Tyler Kroening and a walk to Xander Payne. However, the Mustangs were unable to capitalize as a stikeout and a pop out quickly ended the threat.
“You’ve got to be able to score when you get the opportunity. You don’t get that many chances,” said Mustangs Coach Jon Sherman.
Pal-Mac then wasted no time in doubling the lead to 6-0 by answering right back with a three run scoring burst in the bottom of the third on four straight hits highlighted by a two-run triple by Goodness and an RBI single by Morrison.
“We just didn’t have an answer for the meat of their order,” said Sherman.
The Red Raiders tacked on a run in the fourth on an RBI single by pitcher Chris Finocchario and then closed out the run rule win with four tallies in the fifth capped off by a two-run single by Finocchario.
On the mound, Finocchario gave up only 3 hits and struck out 6.
Medina’s lone run came in the fourth inning as Aidan Paul led off with a triple and came home on a fielders choice play off the bat of Julian Woodworth.
Finocchario though quickly ended the inning with a pair of strikeouts and then retired the Mustangs in order in the top of the fifth.
Undefeated (24-0) Pal-Mac now advances to next Friday’s Class B state semifinal in Binghamton.
Medina finishes with a 21-4 record which ties a school record for most wins in a season.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2022 at 3:41 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – A new ice cream shop – Red, White, and Moo – opened today in Holley at the former First Niagara bank site at 51 Public Square. The building had been vacant since the bank closed in October 2016.
The site was acquired by Jason Stott, left, and Becky and David Gagne. Their bigger plan for the building is for a brewery. That project, called Restauration Brewery Company, is planned for a fall opening.
But they saw a need for an ice cream shop in Holley, and another place for the community to gather and socialize.
Red, White, and Moo offers 20 flavors of hard ice cream as well as soft ice cream, slushies, sundaes and banana splits. Smoothies and blended coffee drinks will be added soon.
David Gagne, left, and Pamela Coopenberg work on an order at Holley’s new ice cream business. There were long lines of customers the first two hours after the business opened at noon.
The owners put in a giant patriotic-themed chair that they expect will be popular with customers seeking selfies and some fun.
The Gagnes are long-time Holley residents and Stott lives in neighboring Brockport.
“We are excited to bring ice cream back to Holley,” Stott said. “There has been an outpouring of support.”
Mr. Gagne said he hopes Red, White, and Moo will keep visitors to the community in Holley longer. He knows many come to the village to go see the Holley Waterfalls.
Tatum Gagne, Dave and Becky’s daughter, was selling T-shirts and ice cream with her boyfriend Haiden Herring of Brockport along the canal trail. They were among 40 vendors in Holley’s June Fest celebration.
Sydney Gagne takes orders from customers in a window that used to be where the ATM vestibule was located. Stott’s daughters, Adalyn and Kaylie, also work at the business.
Red, White, and Moo will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., except on Sunday which is 2 to 9 p.m.
The Gagnes and Stott also will be busy in the coming months on the brewery. Restauration Brewery Company is named for the ship that brought Norwegian immigrants to the Holley community in 1825.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2022 at 12:27 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Tom Keefer of Celtic Cross strolled around the Canal Village Farmers’ Market today for opening day of a new season at the market, which goes every Saturday at the corner of West Center Street and West Avenue.
The market is open year-round with today the return of many of the vendors during the busier summer season.
Hannah Pollard, owner of the Catherine Street Bakery, discusses some of the baked goods she has available with customer Pat Payne.
This is Pollard’s third season a vendor. She started selling home-made masks in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and then shifted to making pies, cookies and other baked goods.
“I like the customers and being outside,” Pollard said. “This is basically my storefront.”
Ron Human of Human Farms in Appleton is starting his sixth season as a vendor. He has flowers today and will soon have many vegetables with lettuce, green beans and sweet corn almost ready.
Human said the market is busy with people through the morning and early afternoon. The market tends to draw 300 to 400 people on Saturdays, said Gail Miller, the market manager. The crowd for opening day was about 500.
The market is sponsored by the Orleans Renaissance Group.
Press Release, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
File photo by Tom Rivers: These turkeys were part of the 2014 meat auction at the 4-H Fair in Knowlesville.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball on Friday announced the end of the bans on live poultry shows, exhibitions, auctions, sales, meets, and swaps in New York State.
The Department had previously issued the bans on March 25 and April 14 as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spread across the United States, including detections in New York State.
The decision to lift the bans comes as cases decrease nationwide, including in New York State, which has not had a detection of HPAI in nearly two months. Additionally, as the state enters agricultural fair season, phylogenetic studies have shown that the majority of flocks affected in the current outbreak were infected by introductions from wild birds, rather than by farm-to-farm transmission, lending additional confidence to the decision to allow comingling of poultry again.
“New York has taken an aggressive approach to slowing the spread of avian influenza and it has paid off,” Commissioner Ball said. “With cases decreasing in our state and throughout the country, as well as new data showing very low rates of farm-to-farm transmission of HPAI during the current outbreak, I am confident that it is time to lift the bans on live poultry shows and sales. I thank all of our farmers, suppliers, distributors, and live bird markets for employing excellent biosecurity practices as we continue to monitor the HPAI situation closely, and I commend the Department’s Division of Animal Industry staff, who have worked so hard to keep the cases here in New York State under control.”
To date, eight flocks in New York have tested positive for HPAI, with the last detection in a Fulton County flock on April 6. The Department continues to work closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on a joint incident response and is also collaborating with partners at the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation. Additionally, Department officials are conducting extensive outreach to poultry and egg farms across the state to ensure best practices are being implemented.
Commercial and hobby poultry farmers should continue practicing good biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease. The Department encourages all poultry producers, from small backyard to large commercial operations, to review their biosecurity plans and take precautions to protect their birds. Poultry biosecurity materials and checklists can be found on the USDA’s “Defend the Flock” website.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2022 at 9:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Lance Mark, a member of the Medina Lions Club, passes out maps of yard sales in Medina as part of the Community Yard Sale Day. There are at least 20 yard sales in Medina today.
The Lions Club will also have a chicken barbecue at the Olde Pickle Factory beginning at 11 a.m.
The Lions also have a roving mobile hot dog stand that will be travelling through the village.
Medina Lion Jim Punch distributes map of the yard sales. There were four Lions passing out maps at the intersection of Main and Center streets.
Jarred Saj gives out a directory of the yard sales in Medina. The Lions Club accepted donations for the maps.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2022 at 9:31 pm
No parade or fireworks, but still plenty of chances for fun
Photo by Tom Rivers: Holley June Fest organizers, Keith Lutes and Rainey Losee, are pictured in the Public Square near the Salisbury Fountain. The downtown area will have many sites as part of a scavenger hunt to learn about Holley during June Fest on Saturday.
HOLLEY – June Fest returns to Holley on Saturday after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions and concerns.
The festival is easing back. It won’t have a parade in the morning or fireworks to cap off the occasion at night.
But there will still be opportunities to get together and see friends and meet other community members.
There will be about 40 vendors at the main area for the festival near the playground area along the canal trail.
Rainey Losee is co-leader of the festival with Keith Lutes. They responded in March when they heard the festival needed coordinators. They are hopeful with more time – and funding – that the parade and fireworks will return for June Fest in 2023.
The event includes many activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The schedule includes:
9 a.m. to :15 a.m. –Opening ceremonies and welcome at the gazebo by the canal
9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Band introduction and kickoff
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Blues Crew Band
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Anita Lyn’s Lounge
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Scavenger Hunt starting place is at the museum.
12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Special hours at Holley Falls Bar and Grill
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Nick LaDue Band
1 p.m. to 1:15 pm – Scavenger Hunt winners announced
2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Raffle Baskets must be present to win
2:30 p.m. – 50/50 Raffle drawing must be present to win
3 p.m. – Line Dancing by The Whole Approach
5 p.m. – Festival ends
4 to 6 p.m. – Community Free Library’s 75th Anniversary Party
6 p.m. – Red, White and Moo Grand Opening
Losee moved to Holley in October. A Wellsville native, her husband is from Brockport. They were looking for a small town environment. Losee soon joined the Holley Garden Club and started volunteering at the Eastern Orleans Community Center. She heard the June fest Committee needed volunteers. She offered to help and said she has met many Holley residents and business owners in only a few months.
“It’s all about the community and the village,” she said. “This is a very close-knit community.”
She encouraged people to come to the festival. She thinks they will link a scavenger hunt where they learn about the village through many clues.
There will also be wine-tasting, a petting zoo and food trucks. People can also leave ideas in a suggestion box for the next June Fest.
Lutes is a Holley native and he is glad to see the festival come back, even at a smaller scale.
In addition to the festival, Lutes said many garage and yard sales will be happening in the village and those are always a draw. He expects the village will be busy on Saturday with all of the activities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2022 at 4:53 pm
Chris Jacobs
BUFFALO – A week ago Congressman Chris Jacobs said he would vote to raise the minimum age to buy an AR-15 rifle from 18 to 21, restrict high-capacity magazines to 10 rounds, and limit access to body armor.
Jacobs quickly faced backlash from many Republican Party leaders, and lost their support in his campaign for a newly drawn 23rd Congressional District. Those lines pushed him out of Orleans and the GLOW counties to part of Erie County and the Southern Tier.
Today, Jacobs announced he wouldn’t seek election to the 23rd District and would finish out his term through Dec. 31.
Jacobs said he believes he would have been elected if he stayed in the race “but it would be an incredibly divisive election for the Republican Party and the people of the 23rd District, many of whom I have not ever never represented,” he said at a news conference today. “The last thing we need is an incredibly negative, half-truth filled, media attack funded by millions of dollars in special interest money coming into our community around this issue of guns and gun violence and gun control.”
Livingston County Conservative Party Chairman Jason J. McGuire issued this statement after the announcement from Jacobs that he will decline the party’s nomination and not seek re-election:
“I believe Mr. Jacobs to be a man of character who has taken principled positions, but his recent announcement was not reflective of the district he currently represents or of the one he intended to next year.
“Today’s announcement is a welcome one as it will offer the people of NY-23 the opportunity for a representative more closely aligned with their values. I commend the Congressman for listening to both his heart and his constituents in this matter.”
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
KENDALL – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has made several arrests related to threats of violence at the Kendall School District.
On Wednesday, May 25th, at approximately 1:15 p.m. students advised a Kendall Central School administrator of a direct threat made to the school district via social media by a student at the district.
The school administrator immediately requested School Resource Deputy James White respond to the Kendall High School from the Elementary School. Upon the SRD’s arrival, the school administrator advised the school resource deputy of the threat made.
White immediately notified the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office command staff. Within minutes of the school resource deputy being notified, the 14-year-old student was retrieved, detained and pat-searched by the SRD, with school personnel present.
School personnel immediately searched the juvenile’s backpack, and school locker for any weapons – none were located. Within minutes of the SRD being notified, 10 additional Sheriff’s Units/Investigators/Command Staff along with State Trooper Kevin Bentley arrived to provide security and continue the investigation at the school and the residence of this individual.
The investigation resulted in the juvenile being charged with Making a Terroristic Threat, a Class D Felony. As a result of the investigation, and a search of the residence, it was determined that the parents were not forthcoming with law enforcement.
Several weapons, ammunition, computers and phones were seized. The juvenile was taken to Strong Hospital in Rochester under the mental hygiene law for an evaluation. Following his release, the juvenile reported to the Sheriff’s Office and was issued an appearance ticket to appear immediately at the Orleans County Probation Department for intake.
The Orleans County Probation Department filed the petition in Family Court charging this individual with section 490.20 (1) of the Penal Law- Making a terrorist threat. The juvenile was subsequently arraigned before Judge Sanford Church and released to the custody of his parents and is set to return to court within a week.
Both parents were arrested and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child based on the investigation into this incident.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office takes any threats to cause harm to children in schools and anyone else for that matter very seriously. We will aggressive investigate any threats and arrest anyone engaged in this behavior with the intent to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
I would like to thank the Kendall School District for their swift and decisive actions that allowed our School Resource Deputy to have this individual detained within minutes of becoming aware of the threat.
File photo by Tom Rivers: A Mercy Flight helicopter takes off on Aug. 7, 2018 during the fourth annual National Night Out in Orleans County, which included a bounce gym. This year the event will move from Bullard Park in Albion to Wise Middle School in Medina on Aug. 2.
Press Release, Medina Police Department
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department, with the assistance of the Medina Police Advisory Committee, are co-organizing this year’s Orleans County National Night Out.
We are proud to give an update on this year’s event that will take place on Tuesday, August 2nd, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Medina’s Clifford Wise Intermediate School, 1016 Gwinn St.
National Night Out started in the 1980s as a way to bring law enforcement and citizens together nationwide on the same night each year. We have expanded on that principle and put together an event that focuses on bringing many agencies and organizations together for the annual National Night Out date each year.
Participants in this event will include law enforcement from throughout the county, fire agencies, EMS responders, civic organizations and other groups that will be providing activities and giveaways. Some of the big hits from past events have been the “Battle of the Belts,” K-9 demonstrations and the bike rodeo.
Our mission is simple. We want an event where families can come for a night and be entertained at no cost, eating and having fun in an environment that is free of violence, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. We hope citizens can meet members of our local organizations and get to know the services they provide to our community.
We are currently in the process of reaching out to many local organizations to coordinate participation. In the past it is the efforts, participation and donations of these local organizations and businesses that make National Night Out possible. These sponsoring organizations will be highlighted throughout our event.
Registration and donation information will be distributed shortly through mail, email, and social media. For more information you may contact either Heather Jackson at NNOOrleans@gmail.com or Lt. Todd Draper at tdraper@villagemedina.org.
We will also be providing regular updates through our Facebook pages.
