By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2022 at 4:28 pm
KENDALL – The Board of Education and school administrators have put together a $19,822,921 budget for 2022-23 that doesn’t increase taxes.
The budget goes before voters on May 17 with a public hearing on at 6:30 p.m. on May 4 at the Kendall Junior-Senior High School Library.
The budget keeps the tax levy at $4,964,656. The budget decreases spending by $157,808 to $19,822,921.
There will be four propositions on the ballot on May 17. The budget is proposition one.
Proposition two is to spend up to $250,000 from a Transportation Bus Reserve Fund to replace transportation vehicles of the district.
Proposition three establish a Capital Reserve Fund for up to $5 million for a future capital project.
Proposition four is electing a member to the Board of Education for a five-year term. Current board member Lisa Levett, who is the board president, is running unopposed.
Agency’s counselors see increasing demand for services with nearly 500 patients
Provided photo: Pictured from left include Holly Main, assistant director; Kathy Hodgins, chief clinical officer; and Danielle Ludeke, integrated clinic director, at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
By Mike Pettinella, GCASA publicist
By integrating the opioid treatment program and outpatient counseling clinic, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse has connected the care warranted in a society dealing with the effects of a global pandemic and the stress caused by economic uncertainty.
“Here at GCASA and, hopefully, at other agencies in the behavioral health field, we take a person-centered approach, and medication and treatment go hand-in-hand,” said Kathy Hodgins, chief clinical officer at the nonprofit agency based on East Main Street in Batavia.
The medication prescribed to a person struggling with substance abuse disorder, whether it be suboxone or methadone, is going to help with the physical symptoms, Hodgins said, while counseling with GCASA trained clinicians is important in unlocking changes in behavior.
“It’s the same with a medical condition, such as diabetes and heart disease. You can give a medication to lower blood pressure, but it’s not going to be as effective if you do not have a change in lifestyle to go along with it,” she added. “We give them the tools, not just medication, to learn how to cope with anxiety, depression and trauma without using illicit drugs.”
The OTP (or methadone) clinic attached to the back of the main building opened in the fall of 2018 as a “standalone” clinic. Hodgins said GCASA recently applied for – and received – a license to integrate the OTP clinic with the outpatient clinic.
“Until now, individuals receiving treatment at the OTP clinic could only participate in services offered through the OTP clinic. This really limited treatment options for individuals in the OTP,” she said.
Staffing flexibility is paramount
With the integration, GCASA has been able to optimize the utilization of its medical professionals and counselors, she said.
“This really allows our counselors to help our patients at the OTP and outpatient clinic by providing a more person-centered approach to care – regardless of whether the individual is on suboxone or methadone. Patients can now attend groups and individual sessions that fit their individual recovery plan and needs,” she explained.
Shannon Murphy, director of treatment at the Batavia clinic, said the integration has additionally resulted in scheduling flexibility for the staff, something of utmost importance in light that about 10 full-time counselors are providing services to around 240 patients in OTP and another 220 or so in the outpatient clinic.
The demand for services has gone up considerably in the past two years, she said, referring to the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on those at risk of a reoccurrence as well as other societal factors.
Along with substance use disorder counselors, GCASA’s Batavia clinic also employs a medical director, assistant director, clinical supervisors, two nurse practitioners, five full-time nurses and a physician’s assistant.
Fentanyl: a game-changer
Having the proper number of medical personnel on staff has taken on added significance with the emergence of the deadly drug fentanyl, Murphy said.
“Fentanyl has dramatically changed our work as people are sicker now than ever before,” she offered. “Treatment methods that used to help people – prior to the opioid epidemic are just not enough anymore. Medication Assisted Treatment has become a vital part of the services we offer.
“Before we can start to help someone heal from an opioid use disorder, people need to physically feel better. Fentanyl has made this more challenging due to how harmful it is and how prevalent it has become.”
Murphy said that five or six years ago, individuals would test positive for heroin, for example, and they would be shocked when they learned they also had fentanyl in their system.
“At that time, they were scared. Now, they come in and they’re positive for fentanyl only and they are not afraid of it because they don’t think they will be the next to overdose,” she said. “Similar to when we drive too fast or check a text on our phone while driving. We don’t think getting hurt will happen to us, until it does.”
Allison Parry-Gurak, director of Residential Services, said tests are showing that fentanyl is present in many illicit substances, not just heroin.
“For example, we have individuals with a stimulant use disorder whose primary substance is cocaine. More and more frequently, we are finding when we test them they are also positive for fentanyl but they have no history with opioids.” she said.
The scariest part of the fentanyl epidemic is the frequency of overdose.
“We’ve gotten phone calls from agencies in Rochester and reporting they’ve had six overdoses,” Murphy said. “The hardest part is that the people we see that are having fatal overdoses are patients who have gone long periods without use. And then for various reasons or circumstance they have a reoccurrence, sometimes only one time, and those are the people that are dying because their bodies aren’t used to the fentanyl.”
A continue of care
Parry-Gurak oversees the Atwater Community Residence, as well as several other residential programs offered by GCASA. She said the agency’s ability to expand services over the years gives patients a greater chance in their recovery.
“Well, I think the beauty of this campus is that we pretty much offer the whole continuum of care all on one campus. Additionally, all of our programs have such great working relationships with each other and are able to work collaboratively to support our patients,” she said.
“So, there’s the residences plus now we have the detox center for those in need of medical supervision while they start their recovery journey (usually three to seven days), and then there is the outpatient treatment programs all in one place.”
Hodgins mentioned that the system is working.
“Having a campus like this where we can do the continuum of care is a great thing,” she said. “People will come to detox and then transition to Atwater, and/or walk over to the clinic for their treatment.”
GCASA also offers The Recovery Station, a drug- and alcohol-free social setting at the former Bohn’s Restaurant building on Clinton Street Road, and a shuttle service for those in need of transportation.
For Hodgins and Murphy, both longtime employees at GCASA, integration, effective medications and counseling, and expansion of services provide opportunities for people with a substance use disorder to live healthy lives.
Time to withhold judgement
All three women also mentioned the need to eliminate the stigma associated with substance use disorder.
“We deal with a disease that is encompassed in shame, guilt and hurt,” Parry-Gurak said. “A lot of times, people that are pointing the finger saying to us, ‘What are you doing? You’re not helping them? Or you’re just giving them more ‘drugs’ are either someone who has been hurt by someone with a substance use disorder or someone who truly does not understand how difficult and complex this disease is.”
Murphy acknowledged that substance use disorder is “an ugly disease, and the behaviors that can be associated with it are not pretty.”
“Therefore, the stigma associated with substance use disorder is so strong in our society and this creates an additional obstacle for those with a substance use disorder,” she added.
When asked how she measures success, Hodgins said the word has different meanings for different people.
“It’s really hard to define,” she responded. “People ask me all the time, what’s your success rate? It’s very hard to define because it’s all individualized.”
Access to services
Hodgins, Murphy and Parry-Gurak said they know that many area residents are in need of substance use services and that GCASA has an open access policy where walk-ins are accepted.
Murphy said all prospective patients are assessed to see what treatment is appropriate,
“It’s about having a conversation. With methadone, it’s a little different because things need to be done before they’re actually admitted,” Murphy said. “There’s a very specific process but it all starts with a phone call to our main number, 343-1124.”
For more information about GCASA’s treatment programs, call 585-343-1124 or visit gcasa.net. Walk-in assessments, with no appointment necessary, are done on Tuesday through Thursday prior to 11:15 a.m.
MEDINA – The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program (FLYAP) held a Signing Day at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC) Tuesday to celebrate nearly a dozen students. The Orleans Niagara BOCES has participated in each of the FLYAP’s three years.
Eleven seniors are in the middle of their paid co-ops at eight companies throughout the Orleans-Niagara region. All are in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program at OCTEC where they are learning CNC Machining, fabrication and more.
Those seniors include Bryan Baes (Royalton-Hartland), Xavier Fisher (Medina), Dominick Green (Albion), Christopher Kerr (Newfane), Jacob Lundy (Newfane), Michael Page (Newfane), Michael Pasquale (Newfane), Tanner Preston (Albion), Charles Rickard (Royalton-Hartland), Nate Sauls (Newfane) and Bobby Vidovich (Medina).
“OCTEC prepares these students for everything from ‘Matching Day’ interviews, to on-the-job skills to post high school career readiness,” said RTMA Director of Workforce Development, Rich Turner. “We are proud to add these 11 students to the FLYAP family as they are all excelling at their paid co-ops throughout the region.”
The Orleans Niagara BOCES was one of the first schools to join FLYAP. To date, nearly 140 students have participated in job shadows and paid co-ops through the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program. For more on youth apprenticeships in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes regions, check out FLYAP.org.
“We want to extend a special thank you to the companies who are working with our students,” says Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering teacher Bill Rakonczay.
Those companies include Custom Laser, E&R Machine, J.W. Burg Machine and Tool, Niagara Precision, Nuclear Alloys, Performance Manufacturing, Phinney Tool & Die and Voss Manufacturing.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2022 at 9:30 am
HOLLEY – The Board of Education has approved a $26,982,000 proposed budget for 2022-23 that would increase taxes by 1.95 percent.
The budget goes before voters on May 17. The budget is below the district’s allowable tax cap of 2.793 percent, said Sharon Zacher, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.
“We kept this the same as last year with hopes that a moderate increase will not burden our taxpayers while assisting the district with an increase in expenses,” Zacher said.
The budget maintains all current educational programs and represents a 3.18 percent budget-to-budget increase. Zacher said contractual obligations and inflation of supplies and materials are the main reasons for the budget going up.
The vote on May 17 includes a proposition to establish a capital improvements reserve fund at a maximum of $6 million. Zacher said the fund is needed as the district begins to prepare for the next capital improvement project.
Holley currently receives state aid of 92.4 for capital projects. The remaining 7.6 percent is the local share.
“The capital reserve would allow us to pick up that difference without a tax impact on our community,” Zacher said.
Proposition 3 is to authorize purchasing new school buses as a maximum of $334,000.
Proposition 4 would be authorizing the district to collect $194,966 for Community Free Library, which is up from the $189,287 for 2021-22.
There are two candidates for two seats on the Board of Education. The deadline for submitting petitions to be a candidate was Monday, April 18. Tracy Van Ameron and Anne Winkley, current board members, are running unopposed for three-year terms on the BOE.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 April 2022 at 8:25 am
Beds from Brian also has provided more than 1,000 pillows as well as bedding and pajamas
Doreen LaFleur of Middleport stands by a framed logo of the charity the family founded to honor their late son Brian, who died in 1993 at the age of 2 ½ from a rare genetic disorder.
MIDDLEPORT – The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern was the first cause to benefit from Beds from Brian, a charity founded to memorialize a little boy born with a very rare genetic disorder.
James and Doreen LaFleur of Middleport were expecting their second child in September 1990. They already had a son Christopher, 3, and were looking forward to welcoming a new member of the family.
They were not prepared for what happened.
“After what seemed like a routine pregnancy, Brian was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder called Robert’s Syndrome,” Doreen LaFleur said. “His body did not develop normally, and Brian was born with hydrocephaly, cleft lip and palate, no arms and club feet, with development of only the brain stem.”
She remembers his big beautiful blue eyes.
Doctors were unsure how long Brian would survive. At the time there were only about 20 documented cases of the syndrome in the previous 30 years. They advised the LaFleurs they could leave Brian in the hospital, place him in a special facility or bring him home. They chose to bring him home.
Christopher was 4 when Brian was born and he automatically felt a special bond with his little brother. He held him, hugged him and loved him.
“He never seemed to notice Brian looked different,” Doreen said.
She said they took Brian everywhere they went – to family get-togethers, grocery shopping, road trips, Burger King and even on the boat in his tiny life jacket.
Brian only lived 2 ½ years and never weighed more than 13 pounds. He died April 13, 1993 at home, in Doreen’s arms, with her husband James at her side.
“Brian never smiled or talked, crawled or walked, but he did something more important,” Doreen said. “He taught us about compassion and unconditional love. Brian touched the hearts of all who knew him and we are truly blessed to have had him in our lives.”
After Brian’s death, the family searched for a way to give back in some way for all the wonderful kindness and support they had received, from family and friends, and from the community.
It would be at a church service at St. Stephen’s Church in Middleport that the family discovered how they could help underprivileged children and honor Brian’s memory.
A guest speaker at the church that day was none other than Sister Marian Adrian of Albion, a Gray Nun and one-time director and supporter of Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern.
In talking about her organization and its mission, she stressed their need for “Beds, beds, beds,” Doreen said.
“Then I knew that’s what we could do, and Beds from Brian was born,” she said.
Then followed small fundraisers with family and friends – chili parties, picnics, comedy evenings, roller skating parties and cornhole tournaments. Each year, events got a little bit bigger, until Doreen didn’t know if she could keep doing it, while working full time at First Niagara Bank in Lockport.
“While I was working, I tried to keep the charity manageable, but now that I’m retired, I’m trying to grow it, with the help of our other board members.” Doreen said.
Doreen serves as president of Beds from Brian, with her son Christopher as vice president, sister Diane Kamens of Lockport as treasurer and Laura Moran-Di Matteo of Buffalo as secretary. James is always available to lend a hand with whatever task needs to be done.
Beds for Brian became a 501c3 in 2015.
Provided photo: Christopher LaFleur hugs his baby brother Brian, who was born in 1990 with a rare genetic disorder. After Brian’s death, his family founded a charity, Beds from Brian, to provide beds and bedding to children in need.
The LaFleurs said when he wasn’t being held, Brian found comfort in his warm, cozy bed. When they decided providing beds to needy children would be a fitting way to honor Brian’s memory, Doreen said they were astounded at the number of children in the area who were sleeping on the floor because they had no bed.
They soon began holding one major fundraiser a year, and this marks the 17th annual event. To date they have provided more than 6,635 items to children in need. This includes 337 beds with sheets and blankets, 1,047 pillows and 215 pairs of pajamas.
One of this year’s fundraisers is a fishing charter for four on Lake Ontario with Captain Paul Nau. Tickets are on sale until May 7 for $10 and may be purchased online through the website www.bedsforbrian.com by using Pay Pal or Venmo or sending a check to Beds from Brian, P.O. Box 76, Gasport, 14067. Payment can also be made by scanning a code on the website with a cell phone. The drawing will take place May 8.
Beds from Brian also partners with Case-Nic Cookies in Medina, where a display will fill their window during August. A bicycle will be raffled and a basket raffle will take place there.
In addition to the many personal supporters, Beds from Brian has also received support from local grants and local quilters and church groups, including the Medina Sandstone Society and Heritage Wind Community Grant.
“We are so grateful for all of the generosity of our supporters,” Doreen said.
Beds from Brian donates beds and bedding to Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern in Albion and Batavia, Lockport Care Net, Gerard Place Transitional Housing & Supportive Services for Single Homeless Parents in Buffalo, Holy Trinity Parish Outreach in Medina, Family Help Center In-Home Support Services in Buffalo, Old First Ward Community Center After School Program in Buffalo and Family and Community Engagement Center in Batavia. They supply children from newborns to age 18 with all new items, ranging from bed pillows to a twin bed. All recipients are vetted through one of their partner agencies.
Anyone wishing more information about this organization may visit their website at www.BedsfromBrian.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2022 at 9:06 pm
Chart courtesy of Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
The Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties continue to climb, with Genesee at 168 and Orleans at 113 during the week of April 13-19.
That is up from the previous week when Genesee had 119 cases and Orleans had 83, according to data from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Statewide the cases are also on the rise. There were 7,862 new cases on Tuesday with a positive test rate of 6.92 percent. The statewide positivity rate in the 7 days is at 5.56 percent. It was 4.35 percent the 7 days before from April 6-12.
Orleans is among the nine counties in the Finger Lakes Region where the 7-day percent positive rate is 11.81 percent, third highest of the 10 regions. Only Western New York at 13.48 percent and Central NY at 13.91 percent are higher. New York Cry is the lowest at 3.67 percent.
The new Covid cases in Orleans in the past week include 29 from home tests and 84 from labs. Genesee’s new cases include 43 from home tests and 125 from lab results.
Gov. Kathy Hochul discussed Covid during a news conference today in Syracuse. She said the state will continue to require masks for public transit, correctional facilities, nursing homes, health care settings, domestic violence centers, buses and train stations.
“With new contagious subvariants circulating, let’s be vigilant in using the tools to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy and out of the hospital,” Hochul said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2022 at 4:25 pm
Rising utility costs biggest factor in district seeking 2% increase
Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina is proposing a $39,884,316 budget for the 2022-23 school year. Voting is May 17.
MEDINA – The Board of Education is proposing a $39,884,316 school budget that goes before voters on May 17. The spending plan calls for a 2 percent tax increase, the first in a decade in Medina.
The board and Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said the “runaway escalation of utility costs” is the biggest factor in the tax increase.
The district still remains below the state-imposed tax cap, Kruzynski said.
The represents a 1.43% increase over 2021-2022. The proposed budget maintains all programs and staffing, increases student support services, purchases three large school buses and one wheelchair bus, the replaces maintenance equipment, adds new cafeteria tables for Oak Orchard Primary School, and returns a high school musical to the Medina auditorium. The district has been sharing the high school musical with Lyndonville.
“I am pleased to present a budget for the upcoming school year that balances the community’s financial needs with the educational, social and emotional needs of our students,” Kruzynski said.
The tax levy, what Medina collects in taxes, increases from $8,641,861 to $8,814,697. The tax rates will be set in August by the Orleans County Department of Real Property Tax Services. State aid is the biggest source of revenue for the district at approximately $29,100,598.
In August, the Orleans County Department of Real Property Tax will set the final municipal tax rates.
“Much thought and discussion went into creating this budget,” said Wendi Pencille, the board’s vice president. “Considering the current state of inflation, the board and administration worked extremely hard to control costs. It is a sound budget and represents the board’s commitment to providing an excellent education for our students at a cost that the district can support.”
Voting on the budget will be from noon to 8 p.m. on May 17 in the District Office board room at One Mustang Drive.
There is still time for candidates to submit petitions to run for the Board of Election. Petitions signed by at least 25 eligible voters in the district are due at the district office by 5 p.m. on May 2.
Petitions can be picked up at the District Office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The seats up for election are currently held by Pencille and Debbie Tompkins.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2022 at 1:18 pm
MEDINA – About a year ago Medina finished a state-mandated plan for police reform. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo required all municipalities with police departments to seek community input and prepare a plan on police reform and collaboration.
Medina sent in the plan and in May abolished the 12-member committee that worked on the document and gathered public feedback.
Medina, however, formed a new Police Reform Committee that has been meeting monthly and continuing to review police policies and solicit input from residents. Some of the members have gone on ride-a-longs with officers.
The new committee is looking to implement goals from the reform and collaboration initiative. That includes community policing, training and responding to people in a mental health crisis.
The committee also is working with the Medina Police Department and other agencies in the county for the National Night Out, which will be Aug. 2 in Medina. That event had been at Bullard Park in Albion and was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid. The event is a chance for residents to meet first responders and agency representatives, while also enjoying free food, K-9 demonstrations, a bike rodeo and other activities.
The committee wants to continue to hear from the public and has an email address – medinapoliceadvisorycommittee@gmail.com – for people to send in comments, concerns and suggestions. The email is handled by a non-law enforcement member of the committee.
Jovannie Canales, pastor of a church in Medina, speaks during Monday’s evenings Police Advisory Committee meeting. Canales recently went on a ride-a-long with the police and he said he saw officers engage community in a respectful and friendly manner.
Police Chief Chad Kenward and Lt. Todd Draper said they welcome two-way communication between the public and the police department.
“It provides feedback to local law enforcement personnel that can be used in decision-making and also educates community members and creates transparency in our police department activities,” they said in a news release from the department.
Jessica Marciano, a village trustee, and Jovannie Canales, pastor of the Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ, are members of the committee and they each went on recent ride-a-longs. They said it was very informative.
Police officers shared how those driving haphazardly can be a sign of impairment. The officers stopped some motorists for taillights or headlights that didn’t work, but didn’t issue tickets, just a message to get them fixed.
Canales said officers try to connect with residents and build rapport.
“We went through the entire town,” he said about his ride-a-long. “This town is patrolled.”
Canales said the police officers are well regarded by most of the people he knows. He did say some members of the Hispanic community avoid being in the village because they don’t want any police contact that could result in them being deported.
Marciano was with an officer when one driver bolted out of a car and a chase ensued. She stayed back in the patrol car. After the person stopped running and was caught, admitting he made a mistake, the officer worked with the person to not have the vehicle towed.
Marciano attended the first public forum about the police reform initiative on Sept. 23, 2020. It was at the Medina Theater on Main Street. Marciano was a new resident to Medina and she felt inspired by the Police Department’s and the Committee’s serious effort at engaging the public in the process.
“I wanted to see how Medina would handle a historic moment and I left very impressed,” she said, recalling that meeting. “Medina is a ‘hear it and learn from it’ community, rather than trying to shut people down.”
The Medina Police Advisory Committee has 12 members and they include Kenward, Draper, Canales, Marciano, Danielle Figura (Orleans County Mental Health Department director), Debbie Fuller, Jacquie Chinn, Donnell Holloway, Heather Jackson, Mark Kruzynski (Medina school district superintendent) and Christian Navas, a sergeant with the Medina PD.
The committee expects to keep meeting well into the future. The frequency may go from monthly to quarterly.
Police officers have done demonstrations for the committee members, showing them tasers and spike strips. They go over procedures and other policies.
“They see the in’s and out’s,” Chief Kenward said. “It’s been helpful for them to see what we actually do.”
Editor’s Note: Plug Power on Oct. 20, 2021 celebrated the start of a $290 million construction project at the STAMP site in the Town of Alabama, just south of the Orleans County line. Plug Power is the first tenant at STAMP. Its hydrogen fuel production facility includes a 450-megawatt electricity substation that will support its hydrogen production facility and future growth opportunities at STAMP. The company has committed to creating up to 68 new jobs at the site.
Press Release, Plug Power Inc.
Plug Power Inc., a leading provider of turnkey hydrogen solutions for the global green hydrogen economy, today announced an agreement with Walmart Inc. for an option to deliver up to 20 tons per day of liquid green hydrogen to power material handling lift trucks across Walmart distribution and fulfillment centers in the U.S., marking an additional step the retailer is taking to incorporate alternative zero-carbon energy sources throughout Walmart’s supply chain.
This is one of the first green hydrogen supply contracts for Plug, validating the company’s multi-year investment in its green hydrogen network.
“Walmart has been an early adopter of innovative hydrogen and fuel cell technology for over a decade, and our hydrogen-powered solutions offer a tool to enhance productivity improvements for Walmart’s operations,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug. “Now our green hydrogen solutions will provide Walmart with the ability to achieve significant carbon reduction. We are honored to expand our relationship with Walmart and realize our shared vision for a green hydrogen future.”
Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water with electricity generated from zero-carbon sources and only harmless oxygen is emitted during the process, making it a clean, secure and affordable energy solution. Through Plug’s investment in its vertically integrated green hydrogen ecosystem, the company will deliver green hydrogen to Walmart facilities using a fleet of liquid transport Plug has put into service using capabilities gained from its recent acquisition of Applied Cryo Technologies.
Walmart has worked with Plug Power to adopt and expand hydrogen fuel cells throughout its facilities for over a decade, beginning with a 50-fleet pilot in 2012 and expanding to a fleet of 9,500 and growing. Now, the retailer is continuing to decarbonize its operations by striving to incorporate the use of green hydrogen throughout its facilities, in an effort to pursue lift truck operations that are efficient, clean, quiet and most importantly, more sustainable.
“Hydrogen is critical to helping us power a more sustainable supply chain and Plug Power’s hydrogen solutions allow us to continue making progress,” said Jeff Smith, Senior Director of Supply Chain Maintenance Services. “Sourcing green hydrogen can help bring Walmart closer to reaching our goal of zero emissions by 2040.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2022 at 9:30 am
These banners highlight Robert Hickman who served with the Navy during the Vietnam War and Albert Sabo, who was in the Army from 1945 to 1947.
BARRE – There are 84 banners of veterans from Barre now proudly displayed on utility poles along Route 98 in an effort coordinated by the Barre Betterment Committee.
The committee raised funding for the abnners and hardware. The veterans and their families didn’t need to pay to be included.
The Town Highway Department installed the banners last week. They stretch from West Barre Road to just past the town park.
The committee welcomes more names of local veterans, going back to the Civil War. To submit a name or for more information, send a message through the Barre Betterment Committee’s Facebook page.
Veterans featured on the banners include:
William Basinait, US Air Force – Vietnam
Charles Batchellor, Army – World War II
Donald Batchellor, Navy – World War II
Dorothy Batchellor, Army – World War II
George Batchellor, Army – World War II
John “Jack” Batchellor, Army – Vietnam
John K. Batchellor, Navy – World War II
Charles Beach, Army – 1950-53
Arthur Bennett, Army – World War II
Walter Bentley, Army – World War II
William Bias, Air Force – 1964-71
Kenneth Blank, Navy – 1976-79
Chad A. Brooks, Air Force – 2009 to current
Nicole Shiel Brooks, Coast Guard – 2008 to current
Craig C. Brown, Marines – 1991-1999
Scott Burnside, Marines – Gulf War & Iraq
Walter LaVerne Carr, Army – World War II
Charles Arthur Carr, Army – 1945
Ronald Carr, Army – Vietnam
Ralph Clute Jr., Navy – 1969-73
Steven Coville Jr., Army – Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia
Fred Daniels, Army – Vietnam
Edward C. Davis, Army – 1938-46
Paul Davis, Army – Korea
Dennis Drought Jr., Marines – Vietnam
James Drought, Army – World War II
Richard Engle, Army – Vietnam (killed in action)
William Ferris, Navy – World War II
Frank Fite, Air Force/Army – World War II/Korea
Daniel Fritz, Navy – Cold War
Carl Gavenda, Navy – World War II
Elizebeth (Gaylard) Marat, Air Force – Iraq
James Gaylard, Army – World War II
These banners on Route 98 near the Barre Town Park show Eugene Haines and Scott Burnside. Haines was in the Navy during the Korean War and Burnside was in the Marine Corps and Army, during the Gulf War and then Iraq.
Peter Gaylard, Air Force – Kuwait
Paul Gaylord, Army – Korea
Harold Germeo Jr., Army – Vietnam
Harold Germeo Sr., Army – World War II
Eugene Haines, Navy – Korea
Laurence Hamilton, Army – World War II
Charles Hartway Jr., Army – 1961-62
Robert Hickman, Navy – Vietnam
John Hucknall, Army – 1966-68
Donald Joslyn, National Guard – 1958-64
James Keeler, Army – 1956-58
David Kelley, Air Force – Vietnam
John Kris, Army – Vietnam
Christopher Landis, Navy – Current
Al Long, Army – Vietnam
Herbert Lowman, Army
Christopher Markle, Air Force – Iraq 2003-04
Daniel Markle, Army – Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia
Lee Markle Sr., Army – 1966-68
Shannon Markle, Army – 1997-2000
Harold Miller, Army – World War II
Olin Miller, Army
Richard Frederick Miller, Navy – 1943-45
Steven Moore, Marines – 1980-84
Adam Mufford, Air Force – 1996-2016
Calvin Richard (Pete) Nesbitt, Navy – Korea
Charles Nesbitt, Army – Vietnam
Harold Nesbitt, Navy – World War II, Korea
Robert Nesbitt, Navy – World War II
David Newbould, Army – Korea
Donald Newbould, Army – Korea
Richard C. Newbould, Marines for 8 years
Richard H. Newbould, Army – 1952-54
Robert Newbould, Marines
Roger Newbould, Air Force – 1980-84
Scott Papponetti, Air Force – 1998-2018
Alvin Peglow, Army – World War II
Harold Perfitt, Navy – World War II
Charles (Chuck) Prentice Jr., Army – Desert Storm
Charles R. Prentice, Army – 1959-61
Thomas Prentice, Navy –Persian Gulf
Bob Preston, Army – Vietnam
Mathew Root, Army Ranger – Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia
Albert Sabo, Army – 1945-47
Arthur Spencer, National Guard – 1961-65
Robert Stirk, Army – 1955-57
John E. Swabb, Army – Korea
Clair Swan, Army – World War II
Earl Thiel, Army – Korea
Larie Vagg, Air Force – 1953-93
George Webster, Army – Korea
Steven Webster, Navy Seabees – 1973-77
Gerald Wells, Army – World War II
Elisha Wright Sr., Army – Civil War
Wilford Wraight, Navy
These “Hometown Heroes” includes Thomas Prentice who was deployed in the Persian Gulf and Charles R. Prentice who served in the Army from 1958 to 1960.
MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital is expanding visiting hours beginning today.
Orleans Community Health announced the following update:
Visitors must abide by the following guidelines:
Visiting hours on the Medical-Surgical floor/Transitional Care will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Exceptions may be made in end-of-life situations.
All visitors will be required to undergo the Covid-19 screening upon entering the hospital.
Visitors must wear face coverings at all times (covering mouth and nose), regardless of the visitor or patient vaccination status for influenza or Covid-19.
Visitors who fail to wear a face covering and other PPE as requested by the facility will be asked to leave the facility.
Visitors must be 16 years of age or older.
Once in the facility, visitors must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit, except when directed to leave by hospital staff during aerosol-generating procedures or other procedures or circumstances for which visitors are usually asked to leave or to use the restroom, and must be appropriately distanced from any other patients or staff.
Department visitation guidelines:
General visiting on the Medical-Surgical floor/Transitional Care: Two visitors may be permitted between the hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., except in certain circumstances. On a case-by-case basis, limitations may need to be made due to the clinical condition of the patient or at a patient’s request. In addition, caregiving by family members is encouraged, at the discretion of the family and patient.
Emergency Department: One visitor may be permitted. On a case-by-case basis, limitations may need to me made due to the clinical condition of the patient or the treatment being performed.
Anyone who reports or exhibits shortness of breath, fever, cough, or other potential Covid-19 symptoms
Individuals who have an active diagnosis of Covid-19 or who are persons under investigation for Covid-19.
Individuals wanting to visit a hospital patient who has an active diagnosis of Covid-19 or who is a person under investigation with Covid-19 or had contact with a person who is actively under investigation for Covid-19 within 10 days.
Individuals under quarantine for any other reason as defined by the most current New York State travel advisory.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
Lead is a heavy metal that is toxic to our bodies and there is no safe level of lead to have in our blood. Lead can be found in homes built before 1978 (before lead in paint was banned), gasoline, water pipes, toys, ceramics, jewelry, pottery and more.
The effects of lead poisoning are irreversible and can affect a child into adulthood.
“Lead poisoning can affect anyone, but it is especially dangerous for infants and small children because their bodies are rapidly developing,” stated Paul Pettit, director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).
Childhood lead poisoning can damage the brain and nervous system leading to learning difficulties, lower IQ, difficulty in paying attention, hyperactivity, kidney damage, and, at very high levels, it can be fatal. Lead poisoning can also be dangerous for pregnant women because lead can pass to the baby during pregnancy.
Childhood lead poisoning is a concern throughout the year, but cases of lead poisoning increase during the spring and summer months because children spend more time outdoors, on the porch or in the yard.
Homes built before 1978 may have chipping and peeling lead paint on the porch or on siding, which could be more deteriorated than other parts of the house due to the effects of weather. Children playing on the porch can unknowingly pick up lead paint chips and dust on their hands and toys and then place hands or toys into their mouths.
Lead dust can also be found in the soil outside where children are playing. Strong winds can blow lead dust from nearby factories or from the chipped paint off houses and then settle into your yard. Although leaded gasoline was phased out in the 1970s, lead may still be in the soil after it was released into the air from car exhausts and then settled into the ground nearby.
Lastly, many home improvements begin in the spring and summer. Renovations to areas of the home containing lead-based paint can put lead dust into the air, both inside and outside of the area being worked on. Lead dust can also collect on windowsills and in window wells. On warm days when the window is open, lead dust in these areas can blow into the house.
“Lead poisoning in children is completely preventable,” Pettit said. “You can follow these steps to protect yourself and your family from the effects of lead exposure.”
Talk to your doctor about a simple blood lead test. New York State requires that health care providers test children for lead at ages 1 and 2 and whenever there is a risk of lead exposure.
Wash children’s hands before eating and naps or bedtime.
Wash children’s toys regularly.
Have children play in a sandbox, rather than on the ground.
Clean floors with a wet mop and cleaning solution.
Wet-wipe dusty areas such as windowsills, window wells, countertops, and furniture.
Keep your home free of chipping or peeling paint and renovate safely.
Mist surfaces with water before scraping or sanding to prevent creating dust.
Have your children eat a balanced diet rich with iron, vitamin C and calcium.
For more information on GO Health’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact your respective health department:
Information from New York Attorney General Letitia James
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today distributed the first round of payments from the opioid settlements to counties in the Finger Lakes region and Rochester, including the initial payment of the $246,260 due for Orleans County.
These funds are the result of the $1.5 billion that Attorney General Letitia James has secured so far for New York state as a result of settlements with the manufacturers and distributors of opioids.
All 62 counties and the five largest cities in the state will begin receiving funds this week, which will be used for opioid treatment and prevention efforts. The Finger Lakes region will receive up to $53 million in total over the years as part of these settlements.
“For more than two decades, the Finger Lakes region has been ravaged by the opioid crisis, but today, opioid makers and distributors are paying for it,” said Attorney General James. “These funds are crucial in fighting the opioid crisis and will go a long way in helping New Yorkers get the support they need to recover. No amount of money will ever make up for all that we have lost, but these funds will help prevent future devastation.”
Today’s payments are the first of many to the Finger Lakes region to combat the opioid crisis. The first payments come from settlements with opioid distributors — AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., and McKesson Corporation.
Later this year, counties in the Finger Lakes and Rochester will receive additional payments from the settlements with Endo Health Solutions, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Allergan. In addition, counties and cities will receive funds from the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund, which is managed by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).
The breakdown of the $9,062,035 for the Finger Lakes Region that will be distributed in 2022 includes:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2022 at 5:17 pm
Provided photos: Jose Quiros of Medina crosses the finish line in Monday’s Boston Marathon in a time of 3:07.46, his fastest time in a marathon.
MEDINA – It was about a decade ago when Jose Quiros took up running. Initially he was looking to lose some weight. Quiros weighed about 200 pounds then.
He lost 50 pounds that first year of running in 2013, and has stuck with the sport since then. He is a regular in local 5k races. He won the Run for Wayne on April 2 in Albion, an event that is the Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K.
Quiros, 45, was running 100 to 200 races from 2014 to 2016. He then started to think about a bigger ambition: the 26.2-mile marathon with an ultimate goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon and finishing that famous course.
On Monday, Quiros fulfilled that dream. He covered the distance in 3:07.46. That was well under the qualifying time for him to come back again next year.
His wife Marixell and their daughter Sabrina joined him for the weekend in Boston. The entire event couldn’t have gone better, including the sunny 54 degrees on race day.
“It was an experience I’ll never forget,” Quiros said this afternoon.
He shifted his focus to marathons during Covid. In 2020 many of the 5k races were cancelled, and then last year it shifted to staggered starts so all the runners weren’t in a big group at the beginning.
Quiros didn’t like that and turned to long distance. He set a goal for qualifying for Boston and met that with a 3:10.59 marathon in Syracuse last Oct. 17.
Jose Quiros finds his name among about 30,000 in a display for the wall of runners at the expo before the Boston Marathon.
At Boston, the atmosphere was electric with a huge crowd. Quiros had to remind himself many times not to start out too fast. He needed his legs to have juice for later in the race, when then infamous hills lead to heartbreak for many of the runners.
Quiros did the first half in 1:34 and beat that pace for the second half.
“Near the end my legs felt great,” he said. “I felt like I won the lottery.”
Quiros for many years worked for Modern Disposal. He worked about 60 hours a week with an hour commute. He recently took a job at Mizkan in Lyndonville, just a 5-minute drive. That has freed up more time for training and to be with his family.
He has new goals. He wants to run a 5k in the 18s. If he can do it that fast he thinks he could then lower his marathon time to under 3 hours.
“I think I could possibly break 3 hours at Boston,” he said. “But I know I will be back at Boston.”
Arbor Day celebration with 3rd-graders returns April 29
Press Release, Medina Municipal Tree Board
Photos courtesy of Chris Busch: These 42 trees are tagged and ready for installation in Medina with 9 additional trees to arrive soon.
MEDINA – With the month of April comes thoughts of Spring and in the Village of Medina, Spring means Arbor Day.
Arbor Day, observed nationally on the last Friday of April, falls this year on April 29. The observance will be held at the on the northeast corner of Frank Street at West Avenue in the village. As always, 3rd graders from Medina Central School will be on hand to celebrate.
“Fifty-one trees in all will be planted this year,” said Kathy Blackburn, Tree Board Chair. “Forty-one on the west block of South Avenue, nine on the east block of Frank Street and one at City Hall on Main Street.”
“The west block of South Avenue has lost nearly all of its trees over the past 10-15 years,” said Blackburn. “The impact on this streetscape will be huge.”
Multiple sources of research on the impact of street trees cite numerous benefits, including increase property values, slower/safer traffic patterns, lower urban air temperatures, and absorption of harmful pollution.
Research from 2017 also indicates street trees in neighborhoods result in lower blood pressure and improvement to overall emotional and psychological health.
Arbor Day 2022 will mark a milestone for Medina’s urban forestry program. It is the 15th year in a row that the Village of Medina has been awarded the Tree City USA designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The award honors Medina’s commitment to community forestry.
The Tree City USA Program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, and the USDA Forest Service. Tree City USA is awarded annually to those communities who qualify and is a national designation.
Medina’s Municipal Tree Ordinance and Arbor Day Celebration have been a model for several other communities looking to establish a board and planting program. Medina receives multiple inquiries for assistance and advice every year from municipalities across the state.
The 300 block of South Avenue is the main spring planting site for Medina’s trees in 2022.
The village maintains a policy of diversity in its urban forest plantings. Species to be planted in the village this year include Ginkgo, Osage Orange, Crab Apple, American Sweetgum, Japanese Zelkova, London Plane, Elm, Honey Locust, and varieties of Oak and Maple.
Blackburn says with each passing year, more trees are lost and need replacement. With increasing costs and limited funding, the task is difficult but necessary.
“Municipal budgets are tight everywhere and the cost of plant material has seen double-digit percentage increases in the last six years,” said Blackburn. “Additionally, our village forest is aging and we’re losing 30-40+ trees each year. The upside is we replace those trees with new, more desirable cultivars.”
Medina’s planting policy reflects a diverse selection of species. Shown here is Quercus muehlenbergii or Chinkapin oak, one of ten different species being planted this month in the village.
Blackburn explained that much of Medina’s old trees are Silver Maple and Ash, with the Silver Maples simply dying from age and the Ash from the Emerald Ash Borer.
“Thankfully, the community has been extremely generous in donating funds for trees, both as memorials and general plantings,” she said. “People see the importance of trees in the village and enjoy the aesthetic impact. We’re incredibly grateful for the financial support we recieve through our annual Community Releaf Fund Drive.”
According to Blackburn, donations can be made anytime for general tree planting, memorial trees or for “trees on your street”. Additional information can be obtained at the Village Clerk’s Office or by downloading the Releaf brochure online at villagemedina.org.
“Now more than ever, support is critical for the future,” said Blackburn.
The Arbor Day 2022 Celebration will begin at approximately 10 a.m. on Frank Street at the corner of West Avenue, and will include the reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation by Mayor Michael Sidari. The trees will planted by the Medina DPW. Medina’s 3rd graders will be on hand to help plant the trees and celebrate the day.
“The community’s invited!” said Blackburn. “Medina’s Arbor Day Celebration is second to none and we encourage everyone to come celebrate and support tree planting in Medina!”
Lead is a heavy metal that is toxic to our bodies and there is no safe level of lead to have in our blood. Lead can be found in homes built before 1978 (before lead in paint was banned), gasoline, water pipes, toys, ceramics, jewelry, pottery and more.
