Firehall would need to be expanded to accommodate bigger fire truck

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina ladder truck is shown on Jan. 12 at a fire on Knapp Street in Albion. Village officials want to begin working to replace the ladder truck from 1996.

MEDINA – Medina Mayor Mike Sidari hoped to push off replacing a ladder truck for a few more years. But he said the ladder truck the village needs to start working on a plan to replace the truck from 1996.

“We have a desperate need for a new ladder truck,” the mayor said at Monday’s Village Board meeting. “And if we get a new truck we need a place to have it.”

Acquiring a new truck and putting an addition on the fire hall could be financed through a bond. Sidari said he wants the projects discussed as part of the village budget meetings in April. The budget needs to be approved by April 30.

Sidari said Medina has some leeway in its budget and still remain under the state constitutional tax limit. For a village that is 2 percent of the five-year average full valuation.

Medina’s full valuation for the 2021-22 budget was $173,610,268 and 2 percent of that is $3,472,205. The current budget has a tax levy of $3,259,119, which is nearing the tax limit.

Medina’s current ladder truck is from 1996. The ladder is 75 feet long. Medina officials would like a truck with a 100-foot-long ladder.

The new truck would cost an estimated $1.2 million. The current truck needs frequent maintenance that is costly. Village officials said Medina is already spending about $70,000 a year on the current ladder to keep it going.

The current fire hall is too small for a bigger ladder truck. Currently there is only two inches of clearance from the top of the truck to get in and out of the bay in the fire hall. The new trucks are 4 inches above the top of the door.

Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson has suggested the village consider a 75-by-50-foot addition to the fire hall with two taller bays to allow more space to get trucks in and out of the building.

An addition would be an estimated $1.3 million to $1.5 million for the building, and extending heating and other utilities, as well as engineering costs.

The current fire hall includes two buildings, a Medina sandstone structure from 1908 and then an annex built in the 1930s for the DPW. The DPW moved in 1955 and Medina FD took over the 3,960-square-foot space, which is 45 by 88 feet.

In addition to the larger fire trucks, the Medina FD runs four ambulances from the site and one of them, ambulance 61, can only fit in one of the bays.

Jackson would like to see an addition in the parking lot with garage bays about 3 ½ feet higher than the ones in the current building.

Jackson is suggesting Medina pursue a 4,980-square-foot addition that would be 60 by 83 feet. It would have space for modern ambulances and fire trucks, be ADA compliant, and meet the department’s needs for the next 50 to 100 years. It would also have space for potential female firefighters.

Medina officials expect there will be some grant funding to help with the truck and fire hall expansion.

Sidari said he wants to get the process moving.

MEDINA – The Village Board will start digging deep into the village budget next week as its begins a series of meetings with village department heads.

The board on Monday set the following dates to work on the budget: 9:15 a.m. on April 4 with focus on fire department and police department; 9 a.m. on April 6 with focus on code enforcement; 9 a.m. on April 8 with focus on Department of Public Works, and then another meeting at 9:30 a.m. on April 13.

The board also set a public hearing for the budget at 7 p.m. on April 25. The hearing will be at the senior center. The budget needs to be adopted by April 30.

The current 2021-22 budget totaled $6,109,526 with $3,259,119 raised by taxes for a tax rate of $18.77 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The unemployment rate for Orleans County was at 4.7 percent in February. That is the lowest for the second month since at least 1990, according to the state Department of Labor’s records that go back to 1990.

The 4.7 percent rate dropped from the 7.1 percent in the county for February 2021. In February 2020, the last month before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate was 5.8 percent in Orleans County.

For five years, the unemployment rate in February was above 10 percent with 10.9 percent in February 2013, 10.8 percent in February 2012, 10.7 percent in February 2011, 11.2 percent in February 2010, and 10.7 percent in February 2009.

The 4.7 percent for February 2022 is the only time the county’s unemployment rate was below 5 percent for a February since 1990. That as far back as Department of Labor records go on the DOL website.

The county’s labor force of 17,200 in February also is the smallest in the 32 years of DOL data. It was at a high of 21,600 in February 1998 and last topped 20,000 in 2006 with 20,100. It was at 18,100 in February 2018 and declined to 17,900 in 2019, 17,800 in 2020, 17,100 in 2021 and now 17,200.

The February 2022 data reports the unemployed at 800 and employed at 16,400. A year ago in February 2021, about 11 months into the Covid pandemic, there were 15,900 working in Orleans and 1,200 unemployed.

The unemployment rate in the United States dropped from 6.6 percent in February 2021 to 4.1 percent last month. In the state, the rate went from 9.2 percent in February 2021 to 5.1 percent last month, according to the Department of Labor.

Among the four rural GLOW counties, the rates for February include Genesee at 4.1 percent, Livingston at 4.0 percent, Orleans at 4.7 percent and Wyoming at 4.7 percent.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign promotes an Easter egg hunt in Albion at the Courthouse lawn from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 9.

Albion and Medina are both planning Easter Egg hunts and activities on April 9.

Several Albion businesses will join in an Easter Hop for April 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where children can get an Easter basket for free at Toyz n Kandy, Pretty Sweet Bakery and Bloom’s Flower Shop. From there the kids can stop at 15 different businesses that will be giving an Easter treat. DK Auto Body also is sponsoring face-painting at The Coffee Joint.

Then from 1 to 3 p.m. there will be an Easter egg hunt on the Courthouse lawn. That is being organized by the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, a church that meets at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex.

In medina, the Medina Area Partnership will have an Easter Bunny and Golden Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Easter Bunny will also be at the Santa House in Rotary Park that day from noon to 2 p.m. giving away chocolate suckers.

There will be golden Easter eggs in the windows of several downtown businesses, as well as special eggs hidden up high in the stores.

Press Release, Medina Police Chief Chad Kenward

MEDINA – The Medina Police Department is currently investigating a phone scam where the Medina Police Department’s office phone number (585)798-5602 has been used as part of the scam.

The suspect(s) calls reporting there is a warrant for the person, and the only way to get rid of the warrant is to pay whatever monies they stipulate. The above phone number comes up on caller ID.

This isn’t how the Medina Police Department or any other law enforcement agency handles warrants. Please be mindful if you receive any calls like this, obtain as much information as you can without engaging in lengthy conversation with the caller.

Hang up, call 911, and/or the Medina Police Department (585)798-5603 or (585) 798-5602 to speak to an officer. Most importantly do not give the caller any monies and/or information so they can access your financial accounts.

MEDINA – Lock your car doors, especially at night, to discourage break-ins, Medina Police Chief Chad Kenward said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.

He said many vehicles have been hit by larcenies, including some during broad daylight.

“The larcenies are a problem all over,” Kenward said. “People are desperate for money.”

He thinks people in need of money to fuel addictions  and also because they don’t have enough to pay their bills.

He recommended the Village Board have additional lighting put in the parking lot for the senior center and village office, as well as more security cameras.

People can help themselves by locking their doors, Kenward said.

Women tend to be the caregivers in families, whether they’re caring for their parents or their children and significant others, but they often ignore their own health. It’s important that they take time for themselves which is why I’m dedicating this article to that topic. 

Yearly exams and preventing Cervical Cancer

Many Moms wouldn’t think of skipping their kids’ “Well Child” visits each year, but they don’t always come in for their yearly physicals. During your physical, we’ll take your blood pressure, weight, address any health issues and talk about preventative measures for your future. For women, we’ll also do a Pap Smear if that’s appropriate. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, a Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women. Detecting cervical cancer early with a Pap smear gives you a greater chance at a cure.

How can you manage your stress? 

Stress affects women (and everyone) in different ways. It’s often a major factor in weight gain and struggles with mental health. Remember, you can’t take care of anybody if you’re not taking care of yourself. 

How can you help yourself? Some simple tips include increased exercise such as walking which gives you the added benefit of some quiet time – time with your own thoughts. If you don’t allow yourself some downtime, you’re going to burn out. If you’d like to talk with a behavioral health professional, Oak Orchard Health offers counseling that can be done by phone, video, or in-person. Getting outside perspective and advice can be super helpful to your mental health. 

Healthy eating 

Eating healthy can make a world of difference in your life but it does take planning and thoughtful purchases. Staying away from fast foods, processed foods, and high-calorie drinks can have a big impact on weight loss. Diets that include lots of vegetables or vegetables with fish, are the best for you. I understand that people are busy and often don’t have the time to prep fresh vegetables, but you can get the same nutritional value if you microwave or steam frozen vegetables. Be sure to read the labels when purchasing and look for lower calorie and carbohydrate items. You will be surprised that there are healthy items in the frozen food area beyond just frozen vegetables. 

Eating regularly is as important as what you eat. Be sure to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, and avoid eating late at night. If you find yourself hungry late at night or in between meals, look to healthy snacking like vegetables such as cucumbers or even a small salad with lite dressing. 

Breast cancer and early detection

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It can occur at any age, but the risk goes up as you get older. Because of certain factors, some women may have a greater chance of having breast cancer than others, according to the American Cancer Society. 

Many of you reading this article already know that getting a mammogram is the #1 way to detect breast cancer – but when should you get one? The American Cancer Society recommends women start at age 40 for their yearly breast cancer screening and I agree.  Should you have a family history of breast cancer you may need to get your mammogram earlier, particularly if that family member was under 40 years of age. If that’s the case, you may want to start mammograms at 35. 

Shingles, what are they?

The CDC reports that a number of studies have revealed that more women than men develop shingles, although it states that the reason for the disparity is not known. What are shingles? Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has chickenpox, the virus stays in their body and becomes inactive. Years later, the virus can reactivate, causing shingles. 

Often people associate Shingles with a terrible rash, but it can also show up like a fever, malaise, flu-like symptoms, and sometimes the rash can be very minimal. This virus can also cause meningitis so it’s extremely important to see your medical provider and get treated. If you are 50 or older, you are eligible to get the Shingles vaccine to prevent getting this often very painful disease. 

We hope you’ve found this article to be helpful. Should you have any other questions, please contact your medical professional or Oak Orchard Health. 

18-month program connects leaders in health care and community-based organizations in WNY, CNY

The director of the Orleans County United Way is one of 34 professionals in the Health Leadership Fellows program. These are leaders from health care and community-based organizations throughout western and central New York.

Dean Bellack

Dean Bellack said he is making connections with key foundation and agency leaders as part of the 18-month program.

The group held its opening conference from March 14-16 in Canandaigua. The Fellows meet monthly and develop, in small teams, inter-organizational projects that seek to address a community health need.

They also participate in development sessions focused on personal leadership, results-based leadership, leading change, and communicating as a leader. After graduating, Fellows continue to collaborate and learn together as members of the Fellows Action Network.

Bellack, the United Way executive director the past three years, said he was recommended for the program by some of the foundations he has worked with in his role with the United Way.

He said he is honored to be in a prestigious program with so many leaders across the region, from small counties to organizations based in Buffalo.

“It’s total immersion into the nonprofit world and nonprofit thinking,” Bellack said today. “It’s making connections for us in Orleans County.”

Bellack said the United Way has been successful in securing foundation money for a digital literacy initiative and to hire a grantwriter to assist local organizations and municipalities.

He expects the Health Fellows program will give him stronger relationships that could lead to more funding opportunities for the county.

“This is about making the connections we need,” he said. “It’s connecting to foundations and funders in the community and further outside of Orleans County.”

Since 2005, the Health Leadership Fellows program has worked to build and strengthen a network of collaborative leaders across health-related organizations in WNY and CNY in order to enhance regional capacity for addressing community health issues.

During the 18-month program, Fellows meet monthly and develop, in small teams, inter-organizational projects that seek to address a community health need.

They also participate in development sessions focused on personal leadership, results-based leadership, leading change, and communicating as a leader. After graduating, Fellows continue to collaborate and learn together as members of the Fellows Action Network.

“The tenth cohort of Health Leadership Fellows is an inspiring group of change-makers,” said Nora OBrien-Suric, PhD, President, the Health Foundation. “The pandemic has reinforced how critically important it is for health care leaders to break down silos and partner to meet the community’s needs more effectively. Cohort 10 will join the proud tradition of Fellows graduates who work together to make a real, lasting impact for the people we serve.”

Photo and information from FMC

MIDDLEPORT – FMC celebrates its most recent new hires at the Middleport plant and welcomes personnel from FMC sites in Brazil, Puerto Rico, Alabama, and Delaware who are supporting new hiring training, daily site operations and sharing process improvements.

To accommodate growing business, the plant has added 17 new positions over the past four months and filled vacancies for Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) manager, EHS specialist and supervisors.

Participating in the celebration are (from left to right first row): Chris Reuther, EHS manager; Roberta Magalhaes, Improvement engineer – FMC Uberaba Plant, Brazil; Eli Richards, EHS Rep. II; Kimberly Jurewicz – Label Master data specialist; Gina Dempsey – Corporate Global EHS Audit manager – FMC Philadelphia; Katie Russell, FMC Middleport Plant manager; Tom Giroir, supervisor – Alabama; Todd Manuel, supervisor – Alabama; and Al Hoysradt, maintenance supervisor. (Second row left to right) Leah Clark, Production Run engineer  Brandon Brinley, production supervisor; Carlos Medina, engineer II – FMC Plant Manati, PR; Bryan Papp, FMC Retiree contractor – NJ; Monica Vallerio, Corporate Sr. HR generalist – FMC Philadelphia; Otis Thomas, production supervisor; Clyde Jones, PSM coordinator – FMC Mobile, Alabama; and Don Dunner, associate engineer – FMC Stine, Delaware.

Press Release, Village of Holley

File photo by Tom Rivers: A costumed dalmatian dog waves to the crowd as part of a float for Wiley’s Ark Animal Care in Holley during the parade in Holley on June 6, 2015. The festival is back on June 4 after being cancelled due to Covid restrictions in 2020 and 2021.

HOLLEY – After much consideration and advocacy by the people of Holley, the Village Board has decided that 2022 will be the year that June Fest returns!

With music, entertainment, and chances to win in the Basket Raffle and the 50/50 Cash Raffle, there is fun to be had for everyone.

Come hang out in the community and participate in this year’s Holley History Scavenger Hunt, where players are introduced to the rich history of the community and a chance to win a prize!

Let the kids come out to play in the many bounce houses that are already on board as well as a petting zoo. There’s plenty of fun to be had this year at Holley’s June Fest. And don’t forget all of the great tasting food that’s provided by our very own local eateries.

This year’s June Fest will take place on June 4, the first Saturday in June. Festivities will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and events will occur in or around the Canal Park.

The June Fest Committee is requesting that anyone interested in volunteering, donating, vending, or sponsoring at this time to  please send inquiries to junefestcommittee@yahoo.com or contact Keith Lutes at (585) 354-6467 or Rainey Losee at (912) 334-6737.

‘The last 2 years have been an overall story about how the community came together to get through a challenging time.’

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Brody Hoffmeister, owner of Rudy’s Restaurant in Medina, shows a picture on his phone of the tables set up in the parking lot for dining during the pandemic.

Two years ago near the middle of March, life became a standstill. The pandemic not only inconvenienced the entire population and afflicted many, it wreaked havoc on businesses, forcing some to shut down and others to adapt to remain in service.

In Medina, when the pandemic hit Brody Hoffmeister, 25, had just taken over the family restaurant, Rudy’s, after his mother Kelly Russo passed away.

“I was just starting to move forward,” Hoffmeister said. “I didn’t have a plan, but I knew what worked.”

At the time, Rudy’s employed 25 people. Now they are down to 10.

“The pandemic changed the game,” he said. “It’s pretty hard to move forward in a world where everything is against you.”

Rudy’s closed on March 21, 2020.

With the help of his brother, sister, wife, dad and his girlfriend and five or six employees, Rudy’s re-opened April 1 with shorter hours and a downscaled staff.

Hoffmeister came in at 5 a.m. to unload trucks, stock the steam table and set up for the day before manning the grill. The restaurant was open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for takeout only.

“I used all the analytics Mom left me,” Hoffmeister said. “I figured where I could cut corners, but if it wasn’t for my family, I’d never have survived.”

Next, Hoffmeister, who had been planning to redo the restaurant in retro similar to when his grandparents were there, set up the tables in the parking lot and rented parking space at the former Moose building.

“This was personal to me,” he said. “I was not only fighting for my business, but for all the childhood memories of growing up here. There were days I wanted to give up. This has been a humbling thing.”

Hoffmeister said they lost a lot of customers, but persevered. He got an economic disaster loan to buy food.

“That’s what saved me,” he said.

Then they started to offer Door Dash, a third-party company which delivers the food.

“I cook and package it and they deliver if for a percent of the cost,” he said.

On Friday nights Hoffmeister said they used to go through 150 pounds of fish, but during the pandemic, the number dropped to 70 pounds.

“We were at 50 percent of capacity, but we kept going,” he said.

On June 11, 2020, they re-opened for indoor dining at 50 percent capacity.

It wasn’t until May 2021 Rudy’s was able to open at full capacity, and then with shorter hours and less employees. Visit our website.

The Shirt Factory Café across the street from Rudy’s was on a high, having just won the Best Bloody Mary at the Riverfront in Buffalo, when everything went down, said Alix Gilman, who owns the Shirt Factory with husband Scott Robinson.

“It was such a turbulent time for the whole community. Advisories and mandates changed by the moment,” Gilman said. “No one knew if and when we would reopen.”

Robinson said Double Dips Ice Cream had just received their opening supply of ice cream and were going to be stuck with it, so the Shirt Factory stepped in and bought that ice cream.

“We went online to offer takeouts and immediately added their ice cream to our menu,” Gilman said. “We soon got rid of their pints, saving them from a loss. There was not a business in this town that wasn’t supportive.”

The biggest issue for the Shirt Factory was when they could reopen on a limited basis, they were so small they couldn’t provide spaced-out seating.

Jaye Sullivan from Blissett’s in Medina shows some of the gowns in her shop. While weddings were called off during the pandemic, prom dresses still sold, she said.

“There was no way we could open and had to stay completely closed,” Gilman said. “Scott and I both had other jobs and we couldn’t leave the responsibility to employees. It was such a divisive time.”

Their bar was able to be open in summer, but it would more than a year before they could reopen like normal.

Blissett’s Specialty Shop on Main Street in Medina closed completely for two months, then reopened on June 1, 2020. It was uncertain how much business a shop would do which sold wedding and prom dresses, when proms and bigger weddings were canceled.

No one knew everything would be closed, said Blissett’s owner Jaye Sullivan.

When she closed the day after St. Patrick’s Day, she thought it would be for a couple of weeks or maybe a month.

“So I didn’t panic,” she said.

People still got married in small ceremonies and although there were no proms, they still ordered prom dresses.

At first there were no shipping problems. Sullivan said the prom companies ordered fabric in March to cut for the following year. Anyone trying to buy a prom dress that following March found slim buying, she said, but bridal companies just kept making gowns.

“Last year was one of the busiest for wedding gowns in five years,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan opened for appointments only and posted merchandise online. She said people would order online, pay for it by credit card and then she would bag the order and set it in the doorway for them to pick up. Now she does all her formal wear by appointment only.

Furniture and appliance dealers soon felt the impact of the pandemic.

Frenchy Downey, who runs Frenchy’s TV and Appliances on Ridge Road in Albion, said this was the most difficult and challenging time since he went into business in 1964.

“I got down to only five appliances in my store,” Downey said. “People were calling me from out of state looking for appliances. It was two and a half months before I could get a thing, and now I can’t get parts.”

He said the situation is really serious, and he has never seen prices go up as fast as they are now.

“It used to be the companies who made appliances also made the parts, and then they started outsourcing them,” Downey said. “They found parts could be made cheaper in other countries, but when the pandemic hit, they couldn’t ship them. Now they are shipping them and there’s no labor to unload them, so they sit on a boat in the harbor.”

Downey recently took apart a range and found parts made in five different countries.

“The whole business is coming to a ‘whoa,’ and I don’t see it improving,” he said.

Amy Sidari, owner of Gotta Dance Studio and the Cabaret at Studio B in Albion, stands in her newly remodeled studio nearing the end of the pandemic’s restrictions.

When the order to close was issued, Amy Sidari of Gotta Dance and the Cabaret at Studio B in Albion thought it would be for one to two weeks.

“I never imagined it would be October 2020 before I could open back up,” she said.

In the meantime, she began posting games, puzzles and dances online for her students to keep active and connected.

Then she opened a chat room for parents and children. In June 2020, when she still couldn’t hold classes or recitals in her studio, Sidari planned a recital on the front lawn of her home. Parents parked in around the lawn and watched from their cars. She spray painted lines on the grass to keep students separated as they danced.

“I just wanted to do something for fun and get the kids moving,” Sidari said.

When she was allowed to open on a limited basis, Sidari devised a program at her studio where she divided a room into compartments each family could share and do exercises. She invited in speakers from various areas, such as exercise, makeup techniques, art lessons and journalism to educate her students in small groups.

As she was able to slowly ease into the theater scene, she planned small cabaret sessions for 15 guests.

Now finally able to return to normal, Sidari is operating out of three studios, but she keeps classes small and still insists on using sanitizer.

Marc Shurz

The pandemic hit the medical field particularly hard.

“The last two years have been an overall story about how the community came together to get through a challenging time,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “Area businesses donated food, personal protective equipment, N95 masks and more to our team at the hospital, while front line workers fought through fear to provide care back to the community.

“There were many difficult decisions that needed to be made over that period, but limiting visitation was and is one of the hardest. While we’ll continue to focus on the health and well-being of our team, patients and the community, we’re also looking forward to the day we can put all of these limitations aside.”

“Providing ease and comfort to the community was our priority, and we did so by conducting more than 30,000 Covid-19 tests over the last two years,” said Nikki Helsdon, practice manager of the Albion Healthcare Center.”

Albion altered operations by adapting to Covid-19, Helsdon said.

“We met demands while also making sure we provided comfort to our patients and the community,” she said. “We installed a drive-thru shed to avoid possible exposure to the public. Our employees bravely conducted the testing through all kinds of weather and shortage of staffing, due to the pandemic. The public was able to schedule over the phone, drive up, get swabbed and results were called to them within the hour.”

Helsdon said their workload changed significantly, due to high demand of calls, tests and state reporting, not including scanning and charting.

“We are happy to say we made it through over 30,000 tests and will be there for the public at any time they may need us,” she said. “As overall numbers have continued their steady decline, we’ve been able to place more focus on everyone’s overall health and wellness.”

Switch to E15 could save consumers up to 25 cents a gallon

Photo by Tom Rivers: Tim Winters, president and CEO of Western New York Energy in Medina, said ethanol is a domestic supply that can bring down the cost of gas significantly.

MEDINA – A surefire way to bring down the cost of gasoline: add more ethanol to the gas blends.

That is the message from the CEO and president of Western New York Energy, which produced 62 million gallons of ethanol annually.

Tim Winters, leader of the facility on Bates Road, noted that the state has already approved for gas to go from 10 percent ethanol to 15 percent. The state Department of Agriculture and Markets made that decision on Nov. 21, 2019.

But the gas stations, which are heavily influenced controlled by oil companies, haven’t budged. Gas remains at E10, when E15 would likely bring the cost down much closer to $4 a gallon.

The average price is currently $4.35 a gallon for unleaded in the state. Winters said E15 in Pennsylvania and West Virginia cut about 25 cents off the price per gallon.

“These market conditions show yet again how consumers are at the mercy of oil companies,” Winters said. “And with higher blend rates we can have cleaner air for our kids and support our farmers.”

Using more ethanol in gas – increasing the blend from 10 to 15 percent – would lower the price at the pump, be better for the environment and also reduce the oil imports from Russia, Winters said.

He believes the gas stations would insist on E15 if customers demanded it. He is urging people to request E15 at gas stations.

“The oil companies are spreading misinformation,” Winters said. “This is David vs. Goliath.”

The voice of the customer, however, would make a strong impression on the gas stations, and could lead to E15 being offered. Right now, Winters said only a few gas stations offer E15 in the Albany area.

The change to E15 in New York would lower carbon emissions by 748,000 tons annually, which is the equivalent of removing 129,400 vehicles from New York’s roads, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.

Provided photo: Western New York Energy also is nearing completion of a new high purity distillation system.

Winters said E15 gas has now been driven 16 billion miles “without a single issue.”

The ethanol plant in Medina is currently the only one operating in the state. It will soon open a new high purity distillation system that can produce up to 15 million gallons of high-purity alcohol to be used in the pharmaceutical and beverage industries, and other industrial purposes.

Winters said the Medina plant is diversifying “because the fuel market can be a bumpy ride.”

Opening the plant in November 2007 has proven a success for the community, providing a big buyer for corn and producing about 60 million gallons of ethanol that is blended in gasoline.

Since the plant opened the corn yields have drastically increased around the state. The yields went from 97 bushels per acre in 2002 to 167 in 2021, which was a record high for New York.

Winters said the switch to E15 would mean more opportunities for corn growers and the local ethanol plant. But he said he feels for motorists who are paying near record-high prices. He wants them to have relief at the pump, and for the U.S. to not be enriching Russia with imported oil.

On March 17, about 1,000 farmers, workers in the ethanol industry, and other biofuel supporters sent a message to President Biden to broaden the use of ethanol blends like E15.

The letter was signed from people in 30 states.

“Simply allowing gasoline blenders to sell E15 year-round would instantly help moderate prices at the pump and deliver relief to American families,” the letter states. “Today, E15 is selling for 10-25 cents per gallon less than standard gasoline, meaning year-round use of the fuel would save the average American household at least $125-200 on its annual gasoline bill. Those savings would accrue immediately while also providing energy, environmental and economic benefits for the long-term.”

Winters said local residents can make a difference by simply requesting E15 as an option when they buy gas.

“Just ask the retailer for E15,” he said. “Tell them you want a lower-priced option.”

The ethanol industry doesn’t have near the resources to counter the power of oil companies, he said.

“As a state and a nation, we continue to place the financial wellbeing and clean air responsibilities of our citizens in the hands of dirty, harmful gasoline and oil producers,” Winters said. “Now is as good a time to make a change for the benefit of our neighbors – by putting some more money in their pockets while we are cleaning the air we all breathe.”

A push for E15 would also have a big benefit for the agricultural community.

“This provides critical support for New York farmers that are facing historically high input prices and facing the same financial struggles as consumers,” Winters said.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, law enforcement officials and members of the Assembly and Senate Republican Conferences today called on Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders to reverse failed criminal justice policies and strengthen public protection in the 2022-23 State Budget.

“For the past three years, New Yorkers have seen the disastrous effects of one-party rule on their safety and well-being,” Ortt said. “Violent crime rates are up, security in neighborhoods is down. It’s time for Albany leaders to admit what we all know – their record on public safety has been an abysmal failure, and they must decisively change course in this year’s state budget. That means no more criminal coddling. Supporting law enforcement. Repealing bail reform, making Kendra’s Law permanent, and fixing New York’s discovery laws. Let’s restore public safety to our state.”

In 2019, Democrats in Albany drastically overhauled New York’s criminal justice system. Those changes greatly diminished the public’s safety and enabled career criminals to enjoy wide latitude to operate in New York. As such, the Republican Conferences are calling for a substantial rollback of those policies, including increased judicial discretion in setting bail and changes to parole procedures.

After New York City Mayor Eric Adams, law enforcement officials and state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle criticized the wrong-headed liberal policies currently in place; reports indicate there may be an inclination to include changes in the budget.

Today’s calls by elected officials and law enforcement build upon the Senate Republican plan to Restore Public Safety in New York, unveiled as part of the Take Back New York agenda earlier this year. The plan involves:

Protecting Those Who Protect Us:

• Invest in law enforcement;
• Provide them with the support they need to make our communities safe and serve those in need; and
• Fight Democrat efforts to demonize and “Defund the Police.”

Rejecting Dangerous “Reforms” like Cashless Bail:

• End cashless bail, restore judicial discretion and reject dangerous Democrat proposals to erase entire criminal databases;
• Require state agencies to be transparent about the effects of public safety policies; and
• Fix unworking discovery and “speedy trial” laws that have turned our justice system into a revolving door for repeat and violent offenders.

Reforming the Broken Parole System:

• Recenter the Parole process around the protection and rights of crime victims and their families;
• Ensure that cop-killers, serial killers, child killers, and other dangerous murderers can NEVER be released; and
• Reject dangerous Democrat proposals to weaken the Parole System.

Passing a Victims’ Justice Agenda:

• Strengthen penalties for violent and repeat offenders, as well as hate crimes;
• Invest in proven mental health, addiction, homeless, and victims’ programs and services; and
• Make Kendra’s Law permanent, to ensure that those struggling with mental illness get the help they need.

“We are not saying we need to completely undo these laws, but we do need to find ways to fix them,” said Washington County District Attorney J. Anthony Jordan, president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York. “And we must do it now, which means this budget cycle. We all know that some unintended consequences of our current bail, discovery and Raise the Age laws have allowed dangerous criminals to take advantage of those new laws and has contributed to an uptick in violent crimes and crimes against property, all leading to a loss of a sense of safety and security in our communities.

“If courts cannot consider the reality that certain defendants pose a risk to public safety, then courts are not serving public justice or public safety. A sensible balance between the rights of defendants and public safety is possible. Like all new laws adjustments prudently need to be made to ensure the intended outcome.”

“Sheriffs have been stalwart in their opinion on bail reform,” said Kevin Mulverhill, Franklin County Sheriff and 1st Vice President NYS Sheriff’s Association. “The original bail reform initiative, while well-intentioned, was a drastic overcorrection, and for the past several years we have been dealing with the fallout. It is past time that New York joins nearly every other state in the nation, as well as the federal judiciary, in allowing judges to consider a defendant’s risk to public safety when considering bail or remand.  Sheriffs believe this simple change will alleviate many of the problems we are seeing today.”

Assemblyman Mike Norris, R-Lockport, issued this statement: “Today my colleagues and I renewed our calls for much-needed changes of the so-called bail reforms as part of this year’s state budget due April 1. Our advocacy and the public’s outcries for justice has led the governor to pledge her support to this initiative at last, but she must commit to persuading the downstate-driven Majorities to enact the substantive changes needed now, as part of this year’s budget in order to protect public safety and improve our state’s judicial branch.

“Judicial discretion must be restored, along with discovery provisions, and any future reforms should include input from stakeholders like the judges, law enforcement and corrections officers who are tasked with enforcing our laws and who, sadly, have been excluded from discussions by the Majorities until this point.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued this statement: “So long as innocent people continue to get hurt by those who should not be walking free in our neighborhoods, I will continue to demand the restoration of the discretion that was taken away from our judges in 2019. As we now work to pass our state’s budget, I feel we have a real opportunity to restore order and save lives. Gov. Hochul’s proposed changes to the law may be a good start, but when we’re talking about matters of literal life and death, we can’t afford to do any less than finally fix this law once and for all to protect our communities.”

Provided photo: Pictured form left include Roy-Hart Superintendent Dr. Hank Stopinski, Marti Schrichte (Reid Petroleum), Jessica Monaco, Christina Smith (Crosby-Reid), Michelle Harris (Crosby-Reid), Susan McLaughlin and Donna VanSlyke.

Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

MIDDLEPORT – For the second year in a row, the Royalton-Hartland Elementary School has received $1,000 to use towards their outdoor classroom space.

Thanks to the generosity of Exxon Mobil’s Educational Alliance, who gifted them $500 and the Crosby-Reid Petroleum Company who matched the donation, the school now has the funds to afford their students more opportunities to explore and learn about the environment.

The Exxon Mobil Education Alliance is a national program that funds math and science programs at schools in need. It is part of their ongoing effort to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.

Teachers Susan McLaughlin and Jessica Monaco, who spearheaded the outdoor learning spaces at the school, are thrilled with the additional funds that continues to bring the natural world to their campus.  The gardens also include a stone soup garden and pizza garden.

“Our vegetable garden has been a huge hit with not only our students, but our community,” Mrs. Monaco said. “We have had people in the neighborhood come and grab a green pepper for dinner.  We are also encouraging residents to take what they need.”

This year’s goals with the donations include: magnifying glasses and lab coats for the students, hula hoops, an ego blower, push brooms, gardening tools, books on pollinators, worms, butterflies and gardening, butterfly nets, tape measurers, nylon rope, lumber and a weather station.

“It is just really awesome,” said the school’s principal, Donna VanSlyke. “We are also hoping to buy a shed to keep our materials in. We are so grateful to Exxon and to Crosby-Reid for helping our vision come to life and enriching our students’ education of the science and how it pertains to the outdoors.”

Work includes survey, geophysical investigation and soil borings

Press Release, NYS Canal Corp.

The New York State Canal Corporation announced that routine inspections of water retaining embankments along the Erie Canal in Niagara and Orleans Counties will begin this week.

These inspections, which provide information on the embankment composition, will be completed by Canal Corporation contractors, and are necessary to ensure the embankments are functioning as designed. If deficiencies are discovered during the inspections, repairs will be appropriately scheduled.

The contractors will complete surveying, geophysical investigations, and soil borings at the following locations:

• Between Eagle Harbor Road and Gaines Basin Road (Town of Albion)
• Between Wruck Road and Peet Street (Middleport)
• From Halls Waste Weir Dam to Lake Avenue (City of Lockport)

This routine work is not associated with the Canal Corporation’s proposed Earthen Embankment Integrity Program.

While this routine inspection work is performed, residents may notice crew members, wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests, as well as their geophysical and drilling equipment called “rigs” in the vicinity of the locations noted above.

During the inspections, access to the Erie Canalway Trail may be disrupted for brief periods of time. Any trail detours will be posted on signs and shared with municipalities in advance.

It is anticipated that this inspection process will be completed by June 30.

The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience while this work is completed.