Political leaders have issued statements in response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday night.

President Biden

Gov. Kathy Hochul: “In his first State of the Union Address, President Biden outlined a bold vision to build a stronger America through smart federal investments that support hard-working Americans. New Yorkers have seen firsthand the benefits of the historic accomplishments of the President’s administration, including vaccinating 200 million Americans, spurring the fastest job growth in history, cutting child poverty, and providing a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure.

“Through President Biden’s leadership, America has made enormous progress in combatting the pandemic and setting the stage for our economic recovery. But we still face emerging threats that will require a focused, unified approach: growing armed conflict in Europe, rising inflation costs, increasing energy prices driven by a reliance on fossil fuels, and a rapidly changing climate – the existential threat of our time.

“I applaud the President for his ongoing efforts to form a strong and united coalition of international allies and provide direct assistance to Ukraine, as well as calling on Congress to take action that cuts costs for middle-class Americans and addresses the core health and economic challenges created by climate change. And I’m deeply grateful the president honored the memory of our fallen NYPD heroes, Officers Mora and Rivera, as he discussed comprehensive support for our public safety system.

“I thank President Biden for also highlighting the need to expand domestic manufacturing to combat inflation, in particular within the semiconductor industry. My administration has laid the groundwork to cement New York as the national hub for semiconductor manufacturing, and we are ready to work with the President to make his vision a reality. His leadership has put America on a path to a better, more inclusive nation, and I look forward to our continued partnership that will usher in a New Era for New York that will endure through the ages.”

Congressman Chris Jacobs, NY-27: “Despite his words tonight, President Biden’s actions, policies, and agenda have been bad for our nation and American families are paying the price. Reckless spending has driven our debt to record levels and caused an inflation crisis hitting hardworking families everywhere they spend money.

“Anti-American energy policies have killed our energy independence and driven fuel costs up for families. Open border policies have caused an illegal immigration and drug crisis at our southern border that continues to rage. Vaccine mandates threaten the viability of critical industries and the personal liberties of every American. And the reckless withdrawal from Afghanistan weakened our position in the world and emboldened our adversaries.

“President Biden’s actions have not been in the best interests of Americans. That is why my Republican colleagues and I have been fighting for common-sense, practical solutions to get our country back on track. We’ve introduced legislation to secure the southern border, to unleash domestic energy production, to protect parents’ rights, outlaw vaccine mandates, support police officers, bring down our national debt, and restore fiscal sanity to our government. We’re going to keep fighting for these policies to get our nation back on track and we’ll keep working to hold the Biden administration accountable.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:  “Tonight was a reminder of the power and importance of democracy — at home and abroad. President Biden has made clear his commitment to promoting the truth, defending our values, and giving every person in this country the chance to succeed.

“His address reminded us of the unlimited potential the American people have to build a better future, no matter the challenges we face. I look forward to working with the president to continue to rebuild our economy and to deliver on his vision to make and manufacture more goods in America; to make those jobs well-paying, family-supporting jobs; and to offer every worker the paid leave they need to truly support their families. Together, we will make sure that the future is bright and that it is made in America.”

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Ella Lewis puts up a shot between York defenders Cierra Smith (13) and Kaitlyn Holland (15) during this evening’s Section V Class C3 semifinal game at Avon.

Sharp long range shooting in the first half sparked No. 2 seed defending champion York to a 43-23 win over No. 6 Lyndonville in a Section V Class C3 semifinal contest this evening at Avon.

York clicked on seven threes in the first half to build up a 24-11 lead.

Sydnee Emerson and Katelyn Curry each had two threes in the first quarter to help York jump out to a 13-6 lead. Cierra Smith added two threes and Emerson one in the second period to help increase the Knights led to 24-11 at the half.

The Knights maintained a 16 point, 33-17, advantage at the three-quarter mark as Emerson had three baskets and Kaitlyn Holland a three.

Emerson finished with a game high 16, Curry 10, Holland 9 and Smith 8 for York which will now face top seeded Dundee/Bradford in the Class C3 title contest on Saturday.

Karlee Rounds led Lyndonville with 7 as Addison Dillenbeck added 5, Ella Lewis 4, Lorelei Dillenback and Ashlee Stephens 3 and Haley Shaffer 1.

Section VI Class B2
Southwestern 66, Roy-Hart 44
No. 3 seed Southwestern bested No. 10 Roy-Hart 66-44 in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class B2 playoffs this evening at Kenmore West.

Leading by just eight, 33-25, at the half, Southwestern used a 21-7 third period scoring edge to open up a commanding 54-32 advantage heading into the final period.

Kaitlin Mettler led Roy-Hart with 13 as Ava Owens added 9, Claire Halstead 6 and Kara Choate and Sydney Rhinehart 5 each.

Lyndonville’s Ashlee Stephens tries to put up a shot as Kaitlyn Holland (15) and Katelyn Curry (54) defend for York.

Village may remove and put in something different for people to relax by waterway

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The wooden gazebo in Medina’s Canal Basin is “getting very worn and dangerous,” said Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman.

She highlighted the condition of the gazebo during Monday’s board meeting. She was checking out the gazebo after getting a request from the Tourism Committee for an upgraded kiosk near the gazebo. That sign lists events and highlights local attractions. That signs also is showing wear and tear, Sherman said.

The Village Board asked Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent, his opinion of the gazebo. Watts said it needs lots of attention and he feels like it has reached its limit and should be removed.

“It would cost more to fix it,” he said.

He would prefer to see a concrete pad in that area with a pavilion.

Village officials believe the gazebo is at least 25 years old.

“I’d like to have a place for people to go and sit and enjoy the canal and be safe,” Sherman said.

The board will continue to discuss the issue and look at costs to replace the gazebo or put in something else for people to be able to sit by the historic waterway.

Super Cruise planned for Wednesday, Aug. 24, on Main Street

Photo by Tom Rivers: Terry Buchwald, an Elvis Presley impersonator, arrives in downtown Medina on a motorcycle (with a license plate, “ELVIS”). Buchwald performed for two hours on a stage as part of the Super Cruise on Aug. 28, 2019, the last time the event was on main Street. The Super Cruise was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 concerns and restrictions.

MEDINA — The Cruise Nights will be back in 2022 on Friday evenings in Medina’s Canal Basin. That includes all Fridays in June and July, and the first three Fridays of August.

The fourth week on August will instead be the Super Cruise on Main Street. That is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 24.

The Medina Village Board approved the events during the board meeting on Monday evening.

Dave Green is the lead organizer of the events that typically bring in about 100 to 125 cars on Fridays, and 250 to 300 for the Super Cruise. Proceeds from the events are given to the Orleans County United Way.

The Cruise Nights were cancelled in 2020 but returned in 2021. However, there wasn’t a Super Cruise last year due to Covid concerns and restrictions on larger crowd sizes.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Cora Goyette, a former Albion resident, was photographed last fall when she visited Medina. A native of Great Britain, she is gravely concerned about the conflict in the Ukraine.

Cora Goyette has ample reason to be concerned about the conflict unfolding in the Ukraine, with Russia recently bringing war to the country and taking control of the Chernobyl nuclear site.

Goyette lived in Albion for many years, where she was instrumental in raising more than a million dollars to build the Martin-Linsin Residence for Hospice.

She often shared her memories of growing up on the White Cliffs of Dover during wartime England.

Goyette also worked in the United Kingdom during two decades of the IRA reign of terror, she said.

“These life’s experiences formed who I am today,” she added.

“As I watch the developments in Europe, I am reminded of my early childhood days,” Goyette said from her home in Rochester. “In 1956, as the Hungarian uprising unfolded, the UK government put out a call to all Britons to open their hearts and homes to Hungarian refugees. Even though our homes were very small in comparison to those in the United States, there was a tremendous response, and my family was no different. The four children, of which I am the eldest, were all squashed into one bedroom, and within a short time, two young men arrived on our doorstep.

“George and Stefan instantly became a part of our family, despite the language barrier,” she said. “They worked as boiler stokers in our large hospital and remained with us for two years. My parents so embraced them and during that time, we learned much about their culture, food, and even made a crude zither, a traditional musical instrument. Eventually, they moved to a large city and subsequently, back to Hungary.”

Goyette said they also spent many holidays with an uncle, who was a sheep farmer in North Wales.

“It was an idyllic time, especially during the lambing season, which is in early springtime,” she said. “With 1,500 ewes, it was a paradise to play with so many lambs, twins and triplets, and bottle feeding them.”

This is where her concern comes now, with her memories of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and Russia having just seized that city.

“Wales is approximately 2,000 miles from Chernobyl, and the soil is very different from other parts of the country,” Goyette said. “The decaying nuclear particles were blown and washed out of the clouds and into the fields.”

Goyette said usually such particles would be absorbed into the soil but because of the nature of the soil in North Wales, it was instead absorbed by the vegetation, which animals ate.

“There were national concerns following the 1986 nuclear disaster, and the government banned the sale of sheep in many regions of the north as a precaution,” Goyette said. “This had a huge impact on the farming community. Worse was to come. What was not anticipated was the fact the vegetation, which was the main source of food, immediately absorbed the nuclear particles, resulting in many, many lambs being born the following spring with deformities of the hindquarters.”

While Goyette said she has no knowledge of other statistics, she was a witness to this tragedy and how it affected her family.

“As I watch the world situation now unfolding, I am reminded both of the power of communities and cultures when they come together, plus the result of man’s inhumanity to man,” she said.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

File photo: Sawyer Braley of Carlton took this photo in February 2019.

Governor Kathy Hochul today designated March 5-6 and March 12-13 for free snowmobiling by all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers.

During these promotional weekends, the requirement to register in New York is waived for properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling enthusiasts wishing to explore New York’s 10,500 miles of snowmobile trails. The Governor also announced up to $4.2 million for snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming will be distributed to local partners across New York State.

“New York is unrivaled in its natural beauty in all four seasons and offers a vast recreational trail system for snowmobilers to enjoy our stunning winter landscape,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State partners with local governments and snowmobile clubs who work hard to create an exceptional snowmobile network. By offering free snowmobile weekends, we are helping to highlight our trails to out-of-state visitors and boost our upstate tourism economy, while giving New Yorkers greater opportunity to explore their state.”

Outside of this promotion, out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers are required to register their snowmobiles with New York State before hitting the state’s trails, stretching from the Hudson Valley to the North Country to Western New York. Participants in the free snowmobiling event must operate a snowmobile that is validly registered in their home state/Canadian Province and must carry any applicable insurance as required by their home state/province.

This year’s Free Snowmobiling Weekends reinforce the importance of tourism to state and local economies, and New York’s commitment to rebuilding the industry in the wake of the pandemic. The invitation to out-of-state snowmobilers complements the governor’s multi-faceted “Bring Back Tourism, Bring Back Jobs” initiative. Earlier this month, I LOVE NY launched a new global marketing effort that included paid tourism advertising in overseas markets for the first time. Additionally, guidelines and eligibility screening tools for two tourism industry relief programs totaling $125 million in support are available online.

New York State is distributing up to $4.2 million for snowmobile trail maintenance to local communities in New York this winter. The local grants program is funded by snowmobile registration fees collected by the State Department of Motor Vehicles and deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. County and municipal governments distribute the grants to about 230 snowmobile clubs across the state, which in turn groom and maintain the trails. The trail grants support 10,500 miles of designated trails across the state for snowmobilers to safely enjoy.

A guide from I LOVE NY to snowmobile trips available in the state can be found by clicking here.

‘Masking will be optional and we will continue to work with school districts in both counties to monitor Covid-19 transmission rates and respond to clusters and other issues that may arise to keep students safe and in school.’ – Paul Pettit

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Due to the recent decline in Covid-19 hospitalizations, cases and an increase in vaccination rates across New York State, the statewide masking requirement for K-12 students and children 2 years and older in childcare settings will be lifted effective Wednesday, March 2nd. Additionally, masks will no longer be required on school buses. Counties and cities with higher transmission rates will have the authority to require masks in schools. Parents/guardians may still choose to send their children to schools in masks.

“We are very happy that New York State has lifted the mask mandate in schools and childcare settings and that local officials will have the authority to make decisions regarding mask mandates,” stated Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature. “We have previously said that Orleans County would not continue that mandate if the decision were left to us. We continue to hold that view and want to be clear that Orleans County will not be implementing any local mask mandate for our schools”.

According to the updated metrics released by the CDC regarding community transmission levels, Genesee and Orleans counties have fallen into the “Medium” category based on the CDC data.

‘We encourage residents to respect others personal choice and discourage mask shaming in our community.’ – Rochelle Stein

“The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will not require masks in schools,” stated Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties. “Masking will be optional and we will continue to work with school districts in both counties to monitor Covid-19 transmission rates and respond to clusters and other issues that may arise to keep students safe and in school.”

At this time, masking requirements are still in effect in state-regulated healthcare settings; homeless shelters; state-regulated adult care facilities and nursing homes; correctional facilities; domestic violence centers; buses and bus stations; trains and train stations; subways and subway stations; planes and airports. People who have had symptoms of Covid-19 are still required to wear well-fitted masks in public for five additional days (day 6 through 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period.

“We encourage residents to make the best choice for their children, themselves and their personal level of risk as to whether or not they wear masks in public places including schools,” Pettit said. “We continue to encourage residents to get vaccinated, boosted and stay up to date on their vaccines.”

“Some residents will choose to continue to wear masks in public places for their own safety,” stated Rochelle Stein, chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature. “We encourage residents to respect others personal choice and discourage mask shaming in our community. We also encourage our residents to continue focusing on personal good health practices. Masking provides another important layer of protection from Covid-19.”

‘Keep an open mind. Reach out to people. Don’t think you know everything’

File photos by Tom Rivers: Members of the Rebuild Bullard Park Committee, Albion Village Board members and other park supporters celebrated the opening of the amphitheater on June 19, 2021. Pictured from left in front include Jack Burris, Chris Barry, Zack Burgess, Mayor Eileen Banker with scissors, Bernie Baldwin, John Grillo, Stan Farone, Kim Remley and Gary Katsanis. The amphitheater is part of major upgrades at Bullard including a splash pad, new utility building and walking trail.

ALBION – The Village Board will have three new members on April 1 with Mayor Eileen Banker and trustees Gary Katsanis and Stan Farone not coming back for another term.

Banker has been mayor the past four years and a board member for 12 years. Katsanis has six years on the board and Farone, eight years.

Albion Mayor Eileen Banker talks with Gary Katsanis, left, and Stan Farone when the three were endorsed by the Republican Party during a caucus on Jan. 30, 2018.

They leave at a time when the village will see the retirement of Linda Babcock as village clerk/treasurer next month. Katsanis called Babcock “the pulse of the village office.”

The three new board members will join Trustee Chris Barry, who has been on the board two years, and Zack Burgess, who was elected a year ago.

Banker, Katsanis and Farone were interviewed on Feb. 19 in the village office. They highlighted big projects with upgrades to Bullard Park, and the water and sewer plants.

They are pleased with agreements with Elba and Holley, where village personnel run the sewer plants in those villages.

Albion also worked out an arrangement with the Albion school district to have an Albion officer assigned to the district as a school resource officer.

Banker said she doesn’t micro-manage the department heads but pays close attention to their reports. She works as the chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley. She said her relationships with other local, state and federal officials has helped Albion secure grant funding for Bullard Park and village infrastructure.

Farone is retired after a 33-year career from Kodak. He has been an active firefighter for 50 years, with Albion and Holley, and also as a volunteer with COVA.

Katsanis is retired as a medical data analyst for Strong and then Blue Cross. He managed a staff that stretched from Buffalo to Utica.

The trio said they try to empower the department heads and heap praise on the village employees. The village has about 50 employees and a $7 million budget that includes the general fund, water and sewer.

Gary Katsanis, a trustee on the Albion Village Board, applies stain on Albion’s new utility building at Bullard Park in this photo from July 23, 2020. Katsanis, Trustee Stan Farone and Mayor Eileen Banker volunteered to put two coats of stain and then polyurethane on the cedar siding and wood on the building, which has bathrooms, storage, equipment and infrastructure for the spray park.

The tax rate the past three budgets includes $17.80 per thousand dollars of assessed property in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and then $17.85 in 2021-22.

The new board starts April 1 and budget needs to be adopted by the end of April. The new board also will need to negotiate a contract with the DPW union.

The mayor is paid $9,723 a year with the trustees’ salary at $6,572. Katsanis tracked his hours and estimated it translates into about $2 an hour during busier months.

Question: What were you advice be for the new members of the Village Board?

Stan Farone: For the new people coming in my advice is if you have any questions, I’m available. I know Eileen and Gary would be available to sit down or give us a call. I did sit down with one of the person’s running for trustee. I’m here to help. I’ll sit down with anybody at any time to keep the village going in the right direction.

Gary Katsanis: My advice to people coming on is if you work as hard as you possibly can you may in fact do an adequate job. Speaking for myself I think I’ve worked hard for the village and I think I did, by and large, an adequate job. All of our positions here are just to pass the baton to the next group of people.

Eileen Banker: My advice is to keep an open mind. Reach out to people. Don’t think you know everything because there is a lot to learn. I’ve been on the board 12 years and I’m still learning. There are new things that you learn because things come up that are not in the book, that you don’t know, that’s not black and white. It’s not written down. There is no guide book to this. There are  so many things that could happen that have happened. We’ve always as a board been able to move forward with it.

My husband also says not to look at Facebook. I’ve gotten so aggravated with the stuff on Facebook and taken it to heart. You (Tom Rivers) would put an article on the Orleans Hub, it would be about something positive, and it automatically was bashing and people saying the village is no good.

Stan Farone, right, of Albion is shown on July 12, 2021 in Albion on the Cycling the Erie Canal event, an 8-day journey covering about 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany. Farone did the ride for the fourth time. He said he has made friends with many of the cyclists who come back year after year.

Stan Farone: They also have to know there are going to be times when you get into discussions where you don’t agree with each other. There are times when Eileen and I disagreed over something and it seemed like we were going to cut each other’s heads off. But then we’d walk out that door and I’d go put my sneakers on and we’d go for a walk together.

So once you walk out that door you have to learn to leave everything there.

Eileen Banker: And the mayor does not control the decision making of the board members. You’re individuals. You are individual people who are elected by the village people. You’re not controlled by the mayor. Most of the time I’ll sit up and wait until everybody else votes.

Gary Katsanis: Yeah, the mayor is not supposed to be initiating action.

Mayor Eileen Banker is on a lift and is pictured with a banner of her late father, John Pahura, in June 2020. The banners are 2 ½ feet by 5 feet. Banker coordinated the effort which included 69 banners in 2020 and then 23 more in 2021.

Eileen Banker: I don’t initiate. It’s everybody else voting first. Then if I need to vote, I vote. I usually vote.

Question: Are you concerned about the lack of Village Board experience with the candidates and also with the village clerk retiring?

Stan Farone: I’m very concerned. They do have the qualifications but they don’t have the experience and to me experience is a big thing. I don’t have anything against the two board members who are staying (Chris Barry and Zack Burgess). They are two good people, but they are fairly new. They have only been on two years.

You are going to end up with a new mayor and two new board members, and a new clerk. Like I said there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that they don’t realize.

Like I said in one of my tweets, the trustees are not here to train the mayor. The mayor is here to guide the trustees. I don’t see that happening with a new board coming on.

Eileen Banker: There is also a lot of municipal law you have to be familiar with. There is stuff within the budget. You can’t mix money – the water and sewer funds you can’t mix with the general fund. You have to be really careful because when an auditor comes through and there are things in your books that are not done correctly, the answer “Oh I’m new I didn’t know” doesn’t cut it.

Question: What are some of the things you are proud of during your time on the board?

Stan Farone: There’s a lot we can be proud of for accomplishments. I’m not going to say individually because we work as a board. So the improvements at Bullard Park, the water plant, I’m just proud to be a trustee in the village and seeing it go as far as it has. Being a trustee I’m proud to sit there and make decisions and help the village. We worked on grants, we worked on Bullard Park, basic public relations with employees. It gave me the opportunity to work on some of these other committees like the Scarecrow Committee and just being involved with the village as a whole. I’ve tried to get the people to come downtown and make it better as whole for the village.

Gary Katsanis: We’ve been fiscally responsible and that’s important to me.

Eileen Banker: We did the banners (of veterans) which I’m proud of. But again, fiscally responsible, I think that is important. We’ve tried to hold the line. If we did have to increase taxes it’s because of no fault of our own. It’s because of the increase in retirement of healthcare. You want to have something you can give the employees because you’re down to bare bones in each department so you want the best qualified person. You need to entice them with what we can give them.

There are times we had to raise (the tax rate) by 2, 3, 4, or 5 cents. It’s a minimum increase – would we have still liked to decrease it? Absolutely – but I think we’ve done well. We got, like I said, great department heads and I’m very proud of all of them and all of our employees. We have a lot of new employees and they say this is the best place to work. People have no idea how much they get and how well they are taken care of working for the village.

The banners were probably one of my proudest moments because of what they stand for. It’s the military, it’s my father, it’s father-in-law, it’s my neighbor. I’m very thrilled with the banner program and I hope it continues.

The photos we’ve put in here (village office and main meeting room). I love the photos and I think more should be done. We had a great photographer (Peggy Barringer) who did those for us.

The Village of Albion was able to use a $300,000 state grant to pay most of the cost of a $380,000 new vacuum truck from the Vactor that can be used when there are waterline breaks, plugged sewers and other work on the water and sewer lines. Jay Pahura, Albion’s superintendent of the Department of Public Works, shows the new truck to Mayor Eileen Banker, State Sen. Robert Ortt and one of Ortt’s staff members in this photo from Dec. 11, 2019. Banker said connecting with other local, state and federal officials should be part of the job for mayor, trying to bring in resources for the village. The $300,000 grant came through Ortt’s office.

Question: Stan, I know you do that Cycling the Canal bike ride every year and even rode the bike in the Metro 10 in Albion.

Stan Farone: I do the canal ride every year. I did the Metro 10 and I still do a lot of 5ks. I’m planning on doing a 6-hour walk and run in Buffalo. I put it on Facebook and to try to encourage people to walk around and come out in the village and look around. I had about 6-7 people come down and we talked about the book, I think it’s The Boy from the Four Corners. It was written about downtown Albion. We talked about downtown Albion and we looked up where you can basically see the dates on the buildings. Just to get people downtown where they can see what’s going on makes me feel good.

Candidate forum this evening at Lockstone

There will be a candidate forum today from 6 to 8 p.m. with the seven candidates running for the Village Board in the March 15 election. The Lockstone is hosting the event at 160 North Main St. The event is sponsored by The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.

The candidates include three people for mayor: Angel Javier Jr., running on the Republican and independent “Better Together Albion Strong” lines; Vickie Elsenheimer on the Democratic and independent “Move Albion Forward” lines; and Kevin Graham on the independent “Albion Pride, Working Together.”

Four people are seeking two trustee positions on the Village Board. Tim McMurray and Dan Conrad are on the Republican line. Sandra Walter and Joyce Riley are under the Democratic line and the independent “Move Albion Forward.”

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Cooper

Elizabeth Cooper

MEDINA – Elizabeth Cooper, a producer of one-of-kind dolls since 1980, has created a piece that depicts a protest seeking peace in Ukraine,a country that is under attack by Russia.

Cooper of Medina is best known for her dolls of fairies and Santas. She also has created popular series featuring immigrants and characters such as Peter Pan and Snow White.

She has been featured over the years in numerous doll magazines and won the award for “doll of the year.”

She sculpts her dolls out of clay and makes the costumes.

“Devastated by the state of the world, I direct my energies to making my clay talk,” she said about the latest effort showing a protest for peace in Ukraine.

MEDINA – The annual Lenten lunches at the First Presbyterian Church will begin on Thursday this week, according to Barb Hancock, a member of Medina Area Association of Churches, who sponsor the lunches.

The lunches will be served every Thursday through April 7, with a different local church preparing the meal each week. These include the First Presbyterian Church (ham or turkey sandwich, soup, fruit cup), First Baptist Church (beef on weck), Oak Orchard Assembly of God (lasagna and salad), Abundant Harvest Methodist Church in Millville (sloppy Joes, pie), the Grove Methodist Church in Medina (ham and scalloped potatoes) and Alabama Full Gospel Church (pulled pork).

The theme of the message each week will be “Jesus’ Suffering” from the Book of Hebrews. Messages will be shared by the Rev. William Wilkinson, Pastor Michael Stephenson, Pastor Dan Thurber, Pastor Garry McCaffery, Jim McMoil and pastor Russ Peters.

Serving begins at noon with a suggested donation of $5. Take-outs are available at 11:45 a.m.

Proceeds from the lunches will benefit Orleans County Meals on Wheels and Crop Walk, Hancock said.

Masks will be encouraged in and out of the building.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A nest built by ravens is tucked into a crevice on the Orleans County Courthouse in Albion. The nest faces north at East State Street, above the front columns of the building.

This is the second year ravens have built a nest at the courthouse. Last year the nest was on the east side of the building.

The ravens collected good-size branches to make the nest in the courthouse. Last year several baby birds hatched from the nest in late April.

This raven is shown around noon today. The bird is perched high on the First Presbyterian Church and was making a lot of noise aimed at another raven which was in the nest.

‘The huge benefit is justice would be administered more evenly. Things are not on an even playing field from town to town – they just aren’t.’ – Public Defender Joanne Best

CARLTON – Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone has been talking for at least a couple years about a district court in Orleans. That would include at least two towns with one judge.

Joe Cardone

Cardone said it may make the most sense to have three district courts – one on the east side for Murray, Clarendon and Kendall; the central towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton; and the west end with Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates.

That would result in a more unified approach to justice in the county, where Cardone and Public Defender Joanne Best said there is currently a lack of consistency among the 10 town courts, as well as the CAP Court where there are arraignments twice a day in the County Jail with town justices serving in the CAP on a rotational basis.

Cardone and Best both spoke about the issue last week during the monthly meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the Black North Inn. They want to keep having a discussion about the issue.

Cardone has tried before, requesting information from the towns on how much they spend annually for their justice courts, with salary and benefits for judges and court clerks, as well as other costs – security utilities and equipment. But Cardone said he didn’t get much response from that request.

There are currently 13 town justices in the county. Cardone, who has been district attorney for about 30 years, said that is down from about 25 local justices when he started. The villages of Albion, Medina and Lyndonville have all ended their courts with those caseloads assumed by the towns in those villages.

Cardone and Best see more room for streamlining court functions, and offering more consistency and professionalism. With a district court one judge would serve a court that covered at least two towns.

Joanne Best

“The huge benefit is justice would be administered more evenly,” Best told the group of town, village and county officials. “Things are not on an even playing field from town to town – they just aren’t.”

Cardone said the Orleans County Magistrates Association, which represents the 13 towns justices, don’t want to make the change to district courts with fewer judges.

He said the change would keep the fine money with the local municipalities and would also bring resources from the state Office of Court Administration.

Richard Moy, the Clarendon town supervisor, said he discussed a district court with the Clarendon Town Board and the group wasn’t interested in pursuing it. They see less local control, and a court run by lawyers, including a judge who would likely be an attorney.

Moy said attorneys already have too many key positions in the government.

“Look at our country, who are the senators and congressmen? They’re lawyers,” Moy said. “People see lawyers taking over the country.”

Cardone and Best said it would be beneficial to people in court to have a judge with years of background in the law.

Moy acknowledged there is varying degrees of competence among town justices, but he said that would continue if there was a switch to district courts with lawyers behind the bench.

“Not all lawyers are good judges,” he said.

Cardone and Best said they want the local government leaders to discuss the issue and look at how it could work in Orleans County – before there is a directive from the state.

“Regionalism is coming to our communities, one way or the other,” Best said. “We need to try to get ahead of the curve because the state could mandate it. Let’s develop something for our county rather than being told what to do.”

The local officials asked Cardone to put together cost estimates with a district court, and how it could save or cost more for towns with their current court budgets.

Cardone said it will depend on how many towns join in a district court. Right now he said the courts aren’t “money-makers” for the towns, and they shouldn’t look at a district court, even with less personnel, as a court that could be run cheaper.

Cardone said the focus should be on dispensing justice in a consistent and fair way across the county.

“I see things moving in this direction where things are done more professionally than they are now,” Cardone said.

It’s not something that will happen “overnight,” Cardone said. He said it could take several years to implement the district courts. The change can’t happen until the terms expire for elected town judges. Some towns last November elected judges to new four-year terms.

County Legislator Bill Eick of Shelby urged the local leaders to be open to discussing the issue.

“It’s a change factor and no one wants change,” Eick said. “We need to act before it’s shoved down our throats.”

Sectional semifinal round playoff competition is up next for the Roy-Hart, Lyndonville and Kendall girls basketball teams.

No. 10 seeded Roy-Hart will take on No. 3 Southwestern in the Section VI Class B2 semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kenmore West.

Roy-Hart advanced by defeating No. 7 Cleveland Hill 43-28 in the opening round and No. 2 Performing Arts 44-30 in the quarterfinals.

Southwestern, which is 14-5, downed No. 11 Fredonia 55-30 in the quarterfinals.

This will be Roy-Hart’s first appearance in the semifinals since 2012 when the Lady Rams dropped a narrow 38-32 decision to Wilson.

The other semifinal will have No. 4 Olmsted vs. No. 1 Eden.

No. 6 seeded Lyndonville will face No. 2 York in the Section V Class C3 semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Avon. This will be the Lady Tigers first appearnace in the semis since 2008.

Lyndonville, which is 14-8, advanced by defeating No. 14 Alfred-Almond 79-16 in the first round and No. 3 HAC 55-41 in the quarterfinals.

York, which is 17-3, downed No. 7 Caledonia-Mumford 49-32 in the quarterfinals.

The other C3 semifinal will have No. 5 Keshequa (16-5) vs. top seeded Dundee/Bradford (20-1).

On Wednesday, No. 4 seed Kendall will face top seeded Pavilion in the Section V Class C2 semifinals at 7:45 p.m. at Honeoye Falls- Lima.

The other C2 semifinal will have No. 6 Gananda vs. No. 2 Clyde-Savannah.

Kendall, which is 16-5, defeated No. 5 Lyons 48-39 in the quarterfinals while Pavilion, which is 17-2, ousted No. 8 Warsaw 46-23.

On Thursday Niagara-Orleans League champion No. 1 seed Wilson will face No. 4 Falconer in the Section VI Class C1 semifinals at Jamestown Community College.

Boys Sectionals

No. 2 seed Newfane (15-6) will face No. 6 Allegany-Limestone (15-7) in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class B2 boys basketball playoffs at 8:15 p.m.  Wednesday at Buffalo State College.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

BATAVIA – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) was endorsed by the Genesee County Republican Party for the newly drawn 24th Congressional District.

“Since taking office, Chris Jacobs has been a true friend to Genesee County, to our families, our farmers, and our small businesses. Not only has he consistently showed up to meet with our officials and hear our needs, but he has taken those concerns to Washington and tirelessly advocated for them,” Genesee County Republican Party Chairman Dick Siebert said. “He’s a true champion for the Genesee County taxpayers, and he’s a true fighter for conservative values. We are proud to offer our full endorsement to Congressman Chris Jacobs for NY-24.”

“Representing Genesee County has been a true honor these past two years. I have worked tirelessly to fight for their small businesses and farmers in Washington to ensure the county reaches its fullest potential,” Jacobs said. “This fight is just getting started, I am looking forward to continued friendship and partnership in Genesee County, and I am deeply honored to receive this endorsement.”

Jacobs also has the endorsement of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21), the Monroe County Republican Party, the Wyoming County Republican Party, the Orleans County Republican Party, the Niagara County Republican Party, the Orleans County Conservative Party, and the Niagara County Conservative Party.