Average price per gallon at $3.80 in Orleans County, highest in WNY

Gas prices continue to rise, up another 5 cents the past week in New York State to $3.80 a gallon and up 8 cents around the country to an average price of $3.61, according to AAA.

A year ago the average price in New York was $2.78 a gallon and $2.72 for the country.

“Demand for gasoline increased last week as many families traveled for February break,” AAA said. “An increase in gas demand, alongside a reduction in total supply, is contributing to price increases, but increasing oil prices continue to play a leading role in pushing prices higher. Pump prices will likely continue to rise as crude prices continue to climb.”

The crude prices also surged after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine, AAA said.

“As the conflict escalates with more sanctions and retaliatory actions, the oil markets will likely respond by continuing to increase the price of crude oil to reflect more risk of disruption to tight global oil supplies,” AAA said.

In Western New York, the price is highest in Orleans County at $3.801 a gallon. The average price per gallon in other WNY counties includes: Niagara, $3.704; Genesee, $3.750; Wyoming, $3.776; Erie, $3.758; Chautauqua, $3.718; Cattaraugus, $3.670; Allegany, $3.722; Livingston, $3.792; and Monroe, $3.779.

Gas costs more at some counties near Orleans. At Wayne, the average price per gallon is $3.820 and in Ontario is $3.814. In northern New York the price is even higher. Hamilton is at $3.947 a gallon and St. Lawrence is $3.937.

MEDINA – Gloria Brent wears several hats, but one of her favorites is that of local entrepreneur.

Brent is not only a registered nurse, but owner of a national health care consulting company and now the owner of Modern Mercantile, an antique/collector’s paradise.

Brent grew up in Bath and met her husband, Albion native Mike Snyder, online. Snyder said they are both business professionals, he a land surveyor. They married and fell in love with Medina when she came to work in the ICU at Medina Memorial Hospital. They moved here in in 1994.

Brent said she has always liked antiques and loves to shop in antique stores when they travel. The building at 135 East Center St. had been home to Canal Country Artisans for years and then Filomena’s Favorites. When it became available, Mike said its location by the canal made it a place worth looking at.

They bought it in October and did some remodeling. They worked night and day painting and even replaced the ceiling. Snyder said they are looking into ways they might utilize the back of the store to take advantage of the view of the canal.

The night they held an open house for prospective vendors, people lined up for spaces, Brent said.

“Our main focus was to make it more open, and we tore out all the walls and now it is bright and cheerful,” she said. “It was up to our vendors to get creative on how they utilized their space, and they’ve done a fantastic job.”

At left is one space at Modern Mercantile in Medina as it was arranged during the Christmas season. Antique toys are just a few of many items for sale at the new Modern Mercantile.

A record 42 vendors now exhibit their wares which consist of everything from china, furniture, toys and decorations to knitted and crocheted items, antiques and jams, jellies and baked goods. Anyone looking for something unique, such as dryer balls, a microwave bowl cozy, an antique child’s riding tractor or an original Fisher-Price Ferris Wheel has to look no further than Modern Mercantile.

The most unique feature of the business is the Man Cave, which was an idea created by Brent.

“Whenever we travel and stopped to shop, there was never anything for guys to buy,” she said. “We said if we ever opened a store, I was going to have a place just for men.”

The Man Cave is highlighted by the full-size side of a 1950s Chevy, with a TV to watch and a bar at which to enjoy a soft drink or iced tea. All the items displayed are of interest to men, such as fishing plaques, sports T-shirts and caps. There is even a line of hot sauces made by American veterans. Decorative antlers are on order.

Vendors may rent a five- by eight-foot kiosk and a few are still available, Gloria said. She is preparing to start a waiting list for new merchants.

Debbie McCarty is store manager and takes care of merchants and customers and makes sure the store presents itself as Brent wants it to be.

Brent said she doesn’t have a retail background, so she talked to other businesses in the community before opening. She let them know she had no interest in competing with them, but wants to work with them.

“That’s why I joined the Medina Area Partnership,” she said.

Modern Mercantile is open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. They are closed Mondays.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, citing a 98 percent decline in Covid-19 cases since the Omicron peak in early January, announced today that a statewide mask mandate for schools will be lifted beginning on Wednesday.

Hochul said the state is moving in the right direction in the fight against Covid.

New York is the top-ranked state for fully vaccinated teenagers and ranks second for vaccinated children ages 5 to 11.

The number of pediatric Covid cases is also at its lowest 7-day average since July, before the start of the school year, Hochul said.

Hochul previously lifted the mask mandate for indoor pubic places, not including schools, on Feb. 10.

Schools have been closed the past week with February break but they reopen on Monday. They start back up following updated guidance from federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC updated its community Covid spread levels to three categories: low, medium and high. The CDC calculated the levels by considering hospitalizations, hospital capacity and the number of cases in each county. That new system put Orleans in the medium category. Before it had been considered at the high level of community spread.

The CDC’s said it would only recommend masks indoors in public, including schools, at the highest level of community spread. The CDC did recommend immunocompromised people and those in contact with them continue to wear masks.

In Genesee and Orleans counties, the number of Covid cases from Feb. 16-22 in both counties totaled 112. That dropped 95 percent from the pandemic high of 2,703 cases at the peak of the Omicron surge from Jan. 5-11.

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt issued this statement following Hochul’s announcement:

“The unmasking of our school children is a long overdue victory for kids and parents, educators, and common sense.

“It is time to put my resolution up for a vote, end the unnecessary statewide emergency, and end all Albany mandates. Our colleagues across the aisle have refused to act – it’s time that we take this up for a vote this week.

“It’s time to restore checks and balances, and make sure no Governor can do this again. We must empower people, not politicians.”

Mickey Edwards, Albion school district superintendent, issued this statement: “Albion Central School District will follow state guidance and make masks optional for out students and staff on that day (March 2).

“Masks and at-home Covid tests will still be available at the schools for anyone who wishes to take advantage of them.

“Thank you one and all for your support of our children and schools. We look forward to seeing everyone back on campus tomorrow.”

Sharon Smith, interim superintendent at Lyndonville Central School, posted this statement on the district website:

“As of this Wednesday, March 2, 2022, masking in NYS schools is optional.

“We will have available high quality masks for any student, faculty and staff member who may want one.

“Thank you, one and all, for your support of our children and our schools.”

Mark Kruzynski, Medina Central School superintendent, posted this message on the district website:

“Governor Hochul announced that the NYS Mask Mandate for schools will be lifted, effective Wednesday, March 2.

“Therefore, beginning Wednesday, March 2, masks will be optional for all students and staff at the Medina Central School District buildings.

“We will have masks available for anyone who would still like to wear a mask.

“Thank you for your continued support.”

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

BROCKPORT/ALBION – How do you know your health center has used its funding best when it comes to overcoming the challenges related to Covid-19 testing and vaccination?

Mary Ann Pettibon

Your CEO gets selected by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to speak at a national conference. Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO of Oak Orchard Health, was one of three CEOs featured at this event. Her topic focused on how Oak Orchard Health used the American Rescue Plan funding to keep the community healthy during the pandemic.

At Oak Orchard Health, the pandemic had a big impact on patients, staff and community health centers in general. In March 2020, patient visits were down 60% that first month and of those visits, 72% were telephone encounters. We also had to shut down our dental and vision departments unless there was an emergency. All our departments (medical, dental, behavioral health, and vision) are now operating at full capacity, and we continue to be very busy.

As part of the OOH mission, we serve everyone including migrant and seasonal farmworkers and there were many barriers to getting health services to them. Naturally, the newly arriving farmworkers lacked knowledge of Covid as well as a shortage of protective supplies such as masks. Farmworkers in rural areas lack internet access and computer equipment. This made education and communication that much more difficult.

There were many other barriers that Oak Orchard faced and continues to confront. If you’d like to hear the presentation in its entirety, click here.

Oak Orchard Health

Originally founded in 1973, Oak Orchard has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone located in the communities we serve. Currently serving over 23,000 patients at eleven locations, Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Hornell, Lyndonville and Warsaw.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Julia Szczepanski reaches to grab a rebound away from the Lyons duo of Kara Stephens (5) and Jayla Bell (12) during the host Lady Eagles sectional victory this evening.

Leading from wire to wire, No. 4 seed Kendall downed visiting No. 5 Lyons 48-39 this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section V Class C2 tournament.

Julia Szczepanski scored 15, Kailie Regan 13 and Alezya Brown 12 to lead the balanced attack for Kendall as T’Mia Kitchings added 4 and Emma Allen and Lauren Pilon 2 each. Szczepanski also grabbed off 15 rebounds, Regan 14 and Brown 11.

Kamryn Bonnell scored 14, Imani Harder 9 and Jayla Bell 8 to pace Lyons.

Szczepanski scored 8 and Regan 5 in the opening period to spark Kendall out to an 11 point, 17-6, lead.

The Lady Eagles maintained an eight point, 27-19, lead at the half as Brown and Regan both scored 4 in the second period.

Getting points from five players, Lyons battled back to within three, 32-29, at the end of the third period.

Kendall did move back out to a nine point, 42-33, lead with just over two minutes to go by outscoring Lyons 10-4 over the first six minutes of the final period. Szczepanski hit two jumpers, Kitchings a three and Regan a rebound basket during that key run.

However, Lyons came battling back one more time with a 5-0 run including two free throws and a layup by Harder to rally back to within four, 42-38, with 1:40 to go.

Kendall though turned back the challenge by putting together a clutch closing 6-1 run to lock up the win. Brown had a rebound bucket and three free throws to highlight that clinching scoring spurt to close out the 48-39 win.

Improving to 16-5, Kendall will next face top seeded Pavilion in the semifinals on Wednesday at a site to be determined.

Lyndonville will play Tuesday at Avon

No. 6 seed Lyndonville will face No. 2 York in a Class C3 semifinal game at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Avon.

Kendall’s Kailie Regan puts up a shot over Lyons defender Imani Harder.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Ashlee Stephens

Putting together a big second half scoring surge, No. 6 Lyndonville rallied to defeat host No. 3 HAC 55-41 this afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the Section V Class C3 playoffs.

Trailing 28-23 at the half, Lyndonville came battling back to outscore HAC 14-2 in the third period to take the lead for good at 37-30. Ashlee Stephens scored 6 to lead that rally which also included baskets by Lorelei Dillenbeck, Ella Lewis, Addison Dillenbeck and Karlee Rounds.

Keeping the momentum, Lyndonville then put a lock on the victory by outscoring HAC in the final stanza 18-11. Stephens scored 8, Lewis 6 and Addison Dillenbeck 4 in the period.

Stephens finished with 16, Lewis and Addison Dillenbeck 11 each, Rounds 10, Lorelei Dillenbeck 4 and Haley Shaffer 3. Stephens also had 10 rebounds, Lorelei Dillenbeck 9 assists and 8 rebounds, Lewis 5 assists ans Rounds 5 rebounds.

Eliza Nicosia led HAC with 16.

Lyndonville will now play in the semifinals on Tuesday against No. 2 York at a site to be determined. York defeated No. 7 Cal-Mum 49-32 in the quarterfinals this afternoon.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Caleb, Leah and Eli Prior of Hilton present a check for $511 to Patty Coffee, director of the PAWS Animal Shelter on Gaines Basin Road in Albion. Coffee is holding a Chihuahua named Sky.

The three children are the great-grandkids of the late Judy Grabowski who passed away about a year ago. Grabowski was known as “Mema” to the great-grandchildren. She was a Holley resident who donated often to PAWS in memory of friends who passed away, and as memorials for pets in the family that also passed.

“The kids chose PAWS because it was her favorite charity,” said her daughter, Elizabeth Pera of Hamlin. “She loved animals.”

Grabowski’s family did a Super Bowl Square fundraiser and gave the proceeds to PAWS in her memory.

Besides the three great-grandchildren this morning the donation was presented by Grabowski’s daughters, Pat Fredendall of Holley and Elizabeth Pera of Hamlin, and Grabowski’s granddaughter, Karen Prior of Hilton.

Coffee, the PAWS director, said the shelter currently has seven cats and eight dogs available for adoption.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Girls soccer players from Albion and Batavia play a 15-minute game this morning at the Albion High School gym. There are 40 teams in the third annual Ben Kirby Memorial Tournament.

Last year’s tournament was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. About 400 players are expected for this year’s tournament which started Friday evening and concludes with a final game at 10:30 tonight.

There are teams from Albion, Holley, Batavia, Avoca, Roy-Hart, Campbell-Savona, Palmyra-Macedon, Byron-Bergen, Newark and Churchville in the tournament.

Wendy Kirby serves some breakfast pizza from the concession stand in the high school. The tournament is named in honor of her late son, Ben Kirby. He was a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology when he died in a car accident on Nov. 6, 2017. He was 21 at the time, in his senior year majoring in software development. Kirby played youth soccer for Albion and also on the school teams.

Orleans Community Health looks to expand services, replace IV pumps

MEDINA – The board of Orleans Community Health Foundation Board has welcomed four new members, effective Jan. 1, according to Foundation director Heather Smith.

Those who attended their first meeting Feb. 10 are Nicole Goyette of Medina, assistant principal of O/N BOCES; Scott Robinson of Medina, Director of Marketing and Outreach at OCH; Matthew Kennedy of Middleport, realtor; and Gloria Brent of Medina, local business entrepreneur and owner of MDS Consultants.

During 2020 other new members of the board included Clark Godshall of Barker, superintendent of Orleans/Niagara BOCES; Marguerite Sherman of Medina, retired special education teacher at Medina Central School and a member of the Medina Village Board; Barbara Jantzi of Medina, retired business owner and former board member.

These new members have joined the existing board, which includes Jeanne Crane of Albion, Orleans Community Health Foundation and Twigs Auxiliary president; Sandra Walter of Albion, OCHF vice president; Cindy Hewitt of Medina, OCHF treasurer; Joyce Riley of Albion, OCHF secretary; Shannon Blount of Medina, chair of OCH governing board; Marc Shurtz of Lockport, CEO and president of OCH; Ruth Bane of Lyndonville; Carol Heiligenthaler of Medina; Roland Howell of Medina; Lance Mark of Medina; Dawn Meland of Medina; Agnes Recco of Lyndonville; Joyce Riley of Albion.

At the board’s first meeting of 2022 on Feb. 10, Shurtz, the CEO and president of Orleans Community Health, presented several new projects to the board, one of which is replacing all of the hospital’s IV pumps. A fundraiser and proceeds of several events this year, including the golf outing, Treasure Island and Mega Drawing, will go to that effort, Smith said.

Smith said IV units have a life cycle, and the current ones were donated by Sigma in 2011, the company that made them at the time. She said they will be putting out bids for 60 new pumps.

The hospital continues to expand its services and equipment to serve the local community, Smith said. Last year they raised funds to help replace the stress test equipment in cardiac services, funded two projects in radiology – the device in the ceiling which helps maneuver X-ray equipment and a new probe for ultrasound tests.

In addition, the Association of Twigs purchased a new oven for the kitchen, and through a donation from the Lyndonville Area Foundation, the hospital was able to purchase new coagulation equipment for the main lab. They also installed new countertops and chairs in the outpatient lab and purchased a new radiology calibration device for their nuclear testing unit.

Hospital personnel continue to stress they are here for the community and offer the latest, state-of-the-art equipment available in the industry.

“The transition we are going through now is exciting,” Smith said. “It should be encouraging to the community to know we are expanding our services.”

A lot of their other new systems were new in the last couple of years, Smith said.  They also recently announced that Dr. Joseph Misiti has moved his surgical practice into the hospital and added several new professionals, including a surgeon and physician assistant.

“We continue to improve by trying to bring back the right services to meet the needs of the community,” Smith said. “We are constantly trying to meet the needs of the community, by acquiring those needed services and finding the right people to partner with. Orleans Community Health is looking at several exciting projects that will ensure our sustainability for years to come.”

New guidance says no masks recommended for healthy people in counties with low and moderate community spread

Photo by Tom Rivers: Hoag Library in Albion had this sign posted at the library on Monday, saying library users need to wear masks when inside the building.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance on mask wearing today, saying healthy people don’t need to wear them at public indoor places in areas of low to moderate community spread of Covid-19.

Orleans County currently has moderate spread, according to the CDC. The CDC said unvaccinated people in Orleans County should still wear a mask in public, indoor settings.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said she and state officials are reviewing the announcement from the CDC. Hochul issued this statement this evening:

“We are evaluating the CDC’s new guidance, and we will update New Yorkers on potential changes as we work through the details and coordinate with all stakeholders in our school communities across our state.

“I want to thank the 75 percent of all New Yorkers who have stepped up to get fully vaccinated,” she said. “I know these past two years have been difficult, but because New Yorkers are doing the right thing to keep each other safe, our state this week had the highest share among large states of fully vaccinated individuals. New York also leads large states in fully vaccinated 12-17 year-olds, and second among large states in fully vaccinated 5-8 year-olds.”

The CDC’s guidance states people in communities with high or substantial Covid transmission should wear masks indoors. That represents 28 percent of the population based on the current data in counties. The metrics are based on three pieces of data in a community: new Covid hospitalizations, hospital capacity and new Covid cases.

The CDC recommends people in counties with moderate Covid community spread continue indoor masking if they are at increased risk for Covid. The CDC urges those people to talk with their medical provider about wearing a mask.

The CDC said there is no recommendation for wearing a mask indoors in counties with low community spread.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina school district will be offering a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program to provide area 4-year-olds a full day of educational opportunities to play, learn, develop socially and emotionally, and thrive as they start their educational career.

The program will begin in the 2022-23 school year, Monday through Friday from 7:35 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Oak Orchard Primary School under the direction of Principal Jennifer Stearns.

“We are very excited to be able to offer UPK full-time,” she said.  “We believe that students can use additional support and opportunities for social interaction before starting kindergarten. Each of our classrooms will have a certified teacher and classroom aide. Classes will be structured with a strong emphasis on purposeful play, early literacy and numeracy and specials like physical education, music, art and library. We will also be incorporating behavioral supports and early intervention that will help us identify and provide strategies to help students build the foundation needed to succeed in school and life.”

The program is no cost to families in the Medina school district and transportation to and from school is provided by the school district, following the district’s regular transportation policies.  Breakfast and lunch will also be provided to students as well, at no cost. Eligible students must be a Medina district resident and 4 years old on or before December 1, 2022. Spaces will be limited and a random lottery will be held if needed. The application can be found at the Medina CSD website at www.medinacsd.org under the District News link.

Families will receive a letter in the mail in early May, informing them of their child’s placement. “Once you receive word that your child has been accepted, families will need to complete the student registration process,” Stearns said.  “Students will have the opportunity to meet our staff at our annual summer picnic in August. Full-time UPK is a great step for the Medina Central School District in early childhood education. We are pleased to be able to continue to build on the strength of our academic offerings and help to shape our children’s future.”

CARLTON – The real estate boom in Orleans, with median sale prices up 16.7 percent in 2021 from the previous year and 25.8 percent in two years, will likely lead to much higher property assessments for homeowners as part of a re-valuation this year.

That was the message from Dawn Allen, the Orleans County director of the Real Property Tax Services Department.

Allen has worked in the field for 30 years and has never seen real estate go so quickly, and often well above the asking price, as in the past two years. That includes properties in the village, where values had largely stagnated the past 20 years. But lately they have been selling fast and well above their assessed values.

“It is nothing to see a house assessed for $60,000 and go for $120,000, $130,000, even $140,000,” she said. “We’re getting above the asking price. People are outbidding each other.”

The median sale price in Orleans County is up 68.5 percent over four years – jumping from $81,000 in 2017 to $136,500 in 2021. Allen shared data from the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors.

Allen spoke on Tuesday to village, town and county officials during a meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the Black North Inn. She told the officials they may get some pushback from property owners when the assessments go out from March through May, and show sizable increases.

If assessments jump significantly that doesn’t mean the total tax bills will see a big hike. The tax rates should then go down because there is larger tax base.

The municipalities still need to push to stay under a 2 percent tax cap and that is determined by the size of the tax levy, what the town, village, county or school district collects in taxes. A much larger tax base should result in lower tax rates. Ultimately most property owners should only see slight increases in their tax bills if their municipalities stay under the tax cap.

But Allen still warned the local officials that property owners may be shocked when they see their assessments with much higher values.

Seven of the 10 towns in the county will be doing property re-vals for the first time in three years. Barre does a re-val every year. Murray and Yates won’t be doing one this year but equalization rates will help adjust for the higher real estate values in those towns, Allen said.

Allen attributed the higher values in the county to a lack of housing inventory. When houses become available, they are in demand, especially with more people working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While housing values are way up, Allen said commercial real estate is holding steady with a small increase in value.

The Greater Rochester Association of Realtors shows big increases in real estate sales through its 12-county region. The median sale price in 2021 was up by the following in each county: Monroe, 11.8%; Ontario, 10.8%; Livingston, 9.6%; Wayne, 15.8%; Genesee, 15.4%; Orleans, 16.7%; Wyoming, 14.2%; Yates, 22.3%; Allegany, 11.9%; Steuben, 18.8%; Seneca, 6.2%; and Cayuga, 17.1%.

The association said a strong seller’s market in 2020 continued and even was stronger in 2021.

“Fervent buyer demand, driven by pandemic-induced changes to housing needs and preferences, reached extraordinary levels in 2021, the association stated in an annual report.

The organization said inventory of available homes was down 23.3 percent last year, which helped push up prices.