By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2022 at 9:42 am
MEDINA – A memorial will be unveiled in September in Utah that will honor a Medina native and others killed while training on a B-24 Bomber.
Lt. John “Jack” Lynch, 24, died on Feb. 7, 1944 at Wendover Field. He had married Jean Patterson two weeks earlier on Jan. 24.
Lt. John Lynch grew up in Medina. He was killed at age 24 in a plane crash at Wendover Field in Utah. He was a navigator on a B-24 Bomber.
Lynch was born in Dunkirk and moved to Medina as a young boy. He attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Medina High School in 1936, ranked second in his class. He was president of the senior class, quarterback of the football team and active in many academic clubs. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Medina Council Knights of Columbus.
He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1941, and was a member of the Law Club. He attended the Michigan Law School for a year, and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Dec. 7, 1942. He received his navigator’s wings at Hondo, Texas on Aug. 5, 1943. He was sent to Wendover Field in Utah early in September 1943.
Scott Patterson is Lynch’s nephew and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. He reached out to the Orleans Hub about the memorial that will honor the crew of nine crew lost at Wendover, days before the group was to depart for England. Lynch was among 15,500 young men killed in air-crew training and transition to England whose names are so often overlooked, Patterson said.
“Although they never faced flak or Messerschmitts, their sacrifice was as real and memorable as those shot down over Germany,” he said.
Patterson said he grew up in the years after World War II. His uncle’s death “weighed on my father for decades.” Patterson’s father served in the Navy in the Pacific in WWII. Lynch’s wife would remarry a “wonderful man” and have children, Patterson said.
He regrets there aren’t close family members surviving Lynch.
“It seems as if he is too easily forgotten,” Patterson said. “He had not completed training and gone overseas into battle. There were no combat missions, no stories of heroism or medals. He was not a part of events that historians usually write about, but his sacrifice was no less important.”
Lynch and his eight fellow crew members took off at 10 a.m. in a B-24H for formation training on Feb. 7, 1944.
“They were airborne for just a few minutes when the plane slammed into a mountainside northeast of the airfield,” Patterson said. “A short life of so much accomplishment and of such promise was over, as were the lives of fellow crew members.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2022 at 8:09 am
13 school superintendents ask governor for ‘exit strategy’ from universal masking
The 13 school district superintendents in Genesee and Orleans counties sent a letter on Tuesday to Gov. Kathy Hochul, asking her to get away from “one-size-fits-all mandates” with universal masking and Covid testing.
The school leaders said those mandates from the state “caused unnecessary challenges for us.”
The superintendents cited the example of school leaders in the Saratoga Springs region which appealed to Hochul and the State Department of Health to develop a “Pathway to Normalcy” and identify an exit strategy with universal masking. The Genesee and Orleans school leaders said they support the state DOH developing guidance to shift away from the current mask requirement in schools.
However, that “pathway” should be guidance from the state, while the Genesee and Orleans schools work with their local health department to develop plans for their schools.
“With that in mind, local control should be fully restored to all school districts in New York State because the needs of each region differ, and we are fully capable of navigating the remainder of the school year with input from our local DOHs (departments of health),” the letter stated.
The superintendents asked Hochul and state Department of Health to develop guidance for “mitigation measures, but not mandates,” with local control “fully restored to our school districts to enable us to make decisions appropriate for our individual communities, in consultation with our local DOH.”
The letter was signed by the district superintendents at Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Elba, Holley, Kendall, Le Roy, Lyndonville, Medina, Oakfield, Pavilion and Pembroke.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia), a former farmer and member of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, has written a pair of letters to Gov. Kathy Hochul and Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon urging them to stop the implementation of a reduction in the farm labor overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours.
Last Friday, the Farm Laborers Wage Board voted 2-1 to lower the threshold. Power now rests with Gov. Hochul and Commissioner Reardon to enact the overtime threshold reduction.
“Farmers from all corners of our state have spoken about how dangerous this policy would be for them, for their families, and for their communities alike,” Hawley said.
“The time has come for Gov. Hochul and Commissioner Reardon to decide whether they stand with farmers or the special interests who’ve worked behind the scenes to advance this proposal,” Hawley said. “As the consequences of this decision have clearly been laid out for them, I sincerely hope they’ll recognize how disastrous this decision would be for farming as we know it in New York and take action to prevent its implementation.”
New York State is making $70 million in grant funding available to new child care programs in areas of the state without sufficient child care slots, known as child care deserts. This includes nearly all of Orleans County.
The funds, which are part of the $100 million child care desert initiative approved in the 2021 state budget, are being made available through the American Rescue Plan Act and will be administered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.
The grants will help new child care providers in underserved areas build their program, cover start-up and personnel costs, recruit, train, and retain staff, and support staff in accessing Covid-19 vaccines. Grant applications will open in mid-April and run through May 19, 2022—with award announcements slated for June.
“Child care is one of the most critical engines to build back New York stronger from the pandemic, and it will provide countless opportunities for working parents,” Hochul said. “These federal funds will go a long way towards ensuring that no New Yorkers will be without child care. New York will always remain committed to eradicating the problems of child care deserts and will work tirelessly to ensure all parents have access to this vital lifeline.”
For this funding opportunity, child care deserts are defined as census tracts where there are three or more children younger than five for each available child care slot, or there are no available child care slots in the tract.
Based on this criteria, more than 60 percent of New York State is considered a child care desert. All census tracts in New York State have been mapped depending on the number of available slots, and potential child care providers can review the child care desert map to discern appropriate locales.
Orleans County census tracts:
Barre-Albion and Gaines (not including village of Albion) – 4.32 children per slot (low desert level); 43.6 diversity index is medium; 39.11 families in poverty is high; RFA score = 79 points
Village of Albion – 3.84 children per slot (low); diversity index, 43.1, medium; 36.34 percent of families in poverty is high; RFA score = 79 points
Clarendon – 3.41 children per slot, considered low; 18.64 in poverty (medium), 14.2 in diversity index (low); RFA = 65
Murray – no slots and more than 49 children under 5 years old per slot, high; 17.6 diversity index, low; 33.24 percent family poverty (high); RFA = 81
Kendall-Carlton – 6.33 children per slot, low; diversity index 18.3, low; family poverty, 17.00 (medium); RFA = 65
Yates-Lyndonville – 7.00 children per slot, low; diversity index, 18.4 is low; 30.01 percent family poverty (high); RFA = 71
Ridgeway (not including village of Medina) – no slots, more than 49 under 5 years per slot, high; diversity index, 13.3 is low; family poverty, 25.27 (high); RFA = 81
Medina village, part in Ridgeway – 1.49 children per slot, not a desert; 34.1 diversity index is medium; 40.18 percent family poverty (high); RFA score = 49 points
Medina village, part in Shelby – 3.20 children per slot is low; diversity index is 37.4 (medium); 44.68 percent of families in poverty (high); RFA score = 79 points
Shelby without village – 4.08 children per slot (low); 27.9 diversity index, medium; 19.03 families in poverty (medium); RFA score 73 points
What level of desert census tract is the proposed program located in?
High (Desert with no child care and >49 children – 40 points
Medium (Desert w >10.0 per slot) – 35 points
Low (Desert w 3.01-9.99 children per slot, or desert w no cc and <50 children) – 30 points
Not a desert – 0 points
Is the proposed program in a REDC with high rate of Desert Census Tracts ? (Orleans County is in Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council where 66.2 percent of Census Tracts are child care deserts.)
High (>=68.0%) – 20 points
Medium (64.0 – 67.9% – 15 points
Low (<=63.9 CTs desert – 10 points
Area of High Diversity per Diversity Index
High (50.0-100 Diversity Index) – 20 points
Medium (25.0-49.9 Diversity Index) – 14 points
Low (<25 Diversity Index) – 6 points
Area with High Rate of Children living below 200% of Federal Poverty Level
High (25.0-100% of Families Under 200% Poverty) – 20 points
Medium (10-24.99% of Families Under 200% Poverty) – 14 points
Low (0-9.99% of Families Under 200% Poverty) – 6 points
All applicants must complete the OCFS online orientation before applying for the grant. Visit the OCFS website for more information (click here). Programs applying to become a NYC DOHMH Article 47 day care center must attend a pre-permit orientation before applying for a new permit.
Applicants needing assistance with starting child care programs can contact their county’s OCFS Regional Office or their local child care resource and referral agency (CCR&R), which can help with the licensing process. In Orleans County, the number for the CCR&R is (585) 589-5088.
Photo and information from Lee-Whedon Memorial Library
MEDINA – The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is thrilled to offer Discovery Kits for circulation. Kits were purchased with grant funding provided by Apex Clean Energy. Each kit has a different theme: biodiversity, birdwatching, stargazing, simple machines, engineering, brain building, and geocaching. Kits contain a variety of technology, books, games, and activities.
Lee-Whedon is always looking to meet the needs of our community through new and innovative collections.
“Kits are geared towards families with children interested in exploring Medina and learning about the world we live in,” said Kristine Mostyn, Library Director. “They will be available to check out with your library card starting February 3rd. Be sure to watch for our spring programs showing how to use each of the different kits.”
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt on Friday sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul questioning critical spending details of a nearly-dry government fund meant to stem the scourge of gun violence in New York communities.
Rob Ortt
The letter raised serious concerns about where the taxpayer money has actually gone, in addition to the disparity of support and resources given to local police departments and District Attorneys throughout the state.
“Considering the size and scope of this massive expenditure of taxpayer dollars — as well as the fact that gun violence and violent crime continue to plague cities across our state — we are writing to request detailed information regarding how this money has been spent,” wrote Leader Ortt.
Recent news reports indicate that the state has spent virtually all of the $159 million in emergency funding to combat gun violence that was announced last July by former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Of the $159 million in that fund, it appears two-thirds of the gun fund went to local civic groups and politically connected non-law enforcement entities, all as the state-wide crime crisis continued to surge.
As Governor Hochul recently announced plans to replenish the fund in this year’s state budget, the results of the original nearly $159 million spent have come under scrutiny. In particular, one non-profit group was approved for $18.5 million in funding to help create 2,400 long-term jobs for young adults in communities distressed by gun violence. It has been reported that this initiative has only created about 20 jobs, according to the state Department of Labor.
The questions about the $159 million emergency funding include:
Which government agencies, groups or entities have received funding?
What process was used to determine how this money would be spent, and who made the ultimate selection of funding recipients?
Do you have any data showing a correlation between the millions spent and a reduction (or increase) of violence?
What metrics are being utilized to determine the success or failure of these efforts?
In addition to posing some of these critical questions, Leader Ortt, in his letter to Governor Hochul, proposed reforms to future funding related to curbing violence. One major concern was the lack of funding provided to the District Attorney offices that are responsible for investigating and successfully prosecuting violent offenders. Many District Attorney offices across the state are still struggling to comply with the recently enacted discovery reforms.
Since 2019, Democrats have passed a slew of soft-on-crime, pro-criminal policies, resulting in a growing crime crisis in New York. In that same time, Leader Ortt and the Republican Conference have championed much-needed measures to curb the increase in violence. Earlier this year, Senate Republicans were joined by law enforcement and local leaders to call for an immediate restoration of public safety in the state.
The plan to Restore Public Safety, unveiled under the ‘Take Back New York’ 2022 Agenda, includes:
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 “Defund the Police.”
Rejecting Dangerous “Reforms” like Cashless Bail:
End cashless bail, restore judicial discretion and reject proposals like “Clean Slate”;
Require state agencies to be transparent about the effects of public safety policies; and
Enact policies that get dangerous individuals off our streets.
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 like “Elder Parole” and “Fair and Timely Parole.”
Passing a Victims’ Justice Agenda:
Strengthen penalties for violent and repeat offenders, as well as hate crimes;
Create and support more victims’ services and resources; and
Invest in proven mental health, addiction, and homeless programs.
“The Governor’s refusal to do policy changes on bail reform because she ‘wants to see more data,’ yet she dumped hundreds of millions of tax dollars into state programs that have shown zero tangible results,” Ortt said. “Before hardworking taxpayers are asked to spend one dollar more — and before even more New Yorkers fall victim to this wave of violent crime — we need to know as quickly as possible if this funding has had any meaningful public safety impact in our local communities.”
LIVERPOOL — The New York Beef Council has recognized a local dairy farm with the 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award.
The recognition is given annually to a beef producer with outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements.
Lamb Farms, a family dairy operation owned and operated by the Lamb and Veazey families, was honored for their stewardship.
The farm was founded in Oakfield in 1966. Ten years later, Leslie and Gordon Lamb added Jim Veazey as a partner on the farm. The farm continues operating under the management of both families.
Lamb Farms consists of five farms in New York and one farm in Ohio. The farm raises crops for feed on approximately 13,000 acres. Lamb Farms milks 6,500 cows and raises 7,500 heifers.
The home farm and satellite farm in Oakfield each have a rotary (carousel) milking parlor, and both are popular sites for visitors. Lamb Farms has had two methane digesters installed in recent years. This gas is captured and piped off-farm.
The operation produces feed for the cattle on their farm, growing acres of corn and alfalfa. The farm is continuously improving its tillage and crop rotation practices to reduce soil erosion and eliminate nutrient runoff. A prime example is their use of a zone builder which through GPS technology only tills the soil exactly where the corn will be planted.
“Farmers are caretakers of their animals and the land. We care about implementing sound environmental practices that will allow future generations the same opportunities that we have had,” farm owners said in a statement. “Dairy farming is a natural way of recycling nutrients to produce a delicious product. The cows make manure, which we use to fertilize the crops that we grow to feed the cows. We work with a certified environmental planner to ensure that this is done in an environmentally responsible manner.”
New York Farm Bureau released its 2022 state legislative priorities on Monday that address the needs and challenges of the state’s diverse agricultural community in New York State. This included reaction and next steps to address Friday’s Farm Labor Wage Board decision to lower the overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours over the next decade.
Overtime Threshold Decision
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher, who is on the Department of Labor’s Farm Labor Wage Board, expressed his serious concerns with the 2-1 decision passed late Friday that will begin dropping the threshold in 2024. He said it will be extremely difficult for farmers and farmworkers to absorb and will change the face of New York agriculture.
He also questioned why more of the submitted video testimony was not played for the full wage board to hear and consider.
“In the end, the decision was made with little deliberation or reflection of the testimony. I would have hoped my fellow board members would have considered more of the impacts that this will have on agriculture,” said President Fisher.
About 70-percent of the testimony was in favor of keeping the overtime threshold at 60. Many farmers and farmworkers testified that anything lower will hurt farmworkers. It will mean fewer hours, less income and force those wanting to work more to find a second job or leave New York State for employment. New York State can’t afford to lose its skilled workforce. Fisher also expressed on the call how this will negatively impact farms operating under thin profit margins as well as New York’s food system and access to local food.
“We saw how important that was in the pandemic for consumers and food banks. We heard testimony that labor will be too expensive, and hours will be limited so there won’t be that excess product to give away,” he said.
New York Farm Bureau is asking Gov. Hochul to find an alternative to the wage board’s recommendation. The organization appreciates that she is looking for a creative solution by proposing a tax credit to offset overtime pay, but many farmers have expressed concern over having to cash flow the high overtime costs before they could see any income from the tax credit, potentially a year later. New York Farm Bureau is asking for more discussion around this with the governor and legislature.
“So much is at stake. This is a priority issue for New York Farm Bureau and all of agriculture. We have worked closely with our partners in the Grow NY Farms coalition and will continue to fight forward together,” said Fisher.
Food Processing
Farmers are still feeling the repercussions from the pandemic with market disruptions, supply shortages, and inflation that has increased the costs for many things needed to farm.
Another NYFB priority aims to alleviate some of the pressure farms experienced when national supply chains were disrupted. While New York State has some outstanding dairy and food processing plants, there is a lack of processing for some commodities, including meat processing.
Nearly all of the USDA certified processing facilities in this state are small scale. While they are critical to the state’s food infrastructure, many times it takes farmers months to secure slots to process livestock, often turning to larger facilities out of state.
“New York Farm Bureau recognizes that there are no easy answers, but it is clear that there is a demand. New York Farm Bureau is asking the state to continue the discussion, perhaps bring interested parties together in a round table to look for needed solutions. This could address supply chain issues that will undoubtedly happen again in the future,” said Eric Ooms, NYFB Vice President.
State Budget
The New York State budget will be a major focus for NYFB as well. The spending plan put forth by the governor is truly one of the best NYFB has seen in years. She fully funds a number of important animal health, promotion and research programs. The governor also is doubling the workforce retention tax credit from $600 to $1,200 which would offset some rising labor costs that continue to put New York farms at a competitive disadvantage. The governor is also proposing to increase an investment tax credit to 20 percent for farms to recoup some expansion costs if they qualify with a tax liability to take it. NYFB is asking for that to be a refundable tax credit.
The governor is also proposing a record $500 million in spending for the Environmental Protection Fund. This includes $2 million more for farmland protection and nutrient management programs, $4 million dollar increases for both Soil and Water Conservation Districts, that help administer sustainability efforts, and invasive species programs. There is also $17 million earmarked for climate resilient farming initiatives.
“This funding addresses another of our major priorities to support farmers in their efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change. These programs will fund critical programs that will help farmers to continue to invest in soil health practices and support on-farm renewable energy to meet the state’s net-zero climate goals. Farmers are actively involved in reducing carbon emissions, and this funding recognizes that those efforts are working,” said Jeff Williams, NYFB’s Public Policy Director.
The State Senate has already advanced another one of our priorities for the session. It passed Senator Anna Kaplan’s bill (S.6791A) that adjusts how much employers contribute to the unemployment insurance program.
“Because of the need during the pandemic, employers had to pay increased unemployment taxes which can be challenging for farms that operate under thin profit margins. The bill looks to replenish the trust fund without overburdening the state’s small businesses,” said Ooms.
Direct Sales for Farm Beverages
NYFB is prioritizing legislation allowing for direct-to-consumer shipping for all New York produced farm beverages, including beer, cider, and distillates. There are several proposed bills in both the senate and assembly addressing the issue. The Covid-19 Pandemic was extremely challenging for the farm beverage industry.
Tasting rooms were shut down for a time, and these businesses suffered a loss in revenue, like many small businesses. Providing direct-to-consumer sales for craft spirts, hard cider and beer would be a new market opportunity for the industry, provide safe, contactless transactions, and put them on parity with the state’s wineries.
Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation
NYFB is concerned about the Extended Producer Responsibility legislation. This bill looks to pass the cost and responsibility of recycling packaging away from the consumer and to the source of the product, in this case farms and food processors who need things like milk containers, wine bottles and food packaging to sell what they produce. This puts an extraordinary financial burden on to the state’s farms and businesses, a burden that they cannot pass on to consumers, according to the bill.
“Farms may not have been the target of this legislation, but they are among the unintended casualties should it pass without addressing the problem. We are asking lawmakers for an exemption for agriculture,” said Williams.
“In the end, it is imperative that we all work together to expand opportunities and capitalize on what we do well in New York. We have one of the most diverse agricultural sectors in the country. It is worth it to each of us to maintain that strong connection to food and farm production,” said President Fisher.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2022 at 5:23 pm
‘Career Prep Centers’ suggested to change stigma at BOCES, which offers training in building trades
A new report from a State Assembly Task Force suggests many ways to bring more people in trades and other jobs that are in high demand, yet go unfilled.
Michael Norris
Assemblyman Mike Norris of Lockport was co-chairman of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Learning for Work. The group spent three years researching the issues and presenting recommendations to close the job gap for many industries.
One of the recommendations is rebranding the 37 BOCES in the state as “Career Prep Centers.” Many students, teachers, superintendents and even private industry told the Task Force that BOCES suffers from a stigma that drives some students from enrolling in the career and tech programs.
“BOCES has a reputation for being an educational environment that caters solely to academically challenged students and those with significant behavioral/discipline problems,” according to the executive summary of the report from the Task Force. “This bias has resulted in a lack of desire to explore the options BOCES offers because students are afraid of being labelled or looked own on by their peers. It is critical this perception is changed and this stigma is eliminated.”
Rebranding BOCES with the state paying for new signs and marketing would draw more students to the program, and get more people into the trades and other high-demand careers that don’t require college degrees, the Task Force said.
“The truth of the matter is that our workforce and our educational system don’t match,” Norris said. “There’s a huge segment of our population that no one was talking about for far too long and that’s why I wanted to create this task force. The ‘middle-skills’ gap is a highly-trained workforce that we need more of, or as I call them ‘professional-skills.’ These are good jobs and in high demand.”
Norris and the Task Force said BOCES prepares many students for high-paying jobs right out of high school. Those students can enter into rewarding careers without burdensome college debt.
Norris led the Task Force along with Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush of the Adirondacks. The Task Force suggested BOCES teachers get paid more, and have a less burdensome teacher credential process to allow experienced professionals in the trades to lead classes.
The state should also make full-day BOCES an option. Right now some students need to travel up to an hour on the bus for two to three hours of instruction. There should also be an option for remote BICES classes so students spend less time on a bus.
Some other recommendations from the Task Force:
Implement “Learning for Work K-12 Information Initiative” to introduce age-appropriate Career Technology Education programs and their benefits to students and parents beginning in elementary school.
Develop career open house programs with local businesses to introduce students and parents to the benefits of BOCES, CTE programs, and the correlation to future employment opportunities in their communities.
Increase apprenticeship program access and awareness.
Increase Technology Education baccalaureate programs offered by SUNY and CUNY institutions.
Create more CTE teacher programs at SUNY and CUNY.
Automatically grant college credits to a student in their specific apprenticeship discipline.
The Task Force said immediate action is needed to get more people working the trades.
“This is creating a dangerous skills gap where the trade workers who have filled these jobs for decades are reaching retirement age with no one with the skills required to replace them joining the workforce,” the task Force stated in the executive summary of their report. (Click here to see the document.)
One of the Task Force events was Oct. 15, 2019 at Orleans/Niagara BOCES in Sunburn. Other meetings were in Central New York, North Country, Capital Region, Nassau County and Rochester.
Copies of the report have been sent to Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders. Norris said he hopes they will consider taking action on the legislative proposals in the plan, and that he will continue urging them to do so.
“I am immensely proud of the work that has gone into this, the patience and perseverance of all of the participants,” Norris said. “This plan is so much stronger, and will make our workforce and our economy so much stronger as a result. Ultimately it’s about keeping New Yorkers together, families together. The pandemic has reminded us all how important family and home really are. That’s what our plan is really all about. Enabling today’s students for rewarding, financially viable careers that will allow them to stay in the communities they love and call home for generations to come.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2022 at 4:04 pm
Winter storm watch in effect from 10 p.m. Wednesday until 1 p.m. Friday
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a winter storm watch from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 1 p.m. on Friday for Orleans County and all of western New York and north central New York.
The storm could bring 9 inches or more of snow, making travel very difficult to impossible on Thursday, when the snow will be the heaviest, the Weather Service said.
The forecast for Tuesday calls for sunny with a high near 38, followed by cloudy on Wednesday with a high near 38. On Wednesday rain and snow are likely before 7 p.m., then snow later that night.
On Thursday, the snow could be heavy at times. The high is forecast for 28 with a low of 16.
On Friday, there is a chance of snow before 1 p.m., then snow showers after 1. The high is forecast to be near 16.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2022 at 2:25 pm
Congressman Chris Jacobs said today he plans to run for the 24th Congressional District, a map that shifts his current district to the east and into the North Country.
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) announced today he will be seeking re-election in November.
Jacobs is currently the congressional representative for the 27th Congressional District, an eight-county district that includes Orleans.
Chris Jacobs
Jacobs said today he will run for the redrawn 24th Congressional District that runs from Niagara County to Watertown, bypassing most of metro Rochester. Jacobs lives in Orchard Park, which isn’t included in the proposed 24th .
The map of the district was released on Sunday by the Democratic majority in the State Legislature. The 27th Congressional District includes about 720,000 residents in the following counties: Erie, Livingston, Ontario, Monroe, Orleans, Wyoming, Niagara, and Genesee.
The redrawn 24th includes all of parts of the eight counties in the 27th, and five more counties. The district shifts to the east to include all of parts of Wayne, Cayuga, Seneca, Oswego and Jefferson counties, while eliminating parts of Erie, Wyoming and Livingston. The 24th includes about 400,000 of the residents in the current 27th.
Jacobs issued the following statement about re-election:
“Serving the people of Western New York for the past two years in the House of Representatives has been the honor of my life. We have made great progress, but this upcoming election is paramount to the future of our nation. We face one-party rule in Washington, D.C. and a President who campaigned as a moderate who would unite the country but has governed like a far-left socialist who has stoked division, presided over record inflation, ordered a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and generally left America weaker at home and abroad.
“Now more than ever we need strong, conservative leaders to put the needs of our country and their constituents first while this President routinely ignores them. We have an inflation crisis, a southern border crisis, an international credibility crisis, a crime crisis, and a President who demonizes concerned parents. I have worked to combat the reckless spending and partisan policies of this administration and I will continue to do so.
“Western New Yorkers value our families and our freedom and our shared commitment to these values binds us together. The renumbered NY-24 contains over 400,000 constituents I currently represent, and I am excited to get to better know a few new communities.
“The challenges our country faces are many and they are deeply consequential, but we are more than equipped to face them and emerge more prosperous. The coming elections are a chance for conservatives to elect majorities in Congress who will check the Biden administration’s disastrous policies, reimplement the successful policies of the Trump administration, and put our country on a solid foundation once again. I am committed to fighting for your constitutional rights, your economic prosperity, and our future – just as I have for the past two years.”
Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: Pictured from left include Melanie Nagel (Newfane), Amber Campanini (Lockport), Angelo Soliday (Medina), Chef Benjamin Loomis, Troy Avery-Kelley (Medina), Diana Del Carmen Moreno (Albion) and Grace Hodkin (Newfane).
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Niagara Falls Culinary Institute Executive Chef and Hospitality Instructor, Benjamin Loomis, recently spent time with the culinary arts students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.
Chef James Atzrott, who teaches the program, invited Chef Loomis in to talk to the students about careers in culinary and the classes at the Institute. The students were definitely inspired by his demonstration which was Bananas Foster and making homemade ice cream from liquid nitrogen.
“Cooking is chemistry,” Chef Loomis explained to the students. “Liquid nitrogen boils at negative 320 degrees and it can be dangerous if not handled correctly.”
Chef Loomis showed the students the safety procedures to make the ice cream and some of the students were able to put on the safety garb and make the dessert. Everyone got a chance to participate with the hands-on demonstration and then got to enjoy the finished product.
“The students really enjoyed the demonstration and the dessert,” Atzrott said. “I really appreciate Chef Loomis taking the time out of his busy schedule to come in and talk to my students.”
Executive chef Benjamin Loomis speaks with students in the culinary arts class.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2022 at 9:33 am
AAA is reporting the average cost for a gallon of gas in New York State is up another 5 cents in the past week, from $3.496 a week ago to $3.547 today.
A month ago the average price was $3.493 in the state. It was about a dollar cheaper a year ago – $2.514 a gallon.
The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.37, up 4 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.42, AAA said.
The average price per gallon locally includes:
Orleans: $3.546
Genesee: $3.505
Wyoming: $3.56
Niagara: $3.436
Erie: $3.505
Monroe: $3.545
Livingston: $3.572
AAA issued a press release today that stated:
“According to the Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand is in a typical range for the winter driving season, equivalent to mid-January 2020.
“Continued growth in the price of crude oil has helped to keep pump prices elevated. If crude prices continue to climb, pump prices will likely follow suit.
This morning, oil prices are in the high $80s to low $90s per barrel. Tension between Russia and Ukraine pushed crude prices up last week. Amid tight global supply, there are market concerns that a looming invasion could contribute to a volatile market, pushing prices higher.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 31 January 2022 at 7:15 am
Medina will face rival Albion in a key home and home Niagara-Orleans League basketball series this coming week.
Looking to stay in the thick of the N-O boys title race, defending champion Medina will visit Albion on Wednesday in a make-up game and then host the Purple Eagles on Friday. Before that, the Mustangs also face a key contest at Akron (3-2) on Tuesday.
The Mustangs are currently 4-2 and a game behind front-running 5-1 Roy-Hart in the N-O title race while Albion is looking to snap an 0-5 league record.
The Medina girls will host Albion on Wednesday and then visit the Purple Eagles on Friday.
Albion has won two in a row after an 0-3 start to the N-O campaign while Medina is 1-5.
Weekly Schedule Today Girls Basketball – Roy-Hart at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Albion at Pembroke, 7 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Basketball – Wilson at Barker, 6 p.m.; Medina at Akron, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball – Akron at Medina, Roy-Hart at Newfane, 6:30 p.m; Wheatland-Chili at Lyndonville, Oakfield-Alabama at Holley, Kendall at Pembroke, 7 p.m. Wrestling – Albion at Lyndonville, 5 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Basketball – Medina at Albion, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Wheatland-Chili, Holley at Oakfield-Alabama, Pembroke at Kendall, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball – Barker at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Albion at Medina, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Notre Dame, Holley at Pembroke, Attica at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Friday Boys Basketball – Roy-Hart at Barker, Akron at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Albion at Medina, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Notre Dame, Kendall at Attica, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball – Medina at Albion, Barker at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Akron, 6:30 p.m. Swimming – N-O vs. G-R meet at Gates-Chili, 6 p.m.
Saturday Girls Basketball – Kendall at Albion, 1:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Oakfield-Alabama, 7 p.m.
ORCHARD PARK – Medina opened its winter guard season on Saturday, competing in Orchard Park.
The guards performing now have not performed in the past two years. Therefore they haven’t had the opportunity to deal with the stress of competition despite now being involved in higher, more skilled divisions.
Medina’s varsity guard consists of 18 students in grades 9-12. This year their show is “Wake Up.” The group asks, have you ever considered that the dreams you dream and the passing thoughts that you think are not all your own?
The show at Orchard Park consisted of 16 guard units in seven different classifications. Medina performed in the SA (scholastic A) class with three other guards and came in 4th place with a score of 54.96. Victor and Orchard Park tied for 1st place with 59.98 while Jamestown came in 3rd at 56.86.
Winners in the other classes were Hinsdale Starliners in Novice with 35.89; Victor Cadet in cadet class with 45.39; Gates Chili RA at 48.32; Lancaster in A1 class with 53.09; Gates Chili 1A with 59.34 and Luminosa in SR class at 55.35.
Medina’s next competition is Feb. 12 at Victor followed by Batavia on Feb. 19, Lancaster on March 5 and Medina’s home show on March 12.
Winter guard is a hybrid art form that combines elements of music, dance and military-like precision marching in a competitive arena into a total entertainment package.
Winter guard started about 30 years ago and involves the manipulation (spins, tosses, flips) of equipment (rifles, flags, sabers) while moving around the performance space.
