The five school districts in Orleans County have all cancelled after-school activities today due to the deteriorating weather conditions. That includes Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina.
Orleans County and Western New York are under a winter storm warning until 1 p.m. Friday with 6 to 12 inches of snow in the forecast.
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Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jackie Gardner, seated, who just took the position of chief operating officer and director of operations at Community Action in Albion, talks with executive director Renee Hungerford.
ALBION – Jackie Gardner always knew she would follow her family’s footsteps and pursue a career in banking, but when a “job of a lifetime” opened at Community Action in Albion, she knew it was time to make a switch.
Gardner was born and raised in Albion. Her father always said a career in banking was an honorable position, and her brother is a bank manager in Rochester, so it was natural she should take that career path.
But when a position as chief operating officer and director of operations became available at Community Action, she gave up her 25-year banking career to accept the position.
She first met Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action, during a bank acquisition in 1993. Gardner was working for Chase when they announced they were leaving the area, and Jodi Gaines, then founder of CRFS, called and offered her a job.
“She hired me and I worked in client relations and ran a team filing claims for the government,” Gardner said. “I was there eight years when I decided it was a good time to explore a career move.”
Most recently, Gardner worked for M&T running an audit team for risk and compliance. She had previously talked to Hungerford about a position at Community Action, but the timing wasn’t right, she said.
When Annette Finch, long-time director of Emergency Services, announced her retirement, Hungerford posted the job.
“Jackie called me that morning,” Hungerford said. “Hiring has been such a struggle, with the pandemic and all, and how fortunate the perfect person should show up at my doorstep.”
Gardner said when she worked for one bank, she knew Finch through food drives and coat drives they did for Community Action.
“We wanted to give back to the community,” she said. “What impresses me about this organization is the passion of the people who work and volunteer here.”
“It is so refreshing to hear that excitement,” Hungerford said.
“There are a lot of great organizations in this county and I see Community Action as being pivotal in helping those in need,” Gardner said.
“We are stronger together, whether we are developing programs or working on grants,” Hungerford said.
Gardner said it’s hard not to be excited about coming to work every day.
“We have a phenomenal team right now and I couldn’t be more grateful ,” Hungerford said.
Gardner said she has been involved in for-profit organizations all her life, but so much of what she learned there can be transferred to this job.
Gardner is also president of the board of United Way of Orleans County and a member of GCASA’s executive board.
Return to topPress Release, Kathryn Leach, Digital Literacy Program Coordinator
The Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative and our mentors are hard at work in the community helping to improve tech literacy. We are pleased to announce a new program to help reach even more people: the new Lunch and Learn program.
The Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative aims to improve tech skills and Internet access in the county. We provide free tech help to everyone in the community, and it’s a program of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, funded by the United Way of Orleans County.
CCE supports equal educational and employment opportunities. Our tech mentors go out in the community to help people get personalized tech solutions. One person helped said, “I’ve begun another project. This requires skills beyond what I know. Michael is patiently teaching the I.T. skill needed to develop, and move forward.” We love helping people find tech success!
Now people can also learn new tech skills with the Lunch and Learn program that will run once a month on Zoom. Each program will a different tech topic with a guest speaker for 30 minutes to an hour. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to receive updates and any speaker materials.
Our slated programs include Diversity and Equity in Technology on February 18th at 8 a.m., Microsoft Office Programs on March 17th at noon, Presentation/Online Meeting and Devices Library on April 21st at noon, and Digital Resources for Organizations and Employers on May 19th at noon.
The Orleans County Digital Literacy Initiative is still looking for mentors to go out into the community and help teach tech skills. What better way to boost your own tech and communication skills than to help others? We will provide training and support. If you’re interested in volunteering, please get in contact!
For more information on the Lunch and Learn programs or any other Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative offerings, contact Katie Leach, at 585-798-4265 ext. 146 or by email at kel99@cornell.edu. Find us on Facebook at: @orleanstechhelp.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Traffic moves along Main Street in downtown Albion this morning after while a couple inches of snow fell overnight.
Orleans County and Western New York are under a winter storm warning until 1 p.m. Friday with 6 to 12 inches of snow expected, the national Weather Service in Buffalo said.
Most of the snow accumulation will be this afternoon and tonight, with additional snow likely on Friday, the Weather Service said.
Chad Fabry, owner of the former Swan Library in Albion, shovels the big front steps this morning at the site which is now an office building.
A snow corridor leads to the Gaines Basin canal bridge in Albion.
The snow-covered branches made for a picturesque scene along Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.
The Gaines Basin canal bridge is obscured from the falling snow this morning.
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Chart courtesy of Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
The new Covid cases are trending down in Genesee and Orleans counties from a peak about a month ago.
The two counties reported 616 new cases from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, with 361 in Genesee and 255 in Orleans.
That is down from 2,703 cases in the two counties from Jan. 5-11, 1,659 from Jan. 12-18 and 1,368 from Jan. 19-25.
Genesee is also reporting three more Covid-related deaths bringing that total to 177 since the pandemic started in March 2020. Orleans isn’t reporting any new Covid-related deaths in the past week and remains at 107.
Orleans County Covid cases the past 6 weeks:
• 159 – Dec. 22-28
• 379 – Dec. 29-Jan. 4
• 855 – Jan. 5-11
• 645 – Jan. 12-18
• 521 – Jan. 19-25
• 255 – Jan. 26-Feb. 1
Genesee County Covid cases the past 6 weeks:
• 276 – Dec. 22-28
• 383 – Dec. 29-Jan. 4
• 1,848 – Jan. 5-11
• 1,014 – Jan. 12-18
• 847 – Jan. 19-25
• 361 – Jan. 26-Feb. 1
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A winter storm warning is in effect from 10 p.m. today until 1p.m. on Friday with 8 to 12 inches of snow expected in Orleans County and much of western, central and northern New York.
The greatest accumulations are expected Thursday and Thursday night, said the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
“Travel could be very difficult,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.”
Return to topPress Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a free anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Batavia Town Highway Garage (3833 West Main Street Rd., Batavia).
“We encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Genesee County and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.”
Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum. Face coverings are required and please follow all social distancing requirements.
To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.
The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Genesee County will be held on May 19th at the Genesee County Fairgrounds. For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: 585-344-2580 x.5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.
Editor’s Note: Orleans County residents are welcome to bring their animals to the clinic in Genesee County.
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Photo by Tom Rivers: These cyclists were among 350 who rode the Erie Canal towpath last July. They are shown in Albion in between the two lift bridges.
Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
WATERFORD – The New York State Canal Corporation, through the Reimagine the Canals initiative, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are launching a new competitive grant program to support tourism and recreation along the New York State Canal System, including canal waterways and Canalway Trail.
The 2022 program will provide funding to support tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements, and events.
Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, not-for-profit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes.
“The Canal Corporation is proud to fund and partner with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in launching this new grant program that aims to grow unique recreation and tourism experiences along New York’s iconic Canal system,” said Brian Stratton, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation. “This funding will continue to make opportunities along the canals more exciting and accessible for visitors and we look forward to providing this support in an effort to improve experiences while promoting the connectivity between our historic waterways, trails, and canalside communities.”
The grant program includes two funding categories:
• Event Support, with an award range of $500 to $15,000, and
• Tourism Infrastructure & Amenity Support, with an award range of $5,000 to $24,000.
Applicants may apply for one or both categories.
Projects submitted should demonstrate how they will achieve one or more program objectives:
• facilitate recreation and/or tourism
• enhance visitor amenities
• encourage overnight stays
• improve the visitor experience
• make recreational and tourism assets more accessible
• attract and serve diverse audiences
• improve connectivity between recreation areas and communities or between waterways and land trails.
“We look forward to bringing many innovative ideas and exciting events to life through these grants. Combining federal, state, and local resources in support of community-based projects and events will benefit residents and visitors to New York’s iconic canals,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Potential applicants will find details by clicking here.
Applications open on Feb. 22 and are due on April 1. A virtual Q&A will be held on March 3 at 10 a.m.; registration details will be posted on the website.
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.”
Lt. John “Jack” Lynch is center in back row.
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.
Return to topPress Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley
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.”
Return to topNew 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:
What level of desert census tract is the proposed program located in?
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.)
Area of High Diversity per Diversity Index
Area with High Rate of Children living below 200% of Federal Poverty Level
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.
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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.”
Return to topPress 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:
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:
Rejecting Dangerous “Reforms” like Cashless Bail:
Reforming the Broken Parole System:
Passing a Victims’ Justice Agenda:
“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.”
Return to topCourtesy of New York Beef Council
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.”
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