ALBION — Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke was authorized by the County Legislature to pursue leasing five new patrol vehicles and have them up-fitted, at a cost not to exceed $86,000.

There is currently a state-wide shortage of patrol vehicles as well as multiple microchip shortages due manufacturing shutdowns from Covid-19, county legislators said on Wednesday.

In other action, the Legislature:

• Approved an agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Works where one full-time DPW employee will be assigned to do maintenance at the county jail at a rate not to exceed $84,679 during 2022.

• Authorized the Sheriff’s Office to spend $39,168 for new handguns, $5,247 for ammunition, and $17,244 for the less-than-lethal Tasers.

• Authorized the treasurer to use $188,268 of American Rescue Plan Act funds for payroll in the Public Safety Communication System, Sheriff’s Office and Jail.

• Approved a $12,500 stipend for full-time attorneys in the District Attorney’s Office to bring the pay on par with attorneys in the Public Defender’s Office. A state grant has increased the pay for full-time attorneys for the Public Defender’s Office. The disparity in pay between the two offices was making it difficult to hire full-time attorneys in the District Attorney’s Office, legislators said.

The county will offer the $12,500 stipend in the DA’s Office for as long as the Public Defender’s Office receives the grant from the NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services.

• Appointed County Legislator Fred miller of Albion to the Orleans County Jury Board for a two-year term.

• Appointed County Legislator Skip Draper of Medina for a two-year term as a trustee representing Orleans County on the 8th Judicial District Law Library Board of Trustees.

• Authorized the Health Department to spend up to $100,000 for an anti-rabies vaccine for post-exposure treatment for Orleans County residents.

• Appointed County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson to a two-year term on the Genesee Transportation Council Board and John Papponetti, the County DPW superintendent, to serve as an alternative. Papponetti also was appointed to serve on the GTC Planning Committee.

• The following were appointed to three-year terms on the Orleans County Planning Board: Bruce Kirby representing Gaines, Chris Watt as alternate for Gaines, Mylynda Kuba representing Holley, and Monica Seeler as Holley alternate.

• Reappointed the following to the Oak Orchard Watershed Board: County Legislator Ed Morgan who is chairman of the Soil and Water Conservation District Board, Guy Smith of Albion, Peter Smith of Albion and Jon Peglow of Barre.

• Reappointed the following to the Orleans County Board of Ethics: Julie Christensen, retired Kendall school district superintendent; Russ Martino, retired Yates town supervisor and Lyndonville principal, and John DeFilipps, retired county legislator.

• Appointed county legislators Bill Eick of Shelby and Fred Miller of Albion to two-year terms on the Local Development Corporation Board.

• Authorized the Health Department to spend $130,880 to make an emergency purchase of KN95 masks and iHealth OTC test kits from Vizocom in El Cajon, Calif. The department will coordinate with local school districts on their reopening plans and will include Covid-19 testing. There is no county cost in the purchase.

• Approved spending $17,182 for 26 Panasonic cameras and mounting junction boxes, 10 Ubiquiti POE switches and two level 4 Ubiquiti Enterprise switches. The equipment is needed “to protect Orleans County assets from external threats to safety and security and provide robust connectivity throughout the county,” legislators stated in a resolution.

LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Legislature has agreed to donate a 2013 Chevy Tahoe road patrol vehicle to the Village of Lyndonville’s police department.

The vehicle was determined to have no value to the county and has been declared surplus.

However, Lyndonville wants to replace a patrol car with 350,000 miles “at least,” said Mayor John Belson.

The village operates a part-time police department with Bill Larkin, a retired deputy sheriff, as the officer. He works about 20 to 24 hours a week.

Belson said the village couldn’t justify spending $30,000 or more for a new patrol car.

“We really appreciate it,” he said about the county donating the Chevy Tahoe.

Candidates seeking to run for the Village Board in Albion and Medina have until Feb. 8 to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters.

These petitions are to run as candidates under an independent party for the March 15 election.

Albion held its Republican and Democratic caucuses on Tuesday evening. Republicans backed Angel Javier Jr. for mayor and Tim McMurray and Dan Conrad for trustee candidates. Democrats picked Vickie Elsenheimer as candidate for mayor, and Sandra Walter and Joyce Riley for trustees.

But there is still time to run as an independent party candidate. The petitions need to be turned into the Village Office by Feb. 8.

Medina doesn’t have major party caucuses. The candidates all run as independents. The positions up for election include mayor (currently Mike Sidari) and two trustee positions (currently held by Tim Elliott and Marguerite Sherman).

There isn’t a village election in Lyndonville this year, and Holley holds its election in June.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday accepted a $1,397,885 bid submitted by Union Concrete and Construction Corp. of West Seneca for a new bridge on Yates-Carlton Townline Road over Johnson Creek, just south of Route 18.

This is the low bid on a project that will be 80 percent funded by the federal government. The county cost will be $279,577.

Union Concrete and Construction did the work last year on the new bridge on Route 104 in Ridgeway, a project which just won an award as “project of the year” from Genesee chapter of the American Public Works Association. That honor is for “Structures less than $5 million.”

Charts courtesy of Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

There are more than 1,200 more confirmed Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties in the past seven days. That is the third most during a week of the pandemic, but is still down from the previous two weeks. That is 1,266 cases from Jan. 19-25, down from 1,659 the previous week, and the 2,703 from Jan. 5-11, the most during the pandemic.

Orleans County is reporting 521 new cases in the past week (Jan. 19-25), which is down from 645 the previous week and 855 from Jan. 5-11. Those cases include 122 at-home tests in the past week, which was preceded by 173 (Jan. 12-18) and 233 (Jan. 5-11).

Genesee County has 745 new cases in the past week, which is down from 1,014 from Jan. 12-18, and 1,848 from Jan. 5-11. Those cases include 229 at-home tests in the past week, which was preceded by 199 (Jan. 12-18) and 325 (Jan. 5-11).

Genesee County has also had five more Covid-related deaths in the past week and Orleans two more. Genesee has now had 174 Covid-related deaths and Orleans 107 during the pandemic, which started in March 2020.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

ALBION – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has announced that he will be holding mobile officer hours next month at Genesee Community College and at the Seymour Library in Brockport in Monroe County.

Hawley will be at Seymour Library, 161 East Ave., Brockport from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 and Feb. 23. He will be in the Ellwanger Room.

He will be at GCC, 1 College Rd. in Batavia, from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 3 and Feb. 24, with the meeting at Room T124.

ALBION – A New York City man was sentenced today in Orleans County Court to three years in state prison and three years of post-release supervision for selling cocaine in Albion.

Hector Mendez

Hector Mendez, 41, faced multiple drug charges for criminal possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree when he was arrested on Nov. 8, 2020.

He allegedly sold cocaine in Albion on Sept. 24, Oct. 23 and twice on Nov. 8, 2020, working with a woman on West Academy Street in Albion. During a search warrant, police seized over 100 individual bags of crack cocaine packaged for sale with a total weight of approximately two ounces, as well as cash, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia.

In other cases in County Court today:

• Jonathan Jimenez, 23, of Thomas Estates in Clarendon was arraigned for two counts of criminal possession of weapon in the second degree for a loaded firearm, and one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Jimenez was charged on Aug. 17 after exchanging gunfire twice in the Village of Albion with Prince Wilson, 22, on Aug. 8 and Aug. 14.

Jimenez was wounded in the leg on Aug. 14. He pleaded not guilty during court today.

Wilson was due to be arraigned as well this morning but it was rescheduled until Friday morning. Wilson faces charges of criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon for a loaded firearm and reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Jimenez has posted bail ($2,500 cash or $5,000 bond) and Wilson also is out on bail ($50,000 cash or $100,000 bond).

District Attorney Joe Cardone said the two men were using “ghost guns” without serial numbers.

“These are extremely serious charges,” Cardone told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

• A Medina resident pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Michael R. Coffey, 74, was stopped by State Police in Carlton on Sept. 10, 2021.

He faces up to 364 days in the county jail when he is sentenced on April 27.

Press Release and photos from NYS Department of Transportation

RIDGEWAY – New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez today announced that the recently completed project to replace the State Route 104 Bridge over Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans County was honored as the American Public Works Association’s Project of the Year in the Genesee Valley Chapter’s “Structures less than $5 million” category.

The project was recognized for its critical community investment and safety enhancements for travelers.

“The safety of the traveling public and the vitality of our communities are always top priorities at the Department of Transportation and this award for the State Route 104 Bridge Replacement Project is a symbol of our commitment to those priorities,” said Commissioner Dominguez. “The project enhanced safety and helped ensure that a vitally important crossing in Orleans County will remain open for many years to come. I want to congratulate the NYSDOT staff, whose tireless work helped achieve this recognition and for their dedication to safety, service and excellence – values they demonstrate each and every day.”

In honoring the project, the APWA cited several factors, including:

• Use of good construction management techniques by employing the Governor’s Drivers First Initiatives and prioritizing convenience for motorists.
• Efforts to engage members of the community who utilize Oak Orchard Creek for recreational kayaking and canoeing.
• Attention to the environment and wildlife immediately impacted by construction and the altered bridge footprint.
• Commitment to sustainability and use of engineering components that help reduce deterioration and decrease the need for future maintenance.

The project installed a 125-foot, single-span bridge with minimal disruption to the traveling public. It was completed in September, on time and under budget. State Route 104 is a key vital connector used by the local agricultural and manufacturing industries to reach the Rochester area to the east and the Niagara community in the west.

Senator Robert G. Ortt said, “The State Route 104 Bridge project over Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans County should be applauded for its outstanding success and serve as a blueprint for future joint construction efforts between local and state governments. By working together, Orleans County and New York State were able to deliver a completed project that will benefit the residents of Orleans County and travelers passing through our Western New York region. I am proud that the American Public Works Association has decided to honor this incredible project and will give it the recognition it deserves.”

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, “Protecting the roadways traveled by families and commercial and emergency vehicles is one of our state government’s most important functions, so I was happy to see the work done to replace the Oak Orchard Creek bridge in Orleans County acknowledged by the American Public Works Association. It was a critical project that delivered an amazing end result for all who travel along Route 104 between Ridgeway and Gaines. My hat goes off to all involved both in planning the project and working on the ground to make it a reality.”

The unemployment rate was at 3.1 percent in Orleans County in December, which is the lowest rate in at least 30 years.

The county has only dipped below 4 percent a few times in the past three decades:

• During 1990s, Orleans was below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 1999 and 3.9 percent in October 1999.
• From 2000 to 2009, the rate dipped below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 2000 and 3.6 percent in October 2000.
• From 2010 to 2019, the unemployment rate was below 4 percent five times – 3.5 percent in September and October 2018, 3.7 percent in November 2018, 3.7 percent in September 2019, and 3.8 percent in October 2019.
• Since 2020, the rate only dropped below 4 percent the past two months – 3.8 percent in November and then 3.1 percent in December.

The state Department of Labor reports about 500 people in the county are on unemployment, the lowest since at least 1990. (Click here to see a database on the labor force in Orleans County since 1990.) There were 1,100 unemployed in December 2020.

The labor force currently totals 16,900 in Orleans County, which is down from 17,200 in December 2020, 17,500 in December 2019, and a drop of 2,000 from the 18,900 in December 2012. Going back to December 2005, the labor force was over 20,000 at 20,100.

During the pandemic, the unemployment rate hit a high of 16.8 percent in April 2020. In 2021, the rate peaked at 7.6 percent in February and has steadily declined from 5.7 percent in July, 5.6 percent in August, 4.2 percent in September, 4.1 percent in October, 3.8 percent in November and 3.1 percent in December.

State-wide the unemployment rate is at 5.0 percent in December, down from 8.5 percent in December 2020. The US unemployment rate is at 3.7 percent in December, down from 6.5 percent in December 2020.

The unemployment rate among the GLOW counties in December includes 2.7 percent in Genesee, 2.6 percent in Livingston, 3.1 percent in Orleans and 3.1 percent in Wyoming.

Among New York counties, the rate is highest in the Bronx at 11.1 percent and lowest at 2.2 percent at Columbia, Saratoga and Tompkins.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A boat is on Lake Ontario during sunset on Aug. 4, 2019 near Barker.

HAMBURG – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) held a press conference on Tuesday to call for full funding for the Save our Seas Act 2.0.

He was joined at the conference by Sharen Trembath, Organizer of the Great Lakes Beach Sweep, and Jim Hanley, a fishing charter owner.

Jacobs said he is advocating for funding of the Save our Seas Act 2.0.

“This legislation was passed and signed into law by President Trump in December of 2020, yet, despite being very bipartisan, it has yet to receive full funding,” Jacobs said.

He called the Great Lakes regional treasures that provide clean drinking water, boost the economy, communities, agriculture, recreation, “and much, much more.”

The Save our Seas Act 2.0 would provide grant opportunities for projects to address plastic pollution in our lakes, especially with a focus on microplastic removal and prevention, Jacobs said.

“Each year, 10,000 metric tons of plastic enter our Great Lakes – roughly 2,500 into Lake Erie and 1,400 into Lake Ontario,” he said. “This pollution eventually breaks down into microplastics, which can harm everything from our drinking water to the aquatic life in our Lakes.”

Save our Seas 2.0 would provide funding and incentives to upgrade drinking and wastewater systems to remove microplastics. The legislation also would provide grant funding for trash collection projects along our Great Lakes.

“This isn’t a partisan issue – but one that will set our region up for future prosperity, and I am proud to lead this effort to secure a meaningful investment for our lakes,” Jacobs said.

RIDGEWAY – The replacement of the Route 104 bridge in Ridgeway has been named “project of the year” by the Genesee chapter of the American Public Works Association.

The bridge won in the “Structures less than $5 million” category.

The section of Route 104 over Oak Orchard Creek was closed in late April so the bridge from 1954 could be replaced. The new bridge opened to traffic on Aug. 28, ahead of schedule.

Union Concrete and Construction Corp. of West Seneca was general contractor on the new multi-girder bridge. The project featured upgraded bridge shoulders and an improved hydraulic opening.

“The Department of Transportation did an outstanding job in replacing the Route 104 bridge in the Town of Ridgeway,” said Brian Napoli, town supervisor. “The construction crew was so diligent. They worked weekends and brought the project in early.”

The new bridge is a single span multi-girder bridge featuring two 12-foot-wide travel lanes and two 6-foot-wide shoulders.

The project was recognized by the Public Works Association for its critical community investment and safety enhancements for travelers.

“The new bridge is beautiful,” Napoli said. “Residents adapted to the inconvenience for the construction period and afterwards we heard nothing but compliments. We as a town were so happy with the results we passed a Resolution of Appreciation to the Rochester DOT office.”

Orleans Community Health expanding surgical services

MEDINA – Dr. Joseph Misiti of Medina has announced he will donate his practice and move it to Orleans Community Health as an opportunity for the future of healthcare in the area. Misiti will remain full time in the new location.

Dr. Joseph Misiti

“Dr. Misiti is a home-grown Medina native who has dedicated more than 40 years to the health of the community,” said Kim Gray, CNO/director of surgical services at Orleans Community Health. “This expansion into Medina Memorial Hospital will also include three new providers. This is a moment of growth and one we should all be excited about.”

Dr. Misiti will be joined in this new location by Dr. Jennifer Griffith, Dr. Thomas Russo and Sean Yeckley, physician assistant. In addition to the many services and state-of-the-art equipment currently at Medina Memorial Hospital, this team will be able to offer a complete spectrum of services, the hospital announced.

Dr. Misiti received his doctorate at the University of Buffalo and completed his residency at Erie County Medical Center. He is currently serving as medical director at Orleans Community Health.

Dr. Griffith, a board-certified general surgeon, received her doctorate at the University of Buffalo and completed her general surgery residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center. With more than 20 years of experience, she is currently serving as chair of the Department of Surgery at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Dr. Thomas Russo, a board-eligible general surgeon, received his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa. and completed his residency in general surgery at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Trenton, Mich.

Yeckley was born and raised in rural central Pennsylvania. His undergraduate education was completed at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa., where he received a bachelor of science in health science with a minor in biology. He remained in Loretto at St. Francis University to complete his graduate education and receive a masters of physician assistant science.

Immediately after graduation, he worked for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in vascular surgery at their Altoona campus. When new opportunities arose, he moved to Buffalo and has since been working in general surgery with Rochester Regional Health at United Memorial Medical Center and Orleans Community Health.

Vickie Elsenheimer and Angel Javier Jr. backed for mayor in March 15 election

ALBION – The Republican and Democratic parties each held their caucuses this evening and nominated a slate of candidates for three positions on the Village Board in the March 15 election.

There were 86 registered Republicans in the village at the party caucus at Hoag Library and they backed Angel Javier Jr. with 70 of the votes over current trustee Gary Katsanis for mayor. The Republicans also picked Tim McMurray and Dan Conrad for trustee candidates with current trustee Stan Farone also nominated but getting the third most votes.

The Democrats had 51 people at their caucus at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The party picked Vickie Elsenheimer as candidate for mayor, and Sandra Walter and Joyce Riley for trustees.

The Republican Party candidates for the March 15 election include, from left: Angel Javier Jr. for mayor, and Tim McMurray and Dan Conrad for village trustees.

Javier, 33, has been campaigning for the position since November. He said he won’t take the mayor’s salary, which is about $9,000 a year. He owns the former Family Hardware building in downtown Albion and works at Rochester Gas & Electric as a pipefitter apprentice.

He was in the Marine Corps for four years and worked with State Farm insurance before RG&E. Javier said he wants to welcome new investment and more residents into the village, where he noted the population is down 6.9 percent in the latest census from 6,056 in 2010 to 5,637 in 2020.

In a video he posted on YouTube and Facebook, he said the village needs to be more attractive for residents and businesses. He said the village currently has an 11 percent vacancy rate.

McMurray, 38, has been active for many years as a youth football coach and most recently worked with Sanzo Beverages as a merchandizer stocking beer.

Conrad, 39, has been active in the community for many years. He is president of the Albion Lions Club and owns Toyz n Kandy on East Bank Street. He also serves on the board for Hoag Library and Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance.

The Democratic Party candidates for the March 15 election include, from left: Vickie Elsenheimer for mayor, and Sandra Walter and Joyce Riley for village trustees.

Elsenheimer, 56, leads the Democratic ticket. She retired in March 2021 as an executive assistant to the vice president in the Division of Advancement at Brockport State College. She worked 22 years at Brockport, and 13 years prior to that at Albion Correctional Facility. She also served 17 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a sergeant.

She said she has the time to be a full-time mayor, with a focus on improving neighborhoods and the downtown business district.

The empty storefronts and vacant houses hurt the community’s prospects in attracting more businesses, she said. It will take a community effort to move Albion forward for the future, Elsenheimer said.

“I’m in the right season of life,” she said. “I’m retired. I can give it my full attention.”

Sandra Walter, 73, is retired from CRFS, Dime Bank, Anchor Bank and Kodak. She is the chairperson of the Albion Democratic Party Committee.

Joyce Riley is retired nursing supervisor. She is currently a trustee for Hoag Library and the Cobblestone Museum. She has twice served on the Albion Board of Education and made an unsuccessful run mayor four years ago. Eileen Banker, the current mayor, isn’t seeking re-election.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the State University of New York Board of Trustees has ended the practice of withholding transcripts from students with outstanding balances, effective immediately.

This follows Governor Hochul’s plan to eliminate the practice across the State as part of the 2022 State of the State – including directing public colleges and universities to immediately stop withholding transcripts and proposing legislation for all higher education institutions in the State.

“Education is key to unlocking opportunity and to help New Yorkers succeed, we need to eliminate punitive barriers to opportunity like transcript withholding,” Governor Hochul said. “This is a matter of common sense. New Yorkers will not be able to climb the ladder of success and get out of debt if their financial challenges prevent them from accessing those opportunities. While I am proud that SUNY students will no longer have their transcripts held hostage, all students deserve the same protections. We must pass legislation to end this unjust practice for all New York students once and for all.”

Each year, about 50 percent of SUNY students graduate from college debt-free. However, other students graduate with an outstanding balance of about $3,500, on average, and as of 2020 about 19,000 students still owed their SUNY campus.

With today’s Board action, now those students may receive their transcript, thereby enabling them to re-enroll in a campus, transfer credits, complete their degree, and obtain jobs that could help pay down their unpaid balance. CUNY announced a temporary hold on the practice last August.

As part of the resolution, the Board of Trustees also authorized the SUNY Chancellor, or a designee, to review all debt collection practices and make any appropriate policy changes, rulemaking, and other modifications in line with today’s action. SUNY follows State Finance Law, as well as State Division of the Budget guidance, SUNY Regulations and Policy, and a Memorandum of Understanding between SUNY and the New York Attorney General.

SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said, “Students come to SUNY for an excellent and affordable college education, often making personal sacrifices along the way in order to reach the career of their dreams. To come so far only to be held back by unpaid fees and fines is simply unfair to our students. My thanks for Governor Hochul for shining light on this oversight that has been common place throughout higher education, and for bringing further equity to our economically disadvantaged students, who have worked hard to earn their degree.”

About The State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory.

In total, SUNY serves about 1.3 million students in credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2021, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum.

Press Release, Orleans County Emergency Management Office

The Orleans County Emergency Management Office is asking the public not to call for an ambulance in a non-emergency situation so ambulances and EMS crews can focus on those with medical emergencies.

There has been a large increase in ambulances being requested for non-emergency situations causing a burden on the limited number of ambulances available in our region, the EMO said in a news release.

An ambulance should only be requested when a true emergency exists. Many ambulances, hospitals and urgent cares are overwhelmed right now by patients who are not experiencing medical emergencies.

When should you call 911 for an ambulance?

• If someone is experiencing a true medical emergency, call 911.
• Some examples of true medical emergencies include the following: cardiac arrest, choking, chest pains, difficulty breathing, sudden confusion, altered mental status, if moving a patient could cause further injury, too weak to move or unsteady, seizures, allergic reaction, unconsciousness, falls with injuries and uncontrolled bleeding are a few examples but not all.
• If you have any doubts about whether a condition may be a true medical emergency call 911
• An ambulance will not get you seen in the ER faster. Going by private car, using a taxi or ride-sharing service are often cheaper than an ambulance and will get you seen just as fast based on the hospital’s triage system.
• Common colds, low grade fevers, stubbed toes, tooth aches, chronic pain, etc. are all conditions that are not life threatening and do not warrant the need for an ambulance.
• Seek treatments from urgent cares and your primary care doctor for conditions that are not emergencies.

“The ambulance you call for something that isn’t an emergency could take an ambulance away from someone who truly needs it, delaying their care and potentially causing them greater injury or even death,” the Orleans County Emergency Management Office said.