By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2022 at 6:36 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul today presented a $216 billion Executive Budget that she said balances the budget while giving middle tax cuts and relief to small businesses, while investing in healthcare and education.
Here are some of the reactions to her budget proposal:
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia: “For all of the talk during today’s executive budget address by our governor of a bright new future for New York, the proposals discussed seemed tired and unimaginative at best. New York’s economy isn’t going to suddenly catch fire because of a few meager tax cuts or narrow tax credit programs for businesses, because at the end of the day New York will still have little to offer entrepreneurs looking across the country to open businesses and create jobs. Within a global economy that grows more competitive by the day, it will only grow harder for us to attract the best and brightest to live and work here when it’s so lucrative for them to invest their resources elsewhere. With that said, I do applaud the announced investment into education, something of vital importance in a marketplace demanding skilled, technologically-savvy workers.”
New York Conference of Mayors Executive Director Peter Baynes: “Gov. Hochul’s Executive Budget is a positive and long overdue development in state-local relations in New York. By proposing increased investments in local road, bridge, water and sewer infrastructure, she is walking the walk of someone who understands that New York cannot succeed without strong local governments. Her respect for municipalities is demonstrated by her proposal to eliminate the state’s recent practice of intercepting local sales tax revenue to pay for state aid to localities. And her focus on revitalizing all cities and villages through programs like the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, NY Forward and Restore New York will pay important dividends for our residents and small businesses. While the final piece of the puzzle – an increase in AIM funding to municipalities – is currently missing, NYCOM will work with the Senate, Assembly and Governor to address this omission prior to final budget adoption.”
New York State Association of Counties President Martha Sauerbrey: “Counties are very encouraged to see that the budget makes significant progress in restoring local control over local taxes by making sales tax rates permanent and ending the misguided practice of intercepting local sales tax to pay for the State’s AIM program. Counties also applaud the inclusion of increased funding for local public health departments that have been on the front lines of the pandemic for nearly two years, as well as investments in local road and bridge programs, strengthening workforce development, expanding local veterans’ programs, and modernizing the vacation rental industry in our communities – all while making a commitment to use the state’s strong fiscal position to build reserves for the future.”
NYS County Executives Association President Marcus Molinaro: “After one-sided top down governance from the state, counties began this year with an encouraging step toward creating a new partnership. The Governor’s 2022-2023 budget proposal addresses long-sought county priorities like providing permanency in local sales taxes, ending the diversion of local taxes to pay for the State’s AIM program, and making significant investments in public health, support for veterans and infrastructure. While there remain areas of concern, like the state continuing to to confiscate local sales tax to support a distressed health facilities fund, there is lots of common ground to build on and we look forward to engaging with the Governor and state lawmakers in the coming months create a budget that supports local governments and the residents we serve.”
New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta: “With the state on solid financial footing, the ongoing needs of our pandemic-battered public schools, colleges and hospitals must be met this year. Gov. Hochul’s spending plan makes some important commitments toward meeting those needs, including a significant increase in aid for K-12 schools and sorely needed operating aid for SUNY and CUNY. We look forward to reviewing the executive budget in greater detail and ensuring the voices of our members are included in the conversation between now and April 1.”
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy: “From offering solutions to workforce shortages to infusing capital into communities, Governor Hochul’s proposed budget seeks to support business in unprecedented and desperately needed ways. Tax relief for small businesses, childcare funding, financial aid for Covid-related expenditures, a $1 billion fund available for small business innovation, and violence prevention funding are just a handful of ways this budget holistically addresses barriers to success for economic growth in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.
Greater Rochester Chamber and our 1,300 members stand ready to help Governor Hochul in making New York stronger than ever by supporting policies that allow our businesses to thrive.”
Education and healthcare workforce would get big increases
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor: Kathy Hochul presents the Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget today in the Red Room at the State Capitol.
Governor Kathy Hochul today, with Division of the Budget Director Robert F. Mujica Jr., outlined her Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Executive Budget.
The FY 2023 Executive Budget maintains the Governor’s commitment to passing a bold agenda that by rebuilds New York’s healthcare and teacher workforces; provides tax relief to those who need it most; speeds up economic growth and creates good-paying middle-class jobs; strengthens the state’s infrastructure and confronts climate change; secures public safety and protects communities; makes housing more affordable to ensure every New Yorker has a roof over their head; and enacts bold reforms to restore trust in State government.
“We have the means to immediately respond to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as embrace this once-in-a-generation opportunity for the future with a historic level of funding that is both socially responsible and fiscally prudent,” Governor Hochul said.
A Balanced Budget
Governor Hochul’s FY 2023 budget proposal reflects New York’s solid financial footing. As tax revenues rebound the budget is balanced for the entirety of the financial plan leading up to FY 2027, has no budget gaps, and holds spending growth in FY 2023 below inflation.
Rebuilding the Health Care Workforce
To restore our depleted healthcare workforce and build the healthcare system of tomorrow, Governor Hochul will make a more-than-$10 billion, multi-year investment in healthcare, including more than $4 billion to support wages and bonuses for healthcare workers. Key components of this multi-year investment include:
$1.2 billion of state support for healthcare and mental hygiene worker retention bonuses, with up to $3,000 bonuses going to full-time workers who remain in their positions for one year, and pro-rated bonuses for those working fewer hours;
$500 million for Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) to help raise wages for human services workers;
$2.4 billion for healthcare capital infrastructure and improved lab capacity; and
Other investments in workforce and healthcare access and delivery.
With these investments, Governor Hochul proposes to rebuild and grow the healthcare workforce by 20 percent over the next five years with a program designed to strengthen home care, improve the career pipeline, expand access to healthcare training and education, and recruit healthcare and direct support professionals to care for people in underserved areas.
Strengthening the Teacher Workforce
• School Aid: The FY 2023 Executive Budget provides $31.3 billion in total School Aid for SY 2023, the highest level of State aid ever. This investment represents a year-to-year increase of $2.1 billion (7.1 percent) compared to School Year (SY) 2022, including a $1.6 billion Foundation Aid increase and a $466 million increase in all other School Aid programs.
• Foundation Aid: Foundation Aid is the State’s main education operating aid formula. It is focused on allocating State funds equitably to all school districts, especially high-need districts, based on student need, community wealth, and regional cost differences. The Executive Budget provides a $1.6 billion (8.1 percent) increase in Foundation Aid, supporting the second year of the three-year phase-in of full funding of the current Foundation Aid formula and ensuring each school district receives a minimum year-to-year increase of 3 percent.
The Executive Budget provides SUNY and CUNY with $106 million – $53 million each – to hire additional full-time faculty at both four-year colleges and community colleges. This investment will fund an estimated 880 additional full-time faculty – 340 at SUNY and 540 at CUNY, including support for CUNY’s plan to convert adjuncts to full-time faculty.
Providing Tax Relief to Those Who Need It
• Accelerate the Implementation of the Middle-Class Tax Cut: The eight-year phase-in of personal income tax cuts for middle-class taxpayers first began in Tax Year 2018 and is currently scheduled to be completed at the start of the 2025 Tax Year. The Executive Budget:
• Accelerates tax relief to middle-class New Yorkers by providing the fully implemented reduced tax rates beginning in Tax Year 2023.
• Provides relief to 6.1 million New Yorkers.
Create a Tax Credit for Small Businesses’ Covid-19-Related Expenses: To continue the State’s support for our small businesses, the Executive Budget includes a new capped refundable tax relief program targeting Covid-19-related expenses for small businesses. The program provides:
• Up to $250 million in additional relief to small businesses.
• Eligible Covid-19-related capital investments include, but are not limited to, costs associated with expanding space to accommodate social distancing, HVAC equipment, expenses related to outdoor space expansions, as well as machinery and equipment to facilitate contactless sales.
Provide Small Business Tax Relief: Small businesses were hit particularly hard by the pandemic downturn. The Executive Budget provides much needed tax relief to these businesses by:
• Increasing the small business subtraction modification from 5 percent to 15 percent of net business income or farm income, and
• Expanding the benefit to include pass-through entities with less than $1.5 million NY-source gross income.
• This proposal will aid 195,000 small businesses through one of the most challenging business climates in modern history.
Provide a Homeowner Tax Rebate Credit: The Executive Budget creates a new property tax relief credit, the Homeowner Tax Rebate Credit, to eligible low- and middle-income households, as well as eligible senior households:
• Basic STAR exemption and credit beneficiaries with incomes below $250,000 and Enhanced STAR recipients are eligible for the property tax rebate where the benefit is a percentage of the homeowners’ existing STAR benefit.
• This one-year program is, in general, an extension of the real Property Tax Relief Credit Program that expired after 2019, with benefits calculated as a percentage of a homeowner’s STAR benefit. Additionally, homeowners in New York City will also be eligible for this credit.
• Outside of New York City, the average benefit will be nearly $970, providing relief to more than 2 million property tax-paying households. The New York City average benefit will be about $425, with benefits reaching another 479,000 property tax-paying households.
• For homeowners with income below $75,000 the statewide average credit is estimated at nearly $1,050, benefiting an estimated 837,800 recipients.
• The benefit will be in the form of an advanced credit, instead of being claimed when tax returns are filed, thus getting benefits in the hands of New York homeowners more quickly. Credits will be an advance on Tax Year 2022 income tax returns, to be directly sent to eligible homeowners beginning in Fall 2022.
Capital Plan and Infrastructure
The new five-year, $32.8 billion DOT capital plan will leverage Federal funding commitments made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support final phases of major infrastructure projects, including Hunts Point Interstate Access Improvement and the replacement of I-81 in Syracuse.
The new plan also supports new large-scale projects, including: modernizing the Livingston Avenue Bridge in Albany; reconnecting neighborhoods across the Kensington Expressway in Buffalo; converting Route 17 to I-86 in Orange and Sullivan Counties; and assessing ways to improve road capacity at the Oakdale Merge in Suffolk County.
The Five-Year DOT Capital Plan also increases the existing BRIDGE-NY program by $1 billion, adds a new $1 billion Operation Pave Our Potholes program, and continues record commitments to funding local highway and bridge programs through the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS).
Child Care
Building on $832 million in existing subsidies and $2.3 billion in Federal child care resources, the Budget includes new investments to support children, parents, and the child care industry.
• Increase Eligibility for Subsidies— child care subsidy eligibility will be increased from up to 200 percent of the Federal poverty level to up to 300 percent of the Federal poverty level over three years. Fully phased in, more than $535 million annually will allow an additional 400,000 children to become newly eligible.
• Maintain Access to Child Care Providers— $125 million in funding annually is included to maintain child care subsidies when rates increase in 2022.
• Support Child Care Workers—$75 million is invested in child care worker wages, an endorsement of the importance of their work.
Small Businesses
Governor Hochul is proposing a nearly billion-dollar plan focused on the State’s small businesses, including targeted programs to address small business needs and ensure all types of small businesses prosper throughout the State. Key components of this plan include:
• Funding for Small Businesses of the Future – Capital and venture debt awards to emerging small businesses in the innovation sector, including minority-and-women-owned companies often overlooked by venture investments.
• Seed Funding for Small Business – A $200 million flexible grant program for early-stage businesses recently opened despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Small Business Lending Initiative – Provide reduced interest rate and accessible loans to expanding small businesses.
SUNY and CUNY
$1.5 Billion for SUNY and CUNY: The Executive Budget will invest more than $300 million in SUNY and CUNY operations each year over the next five years. Governor Hochul also will partner over the next year with SUNY, its individual institutions, and key stakeholders to develop a plan to implement her vision to transform SUNY into the top statewide system of public higher education in the country. The Executive Budget will help start this transformation with funding for new engineering buildings to help the University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University become SUNY’s flagship institutions.
The Executive Budget will increase operating support to SUNY State-operated campuses and City University of New York (CUNY) senior colleges by fully reimbursing colleges for the $108.4 million cost of “Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Gap” tuition credits, providing additional State support of $59.6 million to CUNY and $48.8 million to SUNY. The university systems will also receive an $18.6 million in additional operating revenue from Executive Budget legislation to raise the amount of State support that campuses receive for Excelsior Scholarship recipients, increasing operating support by $13.7 million to SUNY State operated campuses, $2.8 million to CUNY senior colleges and $2.1 million to community colleges.
Expand Part-Time Students’ Access to TAP: The Executive Budget includes $150 million to expand TAP, which currently is largely unavailable for students studying part time, to cover students enrolled in six or more credits of study at a SUNY, CUNY, or not-for-profit independent college – an investment estimated to provide support to 75,000 additional New York students annually.
Energy and the Environment
• Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act: The Executive Budget includes $4 billion for the landmark Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. This historic initiative will provide the support New York needs to restore critical environmental habitats; reduce flood risks; conserve additional lands and open spaces; protect and improve our water resources; and invest in climate change mitigation projects that will reduce pollution and lower carbon emissions. The Bond Act will also support a substantial investment in the Clean Green Schools initiative that will reach every public school located in a disadvantaged community.
• Offshore Wind: The Executive Budget includes $500 million investment to develop the State’s offshore wind supply chains and port infrastructure. This nation-leading initiative will create 2,000 jobs in a growing industry, while helping to make New York the offshore wind capital of the country for years to come.
Housing
Launch a New Five-Year, $25 Billion Comprehensive Housing Plan. The Executive Budget advances a new $25 billion, five-year Housing Plan to create and preserve 100,000 affordable homes, including 10,000 homes with support services for vulnerable populations, and electrify an additional 50,000 homes as part of the State’s plan to electrify one million homes and make another one million electrification-ready. Funding includes $5.7 billion in capital resources, $8.8 billion in State and Federal tax credits and other federal allocations, $11 billion to support the operation of shelters and supportive housing units and to provide rental subsidies.
Combating Gun Violence
The Executive Budget includes $224 million to fund initiatives that will strengthen the gun violence prevention efforts of law enforcement and community-based organizations. Through these actions, we will work to restore New Yorkers’ sense of safety and community. Some of these actions include:
• Triple Resources for Crime Gun Tracing Efforts – The Executive Budget provides $350,000 in funding to triple the state’s gun violence intelligence resources by staffing the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC) with a team of analysts necessary to process and investigate crime guns across the state.
• Strengthen Law Enforcement Partnerships – The Executive Budget provides $13.1 million to expand the use of Community Stabilization Units that partner the most experienced State Troopers with local law enforcement agencies to combat community-specific crime problems.
• Expand the State’s Direct Support to Local Law Enforcement (GIVE) – The Executive Budget increases funding to $18.2 million for New York’s nationally recognized Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative which supports local law enforcement efforts to stop the gun violence in New York. This investment will enable the launch of several new initiatives which will support law enforcement’s ability to clear non-fatal shooting cases, engage in youth-centered community programming, and reduce recidivism for individuals under community supervision.
• Triple Investment in Community-Based Gun Violence Response (SNUG) – The Executive Budget sustains last year’s emergency increase in funding for New York’s SNUG Outreach program and further expand support to combat the spike in gun crimes. This investment of $24.9 million will expand hospital-based and street outreach programs to touch all corners of the state. It will facilitate the piloting of several new initiatives which provide wrap-around services for youth, job-readiness and work-placement training.
• Respond to Regional Needs in the Aftermath of Gun Violence – The Executive Budget includes $20 million in new funding to support the people and places that have been most impacted by the spike in gun violence. This will allow the deployment of innovative community empowerment and crime-reduction programming in high-need areas that will facilitate the repairing and rebuilding of regions victimized by crime involving guns.
Addressing Addiction and the Opioid Crisis
Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) will take significant steps to address the opioid crisis by improving access to addiction treatment services, removing barriers to treatment, developing new and innovative treatment models, and expanding the number of treatment facilities in communities around New York State.
The Executive Budget provides an increase of $402 million (56 percent) in operating and capital support for OASAS to enhance prevention, treatment and recovery programs targeted toward addiction services, residential service opportunities, and primary prevention activities consistent with state opioid settlement agreements; and invests more than $100 million in new resources from the Opioid Stewardship Tax and litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. Of these funds, $113 million will pass through the State to local municipalities, consistent with settlement agreements.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2022 at 4:11 pm
MEDINA – The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is making Chromebooks, laptops and iPads available to be loaned out.
The library received a grant for nearly $5,000 grant from federal Emergency Connectivity Fund. This money will be used to purchase five Chromebooks, five laptops, and three iPads for circulation in Medina, said Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon.
The grant has been allocated to assist libraries and schools in providing the tools needed for remote learning during the Covid pandemic, Mostyn said.
“We are very happy to be able to provide additional technology and resources to the students of our community,” said David Schwert, President of the Board of Trustees. “Adding this technology aligns with the library’s mission of providing free access to learning and information.”
For more information call the library at (585) 798-3430 or check the library website.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2022 at 2:32 pm
LYNDONVILLE – A new group of 26 members has started a one-year leadership program in Orleans County.
The fifth group of Leadership Orleans held the opening retreat last Thursday and Friday at the White Birch Golf Course.
In addition to the opening and closing retreats, the class will participate in 10 “Day Sessions” covering the following themes, with learning outcomes identified for each: Legislative Affairs, Leadership Challenge, Community Health, Tourism & Recreation, Business & Culture, Economic & Workforce Development, Agribusiness, Volunteerism, Education, and Simulated Society.
The members of the 2022 Class of Leadership Orleans (Year 5) include:
Jennifer Ashbery, High School Principal, Albion Central School District
Miranda Bennett, Bookkeeper, Town of Shelby
Dawn Borchert, Tourism Director, County of Orleans
Gloria Brent, President/Owner, MDS Consultants
Gabe Bruning, Owner, Mountain Mule Ciderhouse
Christopher Cappetta, CFO, Garden Trends, Inc., DBA Harris Seeds
Katrina Chaffee, Director of Community Services, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Cyndi Stumer, Deputy Commissioner of Social Services, County of Orleans
Wayne Wadhams, Board Member, Orleans/Niagara BOCES and Albion Central School
Dave Warren, Board Member, Kendall Central School District
Natasha Wasuck, Owner, The Lockstone
Chris Cappetta, chief financial officer of Garden Trends, Inc. speaks during last week’s opening retreat for the 2022 Leadership Orleans. Cappetta is one of 26 members of the class.
Wayne Wadhams, a member of Albion Board of Education and the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, also speaks during the opening retreat when the class members gave an introduction about themselves. Wadhams is a retired teacher and coach at Albion Central School.
Class members, including Jim Doyle at lower left, work on the “Lizards Activity.” This was among the team building exercises. Other activities show different communication styles, leadership styles, and awareness of others’ styles.
The group is happy and more connected after finishing the Lizards activity.
MIDDLEPORT – Katie Russell has been named manager of FMC’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport.
The local Agricultural Sciences plant formulates and packages a number of key FMC product lines to protect over 100 crops in more than 75 countries worldwide.
Russell joined FMC in 2017 as part of its Technical Center, which supports FMC’s global network of manufacturing sites on improvement projects, introducing new products, and driving process safety.
“I am excited to be joining the FMC Middleport team as the plant manager and to engage with our local community as we continue to grow our operation,” she said.
A native of Doylestown, Pa., Russell has a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Villanova University. She began her career working in a series of process engineering roles in industries ranging from nuclear power to metallurgical coke manufacturing.
She also worked in project engineering roles in developing small capital projects, overseeing a $30 million equipment repair program, and establishing procedures for the project development process.
At FMC, she implemented a 50% capacity improvement project at the Middleport site and developed the global structure for the organization that supports FMC formulation and packaging sites similar to the Middleport plant. Prior to coming to Middleport, Russell was the production manager for one of the operating units at an FMC manufacturing site in Mobile, AL.
“My fiancé, Jack, and I are looking forward to exploring Western New York and adapting to winter weather through many snowy outdoor adventures with our puppy, Keith,” she said.
BATAVIA – Rob Kent, former general counsel for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports who currently is serving in a similar position for the White House Office of National Drug Policy, will be the keynote speaker at the GOW Opioid Task Force quarterly meeting on Thursday.
Rob Kent
The public is invited to watch and participate in the meeting, which is scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m. via Zoom videoconferencing.
To register, go to www.gowopioidtaskforce.org. Once registered, a confirmation email with Zoom information and a link to join the meeting will be sent.
Task Force Coordinator Christen Ferraro said that Kent will share the federal government’s perspective on the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as what is being done at the national level to combat the opioid crisis.
“It is important that we continue the conversation surrounding the opioid crisis and ways we can help amidst the pandemic,” Ferraro said. “People in our community are still struggling and in need of support and treatment services. This virtual meeting helps us to stay connected and to safely reach even more of the concerned citizens in our tri-county region.”
Ferraro said she will share highlights of the task force’s accomplishments over the past year and provide updates on the various work groups.
Kent is well respected among several professional groups, receiving glowing endorsements from the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the New York State Psychiatric Association upon his hiring by the Biden administration.
In his role at OASAS, Kent provided overall legal support, policy guidance, and direction to the OASAS Executive Office and all divisions of the agency.
He led OASAS efforts to implement New York State’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force recommendations, which included the Combat Addiction/Heroin Campaign, the Federal Opioid Targeted Grant program, and Medicaid Redesign Team initiatives. He also led efforts on the implementation of historic legislation to increase access to treatment, including harm reduction services.
Kent has co-authored articles on patient confidentiality and sober homes and has presented nationally and throughout New York State on the addiction system of care.
Most recently, he served as vice president of Advocacy and general counsel for the American Association of Orthodontists, a national healthcare organization.
For more information on the GOW Opioid Task Force, contact Ferraro at cferraro@gcasa.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2022 at 10:27 am
The solid waste pickup is being delayed a day by Modern Disposal Services after Monday’s big snowfall.
Monday’s collection has been pushed today and each day will be moved to the following day. Friday’s collection will be on Saturday.
As a reminder, if lanes or streets are still challenged with the excess snow accumulation which would not allow the safe operation of Modern’s trucks, then that area’s waste or recyclables may not be able to be picked up until the following week, said Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this creates for our residents,” Welch said. “Unfortunately we did receive the 12 to 20-plus inches of snow that was predicted along with gusting winds. Now as areas recover from this storm, Modern will as quickly and as safely as possible resume their collection operations beginning today.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 January 2022 at 9:10 am
Barre man bilked for more than $4K by men going door-to-door selling steaks
BARRE – The family of a Barre senior is going public with a recent situation in which their father was scammed out of more than $4,000.
Steve Davis is sharing his father’s story in hopes of preventing any other senior from being taken advantage of.
Steve’s father, who is 80, lives in Barre and admittedly is not as sharp-minded as he used to be.
On Dec. 22, two middle-aged men knocked on his door and claimed to be selling packages of premium steaks for $50 to $100.
“Being a very trusting person, my dad bought their steaks and gave them a signed, blank check, assuming it would be made out for $50,” Davis said. “The men came back a second time and dad bought 20 more steaks.”
Steve stopped to see his dad last week and was told the men had just been there again. They told the elderly man they wholesale televisions and could get him one cheap.
Steve and his brother Tim monitor their father’s finances, so when they checked the bank account this past Thursday, they were alarmed to see their father had written three checks, and he never writes checks, as his accounts are all set up for autopay, Steve said.
In all, their dad had written one check for more than $1,200, the second for more than $1,400 and the third for $1,800.
“Dad thought he had bought $50 to $100 worth of meat,” Steve said.
The first check was cashed with the memo on the check “meat packages.” The second check was cashed for more than $1,400.
Then the men told Mr. Davis he had won a freezer and they needed $18 to pay the tax. That was the check written for $1,800 and cashed.
It was indicated by the bank on both checks that neither men had an account there.
Steve said they contacted the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, but because their dad is able to live independently, he has to come in and file a complaint himself. They also said it might be difficult to prove the men committed a crime, as his dad had given them signed blank checks.
Steve warns seniors not to be trusting and never let a stranger in your door, no matter who they claim to be or why they want to come in. He said he and his brother still have to take inventory of their dad’s home to determine if anything was stolen while the men were in the house.
In addition to being middle-aged, Steve’s dad described the men as one being skinny and the other heavyset.
Furthermore, Steve took a package of the meat home and thawed it out to discover the meat was yellow and smelled sour.
Seniors are prime targets for scam artists in many forms. Several years ago, a Medina senior was scammed out of thousands of dollars by someone who claimed he had won a large sum of money and needed something like $8,000 for fees to get it across the border from Canada.
Recently, Orleans Hub contributor Virginia Kropf received a phone call from a young man, who called her “Grandma.” He asked if she knew who it was and assumed it could be her grandson in the Marines in North Carolina.
So she carried on a conversation with him, but all the while was trying to place the voice. After talking a few minutes, the young man asked her to promise to keep his call confidential, and finally admitted he had gotten lost that morning and went the wrong way down a one-day street, hitting and injuring a pregnant driver.
She then began to wonder why, when he was on base, would he be out driving around early in the morning. When he said he was in court and needed $2,500, she knew then the caller was a fake. When she replied she didn’t have that kind of money available, he replied, “You don’t?” And he hung up.
Lt. Todd Draper of the Medina Police Department said his department receives occasional reports of an ongoing “grandparent scam,” where elderly individuals are targeted. They may vary in presentation, but usually include the victim being called by a person claiming to be a grandchild or attorney for the grandchild.
The caller often outlines a motor vehicle accident or an arrest that occurred in a different state or country, and they need money sent immediately. The caller will ask for money in the form of a wire transfer, mobile payment app or purchasing of gift cards or money orders.
Like the call Kropf received, the caller will likely stress the need to send the money immediately, without telling anyone, or may reference a “gag order” from a court.
According to Draper, these callers may seem believable and will be very persuasive and insistent.
A senior receiving a call like this should pause and think of a question to ask the caller, which only their grandchild would know, such as a personal question about someone else in the family or the last time he visited his grandparent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2022 at 6:40 pm
ALBION – Bruce Landis of Photos by Bruce in Albion has won a First Place Merit Award by the Professional Photographers of America International for his photograph of Jacob, a Brockport High School student posing for senior portrait.
Landis entered the image, “Opening Day Ready,” in the PPofA competition. The portrait will be on display starting this weekend at the PPofA International Convention, National Harbor, MD.
Landis has worked as a professional photographer locally since 1974. In 2017 he was honored by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2022 at 5:40 pm
‘This thing is going to change what we know about the universe’ – Dirk Climenhaga
Provided photo: Dirk Climenhaga, a library assistant at Hoag Library, has created a display about the James Webb Space Telescope. Climenhaga, a former engineer at Kodak, worked on the space telescope when he was a engineer with Kodak and ITT.
ALBION – It’s been an exciting few weeks for Dirk Climenhaga with the launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Climenhaga, 64, worked on the space telescope when he was an engineer at Kodak and then ITT.
Kodak and then ITT were among numerous subcontractors hired by NASA to work on the space telescope. Climenhaga was on a team at Kodak in 1994 that worked on part of the secondary mirror on the telescope.
“We made sure it was workable,” Climenhaga said.
The space telescope has proven to be workable. It was launched on Christmas. The powerful infrared telescope has a 21.3 foot primary mirror.
The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history – from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, NASA said. It will essentially be able to look back in time at the first stars and galaxies, Climenhaga said.
“This thing is going to change what we know about the universe,” he said. “We will see the first stars from the beginning. This is so amazing to show what God has done.”
Climenhaga grew up in Medina and lives in Gaines. His wife Sandy is a biology teacher at Albion.
Climenhaga started working at Kodak in 1978 as an assembler and moved up to be a draftsman and an engineer, retiring in 2008.
Climenhaga has been working since 2013 as a library assistant in Albion at the Hoag Library. He does special programs such as 3D printing, classes for mechanical, architectural and animation. He also shares his vintage train setup and assists people with Rokenbok, educational toys that he said better than Lego.
In his latest project, he has a display up in the library about the James Webb Space Telescope. He welcomes people to stop by and ask questions.
“People in the world will be surprised by unexpected discoveries with this new technology,” he said.
Image credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez – An artist’s conception of the James Webb Space Telescope shows all its major elements fully deployed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2022 at 8:30 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – An Orleans County DPW employee clears the sidewalk on East Park Street in the Courthouse Square this morning at 8 after about a foot of snow fell last night.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. with 12 to 18 inches of snow expected.
Meghan Coyle was out early this morning shoveling at West Park Street.
Traffic moves down Main Street this morning in Albion. The National Weather Service said winds gusting as high as 40 miles per hour will produce significant blowing and drifting snow, especially this afternoon and evening.
“Travel will be very difficult with deep snow cover on roads and very poor visibility,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commute.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 January 2022 at 8:32 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Erie Canal Towpath is shown this afternoon in Albion, between the Ingersoll and Brown Street bridges, with many footprints in the snow.
A winter storm warning is in effect from 9 tonight until 7 p.m. on Monday for Orleans County and much of upstate New York.
Orleans, Niagara, Genesee and northern Erie are forecast to receive 12 to 20 inches of snow. Winds gusting as high as 40 miles per hour will produce significant blowing and drifting snow Monday afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.
“Travel will be very difficult or even nearly impossible with deep snow cover on roads and very poor visibility,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commute Monday.”
This photo was taken from the Butts Road canal bridge, looking east this afternoon.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 January 2022 at 3:27 pm
It will be a busy week to wrap up the Niagara-Orleans League wrestling season which will conclude with the annual All-League Tournament at Albion on Saturday.
The Roy-Hart/Barker wrestling squad faces a particularly busy week. The Rams have three of their five N-O dual matches this week including makeup meets at Medina on Tuesday and at Akron on Thursday along with a home meet against front-running Newfane (4-0) on Wednesday.
The N-O boys swim season will wrap up its schedule of dual meets this week highlighted by a key boys contest which will have undefeated front-runner Roy-Hart (8-0) at runner-up Medina (7-1) on Tuesday.
N-O girls basketball action will highlight a matchup of unbeatens as defending champion Wilson (4-0) hosts rival Newfane (3-0) on Tuesday.
N-O boys basketball competition will have defending champion Medina (2-0) hosting Roy-Hart (2-1) on Thursday.
Weekly Schedule Monday Boys Basketball – Notre Dame at Medina, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Basketball – Barker at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Newfane, 6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball – Albion at Barker, Newfane at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Oakfield-Alabama, Kendall at Elba, 7 p.m. Swimming – Roy-Hart at Medina, Albion at Newfane, Akron at Barker, 4:30 p.m. Wrestling – Roy-Hart at Medina, 6 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Basketball – Oakfield-Alabama at Lyndonville, Mt. Morris at Holley, Elba at Kendall, 7 p.m. Wrestling – Akron at Medina, Wilson at Albion, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 6 p.m.
Thursday Boys Basketball – Newfane at Barker, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina, 6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball – Attica at Lyndonville, Wheatland-Chili at Holley, Notre Dame at Kendall, 7 p.m. Swimming – Newfane at Medina, Albion at Akron, Barker at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m. Wrestling – Roy-Hart at Akron, Lyndonville at Alexander, 6 p.m.
Friday Boys Basketball – Albion at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Attica, Holley at Wheatland-Chilim Kendall at Notre Dame, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball – Medina at Roy-Hart, Akron at Albion, Barker at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday Girls Basketball – Holley at Byron-Bergen, 1 p.m. Wrestling – N-O All-League Tournament at Albion, Lyndonville Tourney
