Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – David Mitchell, left, is presented with the Robert J. Uplinger Award for dedicated community service by Dan Conrad, president of the Albion Lions Club.

Mitchell, owner of Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, was praised for supporting many events and causes in the community.

For more than 30 years he has also managed the Lions Club’s fund for eye glasses and exams for community members.

Mitchell said his late father, Rho, was an active Lions Club member for many years and set a good example for giving back to the community.

David Mitchell said he has delivered thousands of pairs of glasses collected in the Albion community to Rochester. Sight remains one of the Lions Club’s main missions.

Provided photo

The Lions Club also presented Kim Remley with an Uplinger Award for her work in the community. Club member Ron Albertson presents Remley with the award last week at the Black North Inn.

Remley was a key member of the Rebuild Bullard Committee that was instrumental in about $800,000 of upgrades to Bullard, including a new spray park, amphitheater and pavilion with bathrooms.

Remley also is active in organizing the downtown Fall Fest, including a scarecrow competition.

“She is always cheering on the community and bringing the good vibes,” Conrad said.

Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – Jason Smith gets a hug from a Lyndonville elementary student on Thursday, his last day in school with students as the district superintendent.

Smith starts a new job on Jan. 3 as superintendent at Batavia City School District, his alma mater.

Smith received plenty of high-fives from students and staff in a walk through the halls. Smith posted on Twitter that he is thankful for his 10 years at Lyndonville, “a gem of a place in beautiful Orleans County!”

Ted Lewis, president of the Board of Education, presents Smith with an engraved during a holiday concert Thursday morning at the school auditorium.

Smith, in a letter to the community on Wednesday, said the district is in good hands with Sharon Smith as interim superintendent. She was worked the past two years at Lyndonville as director of instruction and student services.

“Mrs. Smith is a well-respected educational leader in our region, and the Board has made a wise choice,” Smith said in his letter. “I can personally attest to Mrs. Smith’s commitment to ensuring a high quality educational program for all students, and she has quickly become a visible member of the Lyndonville community.”

Jason Smith was given a fond farewell from students and staff on Thursday.

Smith, in his letter to the community, said it was an honor to lead the Lyndonville district the past 10 years. He thanked the teachers, staff and Board of Education for providing a strong academic program the past two years of the Covid pandemic.

“However, our District is not defined by dealing with Covid,” Smith wrote. “Instead, our District is defined by wonderful students, a supportive community, talented and dedicated faculty and staff, a high quality leadership team, and a committed Board of Education.  These attributes existed long before Covid and will exist long after Covid.”

New York State set a new record high for Covid cases in one day with 38,835 on Wednesday. That obliterated the previous high, 28,924 on Tuesday. Just two days earlier on Sunday the record high was 23,391.

The surge is driven by New York City (22,808 cases on Wednesday) and Long Island (6,950 cases on Wednesday).

In New York City the percentage of Covid tests that were positive was 12.2 percent on Wednesday and Long Island was at 12.2 percent.

Orleans and Genesee were near the highest in the state two weeks ago but now are near the state average. The 7-day positivity rate in Orleans is 9.6 percent while Genesee is 9.8 percent. The state’s 7-day percent positive is 9.5 percent.

Orleans and Genesee both have a decline in the number of active Covid cases since the last update from the local health department on Monday.

Genesee is down from 275 to 231 and Orleans declined from 216 to 211.

Orleans County is reporting 72 new positive cases (1 from a home test) since Monday, and 74 more recoveries or people who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee is reporting 109 new positive cases (0 from home tests) since Monday, and 144 more recoveries.

Genesee has 29 residents hospitalized due to Covid and Orleans has nine in the hospital.

Orleans also has had three more residents die from Covid in the past week. Orleans has now had 103 residents die from Covid during the nearly two years of the pandemic.

Genesee is reporting one more death in the past week and has now had 152 residents die from Covid during the pandemic.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Tompkins Bank of Castile in Medina has donated $1,000 Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, is shown accepting the check from Patrick Weissend, vice president and Community Banking Regional Manager at Tompkins Bank of Castile in Medina.

“We chose Community Action because Tompkins knows Community Action will use it where it is needed most,” Weissend said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Today was caroling day for the Albion High School Brass Ensemble and Select Choir, with the groups performing in several locations in the community, including a finale inside the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

The groups performed from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations including: Save-A-Lot, Pro Hardware, Tops, Walmart, Hoag Library, Ace Hardware, the Post Office, East Bank Street, Key Bank and East Park Street.

Connor Doran, high school choir director, plays the piano while the Select Choir sings “Go Tell It on the Mountain” at the Presbyterian Church during a community carol singing.

The Brass Ensemble, with many students wearing Santa hats, plays “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

Tex is available for adoption at PAWS

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Correctional Facility

ALBION – The Albion Correctional Facility recently celebrated their fifth canine training program graduation. Two rescue dogs from PAWS Animal Shelter, Moxie and Tex, completed the 12-week program.

Throughout the 12 weeks, two teams of three incarcerated individuals served as handlers for the dogs. A community volunteer trainer, Tom Ryan, visited the facility once or twice a week to instruct the incarcerated individuals on how to properly care for and train the dogs.

The dogs mastered a number of different training techniques and showed off their skills at graduation. Tom Ryan praised the handlers at graduation for their commitment to the dogs.

The program gives a second chance to the rescue dogs by strengthening the possibility of them getting adopted. It also provides secondary social/emotional benefits to the incarcerated individuals. It gives them an opportunity to return something positive to the community.

One of the dogs, Moxie, has already been adopted by her forever family. Tex is still waiting to find his forever home.  If you are interested in adopting Tex, applications are available at www.paws14411.com.

Since the graduation, two more dogs arrived to the facility for the handlers to work with and prepare for adoption to their forever homes.

FAIRPORT – One of the state’s iconic lift bridges has been illumined as part of the “Reimagine the Canals” Initiative to boost tourism and draw attention to the historic waterway.

The LED lights were turned on the Fairport lift bridge on Tuesday. The State Canal Corp. also illumined two Oneida Lake lighthouses – one in Brewerton in Oswego County and another at Verona Beach in Oneida County.

The Canal Corp. doesn’t currently have plans to light up a bridge in Orleans County, which is home to seven of the 16 lift bridges. The next structure to be illumined will be on the eastern end of the Erie Canal in Herkimer County and should debut in the late spring/summer, said Shane Mahar, Canal Corp. spokesman.

“These key pieces of infrastructure helped us to build the New York we have today, and the new lighting features welcome New Yorkers and visitors alike to pause and recognize their crucial influence on our state’s history – and future,” said Brian Stratton, Canal Corp. director. “The illumination of these iconic structures enhances the communities along the canal and literally shines light onto our canal infrastructure for all to enjoy.”

The canal is nearly 200 years old. It opened in 1825. The state has looked for ways to better utilize the waterway, and that has included more irrigation for agriculture and supplementing tributaries with water until mid-December to boost fishing.

Opening day of the 198th consecutive season of navigation on the canal system is scheduled for May 20, 2022.

ALBION – Orleans County Jail Sgt. Kevin Kaderli retired from the Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 9 after 36 years, working his entire career on the overnight midnight shift.

Local Union 2966 held a ceremony at the Orleans County Jail events room for Kaderli on Dec. 9.  Many current and retired employees attended the event to recognize Kaderli. He was presented a plaque from Sheriff Chris Bourke and Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson.

Local 2966 provided him a 36-year veteran plaque also and $360 check for $10 for every year he was a member of the union. Kaderli added a second plaque to the 25-year Hall of Fame Wall at the jail honoring all employees with over 25 years of service to Orleans County.  He joins nine others that have reached that milestone in their career.

Kevin Kaderli adds his plaque to the 25-year wall. He joins nine others who reached that milestone.

Kaderli, a Navy veteran, said he will find plenty to do in his retirement by golfing more and tending to yard work on his many acres of land. He is an avid sports fan who follows the LA Lakers, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Bisons, New York Yankees, Rochester Americans and the Penn State Nittany Lions. He will spend more time with his significant other Laura and her children and grandchild.

Lt. Michael Christopher said it is difficult to work that many years in a jail setting.

“Thirty-six years of dealing with people that society does not want on the streets packed into one small building, 24/7,” Christopher said.

Kaderli worked under six different sheriffs as his boss, starting with Dave Green. More than two dozen Sheriff’s Office employees from the jail and road division were not even born yet when Kaderli  started.

Kaderli has been through the times when the jail had over 100 inmates, with many sleeping on the floor or in little boats due to overcrowding.  Then with the new bail reform and Covid-19, the jail population was down to as few as 13 inmates. Most inmates had a whole jail block to themselves.

When Kaderli started, Orleans County housed some of Nassau County inmates due to that county’s overcrowding.  Then he experienced a bigger percentage of the jail population be immigration and federal inmates. Federal inmates’ housing was discontinued for many years until 2021 to which 40% of the jail population in now US. Marshal detainees.

Kaderli also worked at the jail when the Sheriff’s Office was located across the street at Cuneen Hall on Platt Street. It moved to the Public Safety Building in the late 1990s. The 911 dispatch center also was moved twice inside the jail to its current location at the Public Safety Building.

Three other jail employees also were recently recognized for 25 years of service: Kim Zambito, Dave Allen and Teddy Howard.

By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist

BATAVIA – Firmly entrenched in a profession where compassion and knowledge work hand in hand, Shannon Murphy, director of Treatment/Batavia office at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, stands out from the crowd.

Shannon Murphy

“Shannon is more committed and the most dedicated in this field than anyone I’ve ever seen,” said GCASA Executive Director John Bennett, marking Murphy’s longevity award as a 25-year employee of the nonprofit agency on East Main Street.

“She loves the patients. That’s her strength and her gift. She’s always there for her team, the agency and the people she serves.”

Murphy was one of 14 GCASA employees to receive longevity awards, ranging from 25 years to five years with the company.

Not one for being in the public eye, she said she “was so grateful” for her job and her co-workers.

“I love everybody here,” she said. “It has been an honor.”

Treatment Director Kathy Hodgins, who has worked with Murphy for the past 20 years, called her colleague “a game-changer.”

“She is the most loyal person I’ve ever met – my comic relief (noting Murphy’s quick wit) – and sincere and genuinely compassionate,” Hodgins said.

Others recognized for their longevity were as follows:

• 20 years – Liz Riter, director of Corporate Compliance/Quality Assurance, Batavia office;

Lisa Schutt, chemical dependency counselor, Batavia office.

• 15 years – Holly Main, assistant director of Treatment, Batavia office;

Sue Murphy, registered nurse, Batavia/Albion offices.

• 10 years – Sarah Millen, billing clerk, Batavia office:

Shellye Dale-Hall, prevention educator, Batavia office.

• 5 years – McKayla Burvid, registered nurse, Batavia office;

Beth Collee, executive secretary, Batavia office;

Gretchen Franke, registered nurse, Batavia/Albion offices;

Shannon Ford, director of Communications & Development and Prevention, Batavia office;

Dawn Sagerman, director of Prevention Resource Center, Batavia office;

Gina Henry, prevention educator, Batavia office;

Matt Martin, chemical dependency counselor, Batavia office.

ALBION – Orleans County will see its revenue from Batavia Downs Gaming go up significantly this year with the race track and its 879 video lottery terminals having a record year.

Orleans was getting about $35,000 eight years ago as a part owner of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. That was money from OTB betting surcharges and profits from the gaming facility.

That was up to $51,822 in 2019 and is on pace for $85,000 this year, said Ed Morgan, the county’s representative on the WROTB board of directors.

“It is a banner year,” Morgan told county legislators on Monday.

The gaming floor has generated $60,656,682 during the 11 months so far this year. That doesn’t include December. That is already ahead of the previous record high in revenue for a 12-month period – $60,087,894 from April 1, 2019 to March 30, 2020.

The net revenue has averaged $6 million a month at Batavia Downs Gaming since April, a pace for $72 million over 12 months.

The profit is divvied up with 39 percent to state education, 10 percent to gaming and administration, 41 percent to the operator (WROTB), 8.75 percent to horse racing purses and 1.25 percent to horse breeders.

The Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. owns and operates Batavia Downs as well as OTB branches. There are 15 counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo that make up WROTB, and they split revenue based on their population. Orleans receives about 1.5 percent of the total. Erie County, the largest county by population, gets 24.5 percent.

WROTB projected $61,260 for Orleans County in 2021, but passed that through the first three quarters of the year with payments at $63,027.

Batavia Downs was shut down about five months in 2020 due to Covid restrictions and then operated a reduced capacity for many months until July 2021 when the full gaming floor was reopened.

Morgan said Batavia Downs Gaming experienced a surge in revenue when the Covid restrictions were eased.

“People just wanted to be out,” he said.

WROTB also bought a hotel next to the race track track/gaming facility and has offered “stay and play” promotions that have increased the occupancy rate from 60 percent to 85 to 92 percent on weekends, Morgan said.

“There has been a big increase in hotel occupancy, and they use the gaming floor,” he said. “We believe that has made a huge factor in the third quarter.”

A summer concert series at Batavia Downs also has brought many people to the gaming floor and race track, Morgan said.

‘Our staff has weathered extreme heat, freezing rain and snow to provide these tests’

MEDINA – Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Orleans Community Health has been actively working alongside the Orleans County Health Department to assist with community testing.

To date, Orleans Community Health has conducted nearly 30,000 tests, 90 percent of which were free to the public, according to Scott Robinson, director of marketing, education and outreach.

Marc Shurtz

For convenience, these tests have been conducted at the Albion clinic drive-thru, a feature that was developed and constructed for this primary purpose by Orleans Community Health.

These tests have been part of a federal program that was provided through New York state and the Orleans County Health Department. Due to supply shortages and back orders, there may not be enough of these free tests to get through the remainder of the calendar year, OCH reports.

“Our staff has weathered extreme heat, freezing rain and snow to provide these tests,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health. “We have been in constant communication with the Orleans County Health Department to help fill this void.”

“On behalf of the Orleans County Health Department, we are grateful for the great partnerships we have with Orleans Community Health, Oak Orchard Health, pharmacies and providers,” said Paul Pettit, director of Genesee and Orleans Health departments. “With the limited supply of testing supplies sent to rural areas, it again burdens our residents and makes it challenging for them to get tested before attending family gatherings during the holiday. We are doing our best to get access to rapid tests to meet the needs of our residents.”

In lieu of these tests becoming available, Orleans Community Health Department and Orleans Community Health are working diligently on getting a low-cost option to the community. Residents are being asked to continue calling the Orleans Community Health Albion clinic for updates. Additionally, updates will be provided on the Orleans Community Health social medical accounts. The Albion clinic still has the PCR Covid-19 test available, which is run through the laboratory and requires a script written by a provider. Unfortunately, these tests are more time consuming and will reduce the amount of testing that can be conducted.

Orleans Community Health and Orleans County Health Department will continue to work together to make sure the larger community is getting the resources they need to stay healthy., Conversations with state and federal elected officials are ongoing, as they are aware of the shortage and the need for more affordable and free tests.

Both Orleans Community Health and Orleans County Health Department continue to recommend all eligible members of the community to get vaccinated and receive their boosters.

For Orleans County, clinics are held once a week at the Orleans County Health Department, located at 14016 Rt. 31 West, Albion. Registration is required for all vaccinations. Children aged 5 to 17 are to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Click here for more information about making an appointment.

Those who are 60 and older without internet access can contact the Office for the Aging at (585) 589-3191 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and leave a message. If you get a voicemail, someone will return the call. The OFA can only assist with the clinic links, as they are available.

Governor Hochul announced on Dec. 20 that each county would receive free at-home Covid-19 test kits. The exact date these kits will be received is not known, but they will be distributed to the County Emergency Management Office.

Once the EMO receives them, they will be distributed to schools, libraries, fire halls and community-based organizations, etc. This information will be announced to the public when the county receives the test kits.

Photo courtesy of Dan Mawn

HOLLEY – Annette Curtis won the money/lottery/gift card basket worth about $700. She is shown at the Community Free Library in Holley.

The basket was raffled off last Friday and raised about $1,100 for the Murray-Holley Historical Society.

Several local businesses and Historical Society members donated to the basket, including gift cards from Subway, Dunkins, Sam’s Diner, Walmart, Tops, Tim Hortons, Wegmans, Black North Inn, Holley Falls Restaurant, Hair Salon in Holley and Kim Gottman.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Diane Argento holds one of the lap robes she made for residents of The Villages.

ALBION – Residents of The Villages Health and Rehabilitation Center will have an extra gift under the tree this Christmas, thanks to the generosity and compassion of an Albion resident.

Diane Argento loves to sew and this fall she got to thinking she’d like to do something nice for someone. She contacted Kristin Bloom, activities director at The Villages, and told her she’d like to make small blankets for each of the residents all 104 of them. In all, Diane made 107, as several of the residents are absent from the facility.

Diane, her husband Joe and daughter Jamie this morning delivered totes full of the lap robes, all in Christmas gift boxes.

“It’s nice to have such support from the community,” Bloom said. “It’s a little Christmas cheer after what the residents have been through, with Covid and not being able to see their families.”

From left, Kristin Bloom, activities director at the Villages Health and Rehabilitation Center, helps Diane and Joe Argento of Albion unload totes full of lap robes Diane made for each resident.

Diane said she went to Joann Fabrics to get the material. It took several clerks to cut the 214 yards of material she needed.

Each lap robe is tied and knotted around the edge, something which was very time consuming.

“This is very much appreciated,” Bloom said.

The Argentos said they were happy to do something for The Villages, as his mom was there several years ago.

The Villages’ activities director Kristin Bloom, Joe and Diane Argento and their daughter Jamie unload 107 boxes of Christmas blankets Wednesday morning which Diane made for the residents.

Provided photo: Nurse April Schultz at Medina Memorial Hospital takes Santa Claus’ blood pressure to make sure he is healthy for his Christmas Eve visit to children around the world.

MEDINA – Santa Claus is healthy and ready for his big night, according to information from Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital.

On Dec. 22, Santa successfully passed his yearly physical, announced medical personnel at Medina Memorial Hospital.

April Schultz, RN, conducted the examination and said, “Mr. Claus is in the best shape of his life. We were pleased to visit with him and wish him all the best on his coming trip.”

“Children can rest assured that the big guy is ready to go,” said RN Kim Gray, chief nursing officer and director of surgical services for Orleans Community Health. “He received a clean bill of health.”

NORAD will begin tracking Santa and his sleigh just after midnight on Christmas Eve. It is estimated he needs 36 hours to complete his journey.

Photos courtesy of Melissa Ierlan

CLARENDON – Paul Nicosia, right, is congratulated by his son Craig on Tuesday at the Clarendon Town Board meeting.

Nicosia is retiring after 32 years as a town official. He started in 1989 on the Town Plannign Board and Board of Assessment Review before being elected to the Town Board about 25 years ago.

Town Supervisor Richard Moy reads a declaration acknowledging Nicosia for his years of service. Pictured from left include Town Board members Marc Major, Paul Nicosia, Town Clerk Susan Colby, Town Supervisor Richard Moy and board members Allen Robinson and Bruce Hovey.

“Paul R. Nicosia has given dedicated service to the Town of Clarendon since 1989, serving on the Town Planning Board, Board of Assessment Reviews and the Town Board for 33 years with respect, dependability and honesty, making decisions resulting in the best benefit for the entire community and never individual gain: always fair-minded and caring,” the declaration states.

“Paul believes that public water for the residents is an important commodity and has helped the town through 13 water districts and the start of #14!”

“It is with regret that we see Paul leave the Town Board.”