Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is expressing deep concern after yesterday’s sudden announcement six prisons throughout the state would be ordered to close.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) announced six of their facilities will close on March 10, 2022.

The closures announced were Ogdensburg Correctional Facility, Moriah Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility, Southport Correctional Facility, Downstate Correctional Facility, Rochester Correctional Facility and Willard Drug Treatment Campus.

“The sudden announcement of prison closures throughout the state was disrespectful both to employees, who will now have mere months to either relocate or find new jobs, as well as the local governments and communities who will have to quickly plan for the consequences of these closures,” said Hawley. “With all that our corrections professionals have endured in recent times, including an increase in violent incidents against them in the midst of a pandemic, they deserve better than to have their lives, careers and communities upended so abruptly.”

While dismayed by the news of prison closures, Hawley was glad to see a bill he sponsored signed into law which prohibits the practice of “double-bunking” in prisons. Hawley supported the legislation in order to protect the welfare of corrections officers, prison staff and those incarcerated.

“Double-bunking has jeopardized the well-being of corrections professionals and inmates alike, along with the ability of prison staff to effectively supervise the activities of prisoners,” Hawley said. “My hope is that banning this practice will aid in reversing the ongoing trend of rising prison violence throughout the state and ensure safer conditions for all.”

BARRE – The Town Board meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday will be virtual only with no one allowed to attend in-person.

Three of the five Town Board members are currently in Covid quarantine, Town Supervisor Sean Pogue said.

He also is concerned about the high community spread of Covid in Orleans County.

People can observe the meeting live through Barre’s YouTube channel or they can call in to hear the session. More information about calling in is available on the Town website (click here).

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina team captains, from left, Colvin Stalker, Jarin Rhim, Xander Payne, Hayden Woodroe and Joe Cecchini, meet here on the Highmark field with Mustang assistant coaches Charlie Wilson, left, and Gordy Luthart who were both starters on Medina’s last sectional championship team at the stadium, the 1988 squad which downed rival Albion for the title.

It has been 33 years since Medina has played in a Section VI football championship game at Highmark Stadium, a drought which will end at noon Saturday when the Mustangs take on Fredonia for the Class C title.

This morning the Mustangs five team captains – Xander Payne, Joe Cecchini, Hayden Woodroe, Jarin Rhim and Colvin Stalker – got a preview look at the home of the Buffalo Bills when they and the coaching staff took part in Media Day.

Medina Head Coach and art teacher Eric Valley did this portrait of the late Dick Gallagher which Section VI officials presented to his family. Gallagher was a longtime booster and supporter of high school football in Western New York.

“It’s amazing, I got the chills coming in. I’m speechless. I don’t know how to describe it,” said Payne as he practiced making some throws on the turf field. “It’s special not just for the team but for our whole program.”

“It’s exciting to think we get to play on that field,” said Cecchini.

“It’s definitely crazy, It’s an opportunity not a lot of people get,” added Rhim

“It’s the chance of a lifetime for a lot of these kids,” said Mustangs Head Coach Eric Valley. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to do something special.”

The visit to the field also brought back special memories to two of the Mustang coaches – Charlie Wilson and Gordy Luthart – who were both starters on the last Medina team which appeared at was then Rich Stadium, the 1988 squad which claimed the title with a 14-7 win over rival Albion.

“We’re back,” exclaimed Wilson with a big smile on his face.

“It seems like just yesterday,” added Luthart.

The appearance at stadium the will be the fourth for the Mustangs which previously scored championship victories in 1980, 1982 and 1988. (Click here to view a video of what the teams heard today at media day and some fun on the turf afterwards.)

Players from all 10 teams which will be participating in this coming weekend’s sectional playoff title games here get a chance to try out the turf field.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – The building trades students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center had a great presentation from Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters.

Teacher Matt Anastasi says the veteran carpenters – Jeff Pasnik, David Brumsted and Nick Pangrazio – brought concrete forms so that the students could make a mock basement foundation form.

“This would be the same as they would do for a new home,” Anastasi said. “The union members helped the students layout, erect, shore, plumb and complete an entire form. Since we are currently using the same curriculum as the new Carpenters’ Union apprentices, it is aligned perfectly with what we are doing in class.”

Jeff Pasnik, one of the union carpenters, is a past graduate of the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center. He been a guest speaker in class before where he spoke about the benefits of joining the union and how to plan if that was their goal.

“The knowledge, expertise and opportunities these guys brought really helped my students fully understand the foundation form job duties,” Anastasi said.  “Anytime our curriculum can be transferred to real applications such as this really helps my students gain a deep understanding of the curriculum.”

These juniors are in the building trades program.

Bigger bays sought for ladder truck, 2 fire engines

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Fire Department currently keeps its larger fire trucks, including a ladder truck, in the block building at right. The building’s garage bays only allow 2 inches of clearance for a ladder truck from 1996.

MEDINA – Village officials have started the discussion on an addition to the Medina Fire Department, a building next door to the current fire hall that would have taller garage bays and more room for larger fire trucks.

It’s currently a very tight fit for the ladder truck, and the two fire engines. The ladder truck from 1996 is 10 feet, 4 inches high. The bays have a clearance of 10 feet, 6 inches.

Medina Fire Department the past eight years has mentioned to Village Board members the current fire hall is undersized, but hasn’t pushed the issue until recently. Fire Chief Matt Jackson is urging the board to seriously look at an expansion, especially with the ladder truck nearing the end of life span. Ladder trucks typically last 25 years, the same age as Medina’s right now.

A new ladder truck, at the current size recommendations, wouldn’t fit in Medina’s fire hall.

Jackson during the Oct. 25 Village Board meeting, said he would like to see a new two-bay addition that would have clearances of 14 feet. That new building could be next door to the current fire hall with the addition in the parking lot next to the Village Clerk’s Office. The loss of parking spaces could easily be made up by having people parking next door at the Senior Center, which is also owned by the village, Jackson said.

Medina Mike Sidari said the Village Board will work with the Fire Department to look at options for a more modern building that accommodate the larger fire trucks and give the department more room.

“We will start discussing it,” he said. “The board realizes something needs to be done.”

Sidari said the village will look for grants and a low-interest loan for the project.

The current fire hall includes two buildings, a Medina sandstone structure from 1908 and then an annex built in the 1930s for the DPW. The DPW moved in 1955 and Medina FD took over the 3,960-square-foot space, which is 45 by 88 feet.

In addition to the larger fire trucks, the Medina FD runs four ambulances from the site and one of them, ambulance 61, can only fit in one of the bays.

Jackson said the two existing buildings also have poor drainage  wit parts of the floor eroding.

Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson would like to see an addition in the parking lot with garage bays about 3 ½ feet higher than the ones in the current building.

Jackson is suggesting Medina pursue a 4,980-square-foot addition that would be 60 by 83 feet. It would have space for modern ambulances and fire trucks, be ADA compliant, and meet the department’s needs for the next 50 to 100 years. It would also have space for potential female firefighters.

The original fire station could also be potentially used by the Medina Police Department, Jackson said.

Jackson presented preliminary numbers that would have the addition at about $1.5 million. Medina also should begin the process of replacing the 25-year-old ladder truck, which is Medina’s busiest truck but often sidelined due to mechanical and electronic issues. The truck is currently out of service. The truck is costly to have repaired and parts are getting harder to come by, Jackson said. Fixing the brakes recently cost $7,400.

A new ladder truck could cost $1 million to $1.2 million. Medina could pursue grants, loans and a bond to pay for the vehicle.

“The longer we continue to put these important projects off, the more the costs will continue to increase,” Jackson told the Village Board.

MEDINA – On Dec. 18, Boxwood Cemetery will again be the site for a Wreaths Across America ceremony, honoring the country’s veterans.

Kathy Blackburn heads the local endeavor, which she started in 2015 with the basic seven wreaths provided by the national movement.

Blackburn shared the motto of Wreaths Across America is “Gathering safely as one nation to Remember the fallen, Honor those who served and are serving and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.”

From the initial seven free wreaths received at Boxwood Cemetery in 2015, the project has grown in Medina to more than 200 last year.

Blackburn is asking for donations and volunteers for this year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony in Boxwood Cemetery at noon on Dec. 18. She urges Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops to step up and volunteer, along with church groups and individuals. Cost of a wreath is $15.

Anyone can donate by logging on to www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org and using the code NYBWC. Anyone interested in volunteering can call Blackburn at (585) 734-5801.

Wreaths Across America was started by Morrill Worcester of Harrington, Maine, who owned a wreath company. He had first visited Arlington National Cemetery as a 12-year-old paper boy when he won a trip to Washington, D.C. The site of all the graves left an impression which never left him.

In 1992, his company, Worcester Wreath, found itself with a surplus of wreaths near the end of the holiday season. Realizing he had an opportunity to honor the country’s veterans, he sought help from Main Senator Olympia Snowe and arrangements were made to have the wreaths shipped to Arlington and placed in one of the older sections of the cemetery which had been receiving fewer visitors each year.

Kathy Blackburn, organizer of the Wreaths Across American program in Boxwood Cemetery, and Jim Freas stand in front of the seven volunteers who laid the first wreaths, paying tribute to a veteran from each branch of the military and MIAs and POWs during a service last Dec. 19.

A local trucking company offered to transport the wreaths to Virginia. Volunteers from Worcester’s local VFW and American Legion gathered to tie red bows on each wreath. Members of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. helped organize the wreath laying.

This annual tribute went on quietly for several years until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington adorned with wreaths and covered in snow circulated around the internet. Suddenly, the project received national attention and thousands of requests began pouring in from all over the country from people wanted to help with Arlington, to emulate the Arlington project at their cemeteries or to simply thank Worcester for honoring our nation’s heroes.

Worcester began sending seven wreaths to every state, one for each branch of the military and one for POW/MIAs. In 2006, simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies were held at more than 150 locations across the country. The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escort for the wreaths going to Arlington, and this began the annual “Veterans Honor Parade” which travels the east coast early each December.

In 2007, Wreaths Across America was formed to continue and expand this effort and support other groups around the country who wanted to do the same.

In 2014, more than 700,000 memorial wreathes were laid at 1,000 locations in the United States and beyond, including ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites of the Sept. 11 tragedies. The organization’s goal of covering Arlington National Cemetery was met that year with placement of 226,525 wreaths.

This year, 2,700 cemeteries are participating in Wreaths Across America. New this year will be wreaths honoring the United States Space Force.

Genesee and Orleans report 217 more Covid cases since Thursday

Orleans County currently has the second highest percentage of positive Covid tests over seven days in the state at 9.8 percent.

The state-wide positivity rate is 2.6 percent, putting Orleans at nearly four times the state average. Only Allegany County has a higher positivity rate than Orleans at 11.1 percent. Genesee is at 7.9 percent.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported the number of Covid cases in the two counties since Thursday, with Orleans having 105 more and Genesee another 112.

The number of active cases in the two counties is now up to 481, a pandemic high. It was at 472 on Thursday. Orleans is at 232 and Genesee at 249 today.

Orleans is reporting 105 new positive cases since Thursday and 114 additional recoveries, or people who have completed the 10-day quarantine and been released from mandatory isolation. Genesee has 112 new cases since Thursday, and 87 more recoveries.

Orleans currently has seven residents hospitalized due to Covid, and Genesee has 15 in the hospital from Covid.

Orleans County also had another resident die from Covid, bringing that total to 91 since March 2020. The individual who most recently passed away was over 65 years old.

“Our deepest condolences are extended to the family and friends of this individual,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments stated in a news briefing.

One of the bills targets abusive debt collection practices

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Hochul today signed a legislative package relating to consumer protection.

“When bad actors try and take advantage of consumers, New York will fight back,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m proud to be signing legislation that will protect New Yorkers from unscrupulous practices by debt collectors and utility companies. These three new laws will make New York a better, fairer place for all consumers.”

The Consumer Credit Fairness Act takes action to curb abusive debt collection lawsuits by requiring defendants to be notified about legal action from a creditor, requiring court filings to include more information about the debt targeted in a lawsuit, lowering the statute of limitations for consumer credit transactions, and establishing specific requirements for applications for default judgments in consumer credit action.

By increasing the information that consumers receive in the process of legal action, there is less gaps in State civil procedure laws, and it prevents extreme actions such as wage garnishment and bank account freezing, giving consumers more time to act on burdensome debt collection practices.

Legislation S.4823/A.3359 prohibits utility companies from engaging in harassment, oppression, or abuse when working with a residential customer. By ensuring utility customers’ rights, it will alleviate the stressors associated with missing a utility payment. This comes in response to various unscrupulous practices that utility corporations engage in, such as creating a “payment agreement” with customers that encourage customers to take large down payments in exchange for utilities such as energy not being shut down.

Legislation S.1199/A.5838 require the at least one of the commissioners of the Public Service Commission to have experience in utility consumer advocacy. This is to reorient the Public Service Commission towards its original goals of ensuring customers are given adequate service at reasonable rates. Having experience in advocating for the interests of utility consumers will give the Commissioner a perspective that focuses on befitting utility customers, preventing the Commission’s interests from skewing toward commercial interests or public utility interests.

Press Release, Tops and Price Chopper/Market 32

File photo by Tom Rivers: In Orleans County, Tops operates a store in Albion on West Avenue (pictured) and also a store in Medina on Maple Ridge Road.

WILLIAMSVILLE/SCHENECTADY – With the regulatory review process complete and approval from the Federal Trade Commission received, Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets today announced the closure of their merger, as proposed earlier this year.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will be managed locally by their respective leaders and continue to be referred to by their established brand identities, but will be owned and overseen by a new parent company, Northeast Grocery, Inc.

As previously announced, Scott Grimmett, the current president and CEO of Price Chopper/Market 32, will lead the new parent company. He will also serve on its board of directors as will Frank Curci, former Tops Markets Chairman and CEO.

The agreement cements a powerful alliance between the two storied independent grocery chains, as it virtually doubles their collective footprint in the Northeast. With increased scale across their now-combined footprint of nearly 300 stores, the merged companies are better positioned to leverage increased value for customers; advance shared opportunities for innovation; and fortify the depth of their expanded workforce, community, and trade partnerships, thereby becoming stronger and more competitive.

“We’re appreciative of the FTC’s diligence in reviewing this merger and grateful to have received all of the necessary approvals,” Grimmett said. “Now, we can dedicate ourselves to bringing these two storied grocery chains together, leveraging best practices, developing new opportunities, and finding efficiencies that will help us continue to deliver distinctive shopping experiences.”

The regulatory review process by the FTC mandates the divestiture of 12 of the combined companies’ stores. C&S Wholesale Grocers (C&S) has been approved to purchase all 12 stores. GU Markets LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers, will operate these stores. C&S will continue to recognize the union workforce at these locations. The 12 Tops stores to be divested and purchased by C&S Wholesale Grocers are: Cooperstown, Cortland, Norwich, Owego, Peru, Rome, Rutland, Saranac Lake, Sherrill, South Watertown, Warrensburg and Watertown.

“We believe that this merger will be a positive for our membership, preserving union jobs and strengthening the company’s prospects into the foreseeable future,” said Frank DeRiso, president of the UFCW Local One. “We are pleased that we have an agreement with the new owner and they are committed to retaining all of the existing union jobs and contracts. We would like to thank the office of the NYS Attorney General, Senator Chuck Schumer and our UFCW International Union for their guidance, assistance and cooperation during this complicated process. This merger will benefit both consumers and union members.”

Blaine Bringhurst will serve as president of the Price Chopper/Market 32 business and John Persons as the president of the Tops Markets business. Dave Langless, the Chief Financial Officer of Tops, will serve as the parent company’s CFO.

Northeast Grocery, Inc. will be headquartered in Schenectady as will Price Chopper/Market 32. Tops Markets will retain its main office in Williamsville.

Congressman Chris Jacobs issued this statement about the merger being finalized: “Two weeks ago, I called for the FTC to issue a decision on the merger between Tops and Price Chopper after months of inaction. Today I am proud to announce the FTC has ended its stalemate and approved this merger. This decision will secure food availability and thousands of jobs in Western New York. I’m pleased our efforts to raise community awareness of the urgent need for the FTC to approve this merger caused the agency to finally take this long overdue action.”

State officials announced today that six prisons will be closing by March 2022, but none of those are in Albion, which has a women’s prison (Albion Correctional Facility) and a medium-security men’s prison (Orleans Correctional Facility).

The six prisons to close include Ogdensburg Correctional, Moriah Shock Incarceration Correctional, Willard Drug Treatment Campus, Southport Correctional, Downstate Correctional and Rochester Correctional.

State officials said the closings are expected to save $142 million, even though no layoffs are expected.

The announcement was condemned by Michael Powers, president of a union representing 21,000 members. The closings will lead to more crowding in prisons, putting corrections officers at risk, Powers said.

“If people have been paying attention to the past decade of poor decisions made by our elected leaders in Albany, today’s news shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone,” Powers said in a statement. “The State’s progressive polices are costly and need to be funded somehow. Sadly it’s at the expense of the hard working men and women of NYSCOPBA. The numbers tell the real story; despite closing over two dozen facilities the past 10 years, violent attacks on our members have doubled and yet nothing is being done to address it. Where is the reinvestment in the facilities to make these prisons safer working environments?”

Powers said the closing of a prison will “upend lives and destroy communities” where the prisons are located.

“My heart goes out to all of the individuals whose lives have been severely impacted by this announcement and know that our organization will hold the department accountable every step of the way,” he said.

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt also said the closings will make the state less safe from violent criminals.

He issued this statement: “Today’s announced closures of six state correctional facilities by Gov. Hochul is not only a devastating blow to our hardworking correctional workers, but to communities across our state.

“Under the guise of ‘cost-saving measures,’ Democrats have opted to punish men and women who risk their health and safety to protect ours. Between a disturbing increase in attacks and lack of state investment in these facilities, prison staff have been expected to put their health and safety on the line every day. Instead of thanking these public servants, progressive Democrats are jeopardizing their very livelihood.

“Albany politicians refuse to learn from their mistakes or comprehend basic cause-and-effect. They continue to prioritize measures like bail reform, ‘Less is More,’ and other pro-criminal policies that have put more criminals back on the street. Now, more than ever, we must stop rewarding convicted felons and punishing law-abiding New Yorkers and our law enforcement community.

As always, my Senate Republican Conference colleagues and I stand firmly behind our corrections officers. We remain committed to common sense criminal justice policies that protect our families, neighborhoods and law enforcement, not violent felons and career criminals.”

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that New York State will honor veterans with the sixth and final free fishing day of 2021, on Thursday, Nov. 11.

New York’s Free Fishing Days encourage more people to get outdoors each season to enjoy the state’s world-class fishing opportunities.

“We thank all of New York’s veterans for their service to our county and hope that the upcoming free fishing day provides an opportunity to spend time with family and friends or even the chance to introduce someone new to the sport,” Commissioner Seggos said. “This year, anglers can expect expanded fishing opportunities throughout the State thanks to our recently implemented Trout Stream Management Plan and take advantage of a catch-and-release trout season on inland trout streams.”

New this year, DEC is increasing fishing opportunities for anglers with the State’s new catch-and-release trout stream season. The new season, which began on Oct. 16 and runs through March 31, expands opportunities for anglers so they can enjoy New York’s trout stream fishing resources year-round. Anglers are required to use only artificial lures and immediately release trout they catch. The catch-and-release season applies to trout streams only. Anglers should consult DEC’s regulations guide for regulations associated with lakes and ponds that harbor trout before fishing.

Free Fishing Day participants are reminded that, although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during Free Fishing Days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. When not participating in Free Fishing Days, anyone 16 years of age or older must have a current State fishing license to fish in New York. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. More information on purchasing a fishing license can be found on DEC’s website.

DEC’s Free Fishing Days program began in 1991 to give people who might not fish the opportunity to try the sport at no cost, as well as to encourage people to support conservation by purchasing a New York State fishing license.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Genesee Region League All-Stars, from left, Jeffrey Pratt, Mike McCue and Toby Passer.

A quartet of Kendall players have been named to the Genesee Region League boys soccer All-Star team including seniors Michael McCue, Jeffrey Pratt, Jorden Ostrander and junior Toby Passer.

McCue scored 15 goals and dished out 13 assists while Ostrander made 128 saves and had a goals against average of just 1.697.

Holley is represented by senior goalie Broek Ostrom who made 100 saves and had a goals against average of just 1.514.

The All-Star team also includes Aaron Lund, Josh Gebhardt, John Lynch, Terry Bayly-Henshaw and James Nolan from champion Wheatland-Chili; Simon Lamparelli, Evan Dickhut, Ryan Meides and Jonah Clark from Attica; Colin Martin and Caleb Carlson from Byron-Bergen/Elba and Connor Friedmann from Pembroke.

Final G-R Standings: Wheatland-Chili 9-1, Kendall 7-2-1, Attica 7-3, Byron-Bergen/Elba 4-6, Holley 1-8-1, Pembroke 1-9.

G-R All-Star goalies Broek Ostrom (Holley) and Jorden Ostrander (Kendall).

The 5^th annual Parade of Lights Toy Drive will be Nov. 27, returning to the format for the first three years after last year’s Covid restrictions forced some changes.

The drive this year will be back at Canalside Tattoo at 540 Main St. from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. People who donate new unwrapped toys, clothing or at least $5 will be eligible to win local prize packages donated from businesses.

Last year there wasn’t a parade through the downtown. Instead there was a “reverse parade” at the Medina school campus. Andrew Szatkowski heads up the toy drive and he and his family and other supporters were able to collect $3,000 last year at the parade that was given to Community Action and the Medina Area Association of Churches. They used the money to purchase toys for local children and families.

Donations from the toy drive in the downtown usually fill seven or eight very large plastic bags with toys, plus about $1,000 is donated and given to buy other toys and food for families.

“It is that time of year again, and this year is going to be even bigger – first year back to a real parade and our 5th year doing the drive!” Szatkowski said.

He doesn’t children to go without a special present for Christmas. He appreciates the community donating toys and money for the effort, and for the many local businesses that offer prizes to help entice people to give on one of Medina’s busiest days of the year.

The annual Parade of Lights draws an estimated 8,000 people to Medina for the 6 p.m. parade. There are also many other activities during that day that have the downtown bustling.

Szatkowski said many local families are struggling more financially and emotionally this holiday season due to the impact of Covid.

For more information on the toy drive or to donate, contact Szatkowski at ajs@takeform.net.