Event highlights job opportunities in building trades, agriculture, advanced manufacturing
Provided photo: Jay Lazarony, executive director, GLOW Workforce Development Board; Angela Grouse, director of Education to Employment programs at the Livingston County Chamber & Livingston County Education Alliance; Alexis Merle, Congressman Chris Jacobs, MaryEllyn Merle, Genesee Construction project manager in Dansville; Chris Suozzi, GLOW With Your Hands co-chair; Assemblyman Steven Hawley; Karyn Winters, director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance; and Molly Huangs, LandPro Equipment marketing manager. The Merles are holding an image of a new handicapped accessible ramp that will be built by Genesee Construction. The ramp leads to the entrance of the Laing Kennedy 4-H building at the fairgrounds in Batavia.
BATAVIA – The local school districts in Orleans County will be among 30 districts and 700 students at the GLOW With Your Hands event that highlights careers in the building trades.
Organizers have reduced attendance per school and are providing masks for all attendees in an effort to ensure the safety of all participants. In fact, BMP America in Medina is donating masks produced by the company.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center and the job development agencies in the GLOW counties have organized the 3rd Annual Glow With Your Hands Expo which will take place at the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Sept. 28. Local business and education leaders also helped plan the upcoming event and were joined by Congressman Chris Jacobs on Monday to unveil details for Sept. 28.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Joe Lang, line supervisor for National Grid, shows Pavilion students how to set a switch with a pole during the first GLOW With Your Hands event on Sept. 24, 2019. National Grid representatives said the company offers many career opportunities as a line man, or jobs in administrative, metering and the service department.
The expo will include over 40 local companies providing hands-on experiences for potential career opportunities in the skilled trades and advanced manufacturing.
“In just a few weeks, over 700 students will here at the Genesee County Fairgrounds where they will experience first-hand activities associated with careers in agriculture, manufacturing, food and beverage production, electro-mechanical technicians, heavy equipment operation, building trades and many others,” said Chris Suozzi, GLOW With Your Hands co-chair. “It’s going to be a great experience for our kids as they will get to see and experience the great careers opportunities with companies that are based right in their own backyard.”
Ashton Sommerton of Pavilion tries operating an excavator under guidance from Jared Swift, an operator with LG Evans Construction in Avon, during GLOW With Your Hands in 2019.
The event is sponsored by organizations across the GLOW Region, including manufacturing, agriculture and construction employers, economic and workforce development organizations.
“In our conversations with some of the leading employers in the GLOW region, they are expressing the same level of excitement we have in bringing so many students,” said Karyn Winters, Director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance. “Not only can they provide live demonstrations of the type of work required for these jobs, but they can start the recruitment process for their next generation of workers.”
The participating businesses are recognizing the future demands of their respective workforces need to be addressed now, especially as the current generation of workers are retiring or planning retirement in the next few years.
“Whether our technicians are working on a residential mower for a homeowner, a skid steer for a builder or a combine or baler for one of our farmers the career path they’ve chosen allows them to feel fulfillment at the end of every day,” said Molly Haungs, LandPro Equipment Marketing Manager. “That is the message that we, as the GLOW With Your Hands Career fair committee we are working to get to our youth and their families. A career in trades offers opportunity for our youth to work hard, learn, continue education and provide a lasting and lucrative career that can combine passion with success.”
GLOW With Your Hands committee members emphasized how the Expo is aligned with the needs of employers and the GLOW region’s students.
“I know I can speak for my county and I am sure other Chambers in the GLOW regarding that we hear almost everyday from our members about the importance of workforce development,” said Angela Grouse, Director of Education to Employment programs at the Livingston County Chamber & Livingston County Education Alliance. “We know some of them are thinking – where am I going to find my next generation of workers? On September 28th, the answer will be right here in front their own eyes.”
The kick-off event also unveiled that Double Platinum sponsor Genesee Construction will lead 700 participating students in building an accessible ramp at the entrance to the Kennedy Building at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.
“I cannot stress enough how critically important it is for our business to be able to identify the next generation of the workforce who possess these skills. The future of our company depends on it,” said Mary Ellyn Merle, Genesee Construction Project Manager.
Over 1,000 students, educators, volunteers and vendors participated in the inaugural GLOW With Your Hands event in 2019. The September 28th event will once again highlight the successful and in-demand careers available in the GLOW Region.
“It’s important to note that a significant number of these jobs do not require a four-year college degree. Training provided by these companies and our region’s workforce and education organizations can result in someone starting a great career soon after graduation,” said Jay Lazarony, executive director, GLOW Workforce Development Board. “Employers are concerned about the future of their respective workforces and rightly so. However, through GLOW With Your Hands they are witnessing, and more importantly participating, how as a region we are collaborating to provide a solution about these concerns.”
Jay Helker, vice president of operations for Swan Equipment & Trucking in Avon, discusses some of the tools used to fix big trucks and other equipment during the first GLOW With Your Hands event on Sept. 24, 2019. Helker told students he enjoys his job. “There is a lot of hands-on work,” he said. “The days go by fast.”
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has been awarded $430,441 from the federal government to provide service as an educational opportunity center, with the college providing counseling to adults interested in entering or continuing a postsecondary education program.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, announced the funding today. It is part of $6,169,701 in federal funding for higher education opportunity programs throughout New York State.
The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Talent Search Program and Educational Opportunity Centers Program and will be used to provide individualized support to both high schoolers and adults throughout the college application progress, Gillibrand said.
Funding for the Talent Search Program will provide academic, career, and financial counseling to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds finish high school and pursue higher education.
The Research Foundation for SUNY on behalf of SUNY Brockport was awarded $277,063 for a Talent Search Program.
The EOC program focuses primarily on adult learners, including low-wage or displaced workers. EOC works with clients to provide assistance in college entry and re-entry, thereby addressing the challenges faced by students who have dropped out of high school or college. Quite often, EOC clients pursue higher education as a means of enhancing their families’ economic viability, according to a letter signed by Gillibrand.
“TRIO Programs are a proven way to ensure that promising students from all backgrounds have the resources they need to successfully navigate the college application and preparation process,” Gillibrand said. “At a time when the Covid crisis has added hurdles to college accessibility and retention, it is vital that New Yorkers have access to the support they need to complete their education and launch their careers. These programs are an investment in our future and I am proud to have advocated for this funding.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2021 at 5:20 pm
Delta variant breaks through but few of those people get seriously sick if they are vaccinated
ALBION – Covid-19 cases are on the rise locally, and about 25 percent of those new cases are among people who are vaccinated, said Paul Pettit, the public health director in Genesee and Orleans.
So far in August there have been 452 new Covid cases in the two counties and 112 were among people who were fully vaccinated or 24.8 percent of the total. That includes 17.1 percent of the cases in Orleans so far August – 34 out of 171 – and 30.8 percent in Genesee – 78 out of 253, Pettit said in a news briefing this afternoon.
The vaccines are working, however, because Pettit said few of the vaccinated people who get Covid show serious symptoms. Most are asymptomatic or have minor symptoms.
“It is keeping people out of the hospital,” he said about the vaccine.
He continues to encourage eligible people to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.
The latest Covid surge, after there were few cases in early summer, include people of all ages, including children, Pettit said.
“We do know the Delta variant is likely the cause of it,” Pettit said about the current Covid surge. “We know that it is here.”
Genesee currently has 77 active cases and 15 of those are hospitalized. In Orleans, there are 64 actives cases and two are in the hospital due to Covid.
In the past seven days, Genesee has 114 new cases and a 5.8 percent positivity rate, while Orleans has 55 new Covid cases and a positive test rate of 5.3 percent, Pettit. Those positivity rate are above the state and regional averages.
Pettit said the two counties are lagging behind the regional and state averages for vaccinations. The Health Department continues to make reaching the eligible unvaccinated (those 12 and older) to get the shot, while also preparing to offer booster shots beginning on Sept. 20.
“Our focus truly remains on the unvaccinated,” Pettit said. “We can’t stress enough to get more people vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
The Health Department this week is holding get-back-to-school vaccination clinics, including one on Thursday at Albion Central School. Click here for more information.
Pettit also addressed the mandate from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Department of Health, requiring students, teachers, staff and visitors inside schools to wear masks. Pettit said the decision frustrated many local school districts that had already developed safety reopening plans.
Pettit said the local districts are committed to have all students back for in-person learning with as few disruptions as possible this school year. The mask mandate has an added benefit of reducing the need to quarantine students if they have been in close contact with another person in school who tests positive for the virus.
“The quarantines were very disruptive to students’ learning,” Pettit said.
NY will require weekly testing for unvaccinated school staff
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul delivers a Covid-19 briefing at the University at Buffalo today. (Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
BUFFALO – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new measures to combat the Covid-19 Delta variant.
Speaking at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine, the Governor announced she will be working with localities, the state health department and the Public Health and Health Planning Council in the days ahead to put in place mandatory weekly Covid-19 testing for unvaccinated public and charter school employees, and to establish a vaccination requirement for all staff at state-regulated facilities and congregate settings.
The governor announced $65 million will be available to local health departments across the state to support the quick and reliable distribution of booster shots.
“Last year every community across the state came together in a profound way to say, ‘we can do this’,” Governor Hochul said. “This war is not over and the Delta variant is a serious threat, especially for people who are still unvaccinated. We all need to remain vigilant to protect each other – and that means coming in to get your shot and booster shot, wearing masks in indoor spaces, and exercising basic safety measures that we are all familiar with by now.”
Getting children back to school where they can learn most effectively and protecting the students, teachers and staff are top priorities for Governor Hochul. Building on the state department of health’s directive requiring universal masking for anyone entering schools, the governor will be working with localities, the department of health and the Public Health and Health Planning Council in the days ahead to implement a mandatory weekly Covid testing for school staff who are not vaccinated.
Following the department of health’s announcement last week that all staff in health care facilities need to be vaccinated, the state is exploring how to expand this requirement to include staff at all state-regulated facilities.
Local health departments will be supporting the distribution of booster shots in New York, enabling them to use their knowledge and workforce to quickly deliver booster shots to their communities. The governor is making $65 million available to local health departments to build the infrastructure for these efforts.
ALBION – On August 14 around 11:50 p.m. the Albion Police Department – with assistance from the New York State Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and Medina Police Department – responded to the report of a male with a gunshot wound to the leg in the area of South Main Street and Beaver Street.
The victim was treated and then transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and later released.
Jonathan Jimenez
Through subsequent investigation, it was later determined that another shooting incident, related to the August 14 shooting had taken place a week prior to the initially reported one only blocks away on August 8 around 12:10 a.m.
The victim from the August 14 incident, 23-year-old Jonathan Jimenez of Holley, was arrested and charged regarding both incidents with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd: Loaded Firearm (C Felony), one count of Reckless Endangerment 1st (D Felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th (A Misdemeanor).
Prince Wilson
The other suspect, 22-year-old Prince Z. Wilson of Albion, also was later arrested regarding both shooting incidents. Wilson was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th (A Misdemeanor), one count of Reckless Endangerment 1st (D Felony), one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd (C Felony), one count of Attempted Murder 2nd (B Felony), one count of Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st (B Felony), one count of Aggravated Criminal Possession of a Weapon (C Felony), and one count of Assault 2nd (D Felony).
Both individuals were transported to the Orleans County Jail for centralized arraignment. Both firearms believed to have been used during the incidents, were located and seized. These incidents are also believed to have been isolated amongst the two suspects.
Both incidents are still part of an active investigation and additional charges are pending. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Albion Police Department at (585) 589-5627 or the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office at (585) 589-5527.
The Albion Police Department would like to thank the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, New York State Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Medina Police Department, COVA Ambulance and Albion Fire Department with their assistance regarding both incidents.
KNOWLESVILLE – There will be a child car seat check on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H fairgrounds, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.
According to data, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ranging from the ages of 1 to 13. Preventative measures, such as proper installation of car seats, boosters and seat belts can lower many deaths and injuries, the sheriff said.
“Informing and instructing parents and caregivers on child safety and proper installation of car seats is critical to saving young lives,” Bourke said. “Our certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect your car/booster seats to assure that your child is in the correct seat for their size and age.”
For more information, contact Kevin Colonna, certified car seat technician with the Sheriff’s Office, at (585) 589-5527 or Kevin.Colonna@orleanscountyny.gov.
Any unvaccinated adults and children over the age of 2 attending this event are required to wear a mask and adhere to safe distance protocol.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 31 August 2021 at 7:42 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: From left, Katrina Chaffee, director of operations, reporting and community service at Community Action, case manager Michelle Figueroa and Annette Finch, director of public relations and fundraising, pose with school supplies and backpacks donated for their annual backpack giveaway. Deadline to register is 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
ALBION – Community Action in Orleans County will be taking applications for free school supplies through the end of business on Tuesday. The office closes at 3:30 p.m.
The giveaway is an annual event at Community Action, which normally provides free backpacks and school supplies to 50 to 60 families. This year, however, applications have been light, according to Michelle Figueroa, case manager.
She and Katrina Chaffee, director of operations, reporting and community service, think it is because families have been uncertain as to what the schools were going to require or even if there would be in-person school due to Covid. Local school districts will all have in-person education without a hybrid or remote schedule.
Community Action has received piles of backpacks and school supplies donated by the West Barre United Methodist Church. Others have been purchased through a grant from the Emma Reed Webster Foundation.
Applications will be accepted at the Albion office at 409 East State St. for students in the Lyndonville, Medina and Albion school districts. Students in the Holley and Kendall school districts may apply at the Eastern Orleans Community Center, 75 Public Square, Holley.
Supplies can be picked up Sept. 1, 2 and 3.
Applicants must bring proof of residence, proof of income and identification (Social Security card or birth certificate) for all children in the household. Income guidelines apply. More information is available by calling 589-5605 or 638-6395.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 August 2021 at 5:36 pm
Hospitalizations up from 10 to 15 in Genesee since Thursday
Genesee and Orleans counties combined have 72 new cases of Covid-19 since Thursday, and the two counties also are reporting 72 more people have recovered from Covid, where they completed a 10-day isolation and were removed from mandatory isolation.
While new cases and recoveries are the same, Genesee County has an increase in hospitalizations due to Covid, going from 10 on Thursday to 15 today. Orleans County remains at two people hospitalized due to Covid, according to the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments.
In the update this afternoon from G-O Health, Orleans has 29 new active cases and those individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Orleans also is reporting 29 more recoveries.
In Genesee County, there are 43 new cases and the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 90s. The county also is reporting 43 more recoveries.
The two counties combined have 141 active cases, with 64 in Orleans and 77 in Genesee. That compares to 102 a week ago when there were 49 in Orleans and 53 in Genesee. It’s down from the 149 cases on Thursday when Orleans reported 64 active cases and Genesee had 85.
Percent positive for Covid tests: The 7-day positive testing average state-wide is 3.31 percent. It is higher locally with Orleans at 5.4 percent and Genesee at 5.8 percent positive in the past seven days.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 August 2021 at 2:56 pm
ALBION – Property owners in the Lyndonville and Medina school districts will have their school taxes collected by the Orleans County Treasurer’s Office.
The county collected Medina’s taxes for the first time last year and is paid $19,000 for the work. Lyndonville is in its first year of contracting with the County Treasurer’s Office at a cost of $12,000.
Orleans County Treasurer Kim DeFrank has been delegated to be the sole and exclusive authority to collect 2021/2022 school taxes for the Lyndonville and Medina school districts, beginning Sept. 1 through Nov. 1.
The Treasurer’s Office is located at 34 East Park Street, Albion NY 14411. It is accepting tax payments in person, by US mail or a safe and secure drop box outside the Treasurer’s Office. Cash payments may be made in person only.
The hours of operations include Sept. 1-3 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Labor Day, and then from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Sept. 7.
Any questions regarding these payments may be made by contacting the Orleans County Treasurer at (585) 589-5353.
POINT BREEZE – Governor Kathy Hochul announced today dredging is underway at Oak Orchard Harbor, a navigation channel in Orleans County, used by boaters to access Lake Ontario.
The accumulation of silt, sand, and other debris can cause areas like Oak Orchard Harbor to become obstructed overtime. The dredging project will remove built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterway to allow for continued safe passage of watercraft to support the tourism economy and preserve wildlife in the region. Dredging of the navigation channel is part of a $15 million Regional Dredging Initiative through the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.
“Communities along Lake Ontario have been forced to grapple with the impacts of extreme weather and flooding for the past several years and New York is doing everything within its power to bolster the shoreline and ensure we do not see a repeat of 2019,” Governor Hochul said. “By undertaking these types of dredging and resiliency efforts, we are not only keeping people safe and easing the minds of lakefront homeowners, but also protecting the wildlife in the coastal habitats and helping boost tourism by creating safe recreational access for boaters.”
The Oak Orchard Harbor project will remove approximately 8,400 cubic yards of sediment using mechanical dredging. Mechanical dredging uses heavy equipment, such as an excavator, to dig out the bed of the body of water and then remove the excess built up sediment. The dredging fleet for the Oak Orchard project includes a barge, excavator and two dump scows, as well one tugboat and one work boat to support the overall operation. Removed sediment will be placed in a designated nearshore area to the east of the harbor.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and REDI Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, “The start of dredging work in Oak Orchard Harbor today marks a critical milestone in New York State’s sustained investments and infrastructure improvements in Orleans County that are strengthening protections along Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline communities and helping New York communities rebuild stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Governor Hochul’s REDI team of experts continue to advance dredging projects that enhance harbor navigation throughout the region.”
The dredging is being done with mechanical means and the dredging fleet includes a barge, excavator, and two dump scows. One tugboat and one workboat are used to support the overall operation. A turbidity curtain is positioned to enclose the dredge area.
State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “These dredging projects will be a great navigational benefit to the regional boating community, which is a vital part of the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River tourism and recreational economy. One of these projects this season allowed for the reopening of the boat launch at Golden Hill State Park in Niagara County, which had been closed due to sediment accumulation. These investments will result in benefits that will continue for years to come.”
Senator Robert Ortt said, “I applaud New York State and the Lake Ontario REDI Commission for identifying and proactively addressing the issue of harbor dredging in the towns and ports along Lake Ontario’s southern shore. For many of these towns, their ports are the reason the town is able to survive from a tourism and economic perspective, and the ability to access these ports is vital to their existence.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley said, “The Oak Orchard Harbor REDI dredging project getting underway is great news for the residents of Carlton and the Lake Ontario community in general. It will assure that the harbor will continue to allow vessels to pass safely through it, and keep our regional economy growing.”
Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson said, “As we look for ways to support and promote recreational activities along the shorelines of Lake Ontario, the dredging of Oak Orchard Harbor is vital to providing access to the over 400 boat slips and 6 launch lanes within the harbor. This project undertaken by the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative demonstrates the commitment by the Governor to maintaining access to the navigable waterways that contribute to the success of the local fishing, boating and tourism activities within the Town of Carlton and Orleans County.”
To date, the State has completed nine REDI dredging projects, and removed approximately 41,750 cubic yards of sediment, to provide recreational boaters with safe access to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The completed dredging projects include Port Bay, Blind Sodus Bay and East Bay in Wayne County, Sandy Pond Inlet and Salmon River/Port Ontario in Oswego County, Irondequoit Bay and Braddock Bay in Monroe County, Little Sodus Bay in Cayuga County, and Golden Hill State Park in Niagara County.
Through Phase I and II, the dredging initiative is tackling the necessary dredging of up to 20 harbor navigation channels. Upon completion of the project, over 100,000 cubic yards of sediment is anticipated to be dredged.
Jefferson County: Clayton French Creek Marina, Henderson “The Cut”
St. Lawrence County: Ogdensburg “City Front Channel,” Morristown Navigation Channel
During Phase III, the State will provide counties with the information they need to update, expand, and implement an existing Regional Dredging Management Plan to keep the channels operational over time.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 August 2021 at 11:50 am
Nyla Gaylord left to join United Way in Orleans County
ALBION – While the resignation of Nyla Gaylord in early July as executive director may have left a big void in the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, the agency is moving forward with a lot of positive energy, according to board president Sister Dolores O’Dowd.
Gaylord served with GOMOC for 5 ½ years, with more than four of those as executive director. She has accepted a position as director of development and fundraising for United Way of Orleans County.
“We appreciate all the time, effort and expertise she shared with employees, board members and especially the clients of Orleans and Genesee counties,” Sister O’Dowd shared in their summer newsletter.
Meanwhile, the search for a new executive director is continuing.
“We are looking for someone who has a heart for our ministry and someone who is also familiar with the agencies in Orleans and Genesee County with whom we work,” Sister O’Dowd said.
While the past year and a half have been challenging, GOMOC can celebrate a lot of successes. These include the purchase of a new furniture truck with a lift gate, made possible with a generous donation and grant from the Lyndonville Foundation.
“In spite of the challenges, we managed to keep our office going,” Sister O’Dowd said. “No one refused to come to work because of Covid. “We are thankful we could continue to help people with the money we received from grants.
In January this year, GOMOC was the recipient of a $50,000 grant from Eastman Savings and Loan, made possible by United Way of Orleans County. This allowed for creating the ESL/Covid Relief Housing Project to help families and individuals who were economically and financially disadvantaged and who suffered from either loss of income due to Covid or had difficulty making ends meet. GOMOC was able to provide rental/mortgage assistance and help with outstanding utility bills.
Although the ESL/Covid Relief Program ended July 31, GOMOC will continue to service income-eligible families in need through other funding sources and referral processes, wrote program coordinator Lydia Duncan in their newsletter.
Sister O’Dowd is especially excited about a new Financial Literacy Workshop started by Just Friends coordinator and advocate Ayesha Kreutz. Funded by a Heritage Wind community grant, the program is open to residents of Orleans County 12 to 18 years old and their parents. Five participants aged 12 to 18 years will receive a $300 scholarship to open their own investment portfolio or start a business. The program will focus on everything from investing money and saving for the future to interviewing skills, how to get and keep a job, life insurance, budgeting and their credit score. The first class started the second week of August.
Last year, GOMOC handed out school supplies to almost 300 children through donations from individuals and a grant from the Emma Reed Webster Aid Foundation. They are hoping to do the same this year and are still accepting donations of new school supplies and backpacks.
Sister O’Dowd reported the resignation of advocate Sharon Quill, who worked with the furniture program. That void has just been filled by hiring of Gretta Smith, who will start Tuesday as advocate.
Sister O’Dowd said Smith brings a lot to the Ministry of Concern.
“She is a college student in her senior year at Daemon College,” Sister O’Dowd said. “She has worked with many organizations in our area and worked with the poor. She is young and has a lot of good ideas. She will be a good fit.”
GOMOC had to cancel their annual fundraising gala due to Covid, but plan to reschedule it as soon as the danger of Covid has gone away.
“For now, we are depending upon donations from the community and grants,” Sister O’Dowd said.
The Ministry of Concern can also use items such as toilet paper; backpack and school supplies; any size mattresses, box springs and frames; new and gently used sheets and blankets in any size; appliances, such as refrigerators, electric stoves, microwave ovens, washers and dryers; small appliances, including toasters, coffee makers, hand mixers, hot plates, blenders and crock pots; paper towels, tissues, dish and laundry detergent and cleaning supplies; new bed pillows; bath and kitchen towers; and dressers, end tables, recliner chairs; loveseats, sofas, tables and chairs.
Information on how to donate cash or items is available by calling (585) 589-9210 or logging on to their website at www.ministryofconcern.org.
MIDDLEPORT – A Middleport man has been charged with second-degree assault after allegedly stabbing another man when the two were in a fight at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti reported the arrest of Scott M. Whittaker, who allegedly slashed another man multiple times when the two were fighting on Freeman Avenue in the town of Royalton.
The victim was transported to Erie County Medical Center for treatment of his non-life threatening injuries. Through subsequent investigation, Whittaker was located in the Town of Yates in Orleans County and taken into custody by members of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police.
Whittaker was charged with one count of Assault 2nd degree (D felony) and one count of Menacing 2nd degree (A misdemeanor). Whittaker is being held at the Niagara County Jail awaiting centralized arraignment.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 August 2021 at 9:29 am
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 23rd annual business awards. The deadline to nominate a business or person is Sept. 12.
The categories include:
Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year.
Lifetime Achievement – This award is presented to an individual with a long-term record of outstanding business achievements.
Phoenix Award – This award is presented to an organization or business that has successfully adapted or re-used an existing facility.
New Business of the Year – This award is presented to a business or organization that has opened in the past year.
Community Service Award – This award is presented to a business, organization or individual that has provided meaningful contributions to the community in either professional or non-professional spheres.
Agricultural Business of the Year – This award is presented to an agricultural business that has experienced significant overall achievements/success throughout the year.
Small Business of the Year – This award is presented to a small business that has experienced significant achievements/success throughout the year.
Send a nomination to the OCCC, PO Box 501, Medina, NY or email it to director@orleanschamber.com, through Google forms (click here) or the Chamber’s Facebook page.
The businesses and individuals will be recognized during an awards dinner on Oct. 21 at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
