HOLLEY/MEDINA – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have announced $460,000 in federal funding in Orleans County for two railroad projects.

The Orleans Economic Development Agency  submitted the application to the Northern Border Regional Commission for funding to reconstruct the public siding train track in Medina and to build a new siding track in Holley. The funding will go through the EDA’s Orleans Land Restoration Corp.

With the money, the EDA will reconstruct and build new siding tracks in Medina and Holley, and complete preliminary engineering, Schumer and Gillibrand said in a joint news release.

This will extend rail access to the new Medina Business Park South in Shelby.

“This vital access will provide for future industrial development in Orleans County, as well as retain existing jobs,” the two senators said.

The grant was part of $4,661,981 in federal funding for eight projects that range from critical infrastructure, like broadband and sewage, to housing analysis. The funding was allocated through the Northern Border Regional Commission’s State Economic & Infrastructure Development Investment Program to support infrastructure projects and other initiatives that create jobs, support entrepreneurs, and strengthen the economy in northern border communities.

“The Northern Border Regional Commission has a special role to play spurring economic development and creating jobs. This funding will provide support to communities across Upstate New York, working to complete priority projects,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud to support this essential funding in congress and will continue to fight to ensure it supports critical projects across Upstate New York.”

The NBRC is a federal-state partnership focused on the economic revitalization of communities across the Northern Border region, which includes northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The Commission is composed of the governors of the four Northern Border states and a federal co-chair, and provides financial and technical assistance to communities in the region to support entrepreneurs, improve water, broadband, and transportation infrastructure, and promote other initiatives to improve the region’s economy.

The northern border region of New York State includes 28 counties: Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Washington, Warren, Wayne, Yates.

“After more than a year of grappling with financial hardship caused by the pandemic, New York communities are relying on investments like this to attract new businesses, create good-paying jobs, and revitalize our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Now more than ever, I am grateful for our valuable partnership with the Northern Border Regional Commission that will help New York’s local economies recover from the massive financial losses incurred during the pandemic and will continue to spur economic growth for years to come. I will continue fighting for funding that will help sustain Upstate New York economies through this difficult time and make necessary investments in infrastructure and other critical resources.”

Press Release, Supportive Care of Orleans 

MURRAY – Supportive Care of Orleans (formerly known as Hospice of Orleans County) is pleased to announce its 24th Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, Sept. 17, at Hickory Ridge Golf Resort.

Since its inception, and with the community’s help, this single annual event has raised more than $250,000 toward palliative and supportive care services in Orleans County.

“After the ‘pause’ of 2020, we can’t wait to celebrate with all our friends, and look forward to enjoying great company, great golf and as always, a great time!” said Elisa Chambery, CEO of Supportive Care of Orleans. “We are so grateful and appreciative of all our community members and businesses for your ongoing support, generosity, and commitment of Supportive Care of Orleans.”

Now that we have been able to begin inviting back our volunteers, we have been able to welcome the dedicated members of our Golf Committee to assist us in making this tournament a huge success.

Registration is required and the form will be available online in addition to being mailed to your home. As in the past, space is limited to 144 golfers and reservations are being taken on a first come, first serve basis.

For further information on registration, please call 585-589-0809 or email Maggie Stewart at mstewart@scorleans.org. You can also click here for additional information and downloadable registration forms.

Photos courtesy of Erin Reed

HOLLEY – Hunter Salamaca, an EMS officer with the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company, is shown at the fire hall in Holley today where there are free face masks, sanitizer and thermometers being given away from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7 Thomas St.

“Due to the unknown of the new Covid variant (Delta), the possibility of mandated masking and your children going back to school, we would like to take some stress off of you,” Murray Joint Fire District officials said in a Facebook post. “Stop down and grab a box or two of masks and some hand sanitizer free of charge.”

The masks are in children’s and adult sizes.

Erin Reed, an EMS lieutenant, was able to secure the PPE (personal protective equipment) for today’s event.

The Murray Joint Fire District includes Holley and FHM firefighters.

Village will have Planning Board and committee continue to look for ways to fill business locations

Photos by Tom Rivers: Chad Fabry (standing by door), owner of the former Swan Library site at 4 North Main St., said a proposed law from the village for vacant commercial buildings was “an unreadable piece of junk.” The meeting room was packed on Wednesday evening for a public hearing on the proposed law. Fabry said the proposed law, with fines at $1,000 or more, treats the building owners with vacancies like criminals. “You’re punishing a building owner who is already struggling,” he said.

ALBION – The Village Board, after an outcry against a proposed law assessing fees for vacant commercial buildings, voted to reject the proposed law and will start from scratch in looking for ways to fill business sites in the village.

Albion was considering a law that would have assessed a $250 fee if a commercial site went vacant for more than 30 days, with $1,000 tacked on if the site was empty for a year, $2,000 if it went a second year, $3,000 for a third year and $4,000 for each subsequent year.

The Village Board meeting was packed with building owners for a public hearing on Wednesday. Many of them thanked the board for attempting to address vacancies in the downtown and other business districts. But they said the proposed law wasn’t a good way to deal with the situation.

“I compare it to hitting a fly with a sledgehammer,” said Ron Vendetti, the village former code enforcement officer who owns a building on Bank Street.

Vendetti said the village already has laws for property maintenance that could be used to make the sites look better. The village also could do fire inspections to make sure the sites are safe, Vendetti said.

The law comes a terrible time for the property owners, who haven’t been able to evict non-paying tenants due to a moratorium on evictions and have had many of the business tenants struggle during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

Lucy and Tom Miller of Buffalo own a commercial site in Albion and they haven’t been able to rent or sell it for four years, despite trying really hard to market the former banking location.

“Albion is a good place,” Mrs. Miller said during an hour-long public hearing. “It just needs some TLC.”

She echoed the comments that a “punitive” law, costing buildings owners more money during a pandemic, is a bad idea.

“These are hard times right now,” she said. “People are suffering. Until we get through this pandemic, we should be kind to one another.”

Natasha Wasuck, owner of the Tinsel and Lockstone site just north of the canal, urged the board to approve the law. She said other communities – Medina, Le Roy, Troy and many others – have used vacant commercial registries and laws to strongly encourage the building owners to get their space occupied. The vacancies are a detriment to the other merchants in Albion, she said.

She suspected some building owners keep the space unfilled as tax write-offs. That comment drew a response from several others in attendance.

Angel Javier Jr. owns the former hardware store location on Main Street, which has been vacant for nearly two years. Javier said it is costly to bring the historic locations up to date with electricity and other needed infrastructure. He is doing much of the work gradually, with help from his family, to avoid an astronomical bill.

If he paid to have the work done, he doesn’t think he could find tenants who could pay enough rent to justify that expense. He said he has been approached by some possible tenants but they don’t want to pay enough to cover his costs for upgrading the building.

“Projects take money and ingenuity,” he said.

Javier said the building owners all are committed to Albion and want to see the community succeed with a vibrant business district.

Angel Javier Jr., who owns the former hardware store site on Main Street, shares concerns about Albion proposed law. He said building owners like himself are often paying as they go and getting a rehab of a historic site can take years of work.

Gus Revelas, owner of the former Gus’s Soda Shoppe on Main Street, said he has declined some offers to rent his building because he didn’t think those businesses would have been good for the community. His daughter, Athena Nichols, is an art teacher and she said she is looking to open a business in the location at some point.

She told the board her family – which has owned the site for more than a century – continues to pay taxes and maintain the location. They shouldn’t be penalized because the building isn’t currently used for a business, she said.

“You are creating heartache and problems for people who want to continue their business,” she said.

Other speakers questioned the wording in the law, and what they saw as unconstitutional provisions about entering the buildings without a warrant for inspections.

Corey Black, one of the downtown building owners, was among the speakers who said the proposed law was “very ambiguous” and wasn’t clear on what is considered a “vacancy.” In one section it says an unoccupied “portion” of the building could make the location considered vacant, but another spot said it applies only to the main floor of the building.

Black said the law could force building owners to be less choosey about tenants, which could be detrimental to the downtown and community.

“You can’t legislate yourselves out of a problem,” Black said. “We can’t legislate ourselves to look like Medina.”

Karen Conn, a Planning Board member, said that board had worked on the proposal for about a year, looking for ways to encourage the reuse of the buildings. She welcomed more input from the building owners to help encourage a vibrant downtown and other business districts in the village. The Planning Board’s intention wasn’t to make it more difficult for the property owners.

Michael Bonafede owns three of the historic locations in the downtown. When he and his wife Judy Koehler bought the Pratt and Day buildings about 15 years ago, the sites only had one tenant. Now they have 11 and that includes the Downtown Browsery with 40 vendors.

Bonafede said Albion has long wanted to have a more vibrant business district, but has struggled to chart a course with everyone working together.

“I admire what you’re trying to do,” Bonafede told the Village Board. “We just don’t know how to go forward as a community.”

He said “polarization” holds the community back. He said the proposed law would be a “huge hardship” on the building owners. There are other options and he cited a report from the National Trust for Historic Preservation which provided a detailed report for Albion’s Main Street about a decade ago.

Bonafede said there are many resources that would assist Albion in a resurgence.

Mayor Eileen Banker thanked the building and business owners for attending the meeting and voicing their opinions. There was an initial public hearing about the law last month and there weren’t any comments. The board decided to send a copy of the proposed law to all the property owners in the business districts in the village so they would be aware of the proposal and to give them a chance to provide input.

“I’m thrilled you are all here,” Banker told the crowd. “This is absolutely what we want. We want to make it a community effort.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

EAST SHELBY – Nathan Gray, 6, is shown at his produce stand on East Shelby Road this afternoon.

Nathan started selling produce from the stand last month. He grew most of the vegetables with his father Justin Gray at their home on Dunlap Road. That is a low-traffic area so they decided to sell the produce from a spot in Nathan’s grandparents’ front yard just south of the East Shelby Fire Hall.

Nathan and his dad Justin are shown at the stand this afternoon. Justin has had a garden for years and his son likes to help him grow vegetables. Some of the items are from other growers, but Mr. Gray said about 90 percent comes from their garden.

Nathan wanted to sell some produce to make some money to go towards a small 4-wheeler. He also welcomes the chance to chat with customers who stop by.

“He has the gift of gab,” his dad said. “He likes to talk to people.”

Nathan will be a second-grader at Medina next month. He said he likes to meet people who stop by the stand.

“A lot of the people are nice,” he said.

Right now corn and tomatoes are the most popular items. They have a lot of pumpkins that will be ready in the fall. The Grays expect the will keep Nathan’s Produce Stand going until early November.

“We’re trying to teach him that hard work pays off,” Mr. Gray said.

Photo courtesy of Justin Gray: Nathan Gray operates a rototiller and works the soil this spring. He said he gets out early in the morning to work in the garden.

‘It’s not something that we expected or asked for, but I’m fully prepared to resume the responsibilities of the State of New York.’

This is a screenshot of Kathy Hochul speaking during a news conference this afternoon in Albany.

ALBANY – Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul held a news conference today, her first since Andrew Cuomo announced he will be resigning as governor on Aug. 24.

Hochul thanked Cuomo for his service, but made it clear she and Cuomo didn’t have a close working relationship. She said there would be turnover among his key staff members and she vowed her administration would not be described as a “toxic work environment” like Cuomo’s was in a report from Attorney General Leticia James.

That report was presented last week and detailed sexual harassment from Cuomo against 11 women. He made the announcement on Tuesday he would resign in 14 days to allow for a smoother transition to Hochul.

“I’ve been traveling the state and do not spend much time in his presence or in the presence of many in the state Capitol,” Hochul said during the news conference.

She said she is ready to take over as governor and already has talked with the leaders of the state Legislature, and other key business and religious leaders.

Hochul will serve the remainder of Cuomo’s term, which is about 16 months. She has been the lieutenant governor for about 6 ½ years, twice winning state-wide elections.

“I want people to know that I’m ready for this,” Hochul said. “It’s not something that we expected or asked for, but I’m fully prepared to resume the responsibilities of the State of New York.”

She will articulate a vision for the state soon after she takes office as New York’s first female governor on Aug. 24. She said continuing to fight Covid-19 and move the state forward after the economic devastation from the pandemic will be top priorities.

She also said she will work to “enhance” some of the state’s progressive policies. She promised she would “fight like hell” for all New Yorkers.

“Over the next two weeks I will continue meetings with my current and potential cabinet officials,” Hochul said. “I’ll build out my senior staff, and I’ll do what I’ve always done: Travel the state to meet New Yorkers and listen to them to assure that I have their backs and I will take their concerns and bring them to the state capitol. I’ll work with our partners at every level of government to come to solutions. People will soon learn that my style is to listen first and then take decisive action.”

She said she will keep up her annual traditions of attending the Erie County Fair and State Fair.

“I know this year and a half has been so challenging for families and businesses across our state and sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s getting any easier,” she said. “The Delta variant is still raging and it’s going to take all of us to defeat it.”

She acknowledged school districts are preparing to soon open and they want to do safely.

“Our children are heading back to school soon, and there is a lot of anxiety from moms and dads I speak to, and teachers as well,” Hochul said. “It’s going to take all of us working together to keep our children safe, our teachers safe, and anyone who works in schools safe.”

She said the Cuomo administration leaves “a legacy of accomplishment” on many fronts, and she rallied support statewide for many of those policies.

“I was out there in the streets fighting for raising the minimum wage, fighting for paid family leave, and I was a champion of policies to eradicate the spectra of heroin abuse, something that has touched my family personally,” she said. “Child care issues, I’ve been out there making announcements on affordable housing, clean energy projects and economic development. So that will continue, those policies will continue and be even more enhanced.”

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Jacobs (R-NY) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led a bicameral letter with 29 members of Congress to President Biden calling for the administration to change course and end its unconstitutional eviction moratorium.

“We strongly oppose the Biden administration’s latest eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This latest action is plainly unconstitutional and will only serve to further distort the market and create a housing affordability crisis,” the lawmakers said. “Additionally, any further restrictions on evictions at this point are counterproductive. The economy is open, jobs and vaccines are abundant, and federal rental assistance is a reality.”

In a recent Supreme Court case, Alabama Association of Realtors v. Department of Health and Human Services, five members of the Supreme Court effectively acknowledged that CDC exceeded its authority in issuing the moratorium. Justice Kavanaugh stated that “clear and specific congressional authorization (via new legislation) would be necessary for the CDC to extend the moratorium past July 31.”

“Instead of pursuing an unconstitutional moratorium, the Biden administration should be focused on distributing the nearly $50 billion in rental assistance that was appropriated through three separate stimulus packages,” the lawmakers said. “As long this moratorium remains in place, property owners will continue to struggle financially. These property owners must still pay mortgages, taxes, and maintenance for the dwelling. If this continues much longer, we will see a wave of bankruptcies, foreclosures, and blighted properties.”

Most states require the tenant to take the initiative when applying for rental assistance. A recent Treasury report found very little of the federal rental assistance money has been disbursed so far, and the new moratorium will act as an additional disincentive for tenants to apply for this aid, leaving property owners on the hook.

“We demand the Biden administration end this moratorium and allow the rental assistance funds to do what they were intended to do. This government overreach must end,” the lawmakers said.

Senators signing the letter include: Mike Lee (R-UT), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS).

Representatives signing the letter include: Scott Perry (R-PA-10), Rick Crawford (R-AR-01), Bob Gibbs (R-OH-07), Louie Gohmert (R-TX-01), Greg Steube (R-FL-17), Barry Moore (R-AL-02), Michael Cloud (R-TX-27), Fred Keller (R-PA-12), Brian Mast (R-FL-18), Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), Jody Hice (R-GA-10), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Tracey Mann (R-KS-01), Jay Obernolte (R-CA-08), John Rutherford (R-FL-04), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02), Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09), Ted Budd (R-NC-13), Lisa McClain (R-MI-10), Austin Scott (R-GA-08) and Bill Posey (R-FL-08).

Village holding public hearing today at 6 p.m.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo shows Main Street in downtown Albion on an evening in May. The Village Board has proposed a law for vacant commercial buildings where property owners have to pay to be on a vacant building registry and pay annual fees if the sites remain empty.

ALBION — The Village Board wants to encourage commercial building owners to keep their sites occupied. The board sees many of the vacant sites as “unsightly, unsafe and discourages business traffic in the village,” according to a proposed law.

The village will have public hearing today at 6 p.m. to receive feedback about the law that the Village Board says will establish a process for identifying and tracking vacant commercial units, set forth responsibilities for the vacant sites, and to speed the renewed use of the buildings.

Some of the building owners have  already sent letters to the Village Board, outlying concerns that the proposed law is unconstitutional and could have the opposite intended effect of making a building too costly to own.

The proposed law applies to commercial buildings in the Central Business District, General Business District, Planned Commercial Development District, Residential Offices/Limited Business Districts or Light Industrial Districts.

The proposed law would require the owner of properties to register the site with the code enforcement officer no later than 30 days after it becomes vacant or no later than 30 days after being sent a notice from the code officer that the building needs to be registered as a vacant building.

The code officer may identify a vacant site through the routine inspection process or through notification by residents, neighborhood associations or community groups that the site may be eligible to be on the vacant building registry.

The owner of the site needs to submit a vacant building plan which could include a plan for securing and maintaining the site if it will remain vacant and a reason why it will be vacant, a rehabilitation plan that shouldn’t exceed 365 days to return the building to appropriate use, or a demolition plan and time frame for demolition.

If the site isn’t maintained, the village has grounds to remediate the building and bill the costs to the owner, revoke the rehabilitation plan, and subject the owner to fines and penalties, according to the proposed law.

The proposed law also says the building owner needs to pay a $250 registration fee to be on the vacant building registry. If the building remains vacant, the owner will be charged an annual vacant building fee of $1,000 for buildings 20,000 square feet or less, or 5 cents per square foot for sites over 20,000 square feet. That would be $1,500 for a 30,000 square foot site, for example.

Conrad Cropsey, owner of the Briggs Building in the downtown, said the proposed law violates due process and doesn’t include grandfather provisions for bringing buildings up to current code, which could make many of the historic buildings “unsalable,” he said in a letter to the board.

“You will end up owning them for taxes and fines,” Cropsey wrote in his Aug. 3 letter to the Village Board. “Your own building (Village Hall) is included if it is not fully used.”

Cropsey, an attorney, said the village also can’t legislate implied “consent” to enter a building.

“The law is that you can enter if there is an emergency to health and safety or you have established a probable cause of a violation of a valid and constitutional law,” Cropsey wrote. “Couple this with several bad and or overly broad definitions and your proposed law is a train wreck waiting for a litigator.”

Cropsey said the board has a good motive in the law but the proposal “is not the way to achieve it.”

Nathan Lyman, another attorney with a building on Main Street, also wrote to the board with his concerns. In his letter on Aug. 2 , he said downtown real estate values haven’t go up in 20 years.

Compared to 1982 when Lyman was a village trustee, the building owners today face less business activity in the downtown, a higher tax burden and “a pandemic where property owners are prohibited by executive fiat from commencing evictions if the rent is not paid.”

Lyman said the board has good intentions with the proposed law, but it comes during a challenging time for the building owners. The proposed law is also unconstitutional, he said.

Many of the buildings have multiple units and could be 75 percent occupied. But by the proposed law’s definition, the building could be required to be registered with the village as a vacant site, Lyman said.

“If I have chosen not to develop the third floor of my building because of fire code requirements, what right does the Village have to call the building vacant because that area is empty and not viable from an economic perspective?” Lyman wrote. “The same is true of Five Star Bank building, which does not utilize the space on the second and third floors of their building. The determination of the Code Enforcement Officer could easily lead to challenges based upon the subjective vagueness in definitions and selective enforcement by the Village.”

Lyman said requiring owners to register makes them give up their Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure – “By registering a building, an owner consents to an Enforcement Officer inspecting the premises…”

The Village Board would be putting taxpayers at risk for costly litigation with the law, which Lyman said wouldn’t stand up in court.

The village also can’t mandate a storefront to be occupied, “or that the property owner magically generate a rent-paying tenant or else pay a penalty to the Village,” he wrote in his letter.

The village can, however, enforce health and safety regulations such as the building code, but it does not have the right to compel a property owner to lease or occupy a building, Lyman said.

“So long as the building, which is already subject to safety and fire inspection, meets those codes and pays the real property taxes, the village cannot mandate that a storefront be occupied, much less assess a fee if it is not,” he said.

Lyman said the business climate in Albion “is challenged at best.” The Covid-19 lockdowns “decimated” many small businesses in downtowns. In Albion, “the building inventory does not meet the requirements of national franchises, which is why none are located downtown,” he said.

He said putting a vacant building on a registry would likely further diminish the value of the site and could result in a lower tax assessment and hurting the village’s tax base.

“I am reminded of the adage that it is easier to attract flies with honey than with vinegar,” Lyman said. “Isn’t it a wiser strategy to do positive things to help the business community which is struggling to recover from pandemic mandates, as opposed to adopting more punitive mandates?”

Provided photos

MURRAY – The Old Crow Motorcycle Club from Kent recently present $1,200 to the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company. The motorcycle club organizes a fundraiser every year to give back to a local nonprofit.

The Crows organized a pig roast last weekend and donated the proceeds to the FHM Fire Company. Other motorcycle clubs that came out to support the benefit were Peacemakers MC, Redrum MC and the Webster Legion Riders.

“On behalf of the membership of the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company, we thank them for their generous donation to our department and their continued support in the community,” said Capt. James Fox.

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – The Brick Band performs on Tuesday evening during a concert at the Orleans County Marine Park.

The band includes, from left: Dale Moor on lead guitar, Don Smith on drums, Ryan Klatt as lead singer and on guitar, and Steve Kennan on bass guitar.

Despite some heavy rains early in the concert around 5:30, about 100 people still attended the event which went until about 8:15 p.m. The Brick Band’s July concert had to be rescheduled due to rain. There was another washout last month and that concert by The Who Dats will be made up on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to close out the summer concert series at the Marine Park.

Ryan Klatt and the Brick Band perform “The Chair” by George Strait. The performed a number of well-known country songs.

The group is happy to be back performing at local festivals and concert series after Covid-19 restrictions wiped out most of last year’s schedule.

Dale Moor, the lead guitarist from Batavia, said the Brick Band was mostly limited to playing at campgrounds in 2020.

“There weren’t any festivals last year,” he said.

Tuesday’s concert crowd, despite smaller than usual, was energetic and danced to many of the songs.

“It’s good when you have a crowd like this,” Moor said.

Frank Panczyszyn of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association thanks the crowd for coming out for the concert despite the soggy conditions. The concerts typically draw about 400 people on Tuesday evenings.

Strong thunderstorms also could impact area this morning

Photos by Tom Rivers: These boats are tied up Tuesday evening at the docks at the Orleans County Marine Park underneath the bridges of the Lake Ontario State Parkway that cross the Oak Orchard River.

There is another heat advisory in effect today for Orleans County and most of upstate until 8 p.m. Heat index values this afternoon could hit the upper 90s to 105, said the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The Weather Service urges people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

“Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside,” the Weather Service said. “When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”

The Weather Service also said an area of strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Orleans County, north central Livingston, east central Niagara, Genesee and Monroe counties through 9 a.m.

Those thunderstorms could have winds in excess of 40 mph, and could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.

This elevated walkway takes people down to the docks at the Orleans County Marine Park on Route 98 in Carlton.

Governor-to-be makes frequent local stops

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul paddles in a kayak in Medina’s Canal Basin on June 15 to promote a free kayaking program this summer in Medina.

The next governor for New York State is very familiar with Orleans County, and knows many of the local elected officials.

Kathy Hochul will become the state’s 57th governor on Aug. 24 and the first woman to serve as the top’s highest elected official. She will become governor when Andrew Cuomo resigns in 14 days.

Hochul has been a frequent presence in Orleans County, often on official duties for ground-breaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies or to highlight a state initiative.

She also stops by incognito, wearing with a baseball cap, on a getaway with her husband Bill. They have rented a canal boat and stayed in Medina, visiting local restaurants and small businesses.

“She is definitely a friend of Medina and a friend of Orleans County,” said Medina Mayor Mike Sidari. “She will be an advocate for Western New York.”

Kathy Hochul joins in a ground-breaking celebration on July 26 for a new $2 million breakwall along Lakeshore Road in Carlton that is 95 percent funded by the state.

Hochul was in the Town of Carlton on July 26 for the ground-breaking of a $2 million shoreline protection project along Lakeshore Road. The state is paying 95 percent of the cost of building 1,500 feet of breakwall.

It is one of many projects along the south shore funded with $300 million through the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

“As New York’s lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul has always been in tune with the needs and challenges facing both rural and urban communities,” said Lynne Johnson, Chairperson of the Orleans County Legislature. “Her office is responsive and supports municipalities, large and small, across the region. Lt. Gov Hochul has become valued friend and colleague who has worked tirelessly for Orleans County, supporting REDI projects and other infrastructure, economic development, and tourism initiatives to improve the business environment and residential quality of life in rural communities. I am thrilled she will now be leading this state.”

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul rows in a kayak in Medina on June 15 to promote a free kayaking program in the Erie Canal. She was joined in kayaks by Brian Stratton, state canal director; Greg Reed, director of the Orleans County YMCA; and Mike Sidari, Medina mayor.

Hochul on June 15 was in Medina to promote a free kayaking program in the Erie Canal. Hochul even paddled in a kayak in the Canal Basin. Medina is one of five canal communities offering free “On the Canals” outdoor excursions this summer as part of the state’s Reimagine the Canals initiative.

Sidari said Hochul is widely respected by elected officials at the local levels throughout the state. They respect that she rose through the ranks, first as a member of the Hamburg Town Board, then as Erie County Clerk, and then as a Democrat in Congress representing a heavily Republican district that included Orleans County. She defeated Jane Corwin to be elected on Congress in a special election in May 2011, but then lost to Chris Collins in a redrawn district that was even more Republican-leaning.

She returned to public office after being elected as lieutenant governor in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018.

While Hochul was often in Orleans County, Cuomo seldom stopped in the county. Cuomo, during nearly 11 years as governor, only made one official stop in Orleans County. That was on Aug. 2, 20212, when there was a blow-out on the Erie Canal in Albion and a sinkhole emerged on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road between Gaines Basin Road and West State Street. Cuomo was in Batavia that day and Assemblyman Steve Hawley convinced him to come to Albion and see the damage first hand.

Here are some other photos of Kathy Hochul in Orleans County:

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Parade of Lights grand marshal Jackie DeHollander and parade chairman Jim Hancock pose for a quick picture before Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul gave the command to light the giant Christmas tree in Rotary Park on Nov. 30, 2019.

Photos by Tom Rivers: During a celebration of the transformation of former Holley High School, Hochul was among a contingent to mark the conclusion of a $17 million project on Nov. 10, 2020. The building was last used as a school in 1975. After two years of construction, Home Leasing has the building fully occupied with 41 apartments and the Holley village offices. Hochul, front center, cut the ribbon for the project.

Kathy Hochul was in Kendall on May 12, 2017 to thank National Guard members stacking sandbags in Kendall. The Lt. Governor said then the eroding shoreline, which was threatening homes along Lake Ontario, was “cataclysmic.”

One couple from Hamlin told her the lake has been devouring their land, forcing them to cut off their deck after two of their trees toppled into the lake. Hochul said so many other residents are vulnerable from the high waters.

“Our hearts are breaking for them,” she said. “This is their life savings. We cannot solve this problem overnight.”

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley on May 12, 2017 meet with members of the National Guard filling sandbags at the Kendall Highway Department garage. These Guardsmen are from the 107th Air Force in Niagara Falls. The Guardsmen were filling sandbags in the Kendall Highway Department, while another group stacked them near the shoreline to help fight flooding.

Hochul thanked them for their service to the lakeshore residents. The flooding is devastating to homeowners and businesses along the lake.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul meets with Orleans County Democrats on Oct. 13, 2018 during their fall rally at the Elks Club. About 60 people attended the event. She is shown visiting Jim Renfrew and his wife, Robin Dunnington, who hosted one of the first candidate parties in their Clarendon home for Hochul in 2011. Those grass roots events helped her to get elected, despite a strong Republican advantage in the district.

Kathy Hochul is pictured on the reviewing stand for the Parade of Lights in Medina on Nov. 26, 2016 with Assemblyman Steve Hawley, left, who served as announcer and Medina Mayor Mike Sidari.

Lt. Gov. Hochul on Nov. 26, 2016 also stopped in Medina to promote small businesses. Hochul visited several business owners in Medina, including Bread Basket owner Lissa Stewart-James, during Small Business Saturday. “We want to showcase the small businesses that are the backbone of these communities,” Hochul said in Medina.

She praised Medina for a “vibrant downtown” that creates jobs, a sense of community identity and revenue to maintain historic commercial buildings. The Medina downtown has a “tremendous variety” of retail shops, she said.

“This is out of It’s A Wonderful Life,” Hochul said about downtown Medina.

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul stopped by the Legislative Luncheon for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 22, 2016 at Tillman’s Village Inn. She said New York State was making billions of dollars available for upstate infrastructure and economic development, bringing attention to a part of the state that had been largely neglected by state officials for many years.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is pictured with Jeanne Crane on April 30, 2015 at dinner in Hochul’s honor at Tillman’s Village Inn. Crane was the county’s Democratic Party chairwoman. This was Hochul’s second time back in Orleans after being elected lieutenant governor. Hochul was a long-shot candidate in 2011 when she ran for Congress in a overwhelmingly Republican district. She pulled off the upset win and said Democrats in rural areas such as Orleans County were essential in that victory.

Hochul is a “personable person” with a work ethic, Crane said.

Hochul said she enjoys being away from the state capital and connecting with people outside of Albany. She said she enjoys meeting with people. When she was campaigning, it was often at diners and community events.

“I know what is in their hearts and minds because they told me,” she said then.

Hochul said then she intends to be an advocate for Orleans and she won’t be a stranger.

“I will always treasure our friendships,” Hochul told the group of Democrats.

Hochul sees a home-grown success story at CRFS on Feb. 18, 2015, her first time back in Orleans after being elected lieutenant governor. She is shown speaking with Sean Snook, CRFS’s chief operating officer. CRFS works to recover past-due interest, unpaid principal, unpaid taxes and unpaid insurance on houses.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Feb. 18, 2015 met with the County Legislature and other local officials to discuss the governor’s “Opportunity Agenda,” which included state resources to rural communities. She touted the $500 million plan to expand broadband Internet access throughout the state during a stop in Albion at Hoag Library. Hochul also shared details for boosting the economy, fighting poverty, enacting educational reforms, mitigating property tax increases and adopting new ethics reforms in Albany.

‘The Governor’s pervasive harassment and coverups cast a dark cloud over our State Capitol and took us away from the important work facing this state.’ – Rob Ortt

Local state and federal elected officials have released statements, following Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that he will be resigning as governor, effective in 14 days.

Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport, issued this statement:

“At last, Gov. Cuomo is allowing the people of New York state to move forward by offering his resignation and ending this dark and difficult chapter in our state’s history.

“As a lifelong Western New Yorker, I look forward to working together with our state’s first female governor, Kathy Hochul, to continue to strengthen our region and help our state’s economic recovery.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued this statement:

“Now that the governor has done the right thing and resigned, we can focus on bettering the lives of the working people of this state once again. This is the third high-ranking official that has stepped down due to improper conduct during my tenure, and I hope we can come together and work to assure it’s the last and that conduct like that of Andrew Cuomo’s is never left unchecked.

“I do want to congratulate Kathy Hochul, who will be our next Governor in two weeks, and hope we can work together in bipartisan fashion to do more for the people of this state than ever before.”

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, issued this statement:

“Today marks one small step toward restoring honor, decency, and accountability to New York State government. I hope today also brings some measure of justice to the brave women who had the courage to come forward against a powerful and vindictive political figure.

“Over the past year, Andrew Cuomo’s credibility completely fell apart. Now, following his overdue resignation, it will never be repaired. The Governor’s pervasive harassment and coverups cast a dark cloud over our State Capitol and took us away from the important work facing this state.

“Andrew Cuomo broke the law, lied about it, and shamelessly smeared the women who came forward. His resignation is welcome, but it stops short of the justice his victims and the people of New York deserve. The FBI, the State Attorney General, and other proper authorities must also be allowed to continue their work investigating all of the possible crimes related to our state’s nursing homes crisis and the Governor’s questionable book deal. The Legislature must examine the Cuomo administration’s many failings in public forums as soon as possible so that these abuses of power will never happen under another administration.

“We must also acknowledge the fact that the Democrats in the Legislature failed to hold Andrew Cuomo or his administration accountable, despite our repeated calls to do so.

“Well after the numerous credible allegations were made against Andrew Cuomo, Democrats in both the Senate and Assembly stood by him, normalizing his behavior and enabling him to cling to power. I hope those in the Legislature – and other powerful figures around the state – reflect on their own actions in response to Andrew Cuomo’s disturbing behavior. The vocal support and the deafening silence of many helped keep Andrew Cuomo in power far longer than he deserved.

“In 14 days we will have our first female Governor. I’d like to congratulate Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, a fellow Western New Yorker, on becoming the first woman to assume leadership of this state. My fellow Senators and I look forward to working with Governor Hochul as we continue to tackle the issues of rising crime, our state’s struggling economy, and the resurgence of the Covid-19 virus.”

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy, a former lieutenant governor who served in Cuomo’s first term, issued this statement:

“An expectation of leadership is to take responsibility for one’s actions. Resignation is a personal decision, and I agree with Governor Cuomo’s decision to resign. This decision will hopefully prevent further trauma for the courageous women who came forward and it allows State government to get on with the business of serving New Yorkers.

“I offer my full support to incoming Governor Kathy Hochul. Kathy is a friend, a colleague, and a remarkable representative of the people of the State of New York. She will serve in the same way she has for her entire career in public service: with honor, tenacity, compassion, and dignity.”

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, issued this statement:

“First and foremost, I want to thank the incredibly courageous women who came forward and shared their stories. They are the true public servants here. New York now has a chance to move forward and build a new culture of leadership. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is an exceptional public servant and will be an excellent governor. I look forward to working together to continue serving the people of our great state.”

Congressman Chris Jacobs issued this statement:

“Andrew Cuomo’s resignation is long overdue, and needed to move our state government past the multiple scandals he and his staff inflicted on the citizens of New York. Despite his resignation, criminal investigations of the Cuomo administration must continue to ensure justice is served.”

Jack Marren, President of the New York State Association of Counties, issued this statement:

“Today’s announcement that Governor Cuomo will step aside brings needed closure to the uncertainty that has paralyzed our state for the last week. The last year and half has shown that counties are essential in the fight against controlling a resurgent Covid-19 pandemic and leading the economic revival of our communities. We need stability in government to ensure essential services continue for the people of New York.

“Lieutenant Governor Hochul understands the present state of the state and will need to engage immediately. We look forward to beginning this new chapter under the leadership of a dedicated public servant and former local government leader who understands the essential role of counties in the lives of New Yorkers.

“Our counties stand ready to support this transition and will continue our ongoing work to make our communities stronger, safer and better places to live, work, and raise a family.”

Governor’s Office: Andrew Cuomo addresses New Yorkers today and announces his resignation.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today he will be resigning as governor, effective in two weeks.

Cuomo has faced increasing calls for his resignation, including from President Joe Biden, due to sexual harassment allegations.

Those allegations were confirmed in a report and investigation released last week by Attorney General Leticia James who cited a pattern of sexual harassment from Cuomo and a “toxic environment” within the Executive Chamber.

Cuomo today “deeply apologized” for offending 11 women who brought forward accusations against the governor.

Cuomo said he didn’t intend to make anyone uncomfortable or to sexually harass anyone. He cited a change in cultural norms that is no longer acceptable.

“I have slipped and called people honey, sweetheart and darling,” he said. “I meant it to be endearing. But women found it dated and offensive.”

Cuomo said there is “bias” in report and he was denied due process. His instinct is to fight it, but he doesn’t want to embroil the state government for months with the issue.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Cuomo said. “I have been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting. I do hug and kiss people casually, women and men. I have done it all my life. It’s who I’ve been since I can remember. In my mind I have never crossed the line with anyone. But I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate and I should have. No excuses.”

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over as governor in two weeks. Hochul is very familiar to Orleans County. She has made frequent stops to the area in her role as lieutenant governor. She also represented the area briefly in Congress.

Cuomo said she is “smart and competent” and can get “up to speed quickly” in leading the state government.

Cuomo said he was proud to lead the state in passing the SAFE Act, raise the minimum wage to $15, legalize same-sex marriage and fight Covid-19.

He said the current environment, of going after people and demanding their ouster without due process, is unsustainable for the democracy.

“This is about politics and our political system today is too often driven by the extremes,” he said. “Rashness has replaced reasonableness. Loudness has replaced soundness.”

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – Attention all Orleans County parents and caregivers: there will be a child car seat check point event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Safety Building parking lot, 13925 Route 31 in Albion.

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.

Informing and instructing parents and caregivers on child safety and proper installation of car seats is critical to saving young lives.

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. If you have questions about car seats, contact Certified Technician Kevin Colonna at 585-589-5527 or Kevin.Colonna@orleanscountyny.gov.