Eric Watson welcomes sister Angela, who served as construction manager for Habitat for Humanity in Buffalo

Photos by Tom Rivers: Angela Watson and her brother Eric Watson work together at Watson Enterprises, and with a new business, Vanguard Interiors.

BARRE – Eric Watson was looking to add a design specialist and construction manager to his business, Watson Enterprises.

Eric didn’t have to look far for that multi-talented person. His sister, Angela Watson, is stepping into the role, allowing Watson Enterprises to provide more services for customers. The two recently also formed a new company, Vanguard Interiors, for the design services that provide detailed simulations for how a new building or remodel can look, including right down to the furnishings. Angela, 31, uses a CAD program to provide a virtual walk-through of the projects.

“You can see the exact colors,” Eric said. “It eliminates the guesswork. You can see what you’re looking to achieve.”

Angela takes measurements of rooms, cabinets, windows – anything in the space. She puts in the data and can show how it can look, tweaking colors, fabrics and changing the size of some elements.

Customers provide input on the colors and furnishings, and they can see on the design program how the space can look with different paint, furniture and other interior design.

Eric Watson, 33, started Watson Enterprises seven years ago, keeping equipment at a hayfield along Oak Orchard River Road in Ridgeway.

He began building pole barns, and expanded to remodeling homes, and doing excavation work and concrete projects.

Angela Watson shows how she can design a house with a CAD program, showing how the house looks with finishes, color and building materials. Watson said the design would be her dream house, a modern version of a Frank Lloyd Wright style of a home.

The business grew and he moved the operations to his home property in Barre. About two years ago, with the business on an upswing, he built a new office building and storage area on West Lee Road (Route 31A) in Barre. Watson now has nine employees.

His sister joined him in April 2020, following five years as a construction supervisor for Habitat for Humanity in Buffalo. They are both Lyndonville graduates.

Angela led about 20 building projects in Buffalo. She has an undergraduate degree in mathematics and master’s degree in public health. She has a passion for construction and design, and saw a perfect opportunity by joining with her brother.

Angela is back in school at the Interior Design Institute and she is becoming a lighting specialist.

“I’ve always liked building stuff,” she said. “I have a knack for the design portion.”

She also likes the challenge of overseeing a construction project – managing construction crews, coordinating with subcontractors, securing building permits and ordering materials.

Eric is pleased to be working with his sister, who he said adds a new dimension to the business.

“I’ve had really great people in my life,” he said. “It’s the people you surround yourself with, and it’s also tenacity and drive to do better.”

For more on Vanguard Interiors, click here. For more on Watson Enterprises, click here.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) has cosponsored a resolution to support Border Patrol (CBP) following recent calls from lawmakers to defund CBP, ICE, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“I’ve met with Border Patrol agents here in Western New York and numerous times at our southern border. One thing is perfectly clear – they love our nation and work tirelessly every day to protect it and keep us safe,” Jacobs said. “Every single day, Border Patrol apprehends dangerous criminals, seizes illicit drugs, and helps put an end to human trafficking. Without them, communities across the country would be endangered.”

The resolution Jacobs cosponsored expresses full confidence in the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and Border Patrol. It also condemns rhetoric from lawmakers attempting to defund these critical agencies and rejects all attempts to strip them of their funding.

“Calls from Democrats to defund Border Patrol are incredibly irresponsible and reckless, especially in the face of the ever-growing crisis at our southern border brought on by President Biden’s failed policies,” Jacobs said. “In fact, Border Patrol needs additional resources to ensure they can continue their critical work under increasingly dire circumstances. I am proud to stand with them and support them, and I urge every single member of Congress to do the same. The work of Border Patrol is paramount to our national security.”

KENDALL – The Kendall Town Board on Tuesday voted to reduce the number of town justices from two to one. The issue is subject to a permissive referendum. Residents who object to the decision have 30 days from July 20 to submit a petition, which could force the matter to go on the ballot in November.

The Town Board voted to abolish one of the part-time positions following the resignation of Town Justice David Gaudioso on April 5. Debra Kluth is the other judge and has been handling all of the cases.

With the Town Board’s vote on Tuesday, Gaudioso’s position won’t be filled and the position would be abolished on Dec. 31.

Many of the vehicle and traffic cases are handled by a Traffic Diversion Program through the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office. That program has reduced the workload for two town justices, said Tony Cammarata, the Kendall town supervisor.

“The Traffic Diversion Program has become a bigger part of process,” Cammarata said. “We don’t see the need for two justices anymore.”

Many other nearby towns have already eliminated the second town justice position and function with one judge.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday evening voted in support of an Albion business expansion, a 5-megawatt solar project in Kendall, a new tank for Helena Agri-Enterprises, and two new ponds in Ridgeway.

• RS Automation expansion – In Albion, the County Planning Board recommended Albion officials approve the site plan for a 9,000-square-foot addition to RS Automation at 4015 Oak Orchard Rd. Rick Stacey, owner of the manufacturing company, said RS is growing at its Route 98 facility.

“We definitely need the space,” he told Planning Board members.

• Kendall solar project – In Kendall, the board recommended approval for a site plan and special use permit for a solar project at 1771 West Kendall Rd., which is south of the intersection of West Kendall and Carr roads.

DG New York CS LLC from Juno Beach, Fla., is developer of the project on land owned by Thomas Munzert. DG would use 34 acres of the site, with the solar panels on a single-axis tracking system. That will allow them to slowly rotate and follow the sun during the daylight.

The project was reviewed by the board in January, but it was up for review again when there was a change in the location of the access road and some of the panels.

There will be a 7-foot-high perimeter fence, and there will be 98 trees planted, spaced every 12 feet. Those trees include 25 Black Hills Spruce, 39 Norway Spruce, and 24 Scotch Pine.

The construction project will take 4 ½ months, company officials told the Planning Board.

• New storage tank for Helena Agri-Enterprises – The board recommended Ridgeway officials approve the site plan for a 73-foot diameter by 32-foot high tank storage for chemical bulk storage at 3956 Allis Rd.

Helena wants to add the storage tank for liquid fertilizer called urea ammonium. The non-flammable chemical is produced by combining urea, nitric acid and ammonia.

The product is in demand for farmers, especially in the spring planting season and also for “side dressing,” applying fertilizer between the rows of growing crops.

Helena will have a “double tank” or a tank within a tank to store the product, said John Ivison, branch manager of Helena’s location in Ridgeway.

• Two ponds in Ridgeway – The Planning Board recommended Ridgeway approve the site plans and issue permits for two ponds that would both be less than an acre in size.

Kirk Nice is proposing to construct a 40,000-square-foot pond to support farm irrigation at 3025 Knowlesville Rd.

Gregory Heitzenrater is proposing a 10,000-square-foot pond for recreational purposes at 2901 County Line Rd.

‘The unfortunate reality is our state is in the midst of a self-inflicted crime crisis.’ – Rob Ortt

Press Release, Rob Ortt, State Senate Republican leader

Photo by Tom Rivers: State Sen. Rob Ortt speaks during the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon on July 16 at Tillman’s Village Inn. Ortt said new state policies on criminal justice have made New York and local communities less safe. Congressman Chris Jacobs is next to Ortt during the luncheon.

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt have a sent a letter to the Office of Court Administration and New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services requesting a thorough and transparent analysis on the correlation between changes to New York State bail laws in the 2019-2020 State Budget and the increase in violent crime across the state since those laws went into effect January 1, 2020.

“The recent surge in shootings and violent crime all across the state have confirmed our worst fears – so called criminal justice ‘reforms’ passed under One-Party Rule are a danger to all New Yorkers,” Ortt said. “Shootings are up. Hate crimes are up. While the Governor’s recently declared state of emergency finally acknowledges what the Republican Conference has stated all along, that violence in our cities is a serious problem, it ignores the very policies and rhetoric he has embraced in the past two years: bail reform, discovery reform and a war on our police. It’s time for the Governor to acknowledge the consequences of his actions, and that begins by examining his own state data – not ignoring or whitewashing it.”

The timing of the recent surge in shootings and violent crime directly correlates with the implementation of changes to the bail laws passed by the majorities in the Legislature and signed by the Governor as part of the 2019-2020 State Budget.

Changes to the bail laws, which removed discretion from judges when it came to setting bail for ninety percent of defendants, took effect on January 1, 2020.  Since the start of 2020, shootings, murders, assaults and other violent crimes have skyrocketed all across the state.

Law enforcement experts all across New York have almost unanimously condemned bail reform as a cause of rising violent crime. The NYPD commissioner, Monroe County law enforcement officials, and even Albany County’s Democratic District Attorney have all linked bail reform with rising violent crime in communities all across the state.

“The unfortunate reality is our state is in the midst of a self-inflicted crime crisis,” Ortt said. “In order to come up with solutions, we must fully understand the consequences of recent policies. I believe that by repealing these policies, and increasing support and funding for law enforcement, we can reverse this sharp increase in violence.”

LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Planning Board is recommending the Village of Lyndonville approve the site plan for a new farm and artisan market in Lyndonville at 29 South Main St.

Robert Smith, owner of the property, wants to have the market on Fridays, from 4 to 9 p.m. The market will be on the now vacant site where the Pennysaver stood.

That structure had its roof collapse on Feb. 22 from heavy snow and ice. The building from 1899 also had suffered deterioration with its support beams. The building was knocked down in March.

Smith, a Lyndonville native who now lives in Palm Springs in California, used Zoom video conferencing to attend Thursday’s Orleans County Planning Board meeting. He is redeveloping other Main Street buildings.

With the former Pennysaver site, he said there will be room for up to 18 vendor booths in 10 by 10-foot locations, with space for three food trucks on the east end of the lot. He will provide electric hookups for the food trucks, as well as port-a-potties on the 4,000-square-foot site.

He wants to make the market available on Fridays from Memorial Day to October.

“We think this is a good opportunity to bring people into the village,” Smith said. “On Friday night people are headed to the lake. This will be a chance for them to pick up provisions and a meal.”

Lyndonville students also are expected to provide entertainment on some of the market days.

The County Planning Board encouraged the Village Planning Board to seek more information on whether the booths will be set up and taken down weekly, or if they will be permitted structures. The board should also see if there is a parking plan for the vendors’ vehicles and the market visitors, county planning officials said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jonesie and the Cruisers kicked off the return of Albion’s Concerts on the Canal series. Last year’s series was wiped out due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The bands are back this summer for four concerts on Thursday evenings. The top photo shows lead singer Gary Jones and keyboardist Gary Withey after the band concluded two hours of performing classic rock songs. (I got there just as it was ending. I had another meeting to attend.)

The concerts are free from 6 to 8 p.m. The lineup for the rest of the series includes: The Who Dats on July 29, Cold Fusion Arts on Aug. 5, and The Trellis Cooper Band on Aug. 12.

Austin Zobel, left, and Harry Papponetti grilled hamburgers, cheeseburger and hot dogs. The Albion Fire Department will be serving food and refreshments during the concerts.

People who encounter rabies vaccine baits encouraged to leave them undisturbed

This map shows the target areas for sending rabies vaccine baits in New York State.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

New York will once again be taking part in a nationally coordinated effort to halt the spread of raccoon rabies in 16 states.

Ongoing field evaluation of a new oral rabies vaccine (ORV) called ONRAB will occur in Clinton, Essex counties in the Empire State as part of an evaluation that also includes parts of northern Vermont and New Hampshire.  Additionally, evaluations will also occur in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming counties.

These sites were selected in part because of ongoing collaborations with partners from the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada in the fight against rabies to protect human and animal health and reduce significant costs associated with living with rabies across broad geographic areas.  Aerial and hand distribution of baits will take place in New York from July 26 through August 24.

The ONRAB bait consists of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blister pack, containing the vaccine. To make the baits attractive, the blister packs are coated with a sweet attractant that includes vegetable-based fats, wax, icing sugar, vegetable oil, artificial marshmallow flavor, and dark-green food-grade dye.  Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the bait. However, people who encounter baits directly are asked to leave them undisturbed.  Should contact with bait occur, immediately rinse the area with warm water and soap and contact your local health department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County or 585-589-3278 for Orleans County.

Please do not attempt to remove a bait from your dog’s mouth. The bait will not harm the dog. If you have additional questions related to the field evaluation in New York, please contact the Wildlife Services office in Rensselaer, NY at (518) 268-2289.

Rabies is a serious public health concern because if left untreated it is invariably fatal. Costs associated with detection, prevention and control of rabies conservatively exceed $500 million annually.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greater than 90 percent of reported rabies cases in the United States are in wildlife. The cooperative USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) was established in 1997 to prevent the further spread of wildlife rabies in the U.S. by containing and eventually eliminating the virus in terrestrial mammals.

The majority of the NRMP efforts are focused on controlling raccoon rabies, which continues to account for most of the reported wildlife rabies cases in the U.S. Raccoon rabies occurs in all states east of the established ORV zone that extends from Maine to northeastern Ohio to central Alabama. Continued access to oral vaccine and bait options that are effective in all target wildlife species remains critical to long term success.

During 2011, the NRMP worked with other Federal, State, and local partners to conduct the first raccoon ORV field trial in the U.S. in over 20 years. This field trial was designed to test the safety and immunogenicity of the oral human adenovirus-rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine ONRAB (Artemis Technologies, Guelph, Ontario, Canada), which has been successfully integrated into comprehensive rabies control programs that resulted in elimination of raccoon rabies from Canada.

Encouraging results from the U.S. trial in West Virginia represented a major milestone that led to expanded evaluations in 4 additional states (NH, NY, OH, and VT) during 2012-2020. In 2021, the use of ONRAB will further expand into two additional states (PA and TN).  Data from these evaluations will support licensing of this vaccine for broader, more aggressive management of raccoon rabies by the NRMP and partners, with the goal of eliminating the variant of the rabies virus that cycles in raccoons.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) delivered a speech on the House floor today calling for the United States to take action to reopen our side of the U.S. – Canada border.

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

“The Biden administration announced that it would once again extend the US – Canada border closure for nonessential travel until at least August 21st.

“This is yet another example of the President’s failure on this issue.

“His second day in office he signed an executive order calling for a plan – that never happened.

“We have sent multiple letters calling for answers – they have gone unanswered.

“Reporters have asked for clarity – the White House has dodged.

“Families and small businesses have pleaded for action so they can reunite, and recoup lost revenue – they’ve been ignored.

“Canada has announced they will allow fully vaccinated Americans in starting in August. This is long overdue but still lightyears ahead of the President.

“This extension is unacceptable, ignores the science, and extends the suffering of families and small businesses.

“Reopening the border for nonessential travel can be done safely. The time for stalling and silence has long passed. The Biden administration needs to act immediately to reopen our shared border.

“On Monday, Canadian officials announced Canada would begin accepting vaccinated Americans for nonessential travel on August 9th. Yesterday, the U.S. announced that our side of the border would remain closed to nonessential travel until August 21st.”

Jacobs introduced the Northern Border Reopening Transparency Act in June to force the Biden administration to publicly report all information regarding its efforts to reopen the U.S. – Canada border.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S.3086/A.3891) raising the age of consent to be married in New York State to 18.

This new measure builds upon legislation eliminating child marriage that the Governor signed in 2017 by removing the ability for 17-year-olds to be married with parental and judicial consent.

“This administration fought hard to successfully end child marriage in New York and I’m proud to sign this legislation to strengthen our laws and further protect vulnerable children from exploitation,” Cuomo said. “Children should be allowed to live their childhood and I thank the many legislators and advocates who worked diligently to advance this measure and further prevent forced marriages in this state.”

This legislation takes effect 30 days after becoming law and will apply to licenses issued after that date and marriages that had not been solemnized prior to that date.

Senator Julia Salazar said, “Regardless of maturity level, minors lack sufficient legal rights and autonomy that they need to protect them if they enter a marriage contract before becoming adults. The vast majority of minors who enter a marriage are teenage girls, and getting married before adulthood often has devastating consequences for them. I thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill to finally prohibit child marriage without exceptions in New York, and commend the continued work of Unchained At Last in advocating to prohibit child marriage nationwide.”

Assembly Member Phil Ramos said, “The cruel and callous practice of child marriage has traumatized too many children to count. Nalia’s Law, which will raise the age of consent for marriage to 18 and prohibit marriage if either person is underage, is named after one brave survivor of forced child marriage who I was lucky enough to meet. With the passage of this crucial legislation, minors in New York will be further protected from this predatory practice, and we can prevent stories like Nalia’s from repeating themselves.”

ALBION – Several people pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Wednesday in crimes that included drug possession, driving while intoxicated, sex abuse, grand larceny and promoting prison contraband.

The guilty pleas included:

• Michael Russell, 50, of Hamlin who pleaded guilty to sex abuse in the second degree. He admitted to sexual contact with his hand with a girl under age 14 between July 2007 and July 2011.

He faced more serious charges of three counts of first-degree sex abuse, but the victim agreed to reduced charge in the plea agreement that will have Russell spending up to 364 days in the Orleans County Jail. He could also be sentenced to six years of probation and will be required to be registered as a sex offender.

He will be sentenced on Oct. 20.

• Jason Kuczynski, 31, a former inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility pleaded guilty to attempted promoting prison contraband in the first degree for possessing fentanyl in the prison. That is a controlled narcotic and it is against prison rules to have it.

Kuczynski, who is now at the Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica, faces up to an additional 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 29.

• Jacob Harbaugh, 31, of the Niagara Falls was due to go on trial on Monday. He instead pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and faces up to 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 13.

He maintained his innocence and entered an Alford plea where he doesn’t admit guilt. But Harbaugh said he was concerned he could be found guilty at trial of more serious burglary and larceny charges.

He is one of three defendants who allegedly stole three dirt bikes from a Ridgeway garage on Oct. 16, 2018. The other two co-defendants have all been sentenced and said Harbaugh was part of the crime, including its planning and then the disposal of the motorcycles, District Attorney Joe Cardone told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Harbaugh also was stopped by police in Middleport and was in the same vehicle as the other two co-defendants, Cardone said.

The motorcycles were taken from a detached garage on Countyline Road in Ridgeway. Harbaugh was seen at the location of the crime. However, Harbaugh said he didn’t know the codefendants intended to take the motorcycles.

Cardone said two of the flat-track motorcycles have been recovered. Two of the motorcycles are valued at about $5,000 each and the third one is worth about $8,000, Cardone said.

• Matthew Daugherty, 26, of Lockport pleaded guilty to criminal possession of controlled substance in the fifth and seventh degrees.

Judge Church accepted him into a treatment court program. He will be on interim probation. If he completes the treatment court in about a year, the felony charge will be removed and he will be sentenced on the misdemeanor and won’t face any time in jail.

• Kayla Hodgins, 29, of Medina also pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth and seventh degree. She was accepted into the treatment court program. She will be on interim probation. If she completes the treatment court in about a year, the felony charge will be removed and she will be sentenced on the misdemeanor and won’t face time in jail.

• Jason Perry, 40, of Albion pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree. He faces up to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 29.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Lance Anderson played the role of Jean Valjean in the production of Les Miserables in October 2013. Anderson was also a director and president of the Lake Plains Players. He passed away on April 1 after suffering a severe stroke. While with LPP, he expanded the number of productions, including a children’s theater camp over the summer.

The Lake Plains Players, a local community theater group, has named its scholarships in memory of Lance Anderson, an Albion native was a key leader for the group.

Anderson passed away on April 1, following a severe stroke. He was a performer, director and president for the Lake Plains Players, leading the group in tackling ambitious musicals while expanding programs to include a summer theater camp for children.

The Players awarded three scholarships for $250 each. They were awarded to high school seniors who have shown talent in the performing arts and who will be continuing their studies in the performing arts.

The 2021 recipients include:

• Rainna Frombgen of Newfane, who will be attending Buffalo State College to major in Music Education.
• Miranda Wolter of Royalton-Hartland, who will be attending Belmont University to major in Music Education & Orchestra.
• Zachary Frank of Newfane, who will attending SUNY Fredonia to major in Music Education.

Anderson caught the theater bug while a student at Albion in the early 1980s. He went on to a career as a vocal teacher, and remained deeply involved in the Lake Plains Players.

Anderson was the group’s president. He performed on stage, directed many shows, and would do many of the thankless tasks behind the scenes.

He led a group that was friendly and accepting to everyone, but also pushed to put on high-quality productions.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The winning teams in the Albion Rotary Golf Tournament were all well below par during last week’s Albion Rotary Club golf tournament at Shelridge Country Club.

The winning men’s team shot a 56 in a best ball format. That was 16 under par. That team included, from left: Zack Burgess, Marc O’Hearn and Wes Bedford. (Guy Eaton also was on the team but isn’t included in the photo.)

There were 20 teams on the par 72 course. Proceeds from the tournament will go towards the Leadership Orleans program and a transportation program through Office for the Aging.

The winning mixed doubles team shot a 64. Those team members include Michelle Morgan, Jennifer Ortlieb, Brian Wirth and Sam Gugliuzza.

The winning women’s team shot a 69. They include Betty Kepner, Kelly Froman, Sherry Palmeri and Mary Guzik.

Cindy Perry and Becky Karls, members of the Albion Rotary Club, organized the event. They are shown at the club house at Shelridge.

Provided photo: The chairwoman of the Libertarian Party in Orleans County is giving away fentanyl testing strips to help protect people from potential overdoses.

The leader of the Libertarian Party in Orleans County is giving away fentanyl testing strips free of charge. Chase Tkach, chairwoman of the local Libertarian Party, said the goal of the effort is “to assist in ending the war on drugs and keeping our community safe from potential overdoses.”

She collected donations from the Libertarian community to purchase fentanyl testing strips. So far she has given out 120 of the testing strips. Tkach said her daughter’s father passed away from an accidental fentanyl overdose last August 27th.

“Nearing the anniversary of his passing one year ago, I decided to collect donations for these fentanyl testing strips in an attempt to save lives, and avoid seeing another family go through what my family and my daughter, more importantly, experienced,” she said. “My goal is to allow people in my community to feel safe asking me for these necessities, without fear of judgement or legal consequences.”

Tkach also has been handing out handmade bags of brand name, free condoms in the surrounding cities to help with the STD crisis and avoid unwanted pregnancies before they happen, as well as to sex workers in need.

“These are both things I’ve been doing all on my own and aim to continue to do until I no longer receive donations to do so, but I’ve been handing out a lot and I hope it’s helping,” she said.

Tkach doesn’t have a specific location for distributing the items. She said she reaches out to people who are known drug users and people who may be sexually active.

“I approach people without judgement, just wanting them to be safe,” she said. “My goal is to save lives, not judge people for their addictions, career choices, or choice to be sexually active. Having these resources available for all, judgement free, funded by community donations, can save countless lives. I started by just handing out condoms to sex workers in marginalized communities. I then expanded to handing them out to all who asked for them.”