Press release and photo from Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Health Occupation Technician students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center have been completing their clinical hours at Absolut Care of Gasport.

Teacher Courtney Slack said she and co-teacher Rebecca Mahar-Price feel it is imperative to the success of their students that they experience direct patient care before completing their program.

“The healthcare field is growing exponentially and our community depends on well-trained and a fully prepared workforce,” Mrs. Slack said.  “We feel it is our duty to teach our students to be employable in the nursing field, which includes compassion, commitment and confidence.”

The teachers believe the clinical experience helps to bring those attributes together to make their students immediately employable upon graduation and gain their certification as a nursing assistant.

“We are extremely grateful to have had so much support this year from both our OCTEC center, as well as Absolute Care of Gasport, to make this experience happen in the face of a pandemic,” Mrs. Slack said.

Provided photos: There were 10,000 steelhead fingerlings put in two pens in the Oak Orchard River on Monday. Volunteers will feed them the next month and then the fish will be released. They will be bigger with a higher chance of surviving and returning to the Oak Orchard when they are mature.

CARLTON – More than 100,000 fingerling fish were delivered by the state Department of Environmental Conservation on Monday to the Oak Orchard River.

Those fish will be raised in pens and fed regularly by volunteers the next month. The fish will nearly double in size which will increase their chances for surviving when they are released into the river and when they go out to Lake Ontario.

They also are “imprinting” on the Oak Orchard, and will have a better chance of returning when they are mature in about 3 to 4 years, with the steelhead topping 10 pounds and some of the salmon 30 pounds or more.

Oak Orchard volunteers have been running the pen-rearing project since 1998. It was the first such effort on the south shore of the lake. Now there are many.

Fishing communities have seen how the projects pay off with a better fishery, with more mature fish that draw bring in anglers from outside the area to support local businesses.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation delivered 111,000 Chinook salmon on Monday to pens in the Oak Orchard River. The Oak Orchard in 1998 became the first community with a pen-rearing project on the southshore of Lake Ontario. Now there are several similar efforts.

The DEC delivered 111,000 Chinook salmon and 10,000 steelhead on Monday. They will be kept in pens at Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina.

Ron Bierstine, owner of Orleans Outdoor, has been coordinating the steelhead pens since 2019. He said the effort has paid off with more mature steelhead in the Oak Orchard.

“This year the steelhead fishing in the river the returns look pretty good,” he said. “We hear a lot anecdotally.”

In 2022, there should be more 3-year returns from the steelhead in the pens in 2019.

“I’m real excited about next year,” Bierstine said this morning.

The volunteers feed the fish on a feeding schedule from the DEC. The DEC provides the food in little pellets.

Bierstine said the pen-rearing has become a community effort at the Oak Orchard.

“All major ports do it now, but it started here on the Oak Orchard,” he said.

‘The interest in preserving food at home skyrocketed last year during the Covid-19 shutdown’

Provided photos: Karen DesJardin has taught several of the MFP workshops over the years.  Here, she explains how to use a Boiling Water Bath canner, which she will explain in detail during the April 28th class.

Press Release, Master Food Preserver program, Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County

KNOWLESVILLE – The Master Food Preservers of Orleans County CCE will be offering a free “Intro to Canning” class on Wednesday, April 28th at 6 p.m. The Master Food Preserver program is a group of volunteers trained through Cornell Cooperative Extension to offer food preservation classes to the public.

In Orleans County, the MFP volunteers have offered several workshops each year, from basic skills like dehydrating to more involved preservation techniques like pressure canning. This year, to start off their workshop season, the volunteers thought it was important to offer an “Intro To Canning” class at no cost to the public.

“The interest in preserving food at home skyrocketed last year during the Covid-19 shutdown,” said Katie Oakes, coordinator of the Master Food Preserver group at Orleans County CCE. “Food was flying off the shelves in the grocery stores and I think people wanted to be more self-reliant with their food supply.”

Jams and jellies are some of the most commonly canned goods, the Intro to Canning class will detail all the materials and supplies needed for this method of canning.

There were shortages of canning supplies last year nationwide, driven by different factors. Many people grew pandemic victory gardens and wanted to preserve their harvest, they had more time than ever to can food at home, and some were unnecessarily hoarding supplies.

But when people could actually get their hands on the supplies, sometimes they weren’t canning the foods properly and safely. Improperly canned products can produce low quality or spoiled foods at best, and in worst case scenarios can cause botulism, a rare but potentially fatal form of food poisoning.

“My intention for this class was for review of safe practices for experienced canners along with the ‘how to’ basics for people who may be new to canning,” explained Karen Des Jardin, a long-time MFP volunteer and the instructor for the Intro to Canning class on April 28th. “I’ll go over water bath canning, which is one of the most common methods of food preservation, but I’ll also touch on dehydrating and freezing techniques for preserving food at home.”

MFP Volunteer Colin Butgereit will teach the Preserving Beans class on Wednesday, September 22.

The class will also showcase the basic supplies needed to get started canning at home, as well as important safety tips to make sure the final product is safe to consume. The MFP volunteers also have a whole lineup of other paid workshops available for the public including Preserving Beans, Thai Curry Sauce, Breadmaking, Cidermaking (Zoom class), and an International Pasta series.

All of the Master Food Preserver classes will be held in the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 State Rt 31, Albion, NY.  Masks, distancing and pre-registration is required.

Register for this class or any others in the Master Food Preserver 2021 workshop series by calling 585-798-4265. Email Katie Oakes at klo54@cornell.edu with any questions or for more details.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Dontae Rhim, shown here getting a block from Tyler Chinn to pick up good yardage during last week’s win over Newfane, and their Mustang teammates will visit Akron on Friday night for a C North game. Albion will visit Depew for a B North contest.

Since this first ever Spring football regular season has a very short five game schedule every contest becomes more important than ever and Friday’s road trips for Medina and Albion are no exception.

Medina, which made a very successful debut into Class C North competition last week with a 50-0 win over Newfane, visits Akron at 7 p.m. Friday. The Tigers bested Franklinville/Ellicotville 21-7 in the opener.

Albion will be looking to rebound from a 21-6 inter division loss at Pioneer when the Purple Eagles visit Depew at 7 p.m. Friday in a Class B North contest. Depew blanked Springville 28-0 in another inter divisional opener.

Medina junior quarterback Xander Payne had a strong varsity debut as he passed for three touchdowns, two to Tyler Chinn and one to Joe Cecchini, and also ran for another score. Iverson Poole also ran for two touchdowns and Corey Saj returned an interception for a score to highlight the shutout effort by the Mustangs stingy defensive unit.

Akron quarterback Adam Mietz also had a good opening night completing a pair of touchdown passes to Mitchell Holtz. Aidan Smith also rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown and David Kalinowski led the Tigers defense with 10 tackles.

Friday’s other C North Division games will have Newfane (0-1) at Tonawanda (1-0) and Cleve Hill (0-0) at Wilson (0-1).

The other B North contests will have Maritime (1-0) at Maryvale (1-0) on Thursday and Olean (0-1) at Depew (1-0) on Friday.

8 Man Division

On Thursday the two local 8 man division teams, Holley and Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville, will begin an interesting stretch of three straight midweek games to close out the regular season. The teams will then play on Wednesday next week and on Tuesday the following week.

Holley (1-1) will visit Perry (2-1) and Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville (0-2) will travel to Pembroke (2-1) on Thursday. The division’s other contest will have undefeated (3-0) Red Jacket vs. CG Finney (1-1).

Press Release, Assemblyman Michael Norris

Michael Norris, an assemblyman from Lockport whose 144^thAssembly District includes part of Orleans County, released a statement about the state budget. He is pleased to see investments in roads and libraries.

“Two of the most important resources in our community are our local roads and our libraries, without either our daily society in Western New York simply would not function. Our roads, highways, bridges and culverts not only ensure safe passage to and from work or school or appointments but also ensure our regional economy can get stronger.

“However, the programs that fund our local roads had not seen a funding increase from Albany in nearly a decade. This is an important priority for me, and I have worked very hard with my colleagues in Albany to build consensus on the issue. This year, I was appointed to serve on the Joint Budget Conference Committee on Transportation and I am very proud to announce that these programs are getting the funding increases they need. In fact, our local road maintenance programs known as CHIPS (the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Program) and the Extreme Winter Recovery fund are each getting $100 million in extra funding. This is outstanding news.

“Furthermore, our libraries are the heart and soul of our small Western New York communities, whether you are in the city of Lockport or in a rural community where broadband access might not be available to you at home. Libraries are essential.

“I fought hard against the governor’s proposed cut and was pleased that not only were his cuts restored but that an additional $20 million has also been awarded for library construction aid in this year’s final agreement. On top of the existing $34 million, this new allotment nearly doubles the funding that our libraries need to make the much-needed capital improvements to continue meeting the ever-growing needs of our communities.”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Members of the John E. Butts Memorial Fund pose around the monument in Butts Park paying tribute to the Medina native who was killed in World War II. From left are Jim Freas, Peter Huth, Dave Barhite, Dave Kusmierczak and Steve Johnson. The fund awards a $500 scholarship in Butts’ name to a senior at Medina High School each year.

MEDINA – The John E. Butts Memorial Fund is seeking donations to support the organization and its efforts to award scholarships to graduating Medina seniors.

The fund in honor of the Medina native who was killed during World War II was started in 1981 by a group of Medina citizens who wanted to build a memorial to Butts. After a monument honoring the soldier was built in Butts Park, there was money left over and a scholarship was started.

John Butts was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.

John Edward Butts was a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army and a rifle platoon leader who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions above and beyond the call of duty during the Normandy Campaign in World War II. Butts was one of five brothers who served in the war and the only one to be killed in action. He was born Aug. 4, 1922 in Medina and died in action June 23, 1944.

The fund, which also maintains the monument in Butts Park, awards a $500 scholarship each year to a senior at Medina High School. The organization relies on donations from the community to keep the fund going, said Dave Kusmierczak, secretary-treasurer of the John E. Butts Memorial Fund.

Other members of the organization which manages the fund are Peter Huth, president; Dave Barhite, vice president; and Steve Johnson, Jim Freas, Dave Morien and John Pera, board members. Jacquelyn Organisciak from Key Bank oversees the finances.

Kusmierczak said Huth goes to the school every year with applications for students to fill out, indicating life and career goals, their school activities, student income, a summary of the college they’d like to attend and what they want to study.

The scholarship isn’t awarded until the student enters college. In the event a scholarship isn’t awarded, leftover money is used for flowers around the monument in Butts Park.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in honor of Butts can send a check to the John E. Butts Memorial Fund in care of David Kusmierczak, 413 East Oak Orchard St., Medina, 14103.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced highlights of the FY 2022 Enacted Budget to reimagine, rebuild and renew New York in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

The Budget supports the Governor’s $311 billion infrastructure plan – the largest in the nation and the most expansive in State’s history – that will create thousands of jobs across the State.

The Budget establishes a first-in-the-nation program to provide affordable internet by requiring internet service providers to offer an affordable $15 per month high-speed internet plan to qualified low-income households.

The Budget enhances public safety by authorizing the withholding of up to 50 percent of State and Federal funds from jurisdictions that fail to produce a police reform plan and comply with the Governor’s Executive order. The Governor may require that the Attorney General appoint a monitor over the police force until the plan is adopted.

The Budget directs $2.3 billion in federal child care resources to expand availability, quality and affordability of child care across the state, and enhances the Employer Provided Child Care Credit to provide meaningful incentives to employers to help them provide child care to their employees.

The Budget supports $29 billion in public and private green economy investments to create 12,400 megawatts of green energy – enough to power 6 million homes – helping to fulfill the goals of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and also spur the COVID economic recovery. The investments include the largest offshore wind program in the nation, plans to make New York a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse, constructing a green energy transmission superhighway, a public-private partnership to build nearly 100 renewable energy projects and supporting transit agencies’ transition to electric busses.

The Budget ensures that New York uses “Buy American” principles in manufacturing of renewable components. The Budget also requires prevailing wage for construction labor peace agreements for operations and manufacturing.

The Budget ensures access to fair and safe housing and protects renters by establishing a $2.4 billion rent relief program using Federal and State funds.

The Enacted Budget includes comprehensive nursing home reform legislation to help ensure facilities prioritize patients over profits, establishing minimum thresholds for nursing home spending on direct resident care and staffing, and investing $32 million annually to implement the reforms, while capping profits and performing related party transactions to drive funding to where it matters most, the patients.

The Budget enacts small business and arts relief and recovery assistance, a robust $1 billion relief package for small businesses, arts, entertainment and restaurant relief to help them recover from the impacts of the pandemic. It includes $865 million in grants and $139 million in tax credits.

The Budget also continues the phase-in of the middle class tax cut, which is expected to save 4.8 million New Yorkers over $2.2 billion this year.

From the beginning of the pandemic, Governor Cuomo led the national effort to secure Federal funding for state and local governments, with New York State receiving $12.6 billion in aid to help offset devastating revenue losses caused entirely by the pandemic. With this Federal funding and additional revenues, including $3.5 billion in new tax revenue that rises to $4.3 billion in FY 2023, the Enacted Budget closes the deficit and invests in the ongoing response to the pandemic and recovery efforts.

“New York was ambushed early and hit hardest by Covid, devastating our economy and requiring urgent and unprecedented emergency spending to manage the pandemic,” Governor Cuomo said. “Thanks to the State’s strong fiscal management and relentless pursuit to secure the federal support that the pandemic demanded, we not only balanced our budget, we are also making historic investments to reimagine, rebuild and renew New York in the aftermath of the worst health and economic crisis in a century.”

Fiscal Highlights of the FY 2022 Enacted Budget:

• State Operating Funds spending is $111 billion
• All Funds spending $212 billion for FY 2022
• Applies $5.5 billion in federal aid
• Provides $29.5 billion in School Aid, a $3 billion, 11% increase.
• Provides $7.7 billion in State support for higher education in New York

Other highlights include:

• Mobile Sports Wagering: The FY 2022 Enacted Budget authorizes mobile sports wagering. Once fully phased in, legalization will provide more than $500 million in much needed revenue for the State to help rebuild from COVID-19 and grow what could be the largest sports wagering market in the U.S. into a profitable industry long-term. Under the legislation, the state will issue a Request for Applications and must select at least two platform providers who must work with a total of at least four operators or skins. Once fully phased in, the program will provide $5 million annually to youth sports, and $6 million to combat problem gambling, doubling the resources currently available. The remainder of this new revenue will be dedicated to education.

• $1 Billion for Strengthening Local Highways and Bridges: The FY 2022 Enacted Budget builds upon Governor Cuomo’s record commitment to funding local highway and bridge projects. Funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) and the Marchiselli program increases by $100 million to $577.8 million and funding for Extreme Winter Recovery is $100 million.  The Enacted Budget also provides $100 million of new funding to localities responsible for State Touring Routes, increases highway aid through the PAVE NY program by $50 million to $150 million, and maintains funding of local bridge projects through the BRIDGE NY program at $100 million. This represents an overall year-to-year increase of $285 million and brings funding for local highway and bridge projects to more than $1 billion. These programs will play a vital role in improving conditions on State and local roads and bridges and rebuilding New York.

• Increase Aid to Community Colleges by $50 Per Student with a Funding Floor: The Enacted Budget increases community college formula aid from $2,947 per student to $3,197 per student and includes a funding floor at 98 percent of prior year formula aid. These changes will provide an additional $25 million in State support to over 200,000 community college students in the 2021-22 academic year.

• Public-Private Partnership to Build Nearly 100 Renewable Energy Projects: New York will contract for another 24 large-scale renewable energy generation projects in 2021, to bring the State’s total clean energy build-out to nearly 100 projects. The 23 solar farms and one hydroelectric facility will be the most cost-efficient clean energy construction to date in New York, producing more than 2,200 megawatts of clean power, generating more than $2.9 billion of investment and creating 3,400 jobs in 16 counties Upstate.

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 38 new confirmed Covid-19 cases today, bringing the total during the 13 months of the pandemic to 7,360 in the two counties, which includes 4,748 in Genesee and 2,612 in Orleans.

In Orleans County there are 11 new positive cases reported today. The new cases are residents of the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby) and Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 50s and 70s.

Orleans is reporting 1 of the new positive individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

The county also has 3 more of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 4 Orleans residents hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 27 new positive cases, which includes residents in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 90s.

Two of the new positive individuals are inmates at the Genesee County Jail, where 27 inmates have tested positive for Covid.

Genesee is reporting 26 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 9 Genesee residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

• Active cases continue rise: The number of active continues to trend up in the two counties. The 138 today is up from 131 on Monday and 98 a week ago. Orleans currently has 53 active cases, compared to 33 a week ago, while Genesee currently has 85 active cases, which is up 20 from a week ago when there were 65.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

Provided photo: “Grandma” Esther Leadley, a member of the Community Action Board of Directors and early childhood learning advocate, reads to a Head Start student in Genesee County. Leadley, a former Genesee County legislator, recognizes the importance of books for preschool children that help create readers for success in school and life.

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s Head Start program is joining forces to celebrate the Week of the Young Child from April 10 to April 16 with the National Association for Education of Young Children.

The local Head Start program serves over 250 young children, ages birth to 5 years, and their parents in Orleans and Genesee counties. Like NAEYC, Head Start programs are committed to delivering best practice early childhood education that help young children thrive and learn in an environment dedicated to ensuring children reach their full potential.

The 2021 Head Start Book Fund Campaign – “Build a Library … Create a Reader” – will put books in the homes of local Head Start children on a monthly basis.

Esther Leadley, long time active member of the Community Action Board of Directors, has worked tirelessly in advocating for the “Young Child” throughout her career. Her enthusiasm and passion for young children has initiated the Head Start Book Fund Campaign where children exposed to more books can increase their vocabulary and nurture beginner reading skills.

“It’s about our local children and their future,” Leadley said. “I hope others will join me in this annual project that builds home libraries and helps create readers for our Head Start children.”

Head Start donors can help “create readers” with a $60 donation that will ensure one take-home book for one local Head Start child for each of 12 months. A $120 donation will ensure a take-home book for two Head Start children with a book for each of 12 months.

Online donations can be made by clicking here or checks can be made payable to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and mailed to 409 State Street, Albion, NY  14411

Photos courtesy of Tim Elliott

MEDINA – Doug Herbert, a callman with the Medina Fire Department, carries a dog that was stuck in the drained Erie Canal on Monday evening.

Herbert was out for a jog when he saw the dog in the canal. Some bystanders tried to help the dog, but it got spooked and ran into the spillway near State Street Park and behind Medina Lumber and Hardware.

A canal employee was called and he gave access to Herbert to get the dog in the spillway.

The dog was doing fine after getting back on high ground.

Michael Emery, the owner of the dog named Ripley, wrote on the Orleans Hub Facebook page that he is “incredibly thankful for all those involved in helping her.” Ripley somehow escaped from the front yard, which is fenced in. She never did that before, Emery said. Once home, the dog was given a much-needed bath.

ALBION – The Village Board on Monday evening approved spending $71,400 to replace two 30-foot-long pumps at the water treatment plant.

The village has three pumps for bringing in water from Lake Ontario, and uses the third pump as a backup. The two main pumps are “failing rapidly,” Adam Rush, the chief operator, told the Village Board.

The Village Board declared the situation an emergency, which allows Albion to buy the pumps and have them installed without doing the normal competitive bidding process. If the village did that process, with preparing bid specifications and doing the legal notice postings, it could add another 4-5 weeks before the new pumps could be in place.

Even with the emergency declaration, Rush said it will take 6 to 8 weeks to get the new pumps, which need to be built specifically for Albion’s needs for depth and pressure. The installation will require bringing in a crane to take out the old pumps and put in the new ones.

Rush expects the old pumps will hold up until the new ones are in place, but the current ones are functioning at reduced capacity. They are pumping 1.9 million gallons of water a day now, and they are vibrating, making loud noises and “they shake violently,” Rush told the board. He doesn’t think they would hold up for the village’s peak water demand of 2.4 million gallons a day in summer.

“We are slowing down the pumping to preserve them,” he said. “Right now we can’t go full throttle.”

Besides providing water for the village, Albion’s water plant is the supplier for several towns in the county.

“This is our water,” said Mayor Eileen Banker. “We have to be able to provide water.”

The pumps are about 8 years old. They pull water from the lake that can have high turbidity, with sand, sediment and sometimes mud that takes a toll on the pump parts.

The village will pay for the new pumps out of the water department’s fund balance. The water fund includes $18,000 this budget year for service pumps.

Fire contracts approved with towns of Gaines, Albion

In other action on Monday, the Village Board approved new 2-year contracts for the village to provide fire protection and emergency services to the towns of Albion and Gaines.

The Town of Albion will pay a 5 percent increase to $109,455 in 2021, and then another 3 percent increase in 2022 to $112,739.

The Town of Gaines will pay 5 percent more in 2021 for $110,250, and then a 3 percent increase in 2022 for $113,557.50.

Albion will pay the amount in quarterly payments while Gaines agreed to a lump sum by April 15 each year.

Albion is considering creating a joint fire district which would take the fire department out of the village budget. If that happens, with the fire district becoming its own taxing entity, the fire contracts between the village and the two towns would become void.

• The board renewed a lease with State Assemblyman Steve Hawley for his district office at 121 North Main St., the Albion Visitors Center. Hawley will be billed a 2 percent increase to $1,391.93 a month.

The board also approved the following appointments for 2021-22:

• Linda Babcock as the Fair Housing Officer for a term of one year.
• Karen Conn to the Planning Board for a term of five years.
• Trellis Pore for a term of five years to the Zoning Board.
• Bernard Baldwin, Mike Beach, Annette Finch, Saul Harrison, Carly Ward and Terry Wilbert to the Recreation Committee for terms of one year each.
• Mary Ann Braunbach to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term of four years.
• Pam Davies, Lisa DeCarlo and Carol Tibbitts to the Grievance Committee for a one year term each.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) led a letter with Congressional representatives Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Lee Zeldin (NY-01) and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) in calling on Governor Cuomo to release billions in rental assistance funding allocated to New York State by Congress in December.

“Tenants and landlords across New York State have suffered enormous economic hardship during the pandemic. Congress recognizes this reality, and it is why we allocated funds to assist New Yorkers in need. We are concerned that more than half of the money provided under the CARES Act remains unspent, while none of the $1.3 billion provided in December has been spent,” Reps. Jacobs, Tenney, Garbarino, Zeldin, and Malliotakis wrote. “Numerous other states have already distributed this funding. It is imperative these funds reach their intended recipients promptly.”

Specifically, the representatives are asking the Governor to provide a timetable for the creation of the application portal the state government said it would be using for distribution. The representatives are also asking that the Governor disclose if he intends to add additional eligibility requirements to receive the funding above what is required by the federal government.

New York received $1.3 billion in federal funding for residential rental assistance in the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed by Congress in December and will be receiving another $1.4 billion under the American Rescue Plan. In addition, $100 million was provided under the CARES Act.

Zack Burgess, Jess Marciano, both in early 30s, are a new generation in local government

Photos by Tom Rivers: Zack Burgess takes the oath of office on Monday evening while his mother, Lynn Burgess, holds the Bible. Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, right, administers the oath in the board room at the Village Office. Burgess’s sister Amber Bedford, her husband Wes and their two children watched him take the oath.

ALBION/MEDINA – Two new village trustees were sworn into office on Monday, Zack Burgess, 31, and Jess Marciano, 34, are part of a new generation getting involved in local government.

Both were elected on March 16. Marciano was one of two trustees who were unopposed in Medina. She was elected along with incumbent Owen Toale.

Burgess won on March 16 with nearly 80 percent of the vote over retired social studies teacher Joe Martillotta, the former owner of the Crooked Door Tavern in Albion.

Burgess, a life-long Albion resident, has been active in the village, serving as co-chairman of the Rock the Park Music Festival at Bullard Park. He works as a sales representative at Bentley Brothers.

He has worked with many of the current Village Board members and many of the village employees through Rock the Park. He presented plans to the board for that music event many times in recent years and also connected with village department heads on the music festival, which was a fundraiser for the park.

Provided photo: Jess Marciano, right, took the oath on Monday with her daughter Cadence. Marciano’s wife, Rhonda Marciano, is shown holding the Bible.

Jess Marciano and her family were living in a small townhouse outside of Buffalo. They were looking for a permanent home with a “community feel.” Marciano and her wife Rhonda didn’t expect to move so far east as Medina. But the other communities they looked at didn’t feel like the right fit.

“We were hooked before we pulled out of the driveway of the new house, but the selling realtor, Renee Schuner, was a fantastic representative for Medina’s tourism committee,” Marciano said. “Renee sent us down Main Street, ending at Zambistro, for a full Medina experience. For nearly four years, especially the last two as a stay-at-home parent, I am reminded almost daily why this is such a wonderful place to live.”

Marciano joined Medina’s Parks Committee last year and is now on the Village Board. She worked at Walmart for 11 years, starting in loss prevention and ending as a co-manager, responsible for total store operations and directly supervising the salaried managers. In 2017, she started with ADESA Buffalo, where she worked for two years, one as sales supervisor and the other as the office manager.

The trustees start at a very busy time for the Village Boards, as they have several extra meetings in April, working to get the village budgets adopted by the end of April. Albion’s budget for 2020-21 totals $6,872,286 while Medina’s includes $5,925,742 in spending.

Zack Burgess signs the oath of office, which was administered by Village Clerk Linda Babcock.

Press Release, Sheriff Chris Bourke

Distracted driving has become a national epidemic – endangering passengers and others on the roadways.

Due to this danger, Orleans County Sheriff Christopher Bourke has announced the Sheriff’s Office will join forces with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other law enforcement agencies across the United States to actively enforce the “U Drive. U Text. U Pay. Campaign.” This high-visibility campaign runs from April 8-12.

According to NHTSA, there were 3,142 people killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2019. Texting while driving has become an especially problematic trend among younger drivers.

In fact, in 2019, 9 percent of people killed in teen (15-19) driving crashes died when the teen drivers were distracted at the time of the crash. Texting while driving is an illegal, ticket able offense. You could end up paying a hefty fine, and get points on your license.

Struggling to not text and drive?

• Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature
• Place your cell phone in vehicle trunk, glove box, or back seat
• Designate a passenger as a designated texter
• Pull over in safe location before reading or sending text

Village’s urban forest has suffered from emerald ash borer

Photos courtesy of Kathy Blackburn: Members of Medina’s Releaf Medina Society stand around a diseased ash tree in State Street Park. The Society is trying to raise money to purchase trees to replace the hundreds which have been attacked by the emerald ash borer. From left are Lisa Tombari, Kathy Blackburn, Releaf Medina Society chair Robert Sanderson and Jake Hebdon.

(Editor’s Note: The Releaf Medina Society is a separate group from the Medina Tree Board. An article on Sunday said the group was part of the Tree Board.)

MEDINA – A group recently organized to address the enormous task of replacing Medina’s diseased ash trees is on a mission – to “Releaf Medina.”

The Releaf Medina Society includes chairman Robert Sanderson and members Kathy Blackburn, Jake Hebdon and Lisa Tombari. They are in the middle of a fundraiser through April 30th to help replace diseased trees, especially the ash destroyed by the emerald ash borer.

Sanderson has put together a brochure which the Society is distributing throughout Medina, telling the advantage of trees and how people can donate to the annual fund drive to purchase new trees.

Medina has more than 10 trees for every resident, one of the reasons Medina is designated by the Arbor Day Foundation as a “Tree City,” Blackburn said.

The village Department of Public Works plants, waters and maintains the village’s trees. Blackburn explained that, while the village budget provides for the planting of 25 new trees annually, more than 100 are being lost every year due to their age. The emerald ash borer is taking its toll on the village’s many ash trees, all of which will eventually have to be cut down.

Hebdon said this is a huge issue because there are so many ash trees in the village. The DPW is marking those which have to come down.

Blackburn said one tree can cost between $175 and $210, depending on the variety.

Releaf Medina Society members Jake Hebdon, Lisa Tombari, Kathy Blackburn and Robert Sanderson look at the stump of an ash tree in State Street Park which was diseased by the emerald ash borer and had to be cut down.

Many of Medina’s trees may look all right on the outside, but inside they are full of disease, she said. The village has been focusing on different varieties that will thrive the best, those with tolerance to road salt. The village makes sure the tree size is appropriate for the space where they will be planted.

There had been a plan in place to replace trees on Gwinn Street, but 21 still need to be planted from Park Avenue to Oak Orchard Street, including Gwinn Street Park.

Residents are being asked to consider a donation to the Releaf Medina Society as a legacy gift which will last 60 to 100 years. Donations of any size are tax deductible and can be made by sending a check payable to ORG/Medina Releaf Fund to P.O. Box 543, Medina, 14103. Orleans Renaissance Group is accepting donations for the Releaf Medina Society.

Donors will be invited to an Arbor Day celebration at Gwinn Street Park at 10 a.m.  April 30 with 85 third-grade students from Oak Orchard School.

“Every new tree we allow to take root and flourish is a positive step to help our planet by fighting the accelerating threats of climate change and air pollution, give wildlife shelter and food, and also provide breathtaking beauty we can all enjoy,” Blackburn said.

Special donations may be made in three different ways.

• A general donation will be used to replace trees between streets and sidewalks. Donors will be recognized on Medina’s website and on a tree foundation sign at City Hall.
• Donations of $300 in memory of someone will pay for trees planted in one of the village’s six parks. The tree will be identified with a plaque honoring the loved one or in recognition of a family member or organization. The donor will be contacted for wording on the plaque.
• “On Your Street” donations are for those whose street is in need of trees and the donor has requested a specific location. Recognition will appear on Medina’s website and at City Hall. All donations go for cost of trees only. Minimum donation is $250.
• All donations are appreciated. Levels of giving are $25 to $199 for a “Good Citizen” donor; $200 to $299 for a “Silver” donor; $300 to $499 for a “Gold” donor; and $500 and for a “Platinum” donor.

The Releaf Medina Society praised DPW Superintendent Jason Watts and the DPW crew for their support and work toward “releafing” Medina.

Volunteers are also being sought to work with the Society, especially in fundraising. Anyone interested may call Sanderson at (716) 628-1810.