Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) has joined the House Rural Broadband Caucus for the 117th Congress.

“Expanding broadband access is critical to rebuilding and advancing rural Western New York communities. This need has existed for years, but the pandemic has amplified these needs as schools have moved online, telehealth services are being used more frequently and vaccine appointments are being made online, and Western New Yorkers are working from home,” Jacobs said.

The House Rural Broadband is co-chaired by Reps. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Peter Welch (D-VT-AL), Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16), and Bob Latta (R-OH-05). The Rural Broadband Caucus works in a bipartisan way to promote broadband deployment. Since its inception, the caucus has successfully secured billions of dollars for expanding internet access to rural areas.

“Students shouldn’t have to sit outside a restaurant to do homework, farmers should not lose revenue because they cannot compete with high-tech competitors, and small businesses should have every available resource to grow and thrive in Western New York,” Jacobs said.

“This has been one of my priorities since taking office, and I worked with my colleagues to successfully secure $635 million in funding for the USDA ReConnect Rural Broadband Program in the most recent appropriations bill,” he said. “Connecting our region is vital to our future, and I am committed to supporting efforts to improve access for Western New Yorkers. Joining this caucus puts me in an even better position to advocate for the needs of my constituents.”

Genesee County passes 4,000 cases during pandemic

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 36 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, bringing their combined total to 6,339 since last March.

In Orleans there are 16 new positive cases for a total of 2,320 during the pandemic. The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

The new cases include 6 residents of The Villages of Orleans Health & Rehab in Albion and 4 inmates at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a men’s prison in Albion.

In Orleans, 12 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed

from the isolation list, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

There are currently 2 residents from the county hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there 20 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 4,019 positive cases since March. Genesee has now had 7.0 percent of its 57,280 residents have confirmed cases of Covid.

The cases have surged since October. At the end of October, Genesee had 375 cases through the first eight months of the pandemic. Genesee had 579 in November, 1,495 in December and 1,419 in January. (The county has had 152 cases so far this month.)

The 20 new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). One of the new cases is a resident of Genesee Senior Living.

The 20 new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Genesee is reporting 24 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are currently 15 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee also has had two more residents die from a Covid-related illness, bringing the total number of Genesee residents to pass away from Covid to 117 since last March. The two deaths reported today are both over age 65. One was a resident of New York State Veterans’ Home in Batavia and the other was a resident at the Batavia VA Medical Center.

“Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments stated.

This data from the governor’s office shows the 7-day positivity rate for the 10 regions in the state.

The percentage of positive Covid-19 tests is decreasing in Orleans County, the Finger Lakes Region and the state.

Orleans County’s had the highest seven-day positivity rate in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region on Feb. 6 with a rate of 7.2 percent. That rate over the past seven days now is down to 4.7 percent. Orleans no longer leads the region. Wyoming County has the highest percentage at 5.8 while Genesee is lowest at 2.2 percent.

The Finger Lakes had a 7-day positivity rate for Covid-19 at 10.29 percent on Jan. 5, among the highest in the state.

The seven-day positivity rate has dropped to 2.66 percent on Wednesday, with the state-wide rate at 4.16 percent. That state-wide rate over seven days is the lowest since Dec. 1.

The state-wide rate for one day was at 3.54 percent on Wednesday, the lowest since Nov. 25.

The rate has now declined over 34 consecutive days, is down by 48 percent from the early January post-holiday peak, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.

The number of people hospitalized in the state due to Covid was 7,351 on Wednesday, which was down by 251 from Tuesday and down nearly 2,000 from the 9,273 on Jan. 19.

The Finger Lakes hit a pandemic high with 964 hospitalized due to Covid on Dec. 28. The Covid hospitalizations was down to 345 on Wednesday in the Finger Lakes Region.

“Across the state, from hospitalizations to infection rate, our numbers are continuing to decline – a sign of hope to all and proof of the dedication New Yorkers have shown to defeating this beast,” Cuomo said. “We are headed in the right direction, but we are not at the end of the tunnel yet. Until the day the war is won and everyone who wants one has the vaccine, we must continue to practice the guidelines we know work – washing your hands, wearing a mask and avoiding gatherings.”

‘This updated guidance is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down.’

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people who are fully vaccinated from Covid-19 don’t need to quarantine if they have been exposed to someone with Covid– for within 90 days after getting the second shot.

“Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with Covid-19,” the CDC said in the updated guidance Wednesday.

People are considered fully vaccinated if they have both shots of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines – and at least two weeks have gone by since the second dose was administered.

However, people who have had both shots should quarantine if they have had Covid exposure more than three months after being vaccinated because it is unclear how long the vaccine will be effective.

The CDC said vaccinated people should follow all other health guidance, including wearing a mask and social distancing when possible.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner of the state Department of Health, issued this statement this afternoon:

“Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance regarding quarantine following exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. According to the guidance, ‘asymptomatic fully vaccinated individuals’, meaning those who have received both shots and at least two weeks have passed since the second shot, are no longer required to quarantine within 90 days after the second shot.

“From the outset of the pandemic, New York State has followed the science and listened to the experts, and quarantine requirements only for New Yorkers who have received both shots will be similarly updated to reflect the CDC’s new guidance. However, the science regarding Covid transmissibility post-vaccination remains unsettled, and this updated guidance is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down.

“All New Yorkers, including those who have been fully vaccinated, should continue to wear masks, social distance, and be smart until herd immunity is reached and this pandemic is fully relegated to the history books.”

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) joined his colleagues in the Assembly Minority in a press conference calling on members of the Assembly Oversight, Health and Aging committees to sign a petition that would trigger the delivery of a subpoena to New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard A. Zucker to testify and provide all data on nursing home deaths occurring during the pandemic.

The subpoena would also request all communications from the Department of Health (DOH) and other parties that led to the decision to develop, implement and override its March 25 directive, and allow Zucker to provide answers as to why this information was kept from the Legislature and public for such a long period of time.

According to Section 62-A of Legislative Law, if a majority of members on a given committee sign a petition, they then have the authority to issue a subpoena for the individual in question to appear before the committee to answer questions. Hawley has sought for months to hold legislative hearings in which Dr. Howard Zucker would be compelled to answer questions regarding the thousands of deaths in New York nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic and about the attempts that followed to cover up the severity of the tragedy.

“Given the sheer tragedy of this situation, I am hopeful my colleagues in the Majority on this committee will do what’s right as human beings and compel Commissioner Zucker to provide the answers grieving families have waited far too long for,” said Hawley. “If our governor’s own attorney general was able to put aside their partisanship for the sake of truth and justice, I can only hope those in the Majority on these committees will also put their humanity before their politics.”

Town Board deems large wind turbines don’t pose significant environmental impact

BARRE – The Town Board, in a meeting that stretched nearly four hours on Thursday night, approved revisions to the town ordinance for wind turbines.

One big change increases the maximum height of the structures from 500 to 700 feet.

The board passed the changes to the town ordinance and approved the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review Act), stating the ordinance doesn’t have significant environmental impacts.

The board voted on the local law and SEQR despite objections from Town Board member Kerri Richardson, who asked at about 10:15 p.m. that the meeting be adjourned until next week to give the board more time to discuss the local law and the SEQR.

Richardson said she and other board members were tired as the meeting stretched on last night. She also wanted to get home to her 2-month-old baby. Adjourning the meeting would allow the board members to all be able to “think clearly,” she said.

“We could meet again next week,” she said. “I’m not trying to hold this up.”

The other board members – Town Supervisor Sean Pogue, and council members Margaret Swan, Lynn Hill and Tom McCabe – said they wanted to continue discussing the local law and SEQR last night, without putting it off any longer.

Richardson said she was disappointed by the lack of “courtesy” from the other members and she left the meeting at about 10:20 p.m.

Before she left, Pogue told her being an elected official sometimes requires going “above and beyond.” That rankled Richardson, who noted she gave birth about two months ago with the baby born seven hours after she was at a town meeting.

The other board members stayed and voted on the new ordinance and the SEQR. The meeting ended at 10:47 p.m.

Pogue abstained from voting because he said there is a perception he is conflicted with the turbines, with his girlfriend’s family standing to gain financially. Pogue noted during the meeting the family turned down a $3,000 a year lease to have a transmission line go through the property.

Apex Clean Energy wants to build Heritage Wind in Barre, a project with 33 turbines that would generate 184.8 megawatts at full capacity. The turbines would be a maximum 680 feet high from the base of the unit to the tip of unit’s longest blade. Those turbines would be more than 200 feet higher than the ones in the Wyoming County wind energy projects.

Richardson noted they would be the biggest turbines on land in the country. Their size should warrant closer study of the environmental impacts and other negatives on the community, with noise including “infra-sound”, shadow flicker, the visual impacts and other issues. She said the town should insist on a property value guarantee.

“I think we have some homework to do,” she said in a meeting shown live through YouTube.

She said she is also concerned the law doesn’t set a limit on the number of turbines in the town. There may be more than the 33 proposed by Apex in the future.

Pogue said the issue has been thoroughly discussed by the town for about three years. He said the wind energy ordinance is modifying one from 2008.

The town ordinance could very well be pre-empted through Article 10 of the NYS Public Service Law and the new 94-C of the NYS Executive Law. The state has a Siting Board to review and approve larger-scale renewable energy projects that exceed 25 megawatts. State officials have said they will try to stay within local laws as much as practical but the state could approve the projects, allowing turbines taller than the local ordinance or not adhering to the town’s setback requirements from property lines and residences.

Pogue read many letters from residents during the Wednesday meeting, with many opposing the project and many also stating their support. Some residents said they felt the new ordinance was unduly crafted by Apex officials, with a goal to make the project fit in Barre.

Richardson said that is the perception by many in the town, that Apex officials had too much say in the new ordinance.

Pogue said the Town Board and its consultants, including LaBella Associates in Rochester, put a lot of work into the revised local law.

“We have increased the protections, even greater or more strict than the state allows,” Pogue said.

Some of the regulations proposed for the turbines include:

• Setback distances: The zoning amendments establish setbacks from property lines to be at least 1.5 times the tip height of a turbine from any public roadways or above-ground power lines, and that is for non-participating land owners or those without leases for a turbine as well as participating land owners. For non-participating property owners (those without leases for a turbine company), the turbines would have to have setbacks at least twice the turbine height from the property line.
• Noise: The town’s proposed ordinance states noise shall not exceed 45 dBA of equivalent continuous sound for 8 hours at non-participating structures and 40 dBA at night outside at non-participating structures. The standard is 55 dBA at participating structures and 50 dBA at night for turbines at night on leaseholders’ land. The turbines or Wind Energy Conversion Systems shall not produce human perceptible vibrations inside any non-participating structures that exceed the limits of residential use recommended in American National Standards Institute.
• Height: can not exceed 700 feet as measured from the case of the unit to the tip of unit’s longest blade. The current ordinance caps the turbine height at 500 feet tip height.
• Roads: Companies are encouraged to use existing roadways as much as possible. If that isn’t practical and a access or new roadway is needed, the turbines should be built in a way so they are level with the surrounding environment. The wind turbine company is responsible for damages to public roads during the installation or maintenance of the turbines. The company shall post a public improvement bond prior to the issuance of a building permit. The amount shall be determined by the Town Board.
• Shadow flicker: The Wind Energy Conversion System shall be designed so the shadow flicker from each turbine will not fall on a specific area of a roadway or residential structure for more than 25 hours a year. If a turbines exceeds the 25 hours, it “shall be shut down until the offending condition is remedied,” the ordinance states.
• Construction hours: The construction hours will be limited to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays except in cases of cement pours or component deliveries. Maintenance of the facilities shall be limited to the same time frames, except in cases of emergency.
• Decommissioning: at the end of the useful life or where otherwise necessary an individual turbine may need to be decommissioned or the entire project decommissioned. The applicant or its successors are responsible for decommissioning and all costs associated with it, including removing turbines, blades, nacelles, towers, transformers, above-ground collection cables and poles, permanent meteorological towers and collection substation. Foundation and collection lines buried less than a depth of 36 inches in non-agricultural lands and less than 48 inches in agricultural lands also must be removed. The applicant will post and maintain financial assurance in the amount of the net decommissioning costs, on a per turbine basis, to be determined by a qualified, independent engineer, at the applicant’s expense. The net decommissioning cost shall be updated a year after facility operation and then every fifth year thereafter.
• Restoration: The applicant and its successors that may own and operate the project are responsible for restoration and all costs associated with restoring the project site, including agricultural lands and public roads.

With the SEQR, the board – absent Richardson – said the new ordinance would not have a significant environmental impact on the land, water, air quality, agricultural resources, tourism, open spaces and recreation, and transportation.

The board checked “yes” that the ordinance could have minor or no impact on plants and animals, aesthetic resources, and historic and archeologic resources. The board deemed the law overall would “no significant impacts on environment.”

During a public comment opportunity at the end of the meeting, George McKenna said he didn’t see how the SEQR was approved because of the unknowns with the larger model of turbines. The visual impact, for one, will be dramatic in a flat town, he said.

McKenna said allowing the larger turbines – “these eyesores” – clearly doesn’t support agriculture or tourism. He said the 33 turbines are the height of the St. Louis Arch, with moving parts and lights at night. That, he said, “does not, does not preserve the vistas of countryside”

McKenna and his wife, Iva, are Richardson’s parents. Mrs. McKenna said the board should have adjourned the meeting before the vote out of respect for her daughter, who has a newborn baby.

Mrs. McKenna said the local law allowing the larger turbines will clearly change the rural town.

“We’d have more skyscrapers per square mile in Barre than they do in New York City,” she said.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) released the following statement after the House Committee on Agriculture met on Wednesday to consider the agriculture portion of the proposed Covid-19 budget reconciliation package.

“This legislation was crafted unilaterally without any input from the Republican members serving on the Agriculture Committee. While there is some good in the bill, it contains many unrelated, partisan provisions that fail to meet the needs of our farmers and my calls for targeted, bipartisan relief.

“In my district alone, there are over 4,400 farms who produce 22% of New York State’s total agriculture sales. Western New York farmers supply schools around the country with dairy and supply grocery stores throughout the United States with produce, meat, and eggs. The impact of NY-27 farmers on our country is significant, yet we have not held one hearing to assess the current needs of farmers, and my Republican colleagues and I were not consulted.

“Republicans offered several amendments that would improve this legislation by supporting small producers, restarting the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program halted by the President, and redirecting money toward high-speed internet in rural communities. Democrats rejected these amendments, once again refusing to work with us to craft a bipartisan package. It is my hope this does not become the norm for this committee for the 117th Congress, but rather we work together to support America’s oldest and most substantial industry.”

Jacobs has served on the House Committee on Agriculture since his election in June of 2020 during the 116th Congress. He was re-appointed for the 117th Congress in January of this year.

Editor’s Note: Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat on the Committee from Virginia, issued this statement Wednesday night on Twitter: “During tonight’s House Agriculture Committee hearing, I voted for a 15% increase in SNAP benefits, additional grants for rural healthcare providers to access Covid-19 vaccines, and provisions to protect our supply chains amid the pandemic.

“These are key steps in keeping families fed and protecting our rural communities.”

Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 1, No. 6    

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

HOLLEY – The recent award-winning rehabilitation of the former Holley High School has been in the news. This postcard from the Orleans County Department of History collection shows the original High School building. (The building that was just rehabbed for $17 million was built in 1930 and 1931. The last class graduated from the school in 1975.)

In 1848, Hiram Frisbee donated a site on Wright Street for the construction of a school. It was operated as a private school for three years and then incorporated as the Holley Academy in 1850.

In 1868, the Academy’s financial problems and an increase in the number of students led to the formation of a Union Free District. An addition to the two-story brick building was completed in 1882 and a remodeling project was undertaken in 1896. The school was formally renamed Holley High School in 1898. It was demolished in 1930 to make way for a new high school.

The Orleans County History Department collection also includes several early Holley High School Alumni programs which indicate that a strong school spirit pervaded, including this program from 1907.

The Fifth Annual Alumni Banquet held at the Village Hall on June 22, 1905 included a formal program of Toasts.

The Banquet menu featured Cold tongue, Egg Croquettes, Cream sauce, Saratoga chips, White and brown bread sandwiches, Olives, Pickles, Coffee, Neapolitan ice cream, Assorted cakes, Salted almonds and Bon bons.

The program concluded with the school song, sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne”

3 Covid-related deaths also reported in Genesee County

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 10 new confirmed Covid cases in Orleans County and 13 more in Genesee.

The 10 new cases in Orleans County bring the total to 2,304 positive cases since March. The positive cases reported today reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s, 40s, 60s, 80s and 90s.

Of the new cases, one was on quarantine prior to testing positive. Three of the new cases are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina.

Orleans is reporting 13 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed

from the isolation list. The number of active cases in the county dropped from 73 on Tuesday to 67 today.

The county is reporting 2 residents are currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Albion Central School reported a middle school student and two high school students have tested positive for Covid-19.

The student from the middle school is a hybrid learner and was last in school on Feb. 5.Those determined to have been in close contact with the student have been identified and should be contacted by the Department of Health, the district stated on its website.

The two high school students are also both hybrid learners. One was last in contact with other students on Feb. 5. The other high schooler was last in school on Feb. 8. Those determined to have been in close contact with the student have been identified and should be contacted by the Department of Health, the district said.

In Genesee County the 13 new positive cases bring the Genesee total to 3,999 positive cases since last March.

The new positive cases reside 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, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee is reporting 19 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. The number of active cases in the county is down from 92 on Tuesday to 82 today.

Genesee has 15 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid-19.

The county also has had three more residents die from Covid who were all over age 65. That brings the total deaths in the county to 116 from Covid.

“Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time,” the Health Departments stated today in a news briefing.

Press Release, Tompkins Bank of Castile

BATAVIA – Tompkins Bank of Castile has launched its online application portal for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) second round of funding for businesses, and is now accepting applications from businesses located within its geographic service areas who do not yet maintain an active business checking or loan account with Tompkins.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this SBA funding,” said Tompkins Bank of Castile President and CEO John McKenna. “Our team understands how challenging these times have been and we are glad we can help members of our community access these vital funds.”

New business customers must visit a Tompkins branch location to apply for a business checking account prior to the submission of their PPP application through the portal. Minority and women-owned businesses are encouraged to apply. In Orleans County, there is a Tompkins Bank of Castile branch in Medina.

To learn more about the application process or to submit an application for PPP Funding, click here.

MEDINA – If the weather cooperates, construction on Medina’s new skate park could start in March, said Alex Feig, president of the Medina Skate Society.

The construction project will take about 90 to 120 days to complete.

“The early estimate is a grand opening in mid to late June with the less optimistic date of mid to late August,” Feig said.

Provided photos: The Village of Medina DPW took down the old fence posts and ripped up the old asphalt tennis courts on Jan. 7 to clear the site for the new park.

The organization has lined up nearly $550,000 to build the new site at Butts Park. That includes $250,570.53 raised through local fundraisers and donations. That allowed the Skate Society to maximize a $250,000 matching grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

The Skate Society also has been awarded $42,000 for an Environmental Impact Award grant by The Skatepark Project which will be used for storm water management and bioswales.

The funding gives the Skate Society a total working budget of $542,570.53. The organization welcomes in-kind donations from concrete, temporary bathrooms, topsoil to contractor lodging. A list of options for donations is available on the Skate Society website (click here).

The Skate Society also is currently selling meat raffle tickets for $5 a piece or 3 for $10 as the group eases back into some fundraising efforts this year. The raffle drawing is March 20. For information on tickets, call Terri at (716) 998-7516.

The old skate park, a repurposed tennis court, was removed on Jan. 7.

The $550K budget covers the entire design and construction of the skatepark by Spohn Ranch but doesn’t include additional planned seating, signage and other amenities.

“We are continuing to fundraise for these additions along with seeking in-kind contributions and volunteer/partnership opportunities,” Feig said.

The park includes areas and features for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Some of the features include:

• 2.5-foot to 4-foot quarter pipes lining the southern edge of the park.
• A 2.5-foot mini-ramp/beginner bowl section that waterfalls down to a 4-foot section along the north eastern edge.
• A fun box with a hip and an inventive street sized curb (for doing slappys).
• There are hubbas (grind ledges) and grind rails for beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters and riders.
• The intermediate kidney shaped bowl begins at 5 feet and waterfalls down to 7 feet.
• When entering the park from the walkway stretching from the main parking lot past the pavilion/seating area, there is 9-inch manual pad with a 20-inch ledge that will also bare the name of The Luke Nelson Skate Park, said Alex Feig, president of the Medina Skate Society.
• The most prominent feature facing south Main Street is a functional art installation (steep slant) standing approximately 9 feet tall and 24 feet wide, Feig said. “This is where our sponsors will be displayed so it’s the first thing visitors see when they pull into the Butts Park.”

The park will be named for Luke Nelson, a skateboarder from Middleport who often used the park. He was 23 when he passed away on April 22, 2017. His family has donated to the park and helped organize the fundraisers to upgrade the site.

The Skate Society is working on the design of the “donor wall” with Takeform in Medina. The Skate Society also is discussing with Orleans/Niagara BOCES to have some of their students produce a bike rack to be installed at the park as a senior project, Feig said.

“We are planning on adding three long concrete block style benches covered with individualized mosaic tile designs and connected by a lightly landscaped walkway that winds from the parking area into the skatepark,” he said.

The site was cleared of the former tennis court and is ready the new skate park.

Press Release, Assemblyman Mike Norris

LOCKPORT – Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) said the governor’s failure to act on signing legislation to ensure proper broadband access was available to all New Yorkers was very disappointing.

Calls from citizens about the need for expanded broadband access have been wide reaching during the Covid-19 pandemic, as more people work and learn from home, and e-commerce has become more vital for the state’s economy.

“This bipartisan legislation which was passed last year could have begun the path for many New Yorkers to gain much needed access for broadband to work and learn from home and our farms,” Norris said. “Sadly, the governor chose to ignore this bi-partisan legislation and effectively killed this bill from taking a key step in planning to provide this basic infrastructure to those who need it.”

Norris was a sponsor of the bipartisan legislation that was passed in 2020, the Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act. After being passed in both houses, the bill was sent to the Governor’s Office for his signature to become law; however, after sitting untouched on his desk for over a month, the bill was killed by a measure known as a “pocket veto.” This means that because the governor chose to ignore the bill and his veto cannot be overridden by the State Legislature. The bill was particularly aimed at increasing access to broadband in rural communities and had it been acted upon by the governor, the new law would have taken effect in 13 days.

“This pocket veto by the governor is frustrating as broadband access is still extremely lacking in too many parts of our state, especially in our rural communities, but please know that I will continue to push the governor that broadband access must be a top priority in this upcoming session and budget negotiations as time is really of the essence,” Norris said.

Norris represents the 144th District, comprising parts of Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties and is the chairman of the Assembly Minority Conference.

MEDINA – The deadline passed on Tuesday to submit petitions to be on the ballot for the March 16 village election.

Two candidates submitted petitions and met the threshold for signatures from registered voters.

Owen Toale is seeking a fourth two-year term while Jessica Marciano makes her first run for the Village Board. Toale, a retired newspaper publisher of the former Journal-Register in Medina, and Marciano, who is a member of Medina’s Parks Committee, are running on the Accountability Party.

Todd Bensley, a Medina social studies teacher and also the village historian, decided not to seek re-election after six years on the board.

Voting will be at the Senior Center on West Avenue from noon to 9 p.m. on  March 16.

Provided photo

ALBION – Greg Dugan, grand knight for the Knights of Columbus in Albion, presents a $1,200 check to Faith Smith for the Community Kitchen at Christ Church in Albion. Smith is the director of the kitchen at 26 South Main St. It is open Fridays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and currently serves to-go meals and extra bags of food, personal care products and laundry care items.

The Knights raised the funds through a chicken and biscuits dinner on Jan. 16, a first-time fundraiser for the Knights to assist the Community Kitchen.

“A chicken and biscuits dinner was something no one had done recently,” Smith said.

Guy Warren from Kent was the chef and prepared the dinner.

The Knights also do a food collection every year. This year they collected 1,160 pounds of food and $575 for the kitchen.

“The Knights of Columbus Albion Council #1330 has always been a major supporter of the Community Kitchen since I have been the director,” Smith said. “The Community Kitchen is so thankful for their continued help and support!”