KENDALL – School district voters passed the budget, a proposition for transportation and elected two Board of Education members.

The district counted 822 absentee ballots for the budget on Tuesday. That turnout was nearly four times the 217 people who voted in the last election on May 21, 2019. There wasn’t in-person voting this election and budget vote due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Proposition No. 1 – school budget, passed 581 to 241. The $17,603,596 budget is down slightly from the $17,774,362 in the 2019-20 school year. The budget will increase taxes by 1.99 percent. 

• Proposition No. 2 for Transportation Fund Usage, passes 605 to 219. The vote authorizes the district to spend up to $250,000 from a transportation bus reserve for transportation vehicles.

• Board of Education members: Bryan Hardenbrook was elected to a five-year term with 673 votes, and Rachel Fisken was elected to 3-year term with 645 votes.

HOLLEY – Voters in Holley gave strong support for the district’s budget, bus purchase and public library funding.

There were 1,378 ballots turned in. That’s about 2 ½ times the number that voted in the previous election, with 525 ballots cast on May 21, 2019.

• Budget, passes 976 to 342: The proposed $25,780,000 budget is the same as the 2019-20 school year.

• Bus proposition, passes 885 to 463: Authorizes the district to spend up to $315,000 for new buses – two large buses and one small bus.

• Community Free Library funding, passes 1035 to 311:  The district will be authorized to collect $183,773 for the public library. That is up from $170,197 in 2019-20.

• Board of Election: Two current board members were re-elected. Robin Silvis, the current BOE president, received 883 votes and Andrea Newman was backed by 856 voters. They will start new three-year terms on July 1.

Nancy MacPhee received 533 votes and wasn’t elected.

John Flanagan, the leader of the Republican conference in the State Senate, will resign later this month to take a job in the private sector. 

Rob Ortt

Rob Ortt of North Tonawanda wants to succeed Flanagan and become the minority leader of the Senate.

“Now more than ever, the Senate Republican conference needs a battle-tested, conservative fighter,” Ortt said in a statement today. “There are some who are comfortable with the status quo and letting the governor and radical New York City regressives speak for all New Yorkers. I’m not one of them. Our country, our state, and our party are worth fighting for. I look forward to making the case to my colleagues of how I can lead our conference forward.”

Ortt represents the 62^nd Senate District which includes Orleans, Niagara and the western part of Monroe counties.

He has been a state senator for about 5 ½ years. Before that he was North Tonawanda mayor. He enlisted in NY Army National Guard in October 2001 and did a tour in Afghanistan from March 2008 until December 2008. 

Another state senator from Western New York also wants to lead the Republican conference, which was in the majority until the November 2018 election. Democrats now have 40 of the 63 seats.

Pat Gallivan

Pat Gallivan, the former Erie County sheriff, wants to succeed Flanagan.

“One party control in Albany has given New York State more spending, made it more difficult to do business and has made our communities less safe,” Gallivan of Elma said ina  statement today. “Further, one-party control has resulted in the loss of the checks and balances intended in the New York State Constitution.

“We must take back the legislative authority ceded by the current majority to ensure that all New Yorkers have a voice in their government. We start by taking back the Senate majority.  We start by respecting all New Yorkers and every region of the state. We start by respecting employees and employers alike.

“I intend to seek the support of my colleagues in the Senate minority conference to serve as their leader as we work to put New York on a better path.”

One state senator has already come out in support of Ortt. 

Phil Boyle of Long Island released the following statement:

“I know Rob will serve our conference the same way he served our country – with passion and integrity,” Boyle  said. “Our party and our conference is at a crossroads where we can continue the failed strategies of the past or we can fight for our future. Rob knows what it means to stand up and lead and that’s exactly what we need right now.”

MEDINA – The school district today counted about 2 ½ times as many ballots this election, which was done entirely through absentees due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The district’s proposed $40,491,733 budget passed overwhelming, 912 in favor to 203 opposed.

The 1,115 votes counted in the election compare to the 424 cast in the last election, May 21, 2019.

The $40,491,733 budget is up from the $40,284,425 in 2019-20. The tax levy, what the district collects in taxes, remains at $8,641,861. This is the 12^th time in the past 13 years the district has either kept taxes flat or cut them.

The budget maintains nearly all academic programs and all extracurricular activities. The budget does eliminate intramural (reducing $24,000) and a summer program in the elementary school (saving $50,000). Medina also is eliminating the director of curriculum and the tax collector position (saving $140,000).

Proposition 2 – Establishment of a General Capital Reserve Fund (Approved – Yes, 895; No, 221)

The district will put up to $4,000,000 in the fund for the purpose of financing capital improvements to the district’s buildings and facilities.

Board of Education Candidates (Elect 3)

• LuAnn Tierney – 916 votes

• Annette Allis – 902 votes

• Arlene Pawlaczyk – 878 votes

Current Board member David Sevenski (who did not seek re-election) had the most write in votes with 11.

Orleans County reached a milestone today with the 100^th recovery of a community member from Covid-19.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today one new recovery from the community from Covid-19. That brings the total to 100.

The county also reported two more cases of Covid-19, for 256 people total who have tested positive for Covid-19. The two new cases are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina, with one in the 30s and one in the 80s.

Of the 256 people who have tested positive for Covid-19, 106 are community residents, while 150 are residents of regulated facilities, including 89 at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, 55 at Orchard Rehabilitation and 6 at a state-owned group in Medina for people with disabilities.

The Health Departments also reports today that 13 county residents remain hospitalized with Covid-19.

In Genensee County, there are four new Covid-19 cases, for 206 total. The new cases include people who live in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia and Elba. One of the individuals is less than 20 years old, one individual is in the 20s, and two individuals are in their 30s.

The new positive cases were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also is reporting one more recovery from Covid-19, for 142 total. No one from Genesee is currently hospitalized with Covid-19.

Click here to view an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

The facility breakdown shows the total positive cases from facilities that have had a positive swab for Covid-19.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Hospitals and group homes will be allowed to accept visitors at their discretion, while following guidelines including time-limited visits and requiring visitors to wear PPE and be subject to symptom and temperature checks.

• Phase 3 is open. With that in mind, everyone in Phase 3 should have developed and implemented their Business Safety Plan and have it in place prior to opening whether it be a business, house of worship, not-for-profit organization, etc.

You are responsible to have your plan and all necessary supplies in place prior to opening. You will not be submitting your plan, however it must be on the premises in the event of a state, local or safety inspection. Keep checking the New York Forward website for your industry/organization summary guidelines.

• Social gathering sizes: Per Governor Cuomo gatherings (groups, assembly, meeting, etc.) of 25 or less are permitted with social distancing and sanitization protocols in place through July 15. The Health Departments do not authorize or allow exemptions from the Governor’s orders. If you have questions about the orders you can go to forward.ny.gov or e-mail the Finger Lakes Regional Control Room at flnyf@esd.ny.gov.

NY will create Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation requiring all New York State Police officers to wear body cameras while on patrol (S.8493/A.8674); and creating the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office (S.3595-C/A.10002).

“The relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve isn’t working,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York is the progressive capital of the nation, and we are leading the way by enacting real reforms to increase transparency in policing, promote accountability among our law enforcement agencies and ultimately mend that frayed relationship between the police and the community.”

Requiring Use of Body Cameras (S.8493/A.8674)

This new law requires all New York State Police patrol officers to use body-worn cameras while on patrol to record immediately before an officer exits a patrol vehicle to interact with a person or situation; all uses of force; all arrests and summonses; all interactions with individuals suspected of criminal activity; all searches of persons and property; any call to a crime in progress; investigative actions involving interactions with members of the public; any interaction with an emotionally disturbed person; and any instances where an officer feels any imminent danger or the need to document their time on duty. The law also requires law enforcement to keep video records of all these interactions.

Senator Kevin Parker said, “Too often injustices go unseen and police officers feel emboldened to act as judge & jury. Body cameras will diminish the trust deficit between the police and communities they serve. Thank you to the Governor for signing this critical legislation into law.”

Assembly Member Latrice Walker said, “As one of the largest state police agencies in the country, the New York State Police should be one of the first agencies to set an example, to show others how to properly use body cams to deliver transparency and accountability to the public. This legislation will help bring to light when excessive force is used, and hopefully ultimately reduce the number of ‘use of force’ incidents and take a critical first step in repairing the trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”

Creating the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office (S.3595-C/A.10002)

This new law establishes the independent Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office within the Department of Law to review, study, audit and make recommendations to police agencies in the State with the goal of enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement; increasing public safety; protecting civil liberties and civil rights; ensuring compliance with constitutional protections and local, state and federal laws; and increasing the public’s confidence in law enforcement.

The Office will also handle misconduct complaints statewide about any local law enforcement agencies. Unlike the Special Prosecutor, which is triggered only upon a law enforcement related death, this will allow for an independent review of complaints of misconduct for any local law enforcement agency. For state police agencies, the State Inspector General and the MTA Inspector General and Port Authority Inspector General have their jurisdiction expanded to receive complaints of law enforcement misconduct.

Senator Kevin Parker said, “It’s way past time that New York ensured consistent oversight of local law enforcement across the state. The law enforcement misconduct investigative office will improve policies, practices and procedures by providing extra independent scrutiny to detect when our local police may be failing to address individual wrongdoing or systemic problems. I hope, when full functional, it will be a preventive measure to the misconduct that plagues our police departments and restores the confidence of our communities. Thank you Governor Cuomo for signing this important legislation into law.”

Students encouraged to decorate vehicles for ride through community

Photo from Lyndonville Central School: Some of the senior class members are pictured at a pep rally earlier this school year.

LYNDONVILLE — The school district is encouraging the Class of 2020 to decorate a vehicle for a post-graduation parade on June 26.

The parade will start at 8, following the online premiere of a video of graduation. Students have been recorded receiving their diplomas from school administrators.

The video will be available to watch online at 6:30 p.m. Seniors are encouraged to start arriving in the school parking lot at 7:45. Students should decorate their vehicles in black and orange before arriving to the parking lot. The students also are asked to display their name prominently on the passenger door.

The parade will begin at 8 p.m. Community members and families of the graduates are welcome to stand on the sidewalk or next to their vehicles to celebrate the senior class.

The parade route includes:

• Head out on Housel Ave. and turn right onto Main St.
• Go south on Main St. and turn left onto Lake Ave.
• Continue east on Lake Ave. until it turns into Willowbrook Dr.
• Head north on Willowbrook and then turn left onto Maple Ave.
• Head west on Maple Ave. toward Main St.
• Turn right onto Main St. and head north to Rt 18
• Turn right onto Rt 18 and head east
• Turn left onto Morrison Rd. and head north
• Turn left on to Lakeshore Rd. and head west
• Turn left onto Rt 63 and head south until Rt 18
• Turn right onto Rt 18 and head west
• Turn left onto Murdock Rd. and head south
• Turn left onto Mill Rd. and head east
• Turn left on to Marshall Rd. and head north
• Turn right on to Angling Rd. head south until Postle Rd.
• Turn left on Postle Rd. and head east toward Rt 63
• Turn left on to Rt 63 and head north
• Turn right onto South Townline Rd.
• Head east to Swett Rd. and head south to Ridge Rd.
• Turn left onto Ridge Rd. and head east to Oregon Rd.
• Turn left onto Oregon Rd. and head north to Rutherford Rd.
• Turn right onto Rutherford Rd. and head east to Oak Orchard River Rd.
• Turn left onto Oak Orchard River Rd. head north to Townline Rd.
• Turn right onto Townline Rd. and head south to Ridge Rd.
• Turn left onto Ridge Rd. heading east to Kenyonville Rd.
• Turn left onto Kenyonville Rd. and head north. Cross the Kenyonville Bridge to Oak Orchard River Rd.
• Turn left onto Oak Orchard River Rd. head south
• Stay right and head west on Platten Rd head west until Townline Rd.
• Turn right onto Townline Rd. head north until Alps Rd.
• Turn left onto Alps Rd. head west until Goodwin Rd.
• Turn left onto Goodwin Rd. and head south until Platten Rd.
• Turn left onto Platten Rd. and head west to Maple Ave.
• Continue west on Maple Ave. until Main St.
• Turn right onto Main St. head north to Housel Ave.

‘He brought out crowds of people. What historian is able to do that?’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bill Lattin (left), the retired Orleans County historian, presents a card to Matt Ballard, who followed Lattin as historian and served in the role for more than five years. They are shown Monday evening inside the cobblestone schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road.

Ballard has resigned as county historian. He is leaving Orleans County in about two weeks to take a position at a college in North Carolina. He will be assistant director of Collection Strategies at Davidson College.

Lattin said Ballard put in tremendous effort in a part-time position, while also finishing up a master’s degree and working full-time at Roberts Wesleyan College in North Chili as director of library services.

Matt Ballard, center, is pictured with members of the Orleans County Historical Association on Monday evening. They are next to a cobblestone schoolhouse that the association took on as a project the past five years. They were able to save the building and will use it for their meetings. Ballard served as the group’s president the past 18 months. He credited Al Capurso for leading the effort to preserve the school. Pictured from left include: Frank Berger, Tina Inzana, Jean Sherwin, Adrienne Kirby, Bill Lattin, Jonathan Doherty, Sue Baker, Rick Ebbs, Sandy Freeman and Betsy Kennedy.

Ballard did an in-depth column each week on local history that was featured in the Orleans Hub and The Daily News in Batavia. He also led many historical tours at cemeteries and a very popular tour of downtown Albion that attracted several hundred people.

“This is a real loss for the community,” Lattin said about Ballard’s resignation and his impending move to North Carolina. “It’s going to be a big loss for local history to see him move away. It’s really a shame. He’s done a superb job.”

Lattin teamed up with Ballard in some of the cemetery tours. Lattin watched Ballard grow in the role, especially in the presentations, sharing details of lives from more than a century ago. Ballard would sometimes dress in period costumes for the tours.

“He had a good spiel for each tour,” Lattin said. “He is a wonderful presenter, and he did as a one-man act. He brought out crowds of people. What historian is able to do that?”

Matt Ballard looks at some of the school desks inside the cobblestone schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road. Those desks were donated by the Cobblestone Museum, which also has a schoolhouse on Ridge Road.

Bill Lattin served as historian for 35 years before being succeeded by Ballard in February 2015. Lattin said Ballard did wonders organizing the Orleans County Department of History records, including creating an online database.

“He deserves all kind of accolades,” Lattin said. “It’s going to be big shoes to fill, not only for county historian but as the president of historical association, which is a position no one wants to do.”

Monday’s meeting also was the first chance for the Historical Association to see several recent improvements at the schoolhouse.

It has a new hardwood floor, which was installed by member Rick Ebbs. The inside walls have been painted by Jerome Ebbs.

The building from 1832 was used as a schoolhouse until 1944 was on the verge of falling down, until a group of volunteers put on a new roof and stabilized the building.

Volunteers from the Historical Association in 2015 cleared most of debris from the inside of the former school. Many pioneer children in Orleans County were taught at the school, which also was used for countless town meetings.

The building also was listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2017, and a historical marker was added in front to denote its significance. Lattin believes it is the oldest cobblestone building in the county.

The 913-square-foot building hadn’t been used much since it was closed as a school in 1944. Nor had there been much upkeep of the building until 2015.

Later this summer a log cabin will be relocated behind the schoolhouse at this spot. The privy behind the schoolhouse was recently donated by Irene Roth and her daughters, Chris Sartwell, Marge Page and Arlene Rafter.

The log cabin will be moved from the home of Pat and Ralph Moorhouse on Linwood Avenue in Albion. The cabin was built in 1930 by Boy Scouts.

The cabin is 10 feet by 14 feet and about six feet tall at the peak.

Rick Ebbs, a local contractor who has been working on restoration work at the schoolhouse, will lead the effort to move the log cabin.

Group homes also can open doors to guests on Friday

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that hospitals can start allowing visitors today, as long as they have time limits for the visits and the guests wear personal protective equipment and are checked for symptoms of Covid-19, as well as a temperature check.

Hospitals can use their discretion in allowing visitors. The hospital aren’t required to allow guests.

Cuomo also announced today that group homes serving disabled residents can allow visitors beginning on Friday, as long as the homes meet state guidelines with precautions in place. The group homes must notify the NYS Office of People With Developmental Disabilities if they will be allowing visitors.

And the guests must all wear masks, and be subject to symptom and temperature checks.

Visitors aren’t allowed at nursing homes. Cuomo said the State Health Department continues to study the nursing homes, where the residents are considered a “high-risk population.”

“The health department doesn’t feel the reward justifies the risk right now,” Cuomo said.

The governor said the state continues to make progress in the fight against Covid-19.

On Monday the state had 1,538 people hospitalized with Covid-19, the lowest since mid-March, when the state closed schools and many businesses, and restricted the size of social gatherings.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Department

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Department is accepting applications from contractors to be included on a list of bidders for the Genesee-Orleans Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program.

The program is grant-funded and is concentrating on reducing lead-based paint hazards at properties in the City of Batavia and Village of Albion. However, properties must be located in one of the following census tracts: 36037950700, 36037950800, 36037951000, and 36073040700. Check your census tract by clicking here.

Contractors wishing to be included on the list are required to complete a Contractor Application.

There is no deadline for application submittal at this time. However, only those firms which appear on the program’s list of preapproved contractors, having submitted a completed application package and been successfully preapproved, will receive bid packages.

Contractors are required to be EPA Lead Abatement certified. Training can be arranged and paid for with program funds for firms/workers not currently certified.

Applications and information on the program can be obtained by calling the Genesee County Health Department at (585) 344-2580 x5555, or by emailing health.GOlead@co.genesee.ny.us.

MEDINA – A group of Boy Scouts and their leaders joined members of the American Legion and VFW posts in Medina to participate in a flag retirement ceremony Monday morning at the Conservation Club on Bates Road.

Veteran Dave Kusmierczak read a history of meaning behind the stars and stripes, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Scouts then placed worn flags on a pole and put them in the fire.

Scoutmaster Tim Miller helps hold an American flag while Scouts Tyler Miller, left, and David Vanderwalker cut apart stripes to be placed in the fire.

Kusmierczak explained when a flag is no longer fitting to be displayed, it must be disposed of in a dignified manner. The most common and preferred way to dispose of an American flag is by burning.

Scouts Tyler Miller of Medina and David Vanderwalker of Middleport cut apart a white stripe, a red stripe and the field of stars, placing them individually in the fire.

Dave Kusmierczak (in back), a member of the American Legion and VFW, reads the meaning behind the stars and stripes of the American flag prior to Monday morning’s flag retirement at Medina Conservation Club.

Kusmierczak said the ceremonial flag burning has been a tradition for years and years. He said they often have several flag burnings a year, in addition to Veterans’ Day in November and Flag Day in June, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, they haven’t had one since November. Likewise, the Boy Scouts haven’t had one either.

Retired flags are collected at a number of locations throughout the area, including Medina Savings and Loan, Key Bank, Ace Hardware, the Veterans Administration Office in Albion, as well as the VFW and American Legion.

The American Legion in Albion also retired about 1,500 flags on Sunday.

Austin Beutler of Medina places a flag in the fire, during the ceremonial ceremony at Medina Conservation Club. The Scouts traditionally hold a similar ceremony on Flag Day at their camp on School No. 10 Road, but canceled it this year because of the pandemic.

Kendall held Black Lives Matter demonstration on Saturday

Photos courtesy of Mark Washington

KENDALL – About 20 people participated in a Black Lives Matter demonstration on Saturday in Kendall from noon to 2 p.m.

The demonstrators stood at Kendall’s main intersection at Route 18 and Kendall Road.

Ruthie Seabolt and her mother, Cynthia Blosenhauer, were the lead organizers of the event.

“It’s time for every person to step up and pay attention,” said Seabolt, 21, who will be a senior at the University of Rochester majoring in international relations and political science.

She wanted her small town to show its support for the Black Lives Matter movement against racism and police brutality.

She admitted she was nervous and a little scared before the demonstration. She didn’t know what kind of response there would be.

There were a few of what felt like angry stares. But there were far more supportive beeps from the motorists.

“It was actually really nice,” Seabolt said this evening. “We got a lot of honks.”

One African American woman stopped her car and came over and spoke to the group.

“She said it’s good to see people stand up,” Seabolt said.

One of the demonstrators on Saturday holds a “Black Lives Matter” sign in Kendall.

Seabolt attended a Black Lives Matter protest a week before in Brockport. She is pleased to see the demonstrations have gained a national following, and have spread to other countries.

The protests started in response to the killing of George Floyd, who was in custody of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. Floyd was on the ground and died after being held down for nearly nine minutes while an officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck.

ALBION – The members of Albion Teachers Association want to see their students one last time before the school year ends.

Teachers will be in a parade of vehicles on Thursday, departing the Save-A-Lot parking lot on Route 31 at 7 p.m.

About 25 vehicles are expected in the parade, with each vehicles expected to have two or three teachers. The route will go through Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton.

The parade route includes:

• Start at Save-A-Lot parking lot
• Left on West Avenue
• Right on King Street
• Right on Washington Street
• Left on S. Clinton Street
• Left on West Park Street
• Right on King Street
• Right on West State Street
• Right on Main Street to Barre
• Right on West Barre Road
• Straight onto Allis Road
• Right on Eagle Harbor Road through Eagle Harbor area to Waterport
• Right on Waterport-Carlton
• Left on Park Ave.
• Right on Rt. 98
• Left on Rt. 104
• Right on Brown Road
• Right on Lydun Drive North
• Right on Lydun Drive, go back to apartments
• Turn around at Beechwood Apartments
• Go back to Brown Road
• Right on Brown Road
• Right on Linwood Avenue
• Right on Rt. 98
• The next three streets are at Oak Orchard Estates Park
• Left on North Street
• Right on Bayberry Lane
• Right on Beechwood Blvd.
• Right on Rt. 98
• Left on E. Bank Street
• Right on E. State Street
• Left on Platt Street
• Left on E. Park Street
• Right on McKinstry Street to East Ave.
• Return to Save-A-Lot

Orleans County has seven more confirmed cases of Covid-19 since Friday, the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

Orleans County has now had 254 people test positive for Covid-19.

The new cases includes two community residents, who both live in Shelby. One is in the 30s and the other is in the 40s.

There are also five new confirmed cases at Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. Those new cases include two people in their 60s and three in the 70s. Orchard has now had 53 residents test positive for Covid-19, which resulted in 18 deaths.

Orchard said 23 staff members have also tested positive for Covid-19, and one staff member is currently hospitalized and fighting the virus, Orchard posted on its Facebook page on Sunday.

There are 13 county residents hospitalized with Covid-19.

In Genesee County, there is one new case since Friday, bringing Genesee’s total to 202. The new case is a Pembroke resident in the 20s.

The new positive case was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. In Genesee County, none of the current positive cases include people who are hospitalized..

Click here to see an online map of cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

The facility breakdown is only showing the total positive cases from those facilities from where we received a positive swab for Covid-19.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• The Governor has amended Executive Order 202.6 for determining whether a business enterprise is subject to a workforce reduction (click here).

• Interim Guidance for Pools and Recreational Aquatic Spray Grounds During the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency (click here).

• Phase 3 is open. With that in mind, everyone in Phase 3 should have developed and implemented their Business Safety Plan and have it in place prior to opening whether it be a business, house of worship, not-for-profit organization, etc.

You are responsible to have your plan and all necessary supplies in place prior to opening. You will not be submitting your plan, however it must be on the premises in the event of a state, local or safety inspection. Keep checking the New York Forward website for your industry/organization summary guidelines.

• Groups now allowed up to 25: Per Governor Cuomo gatherings (groups, assembly, meeting, etc.) of 25 or less are permitted with social distancing and sanitization protocols in place.

The Health Departments do not authorize or allow exemptions from the Governor’s orders. If you have questions about the orders you can go to forward.ny.gov or e-mail the Finger Lakes Regional Control Room at flnyf@esd.ny.gov.

To file a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community you can call 1-833-789-0470 or click here. Businesses that are not in compliance with the Governor’s executive order may be penalized.

SHELBY – The Town of Shelby has a new town supervisor following the resignation of Ed Houseknecht on May 31.

Ed Houseknecht

The Town Board on June 9 appointed Jeff Smith to serve as town supervisor. Smith, a fruit farmer and owner of Ledge Rock Farms on North Gravel Road, was the town’s deputy town supervisor.

He was appointed town supervisor by the other Town Board members – Stephen Seitz, William Bacon and John Pratt.

Houseknecht was re-elected in November to another two-year term as town supervisor. He was first elected to the position in November 2017.

He is retired as the Orleans County highway superintendent and was the former superintendent of the Village of Medina’s Department of Public Works.

He couldn’t be reached for comment about why he resigned.