Photos by Ginny Kropf: Calvary Tabernacle Church hopes to open its doors by summer. The new church is located on 36 acres of land on Maple Ridge Road, just east of Salt Works Road.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 February 2020 at 10:19 am
MEDINA – Building a new church is a dream come true for the Rev. Vincent Iorio and his congregation.
Twenty-five years ago Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God purchased the former Medina High School building on Catherine Street, where they have held services ever since, welcomed the Orleans County Christian School and rented space to the Medina Area Association of Churches clothing depot.
About two years ago, the church began to plan for a new, modern edifice and they sold the high school to local businessman Roger Hungerford. Hungerford plans to turn the building into upscale apartments, but he has allowed the church to continue holding services there until they can move into their new church.
The Rev. Vincent Iorio, pastor of Cavalry Tabernacle Church, stands in the entryway of his new church which is being built on Maple Ridge Road. The church is now reaching out to the community for donations to finish the project by summer.
Iorio and his congregation began making plans for their new church and purchased 36 acres of land on Maple Ridge Road, between Tops and Salt Works Road. Construction began a year ago on the 10,400 square-foot building, where to date all utilities are in, and rooms are all framed and insulated.
Sale of the old high school provided funds to construct the church to its present state – 70 percent complete, the Rev. Iorio said.
“Now we are asking the community to help us,” the pastor said.
The Rev. Iorio said the church started fundraising five years ago. They have spent half a million to date, most of which came from the sale of the high school, but another $400,000 is needed.
The new church will seat 150 and have a sound booth, kitchen and fellowship hall, classrooms, a youth room, nursery and area for their Foodlink ministry.
The stage takes shape in the sanctuary of Calvary Tabernacle Church, which is being built on Maple Ridge Road.
“We are the largest Foodlink supplier in Orleans County,” the Rev. Iorio said. “In 2019, we served 1,488 families via our Food Pantry, and an additional 150 to 200 area families per week through the Mobile Food Pantry distribution, which takes place the second and fourth Thursday of every month.
The church also offers counseling services through their “Still Waters Counseling Center,” at no cost to clients. In 2018, 550 counseling sessions took place, assisting many local individuals, couples and families.
The Rev. Iorio invites the residents of Orleans and neighboring counties to come and see what they do every week.
“Please consider helping us complete the building so we can continue serving your neighbors right here in your own back yard,” the pastor said.
Everything is ready to go to finish the church, he said.
“We just need money and good weather,” he said.
He said any amount will be much appreciated. Donations may be mailed to Cavalry Tabernacle Church, P.O. Box 625, Medina.
Information about online giving and the church’s community outreach ministries is available at www.caltabag.org.
The Rev. Iorio stressed that his new church is being built by local contractors, such as Art Hill Excavating, Top Gun Construction, Heveron Electric, Superior Concrete, Albion Plumbing and Heating, Schuler Construction and NES Contracting.
He also added a thank you to the army of Calvary and community volunteers who contribute their time assisting with the food ministries, in particular. Anyone interested in volunteering can call the church office at (585) 798-3738.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 November 2019 at 9:33 am
Breaking way from a 21-21 deadlock midway through the third quarter, Southwestern exploded for 32 unanswered points to defeat Wilson 53-21 in the Section VI Class C football championship game on Saturday night at New Era Field.
Tywon Wright led the way for Southwestern scoring 5 touchdowns and rushing for 346 yards.
Drew Westmoreland accounted for all three Wilson touchdowns one rushing, one passing and one receiving.
The contest was tied 14-14 at the half.
8 Man Playoff Semifinals
No. 3 seed Maple Grove defeated No. 2 Pembroke 44-30 and No. 1 Oakfield-Alabama/Elba downed No. 4 Frewsburg 55-0 over the weekend in the semifinals of the 8 Man Division football playoffs.
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba will now face Maple Grove for the title next weekend.
Volleyball
Undefeated (20-0) Byron-Bergen downed Genesee Region League foe Attica 25-23, 25-23, 25-19 this afternoon to capture the overall Section V Class C volleyball championship and earn a berth in the state playoffs.
Madison Farnsworth had 22 kills, 1 ace and 11 digs; Hannah Catalino 5 kills, 1 ace and 10 digs; Lexi Vurraro 28 assists, 4 aces and 3 digs; Abby Vurraro 16 digs and 2 aces and Hannah Van Skiver 2 aces, 2 kills and 8 digs for B-B.
Lexi Vurraro catapulted a second set comeback win rallying B-B from a17-23 deficit by serving 7 clutch points three of which were aces.
Byron-Bergen had advanced by downing LeRoy 26-24, 25-18, 23-25, 25-17 to capture the Section V Class C2 title as Farnsworth had 29 kills, Catalino 10 kills and VanSkiver 6 aces and 3 kills.
Farnsworth was named the C2 Tournament MVP while Lexi and Abby Vurraro were both named to the All-Tournament team.
In the Section VI Class C1 final Eden defeated Akron 25-13, 25-23, 25-13.
Field Hockey
The semifinals of the Class C state field hockey playoffs, which will be held at 10 a.m. next Saturday at Williamsville North, will have Barker vs. Bronxville and Johnstown vs. Carle Place.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Trees in full fall foliage are shown in Mount Albion Cemetery last week.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 November 2019 at 12:31 pm
Tree experts value Albion’s municipal forest at $7.9 million
ALBION – A tree firm hired to do an inventory of the village’s urban forest estimates the 2,070 trees on public land in Albion at $7.9 million.
“This is infrastructure that gives back to you,” said Lori Brockelbank, a certified arborist and project manager with the Davey Resource Group.
However, she said 57 percent of the trees are maples, and that makes the forestry vulnerable if an invasive bug or disease were to spread among those trees. Brockelbank addressed the Village Board during a recent meeting, and presented a final tree management plan and inventory. Ideally, the village would have less than 30 percent of a variety.
Davey Resource Group was paid $41,450 for the project. The village received a $38,260 state grant for the tree inventory and management plan.
Davey identified 719 planting sites for new trees in the village. The firm recommended varieties for the locations. Brockelbank urged Albion to avoid more maples.
Davey rated the health of trees and assigned a risk – low, moderate, high or extreme. The firm identified 204 trees that are in poor health and should be removed or have dead spots pruned. Taking down 105 trees identified for removal would cost an estimated $42,000, Brockelbank said.
The streets at the cemetery are lined with towering maple trees.
She urged the village to keep the trees healthy and plant more. The trees consume storm water, which reduces that demands on the village’s sewer plant, and slow down erosion, preserving soil, among their many benefits, she said.
Davey is suggesting the village commit to planting at least 42 new trees a year, and remove at least 21.
The village should also be structurally pruning at least 76 of its younger trees annually, and 279 other trees should be cleaned each year as part of a routine pruning cycle.
Davey looked at 2,794 sites where there could be trees – with 2,070 trees, 5 stumps and 719 planting sites. These locations were at the public right-of-way on village streets and at parks and public facilities, including Mount Albion Cemetery, Bullard Park, Lafayette H. Beach Park, St. Joe’s Park, Veterans Memorial Park, the former County Fairgrounds on Washington Street, and Carosol Park.
Some highlights from the report:
• The overall condition of the village’s urban forest is rated as fair.
• The tree inventory is skewed with a greater number of mature trees compared to younger ones.
• Approximately 41 percent of the inventoried trees have dead or dying parts.
• Overhead utilities interfere with street trees among 32 percent of the population.
• Granulate ambrosia beetle, Xm ambrosia beetle and Asian longhorned beetle pose the biggest threats to the health of the trees in Albion.
• The Albion trees provide approximately $13,310 in the following annual benefits: Air quality – 1,100 pounds of pollutants removed valued at $4,241; Net total carbon sequestered and avoided – 27.60 tons valued at $4,707; Stormwater peak flow reductions – 488,071.3 gallons valued at $4,361 for the year.
• New trees should be planted in areas that promote economic growth, such as business districts, recreational areas, trails, parking lots, areas near buildings with insufficient shade and areas where there are gaps in the existing canopy.
• Estimated cost is first year of implementing tree planting. High priority pruning and management plan is $141,320 for the first year with cost dropping to $124,057 in second year, $87,549 in the third year, $79,675 in fourth year and $79,145 in fifth year.
• Davey is providing village with TreeKeeper software to help manage the urban forest, tracking conditions of trees.
• Albion’s ratio of street trees per capita is 0.13, which falls significantly below the mean ratio of 0.37 reported for 22 U.S. cities. According to the Albion study, there is one tree for every 7.8 residents. Albion’s potential is one tree for every 4.1 residents.
• New plantings should have priority in southwest census block of Albion, where the neighborhoods are near correctional facility, railroad and busy Route 31. Trees would help mitigate the impact from those sites.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 June 2019 at 10:39 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Jim Simon, right, associate dean of Genesee Community College’s Medina and Albion campuses, explains his concerns about traffic in front of the Medina campus to Laura Byer, planning manager for Alta Planning and Design.
MEDINA – There was an open house and presentation at Medina High School on Thursday to hear representatives from Alta Planning and Design outline proposed plans for improvements to the Maple Ridge corridor from Bates Road to Salt Works Road.
The improvements are designed to improve safety and traffic flow for vehicles, bikers and pedestrians along that two-mile stretch of road.
For Mike and Nancy Blount, who own property adjacent to Family Dollar, this would be fantastic. The couple is pleased to see a turning lane is among the proposals.
Mayor Mike Sidari welcomed the residents and explained why there was a need to address traffic issues along this stretch of road.
“Maple Ridge Road is getting crowded because of the growth of the businesses,” Sidari said.
He praised the efforts of those who have been serving on the committee of 10 since last fall, since the village received a $50,000 Genesee Transportation Council grant to study pedestrian and bicycle accommodations from Bates Road to Tops and the former Ames Plaza.
While the overall planning includes Maple Ridge Road from Bates Road to Salt Works Road, the core of the improvements focus on Main Street to Tops.
The first thing the planning committee did was put the proposal out for bids, awarding the contract to Alta Planning and Design, a company with headquarters in Portland, Ore., with offices in Albany.
Kristie Di Cocco, project manager, said the company focuses on vehicle and pedestrian transportation. The steering committee included representatives from Medina Business Park, Medina Central School, the village of Medina, Genesee Transportation Council, town of Shelby, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development, Orleans County Economic Development and state Department of Transportation.
Mike and Nancy Blount of Medina look over maps outlining proposed improvements to Maple Ridge Road.
They did an initial assessment in November and met with the steering committee in December. They also did a web survey and got a huge response, Di Cocco said. They received 560 responses, which she said was impressive, including almost 60 from Medina Estates (Ricky Place).
Di Cocco said they are looking at the concept of “complete streets,” which means they are not just looking at the fastest way to get vehicles from one destination to another, but rather streets which are designed to handle all forms of travel, including bikes, pedestrians and trucks.
In the future, she said Medina Business Park is going to blossom and other businesses continue to grow, adding to traffic.
Plans also include how they can connect the village’s historic district downtown with Maple Ridge Road. This includes a path from Ricky Place into the village.
They will recommend implementation of strategies which will make the project competitive for grants, Di Cocco said.
Their studies included seven intersections from Tops to Bates Road, and the one which experienced the longest delays in exiting to Maple Ridge Road was West Avenue.
A study of the crash history in the last five years showed accidents attributed to animals topped the list, with rear-end collisions second.
Laura Byer, project planner with Alta, said time lapse cameras were installed on Maple Ridge Road to see how people were walking, and they were walking in all conditions and at night.
“There is a precedent for establishing pedestrian and bike paths,” Byer said.
She also said a pedestrian bridge across Oak Orchard Creek is in the works.
Barriers to the proposed improvements include available funding, coordinating with NYDOT and roadway geometrics, i.e., a dip in the road west of Tops which hides oncoming vehicles.
Byer said Medina Central School officials are supportive of their measures and have shared their input.
Kristie Di Cocco, left, project manager with Alta Planning and Design, and Laura Byer, planning manager, discuss proposed improvements to Maple Ridge Road with Jim Lustumbo, owner of Lake Village Mobile Home Park. At left rear is Jim Bensley, director of Orleans County Planning and Development.
Mayor Sidari stressed the importance of the study, and said they are looking to make these improvements for the safety of motorists and pedestrians.
“This is something that needs to be done,” he said. “We are going to see increased vehicle traffic to the Business Park, with the new hotel and the college. Funding is our biggest obstacle.”
A portion of the evening was allocated for residents to share their concerns and ideas. There was a lot of discussion regarding safety of vehicles, especially school buses, exiting Mustang Drive. Di Cocco said they did a traffic analysis there and are going to recommend a traffic light.
She also said there had been a lot of talk about lowering speed limits, but although it is a state road, the village owns that stretch of Maple Ridge Road.
Placing medians in front of Aldi’s and Medina Bowling Lanes to discourage left turns is another proposed option.
Jim Simon, associate dean of the Medina and Albion campuses of Genesee Community College, was concerned about the fact the speed limit changes from 45 to 55 mph right in front of the college. He said when the new hotel goes up, this developing corridor is going to get a lot busier.
He also suggested a pedestrian bridge installed at the back of Ricky Place would create an easy route for employees of Pride Pak, for instance, who want to go downtown for lunch. It would also be a direct line for students who want to walk home in the village. A pedestrian bridge has already been funded, he said.
Other traffic issues included the problem for residents of Lakewood Village who want to exit onto Maple Ridge Road, especially those making a left turn.
Park owner Jim Lustumbo said a 75-foot right-of-way between McDonalds and his storage buildings was established several years ago and agreed to by the landowner. A roadway there would allow residents to drive behind McDonalds and into the former Ames parking lot, where they could then exit onto Maple Ridge Road at the traffic light.
Copies of three concepts for the Maple Ridge Road improvements were made available for residents to vote on, and those who did not attend Thursday’s presentation are encouraged to pick one up at the village hall and fill it out.
Residents can not only pick their favorite concept, but can indicate if there is one or more thing they don’t like about a concept or something they would like to keep.
Photos courtesy of Ed Morgan: Ed Morgan, center, is pictured with former gubernatorial candidates Rob Astorino, left, and Marc Molinaro.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2019 at 11:30 am
‘He’s isn’t bombastic. He’s not a bomb thrower. He has a blue-collar work ethic where you show up and put your time in.’ – Nick Langworthy, Erie County GOP chairman
Donald Trump, left, poses for a photo with Ed Morgan, Orleans County Republican Party chairman, at a meeting in New York City in January 2014, when Morgan and other Republican leaders tried to get Trump to run for governor.
MURRAY – Ed Morgan has met President Donald Trump several times and attended numerous events with the biggest Republican Party stars in the state and country.
He has been a key leader for the Republican Party in the state, a man whose blessing has been critical for many candidates at the local and state levels.
With Morgan as the Orleans County Republican Party chairman, the top candidates for state-wide positions, including governor, made sure to visit Orleans County. Marc Molinaro addressed the GOP fall rally in 2018, Rob Astorino did in 2014 and Carl Paladino was in Orleans in 2010. All ran for governor against Andrew Cuomo.
“You meet a lot of good people,” Morgan said about his role as a Republican leader. “Most of these people are down to earth. They put their pants on just like you and me.”
Morgan has ended a 12 ½ year tenure as Orleans County Republican Party chairman, and an 8-year commitment as a vice chairman on the NYS Republican Party Committee.
As vice chairman for the state GOP, he led the eight counties of Western New York despite being from one of the smallest counties. Niagara and Erie have far more people, and their chairmen have a bigger weighted vote.
But Morgan commanded their respect. The county chairmen in the bigger counties wanted Morgan to continue as vice chairman, as their leader. No one was looking to replace him.
“He is as genuine as they come,” said Nick Langworthy, chairman of the Erie County Republican Party. “There is zero ego with this man. He listens to your input. He has been a real asset to me. He was someone I could count on.”
Morgan led the 80-member Orleans County Republican Party Committee until Feb. 1. Skip Draper is the acting chairman until the party reorganizes.
“I want to thank Ed for his countless hours of dedication to the Republican Party,” Draper said. “We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.”
Morgan decided now was the right time to step down from the role. His wife Dorothy recently retired as a deputy elections commissioner with the county.
Morgan is pictured with from left: Assemblyman David DiPietro, Carl Paladino and Nick Langworthy, the Erie County Republican Party chairman.
Morgan will continue to work full-time as Murray’s highway superintendent. He also is chairman of the Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District, an elected fire commissioner for the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company and Orleans County’s representative on the board of directors for the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.
“It’s been a great ride,” Morgan said. “There are parts that I will miss but some parts that I won’t.”
The election calendar has moved up, and the Republican Party already is going through the endorsement process. Soon they will be circulating petitions and the primary is June 25, instead of in September.
Morgan is happy to not be heavily involved in that process this election cycle. He will continue in a reduced role as a member of the Town of Murray Republican Committee.
He will be deeply missed as a WNY leader for the Republicans, Langworthy said.
“He cares so much,” Langworthy said. “He wants Western New York to be a better place. He’s had a tremendous career and he goes out on top. It’s the end of an era in Orleans County. He certainly put Orleans County on the map.”
Morgan grew up in Bergen. His brother Dan was a long-time president of the Board of Education for the Byron-Bergen school district.
Morgan said his family strives to be involved in the community. Before he was the highway superintendent, he was a farmer and the FHM fire chief. He was elected highway superintendent in November 1989.
He was instrumental in putting in the infrastructure for the Holley Business Park, and also pushed to have 15 water districts built in Murray.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Ed Morgan cooks spaghetti during the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in September 2016. Morgan has been active with numerous local organizations.
He gets recruited to serve on boards, and it doesn’t take long before the other board members ask him to take on a leadership role.
“I’ve never aggressively went out and looked for anything,” Morgan said about the roles. “People approach me.”
Langworthy said people like Morgan’s style.
“He’s isn’t bombastic,” Langworthy said. “He’s not a bomb thrower. He has a blue-collar work ethic where you show up and put your time in.”
Many of the Republican Party chairmen are lawyers or business professionals. Morgan was unusual in the top echelon of the Republican Party in coming from a background as a farmer and then as a highway superintendent.
Richard Siebert, Genesee County Republican Party chairman, said Morgan is well regarded by Republican Party leaders in Western New York, and the elected officials from the party. Siebert hoped Morgan would stay as the WNY leader for four more years.
“His style is not to be aggressive but he is outspoken,” Siebert said. “He isn’t a pushover. He’s very dedicated and he’s respected by all of us.”
Siebert serves on the board of directors with Morgan for the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., which owns the Batavia Downs and OTB parlors in Western New York.
“We’ve been friends a long, long time,” Siebert said. “He’s a natural leader. He’s very dedicated.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: Rob Astorino, the Republican candidate for governor in 2014, speaks at the Orleans County Fall Republican Rally in October that year. Morgan shared the stage with the candidate at the event. Many of the top candidates for state-wide offices visited Orleans out of repsect for Morgan.
Morgan, in his role as leader of the 8 county chairmen from WNY, insisted that all voices be heard, including from the smaller counties, especially when choosing candidates, Siebert said.
Morgan attended numerous Republican functions in WNY and Albany. He kept the other county leaders well informed of the issues, and navigated some surprises when George Maziarz suddenly withdrew his re-election campaign in the summer of 2014 and Chris Collins last year was indicted, stopped campaigning and then jumped back into the race. Morgan also led the search process for a candidate when Chris Lee resigned from Congress in February 2011. Morgan had just taken the helm as vice chairman for the region. There were 16 candidates, with Republican leaders deciding to back Jane Corwin.
Morgan has attended numerous events in WNY to support candidates. He wants elected officials with conservatives values and a focus on reducing government costs. He has travelled to Albany many times for the state convention and to meet with legislators. He is well known by most of the Republicans in the Assembly and State Senate.
“I enjoy the traveling and meeting people,” Morgan said. “It’s a drive. I’ve always had the drive when I do something it’s 100 percent.”
He attended the Republican National Conventions in 2012 in Tampa when Mitt Romney was nominated for president and in 2016 in Cleveland when Donald Trump was the candidate. Morgan was in the room when Trump gave his victory speech at about 3 in the morning on election night at the Hilton hotel in New York City.
Morgan said Trump is a “gentleman” to talk with privately. He first met him in 2014, when Republican leaders went to Trump Tower in New York City, to try to get him to run for governor. Trump would decline that race. He instead set his sights on being president.
“I’ve had several private dinners with Donald before he was president,” Morgan said. “We tried to talk him into government.”
Behind Morgan, Orleans County was an early county to endorse Trump for president in 2016. Not all local Republicans supported that endorsement. Some wrote letters to the editor in the Orleans Hub, questioning Trump’s moral fitness to be leader of the country.
Morgan said he continues to back Trump in his push for border security and with his success revving up the economy.
The local Republican Party is strong financially and continues to field good candidates, Morgan said.
He offered this advice to Skip Draper in leading the local party:
“Do your thing and don’t try to be me,” Morgan said. “Listen to both sides and don’t have a personal agenda. Our job is to find good candidates who will serve on fiscally sound boards.”
Morgan is pictured with State Sen. Rob Ortt, former State Sen. George Maziarz and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. Many of the elected officials sought out Morgan for advice on local issues.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 January 2019 at 5:45 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf
MEDINA – A crane lifts a rafter today for the new Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God building on Maple Ridge Road in Medina.
The church is working on a new 9,306-square-foot building. It is moving from the former Medina High School, where it has been based the past 25 years. The building on Maple Ridge is near Salt Works Road.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2019 at 2:42 pm
Courtesy of Orleans County Health Department
ALBION — The Orleans County Health Department has created a map to show the streets included in a boil water advisory, which is expected to last 3-4 days after a big water main break in Albion on Tuesday.
Water users are urged to bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for a minute and cool before using. Or they can use bottled water certified for sale by the NYS Department of Health, according to a boil water notice from the Village of Albion.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Bob Schumacher of Schumacher Farm in Ridgeway gives a tour of his sugar shack on Mill Road on March 19, 2016. Schumacher Farm was one of 160 maple farms in New York that participated in Maple Weekend.
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that New York’s maple industry hit a 74-year record in 2018 with the production of 806,000 gallons of maple syrup. The maple industry in New York has grown by nearly 50 percent in the last five years and continues to maintain the state’s standing as the second leading producer of fresh maple syrup in the nation.
“The maple industry is one of New York’s most important agricultural sectors, and it continues to grow year-over-year, infusing millions into the economy and bringing New York national recognition for its quality,” Governor Cuomo said. “The growth of the industry is an indicator of our fantastic producers, who work hard to make some of the best maple syrup in the country and the innovative and unique maple products that consumers are demanding.”
According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York’s maple production constituted about 19 percent of the national total. The number of maple taps also continues to climb, with more than 2.73 million taps in production in 2018, the highest number of taps since 1943. New York producers also benefited from a long season in 2018 which lasted 52 days, compared to 43 days in 2017.
Maple Day at the New York State Fair
In celebration of New York’s growing maple industry, the New York State Fair will hold its first-ever Maple Day on Monday, August 27. Maple Day is sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers Association and will feature maple products, such as maple cotton candy, maple donuts, pancakes with maple syrup, and more, that can be sampled at locations across the Fairgrounds. Cooking demonstrations using pure New York maple syrup will be held throughout the day in the Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen and maple vendors will be sampling and selling products at the Taste NY Marketplace in the Horticulture Building. Maple Day joins Dairy Day, Beef Day, and Agricultural Career Day in a lineup of special days created at the fair to highlight and promote New York State agriculture.
New York State Grown & Certified
The New York State Grown & Certified program recently expanded this past winter to include the New York maple industry. Since February 2017, the number of maple producers in the program has nearly tripled, from 14 to 37. For a complete list of producers in the program, click here.
New York State Grown & Certified promotes New York’s agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards. For maple, the syrup must be sourced from New York maple trees and processed in New York State. To meet the food safety standards, participants must have successfully completed a maple food safety class, developed in partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Western New York Maple Producers Association, and must follow food safety best practices that are subject to an onsite audit.
In addition, the maple producer must participate in an environmental management program that promotes sustainability and keeps forests healthy and productive, such as the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management program, which is administered through the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, or the Certified Tree Farmer, administered by the American Tree Farm System.
“Maple is agriculture’s first crop of the season and its certainly one that we do extremely well here in New York,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. “Thanks to our dedicated maple producers, more of whom are joining the NYS Grown & Certified program, New York continues to be a top producer in the country, with record production figures and number of taps in recent history. We are pleased to promote the industry through Grown & Certified and at the State Fair, where more than 1.1 million people will get to taste some of the very best maple syrup and maple products in the country.”
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Graduates of the spring class for Microenterprise Assistance Program posed outside Tillman’s Village Inn Tuesday night with their advisers/mentors. From left, front, are Sam Campanella, business adviser with the Small Business Development Corporation of New York; Diane Blanchard, director of MAP; Marcell Taylor, guest speaker and former graduate; Maurice Taylor; Jenelle Boyd; and Adam Papaj. Back row: Jake Olles; Kelly Furness, Michelle Hampton; Richard Gallo; Kin Chesher-Nguyen; Julie Hess; Richard Petitte, business adviser for the Buffalo District of Small Business Development Centers of New York State; and Jon Costello with SCORE.
Posted 13 June 2018 at 12:05 pm
Nearly 500 have now completed microenterprise training program
Kim Chester-Nguyen of North Chili explains the nursery/furniture wedge she designed to fellow graduates of the Microenterprise Assistance Program during a graduation program Tuesday night at Tillman’s Village Inn.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent
ALBION – The latest class of graduates in Orleans Economic Development Agency’s Microenterprise Assistance Program brings the total of aspiring entrepreneurs to 485 individuals since the program started about two decades ago.
Ten of the spring class’s 11 participants shared their business plans and received diplomas Tuesday night at the Village Inn.
Diane Blanchard, director of the MAP, introduced guests, advisers and graduates.
Those lending support to the program were Jon Costello, a business mentor with SCORE; Richard Petitte with the Buffalo District of the Small Business Development Centers of NYS; Sam Campanella with the Small Business Development Corporation of New York; Karen Sawicz, board member and owner of Lake Country Pennysaver/Orleans Hub; Kathy Blackburn, president of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce and owner of Meggie Moo’s in Medina; and Ken DeRoller, an Orleans County legislator.
Graduates and their proposed businesses were Jenelle Boyd of Lyndonville, whose tentative plan is to open a coffee house/café in the block which her uncle Robert Smith is renovating in Lyndonville; Richard Gallo and Michelle Hampton of Holley, expansion of a towing business; Kim Chester-Nguyen of North Chili, production of a nursery/furniture wedge; Kelly Furness of Waterport, flipping homes; Julie Hess of Lyndonville, the Wed Shed; Jake Olles of Albion, house inspection/property management for cottagers and snowbirds; Robert Owens of Albion, a hydroponics supply store; Adam Papaj of Medina, a multi-purpose sports training facility; Maurice Taylor, a consultant in workplace diversity; and John Brabon, nutrition meals.
Michelle Hampton and Richard Gallo of Holley took the class to further their plans of expanding a towing business in Orleans County.
Each graduate explained their business plan to the audience, what they expected their start-up costs to be, what they would need for operating revenue and what their projected profits would be.
Graduates of the class not only learn how to develop a business plan, but are eligible for low-interest loans.
Several were looking for assistance in expanding a current business, while others are first-time entrepreneurs.
An ambitious plan was unveiled by Adam Papaj of Medina, who wants to open a multi-purpose sports training facility. He would provide sports-specific training in a facility which would have bounce houses, an area for toddlers, a small restaurant with pizza and fast food, a cage for hitting training for baseball and training spaces for soccer and lacrosse. He would coordinate activities with special events happening in the area, such as Thomas the Train, Ale in Autumn and the Steampunk Festival. He is looking for financing to build or renovate an existing building.
Jake Olles of Albion saw a need for the business he hopes to establish – monitoring and managing property for cottage owners and snowbirds.
His plan is to offer his services to open and close cottages for the season and inspect those properties and homes of snowbirds who go south for the winter.
With cell phone technology, he says he can inspect a property every two weeks, take pictures and send them to owners who can then determine if everything is in place. This would also be a check for broken pipes or power outages which could cause extensive damage if not discovered in a timely manner. He has a snowmobile to give him access to lake property when driveways are full of snow. He would also look for footprints in the snow, which might indicate someone had been trespassing on the property.
Jenelle Boyd of Lyndonville explains her business plan to fellow graduates of the Microenterprise Assistance Program. Her tentative plans are to open a coffee house/café in the block her uncle Robert Smith is renovating on Main Street in Lyndonville.
Kim Chesher-Nguyen’s business is the production of a wedge she designed to prevent items from falling down between the wall and a piece of furniture, especially in the nursery.
Julie Hess of Lyndonville hit on her business quite by accident after spending a lot of money buying items for her son’s wedding.
“I had so much stuff left I decided to rent it out,” Hess said. “It became clear there needed to be a resource for couples planning a wedding or special event where they could rent items at a reasonable price and not have to go out and buy them.”
Her Wed Shed offers tables, decorating, lighting and backdrops, among other things. She plans to keep up on trends in wedding planning and has opened a showroom in a chicken coop on their property.
She will set up decorations and tear them down, or the customer can do it themselves.
Her goal is to provide low-cost decorations to create the WOW factor.
Marcell Taylor, a former MAP graduate, told the class how much the program helped him get established. He now owns barber shops in Albion and Batavia.
“Every week I was excited about what I was going to learn at the next class,” Taylor said. “When you are in business for yourself, you speak a different language than the person who goes to work 9 to 5. People don’t understand the passion and drive an entrepreneur has. In this class, I met people I could relate to.”
He said was exited to hear all the ideas this latest class wants to get into.
“You are here with people who share your goals,” he said.
Ken DeRoller has been on the board of directors for the Orleans EDA since 2001 and has been an avid supporter of the microenterprise program. He was amazed at the ideas presented by graduates.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2018 at 5:28 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: Village officials worry about pedestrian safety along Maple Ridge Road, which has seen several new businesses open in recent years.
MEDINA – The village has been approved for a $50,000 grant to study pedestrian and bicycle accommodations on Maple Ridge Road, from Bates Road to the former Ames Plaza.
Mayor Mike Sidari said the study should help Medina make its case for a state grant to help pay for sidewalks on that stretch of Maple Ridge and a pedestrian bridge over Oak Orchard Creek on Maple Ridge.
The $50,000 grant from GTC includes a $5,000 local match from the village for the “Maple Ridge Road Corridor Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations Feasibility Study.”
Medina applied for a TAP – Transportation Alternatives Grant – but was denied last year. The TAP is 80 percent federally funded with a 20 percent local share. The funding is from the federal government, but awarded by the state.
The sidewalk project with a small bridge would cost $1.3 million, according to initial cost estimates from Labella Associates in Rochester. To improve its chances for the next time funding is available, Medina will develop a plan for sidewalks on Maple Ridge Road. Medina intends to work with Wendel, a professional firm, on the study.
The mayor said he wants sidewalks on what has become a busy commercial strip with many residences nearby. There are currently sidewalks near the Route 63 intersection on Maple Ridge Road, but most of the road lacks sidewalks from Bates Road to the former Ames plaza.
Many people walk along Maple Ridge Road or use motorized wheelchairs. Sidari said the sidewalks would improve safety for many local residents.
Maple Ridge has become busier with GCC, manufacturing plants, chain stores and a residential community. The Orleans Economic Development Agency also is working to develop a hotel on Maple Ridge next to the Pride Pak vegetable processing plant.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2018 at 8:00 am
Courtesy of Orleans County Planning Department
Last week the state announced 154 addresses in Orleans County were approved for broadband access.
The state announced $225.5 million in broadband grants, including $36,699 to serve 154 addresses in Orleans County. The NY Broadband Program Round III grants will fund broadband infrastructure and support connections for nearly 129,000 locations statewide.
In Orleans, the grants include $12,758 for 51 addresses in Barre, $6,773 for 29 addresses in Yates, $5,670 for 21 addresses in Shelby, $4,568 for 15 addresses in the Town of Albion, $2,678 for 15 spots in Ridgeway, $2,363 for 15 addresses in Gaines, $12,600 for six sites in Clarendon, and $630 for two addresses in Carlton. Hughes Network Systems LLC will be the contractor for the work in Orleans.
Several Orleans Hub readers requested the specific addresses for the project. We were able to find the census tract numbers. The Orleans County Department of Planning created the map above, showing where the high-speed Internet will be going.
(Editor’s Note: The state announced that broadband would be going to some spots in Gaines, Ridgeway and the Town of Albion, but those locations weren’t reflected in the census data.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2017 at 9:38 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The fall 2017 class has graduated from the Orleans Microenterprise Assistance Program. About 500 people have now graduated from MAP since it started in 1999.
Pictured, front row, from left: Diane Blanchard, MAP coordinator for the Orleans Economic Development Agency; Delanda DeLucia, dog grooming business; Beth Schorer, owner of Beth’s Freshly Started Sewing Box; Patrick Dishaw, Mold and Radon Assessment Services; Joe Nelson, Alana Monska and Jason Monska, A & J’s Bakery and BBQ Catering.
Small business advisors Dick Pettine, Jon Costello and Sam Campanella; Amanda Mrzywka, co-owner of Navarra’s Farm Market; Joan Navarra-Mrzywka, “Joaney Baloney” food truck at Navarra’s Farm Market; Felicia Viloria, considering a hot dog stand; Sara Mathes, owner of Sassy Girls Sparkle; Linda Suhr, IPA beer and wine retail store; Joshua Fisher, JJ Contracting; and Ben DeGeorge, owner of the Arnold Gregory Office Complex, where the class meets and there are offices for small businesses. Not pictured: Kerry Rosenberg, dog wash business.
The 10-week gives small business owners tips in marketing, handling stress, computers, legal issues, bookkeeping and taxes – all factors that are key to running successful businesses. They also must complete a business plan. The graduates are now eligible to seek low-interest financing for up to $30,000 from the Orleans EDA.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency has run the program since 1999, with classes in the spring and fall.
The class is held at the Arnold Gregory Memorial Complex in Albion. The graduation program was Tuesday at The Village Inn.
The EDA is preparing for the spring class which starts in April. There are spots available. Contact Diane Blanchard, MAP coordinator, at (585) 589-7060.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2017 at 11:20 am
Provided photo
ALBION – A new class graduated from the Microenterprise Assistance Program on Tuesday. The 10-week program provides small business training. The Orleans Economic Development Agency has run the program since 199 and 464 people have completed the class.
The new graduates include: Heather Saeva (Saeva Hops), Pat Greene (Quiet Eye), Darlene Hartway (Sourced Market & Eatery), Karen Boston, Chris Kozody, Katie Whipple, Tara Ashton (Bella Cosa), Dennis Button (Digital Ink Arts), Marcell Taylor (Marcell Fresh Bud Absolute Xquisite Taylor Cutz), Brandy McKinney and Jeff Maier (Buckshot Tanning).
The class met at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex, a former hospital on South Main Street in Albion. Ben DeGeorge (back right) of the DeGeorge Property Group owns the building. He has space in Arnold Gregory for a new business incubator.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 October 2016 at 8:56 am
Village also wants to route big trucks away from center of town
Photo by Tom Rivers: Mayor Mike Sidari said the village is reaching out to the DOT to reduce speed on Maple Ridge Road, and also to help route truck traffic to Salt Works Road and Bates Road on the edges of the village.
MEDINA – Village officials will ask the state Department of Transportation to lower the speed on Maple Ridge Road, which is becoming an increasingly busy commercial corridor.
The Village Board wants the speed lowered to 40 miles per hour from Sanderson Road (just east of Bates Road) through the village line just past the former Ames Plaza near Roberts Farm Market.
Mayor Michael Sidari said Maple Ridge is the scene of many serious accidents each year.
“I think we have good cause to bring it to the DOT,” Sidari said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Pride Pak will soon open on Maple Ridge, joining several other businesses. Sidari said there is also interest in a hotel next to Pride Pak.
In the past decade several new buildings have gone up on Maple Ridge, including Western New York Energy’s ethanol plant, Genesee Community College’s campus center, Tim Hortons, Dunkin’ Donuts, United Memorial Medical Center’s women’s health center, and Family Dollar. Tractor Supply, Mariachi de Oro, Takeform Architectural Graphics, Aldi Foods and other businesses have also opened on Maple Ridge.
Sidari has asked the Shelby Town Board, Ridgeway Town Board and Orleans County Legislature to support the speed reduction.
Ridgeway officials have already gone on the record supporting the move. Sidari said he expects Shelby will soon join the effort. Shelby may also have to join the village in formally asking the DOT to look at the speed reduction because Maple Ridge is in the town and village.
The village is also asking the DOT for permission to put signs on Maple Ridge Road directing tractor trailers to Salt Works Road for deliveries and pickups at Associated Brands and other businesses on Salt Works Road and Park Avenue.
The village also wants signs on the other end of Maple Ridge Ridge directing truck traffic to Bates Road, which has been upgraded to handle the heavier vehicles.
“We want to keep the trucks off the village streets,” Sidari said.
Trucks would still be allowed in the village for deliveries, but Sidari said the signs should shift some of the traffic to the edges of the village.
In other action at Monday’s Village Board meeting:
• Village trustees reported that MedEx, the Fire Department’s billing company, is reducing its rates from $36.75 per bill to $32.50, effective immediately and for 2017. MedEx handles about 2,000 bills annually for the Fire Department. Sidari said the change in rates will save the department about $8,000 a year.
• Appointed Bradley Lang as a full-time operator in the wastewater treatment plant. Lang recently passed the civil service test and is now a permanent employee.
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