Local News
County rebels against state plan
In part of his efforts to close the increasing gap in the state budget, Gov. David Paterson has made some unpopular decisions — one of which was hotly debated Wednesday.
Lyndonville Mayor Marc Scarr came before the Orleans County Legislature to express his frustration with the supplemental Covered Lives Assessment. The assessment, created as part of the state deficit reduction plan, called for an increase to Covered Lives Assessment, retroactive to October 2008. The effect would be that businesses and private citizens would see an increase in their health insurance premiums, creating more tax burdens for state residents.
“I’ve spoken to a couple legislators about this. ... Recently, I got a letter from my insurance company saying I’m going to get a charge to pay for county health insurance,” Scarr said. He said with the number of county employees, it will cost Orleans County residents anywhere from $100 to $400 per employee, depending on the size of their family.
“I’ve come in to say, ‘Come on guys, give us a break — this has got to stop,’ ” Scarr said. “I have problems in my little village, and I have only five employees; you have 400. You know it will be trickled down, and the guy on the bottom will pay for it.”
The Legislature then passed a resolution “respectfully requesting that state leaders focus on tax relief and programmatic reform including the reversal of the supplemental covered lives assessment included in the 2009-10 state budget.”
In other news, the Legislature took a moment to react to Thom Jennings column last Thursday, in which Jennings suggested lowering sales tax rate by 1 percent to attract more consumers to the area and use it as a “promotional tool.” Jennings also went on to say in the past few years, “County government’s sales tax revenue has exceeded the budget’s projections.”
According to Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt, for the past five years, the county has been within an average of 3.8 percent for their budgets, saying Jennings’ accusation regarding the budget projections was untrue.
“To make up for the revenue lost in that 1 percent of taxes, we’d have to see $117 million in new purchases,” Nesbitt explained.
Legislator Lynne Johnson said that the 1 percent would be equivalent to $2.33 per thousand of assessed value.
“If we weren’t going to pass that onto the taxpayer, we couldn’t even make up for it by cutting out all of our road patrol,” Johnson said. “We’re hopeful the Senate will address that.”
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Teens accused of harassing mosque parishioners
Members of the World Sufi Foundation Mosque have experienced harassment in the past, but nothing like what happened earlier this week. The disruption resulted in the arrest of five teens — one of whom is facing criminal charges for allegedly firing a weapon.
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Dad gets 6 months in child's death
An Orleans County man who pleaded guilty in June to criminally negligent homicide in his daughter’s death was sentenced Monday to serve six months in jail.
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Teens accused of harassing Carlton mosque
Members of the World Sufi Foundation Mosque have experienced harassment in the past, but nothing like what happened earlier this week. The disruption resulted in the arrest of five teens — one of whom is facing criminal charges for allegedly firing a weapon.
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Community Action helps children prepare for school
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee completed its annual back to school drive Thursday, helping more than 200 children get supplies.
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Remembering 9/11
Each year a group gathers in Albion to remember those who lost their lives that September day nine years ago. Holding tributes and candlelight vigils, the Orleans County American Legion has hosted the event to pay tribute to those involved in 9/11.
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Special gift pushes trust campaign over the top
The Sandstone Trust of Medina has exceeded its 2010 summer campaign goal on the strength of a very special memorial gift which was made public this week. The immediate family of the late Fern J. Blackburn (widow of Paul R. Blackburn) presented a major contribution to the Trust committee in an amount equaling 20 percent of the entire summer campaign goal of $25,000. With this support, the total of summer gifts stands today at approx. $27,000, leaders said.
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District confirms leave of absence
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department issued an appearance ticket Aug. 21, requiring a district administrator to appear in Batavia Town Court next month to answer a charge of driving while intoxicated. The Holley Central School District can confirm that the administrator has been on leave since Aug. 3, which includes the alleged time of the incident.
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Village improves skateboard agreement
The Village of Albion board had good news for skateboarders and Santa Clauses on Wednesday, approving the Town of Albion’s offer to help pay for skate park equipment and offering to assist with the upcoming celebration of legendary Santa Claus Charles Howard.
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Fifty-six years strong for Camp Rainbow Fund
The Camp Rainbow Fund, which inherited its new name six months ago from the former Journal-Register Camp Fund, continued this summer to do good work on behalf of children in Orleans County. A total of $5,074 was raised from the public to send boys and girls “into the sunshine of Camp Rainbow,” located on Town Line Road in the northern part of Ridgeway.
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Natale introduces book about spirituality, sexuality
Maintaining a relationship with God can be difficult for anyone who is tempted by the distractions of everyday life — money, sex, addictions. But faith goes deeper than the labels affixed to these indulgences and the churches people go to seeking guidance.
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