The many fallen trees, branches and wires have resulted in about 2,500 National Grid customers without electricity in Orleans County.

The trees are vulnerable due to the high winds and soggy soil.

The National Grid power outage map is currently unavailable, but the Orleans County Emergency Management Office provided an update on the outages.

The Town of Clarendon is affected the most with 1,545 National Grid customers without power.

The outages also includes 548 in Carlton, 218 in Murray, 169 in Barre, 37 in Albion, 36 in Kendall, 31 in Yates, 8 in both Shelby and Gaines, and 1 in Ridgeway.

The estimated restorations range from 7 to 10:45 p.m.

“These outages are also widespread across the region and manpower and resources are limited but fully engaged in restoring everyone’s power as quickly as possible,” the EMO stated in an update on Facebook.

Press Release, NYS Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Members of the New York State Senate Republican Conference sent a letter to United States Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, urging them to set aside politics, prioritize the needs of the people of New York, and vote for the clean continuous resolution to reopen and fund the federal government.

The United States government has remained shut down for 30 days. The shutdown is having a domino effect throughout New York State, impacting childcare, heating assistance, nutrition assistance, housing programs, and veteran services while Federal employees and contractors go without pay.

A clean continuing resolution to reopen and fund the federal government has passed the House of Representatives but has failed to reach the 60-vote threshold in the United States Senate thirteen times, due to near-unanimous opposition from Democratic Senators.

“With no continuing resolution (CR) the government is at a standstill, and detrimental effects are already being felt by our dedicated federal workers who have gone close to a month without being paid,” Ortt said. “Equally concerning, the prolonged shutdown now threatens essential services that countless New Yorkers rely on, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Head Start preschool program, and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). These programs are lifelines for our most vulnerable citizens.

“Minority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand have the ability to end the devastating impacts of this shutdown, especially on the most vulnerable New Yorkers, by working with the members of their Democratic Caucus to vote on a clean continuing resolution to end the shutdown immediately,” Ortt said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This arch was set up at the start of Medina’s Beggar’s Nite a week ago on Oct. 24. The Print Shop is the starting point for the Beggar’s Nite, where many businesses in Medina’s downtown give out candy.

The four villages in Orleans County have set times for people to be out trick-or-treating this evening.

• Medina, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Albion, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
• Holley, from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Lyndonville, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Although the Brown Street bridge in Albion has been closed to vehicular traffic since 2012, the bridge has a walkway that is open to pedestrians. This photo was taken last Sunday.

A wind advisory is in effect for Orleans County beginning at 11 a.m. today and going until 5 a.m. Saturday. The advisory includes most of upstate New York.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo said there will be west to northwest winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 mph.

“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects, including Halloween decorations,” the Weather Service said. “Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”

The highs in the forecast include 47 today, 49 on Saturday, 53 on Sunday and 55 on Monday.

NY makes $65 million available in emergency food assistance

Photo by Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul: Gov. Kathy Hochul visits Common Pantry in Harlem in anticipation of the looming cut-off of SNAP benefits.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today declared a state of emergency and announced new actions in response to the Trump administration stripping food assistance from 3 million New Yorkers come November 1.

As the GOP federal government shutdown continues, the Trump administration has refused to release billions in statutorily approved federal contingency funding that would address this crisis in states across the nation.

By refusing to release this contingency funding, the federal government is leaving millions of New Yorkers without critical assistance they rely on to feed themselves and their families.

Governor Hochul is stepping up by committing an additional $65 million in new State funds for emergency food assistance that will reinforce New York’s network of vital food bank and pantry partners and provide about 40 million meals to hungry New Yorkers. The Governor is also deploying Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps Members to support local food banks during this emergency period of increased need, and continuing to explore food hubs at schools.

“The Trump Administration is cutting food assistance off for three million New Yorkers, leaving our state to face an unprecedented public health crisis and hurting our grocers, bodegas and farmers along the way,” Governor Hochul said. “Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table.”

Since the inception of the program, SNAP benefits have been federally funded. New York administers approximately $650 million per month in federally funded SNAP benefits to nearly 3 million New Yorkers. Given the scale of the program, Governor Hochul along with governors across the country have repeatedly emphasized that no state government can replace SNAP benefits or backfill the program.

Here’s a look at what today’s announcement means for New Yorkers:

• $40 million in new funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides emergency food relief and nutrition services to food-insecure populations. HPNAP works in partnership with a network of about 2,700 Emergency Food Providers (EFPs), including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

• $25 million in new funding for Nourish NY, which supplies surplus agricultural products (e.g., milk, apples, cheese, yogurt, cabbage, squash) to populations who need them through the State’s network of food relief organizations (i.e., regional food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and community-based organizations that provide food for free to persons experiencing food insecurity).

Deploying Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps Members to support food banks

Currently, hundreds of SUNY students serve as peer navigators, helping fellow students complete SNAP applications and assisting at campus and local food pantries.

The Empire State Service Corps will allow current members to expand their paid hours, enabling them to provide greater support at food pantries statewide. In addition, new short-term crisis response positions will be created to assist food pantries and food banks facing staffing shortages.

Today’s announcement comes as New York, along with 24 other states, sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to demand the release of emergency SNAP funds. The Governor also joined a letter alongside 20 other Governors to the President, calling for the Administration to reverse course and release emergency SNAP funds. Governor Hochul also fast-tracked $41 million in state funds for emergency food assistance earlier this week — today’s announcement brings the total of allocated state funds to $106 million.