BROCKPORT – Fidelis Care presented a $20,000 rural health grant on Thursday to Oak Orchard Health. The grant was presented at Oak Orchard’s community health center in Brockport.
Fidelis Care gave the “Here for Your Health” rural health grant in observance of National Rural Health Day. This grant is one of seven totaling $130,000 awarded to providers and community-based organizations that support innovative preventive care programs in rural communities across New York State, Fidelis Care said.
Fidelis Care is a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State. Fidelis Care offers coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life.
Oak Orchard Community Health Center, Inc. is a Federally Qualified Health Center and Patient-Centered Medical Home with 10 locations and two mobile units serving Orleans, Monroe, Genesee, Wyoming, and Steuben counties.
Oak Orchard serves a large population of low-to-moderate-income individuals who face significant obstacles to accessing preventive and other care. It plans to use the Fidelis Care Here for Your Health rural health grant to enable its team to personally contact low-income patients, ensuring they have the resources they need to visit the health centers and receive the care they deserve.
People can protect their health by testing for radon
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. While smoking remains the primary cause of lung cancer, radon gas is the second leading cause and the leading cause among non-smokers.
Radon is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that forms naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It can enter homes through cracks and openings in foundations and become trapped indoors. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one in every 15 homes in the U.S. has elevated radon levels. The only way to know if your home has radon is to test for it.
“You can’t see or smell radon, but it can pose a serious health risk over time,” said Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Testing your home is simple and inexpensive, and if high levels are found, radon problems can be fixed.”
Protect your family in three easy steps:
Test your home. Radon test kits are low-cost and easy to use. You can buy short-term test kits online and or at local hardware stores. The Genesee County Health Department also has a limited number of free test kits for Genesee County residents.
Fix high levels. If your test result is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, contact a certified radon mitigation professional to lower levels.
Retest after mitigation. Regular testing ensures your home remains safe.
Smoking combined with radon exposure greatly increases lung cancer risk. Quitting smoking and reducing radon exposure are two of the most effective ways to protect your lungs.
Press Release, Orleans County Veterans Services and Orleans County Health Department
MEDINA – The Orleans County Health Department and the Orleans County Veterans Services/Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Program are hosting a Veteran Health and Benefit Fair.
The event on Monday, November 17, will be from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Medina VFW Post 1483, 216 East Center St.
Veterans and one guest can come to learn about healthcare, benefits, and local community programs. Attendees can meet and talk with representatives from various organizations and veterans service providers. Flu vaccines and blood pressure checks will be available for veterans.
There also will be free snacks and refreshments. The event is funded by the Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Program.
To register, click here or call Orleans County Veterans Services at 585-589-3219.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 October 2025 at 4:19 pm
Local pastor says many senior citizens aren’t accessing services that would help them live longer, healthier lives
ALBION – Representatives from HCR Home Care will be at Hoag Library at 6 p.m. today to discuss the agency’s services in the community.
HCR has been invited by the Rev. Mark Washington of Kent, who is pastor of the Greater Lamb of Life Church of God in Christ in Rochester.
In Rochester, the clergy helped spread the word about the home health care services that are available in the community, and covered by Medicare and health insurance.
The Rochester pastors were part of the Diverse Care Project to promote the home healthcare services, especially among the African American and Latino populations, which Washington said were underserved.
There has been an historic lack of trust in the healthcare system in communities of color, Washington said.
“Black seniors have higher rates of heart disease, are more likely to be hospitalized for avoidable cardiac-related causes, higher rates of diabetes and obesity, and higher incidence and mortality rates from many cancers,” Washington said.
There also is a long tradition of these communities taking care of their own, which furthers exacerbates the introduction of home care, he said.
He would like a similar Diverse Care Project initiative in Orleans County and welcomes all clergy members to assist with promoting HCR Home Care and other health services.
He noted the some key health challenges in Orleans County:
Rural challenges & aging population – Seniors in Orleans County face compounding barriers related to geography, limited infrastructure, and socioeconomic constraints.
Severe physician shortage – In 2023, the patient-to-primary-care-physician ratio was 13,397:1, far above the state average.
Geographic isolation – Seniors struggle to reach medical care, grocery stores, and essential services due to the county’s rural layout.
Lack of care facilities – Few adult care, rehab, or nursing facilities are available locally, especially for short- or long-term needs.
For more information about the Diverse Care Project initiative and promoting home health care in Orleans County, Pastor Washington may be contacted at (585) 410-0568, or at markawashington4@gmail.com.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, right, presents a proclamation in observance of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Accepting the proclamation are Paul Pettit, Public Health Director; and Nicole Pierce, Epidemiologist/Program Manager.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
ALBION – October 19-25, 2025 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, a time to raise awareness about the dangers of lead poisoning and how to keep children safe.
To highlight the importance of preventing lead poisoning in our communities, Orleans County accepted a NLPPW proclamation on September 23, followed by Genesee County on October 22.
Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in dust, air, water and soil. Children can be exposed to lead by swallowing or breathing in lead dust from paint that is cracked or chipped, eating paint chips, or chewing on things that have lead paint.
Exposure in children can cause learning, behavior, growth, hearing and speech problems that may last into adulthood. “Children under six are most at risk because their bodies are rapidly developing,” stated Gabrielle Lanich, Lead Program Coordinator for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).
According to the census, 72.6% of occupied homes in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties were built before 1978, when lead paint was banned for residential use.
“Childhood lead exposure is a significant issue due to the number of older homes that may contain lead-based paint,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of GO Health. Fortunately, lead poisoning is preventable. “Contact your healthcare provider and make it a priority to get your child tested for lead,” stated Pettit.
GO Health encourages parents and community members to learn more about preventing lead exposure by exploring the three key themes of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week:
Get the Facts!
Any exposure to lead hazards can be serious, especially for children. The only safe blood lead level is zero!
The most common source of lead exposure in children is through eating dust particles or paint chips so small that they may not be visible to the naked eye.
The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures.
Other sources of lead could include metal toys, wooden toys or furniture painted with lead-based paint, metal jewelry, lead-glazed pottery or porcelain, some candies, spices, and even make-up.
Get your Home Tested!
Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. If your home was built before 1978, you should get it tested for lead paint.
If you rent, ask your landlord to have your home or apartment tested.
Contact GO Health for more information on getting your home tested.
Get your Child Tested!
Children’s blood lead levels start to rise between 6 and 12 months old and are highest between 18 and 24 months old.
The only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is through a simple blood test.
Most children with detectable levels of lead in their blood have no obvious symptoms.
Pregnant women who have been around lead should also be tested.
The Genesee County Health Department has a Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grant, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to help address lead-based paint hazards and other health concerns in homes and apartments in the GLOW region.
For eligibility and program details, contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext.5555 or Health.GOlead@geneseeny.gov. To learn more about local lead data and trends, visit the Lead Poisoning Surveillance Dashboard on the GO Health website.
To learn more about GO Health programs and services, or to get assistance through our lead programs, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact your local health department at:
For families in Orleans County, the early years of raising a child are full of joy—but they can also be filled with questions, stress, and uncertainty. That’s why Oak Orchard Health (OOH) in Albion is offering extra support to local families through a national program called HealthySteps—and it’s already making a big difference.
Local Help for Families with Young Children
HealthySteps began a year ago and is a free program for families with children from birth to age five. To date, we have helped 142 families in Albion. Every child under age three that is seen at Oak Orchard is automatically enrolled. The program adds an important member to the care team: a Healthy Steps Specialist who works closely with your pediatric provider to support the entire family.
“Our goal is to support the whole family—not just the child,” said Dr. Karen Mawn, a pediatrician at Oak Orchard in Albion and the program’s physician champion. “Sometimes that means helping with a referral, and sometimes it’s just listening and reassuring a new parent that they’re doing a great job.”
This nationally recognized program was made possible by a three-year grant, and Albion is the only OOH site currently offering it. Our Warsaw office has already been accepted in the program—we are working on implementation.
What Does HealthySteps Offer?
The program provides extra support at your child’s medical visits, as well as follow-up and care coordination. The HealthySteps Specialist can:
Talk through parenting questions and challenges
Address anxiety, stress, postpartum depression, or family well-being
Screen for child developmental delays and autism
Help connect families to WIC, food programs, and housing services
Offer guidance on speech delays, sleep struggles, and child behavior
Support mothers in recovery or those facing substance use challenges
Families are matched with the right level of support based on their needs. Some may have check-ins every few visits, while others receive help at every well-child appointment.
More Than Just Medical Care
What makes HealthySteps stand out is its focus on the whole family. The HealthySteps Specialist doesn’t just talk to moms, they also talk with grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers. All are included. If your family is raising a child under five, the HealthySteps Specialist is here for you, too.
Unlike typical pediatric visits, which are often limited by time, the Care Specialist is available to follow up, offer emotional support, and guide you to services you may not have known were available.
“It’s like having an extra teammate who’s focused on your child’s development—and your family’s well-being,” Dr. Mawn added.
A Community-Based Solution
HealthySteps also plays a key role in addressing critical social drivers of health—the non-medical issues that affect families, like food insecurity, housing instability, and access to childcare. With direct links to local support programs, the HealthySteps Specialist can help families get what they need to stay safe, healthy, and stable.
How to Get Started
If your baby or young child receives care at Oak Orchard Health in Albion, you’re already part of the HealthySteps program. Ask your pediatric provider about meeting the Specialist and learning more about the resources available to you.
To learn more, call Oak Orchard Health in Albion at (585) 589-5613 or find out more during your child’s next appointment.
Your family’s well-being is our priority—every step of the way.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 October 2025 at 12:26 pm
Photos courtesy of Scott Robinson: Tables are all set up at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville for last year’s Treasure Island fundraiser by Orleans Community Health Foundation. This year’s event is scheduled Nov. 8.
LYNDONVILLE – Plans are well underway for the 31st annual Treasure Island fundraiser sponsored by Orleans Community Health Foundation.
The event, scheduled Nov. 8 at White Birch Golf Course, benefits Orleans Community Health, and promises to be an evening filled with excitement, prizes and celebration – all in support of local health services, said Scott Robinson, director of marketing.
This year’s gala will honor several Orleans Community Health Primary Care Team members as honorary chairs. They are Vinay Aggarwal, M.D.; Syed Raza, M.D.; Leah Brenner, CPNP; Pamela Eaton, A-NP; Elizabeth Gurnsey, FNP; Cheryl Kast, PA-C; Stephanie Murphy, FNP-C; and Michelle Smith, FNP-BC.
Baskets including this one with lottery tickets are already being donated for this year’s Treasure Island.
These exceptional providers represent the heart of healthcare in Orleans County – delivering quality, compassionate care and keeping patients close to home, Robinson said.
Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner, open bar, raffles, entertainment and live and silent auctions featuring more than 100 incredible items, according to Robinson. This year’s auction lineup includes a weeklong stay in Myrtle Beach, a four-day trip to Cape Cod, Buffalo Bills tickets and countless gift certificates, experiences and local treasures.
And that’s not all. This year’s Treasure Island is brimming with exciting chances to win: a Pirate’s Pillage Raffle in which the winner gets to choose any item from the live auction lineup; Lucky Cork, in which just $20 allows the guest to pick a random cork to reveal a surprise bottle of wine or liquor (no one goes home empty handed); and a Reserve Raffle in which the guest has a shot at winning $500 in cash.
“We’re excited to invite the community back for another unforgettable Treasure Island,” said Megan Johnson, executive director of Orleans Community Health Foundation. “It’s a night of fun, laughter and generosity – all in the spirit of supporting essential, local health services. Every ticket purchased and every auction bid helps us continue providing quality care close to home for our patients, families and community.”
This year’s event is presented by Seaway Insurance Associates, with additional support from generous local sponsors, donors and volunteers, who make this tradition possible, Johnson said.
“Join us for an evening of adventure, community and giving – and help support the future of health services in Orleans County,” Johnson urged.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 October 2025 at 8:31 pm
MEDINA – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Orleans Community Health is committed to promoting early detection and education to help combat this disease. In support of this initiative, Medina Memorial Hospital is offering 3D mammography screenings during the months of October and November.
3D mammography is a groundbreaking screening tool that improves the accuracy of breast cancer detection, said Scott Robinson, director of marketing for OCH. Unlike traditional mammograms, this advanced technology captures multiple images of the breast, giving radiologists a detailed, layer-by-layer view. This results in better detection rates, especially for women with dense breast tissue.
To qualify for a free screening, a mammogram appointment must be scheduled in October or November. Whether one already has an appointment or needs to book one, this offer applies only during these two months.
“We strongly encourage all women, especially those aged 40 and over, to schedule their appointments now,” Robinson said.
For women who require additional testing, onsite ultrasounds are also available. The hospital’s dedicated team provides compassionate care in a supportive and comfortable environment.
Breast cancer impacts countless families, and early detection can save lives. At Orleans Community Health, they believe access to advanced screenings makes all the difference.
“This October and November, join us in raising awareness, encouraging early detection and standing together in the fight against breast cancer,” Robinson urges.
In Orleans County individuals face $1,251 increase for year, while family of 4 would pay $2,547 more
Press Release, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to discuss the impact of rising health insurance premiums on New Yorkers across the state and to call on Republicans to extend the health insurance subsidies that help many Americans get care at a price they can afford.
Editor’s Note: In Orleans County, Gillibrand said single individual making $65,000 or less would see a 31.7 percent increase, from $329.46 to $433.76 a month, a $1,251.60 increase for the year.
For a family of four in Orleans County making $130,000 or less, the monthly cost goes up by 20.7 percent from $1,023.96 to $1,236.22 a month, a $2,547.12 increase for the year, according to data from Gillibrand.
“At least 1.6 million New Yorkers in every corner of our state are on the brink of seeing their premiums skyrocket – all because congressional Republicans refuse to extend the health care assistance that families rely on,” Gillibrand said. “This is a Republican-manufactured health care crisis that low- and middle-income New Yorkers simply cannot afford.”
Without an extension, Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits will expire at the end of 2025, causing 20 million Americans to see a sudden increase in their health insurance costs. This includes at least 1.6 million New Yorkers, who will face an average yearly increase of $1,360 in the amount they pay for their premiums, with people in some counties experiencing far greater increases.
“Democrats stand ready to negotiate a bipartisan deal to keep health care costs low and reopen the government, but we need Republicans to come to the table,” Gillibrand said. “I’m calling on my Republican colleagues to prioritize American families over billionaires and end this crisis.”
Gillibrand emphasized the immense strain that this will put on working families and the dire need for Republicans to work with Democrats to address the looming health care crisis and end the government shutdown. Enrollees in New York State are already receiving notices of premium hikes ahead of the start of open enrollment on November 1st, underscoring the importance of extending the subsidies immediately.
Health insurance premiums are expected to increase by double- or triple-digit percentages in all of New York’s 62 counties if President Trump and congressional Republicans fail to extend ACA subsidies.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 October 2025 at 9:00 am
MEDINA – Medina Healthcare Center, located on the first floor of Medina Memorial Hospital, is working to expand same-day access to quality care, with the opening of Medina Health Care Center.
Located on the first floor of Medina Memorial Hospital, Medina Healthcare Center is now offering same-day sick care appointments and can schedule most routine primary care visits in less than a week. This commitment to timely access ensures that patients of all ages – from pediatrics to geriatrics – can get the care they need, when they need it.
Finding the right primary care provider for yourself or your family isn’t always easy, according to Scott Robinson, director of marketing at the hospital.
“Too often, patients spend time researching and calling, only to discover that routine appointments may not be available for weeks – or even months,” Robinson said. “Medina Healthcare Center is working to change that.”
“We recognize that delays in primary care can cause stress for families,” Robinson said. “Our goal at Medina Healthcare Center is to remove those barriers by providing fast, friendly scheduling and quality care that fits our patients’ lives. Whether or not you are a patient of Orleans Community Health, that doesn’t matter. If you’re under the weather and need to see someone – we want to help.”
In addition to same-day services at Medina, the Albion Healthcare Center also offers walk-in care. Together, these centers provide flexible and accessible options for patients across Orleans County and surrounding communities.
Residents are encouraged not to wait if they need care. Call to schedule an appointment at Medina Healthcare Center, (585) 798-2550.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. While smoking remains the primary cause of lung cancer, radon gas is the second leading cause and the leading cause among non-smokers.
