ALBION – A weeklong outage of the NYS DMV computer system has prevented customers from scheduling all commercial, regular and motorcycle road tests.
In addition, customers are unable to use the computer to take commercial, regular and motorcycle permit tests.
Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon, along with County Clerks across the state, are calling on DMV Commissioner Schroeder to disclose the true reasons why the system is malfunctioning and apologize to affected New York State residents.
“This is an unacceptable situation,” Hanlon said. “I can understand the system going down for a few hours, maybe a day, but to be down for a full week leads me to believe that there are major issues with the system that DMV is not revealing.
“April is a very busy time for most DMVS with young people coming in for permit and road tests, and this snafu adversely affects the customers as well as DMV staffs,” Hanlon said. “Commissioner Schroeder needs to immediately address this issue and inform New York State residents the reasons why this system has been down for a full week, severely crippling DMV services.”
Hanlon stated that there has been no explanation from the State on the current computer issue, only a notice on the state website. In addition, County Clerks have not been notified by State DMV officials as to when they can expect the computers to come back online, leaving our local DMV staff to face the brunt of motorist complaints.
“Commissioner Schroeder owes it to the people of the state to explain why the computers are down and to pledge that all measures will be taken to ensure this does not happen again,” Hanlon said. “Motorists deserve nothing less.”
Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Provided photo: “Grandma” Esther Leadley, a member of the Community Action Board of Directors and early childhood learning advocate, reads to a Head Start student in Genesee County. Leadley, a former Genesee County legislator, recognizes the importance of books for preschool children that help create readers for success in school and life.
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee’s Head Start program is joining forces to celebrate the Week of the Young Child from April 10 to April 16 with the National Association for Education of Young Children.
The local Head Start program serves over 250 young children, ages birth to 5 years, and their parents in Orleans and Genesee counties. Like NAEYC, Head Start programs are committed to delivering best practice early childhood education that help young children thrive and learn in an environment dedicated to ensuring children reach their full potential.
The 2021 Head Start Book Fund Campaign – “Build a Library … Create a Reader” – will put books in the homes of local Head Start children on a monthly basis.
Esther Leadley, long time active member of the Community Action Board of Directors, has worked tirelessly in advocating for the “Young Child” throughout her career. Her enthusiasm and passion for young children has initiated the Head Start Book Fund Campaign where children exposed to more books can increase their vocabulary and nurture beginner reading skills.
“It’s about our local children and their future,” Leadley said. “I hope others will join me in this annual project that builds home libraries and helps create readers for our Head Start children.”
Head Start donors can help “create readers” with a $60 donation that will ensure one take-home book for one local Head Start child for each of 12 months. A $120 donation will ensure a take-home book for two Head Start children with a book for each of 12 months.
Online donations can be made by clicking here or checks can be made payable to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and mailed to 409 State Street, Albion, NY 14411
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2021 at 3:22 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: An Albion business has an open sign projecting out on Main Street.
Orleans County unemployment rate has been steadily rising in recent months, going from 5.4 percent in October to 7.5 percent in February, according to data from NYS Department of Labor.
The 7.5 percent is less than half of the unemployment rate during the pandemic high of 16.8 percent in April.
Here are the county’s unemployment rate for 12 months:
February 2021: 7.5%
January 2021: 7.3%
December 2020: 6.6%
November 2020: 5.7%
October 2020: 5.4%
September 2020: 5.6%
August 2020: 8.9%
July 2020: 11.5%
June 2020: 10.8%
May 2020: 12.3%
April 2020: 16.8%
March 2020: 5.6%
Source: NYS Department of Labor
The county’s 7.5 percent unemployment rate in February compares to 5.6 percent a year before. In Orleans County, the number of people working is down by 400, from 16,400 in February 2020 to 16,000 in February 2021. The number on unemployment is up 300 from 1,000 to 1,300 during that time.
In NYS, the number of people working is down 805,600 from 9,130,000 in February 2020 to 8,324,400, with the unemployment rate up from 4.1 percent in February 2020 to 9.6 percent in February 2021.
Nationally the number of people working is down nearly 8.5 million with the unemployment rate up from 3.8 percent in February last year to 6.6 percent in February 2021.
The number of people working declined 21,100 in Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro from 510,400 to 489,400 during the 12 months. In the Rochester metro, the number is down 10,500, from 493,300 to 482,800 during that time period.
New York City is suffering the most with unemployment. The rate was 13.2 percent in February, with the number of people working dropping by 584,300 — from 3,963,800 in February 2020 to 3,379,500 in February 2021.
Locally, Orleans is slightly higher than most other nearby counties’ unemployment rates. Here are some of the unemployment rates of nearby counties for February: Livingston, 6.4 percent; Genesee, 6.6 percent; Monroe, 7.3 percent; Wyoming, 7.4 percent; Orleans, 7.5 percent; Erie, 7.9 percent; and Niagara, 8.3 percent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2021 at 8:27 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Police Department Sgt. Brandon Annable, left, and Lt. David Mogle are pictured outside the Albion police station on Platt Street. The two officers worked on a police reform plan that was required by all 500 law enforcement agencies in the state.
ALBION – The police reform and reinvention plans for the Albion Police Department and Orleans County Sheriff’s Office were both sent to the state by their governing bodies last week.
The Albion Village Board and Orleans County Legislature both voted on Wednesday to send the plans to state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo last June gave all 500 law enforcement agencies until April 1 to submit the plans after public feedback.
Albion gave residents a chance to comment on the police department through a five-question online survey.
“What we heard was vastly positive,” Lt. David Mogle told the Village Board last week.
The Sheriff’s Office held at least three public forums. Both the Sheriff’s Office and Albion PD formed committees with residents to go over the agencies’ policies for use of force and de-escalation, community relations, and training of officers on bias in profiling.
Mogle said the process allowed the Albion PD to hear from the community. One concern from the committee is people don’t like the tinted windows on the Chevrolet Tahoes driven by officers. Mogle said as those vehicles are rotated out the replacements won’t have tinted windows in the future.
The committee also suggested the Albion PD have more officers spend time in school buildings. The department currently has a dedicated school resource officer, Chris Glogowski. He has worked at the school district since February 2019, with the district contributing $81,250 annually to the village to have the officer dedicated to the schools.
More officers could spend time in the schools with the district’s approval and if it works with the Police Department’s staffing, Mogle said. Those officers could spend part of a shift with the school resource officer, Mogle said.
The department, under Police Chief Roland Nenni, has annual training for officers that far exceeds the annual state requirements. Albion officers do annual training with firearms, use of force, updates in laws such as bail reform and “Raise the Age,” Emergency Vehicle Operation Course, Stinger Spike Strips (vehicle pursuit termination efforts), administering Narcan, using tourniquets and other First Aid, and defensive tactics, Taser and use of less lethal bean bag shotgun, reality-based training focused on de-escalation, Bloodborne pathogens, and active shooter training.
The department has long banned the use of chokeholds. It has a policy against racial-based profiling. The Albion PD also is looking to add a Racial Justice training, the department states in its reform and reinvention plan.
The Sheriff’s Office is responsive to the community, embracing more training to de-escalate volatile situations, Sheriff Chris Bourke said during a public forum on Feb. 4.
Bourke said deputies have received more training in responding to people in a mental health crisis. They are trained to help de-escalate those and other potentially volatile situations.
The Sheriff’s Office operates with the purpose that “all persons have the right to dignified treatment under the law; protection of this right is a duty which is binding upon all members,” according to the community relations policy.
Sheriff Chris Bourke
The policy about bias-based profiling states that all members of the Sheriff’s Office “will not affect a stop, detention, or search of any person which is motivated by race, color, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation.”
Bourke said the Sheriff’s Office has about 100 employees with 45 at the county jail. There are usually 22 to 24 deputy sheriffs, which includes two investigators, three sergeants, a lieutenant and one civil sergeant. The Sheriff’s Office currently has two vacancies for deputies and an investigator.
Jeff Gifaldi, the chief deputy, said the Sheriff’s Office has three patrol cars out 24-7, except on the weekends, when it is increased to four cars.
The Sheriff’s Office also runs a marine patrol from April 1 to Nov. 1 with a full-time deputy and 10 part-timers. The work in 26 miles of water along Lake Ontario, as well as Lake Alice, Glenwood Lake, the Erie Canal and other smaller bodies of water, Bourke said.
The Sheriff’s Office also runs the 911 dispatch center with nine full-time dispatchers and two part-timers. Last year they handled 32,000 calls.
“We’re proud of the services you provide in Orleans County,” County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said during last week’s meeting.
She faulted the state for threatening a funding cut for the municipalities that didn’t submit a plan by April 1.
“I commend the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for all of their labor getting this plan together under threat of no funding, which wasn’t fair to you,” Johnson said.
To see the police reform for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, click here.
40-foot-high obelisk was planned for Courthouse Square
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 1, No. 9
ALBION – A recent reference question brought this impressive design to light. This image of a towering 40-foot obelisk was one of several submissions under discussion in 1912 for a proposed monument in memory of the Pioneers of Orleans County which was to be erected in Albion at the Courthouse Square.
The Orleans County Pioneer Association was formed in 1859 “to preserve and perpetuate the remembrance of interesting facts connected with the early history of the settlement of Orleans County” and to pay tribute to the settlers who could ”recollect when here was nothing but a dark, unbroken wilderness.”
In June 1910, in anticipation of the upcoming centenary of the original settlement of the county, the Pioneer Association appointed a committee to take charge of the formation of the Orleans County Pioneers Monument Association which would be charged to raise $3,000 to erect a suitable monument in memory of the pioneers.
At a special meeting of the Orleans County Pioneer Association held on Feb. 23, 1911, President John Bidleman was authorized to get approval from the Legislature to erect the monument on the County Courthouse Square. He was also instructed to “secure assistants in the towns to circulate subscription papers among the families of the pioneers for funding the monument.”
The Medina Daily Journal of July 10, 1911 reports the appointment of the following as committee members of the Orleans County Pioneers’ Monument Association: President: Dr. R.W. Bamber, Two Bridges, Supervisor: Daniel D. Daum, Clarendon, Vice-President: Dr. John A. Hartman, Albion, Secretary: Harry E. Colburn, Albion.
It was noted that Dr. Bamber would try to raise $10,000 for the project.
On July 20, 1911, a committee was formed to obtain designs and an estimate of costs. Members included Irving L’Hommedieu of Medina, Lafayette H. Beach of Albion, Jacob Tillis of Gaines, Harry Wellman of Kendall and Dr. W.R. Bamber of Carlton.
A meeting was held on November 23, 1911 to inspect the designs. “Several prominent monument manufacturing concerns and some noted sculptors appeared before the committee and presented miniature models” (Medina Tribune). The cost of the models presented ranged from $3,000 to $15,000. It was reported that the committee hoped to secure a design for less than $10,000.
A final choice was made on December 17, 1911, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. The design, by sculptor Alfred Dreyfus of New York, was of a pioneer woodman in bronze, with long hair, bare-headed, sleeves rolled to elbows, long skin coat, with belt leather leggings, portrayed with uplifted axe, swinging it to chop a fallen log. The total height of the monument would be 18 feet and the cost $6,000.
However, the project did not come to fruition after all. There is no record available of how much money was actually gathered. And, it would seem that there was some dissension. The Medina Daily Journal of June 17, 1912 “decried the action of the Pioneer Association in opposing the Ridge Road Centennial” as “unfortunate.” The Centennial, planned for 1913, was to honor the State’s appropriation in 1813 of $5,000 for the improvements which made it “a great military and emigration highway.”
In actual fact, the two publications which chronicle the Association (Pioneer History of Orleans County, New York, by Arad Thomas and Record of the Orleans County Pioneer Association,) are more evocative than any monument, for they contain compelling first-hand accounts of the settlers’ early trials and tribulations.
They may be accessed at your favorite library or online at the following links: Pioneer History of Orleans County, New York (click here) and the Record of the Orleans County Pioneer Association (click here).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2021 at 10:39 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: David Green, second from left, is presented a “Special Recognition Award” from Orleans County Legislator Bill Eick and an award from the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York by Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management coordinator. Debbie Taylor, the East Shelby fire chief, joined Green at the County Legislature’s chambers for the awards for his 60 years of service with the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.
ALBION — David Green, a retired Orleans County sheriff and fire coordinator, was recognized during Wednesday’s County Legislature meeting with a “Special Recognition Award” for his 60 years of service to the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.
“Through you selflessness and extreme commitment as a firefighter in your community your efforts have provided a positive impact on the health and safety of the residents of the fire district,” the citation stated from the Legislature.
Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management coordinator, also presented Green with a proclamation from the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York for the 60 years of volunteer service.
The County Legislature also recognized Charles Ralph for his 50 years as a member of the East Shelby Fire Department. Mr. Ralph wasn’t at Wednesday’s Legislature meeting.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2021 at 8:48 am
Contract with U.S. Marshals could net county several hundred thousand dollars annually
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Jail and the County Courthouse are pictured recently. The jail on Platt Street in Albion has a capacity for 82 inmates but has been well under that in the past year.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved a three-year contract on Wednesday with the U.S. Marshal’s Service to house federal detainees in the county jail, an agreement that could net the county several hundred thousand dollars a year.
The county agreed to house the detainees at $115 a day. The Sheriff’s Office also will transport detainees to court appointments in Buffalo, Rochester and Niagara Falls, and will be paid $40 per hour for each of two staff members assigned to the transport and court appearance. The county will also be paid the current IRS mileage reimbursement rate, which currently is 56 cents a mile.
Sheriff Chris Bourke said the agreement could net the county $500,000 or more. It also won’t overwhelm the jail, which currently has 30 inmates in a facility with a capacity for 82. Of those 30 inmates, 12 are “state-ready” inmates who have been sentenced to state prison. The local jail population during the pandemic in the past year and in the era of bail reform has been about 15 to 20 inmates a day.
Even at the smaller inmate population, the county still must maintain full staffing.
“We have the same costs,” Bourke said. “With the agreement with the Marshals, we’d just have more food and some over-the-counter medications.”
Bourke said the county plans to have up to 10 detainees from the U.S. Marshals at the beginning of the agreement, and then expects to increase it to 15 to 20 detainees.
At 10 detainees a day, the county would be paid $1,150, and that doesn’t include any additional money for transport.
If the county averaged 10 detainees over a year that would be $419,750 in revenue. If the county averaged 15 detainees in the county jail, that would be $629,625 for the year.
The agreement approved on Wednesday runs for a year, from March 1, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2024. county can opt of the agreement with 30 days notice.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 7:20 am
County officials will ask towns, schools to contribute some stimulus funds to expand high-speed internet
ALBION – The American Rescue Plan includes several millions for local governments, money that the Orleans County Legislature leader says would be put to good use by expanding high-speed internet throughout the county.
Lynne Johnson
The American Rescue Plan also includes $7.9 million for Orleans County, and an additional $4.4 million for the 10 towns and four villages, and $12.5 million for the five school districts.
“If we’re all in this together, it makes it affordable,” said Lynne Johnson, the Orleans County Legislature chairwoman.
The county has been working for about a decade to expand broadband or high-speed internet, but has largely missed out on state and federal grants. The county has data points where the service is currently unavailable. It would cost an estimated $4.2 million to fill all of those gaps.
Johnson would like to bypass another state and federal grant cycle and move quickly to use some of the stimulus funding to bring in broadband. The state and federal grant programs can take many months of waiting to find out if an application is approved, and then many more months to get a project complete. Johnson said it would likely be 1½ to 2 years before broadband could be expanded in Orleans County if the project was funded through a grant.
The Covid pandemic exposed the shortcomings in the county for high-speed internet service, with many households unable to log on to the internet to do homework assignments or to have the option of working from home, Johnson said.
The federal stimulus funding encourages municipalities to use the money for infrastructure projects, including expanding high-speed internet.
“I think the timing is just right,” Johnson said about the funding.
County leaders will be meeting with Niagara County officials to see if they want to do a joint project for broadband. The two counties have been working together on the issue through the Niagara Orleans Regional Alliance. Estimates for bringing high-speed internet in the two counties is over $10 million, with the areas in Orleans at $4.2 million.
Johnson also said she will be convening a roundtable discussion with town and school leaders in Orleans County, trying to get them to help pay for the cost. The county has a breakdown of the internet gaps in all 10 towns, she said.
The county’s $7.9 million from the federal government in the American Rescue Plan doesn’t come in one lump sum. The county gets half this year and the other half next year.
“We would like to move forward immediately,” Johnson said. “We’re ready to go.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 6:14 am
Protests, new state laws seen as deterrent for people pursuing law enforcement as a career
ALBION – The list of exams for Civil Service positions currently available in Orleans County includes deputy sheriff. Today is the last filing deadline for the position with the agility exam on April 24 and then the written test on May 15.
Normally there are nearly 100 people who file to take the exam. This time there have only been 18 so far, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.
Not only has the position been listed by the Orleans County Personnel Department (click here), but local media have shared press releases from the sheriff, encouraging people to take the exam.
The protests against law enforcement and new state laws, including bail reform, have discouraged people from pursuing a career with the Sheriff’s Office, Bourke said Tuesday during a conference call with local elected officials.
“Police feel we’re under attack,” Undersheriff Mike Mele said about law enforcement as a profession.
Bourke said the atmosphere against law enforcement is resulting in a much smaller pool of people interested in the test for deputy. That could result in “slim pickings.” Usually half of the people are eliminated after the agility test, he said.
Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, believes the Sheriff’s Office is a great place to work. She encouraged people to consider it for their career.
“The Sheriff’s Department is very well supported in Orleans County,” she said during the conference call.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2021 at 11:08 am
The schedule is set for food distributions through late April. Those events have been held most weeks since last April due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
At each distribution, held on Fridays, about 300 boxes of food will be given away in the “Families Food Box Program” which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The distributions are scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m.
The schedule includes:
March 19, Community Action Main Street Store, 113 South Main St., Albion
March 26, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville
April 2, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville
April 9, Medina High School, Mustang Drive, Medina
April 16, Community Action Main Street Store, 113 South Main St., Albion
April 23, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville
April 30, Community Action Main Street Store, 113 South Main St., Albion
“We remind people not to block driveways,” said Melissa Blanar, director of the Office for the Aging, which helps organize the events. “We want to thank all the volunteers. Without them there would be no events. Please be patient and kind.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2021 at 3:26 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: These two people and a dog pass underneath the Ingersoll Street lift bridge in Albion on Oct. 14, 2017, when it was a 70-degree fall day.
The State Canal Corp. today announced the schedule for the upcoming boating season with the canal opening on May 21 and continuing until Oct. 13.
That is close to being back to normal after last year’s start was pushed back until June 26. The start in 2020 was supposed to be May 15 but was delayed because canal staff and construction crews were sidelined early in the pandemic. That prevented the State Canal Corp. from doing some of the work needed before the canals could be opened.
In an announcement for the upcoming season today, the Canal Corp. said, “This proposed schedule of operations could be impacted by the Covid pandemic and/or the need to repair critical infrastructure.”
The Canal Corp. also again won’t be charging any tolls or fees for recreational use of the canal system. This is the fifth straight year the tolls have been waived. Those tolls were normally $25 to $100 for a season pass, depending on the size of the vessel.
The upcoming boating season will be the 197th continuous season. Last year the system was in danger of not opening due to Covid, but it opened later than usual.
Standard hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following lift bridges in Orleans County will operate on demand from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. until September 15: Holley, Hulberton, Ingersoll Street in Albion, Main Street in Albion, Eagle Harbor, Knowlesville and Medina.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 March 2021 at 12:25 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Employees of Baxter Healthcare in Medina clean up the lawn at Head Start on Ensign Avenue in Medina in this photo from May 9, 2019. From left are Tammy Pogel, Tim Ingrassia, plant manager Kevin Foley and Melinda Pitcher.
After Covid-19 forced organizers to cancel the Day of Caring last spring 2020, United Way of Orleans County is bringing back the day on April 30.
Day of Caring is a volunteer-oriented event of United Ways nationwide, which encourages volunteerism in the community by helping people and non-profit agencies in need.
Creig Shockley, left, and Brian Hosmer, both Baxter employees, repair and put up swings at Camp Rainbow during the Day of Caring on May 9, 2019. Four more Baxter employees painted cabins, while another cleaned the bathrooms.
“The day combines volunteers with work projects county-wide,” said Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County. “It highlights giving back. If we can get 150 to 200 that will be great.”
Any company employee or member of the community is urged to volunteer for a couple of hours that day in performing simple tasks for agencies or individuals, such as painting a fence, raking a lawn, sorting donated food, delivering meals to the elderly, landscaping or other minor tasks.
“It is an exciting day that offers a unique opportunity for businesses, employees and individuals to participate in making a difference, and to see first-hand how their donations to United Way are benefiting the lives and vitality of our community,” Bellack said.
Not only are volunteers needed to perform various tasks, but projects to do are also needed to make the day a huge success.
Registration forms are available on United Way’s website by clicking on “volunteer” and then “Day of Caring.” Registrations forms should be returned by April 10.
On April 30, volunteers should report to the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. for breakfast. They should dress in comfortable clothing to suit the day. Volunteer projects will begin immediately following the breakfast and typically last from 9 to 10 a.m. and/or from 2 to 3 p.m.
“This is a great day,” Bellack said. “It promotes good deeds – and the United Way.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: This big banner was outside the mass vaccination clinic at Genesee Community College in Batavia on Sunday. Of the 3,500 doses available, Orleans County residents only were able to get 169 or 4.8 percent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2021 at 9:04 pm
Orleans County has the lowest vaccination rate in Upstate New York, according to the state’s Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker.
In Orleans, 5,697 out of 40,612 residents or 14.0 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine. (2,778 or 6.8 percent in the county are completed with the vaccine series.)
The 14.0 percent is well behind the state average of 19.4 percent of residents receiving at least one vaccine dose and behind the 20.7 percent in the Finger Lakes, a nine-county region that includes Orleans. To be at the region’s average, Orleans would need to have 8,406 people with at least the first dose of the vaccine or another 2,709 people from the current 5,697.
Orleans County public health officials are pushing for more mass vaccination clinics to help get the county caught up with the state average for vaccination rates.
The county is also well behind nearby rural counties. Genesee is at 19.4 percent and Wyoming is at 16.2 percent with at least one dose. Livingston is at 18.8 percent.
Wyoming and Orleans have nearly the same population – 40,085 in Wyoming and 40,612 in Orleans. But Wyoming has about 800 more people with at least one vaccine dose than in Orleans – 6,478 in Wyoming and 5,697 in Orleans.
“The numbers show Orleans County hasn’t had the access to get vaccinated compared to the region and the state,” said Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties.
“We’re going to keep pushing. We want more vaccines locally.”
The public health departments in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties collaborated on a mass vaccination clinic at GCC in Batavia over five days from Friday through today. That clinic was intended to restricted to the three counties but was opened to everyone who registered, with the 3,500 doses claimed in the first 90 minutes the state website was open.
About half of the shots or 1,666 went to Erie County residents. Orleans County residents only were able to get 169 or 4.8 percent. Genesee County residents received 17.0 percent, Niagara County residents signed up for 12.7 percent, Monroe County got 9.3 percent and Wyoming was only at 2.4 percent. There were residents from 17 other counties who were able to register for the vaccine at the GCC clinic.
“Unfortunately we didn’t get the number of folks we would have liked to for Orleans, Genesee or Wyoming counties,” Pettit said on a conference call this evening with elected officials in Orleans County.
‘The numbers show Orleans County hasn’t had the access to get vaccinated compared to the region and the state. We’re going to keep pushing. We want more vaccines locally.’ – Paul Pettit, public health director
GCC proved an ideal setup for the clinic and Pettit said the three health departments are applying to do another clinic at GCC. They would like there to be residency restrictions so the vaccine could be limited to the three counties.
Pettit also is pushing the state for an additional vaccine allotments for Orleans County to help the county get caught up with the state and region averages.
“We’re trying to get a special allocation, especially for Orleans County because we are behind,” Pettit said. “Hopefully the state will come through with additional allocations.”
The state’s Vaccine Tracker shows few counties are under 15.0 percent with at least one dose. In Western New York, Orleans has the lowest vaccination rate with Allegany the next lowest at 15.3 percent.
In WNY the county rates of residents with at least one vaccine dose, as of 11 a.m. today, include: Orleans, 14.0 percent; Niagara, 17.7 percent; Erie, 20.1 percent; Genesee, 19.4 percent; Wyoming, 16.2 percent; Monroe, 21.4 percent; Livingston, 18.8 percent; Chautauqua, 19.6 percent; Cattaraugus, 16.5 percent; and Allegany, 15.3 percent.
The counties in the state with vaccine rates below 15 percent include: Orleans, 14.0 percent; Steuben, 14.3 percent; Orange, 14.4 percent; and Sullivan at 14.6 percent. In New York City, two boroughs are lower than the vaccination rate in Orleans, with Bronx County (the Bronx) is at 13.6 percent and Kings County (Brooklyn) also at 13.6 percent.
That compares with counties in northern New York where the rates are about double the percent in Orleans. Clinton is at 30.1 percent, with Franklin at 27.2 percent and St. Lawrence at 27.6 percent.
Orleans this week will receive another 600 doses of the vaccine, Pettit said. That includes 200 to be administered by the Health Department, 200 by Rosenkrans Pharmacy in Medina, 100 by Oak Orchard Health and 100 by the Medicine Shoppe in Medina.
“It’s still slow slogging,” Pettit said. “Hopefully we can get a special allocation to give a bump to our numbers.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2021 at 5:45 pm
The $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” that passed the U.S. Senate today includes nearly $8 million for the Orleans County government. The plan now goes to vote to the House of Representatives next week and then President Biden for his signature.
The New York State Association of Counties is praising the Senate for approving the funding, which includes $2.2 billion for 57 counties in the state. The funding is divvied up to counties based on population.
NYSAC said the funding amounts for local counties includes:
Orleans, $7,887,187
Genesee, $11,195,927
Livingston, $12,297,147
Wyoming, $7,790,825
Niagara, $40,905,985
Monroe, $144,986,083
Erie, $179,569,145
The New York State Association of Counties issued the following press release this afternoon:
After a year of fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, counties applaud the Senate’s passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and encourages swift adoption by the House of Representatives, according to the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC).
The package, passed today, includes $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local and territorial governments, including $65 billion for counties, a restoration of $5 billion as championed by the Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. This emergency funding provides direct aid to counties, supporting the essential local government workers who have been on the front-line of the pandemic response.
“We commend our great Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and many members of the New York Congressional Delegation for fighting to ensure that our local governments get the help they deserve. This historic legislation supports the local heroes who have been fighting this pandemic on the front lines and also makes key investments in the future prosperity of our communities,” said NYSAC President Jack Marren, chairman of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors.
The American Rescue Plan includes $3.8 billion for the 57 counties ($2.2 billion) of New York State and New York City ($1.6 billion) based on population. New York City will receive another $4.0 billion through CDBG formula funding.
This funding can be used to respond to the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus as well as address the economic devastation that came with it, including assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality. The funding may also be used to help governments provide services and make investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
“This is a victory for all of the counties in the State of New York and the residents we serve. In a time when so much of our politics is bitterly divided, county leaders from both ends of the political spectrum advocated for this package because it will help them help their communities recover from this pandemic,” said NYSCEA President and Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro.
“We acknowledge the leadership of Senator Schumer and the members of New York’s Congressional Delegation who supported our local governments throughout this pandemic. Without our Senator Schumer, this package would not have included the federal assistance to counties and local governments. He has always been there for New Yorkers, and his resolve has only been strengthened during this this pandemic,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2021 at 12:20 pm
Group also wants to honor adults who work and volunteer on behalf of children in Orleans
The Orleans County Youth Board wants to honor local youths for their community service and adults for their work on behalf of children in Orleans County.
The Youth Board for the past 39 years has recognized youth, usually about 20 each year for their outstanding community service or if they have taken on an extraordinary role in their family.
In addition to the youth awards, at least two adults will be honored for their service to young people.
The Helen R. Brinsmaid Memorial Youth Worker Award recognizes a youth-serving professional whose work surpasses normal expectations.
The Eileen Heye Adult Volunteer Recognition Award is given to an adult who provides service as a volunteer to Orleans County youth.
Nominations are due March 26. The form can be downloaded by clicking here. For information about this event, contact the Youth Bureau at 585-344-3960 or youthbureau@co.genesee.ny.us.
ALBION – A recent reference question brought this impressive design to light. This image of a towering 40-foot obelisk was one of several submissions under discussion in 1912 for a proposed monument in memory of the Pioneers of Orleans County which was to be erected in Albion at the Courthouse Square.
A final choice was made on December 17, 1911, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. The design, by sculptor Alfred Dreyfus of New York, was of a pioneer woodman in bronze, with long hair, bare-headed, sleeves rolled to elbows, long skin coat, with belt leather leggings, portrayed with uplifted axe, swinging it to chop a fallen log. The total height of the monument would be 18 feet and the cost $6,000.
