By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2020 at 8:33 pm
The Snack Shack on Main Street in Albion added a couple pub tables on the sidewalk.
It’s been a tough 10 weeks to be in the restaurant business. The restaurants have been limited to take-outs and deliveries.
Many have laid off employees, trying to cut costs and survive until better days.
Today, there was a little light and hope for restaurant operators. The state is now allowing outdoor dining for regions in phase 2. That includes Orleans County, which is considered in the Finger lakes Region.
There wasn’t much notice from the state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon that outdoor dining could start today.
Heather Drew, co-owner of The Snack Shack, added two small pub tables outside on the sidewalk for customers. One couple enjoyed dinner at one of the tables early this evening.
“They were so happy to be outside eating food,” Drew said. “It’s a return to a little normalcy. We feel good about and we look forward to doing more.”
Mark Tillman, owner of Tillman’s Village Inn, has four tables set up in the parking lot. He never would have imagined that scenario.
But with the inside of the restaurant closed off to the public since mid-March, he said people appreciate a chance to sit and eat their meals.
He noticed many customers would order take-out and they have their food in their cars. Last week he put a table outside for people to eat when he noticed several sitting in their cars. Tillman was advised by the Orleans County Health Department that the outdoor table wasn’t allowed.
But today is a new day and restaurants can have the tables outside as long as they are spaced six feet apart and the tables are frequently sanitized. The restaurants aren’t providing waitresses and waiters for the outdoor tables.
Tillman said he appreciates the state allowing outdoor tables, but he said the governor should give businesses more notice when there are significant changes.
“This was announced with no notice,” he said.
He looks forward to when customers can be welcomed back inside for meals. He hopes that announcement comes and gives businesses several days to be ready so they can line up staff and order product.
“Give us more notice to get our lives in order,” Tillman said.
He has been running the Village Inn with only two other people the past 10 weeks, managers Victoria Mortensen and Tillman’s daughter Samantha. The rest of the staff is eager to get back to work, Tillman said.
If Orleans and the Finger Lakes move to Phase 3, possibly next Friday, some limited inside dining would be allowed, but there are about a dozen pages of guidelines that need to be followed.
The New York State Restaurant Association pushed the governor to allow the outdoor dining in Phase 2, and not wait for that to be included in Phase 3.
“Governor Cuomo, his team and the Regional Control Rooms understand that the restaurant industry in New York is on the brink of collapse and this lifeline will undoubtedly be a huge help,” said Melissa Fleischut, the organization’s president and CEO. “We’re also promising to hold up our end of the bargain. NYSRA, our members and all restaurants in the state will follow stringent sanitation practices and social distancing to make our patrons feel comfortable and keep our diners and employees safe.”
Rudy’s Diner in Medina posted this photo on its Facebook page of customers enjoying a meal outside on tables.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2020 at 5:20 pm
4,000 have filed for unemployment in Orleans in past 11 weeks
Orleans County and the state are still seeing large numbers of unemployment claims being filed, but at least the weekly filings are started to decrease.
Last week, there were 136 unemployment claims filed in the county and 13,379 statewide. That was down from 259 in Orleans the previous week and 195,958 statewide during the week of May 23.
The unemployment filings have far exceeded a normal week since mid-March, when the state closed or restricted businesses across the state to try to slow the spread of Covid-19.
In Orleans, the week of March 28 had the most unemployment filings at 824. The state had the most during the week of April 11 with 399,015.
Although the numbers were down last week to one of the lowest levels since late March, they are still significantly higher than the same week a year ago. Orleans had 37 people file for unemployment during the last week of May in 2019, compared to 136 last week.
Statewide, there were 13,379 unemployment filings the last week of May in 2019, compared to 85,479 last week. That’s about five times as many than a year ago.
Orleans County has now had 4,011 unemployment claims in the past 11 weeks. Orleans County has a workforce of about 17,000 people. The 4,011 unemployment claims represent about 23 percent of the workforce.
The state has now had 2,552,683 file for unemployment since March 14.
Here are the weekly filings among the GLOW counties and state-wide:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2020 at 4:41 pm
There are no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, but there has been an additional death, a resident of the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion.
The Villages has now had 28 of its residents pass away from Covid-19. The county has suffered 41 deaths from the coronavirus.
Two more people from the county have also recovered from Covid-19, bringing the total recoveries in the community to 80.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting that 17 residents from Orleans remain hospitalized with Covid-19.
In Genesee County, there is one new confirmed case of Covid-19, for 192 total. The new case is a resident of Pembroke in the 50s. The newly positive case was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also has an additional recovery, bringing that total to 127. No Genesee residents are currently hospitalized from Covid-19.
Click here to view an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown shows the total positive cases from facilities where a positive case has been reported to the Health Departments.
Additional information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Outdoor dining: The Governor announced that outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted beginning today. Outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart, all staff must wear face coverings and customers must also wear face coverings when not seated. There are still limitations.
We encourage business owners to go to the NY Forward website and click on Phase Two for more information.
For Outdoor and Takeout/Delivery Food Services guidance, click here.
• Graduation: To help schools plan graduation ceremonies to celebrate all who are graduating in a safe and responsible manner, click here for guidance from the state Department of Health.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2020 at 1:29 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today said the state would allow drive-through or drive-in graduation ceremonies but won’t support indoor ceremonies or outdoor programs in stadiums.
Cuomo said a mass gathering outside would be too risky to public health. He didn’t want the event to become a “super spreader” with many people becoming infected with Covid-19.
“The issue is a public health issue and you don’t want people sick and dead,” he said. “That’s the issue. It’s about death. It’s about balancing the risk versus the reward.”
Cuomo said one of his daughters is graduating from college this year and won’t be able to have a traditional ceremony.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2020 at 1:19 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will observe a moment of silence at 2 p.m. today, which is the start of a memorial service for George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.
The moment of silence “is a symbolic moment to say we understand what happened, we’re sorry, we grieve, and this is an injustice that should never happen again,” Cuomo said today during a news conference.
Floyd’s death has resulted in nationwide protests over police brutality. Cuomo said he supports peaceful protestors and their cause of justice and equality.
But he said any looters or people who harm police officers need to be criminally charged.
Cuomo said he is “stunned” by the lack of respect being shown to police officers during protests in New York City.
He said he is sympathetic to police officers who are trying to an “impossible job.”
The governor said he is worried for a country during an era of hyper political partisanship, a Covid-19 pandemic and now looters exploiting peaceful protests.
“It is as dangerous a time as I have ever experienced,” Cuomo said during a news conference today.
The governor said he is concerned the mass gatherings at the protests could result in outbreak of Covid-19. He urged everyone who has attended a protest to get tested for Covid-19. He noted the symptoms sometimes don’t show up for many days after an infection or the people may be asymptomatic and can still spread the virus.
The governor said looters have caused extensive damage to many “mom and pop” businesses that were already struggling to make ends meet in distressed neighborhoods.
He said the state Department of Financial Services, which regulates the insurance industry, would direct insurers to expedite claims, provide free mediation of disputes, and accept photos as reasonable proof of loss so businesses don’t have to wait for police reports.
2 home school students from Orleans among those earning college diplomas
Press Release, Genesee Community College
BATAVIA – As Genesee Community College puts the final touches on its Virtual Commencement Ceremony scheduled to be launched this Saturday at 1 p.m., a group of 14 students from area high schools and homeschool also will graduate.
They have completed their GCC degree requirements concurrently with their high school diplomas or New York State Equivalents. These 14 graduates participated in the third annual cohort of the College’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Enrichment Program through GCC’s Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Office.
The STEM Enrichment program began in 2012 allowing the students to start their college studies as early as the seventh grade. In addition to their traditional schoolwork, they enrolled in college level coursework each year taking advantage of many academic opportunities and successfully completing all of the rigorous challenges of an associate degree.
Jacques and William Gregoire, brothers who live in Murray, are homeschool students. They are earning their associate’s degrees from GCC in Liberal Arts & Sciences: Natural Science.
“Once again this year, we are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our STEM program students who have worked hard to earn GCC degrees along with their high school diplomas or the New York State Equivalent, in the case of our homeschooled students,” said Ed Levinstein, associate dean of GCC’s ACE program. “I commend their hard work and dedication to their studies, as well as the excellent contributions they make to GCC’s classes and college community.”
Officials at Genesee Community College invite all friends and family to enjoy the college’s first-ever virtual commencement ceremony which was filmed and produced over the last several weeks under social distancing mandates. The ceremony will be published online (click here).
The schedule includes:
The National Anthem – Performed by Alyssa Young, GCC Student
President’s Welcome – Dr. James Sunser, President, Genesee Community College
Message from the Board of Trustees – Ms. Donna Ferry, Chair, Board of Trustees, Genesee Community College
Greetings from GCC Faculty – Marirose Ethington, GCC Professor and Director of Math and Science
Presentation of Genesee Community College Foundation’s Alpha Medal of Service Recipient: Robert Boyce
Message from the SUNY Chancellor – Dr. Kristina Johnson, Chancellor, State University of New York
Introduction of Commencement Speaker – Dr. James Sunser, President, Genesee Community College
Commencement Keynote Address – Peggy Marone, Director of Leadership Genesee
Presentation of the Graduates – Dr. Kathleen Schiefen, Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, GCC
Messages from NYS Senator Charles E. Schumer and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen C. Hochul
Conferring of Degrees – Dr. James Sunser, President, Genesee Community College
God Bless America – Performed by Alyssa Young, GCC Student
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2020 at 8:47 am
Trump backs Jacobs, while Hochul touts McMurray
Nate McMurray, the Democratic Party candidate in a June 23 special election for the 27th Congressional District, has been endorsed by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul for the position.
Nate McMurray
Hochul used to serve in the position before losing to Chris Collins after redistricting in 2012. Collins vacated the seat on Sept. 30 when he resigned. He awaits sentencing to federal prison on insider trading.
“I believe Nate McMurray will be successful based on the Democratic values he espouses and his track record advocating for the working families and farmers that make up this region,” Hochul said. “I know this district well and am confident that Nate will be a strong representative for all Western New Yorkers when he gets to Washington. We have a critical opportunity on June 23rd to send a national message to Trump and GOP insiders before the General election in November.”
McMurray, an attorney and former Grand Island town supervisor, said, “I’m very proud to have Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul’s support once again. Kathy Hochul has long been a champion for women and families across New York. I look forward to getting to work in Washington and partnering with public servants like her to improve the lives of all New Yorkers and all Americans.”
Chris Jacobs
Chris Jacobs, the Republican candidate in the special election, also was endorsed Tuesday by President Donald Trump.
“Chris Jacobs will be a tremendous Congressman who will always fight for New York,” the president said in a tweet. “He is Strong on the Border, our Military and Vets, and the Second Amendment. Chris has my Complete and Total Endorsement! Vote for Chris on June 23!”
Trump had previously endorsed Jacobs back in February for the special election that was scheduled for April 28. That election was moved back to June 23 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Jacobs, a state senator, said endorsement on Tuesday solidifies that he is the only candidate in the district to carry the President’s endorsement.
“I am deeply honored to have the support of our President for the upcoming primary election, and I’m proud to be the only candidate to carry his endorsement for this district,” Jacobs said. “Western New York needs a conservative leader in Congress to fight for our values, and our President needs an ally who will help him fight for all Americans as we rebuild our nation. Our President has put his trust in me and knows I am the leader he needs in Washington with him working to get tough on China, secure our borders, and build our economy. I look forward to working everyday to help him accomplish his America First Agenda.”
McMurray noted the timing of the Trump endorsement on Tuesday, during widespread national protests for justice and police reform. McMurray said Trump has been divisive during a time when the country needs a leader to bring people together.
“A murder was committed by a police officer on video for all the world to see,” McMurray said. “When a crime is committed like the death of George Floyd and justice isn’t served the result is lawlessness; we can’t condone lawlessness whether it’s committed by our police officers or by rioters. But I fear we are missing the larger picture; millions of peaceful protesters have come together to call for reform to our broken justice system that devalues people based solely upon the color of their skin. These voices must be heard or we will all continue to suffer. If we want the burning to stop, we need to listen, we need to reform, we need to be more focused on peace than violence.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate Democrats in condemning the Trump administration’s threat to use military units meant for combat to protect Trump’s political interests.
Amidst nationwide protests calling for justice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to suppress peaceful protests.
In a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, Gillibrand and her colleagues expressed deep concerns over the use of the military to restrict Americans’ First Amendment rights.
“Rather than listen or acknowledge the legitimate pain of protesters and the black community, President Trump has sought to divide us further, eagerly inflaming tensions and sowing anger and fear,” said Senator Gillibrand. “His continued threats to use violence against peaceful protesters and deploy our military to states is outrageous and deeply troubling. The Department of Defense must immediately answer whether the Department would deploy federal troops outside of the use of the Insurrection Act and I demand that combat units are not used to impede on Americans’ civil liberties in the fight for racial justice.”
The Insurrection Act, last used in 1992, is an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act to be invoked only under extreme conditions. The legislation allows states to request support from the federal government, and would allow the President to activate federal troops independent of a state’s request – under specific and limited conditions which are not currently met.
In the letter, Senator Gillibrand urges the Department of Defense provide information by Friday, June 5, on whether the Department would deploy federal troops outside of the use of the Insurrection Act, if deployments would ever include combat designated troops, how troops would be trained and prepared, what the mission, scope, and rules would entail for the use of force as well if they would be authorized to perform arrests.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2020 at 7:01 pm
‘Have the confidence to say this is really a great place.’ – Amy Machamer
Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio speaks during Tuesday’s Zoom meeting about the town’s comprehensive plan, which will be a guide for land use and economic opportunities for the next decade.
MURRAY – Town officials are looking for opportunities to increase tourism and economic activity in Murray.
Agriculture is a leading industry in the town, home to some of the most productive soils in the world. Those soils should be considered strong assets for the town as it looks to update a comprehensive plan, which is a land use guide for the community.
Updating the plan is a chance to look at possible zoning changes or other strategies that could help local businesses better capitalize on the town’s assets. Besides its farmland, Murray benefits by having the Erie Canal and a number of historic sites, panelists said during a Tuesday evening Zoom meeting about the plan.
Murray also has 401 camp sites between campgrounds at Red Rocks Ponds RV Resort and Hickory Ridge Golf Course and Resort.
Better promoting other sites in town, and developing more biking and walking trails could get campers out into the community more, spending more time and money in Murray, said Barbara Johnston, a planning consultant with LaBella Associates.
“It seems to me Murray has an incredible opportunity to capitalize on the recreation and tourism sector,” Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said during the meeting.
Murray has several strengths – agriculture, campgrounds, historic sites, tourism opportunities, Sidonio said.
Developing a plan to better promote and encourage those strengths can be a boost for the entire town, he said.
He would like to see the town implement a farmland protection plan to preserve the prime agricultural land.
Local agricultural could also be helped with more siphons for irrigation from the Erie Canal, said County Legislator Ken DeRoller.
The two campgrounds said developing walking and biking trails would make their sites even more attractive, and give campers more to do locally. That way they would likely stay in Murray longer.
Max Han of Red Rocks Ponds RV Resort said there is a lack of campgrounds and other amenities for cyclists on the western end of the canal closer to Buffalo. Many people who travel the canal on bike start in Rochester and head east towards Albany because of the big gap in amenities once you leave Buffalo.
If there were more places to camp and rest, Han said more people will pass through the canal from Buffalo to Rochester, which would be a boost to Orleans County.
The Corning Museum of Glass brought a barge to Holley and Medina in Orleans County, as well as other canal towns in New York, during the summer of 2018. Glassmakers did demonstrations on the barge.
Jim Bensley, the county’s planning director, is part of a Erie Canal waterfront development plan for several municipalities. That effort has shown a need for more places on the canal for people to launch kayaks and canoes. Bensley said there is a big movement now for “car top boating,” where people can bring a small vessel on their car. There are few spots on the canal in the county where it is easy to launch a canoe or kayak, he said.
“We think the Erie Canal is a very big resource,” Bensley said. “It’s such an important part of our history and hopefully an important part of our future.”
Bensley said more entertainment on the canal, such as the Corning Museum of Glass Barge which visited in the summer of 2018, would be welcome attractions to the county and would bring more people to the canal.
There is also a need for a marina where boaters could get gas. Many won’t venture to Orleans because it’s far from marinas and the boaters worry they could run out of gas, Bensley said.
Dawn Borchet, the county’s tourism director, said the 401 camp sites at Red Rocks and Hickory Ridge are a major asset for bringing in visitors.
The Tourism Department has worked to package tours locally to keep the campers in the community longer. Borchet urged the local businesses to talk up their sites to visitors, so they will check out other businesses, too.
Max Han, Red Rocks manager, said cyclists often avoid stretch between Buffalo and Rochester because few places to stop in between.
“It would be great if there were other accommodations along the way,” he said. “It would encourage other people to travel out our way.”
Red Rocks is right on the canal. The campgrounds would like to see a boat launch nearby. Han said the closest is a 10-minute drive away.
He also said the community’s high tax rate is a burden for businesses. He pays a tax rate that is two to three times higher than what his competitors pay in other communities.
Cindy Diehl of Hickory Ridge agreed the high taxes in Murray are a strain on the businesses.
Murray’s Ridge Road Corridor has a nice mix of businesses – including farm markets, a winery, antiques – on a historic road with cobblestone homes. The Ridge passes many country scenes – fruit orchards, corn fields and historic cemeteries.
Amy Machamer, co-owner of Hurd Orchards, said the town is “beautiful” and it stands out on the canal system, where many are communities are too developed and have been inundated with chain stores.
Hurd Orchards has been operating for more than 200 years. She said the farm and other sites that rely on visitors and tourism are facing a new challenge in the Covid-19 era.
“We’re struggling to find new footing and to perhaps build new models,” she said.
Machamer, who is married to Sidonio the town supervisor, has worked with her mother as co-owner of the farm for the past 35 years.
Sal DeLuca tosses a bocce ball during a game last Sept. 1 during the bocce tournament at St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton. The festival and tournament are one of the “authentic” activities that make Murray an appealing and unique community, said Amy Machamer.
Hurd Orchards has been to survive by creating farm products and an experience “that is authentically us.” Machamer said the area’s historic assets are part of the community’s authenticity and attraction to visitors.
She said the community is diminished every time an old barn or cobblestone home is lost on the landscape.
“Don’t let the treasures get lost,” Machamer said.
Hurd Orchards has worked the past year to preserve one of its oldest wooden barns, dating back nearly 200 years.
She praised the work by local officials to save the old Holley High School and work with a developer, Home Leasing of Rochester, to repurpose the school into 41 senior apartments and the Holley village officials. That $17 million project is nearly done.
“The preservation of old Holley High School is a crown jewel, that was a huge effort,” Machamer said. “It took the initiative.”
Holley also worked to create a canal park that runs from near the lift bridge to waterfalls. That park is a major asset in bringing people by the canal and enjoying the village.
She also noted some of the unique aspects to Murray – the many garlic farmers and the annual St. Rocco’s Italian Festival near Labor Day. They are part of what makes Murray authentic.
Hurd Orchards is on Ridge Road, a route which has been described by the late author Arch Merrill as “a special continuous village.”
She highlighted another advantage of Murray: the real estate is much more affordable than in neighboring Monroe County.
Machamer would like to see the community better promote Murray, and feel more pride in the town.
“Have the confidence to say this is really a great place,” she said.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has called on Gov. Cuomo to consider changing his position on bail reform in the wake of mass looting and riots following the tragic murder of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Hawley’s first and foremost goal is to ensure law-abiding citizens have their livelihoods protected during this period when bad actors are taking advantage of thinly stretched law enforcement and the chaos that has ensued.
“As someone who truly believes in the power of the U.S. Constitution and the rights it affords its citizens, I want to make it clear that any peaceful protestor has my full support; that is their right as an American,” Hawley said. “What we are seeing is a large sect of criminals taking advantage of this situation for their own selfish gains to abuse the situation and sow seeds of anarchy and dissent, and they must be held accountable for their actions.”
“I am calling on Gov. Cuomo to consider a more aggressive and punitive response to these looters and rioters who are causing the destruction of our state,” Hawley said. “Because of current bail reform laws, these criminals are arrested and then immediately released back on the streets to continue their unlawful behavior. I appreciate our law enforcement who are working to contain these looters and rioters, and restoring peace and order. However, these officers are handicapped by the bail reform laws, as they create a continuous cycle where these criminals get arrested and released again and again. That needs to change during this period of unrest.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2020 at 4:40 pm
Two more Orleans County residents have died from Covid-19, bringing the total to 40 people who have passed away for the coronavirus, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting today.
The two deaths reported today were residents of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, which has now has 12 residents die from Covid-19. (Among the 40 deaths, the others include 27 residents at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, and one who was a community member outside a nursing home.)
Orleans County also has two new confirmed cases of Covid-19, who are both residents of Orchard Rehab and Nursing Center. One is in the 60s and the other is in the 80s.
Orleans County has now had 238 positive cases, with 48 of those at Orchard.
The Health Departments also are reporting one more person has recovered from Covid-19, bringing the county’s total recoveries to 78 among community residents.
Genesee County is reporting one new confirmed case of Covid-19, a person in the 40s from Batavia. That new positive case was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
While Orleans County has 18 people hospitalized with Covid-19, Genesee doesn’t have any residents in the hospital from Covid.
Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown shows total positive cases from facilities where the Health Departments have been notified of positive cases of Covid-19.
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Outdoor dining: Governor Cuomo announced that outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted beginning June 4. Outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart, all staff must wear face coverings and customers must also wear face coverings when not seated.
There are still limitations. We encourage business owners to go to the NY Forward website and click on Phase Two for more information.
For guidance on Outdoor and Takeout/Delivery Food Services, click here.
• No gatherings of more than 10 people: Per Governor Cuomo, gatherings (groups, assembly, meeting, etc.) of 10 or less are permitted with social distancing and sanitization protocols in place. The executive order is only good for 30 days or unless it is extended. (Click here for more information.)
The Health Departments do not authorize or allow exemptions from the Governor’s orders. If you have questions about the orders you can go to forward.ny.gov or e-mail the Finger Lakes Regional Control Room. https://forward.ny.gov/new-york- state-pause
For questions go to NY Forward website and the Regional Control Room (for guidance and to answer your questions: e-mail to: flnyf@esd.ny.gov.
To file a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community you can call 1-833-789- 0470 or click here for a link to the online form.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2020 at 2:32 pm
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted for those regions that are in Phase 2 of reopening. That includes restaurants in Orleans County, which is in the Finger Lakes Region.
Outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart, all staff must wear face coverings and customers must also wear face coverings when not seated, the Governor’s Office said this afternoon.
Bob Duffy, president of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, also leads the Finger Lakes Region in the reopening plan. He appreciated the announcement from the governor this afternoon.
Outdoor dining was pushed into Phase 3 of the reopening, but Duffy said on Twitter this afternoon that he and others advocated for it to be in Phase 2.
“It will be greatly appreciated by our restaurants,” Duffy said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2020 at 1:23 pm
This spring has offered much better weather conditions for farmers to get their crops planted, compared to 2019, when frequent rain and waterlogged fields resulted in 23,170 acres of corn and soybeans not being planted in Orleans County.
Farmers in Orleans County typically plant about 125,000 acres of those crops each year.
There were about 90,000 acres that went unplanted in Orleans, Genesee, Niagara and Monroe counties last year.
The weather the next few days includes partly sunny and a high near 76 today, followed by sunny and high near 84 on Thursday, and a chance of showers on Friday with a high near 84. Saturday is forecast to be partly sunny with a high near 76.
Press Release, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
ROCHESTER – Thanks to a generous donation from Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce member Century Mold, Rochester Chamber is providing free face shields to barbers, hair stylists, and colorists across the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, which includes Orleans County.
As stylists and barbers go back to work in the current phase two of the New York Forward COVID-19 reopening strategy, state safety guidelines require face masks, shields, and other personal protective equipment.
“Our region’s barbers, hair stylists, and colorists have let us know for weeks now that they’d be ready to once again start serving clients when given the green light,” said
Rochester Chamber President and CEO Bob Duffy. “Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to provide them with some of the equipment they need to do so safely. Stopping the spread of COVID-19 and getting businesses back on track are critical to our region’s well-being. We thank Rochester Chamber member Century Mold and CEO Ron Ricotta for their generosity in providing these face shields free of charge.”
Barbers, hair stylists, and colorists interested in the Rochester Chamber face shield giveaway should email Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Membership Director Kevin Donahue at Kevin.Donahue@GreaterRochesterChamber.com with their name, business name and address, and number of employees requiring shields. One shield per employee, please.
Individual barbers and stylists may also submit a request. Use “Face Shield Giveaway” in your email subject line. Upon receiving requests, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce staff will arrange pickup.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 June 2020 at 11:30 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty speaks on Dec. 11, 2018 during a “Preservation Celebration” to kick off a $17 million construction project at the old Holley High School. The project is nearly done and has turned the school into 41 apartments and the Holley village offices.
HOLLEY – Brian Sorochty won’t be seeking re-election to continue as Holley’s mayor. Sorochty said his responsibilities at his job have increased. He plans to resign next month as mayor.
Holley’s election was slated for June 16, but has been moved by the state to Sept. 15.
Sorochty wanted to let the community know his intentions so potential candidates could consider serving the village as mayor.
He works as vice president of engineering for an engineering/construction company. He also said he wants to be more available for his family.
Sorochty has been on the board for seven years. Holley has tackled many ambitious projects during that tenure, highlighted by a $17 million transformation of the old Holley High School. That building had been vacant for more than 25 years.
Home Leasing of Rochester is turning it into 41 apartments and the Holley village offices.
“It is truly awesome to see the lights on in that beautiful old building and to know that people are living there and that very soon the Village offices will be there as well,” Sorochty said in a letter to the editor sent to the Orleans Hub. “Our community and officials at all levels pulled together working with the developer to make that project a success and it is wonderful to be a part of it! Our Village will be a better place with that historic building revitalized and I am truly happy for our community.”
Holley also will soon start construction on a $4.5 million waterline and sidewalk project that will take about a year.
The village also is seeing the federal EPA spend $12.5 million in the latest cleanup of the Diaz Chemical site on Jackson street.
Holley also has partnered with the Landmark Society of Western New York to draw attention to historic sites in need of attention. The “Five to Revive” designation for the old school helped connect Home Leasing to the project.
The Landmark Society also has listed a commercial building in the Public Square to the “Five to Revive.”
Sorochty said he has enjoyed working with the many officials in the community and region, to move Holley forward with several initiatives.
“Having the privilege to be your Mayor and being able to work with everyone I have met along the way is a great honor and a time I will always cherish,” he wrote in his letter.
