File photo: Boy Scouts from Troop 175 from West Barre attended Camp Dittmer in Phelps in July 2017. Eli Pask, left, joins five other Scouts in erecting a lean-to for their overnight campout.

BATAVIA – The Iroquois Trail Council has decided there won’t be summer camping programs this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The safety of our Scouts, volunteer leaders, Scouting families, and summer camp staff is our top priority,” according to announcement today from Council leaders – Jim McMullen, Scout Executive; Bob Confer, Council President; and Paul Fleming, Council Commissioner.

The Council will be suspending traditional camp programs this year with day camps and overnight programs at Camp Sam Wood in Pike and Camp Dittmer in Phelps.

“We are guided first and foremost by safety concerns, and also by the knowledge that the precautionary procedures we would need to put in place would greatly reduce the summer camp experience,” the Scout leaders said in their letter. “We know that camp is an important part of every Scout’s program, and did not make this decision lightly.”

The Scouting leaders said about 200 local families completed a recent camp participation survey.

“The overwhelming number of respondents (nearly 70%) shared their concerns that there were too many unanswered safety questions and that our traditional programs would be far too altered by precautionary measures; more so than what any of us would anticipate,” according to the letter from McMullen, Confer and Fleming.

The Council is giving Scouting families the option of rolling the camp deposit to summer camp 2021, receiving a refund, or donating a portion of it to help support the council and the camps.

“Our staff are saddened that we are not able to serve your Scouts at our camps this summer,” the Council leaders wrote in the letter. “The team looks forward to providing the full range of Scouting programs, including outdoor adventures, as soon as the situation allows.

“In the meantime we will be partnering with our neighboring councils to offer digital, virtual programs and outdoor programs as circumstances allow. We look forward to sharing those details with you in the coming weeks.”

Press Release, AAA Western and Central New York

In New York State, 222 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days” from 2008 to 2018.

The “100 Deadliest Days” is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when fatal teen crashes increase dramatically. The number of people killed in crashes involving teen drivers, in New York, during rest of the year is 382 (for a total of 604 from 2008 to 2018).

The 222 people killed in summer months compared to 382 killed during non-summer months in N.Y., over the 10 years, is an increase of more than 70 percent. The 222 people killed in the summertime equates to a yearly average of 20.2 deaths.

Nationwide, more than 8,300 people died in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days” over the ten-year span. That’s more than seven people a day each summer. This year’s combination of schools closed, activities curtailed, summer jobs canceled, and COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, could prove deadly as teens take to the road this summer. AAA recommends that parents model safe driving behaviors and help ensure their teens practice them, too.

“The last decade of crash data shows that teens continue to be over-represented in crashes and summertime marks an increase of fatal crashes for this age group,” said Dr. David Yang, Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our data analysis has found that for every mile driven, new teen drivers, ages 16-17 years old, are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.”

Due to their inexperience, teen drivers are at a higher risk of crashes. According to the new AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, about 72% of teen drivers aged 16-18 admitted to having engaged in at least one of the following risky behaviors in the past 30 days:

• Driving 10 mph over the speed limit on a residential street (47%)
• Driving 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway (40%)
• Texting (35%)
• Red-light running (32%)
• Aggressive driving (31%)
• Drowsy driving (25%)
• Driving without a seatbelt (17%)

“Parents remain the best line of defense to keep everyone safe behind the wheel,” said Jennifer Ryan, AAA’s Director of State Relations. “It’s never too soon to educate teens on the dangers of distracted driving, speeding, and the impairing effects of alcohol and marijuana. But actions speak louder than words.  Remember to model good behavior because your teen won’t take your advice seriously if you don’t follow it yourself.”

To keep roads safe this summer, AAA encourages parents to:

• Talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel, such as speeding, impairment and distracted driving.
• Teach by example and minimize risky behavior when driving.
• Establish a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers.
• Conduct at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving with their teen.

LOCKPORT – Niagara County has passed 1,000 cases of Covid-19.

Niagara had 64 cases from Friday through Sunday to reach 1,000 cases. The Niagara County Health Department reported four more cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,004.

Covid-19 has caused the death of 59 people in the county. The Niagara County Health Department is reporting 636 people have recovered from the virus. There are currently 309 active cases with 293 isolating at home and 16 hospitalized.

The three Niagara towns that border Orleans have all had Covid-19 cases, including Somerset, 14; Hartland, 16; and Royalton, 15.

Niagara Falls has the most cases of any municipality in the county with 255, followed by 154 in Newfane.

Martin MacKenzie leads facility that has quarantined residents, trying to slow the spread of virus

Photos by Tom Rivers: Martin MacKenzie, administrator of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, praised the staff at the nursing home in Medina for their dedication to the residents at the site.

MEDINA – Martin MacKenzie has worked the past four years as the administrator of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, a nursing home with 160 beds on Bates Road. The nursing home, formerly known as Orchard Manor, is owned by Personal Healthcare LLC.

“Personal has moved Heaven and Earth to keep us supplied with PPE,” MacKenzie said.

He previously worked as an administrator of the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, and also and nursing homes in Rochester, Williamsville and Warsaw.

MacKenzie started his career as a CNA and then a registered nurse before going into administration 10 years ago. He has been wearing nursing scrubs to work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The following interview was conducted outside the nursing home last Wednesday, May 20. At that point, Orchard had three confirmed cases of Covid-19. After all the residents and staff were tested for Covid-19, the number of confirmed cases is now 31 with six deaths from the coronavirus.

MacKenzie said the staff, including the housekeeping department, has worked hard to tried to contain the virus.

Question: Before getting into administration, how long we you working as a nurse?

Answer: I’ve been a registered nurse since ’94. I was a CNA prior to that.

Martin MacKenzie said Orchard will be transparent with residents, their families and the community about Covid-19 cases at the nursing home.

Question: Is that an unusual trajectory to become a nursing home administrator, starting as a CNA?

Answer: I couldn’t even tell you. There are a few nursing home administrators who did start out as nurses. There are some who are social workers who are finishing up their master’s degrees and then take the state test for administrator.

Nursing has always been my passion.

Question: Is this your normal work attire, or is it just in the past two months?

Answer: No, this is a suit job, but when Covid came the staff was scared. Being a nurse, I’ve always tried to be hands-on with the patients.

Two things happened. For one, as a nurse, I understand infection control pretty well. So your clothing gets dirty. If I’m wearing a suit, with all the dry cleaners shut down, it just wasn’t feasible.

I told the staff and I meant this: I knew we were going to have some Covid patients, even before the directive came out that you had to. In my mind that’s what you do. That’s why we’re here.

So we set the building up where we quarantined one of our units. Anything beyond that point we considered contaminated.

A crew was set up with infection control. We were fortunate we had enough PPE. Orleans County Emergency Management helped us a lot. Our parent company really moved Heaven and Earth to keep us supplied.

Why I am wearing scrubs is I started going over there when we admitted our first Covid patient. Everybody was really scared. I insisted I would be the first one into the room. And since then the staff hasn’t dropped the ball.

Question: The first cases, they didn’t contract it here? You accepted them in?

Answer: We started off taking patients who were from the community. They were recovering from Covid in the hospital. They came in her for rehab services and everything. They were still quarantined on the floor for 14 days.

Question: You had to accept them or you had the option not to?

Answer: There is a lot of hype about that. My personal feeling is I know we would accept them anyways. I believe that is what a nursing home is, it serves the community. The directive came out and there was a lot of hype about this directive. The directive is not new. I’ve been around a long time. When HIV-AIDS came out, you couldn’t discriminate against that. Any disease you can’t discriminate from. That directive has always been there. You are going to take sick people.

Now this virus is a nightmare. Obviously it turned the world upside down. Should they have made nursing homes take them that weren’t ready for them? I’ll let somebody else judge that.

Question: With 160 beds, were you close to capacity when you started to quarantine people with Covid?

Answer: Some of the safety measures were put into place and we shuffled even before the first Western New York case showed up. The outside is where they are going to get this virus, right.

So we took one wing and emptied it out pretty much and moved all of the patients around and emptied out 12 beds. That is where any new admits come in this place and they are there for 14 days until we know they are not sick and then we move them out.

For the rest of the facility the danger I saw was dialysis patients and patients who went out to the doctors. So we moved those patients over to this side too to a separate wing, but on the same unit. Because I wanted to keep as little traffic as possible coming into the long-term side.

Question: So if they go to appointment when they come back they are in the two-week quarantine?

Answer: Yes, even if they go to the hospital for whatever reason.

The flag is lowered Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina out of respect for victims of Covid-19.

Question: How many beds is that total in the wing?

Answer: 40 beds. The rest of the building is 120 beds.

Question: That staff with the 40 beds can only stay on that side?

Answer: Exactly. We set it up pretty good. The staff all come in one door here. They all punch in. They get a mask everyday.

For the staff that works this unit, they don’t come off the unit. Dietary sends the food over. The staff exits out the one door. Once they go into that unit, nobody comes back out (to the long-term care side).

Question: I would think people would be nervous about working in that unit with the Covid patients or people in quarantine.

Answer: They are.

Question: Is that why you put on the scrubs and went in first?

Answer: You can’t sit behind a closed door and give orders to these folks. They are young moms. They are a brave crew. They led me as much as I led them. We didn’t mandate anybody. It was volunteers.

The therapy department – we have quite a therapy department – we also separated that. The main gym and the therapy department is in the center of the building. So we had four or five therapists who volunteered and therapy assistants and we turned the dining room over here into a mini therapy gym. We moved some equipment over there. We’re not using the dinign rooms right now, obviously.

Question: When you accepted Covid patients that didn’t show up publicly in the reports from the local health department? They weren’t considered your cases?

Answer: No. We accepted patients from the hospital who were recovering. We self quarantined them and did all of the steps.

We didn’t have anything we did not expect until a couple days ago when a patient on the long-term side tested positive.

Question: Is there much of a chance that could be a false positive test?

Answer: I personally I believe it could be. You know this whole Covid thing came on so quick. These tests are manufactured rapidly. Labs are overwhelmed. Could they be false, yes, but you still need to react to them.

Martin MacKenzie is pictured with Mary Luckman, the director of nursing who has overseen testing the staff.

Question: If you get a positive in the long-term care side, they would be shifted over to the Covid wing?

Answer: Yes. Anybody who spikes a fever, who is symptomatic we send them over to that side.

Question: And now you have to do the twice a week testing?

Answer: Yes, until they are cleared. We just started this. Some of the new mandations from Albany came out.

On Tuesday and Wednesday (May 12 and May 13) we swabbed every resident in the building. Most of the results (a week later) are still pending.

Question: Is that 150-160 residents?

Answer: The census is 142 today. So every resident was swabbed. Staff testing, we’re starting today (May 20) and that mandate is twice a week.  So we’ll do it today and I think the director of nursing wants to do it every Monday and Thrusday.

Question: Do you administer it yourself or does somebody come in?

Answer: It can be done both ways. I’ve heard of faciltiies where the state has showed up and helped them. We’re prepared ourselves. Our director of nursing, Mary Luckman, she is educated and took an online course and she and some of the supervisors are ready to start swabbing.

Question: So you get all the samples and they send them out to a lab?

Answer: Yeah.

Question: People do say Covid is just the flu. Can you talk about how you view it as a nursing home administrator?

Answer: Nursing homes took the most frail with comorbidities. They are very challenging. Flu season is always a nightmare in a nursing home. And actually some of the steps we set up here are from many, many years ago when I was in a nursing home as a nurse and we had a bad flu outbreak. One of the things we did here we separated dietary completely. I learned that from the flu outbreak and that was I think back in 2000.

Question: Were the nursing homes somewhat prepared because of past experiences with the flu?

Answer: I think we were, but this virus is different from anything we’ve ever seen. Orchard has been fortunate but I’m not a fool. I know we will start getting some more positive cases because it’s everywhere. We have two very attentive docs on top of it, and the staff has been absolutely incredible. So I’m very, very fortunate.

Comparing it to the flu, no, this thing is very, very aggressive. We communicate every day with other nursing homes and some of the homes that have had it really bad, it literally spreads like wildlife down a hall.

We have the PPE and the staff is very well trained and shows up. I love the staff. And another thing, Orchard is very fortunate to have one hell of a housekeeping staff. They are literally keeping us alive. I wish I could show you the building, Tom. It’s never been so clean.

‘To the family member who has a mom in here, the CNAs are the most important person. If anybody deserves credit it is the frontline staff, the aides, the nurses, the housekeepers that show up everyday.’

Question: When there is an outbreak in a nursing home, I think people assume it may not have been clean or the owners were cheap. But you are seeing top-rated 5-star facilities with outbreaks.

Answer: I can tell you wholeheartedly there isn’t one nursing facility in the whole country that invited this bear into its walls. Most of the staff in nursing homes are young. They are young moms with young families. They come in every day scared. Some of the things we shuffled around here, some of the staff change their clothing before they go home.

Question: I’ve tried to imagine how hard it would be at a nursing home where there are many deaths, and how hard it would be on the staff, especially the 20-year-olds. It would seem like you’re being sent to war. It must be traumatic.

Answer: Very much so. That’s a good word. It is not only here because you’re on your toes when you go to a local grocery store. But also the residents. These poor folks haven’t seen their families, shy of a window visit, in two months. Now for the last six weeks, with the masks, they haven’t even seen the staff smile at them. I’ve never seen anything like this. I go back to when AIDS first came out, and when MRSA first came out. I have never seen anything like it. And I know a lot of my staff have complimented me. But I will tell you honestly if it wasn’t for the staff here I would have cracked about a month ago.

The CNAs are always underrated. The administrator of the nursing home, I’m the most important. Well, that’s a façade. To the family member who has a mom in here, the CNAs are the most important person. If anybody deserves credit it is the frontline staff, the aides, the nurses, the housekeepers that show up everyday.

‘The residents of the facility have been so strong through this. They tell the crew everyday that it is going to be OK. We’re going to get through this.’

Question: How did you get drawn to this field? Why are you passionate about it?

Answer: It was strange. I grew in Niagara Falls in the ’70s. All I was going to do was work in a factory. I’m a big guy. But then all the factories closed. I’m actually a high school drop out.

When I was about 25, I realized the world was moving on. So I go to sign up for college. I was never the sharpest tack in the box. So I’m going to take an EKG course with heart monitors. But I had to get a GED first. So anyways I get into college and I do well, which kind of shocked everybody who knows me. They gave me a scholarship for a year free in nursing. They needed male nurses. It was in the very early ’90s, late ’80s. So I got into that and I did well.

The thing that kept me was personality, not that I have a good one or a bad one. I enjoy meeting and talking to the people that have worked under me.

Question: Was there something about nursing homes that appealed to you, rather than a hospital scene?

Answer: I worked in Erie County for a few years at ECMC. I worked at Erie County Home actually but we moonlighted at ECMC too. There was excitement at the hospital, but I think a lot is lost with the elderly. They have so much wisdom. The residents of the facility have been so strong through this. They tell the crew everyday that it is going to be OK. We’re going to get through this. They are very interesting to talk to.

When I graduated as an RN there was a girl I went to school with who worked at Oddfellows in Lockport. She said to come work here but I told her I didn’t want to work at a nursing home.

I started working there and never left long-term care. I like getting to know the people I work with.

Orleans also has 11 more recoveries from virus

Two more people have died from Covid-19 in Orleans County, the local health department is reporting this afternoon. Both people were residents of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, which has now had six of its residents pass away from Covid-19.

The two deaths bring the county’s total to 33 due to Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.

Orleans County has five more new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to 208.

Of the five new cases, one resides in Ridgeway, one in Yates, one in Shelby and one in Albion. The other new case is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, which has now had 31 residents test positive.

Of the new positive cases in the county, one individual is in the 20s, one in the 30s, another in the 40s, one in the 60s and the one in the 80s.

None of the new positive cases were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Department said.

Of the previous cases in the community, 11 more people have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 70.

There are 20 people currently hospitalized from Orleans County due to Covid-19.

Genesee County has one new positive case of Covid-19, for 181 cases. The new  confirmed case is a person who lives in Batavia who is in the 50s. The person was not on mandatory quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.

Genesee has had four more recoveries, bringing the total to 116 who have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee, two of the active positive cases are hospitalized.

Click here to view the online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. That map shows there are 13 active cases in Orleans in the community (not counting residents of facilities), 10 in Genesee and three in Wyoming.

More information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

The facility breakdown is only showing the total positive cases from those facilities from where there was a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added if there is a positive case of Covid-19.

Because the local health departments don’t follow the positive cases for facilities, we cannot report any recoveries from the facilities with positive cases of Covid-19. If a regulated facility from either of the counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, etc.

“We Heart New York” was created by Bunny Lake Films.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the winners of the Wear a Mask New York Ad Contest – “We Heart New York” created by Bunny Lake Films and “You Can Still Smile” by Natalia Bougadellis and Emory Parker. Both winning videos will run as public service announcements and can be viewed by clicking here.

The contest, which was launched by the Governor on May 5th and overseen by his daughter Mariah Kennedy Cuomo, asked New Yorkers to create and share a video explaining why New Yorkers should wear a mask in public. The state collected more than 600 video submissions from across the state, and there were 186,000 votes cast in the contest.

(Editor’s note: There were 96,332 votes for the first and second place finishers for only a 502-vote differential. The governor decided today, with such a close vote, they would both run as public service announcements.)

“You Can Still Smile” was made by Natalia Bougadellis and Emory Parker.

“We launched the Wear A Mask New York contest to help spread the word about the importance of wearing a mask, and frankly this contest generated much more energy and excitement than I even anticipated,” Governor Cuomo said. “The tremendous level of participation demonstrates that people understand that a mask can be the difference between life and death. This is about their lives and this is about their community, and they’re engaged — because they are New York tough, smart, united, disciplined and loving.”

“We asked New Yorkers to create ads about the importance of wearing a mask in public, and we received over 600 video submissions from across the state,” Mariah Kennedy Cuomo said. “Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who submitted ads, who voted, who shared ads, and helped spread this important message that it’s absolutely critical to wear a mask in public. And we’ll be continuing to reach out to New Yorkers for help in spreading the message about how we can get through this together because New Yorkers are clearly ready, willing and able to help.”

Photo courtesy of Kevin Smith

SHELBY – Several utility poles snapped and wires were taken down by a tractor in Shelby today at about 11:50 a.m.

Route 63 is currently closed to traffic, between Blair Road and Ryan Road so National Grid can reset poles and wires.

No additional information is available.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: Orleans/Niagara BOCES students made these stowage lockers for the NASA HUNCH program.

MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES is very excited about Wednesday’s NASA launch with Crew Dragon! The stowage lockers, made by the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Class, will be onboard.

The class is a member of NASA’s HUNCH program. The HUNCH mission is to empower and inspire students through a Project Based Learning program where high school students learn 21st century skills and have the opportunity to launch their careers through the participation in the design and fabrication of real-world valued products for NASA.

The senior students’ signatures are on them and the juniors will add their signatures to the next round this fall.  The lockers will store payloads, tools and supplies that the astronauts will need to conduct science and research on the International Space Station.

“Talk about a proud moment for the AME students, our entire school and the local districts,” said Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering teacher Bill Rakonczay.

Nancy Hall, HUNCH Project Manager, invited all the students who participated to be special guest for the takeoff #LaunchAmerica.

“The launch of our astronauts from American soil is a historic event,” Hall said. “We want you all to help celebrate this launch by participating virtually. This launch is made even more momentous for HUNCH students in manufacturing classes, because four of the single stowage lockers that they fabricated are on the crew Dragon. Thank you all so very much for your outstanding dedication and support. Enjoy the launch and stay well!”

“Through NASA’s virtual launch experience, we make it possible for more people than ever to watch the beginning of this new era in human spaceflight,” said Bettina Inclán, NASA’s associate administrator for Communications. “We’re already seeing people participate online with the #LaunchAmerica hashtag and helping build the excitement for this historic moment.”

NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley now are at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to start final preparations for NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight. The mission is targeted for lift off at 4:33 p.m. EDT on Wednesday aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carried by a Falcon 9 rocket – the first launch of American astronauts from American soil to the International Space Station in nearly a decade.

Demo-2 will be SpaceX’s second spaceflight test of its Crew Dragon craft and its first test with astronauts aboard. This final test flight prior to NASA certification will provide data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, the Crew Dragon and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, and landing operations.

The Falcon 9 rocket will launch from Kennedy’s historic Launch Complex 39A. But, the excitement will be felt across the country and around the world, with virtual launch parties and other events to help usher in this new era of spaceflight as NASA and its commercial partners take the next bold step toward sending the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024 as part of the agency’s Artemis program.

Live video coverage and countdown commentary begin at 12:15 p.m. May 27. Watch the launch and all prelaunch activities on NASA TV, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin. You also can share reasons you are excited for the launch on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #LaunchAmerica for a chance to be shared on our social media channels.

The Demo-2 mission will be the final major step before NASA’s Commercial Crew Program certifies Crew Dragon for operational, long-duration missions to the space station. This certification and regular operation of Crew Dragon will enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place onboard the station, which benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars starting with the agency’s Artemis program.

Photos courtesy of Steve Goodrich

LYNDONVILLE – The American flag is lowered at Lynhaven Cemetery in Lyndonville on Memorial Day.

It was a quieter Memorial Day observance in Lyndonville on Monday with no parade or official ceremony.

But the local American Legion Post and other community members honored the sacrifice of soldiers.

At Veterans Park, the Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post 1603 set up a POW/MIA table in front of Lyndonville’s Veterans Park.

Joseph Hausler, Adjutant of the Houseman-Tanner Post, played Taps. Steve Goodrich, the Post Commander, also was present for the service where the names of people were read from Lyndonville who are currently serving in the military.

The Yates Community Library organized this display of American flags on the school grounds next to Johnson Creek.

“We hope you enjoy this time of reflection and thankfulness, remembering that Americans have endured obstacles and suffering in the past and have overcome these hurdles by sticking together to become the strong nation of communities that we are,” the library stated at the display.

Program will target small businesses focusing on MWBEs, Non-Profits, and small landlords that didn’t receive federal Covid-19 assistance

Press Release, Empire State Development and Homes and Community Renewal

Empire State Development and Homes and Community Renewal detailed the $100 million New York Forward Loan Fund announced by Governor Cuomo, aimed at providing working capital loans to small businesses focusing on MWBEs, small landlords and non-profit organizations that did not receive funding from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

The fund will target those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including small businesses and non-profit organizations with 20 or fewer employees, and small landlords who own small multi-family rental portfolios.

Eligible non-profits can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan at 2% fixed interest; while eligible small businesses and small landlords can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan with a 3% fixed interest rate. The maximum loan amount is $100,000. Loan funds can be used for working capital including payroll, operating and emergency maintenance, property taxes, utilities, rent and supplies.

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner, and President and CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “The New York Forward Loan Fund will support this vision by providing vital financial support to small businesses – the lifeblood of local and regional economies – as well as non-profit groups that did not receive federal aid. Thanks to a strong public-private partnership with banks and foundations from across the State, we are able to help these organizations manage during these difficult times and prepare for the stronger, healthier New York of tomorrow.”

New York State is home to nearly 487,000 small businesses that employ fewer than 20 people each, representing 91% of the state’s small businesses. Applicants are required to prove they employ 20 or less full-time equivalent employees and have gross revenues of less than $3 million. The New York Forward Loan Fund will emphasize supporting minority- and women-owned businesses, and landlords who own small multi-family properties in low- and moderate-income communities, which have traditionally been underbanked or have difficulty accessing capital.

Landlords of small multi-family properties have been particularly hard-hit in New York, as tenants impacted by the Coronavirus struggle to pay rent. These property owners, who have been excluded from both rounds of the federal Paycheck Protection Program, need access to short term capital to maintain their properties, pay their building and maintenance staff, and cover shortfalls in operating expenses.

Stabilizing this housing stock is particularly critical while communities across New York State are required to shelter in place. Small landlords who own buildings with fewer than 50 units represent 72% of the total rental housing stock in New York State, with high concentrations in the outer boroughs of New York City, Long Island and in urban communities throughout each upstate region.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “By leveraging the resources of state agencies with private lenders and philanthropy, we have created a loan product specifically tailored to addresses the immediate needs of small businesses, small property owners and non-profit organizations that are facing a significant financial hardship due to this pandemic. At Homes and Community Renewal, we understand the outsized impact the economic downturn is having on renters in New York, but we also realize that small landlords are likewise struggling. Providing owners of small multi-family properties with financial relief is crucial at time when maintaining our housing stock takes on renewed importance.”

The New York Forward Loan Fund works by enabling five Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to make loans to the target borrowers: Accion East, Community Preservation Corporation, National Development Council, Pursuit, and TruFund Financial Services. New York State is providing first loss capital to support a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will purchase locally originated loans, with foundations and philanthropies offering the next layer of loss capital. Banks, in the form of senior debt, will lend to the SPV. More than $100 million is expected to be available in the program, with 65% reserved for small businesses, 30% reserved for small landlords, and 5% reserved for nonprofit organizations.

Six banks have pledged support for the New York Forward Loan Fund: Apple Bank, BNB Bank, Evans Bank, M&T Bank, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Additionally, the fund has received philanthropic commitments from the BlackRock Charitable Fund, Citi Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

The New York Forward Loan Fund was established with support from Calvert Impact Capital, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is administering the SPV. Connect2Capital is hosting applications at www.nyloanfund.com.

The application period will open on Tuesday, May 26, and more information is available online at www.esd.ny.gov/nyforwardloans.

Provided photo

MEDINA – Denny and Robin Dubai, volunteers at the Medina Emergency Food Pantry At St. Peter’s, donated a sheet pizza to manager Dan Leverenz, left, and the workers at Aldi for their dedicated work during the pandemic. The store is located on Maple Ridge Road.

Photos by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – Veterans from Medina spent the morning on Memorial Day visiting local cemeteries and memorials, offering a gun salute and playing Taps. The top picture shows the Honor Guard by the American Legion Post on Main Street and Glenwood Avenue.

The veterans assembled a small group and continued a Memorial Day observance, trying to stay six feet apart due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

These six Marine Corps veterans stand in front of the Vietnam War memorial at the American Legion in Medina. From left are Randolph Wells, Jim Freas, Tom Walders, Nick Fitzak, Don Hinman and Dave Morien.

Jim Freas, leader of the Honor Guard, joins the veterans at St. Mary’s Cemetery for the gun salute and playing of Taps.

Tom Walders plays Taps at Boxwood. Walders recently joined the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.

Glenn Whitmore, left, and Dave Kusmierczak are pictured by the Vietnam War Memorial by the Erie Canal.

Lance Cpl. Nick Fitzak, left, and Tom Snyder, a veteran of the Navy, are pictured at the VFW post. Fitzak works for Snyder at Medina Lumber & Hardware.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Steve Johnson salutes after he presented flowers at State Street Park during a Memorial Day ceremony today at about noon.

It was a smaller service today due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Local veterans insisted on having a service to honor veterans who have served the country.

To see a video of the gun salute and Tom Walders playing Taps at the service, click here.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley reads the names of veterans from the Medina area who have died since last Memorial Day. Jim Freas, one of the organziers of the service, is in back.

That roll includes:

• Donald Durow, Army; Charles Marcinowski, Army; Raymond Callard, Army; Walter Hird, Air Force; Kenneth Schaal, Marines; John Baron, Navy; Charles Sutliff, Navy; Jack Bellack, Army; Leonard Balcerzak, Army; Douglas Birch, Army; Eugene Schwarzott, Navy;

• Steven Sills, Army; Robert Holtz, Air Force; William Ames, Navy; Frank Nicometi, Army; Robert Simpson, Army; David Watts, Army; Curtis Bentley, Army; James Johnson, Marines; Leonard Levandowski; Frederick Grant, Air Force; Peter Hallows; Jake Grehlinger, Army;

• William Brazzell, National Guard; Charles Marcinowski, Army; Roger Seefeldt, Army; William Renouf, Navy; Joseph Nieboer, Navy; Charles Sutliff, Navy; Gordon Tooley, Army; William Arnett, Army;

• Lavern “Bud” Fuller, Army; Eugene Schwarzott, Jr., Navy; Leonard Balcerzak, Army; Curtis Bentley, Air Force; and David Watts, Army.

Bernard Nowak, a former Navy chaplain, shared a prayer during the service. Nowak now serves as the priest for Holy Trinity Parish in Medina and Middleport.

Veterans gather by the World War I cannon at State Street Park. That cannon was refurbished and rededicated at last year’s Memorial Day.

Steve Earl carries the flag for the American Legion from State Street Park to the VFW after today’s Memorial Day service at the park.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Honor Guard carries the flags down Main Street in Medina during a procession from the Olde Pickle Factory to State Street Park. Pictured from left include Lance Cpl. Nick Fitzak, Adam Johnson, Steve Earl, Greg Stanton and Tom Snyder.

The walked the usual route for the Memorial Day parade in 80-degree heat. Normally the veterans are joined by the Medina Marching Band, youth sports leagues, fire departments and the community organizations.

This year the parade was cancelled due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.

The five veterans decided to continue the Memorial Day tradition, carrying the flags from the United States, the American Legion and the VFW post.

The Honor Guard heads out on the walk from the Olde Pickle Factory on park Avenue, for a mile to State Street Park on Route 31.

Greg Stanton carries the American flag next to Tom Snyder as part of an Honor Guard procession down East Center Street today just before noon.

A man removes his hat and salutes while the Honor Guard walks by on Main Street.

The Honor Guard heads down Main Street. Tom Snyder, right, wore his Navy uniform.

Snyder said today’s march on Memorial Day was much quieter than the usual Memorial Day parade. He said it was a more reflective walk, and he thought of two of his friends from the military who were killed in service to the country.

Photo by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – The driver and passenger on this trike motorcycle both appeared to had internal injuries after the driver lost control of trike and it left the roadway on Route 98, coming to rest in a farmfield just after 4 p.m. today.

Deputies on the scene said the two people didn’t appear to have life-threatening injuries. They were taken by COVA ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

The accident was in Carlton, just south of Baker Road. Route 98 was closed to traffic for about a half hour from Route 104 to near Baker Road.

No additional information is available.