Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Madison Bale is hugged by Emma Herman this evening when a caravan from the Orleans County Christian School stopped with signs and gifts for seniors at the school.

Madison and Emma are both seniors at the school, which meets at the Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship Church on Route 63 in Shelby.

There are three seniors in this year’s class at the school and they all live in the Medina area. There will be a small graduation ceremony on June 11 at the church for the three students and their families.

Madison Bale has been attending the Orleans County Christian School the past four years. She likes the close-knit community at the school.

“It was a great place for me,” Bale said. “It gave me the one-on-one with teachers. Everybody is great there.”

She plans to work at Voss Manufacturing in Sanborn after graduation. She has been doing a co-op internship at Voss in Automated Manufacturing and Engineering through the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.

Emma Herman poses with her sign in her front yard. Emma plans to start a dog-walking business.

Amy Herman and this group helped greet the seniors. Amy is Emma Herman’s mother. The caravan of greeters included a fire truck from the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

Ben Bielisky received balloons and a graduation gift. He wants to be a video game programmer.

Photo by Tom Rivers: First Baptist Church in Albion is pictured on a recent evening.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that beginning Thursday religious gatherings of no more than 10 people will be allowed statewide where strict social distancing measures are enforced and all participants wear masks.

Additionally, drive-in and parking lot services will also be allowed beginning Thursday.

The governor also announced the state is convening an Interfaith Advisory Council to discuss proposals to safely bring back religious services.

“Our interfaith advisory council has representative of the religious community across the state, all different religions,” Cuomo said today at his daily press briefing. “I understand their desire to get back to religious ceremonies as soon as possible. As former altar boy, I get it. I think even at this time of stress and when people are so anxious and so confused, I think those religious ceremonies can be very comforting. But we need to find out how to do it, and do it safely, and do it smartly.”

The governor said churches need to take precautions so Covid-19 doesn’t spread due to a service. Church gatherings have the potential to a “super spreader” where one person could infect dozens of people.

“The last thing we want to do is have a religious ceremony that winds up having more people infected,” he said. “We all want to do the same thing, the question is how do we do it, and how do we do it smartly and efficiently. I will be talking with members of the religious community on doing just that and I’m sure we can come up with a way that does it, but does it intelligently.”

Orleans County has two new confirmed cases of Covid-19. One of the new positive cases is in the 30s, and the other in the 40s. One of the new cases lives in Ridgeway and the other resides in Gaines.

Neither of the newly positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. They bring the total confirmed cases in the county to 171.

The county also has four more recoveries. That brings the total to 56 who have recovered after having Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.

There are 17 residents from Orleans County who are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.

In Genesee County, there are four new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 177 confirmed cases.

The positive cases reside in Batavia and LeRoy. One individual is in the 30s, another in the 40s, one in the 50s and one in the 80s.

Two of the newly positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the health department reported.

Genesee also has had two more people recover from Covid-19, bringing the total recoveries to 108.

Two of the total active positive cases are people who are hospitalized.

Click here to view an online map of the confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also advised the following:

• Memorial Day Holiday/Social gatherings: For questions go to NY Forward website and the Regional Control Room (for guidance and to answer your questions: mailto:flnyf@esd.ny.gov). To file a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community, call 1-833-789-0470 or click here.

• Un-PAUSING does NOT mean we can start having social events, even outside. The Governor’s The Executive Order still bans gatherings of any kind, in any location, to no more than 10 people.

• No yard/garage sales: Currently state guidelines are restricting these activities. The virus can be on items for several hours/days depending on the surface and can cause infection. People are touching the items to examine them, so it can put others at risk.

The more socialization that occurs the higher risk of transmitting the virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable. It is imperative we still restrict social/family gatherings until we are certain to have this under control and/or there is a vaccine.

• It is expected we will see an uptick of positive cases and mandatory quarantines as social interaction increases.

If cases increase, it shows us people may be ignoring the orders to not have gatherings of 10 or more people, not social distancing, not hand washing/sanitizing, disinfecting shared surfaces often, and/or not wearing face coverings properly.

This can also impact our ability to continue the re-opening phases. We ask that you respect the guidance and continue to social distance.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Some of the classic cars are shown during the Super Cruise on Aug. 28, 2019.

MEDINA – The classic cars should return to Medina’s Canal Basin on Friday evenings, but likely not until the second Friday in July.

The cruise-in normally starts the first Friday in June. But with social gatherings currently limited to no more than 10 people, the cruise-ins have been pushed back to July.

By then, organizer David Green hopes some of the restrictions will be lifted on the size of social gatherings.

Green, the retired Orleans County sheriff, has helped organize the cruise-in events for about 20 years.

They usually draw about 80 to 100 vehicles on Friday evenings, as well as crowd of people who like to look over the cars.

When the series starts, Green said DJ Hank Nevins is expected back. There will also be weekly 50/50 raffles to benefit the Orleans County United Way.

Green also would like to continue the Super Cruise to close out the season in late August. Elvis impersonator Terry Buckwald typically performs at the Super Cruise. Green said the event may be scaled back this year.

Local businesses usually donate to bring in Buckwald, but Green is reluctant to appeal to businesses for funding because many of them have been closed or scaled back to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Courtesy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

The New York State Police and law enforcement agencies in Orleans County will increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired and reckless driving throughout this Memorial Day weekend.

The STOP-DWI enforcement period starts on Friday and runs through Tuesday, May 26. State Police and local law enforcement agencies will be out in force to remove impaired and reckless drivers from our highways.

“As we take time this Memorial Day to honor those who died in service to our county, we remind motorists to make safety the top priority,” said State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett. “If your holiday plans include alcohol, please arrange for a safe ride home. Driving impaired is a choice that often has serious and even deadly consequences. State Troopers will be highly visible this weekend, and will have zero tolerance for impaired, reckless and distracted drivers.”

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke also said local law enforcement will have an increased presence this holiday weekend.

Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols. State Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who are violating the law. These vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated. Troopers will also conduct an underage drinking enforcement detail.

According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR) at the University at Albany, drunk driving killed 295 people and injured 5,340 others in New York State during 2018. Another 314 people were killed in drug-related crashes.

On Memorial Day weekend in 2019, Troopers arrested 225 people for drinking and driving, issued 13,693 total tickets, and investigated 134 personal injury crashes, which resulted in four fatalities.

Press Release, Orleans County Office for the Aging

ALBION – Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The theme for 2020 is “Make Your Mark.” This theme was selected to encourage and celebrate countless contributions that older adults make to our communities.

This theme was selected to encourage and celebrate countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. Their time, experience, and talents benefit family, peers and neighbors every day. Communities, organizations, and individuals of all ages are also making their marks. This year’s theme highlights the difference everyone can make – in the lives of older adults, in support of caregivers, and to strengthen communities.

Gil Cain

Unfortunately, we are not able to hold our local Older American Celebration due to Covid-19.  We are sad that we cannot celebrate our clients and 45 years as Office for the Aging! We will look at rescheduling in the fall. We did send two nominations to Albany for Volunteer of the Year to represent Orleans County. Please read the nominations we received.

Gilbert Cain is a native New Yorker and lives in Medina. Gil retired from Lipton after 38 years as a distribution analyst. He is a widower with nieces in the Medina area. Gil has been a Hospice volunteer since June 2015 and in that time he has mastered the residence volunteer meal server position. Gil now trains new volunteers.

Gil won the 2018 Hospice of Orleans Volunteer of the Year Award for outstanding volunteer service. In 2019, Gil provided over 700 hours of service to Hospice. He stands out as a volunteer because he take time to learn patient’s favorite foods and makes certain that those foods are available to the patient. Gil has been known to deliver spaghetti dinners, lemon pie and special donuts to patients at all hours of the day and night.

Gil also donates prepared holiday meals from Tops or Wegmans for residence patients and their families. The patients are able to sit down to a delicious holiday meals with all the trimmings due to Gil’s generosity. Gil works at least six shifts per week in the residence.

Hospice patients and family members are amazed at all that Gil does at the age of 85. Gil also participates in the Hospice fundraisers and is a friendly, welcoming face around the campus.

Gil would offer to other New Yorkers that volunteering is a great way to keep your mind and body busy. Gil states that volunteering and giving to others is a great way to lift your spirits and feel rewarded at the end of the day.

Louise Henderson

Louise Henderson was born and raised in New York and has lived on the same property in Orleans County since the early years of her marriage to her husband, John. The two bought and remodeled a one-room schoolhouse into the home where they raised their 6 children. In 1984, disaster struck when their home caught fire. The schoolhouse was gone, but resilient as ever they built their current house on the ashes.

Louise worked at the Cornell Cooperative Extension for 20 years prior to her 25 years as a library assistant at Swan Library and its successor, the Hoag Library. Even though she retired, she still volunteers at the Hoag Library. When she isn’t working, you can find her surrounded by family celebrating birthdays, holidays, and planning and creating 4-H projects.

Through her platform as a library assistant, Boy Scout leader, 4-H assistant and church volunteer, Louise has been fortunate enough to touch the lives of many community members. She often talks of how she has helped children learn how to read and she has shared with them the humble virtues of patience, kindness, and using their manners.

For many she has been that mother figure who you could count on to help you with your homework, provide you with encouragement when it seemed like on one else would, and always has a word to wisdom of you when you need some life advice.

In her role as a 4-H leader and mother of 6, she was able to aid so many youths in learning necessary life skills and leading them to a brighter path. Louise has been volunteering for over 40 years.

If you are ever lucky enough to obtain an unsolicited piece of advice from Louise, she would remind you that kindness, patience and being polite will never go out of style. After her lifetime of service, she would also ask that you never stop learning and giving back to your community.

Thank you to both Gil and Louise for all that they do for the community. The State Office for the Aging looks to hold a recognition event in Albany in the fall if feasible.

Press Release, NYS Department of Labor

The New York State Department of Labor today announced that the backlog of pending unemployment benefit applications has been reduced to 7,580 — representing major progress since an unprecedented crush of applications related to the COVID-19 pandemic flooded the DOL’s systems in March. 

This universe of unprocessed applications includes those that are missing critical information and cannot be processed, duplicates, and abandoned claims. Additionally, since the passage of the Federal CARES Act, 562,766 PUA applicants have received unemployment benefits.

In total, more than 2 million unemployment benefit applications have been processed, and those New Yorkers have received over $10 billion in benefits.

“No one could have predicted the wave of unemployment applications that crashed over the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and every state is struggling — but New York has moved faster than any other state to address our backlog and get money into New Yorkers’ hands. To date, we have paid out over $10 billion dollars during this crisis, compared to just $2.1 billion in total last year,” NYS Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “Those claims that have been outstanding for weeks are ones that we simply cannot process — we have already attempted to contact all of these New Yorkers, and we will continue to try get in touch with everyone who applied so we can connect them with the benefits they are eligible for.”

The numbers for applications submitted pre-April 22 are as follows:

• 1,194,933: Paid

• 20,801: Not Paid – Need Certification

• 7,580: Not Paid – Partial Claims missing Information Needed to Process

Over the weekend, the Department of Labor analyzed the outcome of applications that were filed on or before April 22nd in an effort to quantify the size of the unemployment benefit backlog. This analysis found that 7,580 applications filed before that date had not been processed. 

The DOL is unable to process these applications because they either contained incorrect or missing information, are duplicates, or had been abandoned by the claimant. The Department of Labor has attempted to contact all of these New Yorkers and will continue trying to reach them to complete their application or close out their claim.

Examples of missing or incorrect information that prevents an application from being processed include a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and address for an individual’s former employer or an applicant’s Social Security Number. Last month, the Department of Labor issued a directive reminding New York-based businesses they have a legal obligation to provide unemployed New Yorkers with the information they need to apply for benefits, including the company’s FEIN and address.

Another 15,831 applications are going through final processing — which includes a check for fraud and identity theft. These claims will either become payable in the coming days or be flagged for additional review by anti-fraud specialists.

In addition, applications for 20,801 New Yorkers who applied before April 22nd have been processed but not paid because those individuals have not submitted federally-mandated weekly certifications. By law, these certifications must be submitted before benefits are released.

The Department of Labor has proactively emailed hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers reminding them to submit certifications and rolled out a new, secure online system that allows New Yorkers to easily submit prior weeks’ certifications that they had missed. Over 330,000 New Yorkers have used this new system to unlock more than $400 million in prior weeks’ benefits they had effectively left on the table.

Finally, the Department of Labor has also launched a new system that proactively and directly communicates the status of an individual’s unemployment insurance application via text and email. Since this system rolled out, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers have received messages letting them know their application has been received, is being processed, and has become a payable claim.

‘I want my seniors to know that I am here to serve them and we’re going to do the best that we can to provide them with experiences that are meaningful, and provide them with as many experiences as possible.’

KENDALL – Carol D’Agostino has worked as Kendall junior-senior principal the past 16 years. She grew up in Kendall and graduated in the Class of 1977. She and her husband Phil have three adult children and 10 grandchildren who are all in the Kendall school district.

D’Agostino is a two-time cancer survivor. She said she feels blessed to live and work in a close-knit supportive community.

On Tuesday, during an interview at the junior-senior high school, she talked about some of the challenges for the school, which has been closed to students since March 16 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Question: I know this isn’t a Hurricane Katrina situation, with activities being cancelled and the school closed, but you can you speak to the sense of loss that students are experiencing?

Answer: The way many adults feel is things could be much worse, and it could be, but when you are a teen-ager in high school, these events – your baseball season, the musical – it’s very, very important to these kids. Because we’ve had this virus, a lot of this has been taken away from these kids. And they’re isolated. They are social beings. They want to be with their friends and now they are isolated in their homes. So this does take a toll on our students.

And it may not be a hurricane but it is still devastating to them, and especially for our seniors. These events are really important to them.

I want my seniors to know that I am here to serve them and we’re going to do the best that we can to provide them with experiences that are meaningful, and provide them with as many experiences as possible.

So when we do yearbook distribution, and that’s for all of the kids, we want to make that a fun event that kids look forward to.

We hope to do a senior walk. It’s been our tradition for our seniors to walk through the elementary school. So this year my plan is, if I can pull this off, is to gather the kids at the gazebo. We’ll hand out the caps and gowns and then walk to the fire hall. So we’ll still have a processional in front of the elementary school, making sure that we social distance and wear masks when needed so really to provide memorable moments for our students.

They may not be like we’ve always been able to provide traditionally. But maybe they will be a little bit better.

And even after graduation, if we do have a drive-in graduation, then have a parade similar to the celebration we do for Sectional winners, a parade through the town.

We’re trying to do everything we can. Our parents have been great. They are so supportive. Whatever we can do we will make happen.

Portraits of the 51 members of Kendall’s Class of 2020 are displayed by the front entrance of the junior-senior high school. The display is also up at the main intersection in town, at routes 18 and 237.

Question: What about the students in grade 7 through 11? You see a lot for the seniors, but what about the other kids who are also missing out?

Answer: They are. That’s important to think about. The plays, the concerts. Our kids are musicians and they look forward to the end of the year concerts and we’re not able to do that. So for all of the students there is a real sense of loss.

So that is the significance of what we’re dealing with here. And also being optimistic that next year will come and we’re going to get through this together and we will be able to put things back into place for kids to look forward to. Next year we’re going to make that an awesome year because we’re going to have a new set of seniors and a new set of juniors. Our eighth-graders are going to be in their first year of high school. It’s important for every student at wherever they are in the sequence of their education.

Question: How hard has this been for teachers?

Answer: I can say without a doubt that I am extremely proud of the staff. They have gone out of their way to connect with kids. We’ve had close communication with the school counselor, Mrs. Bauer, and myself. We’ve done home visits to help kids stay on track and earn their graduation credits.

I think that is critical to make sure we’re thinking about every student and their continuum of education and make sure we’re meeting their needs.

Carol D’Agostino helps a student get ready during graduation last June. The students waited in the gymnasium before entering the auditorium for the ceremony. This year’s commencement will be different.

Question: For you personally, as a person in the midst of this, what has been the hardest?

Answer: When you’re in a job like being a principal, you’re here to serve the community and the students. You want to make every event as special as you can and that has been taken away from us.

It is really hard not to be able to do things for kids. I think Kendall is a special place. I like to be with the students. I like to be with the teachers and it’s been really hard to be isolated from them.

But what I love to hear is kids telling me how much they miss coming to school.

I think that’s a process that we’re all working through. For our teachers they have had to learn how to teach all over again. My analogy is for our teachers it’s like their first year of teaching all over again. And for our students it’s like their first year of college. We’re all learning how to learn and how to teach in a different world, and they’re doing a great job.

Question: Do teachers come to the building very often?

Answer: Not very much. They will trickle in once in a while to pick up resources or to close up something in their classroom. We’ve really tried to keep them at home to make that safe. They have the opportunity to access the building but mostly they work from home.

Question: It must be weird to come to the school in March, April and May, when normally it’s bustling and to have it be so quiet with just a few people here.

Answer: Many days I’m here by myself in the office. The secretaries don’t come in every day.

But we still have graduation. We have a program to create. We have an awards ceremony we are preparing. We have a Top 10 recognition that we’re doing June 1. We have Honor Society induction that we’re doing Thursday via Zoom. Junior National Honor Society induction was last week so we’re really committed to making memorable experiences for our students the best that we can.

Question: The Top 10 recognition, how would you do that?

Answer: Our plan is to do it in the east parking lot. We will follow the same format that we have always done. We will read a little bio about each student. They will stay in their cars. When their name is called, Mrs. (Julie) Christensen, the district superintendent, and Mrs. (Lisa) Levett, the Board of Education president, will hand them their plaque and medallion and then they’ll go back to their car.

My plan is to have some desserts that we can take to the cars. Just to have a little celebration.

Memorial Day forecast to be mostly sunny, high near 81

RIDGEWAY – Justin Narburgh of Ridgeway sent in this photo from his backyard of last night’s sunset.

There is lots of sunshine in the forecast the next few days. Today is forecast to reach the high 60s, then it will be the the low 70s and sunny on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday and Sunday is forecast to be in the low 70s with some showers. Memorial Day on Monday could reach 81, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

MURRAY – The developer of a potential senior housing community in Murray is looking at Gulf Road for the project, not four different locations in the town.

The Murray Town Board on Monday evening voted against changing the town’s zoning ordinance to allow for senior housing on Gulf Road; Lynch Road; Route 31, east of the Village of Holley; and on 31, from the Fancher Curve to Paddleford Road.

David Paul said the multiple locations may have stirred opposition to the zoning amendment. The town can’t only make one zoning amendment for high-density senior housing because that would be considered spot zoning.

Murray instead proposed four different options, even though Paul said only he is only interested in Gulf Road. He wants to start with five mobile homes, which would have a 12-by-12-foot breezeway and 1 ½ car garage. The development would be limited to people 55 and older.

He said his plan would be to max out the number of homes to 25 on Gulf Road, and they would be set back from the road.

He has asked town officials to try again with the zoning amendment, but to limit it to two locations: Gulf Road and Route 31, east of the village near Bennetts Corners Road. He wants the town to not put Lynch Road or Route 31 near the Fancher Curve as amendment options. Those locations concerned town officials and some residents in the community.

The second option on Route 31, just east of the village, would allow the town to make the make the argument it isn’t spot zoning for the project pursued by Paul, because there would be another option in the town for senior housing.

Paul said the smaller houses are popular in Florida. He thinks they would be attractive for people in Murray, and would boost the local tax base.

The Orleans County Planning Board on Jan. 23 recommended the town make the zoning change to allow for a senior housing district.

Normally, it would take a super-majority vote, at least 4-1, to override the county. But town officials said because it was a legislative action, and not a land-use action, a simple majority vote was enough.

Town Board members Paul Hendel and Lloyd Christ voted for the amendment change, while it was opposed by Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio and board members Randy Bower and Mike Mele.

KENDALL – The Kendall Fire Department has announced it is canceling the annual firemen’s carnival due to public health concerns with the Covid19 pandemic.

Kendall is the last fire department in Orleans County that puts on an annual carnival with midway rides. The three-day event was planned for June 18-20.

“We believe for the safety of the community as a whole it would be irresponsible of us to continue with the carnival,” Kendall Fire Chief Bryan Hardenbrook posted on the fire department’s Facebook page. “The very nature of the event is getting closer with your neighbors. This choice was a hard, but necessary one. We care about each and every person in the community and we believe this is the right decision to keep people safe.”

The carnival is a big fundraiser for the Fire Department, besides being a fun community gathering.

“It is what keeps the lights on and maintains our buildings and grounds,” Hardenbrook said.

He thanked the community for its strong support over the years with its attendance at the carnival.

“You always show up and show how much you care,” he said. “Year after year you come in droves and ride the rides, have dinner, enjoy the bands in the beer tent, and just have a good time at the Carnival.”

The fire department is working on a craft show and vendor fair for Aug. 28-29.

The midway rides are a popular draw to the annual Kendall Firemen’s Carnival. Many fire departments used to put on an annual carnival. Kendall is the last one in Orleans County that still does the big event. It won’t be happening this year due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, with both new cases at the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina. That nursing home now has three cases of Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting.

The two who tested positive include one resident in the 60s and one in the 70s.

The county has now had 169 residents test positive for the coronavirus. The health department is reporting one more person has recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 52.

There are 17 residents who are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.

Genesee County also has one new case of Covid-19, bringing Genesee’s total to 173. The new case is a resident from Batavia in the 70s. The newly positive individual was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the health department said.

Genesee also has two more recoveries, bringing that total to 106. One Genesee resident remains hospitalized with Covid-19.

Click here to view the online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The map shows 21 active cases in Orleans, 12 in Genesee and 8 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 we received 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.

• Social gatherings: We have plenty of guidance and criteria for businesses to safely open and encourage everyone to visit the ESD website, NY Forward and the Regional Control Room for guidance and to answer your questions.

• Un-PAUSING does NOT mean we can start having social events, even outside. The Executive Order bans gatherings of any kind, in any location, to no more than 10 people.

The more socialization that occurs the higher risk of transmitting the virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable. It is imperative we still restrict social/family gatherings until we are certain to have this under control and/or there is a vaccine.

It is expected we will see an uptick of positive cases and mandatory quarantines as social interaction increases.

If cases increase, it shows us people may be ignoring the orders to not have gatherings of 10 or more people, not social distancing, not hand washing/sanitizing, disinfecting shared surfaces often, and/or not wearing face coverings properly.

This can also impact our ability to continue the re-opening phases. We ask that you respect the guidance and continue to social distance.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The sign on the tugboat, Pittsford, is shown on Sunday evening in Albion, where the vessel is stationed.

With the Western New York and Capital Regions each given the green light for phase 1 reopenings, the State Canal Corp. has adjusted its plan for the opening of the Erie Canal.

Nearly the entire system is now planned to be ready by July 4 for the start of the navigational season.

The season was scheduled to open on May 15, but was pushed back. The Covid-19 pandemic and the limit on construction activities delayed some maintenance work needed before the canal can reopen.

Last Friday, the Canal Corp. announced most of the canal would open by July 4, but some sections might not open by July 4, including in the Albany region and the section from Lockport west through Tonawanda.

The rest of the canal was cleared for phase 1 of the reopening, including Orleans County which is in the Finger Lakes Region.

Western New York was cleared to reopen today and the Capital Region has met the state’s seven criterion to reopen, beginning on Wednesday.

The State Canal Corp. today said maintenance work needs to be completed at specific canal facilities varies by location and locks along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals. They will open for passage in a staggered fashion.

Announcements regarding specific lock or regional openings will be communicated through the Canal Corporation’s “Notice to Mariners” notification program available at www.canals.ny.gov. The Canal Corporation said it appreciates the public’s patience during this time.

Here is the updated tentative schedule for the canal’s opening:

Capital Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th

• Erie Canal from Lock E-2 in Waterford to Lock E-9 in Rotterdam

• Except for Locks E-7 (Niskayuna), E-8 (Scotia), and E-9 (Rotterdam) – these locks are forecast to open between July 20th and August 10th

• Champlain Canal from Lock C-1 in Waterford to Lock C-12 in Whitehall

• Except for Lock C-12 (Whitehall), which is forecast to open on August 10th

Mohawk Valley Region – Locks opening in phases, targeted for between July 4th & August 10th

• Erie Canal Lock E-10 in Cranesville through Sylvan Beach at Oneida Lake

Central NY Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th

• Erie Canal from Oneida Lake to Lock E-25 in May’s Point

• Oswego Canal – except Lock O-7 in Oswego, which is forecast to open on August 10th

Finger Lakes Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th

• Erie Canal from Lock E-25 in May’s Point to Locks E-34/35 in Lockport – except Lock E-26 in Clyde, which is forecast to open on July 13th

• Cayuga – Seneca Canal – except Locks CS-2/3 in Seneca Falls, which are forecast to open on August 3rd

Western NY Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th

• Erie Canal Locks E-34/35 in Lockport through Tonawanda

Press Release, New York Farm Bureau

New York Farm Bureau is launching a new system to connect farms in need of labor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this time of uncertainty, farms may temporarily be down some employees who may have to quarantine due to the virus or to take care of a sick family member. This could potentially create issues on the farm, especially when livestock need to be cared for or during a critical time of the growing season.

In turn, there is now an online database for farmers to turn to and for people who may be looking for additional, temporary agricultural work, perhaps someone who is in need of employment, may be retired from farm labor, or would like to add additional hours.

Anyone who is interested and willing to work on a farm is encouraged to submit their information to the new database to potentially be matched up with a farm in need in their area. Click here to view the database.

New York Farm Bureau hopes this will serve as a resource for its members to have needed staff on hand throughout this pandemic while also providing an opportunity for job seekers. It will be up to the individual farm to appropriately screen and hire any potential employees.

In addition, New York Farm Bureau is still making its COVID-19 resource page on its website, www.nyfb.org, open  to all farms, regardless of membership to provide the latest information and guidance to all of agriculture in these difficult times.

New York Farm Bureau is encouraging all farms to continue to take this pandemic seriously, follow all of the recommended safety guidance and protocols, and have a plan in place to mitigate the spread, both in the workplace and in farmworker housing should it be provided.  Protecting farmworkers and fellow family members is a priority for the agricultural community.

Press Release, Tobacco-Free Western New York

The sale of flavored e-cigarettes ended in New York State on Monday, as did the sale of all tobacco products in pharmacies. These are huge steps forward in helping New Yorkers live free from nicotine addiction.

The new laws were passed as part of the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget. New York becomes the second state in the nation to restrict the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies.

“These policies are all part of a full court press,” said Andrew Hyland, PhD, chairman of the Department of Health Behavior and head of tobacco control programs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “They are part of long-standing efforts by New York State to change the social norms about tobacco by making products less appealing and less accessible.”

Research shows that the flavors in e-cigarettes attract kids and the nicotine addicts them. Nearly 40 percent of high school seniors in New York State use e-cigarettes, also referred to as “vaping,” and 27 percent of all high school youth vape. This new law ending the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in New York State will protect kids from a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

Selling tobacco products in pharmacies has long sent a contradictory message to consumers by offering tobacco alongside medicine or products for illnesses either caused by or made worse by smoking. While Erie County banned tobacco sales in pharmacies as part of its Public Health Protection Act of 2018, the seven other counties in Western New York and New York State have now implemented this law.

It also reduces the number of stores that sell tobacco products in every community, an effective way of supporting tobacco users who want to quit and reducing youth exposure to tobacco marketing. There is overwhelming evidence that the more young people see tobacco, the more likely they are to start smoking.

“We are pleased that the new laws have taken effect,” said Paul Pettit, director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health departments. “The timing is excellent with COVID-19 impacting the health of so many who have underlying health issues, which may have been brought on due to health issues related to smoking and vaping.”

Support available for New Yorkers who want to quit

For help quitting smoking or vaping, including free nicotine replacement therapy for eligible residents, individuals can contact a health care provider, call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS. Effective medications and counseling are covered by Medicaid and most insurance programs.

Tobacco Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties and Reality Check student groups from the GOW region have worked tirelessly to educate local communities about the need to protect children from the billions of dollars of tobacco marketing in places where kids can see it.

The statewide “Seen Enough Tobacco” initiative is focused on putting an end to youth smoking and other tobacco use. The average age of a new smoker in New York is 13 years old,  and 90 percent of adult smokers say they first tried smoking by age 18. Tobacco Free New York State, including the Reality Check student youth groups, is part of the NYS Tobacco Control Program.