O M G. I am sure that is what you must be thinking right now when this week’s post is based around this photo. What is it you may wonder…part of an animal? Well kinda, it is part of the human variety of animal. It is my fake hair piece!
I don’t really need any more hair right now. I have not been to the beauty parlor since December. I try to go every 3 months which brought me right into…yep you guessed it, the end of March. Dang, bad timing.
There has been much chatter lately among those of us who could use a good tango with the scissors. Who knew that such an essential part of our lives would lead to panic buying for hair products. And yes, I said essential part of our lives.
A good hair grooming not only aids in good hygiene but it makes us all feel a bit lighter and not just atop our heads, but in our spirits, too. I truly believe when we feel good on the outside we are more productive and happy people, which is truly essential.
My puppy went to the beauty parlor last week to get cleaned up to keep her skin and eyes healthy. If only I was a dog I could get some grooming, feel lively and wag my tail a bit too. My band of fake hair is really handy these days. I just gather up all those loose ends and wrap that fake hair around them nice and tightly. I have even scored some light brown highlights by incorporating this into my head of hair. Now my hair has real character. It’s dark brown, light brown and gray! Who says a 50-plus year old lady can’t be sassy, not this girl.
A couple years back at my shop a customer of mine and great local lady, Denise Cornick, came in with her hair wrapped in the prettiest scarf. I asked her to show me the method and kindly she took off her scarf to show me. I tried myself with no success and I really wish I could figure that out.
My husband is another story. You see he can not get away with fake hair or a scarf. Good news is he has a great head of hair, bad news is that is now growing well below his ears. In my most persuasive voice I asked him to allow me to take the grooming scissors to his head of hair.
He is still thinking about it. In my house when my husband says he will think about it, it usually is a solid no. So I guess he will continue to go rogue or just wear his hat.
Remember the days when families could just cut each others hair. My Mom used to cut my hair. Boy was that traumatic. I can remember a few times running to my room shell shocked by what I just witnessed in the mirror…bangs all crooked and jacked up looking like Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber.
Since we can not look at people’s smiles behind masks, let’s check out each other’s hairdos. You never know when inspiration might strike. Now that could lead to some hair raising trends.
? Keep fighting the good fight and rock those locks proudly. To share your hair secrets and see my hairpiece on, visit my blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com and catch up on weekly photo perks and past posts. Like and share your comments. Happy Perks to Everyone!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 9:44 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A caravan of vehicles heads down Main Street in Albion at about 10 a.m. today. They were about halfway through a 50-mile ride in Orleans County that started in Holley and ended in Lyndonville.
Adam Johnson, owner of the 39 Problems bar and grill in Albion, is in the lead car. He organized the event, which he estimated had about 200 participants for different parts of the journey.
Johnson wanted to highlight the diversity of small businesses in the county, and show how many have struggled due to the economic shutdown from the Covid-19 pandemic.
DC Hauling and Excavating joins the ride through downtown Albion.
Reg Cichocki, owner of Orleans Ready Mix in Medina, brought two vehicles from his concrete business for the ride. His wife Anna is in the truck in the front seat.
Cichocki said he has been able to do concrete jobs for some agricultural projects, but the residential construction has been at a standstill for about two months.
“We need to get the residential construction going,” Cichocki said. “It’s a spinoff for the whole economy.”
He said the small businesses and community have stepped about their precautions to protect from the virus.
“This is something that has never happened in our lifetimes,” he said.
The vehicles head up Main Street in Albion after crossing the Main Street lift bridge over the Erie Canal.
Liz Groat is president of the Downtown Browsery, which includes about 70 vendors at locations in Albion and Medina.
The stores have been closed for the past two months. She said both sites will be ready to open in about two weeks. They are installing plexiglass screens at cash registers, putting in hand sanitizer stations and putting markings on the floor to emphasize social distancing of at least six feet.
Groat said she expects many customers at the Browsery because many flea markets are closed and she doesn’t anticipate as many garage sales this year due to Covid-19.
“People will be looking for a place to shop with non-Walmart things,” she said. “They are also ready for some normalcy to return.”
Vehicles head up a quiet Albion Main Street where dance studios, hair salons and barbershops are waiting to get approval to reopen.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 8:06 pm
Provided photos
MEDINA – Austin Tompkins, 15, of Medina stopped by several places in Medina on Thursday to show his appreciation to frontline and essential workers in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Austin stopped by the Medina Memorial Hospital, Medina Fire Department, Bank of Castile and Aldi grocery store to thank the workers for their dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Austin is Petty Officer 2nd class with the Sullivans Division of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps. The Cadet Corps were out in WNY communities thanking workers for their dedication during this pandemic.
The Cadet Corps are based out of Buffalo. They have regular drills one weekend per month all year. They also have summer and winter trainings for the Cadets that range from 5 to 13 days. They drill on the Little Rock and The Sullivans ships at Buffalo Naval Park from May through October.
They arrive Saturday morning, spend the night, and leave Sunday afternoon. In winter, they drill at the Navy Operational Support Center on Portage Road in Buffalo.
Aidyn Jackson, 10, also is a cadet. He visited the Medina Fire Department, where his father Matt Jackson is the fire chief. Aidyn is a LC2 in the League Cadets, a division of The Sullivans for kids aged 10-13.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 7:30 pm
ALBION – The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion has nine more cases of Covid-19, bringing the total at the nursing home in Albion to 87.
One more resident has also died from Covid-19, bringing the total deaths at The Villages to 21 from Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this evening.
“Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this individual during this very sad and difficult time,” the local health department said.
The New York State Department of Health swabbed all residents and employees of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center this past week to test for Covid-19, the local health department said.
Orleans County is reporting 12 total new cases today, with three others besides the nine at The Villages. That brings the total confirmed cases to 166 in the county.
Neighboring Genesee County also has two more cases today for a total of 171 cases.
Orleans County now has nearly as many as Genesee even though Genesee is about 50 percent larger than Orleans. Genesee had a population of 58,171 in the 2019 Census estimate, while Orleans had 40,352 residents, according to the 2019 estimate.
The Villages accounts for 52 percent of the cases in Orleans County. In Genesee County, the federal detention center in Batavia represents 49 of the cases, or 29 percent of the total. The detention center is Genesee largest number of cases outside of the residents in the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 6:28 pm
Photos courtesy of Jak Kohmann
CLARENDON – The Boy Scout Troop 59 and some community members this morning placed more than 600 flags at veterans’ graves at cemeteries in Holley and Clarendon.
Jak Kohmann, Scoutmaster of Troop 59 in Clarendon, thanked the following people for their help placing the flags at veterans’ graves:
Randy, Tyler and Lily Moore
Dave and Dawson Arnold
Chad, Chrissy, Hunter and younger brother Sommerfeldt
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 2:03 pm
Beaches at state parks also given OK to open on May 22
Photo by Tom Rivers: Hamlin Beach State Park is shown in this photo last summer. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the beaches at state parks will reopen on May 22.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that horse racing resume can resume in the state on June 1, but not with fans in the stands.
The governor also said Watkins Glen International Racetrack will be allowed to open on June 1, but without spectators.
Locally, Batavia Downs season starts in late July. The governor said many of the horsemen and trainers that work with the horses are already at the racetracks each day. Not allowing fans shouldn’t have much of an impact on increasing the spread of Covid-19, Cuomo said.
The state will issue guidance on how they can open safely reopen in the coming week, the governor said about the racetracks.
“The numbers have been steadily decreasing and we’re now right about where we were when we started, but we want to make sure we don’t go back to the hell that we’ve gone through,” Cuomo said. “We have a smart phased reopening plan that has been reviewed by experts, and half of the state is in the process of reopening. Now we’re getting a little more nuanced in our analysis and starting to look for economic activities that we can start without crowds and gatherings – in this state we can do that with horse racing tracks and car racing at Watkins Glen and we’re going to do that starting June 1st.”
The governor also announced on Friday that beaches at state parks will allowed by reopen on May 22. Concessions at the state parks, however, won’t be allowed to reopen yet because Cuomo said the state doesn’t want long lines of people waiting for food.
“State beaches, that includes local beaches, lake shores,” Cuomo said. “It does not include pools, pools are closed. No more than 50 percent capacity and that will be done at parking areas, entrance areas, exit areas, et cetera. No group contact activities. No volleyball, no football, nothing like that. Areas of social gathering will be closed, picnic areas, et cetera. Playgrounds, pavilions, arcades.”
The governor today confirmed 2,419 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 348,232 confirmed cases.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 12:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Cars lined up by the Albion fire hall this morning on Platt Street, where the fire department distributed free cloth masks beginning at 10 a.m.
Albion and the 11 other fire departments in the county all distributed cloth masks from 10 a.m. until noon or for how long supplies lasted.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley hands off some of the masks in this photo. Also is the photo from left include Dennis Hunt, Fire Chief Harry Papponetti, Albion Mayor Eileen Banker and Gregg Marston.
There were 7,500 masks available to be distributed this morning. They were made by Hanes. The Orleans County Emergency Management Office secured the masks and delivered them to the 12 fire departments.
Dennis Hunt and Harry Papponetti helped distribute the masks this morning. Cars started to line up at 9 a.m., an hour early. Firefighters gave out two masks per member of a household over 2 years old.
Gregg Marston and Eileen Banker hand off masks this morning.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley also assisted in the effort.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 9:51 am
Trek will pass through 4 village business districts, 8 towns
HOLLEY – A caravan of trucks and other vehicles head down Route 31 near the start of a 50-mile trip throughout Orleans County to highlight small businesses in the community. Art Hill Excavation in Medina is in front in the yellow trucks.
The caravan had more than 100 vehicles when it started at 9 a.m. at the Holley Business Park.
These two head down Route 31 in Holley. The route turned on Countyline Road to head to Kendall.
After Holley and Kendall, the caravan then goes to Carlton, then to Albion, Medina and concludes in Lyndonville. Adam Johnson, organizer of the ride, estimates the route will take about 2 hours with the group finishing in Lyndonville at about 11 a.m.
Larry and Edie Hendershott of Wheatland brought a 1949 Studebaker for the ride. They said they were thankful to be out of their house.
“We’ve been home too long,” Mr. Hendershott said.
Adam Johnson, owner of the 39 Problems bar and restaurant in Albion, checks the lineup of vehicles at the Holley Business Park.
Johnson said many businesses are eager to reopen. They have been sidelined the pass two months and are feeling financial pressure. They are concerned about the businesses’ viability and also about their employees.
Today’s ride was intended to showcase small businesses in the community.
Some of the participants wait for the ride to start in Holley this morning.
Orleans Hub expects to have more coverage later of the ride.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2020 at 8:06 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some of the cyclists in the Cycle the Erie Canal trip approach Albion on July 9, 2018. The event typically brings about 700 cyclists to Orleans County.
An event that brings hundreds of cyclists to Orleans County has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.
Parks & Trails New York announced the annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour would not happen this year. The event last year brought 650 cyclists to Orleans County. They leave from Buffalo and travel to Albany, riding about 50 miles daily over eight days.
They typically spend the night in a tent city in Medina. Cyclists come from about 40 states and several countries.
“After careful consideration and out of concern for the health and safety of our riders, volunteers, staff and the communities we pass through, we have reluctantly and sadly made the decision to cancel Cycle the Erie Canal this year,” Parks and Trails announced this week. “It was a very hard decision to make but we feel confident it is the right one.”
The ride will be back next year, scheduled for July 11-18, 2021.
Nancy Rezabek of Columbia, Missouri, travelled with Elmo on one of the Cycle the Erie Canal journeys.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 16 May 2020 at 7:44 am
Romanski family worked in quarries, helped establish a church, ran a restaurant and did some bootlegging
ALBION — A photograph, taken around 1900, shows my immigrant ancestors from Poland.
Seated at center are Joannes Romanski and Anna Szybanska. Their children stand behind them, including, from left, Rozalia “Rose” Romanska Crane, Franciszek “Frank” Romanski, Maria Smolenska Romanski, and Valeria “Fannie” Romanska Wilson.
Rose is likely around 14 years old in this photograph, while Frank and his wife, who were wed on Nov. 20, 1899, were likely enjoying the honeymoon phase of their marriage.
Joannes Romanski was born on July 5, 1852, in the small village of Rybieniec, Poland, then situated in Prussia. Anna, his wife, was born Nov. 12, 1852, in the nearby village of Wabcz.
The couple brought their three young children to the United States, arriving at the port of New York on April 4, 1887.
As was typical for new immigrants arriving to Orleans County in the latter quarter of the 19th century, Joannes commenced work as a laborer in one of the numerous sandstone quarries within the vicinity of his home on the eastern end of Albion. Records from St. Mary’s Assumption Church suggest that he was one of the earliest movers and shakers who worked to establish one of the first rural Roman Catholic mission churches for Polish immigrants outside of the city of Buffalo.
Little is known about the family’s economic disposition in Poland, but Joannes opened a restaurant on Densmore Street shortly after his arrival in Albion. He operated that business through the early 1910s with the help of his family, until he suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed for the last remaining years of his life.
He died on Nov. 30, 1914, at the age of 62.
Anna continued to operate the family business in the years following her husband’s passing.
Frank followed in his father’s footsteps and purchased the Continental Hotel in Batavia, likely relying on the business experience gained while working in the family restaurant. His luck, unfortunately, was short-lived.
The hotel was taken over by a receiver in 1907 who was attempting to retrieve debts for various creditors. Meanwhile, “Frank [was] scooting around and enjoying life with an auto[mobile].” Following his short tenure as a restaurant owner, he pursued a job as a detective on the New York Central Railroad and stationed himself out of Batavia for several years. Romanski earned quite the reputation in law enforcement, finding himself at the center of attention, and appearing frequently in the local newspapers for various acts of “heroism.”
In July 1909, he was violently assaulted by a well-known lumber dealer in Batavia, which Romanski claimed was unprovoked. John Wade and an accomplice stumbled across Romanski patrolling the local NYC tracks and pummeled him with pieces of three-inch sewer pipe.
The following month, Romanski was involved in a gunfight with railcar burglars, resulting in one officer receiving a gunshot wound to the thigh, and one burglar receiving six gunshot wounds in his thigh, legs, ankle, and heel. Frank became quite familiar with gunplay as he surprised Frank Stybus as he riffled through a railcar in November of 1910, shooting the burglar as he ran off.
Three years later, Romanski was accused of collaborating with railcar burglars, tipping them off to potential threats in return for a fair share of the loot.
The Romanski sisters were just as culpable in their own unscrupulous practices during Prohibition.
After the passing of their mother in 1924, Rose assumed control of the family’s restaurant with her second husband, Frank Crane. According to family lore, Frank Crane would brew hard cider in the basement of their home, which was sold to local patrons out of a secret room in the back of the house.
Of course, this lore is corroborated by the numerous liquor raids on the restaurant, including one in June 1930 when Rose was served with a warrant to appear in front of a U.S. Commissioner. When their own homebrew was unavailable, they relied on Rose’s sister, Fannie, to ship liquor to Albion from Fannie’s store in Port Colburn, Ontario.
Even though Frank and Rose Crane fought the good fight, I suppose we all have skeletons in the closet!
LYNDONVILLE – We are proud to offer extended WiFi for the community during this time of Covid.
We have strategically positioned at two locations access points in our community. These mobile units are active and are positioned in the parking lots of the White Birch Golf Course and The Oak Orchard Assembly of God on Route 104.
The range of these access points mounted on the Lyndonville School vans is approximately 200 feet. Please park near these vehicles while practicing social distancing when accessing the WiFi wireless interent service.
After arriving onsite you may need to refresh your list of WiFi access points to have the unit appear.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2020 at 7:06 pm
Three local state legislators and the leader of the Orleans County Legislature sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo today, asking him to “make something meaningful happen” at an nursing home in Albion, where 20 residents have died from Covid-19.
The 120-bed Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center has had 78 residents test positive for the coronavirus.
A letter today was sent to Gov. Cuomo and was signed by State Sen. Robert Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Assemblyman Michael Norris and County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson.
“Short of requesting the National Guard being called up, we are at a loss of where to go next as the numbers continue to rise,” according to the letter from Hawley, Ortt, Norris and Johnson.
A week ago, Assemblyman Steve Hawley sent a letter to Gov. Cuomo asking the governor to investigate the outbreak of cases and deaths at The Villages. Hawley said several government agencies have become involved in the investigation, including the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Orleans County Sherriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and the federal Department of Health and Human Services
“I have called the governor’s office numerous times, and my team and I have spent days sending letters asking for more formal, state-level investigations to take place, but we’ve heard nothing back so far,” Hawley said today in a news release. “If Gov. Cuomo truly cares about the elderly population, as he claims on his daily ‘press briefings,’ he needs to get back to us immediately. The need for state support in this investigation is paramount to holding responsible parties accountable and stopping the spread of sickness and death in our most vulnerable population.”
In the letter, the four legislators say 25 staff members at the nursing home have reached out to them about the operations at The Villages.
“We receive many calls a day from relatives frantic about the safety and well-being of their loved ones,” the four legislators wrote in the letter to Cuomo. “We are sure you are as passionate as we are about ensuring that the residents of this home receive the care, respect and comfort they deserve.”
Cuomo on May 10 issued a new directive requiring all staff at nursing homes be tested twice a week for Covid-19. Nursing homes in the state have until today to submit a plan to the state on how they will meet the new testing requirement. The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments confirmed today that all staff and residents at The Villages were tested for Covid-19 this week.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2020 at 5:41 pm
Orleans County received 8 new positive cases of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total confirmed cases to 154, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.
One of the new cases is a resident of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, but seven of the cases were people outside the nursing home in the community.
One of the positive cases resides in Yates, two of the new positive cases reside in Ridgeway, one lives in Shelby, two are in Albion, and one of the new positive cases resides in Murray.
Three of the individuals are in their 20s, two are in their 30s, two are in their 50s and one of the new positive cases is a person in the 80s.
None of the newly positive community cases were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
One of the previous positive community cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation. That brings the total recoveries to 49 in Orleans County.
The Health Department reports that 13 of the total active positive cases are hospitalized. Please note those in the hospital may be from the community or a state-regulated facility. The Health Department does not separate them out to protect their privacy.
The department was made aware that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) did swab all residents and employees of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, where 78 residents have tested positive for Covid-19 and 20 have died after contracting the virus. Any questions regarding specific issues should be addressed to The Villages or NYSDOH, the local health department said.
In Genesee County, there are four new positive cases of Covid-19, bringing the Genesee total to 169.
One of the new positive cases is a person who lives in Le Roy, while the other three cases are Batavia residents. One of the individuals is in the 20s and three are in their 30s.
Two of the newly positive individuals were not on quarantine prior to
becoming symptomatic.
Genesee also has had three more people recover from Covid-19, bringing the total recoveries to 99.
The county has one person currently hospitalized from the virus.
The Health Department also has received notification that one of the patients from the Batavia VA Medical Center has been identified as an Erie County resident. Therefore, the total positive case number will be one less and has been adjusted in the Genesee data.
Click here to view an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Additional information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• The facility breakdown is only showing 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, group homes, 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 imperitive 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.
• New York State on PAUSE: To assist local authorities with enforcement of these orders, the Governor established the New York State PAUSE Enforcement Assistance Task Force where individuals can file complaints regarding the operation of non-essential businesses or gatherings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click here to file a complaint online. You may also call 1-833-789- 0470. Businesses that are not in compliance with the Governor’s executive order may be penalized.
• Upcoming Graduations: Because of the current Executive Order that bans gatherings of more than 10 people, no ceremonies are allowed in stadiums or fields. Drive-by parades are okay as long as they are maintaining social distancing orders and not parking. The Governor’s office is not going to review requests on a case by case basis.
• Re-Opening Guidance: The State has provided a template for all businesses to help develop their written Safety Plan to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state-agency for approval, however it must be retained on the premises of the business and must be made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.
Be advised the local health departments are NOT the gatekeepers in these next steps. We are NOT reviewing/approving plans and we don’t have the ability to make decisions on who is/who isn’t a part of the first phase nor have we been provided with guidance on interpreting who is and who isn’t included.
• Children: Children have had their lives turned upside down with school suddenly closing, not being able to play with their friends, no birthday parties and people wearing masks wherever they go. This is a challenging time for everyone, but we also need to remember this is probably more challenging for many children.
Consider setting up virtual play dates so your children can ‘connect’ with their friends, plan to allow time for them to catch up, but also engage in an activity like playing cards or a board game they have while on a messaging app.
Spend time with your children outside. Now is a great time to start a Victory Garden of plants and fruits and vegetables as we move into warmer weather.
• Mental Health: Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and having to socially distance yourself from someone you love can be difficult. Below are resources that can help you connect to a professional that can help you through these challenging times:
• Care + Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 at 585-283-5200 or text ‘Talk’ to 741741
• New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling
• Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741741 to access 24/7 emotional support services
• Domestic Violence: For New Yorkers in need of help or assistance, they can text 844-997-2121 or can go to the new confidential online site to reach a professional at www.opdv.ny.gov.
The new text program and confidential online service will make it easier for victims who are isolated with their abusers to get help. Both the text and online service are staffed 24/7 by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Staff who are experts in the area of domestic violence.
The Erie Canal will open by July 4 for its 196th navigational season, the State Canal Corp. announced today.
The season was supposed to kick off today. But the Covid-19 pandemic prevented canal workers from doing needed maintenance to have the system ready for a new boating season.
But the state has begun to unpause with construction work allowed in phase 1 of a four-phase reopening.
The Canal Corp. will work on maintenance and construction projects on a regional basis under the “NY Forward Reopening” plan. The Western New York region and the Capital region remain on pause and sections of the canal in those regions might not open by July 4. The Canal Corp. said the timeframe for those sections is to be determined.
Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes region and those sections should be open by July 4, the Canal Corporation said.
Canal Corporation crews and contractors will mobilize to work sites in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and Western NY regions as those areas reopen. Maintenance work that needs to be completed at specific canal facilities varies by location and locks along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals will open for passage in a staggered fashion.
Here is the tentative schedule for canal reopenings by region:
Capital Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD
• Erie Canal from Lock E-2 in Waterford to Lock E-9 in Rotterdam
• Champlain Canal from Lock C-1 in Waterford to Lock C-12 in Whitehall
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
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
Western NY Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD
• Erie Canal Locks E-34/35 in Lockport through Tonawanda
As maintenance and construction work commences, most boaters, paddlers, and anglers can access sections of the Canal system for recreational use today. Mariners are advised that some sections of the Canal system will have reduced water levels until such time as the Canal Corporation completes its projects. In addition, navigation aids are not currently in place, but will be installed on the Canal system as the regions open.
All users of the Canal system and adjacent Empire State Trail are encouraged to practice social distancing while using boat launches, trails and other public resources.
The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience during this time and urges all users to register to receive updates through the “Notice to Mariners” notification program at www.canals.ny.gov.
‘We recognize that during the weeks and months to come that there will be questions and confusion as to what activity is permissible and how to proceed in a safe manner that respects others in the community and complies with the various levels of government.’
Press Release, Orleans County Legislature and Countywide Law Enforcement
To the Citizens of Orleans County:
As all of us enter the first re-opening phase of this pandemic we in county government want to assure the community that it is our goal to do all that we can to assist each of you in your personal and work-related lives.
It is imperative that our efforts be implemented in a manner that is safe to you, your family and the rest of the community while still promoting your quality of life and independence. Even though the State still has imposed mandatory staff and operation restrictions on county government, we recognize the need to be responsive to our residents.
To that end, each of us in local government are striving to do our part in providing you with the services, assistance and advice in order to address your many concerns.
While the re-opening is guided primarily by Executive Orders from the Governor and policies instituted at the state level, as the various phases of the re-opening proceed we are certain there will be many questions and challenges.
In order to facilitate your efforts, Chairwoman Lynne Johnson and the Orleans County Legislature have established the Reopen Orleans Advisory Committee. The Committee is comprised of members of the Orleans County Legislature, the Orleans County Health Department, the business community and law enforcement.
The purpose of this committee is to ensure we open Orleans County in a safe and responsible way to prevent any new spread of COVID-19. Please explore the following websites from the State to help guide you in your personal life and businesses:
During the past several weeks the citizens and businesses of Orleans County have been incredibly co-operative, charitable and understanding when considering the onerous impositions that have been imposed. We recognize that during the weeks and months to come that there will be questions and confusion as to what activity is permissible and how to proceed in a safe manner that respects others in the community and complies with the various levels of government.
Please avail yourselves of the Reopen Orleans Advisory Committee (ROAC). Any questions or concerns you have may be submitted to ROAC by accessing the orleansny.com website and leaving your comments by clicking on the Reopen Orleans Advisory Committee icon. The Committee will endeavor to respond in a timely fashion.
Law enforcement stresses importance of social distancing, safety measures during pandemic
In the meantime Orleans County law enforcement agencies would like to remind all residents of the importance of social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and other safety measures during this unprecedented health crisis.
We would also ask that the Executive Orders that have been issued be followed for everyone’s safety. As the weather turns warmer there will be the desire for many of us to try and resume normal activities. Unfortunately we must begin going back to “normal” in stages. When planning events we ask that the public consult local officials for advice on how to do things safely.
No one wants to revert back to a life style that will see an increase in cases that will result in delay, additional closures and further restrictions. During these often frustrating and trying times please make every effort to cooperate with law enforcement officials in their efforts to enforce the mandates that have been imposed upon them by the state and federal government.
Members of law enforcement feel the same as the rest of the community and wish this pandemic to end as soon as possible. If we all do our part we can hopefully get to the end sooner and safer while minimizing the negative impact of this crisis.
It is the sincerest hope of all of us in the different levels of Orleans County government that each of you and your loved ones stay healthy during this period of challenge and that we can all work in unison to make the often over-whelming impositions of COVID-19 a part of our past.
