By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2020 at 7:50 pm
The number of people dying from Covid-19 in New York State has dropped significantly in the past four weeks.
During the week of April 5-11, there are 5,226 confirmed deaths in the state from Covid-19, including a high of 799 on April 8. That week, there were more than 700 deaths in six of the seven days.
The number of deaths has dropped each week since with 4,484 from April 12-18, 3,097 the week of April 19-25, and then 2,176 this past week. This past week about 300 people died on average each day from Covid-19 in the state, significantly less than nearly 750 daily average during the week of April 5-11.
Week of April 26-May 2: (2,176 deaths)
• April 26, 337; April 27, 335; April 28, 330; April 29, 306; April 30, 289; May 1, 299; May 2, 280;
Week of April 19-25: (3,097 deaths)
• April 19, 478; April 20, 481; April 21, 474; April 22, 438; April 23, 422; April 24, 437; April 25, 367.
Week of April 12-18: (4,484 deaths)
• April 12 (Easter), 671; April 13, 778; April 14, 752; April 15, 606; April 16, 630; April 17, 540; April 18, 507.
Week of April 5-11: (5,226 deaths)
• April 5, 599; April 6, 731; April 7, 779; April 8, 799; April 9, 777; April 10, 783; April 11, 758.
The deaths on Saturday, at 280, is almost a third of the record high of 799 deaths on April 8.
“The number that is the most important number that we look at, which is still tremendously distressing is the number of deaths, 280,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. “The overall direction is good, even though it’s very painful.”
The governor also reported today that overall hospitalization in the state from Covid-19 dipped below 10,000 for the first time in about six weeks. The number hospitalized was 9,786, and the number of new hospitalizations on Saturday from Covid-19 was 789.
“That’s good news,” he said. “We were hovering at about 900, 1,000.”
That good news shouldn’t be a sign for New Yorkers to let their guard down, Cuomo said.
The state may begin to reopen the economy on May 15, but it will be done incrementally and regionally. Cuomo said he will be watching the numbers. If there is a spike in Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations, the state will likely back off on the reopening.
He praised residents throughout the state for adhering to social distancing guidelines, staying home as much as possible, washing their hands frequently and more recently, wearing a mask or face covering in public.
The governor acknowledged today there has bene pushback from some people about the mask-wearing directive.
“Act responsibly. Wear a mask,” Cuomo said today. “I know the weather is getting warmer. I know people want to get out of the house. Fine, wear a mask and socially distance. That is your social responsibility in the middle of this overall pandemic.
“And when we talk about New Yorkers together and this spirit of unity and how people are helping one another, and how tough we are and how smart we are and how disciplined we are, and how we love one another – show it,” he said. “You know how you show love? By wearing a mask – please.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2020 at 4:16 pm
Health Department reports 1 more death from Covid-19 at The Villages for 14 total
ALBION – Two more people residents of Orleans County have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to 100.
The two new positives are both residents of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Albion. That 120-bed facility now has had 53 people test positive for Covid-19.
The nursing home also had another person die of Covid-19, bringing the total deaths from the coronavirus at The Villages to 14. The person passed away on Friday and that death was reported to the Health Department today.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this individual during this very challenging time,” said Paul Pettit, director of Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments.
Of the 100 confirmed cases in Orleans County, 31 people have recovered after contracting the virus.
The two Health Departments announced the new cases today at 4 p.m. Besides the new two cases in Orleans County, there are three more in Genesee, which now has had 153 people test positive.
The Health Department will provide more information on Monday about the ages of the people and where they are from in the new Genesee cases.
The Health Departments urges people to continue to be vigilant about handwashing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, properly wearing cloth face coverings over the mouth and nose, and keeping your hands away from your face.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2020 at 3:43 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The sunset is reflected on a bench at Mount Albion Cemetery recently.
The weather will take a dramatic turn from the 70 degrees and bright sunshine today. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch Monday night to early Tuesday morning.
Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s to lower 30s are possible from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m., the National Weather Service in Buffalo said. The frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
The freeze watch includes Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, and Chautauqua counties.
The high temperatures for the next several days include 50 on Monday, 49 on Tuesday, 53 on Wednesday and 54 on Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2020 at 3:07 pm
Organizers cancel due to Covid-19, look forward to big bash in 2021
Photos by Tom Rivers: The band 7th Heaven capped a day of music at Bullard Park on Aug. 3, 2019 during the Albion Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park. The sixth annual event attracted about 1,000 people to the park. Michael Giarrizzo, left, plays guitar and sings for the band, while Terry K. is the lead singer and Dave Quick is the bass player from Kendall.
ALBION – Another big community celebration has been cancelled. Organizers of the Albion Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park announced the seventh annual music event played for Aug. 3 won’t happen this year.
Concerns for public health due to the Covid-19 pandemic prompted organizers to cancel the festival.
Zack Burgess, one of the organizers, posted on Facebook that it was a difficult decision. The Planning Committee had was anticipated the best music festival yet, with a new performance stage at the park and the a well-known regional band, Nerds Gone Wild. That band plays many popular party songs from the 80’s.
“The health and safety of our attendees is our number one priority, and we cannot consciously put you all at risk,” Burgess said. “Thank you for your support through our first six years, and the would-be support for the seventh. We would not be able to do this if it were not for all of you. We hope you understand that this was not an easy decision to make.”
The sixth annual event attracted about 1,000 people to the performance tent last Aug. 3, where five bands performed from 3 to 11 p.m. The event also includes craft and food vendors.
The committee presented a check for $5,000 to the village last year to go towards the new amphitheater with $2,000 for electric work, and $3,000 for side slats that can be rolled up.
Burgess said the committee appreciates the support from the village in putting on the festival.
“We look forward to continuing to work with you next year,” Burgess said. “Stay safe, all. We hope to see you in 2021.”
7th Heaven plays to a big crowd under a tent at Bullard Park last summer. The band delighted the crowd with music by AC/DC, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, Don Henley and others. Five bands played under the big beer tent from 3 to 11 p.m., including Shotgun Pauly, The Trellis Cooper Band, Zero, The Who Dats and then 7th Heaven.
‘Our County leaders and department heads have made some difficult decisions since this National Emergency was declared and moving forward, have some additional painful choices to make in the coming days.’ – Scott Schmidt
(Editor’s Note: Scott Schmidt has been an Orleans County coroner since 1990, and the chief coroner since 1997. He also works as a funeral director with the Mitchell Family Funeral Homes. He is serving his 12th year as President of the NYS Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners and is also a diplomat of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. Schmidt serves as a Mortuary Officer on the Victim Identification Team with the US Dept. of HHS/National Disaster Medical System/Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team.)
By Scott Schmidt
Scott Schmidt
As an emergency responder in various capacities since 1984, I’ve been a volunteer firefighter, a certified first responder, and an ambulance driver. I’ve also been a “last responder” so to speak, as a NYS licensed funeral director since 1984, a county coroner since 1990 and a member of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical System’s Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) since 1996.
I served as a training officer for a Regional Team with members from New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. My current Federal Position as a special government intermittent employee, is on the Victim Identification Team or VIC. The VIC is a specialty unit within DMORT which interviews the families of disaster victims in order to glean personal information in hopes of obtaining a positive identification.
I’ve responded to 4 major mass fatality incidents and have been part of the working operation as well as the administrative side of things as well. To say that there is major coordination between local, County, State and Federal agencies when a National Emergency/Disaster is declared, would be an understatement.
It isn’t all smooth sailing and what the public sees is the result of many disagreements, much frustration, little sleep, many egos being crushed, many ideas having to be molded into what’s the best one for a successful mission and smooth transition back to the local government. All incidents start at the local level, move up the chain of command to the County level, the State level and then the Federal level. Ultimately, at the conclusion of the incident, the control returns back to the local level.
We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic and a national emergency. Command and control is shared between multiple agencies who must work together for the greater good of the community. Covid-19 has put many emergency plans into operation. The County Offices of Emergency Management throughout the State have been putting in request for Personal Protective Equipment as well as other supplies and equipment for weeks now and are slowly receiving those assets from partners around the State, who are receiving assets from the Federal partners.
All agencies are using the Incident Command System (ICS) and it’s a system that’s tried and true. Our local responders are trained in the ICS system and are now introducing some civilians and public officials on how it works and how to integrate others into the system. What is different about this particular response is the amount of, and types of people who have been put into the mix, working in the ICS for the first time.
I am still part of many State and Federal Mass Fatality Committees, and have leadership roles on the State and local level with regards to Mass Fatalities and Coroner/Medical Examiner issues. For the past several weeks, I’ve been privileged to participate in 3-4 conference/video calls per day receiving situation updates of what’s going on throughout the State with fatalities due to Covid-19.
As part of the NYS Department of Homeland Security Mass Fatality Task Force call each day at 2 p.m., I hear various officials from around the State give reports on cemetery issues, hospital storage issues, funeral director issues, crematory problems and hospital/medical staff issues regarding PPE and storage of remains. I also participate in the video call weekly for the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners where we discuss the trends in testing, protocols for death certification and issues regarding local officials from around the nation. And to finish the week, I participate in the Orleans County Elected Official Update Call on Saturday mornings.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Scott Schmidt, Orleans County’s chief coroner, was keynote speaker during a Sept. 11, 2017 service at the courthouse lawn.
The reason I’m writing this piece is to recognize and praise the many people who have stepped up to the plate, jumping into the ICS system enthusiastically, and exceeding all expectations. Additionally, I write this to publicly acknowledge and thank all our elected local and State representatives who have gone above and beyond their duties to the residents of Orleans County.
Referring back to the Orleans County Elected Official update calls, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Assemblyman Mike Norris and Senator Rob Ortt have all had opportunities to speak and brief us what the situation in Albany is.
Public Health Director Paul Pettit has provided daily video conferences detailing the statistics of where Orleans County stands in the effort to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. He has provided up-to-date, open, honest and forthright information at every turn. His delivery of a very difficult subject matter has been calm and reassuring.
Dale Banker, Director of the Office of Emergency Management, gets most of this problem dumped into his lap as he and his staff coordinate the response County-wide. It falls on his Office to arrange for PPE, and other necessary supplies and equipment to be supplied to Orleans County Agencies and the Sheriff’s Department. In addition, he is at the same time managing his normal duties of all the Fire and EMS responses.
Listening to other County and State leaders on other calls, I can honestly say that our local and State representatives speak with passion, with honesty and with conviction where as others appear to sound like they are just doing their jobs as they normally would.
Our leaders are encouraging and comforting in the delivery of information, which is so needed in a time like this. Not only are the words they deliver compelling and heart-felt but, they (our leaders,) back them up with their actions. They are in my opinion, also heroes in this pandemic, second to none and unparalleled by any other representatives that we hear from or see on TV. We are so lucky and fortunate to have them in our corner as are ALL New Yorkers. Our County leaders and department heads have made some difficult decisions since this National Emergency was declared and moving forward, have some additional painful choices to make in the coming days.
They have remained vigilant and have gone above and beyond their duties in trying to keep the status quo and by staying ahead of the fall-out from this pandemic. It has always been my honor to serve with them, but particularly now during this crisis, I’m in awe of their dedication to the residents of Orleans County.
Legislative Chairman Lynne Johnson has finished the weekly Elected Official calls with a message of hope, delivered with an upbeat tenor, and extolling the virtues of her entire team of legislators and department heads. She has praised County workers for the sacrifices they’ve made and has given credit to County residents for doing their part in stopping the spread of this virus.
True leadership starts at the top but works equally throughout, and with the rank and file. Orleans County is truly blessed to have representatives and leaders such as Steve Hawley, Mike Norris, Rob Ortt, Paul Pettit, Dale Banker and Lynne Johnson and many others. God bless them as we move forward and God bless America as we weather the storm with people like them leading us during these stressful times.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2020 at 11:01 am
Assemblyman Hawley says he is asking state to bring testing site to Orleans County
Orleans County stands alone among its neighbors by not having a drive-through testing site for Covid-19.
In Genesee County, United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia added a drive-through site in late March.
Last week Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the opening of drive-through sites close to Orleans, including:
• Niagara County: Niagara County Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd., Sanborn
• Erie County: Buffalo Sabres Lot, 125 Perry Street, Buffalo
• Monroe County: Monroe County Community College, 1000 E Henrietta Road, Rochester, Lot G
(People who would like to be tested at these facilities must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065 or online at covid19screening.health.ny.gov.)
In Orleans County, 662 people have been testing for Covid-19, as of Friday, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported. Of those tested in Orleans, 566 didn’t have Covid-19, while 96 tested positive, as of Friday. (Two more people tested positive on Saturday, bringing the total to 98.)
The county has a population of 40,352, according to the 2019 Census estimate. With 662 tested, that is one out of 60 in the county.
In Genesee County, where there is a drive-through testing site, 1,030 people have been tested overall. The county has a population of 57,280, according to the 2019 Census estimates. With 1,030 people tested in the county, that is one out of every 55, which isn’t much different than in Orleans.
Paul Pettit, the Public Health director in the two counties, said more testing is needed in both counties to get an accurate picture of how prevalent the virus is in both counties.
DOL says it has processed 1.6 million applications
Press Release, State Department of Labor
ALBANY – The New York State Department of Labor announced that it had distributed over $4.6 billion in unemployment benefits since the coronavirus pandemic began impacting businesses in early March.
In total, the DOL has processed over 1.6 million completed applications for unemployment benefits since March 9, including for both traditional unemployment insurance and the new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.
“In New York, we are working faster and more aggressively to deliver unemployment benefits than many other states, and in a matter of weeks, we have paid more than $4.6 billion to well over a million New Yorkers,” NYS Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “We have been throwing everything – including the kitchen sink – at upgrading our systems and increasing our capacity to serve New Yorkers, and we will continue this work until everyone receives their benefits.”
Since coronavirus-related shutdowns began impacting businesses across the country in March, states have faced an unprecedented number of new unemployment insurance applications. To date, over 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits through the week ending April 25.
The volume of new unemployment claims has reached historic levels, including setting a record for the highest number of weekly claims filed nationwide for the week ending March 28, which saw 6.8 million new claims – compared to the previous high before this crisis of 695,000 claims during one week in October 1982. Completed unemployment benefit applications for 1.6 million New Yorkers have been processed since this crisis began – including 222,040 new claims from the week ending April 25.
In total, New York State has distributed over $4.6 billion in benefits to New Yorkers between March 9 and April 30, including through traditional unemployment insurance and new federal programs like Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits for those not covered by traditional unemployment insurance; Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 per week for all benefit recipients; and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which provides 13 additional weeks of benefits, for a total of 39 weeks of unemployment benefits.
Facing an unprecedented surge in unemployment claims and a large number of partially complete claims with missing or incomplete Federal Employer Identification Numbers, which require a phone call to complete, the Department of Labor has taken decisive action to update its system, streamline operations, and improve its capacity to serve New Yorkers. These efforts include:
• Issuing a directive requiring New York-based employers to provide New Yorkers with the information they need to apply for unemployment benefits, including the company’s Federal Employer Identification Number;
• Launching a new, streamlined website backed by Google Cloud’s infrastructure, which can automatically scale to meet demand and rolling out an updated application that allows New Yorkers to seamlessly apply for either traditional unemployment insurance or the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in one system – well before many other states launched their PUA applications;
• Undertaking a major call-back initiative to proactively call New Yorkers with partially completed applications and obtain the information needed to process their claims. To date, the DOL has made over 670,000 proactive calls;
• Increasing the number of Department of Labor representatives handling calls and processing applications from 400 people working five days a week to up to 3,100 individuals working seven days a week; and
• Being among the first states to release the additional $600 weekly payments to unemployed individuals – even before the federal government made funding available.
This time of year I am always looking to the trees for signs of new life. You have to make sure to do this with a keen eye because you can be fooled by those leftover pod shells from last year’s foliage.
Right now many varieties of trees and bushes are full of buds just eager to pop open. Seems each year it is the willow trees that burst first. Nothing promises summer more than a pretty willow with its droopy branches. Makes a person long for those upcoming summer days when the heat makes us all feel a bit droopy.
Tree buds actually form at the end of summer and lay dormant for the winter. The little leaves and flowers stay protected from the harsh coldness of winter inside those protective buds. Kinda how we stay nice and warm waiting for springtime in our snug little coats. All that good winter thaw and fresh spring rain is just what those trees need to help their little buds open, along with some warmth and sunshine.
Sounds alot like people. Give us some water, sun and warmth and we spring to life. Look outside when springtime is upon us and signs of laughter and adventure are everywhere! People are out walking, riding bicycles, sitting on their porches…listening to the birds perched atop branches, waiting for those buds to open up as well, and show us the beauty they have been harboring.
You may wonder what happens if a warm spells in the mist of winter tricks the bud into opening and then it gets cold again. Well that leaf will get zapped with cold and turn black.
Google has assured me that such instances are rare. Trees are smart to Mother Nature and their internal hormones let them know when enough time has elapsed since winter began, making it safe for those buds to open.
My backyard is full of trees and begins to fill in with the greenery that bestows me the privacy and beauty created by Mother Nature right around Mother’s Day…interesting parallel.
My favorite backyard buds are the Mock-Orange. For one simple reason..they bless me twice in spring! First because the backyard is full of them which creates a privacy boarder of greenery along the side of the yard and second because by the end of May tiny little white blossoms open up creating the most sweet scent in the backyard.
So be sure to take some time in the next couple weeks and stroll around. Look up to the trees and over to the bushes. Notice their little buds and check back to see what they have been hiding under their “coats” all winter.
Just like tree buds in springtime, it is a beautiful time for us to shed those protective “Buds” we have been wearing all winter and see the hope and beauty spring rewards us with outdoors.
Be like a tree and make your dreams be like buds waiting to burst open with zest and breathe of new life.
To see the Mock Orange Opening Bud 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!
Editor’s Note: Makayla Famoly, 16, of Holley next month will graduate from high school, a year early. She plans to take a year off from school and then go to college to major in psychology. She and other high school seniors were notified on Friday the school buildings would remain closed the rest of the school year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
By Makayla Famoly
Makayla Famoly
School has not always been easy for me. I’ve never been the smartest or the most behaved. I’ve never pushed myself enough to be successful because I didn’t think I could do it. I didn’t believe in myself one bit and it made me not care about the consequences or what my life would look like.
If you asked me a year ago what I wanted to do with my life my mind would just go blank. It wasn’t until the day I saw my brother walk the stage, when I saw how proud my family and teachers were and even the smile on my mom’s face that I realized school is so important.
If you want to be successful your education is so important in so many different ways. I want to make my family proud. I want my siblings to want to follow after me!
Graduation may not be important to many people but to me it means achievement, success and opportunity.
I’m graduating a year early. It does not even seem real because of the path I was going on. My dad once told me If you put your mind to something and buckle down, you can accomplish anything. I wish more people realize it because when I did my life forever changed!
So as I graduate I want my family, my teachers and my friends to remember me as a story of success because even after going through all the different phases I have went through, I made it and I’m onto my next journey.
A free opioid overdose prevention online Narcan training is scheduled for May 13. The program is hosted by the GOW Opioid Task Force and Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Prevention Department.
The videoconference training offers two one-hour sessions: 10 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. Participants need to attend only one of the sessions to receive credit.
Topics to be covered include the disease of addiction, a brief history of the opioid crisis, signs and symptoms of opioid use and overdose, the overdose reversal drug Narcan, the administration of Narcan and where to obtain Narcan.
“After completing a registration form, an attendee will be sent a link for this online training,” said Christen Ferraro, task force coordinator. “Once the training is complete, that person will receive a free Narcan nasal spray kit from a licensed provider.”
To register, send an email requesting a registration form to cferraro@gcasa.org.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the results of the state’s completed antibody testing study show 12.3 percent of the population have COVID-19 antibodies.
The survey developed a baseline infection rate by testing 15,000 people at grocery stores and community centers across the state over the past two weeks. Of those tested, 11.5% of women tested positive and 13.1% of men tested positive.
“While we’re in uncharted waters it doesn’t mean we proceed blindly, and the results of the 15,000 people tested in our antibody survey program – the largest survey in the nation – will inform our strategy moving forward,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re also going to undertake a full survey of antibody testing for transit workers, who have been on the front lines of this crisis. We’ve said thank you to our essential workers thousands of times but actions speak louder than words, and we want them to know that we’re doing everything we can do to keep them safe.”
A regional breakdown of the results is below:
The Governor also announced that the state will distribute over 7 million more cloth masks to vulnerable New Yorkers and essential workers across the state. The masks will be distributed as follows:
500,000 for NYCHA residents
500,000 for farm workers
1 million for vulnerable populations, including the mental health and developmental disabled communities
500,000 for homeless shelters
2 million for elderly New Yorkers and nursing homes
1 million for faith-based organizations and food banks
2 million for grocery stores, supermarkets and food delivery workers
The Governor also announced the state is distributing $25 million to food banks across the state through the Nourish New York Initiative. The Nourish New York initiative, announced earlier this week by Governor Cuomo, is working to quickly reroute New York’s surplus agricultural products to the populations who need them most through New York’s network of food banks.
Funding will be distributed as follows:
New York City Region: $11 million
Westchester Region: $1 million
Long Island Region: $1.6 million
Capital/Hudson Valley Region (includes portion of North Country and Mohawk Valley): $4.4 million
Central NY Region (includes portion of North Country and Mohawk Valley): $2.2 million
Southern Tier Region: $1.1 million
Western New York Region: $2.1 million
Finger Lakes Region (includes portion of Southern Tier): $1.7 million
Finally, the Governor confirmed 4,663 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 312,977 confirmed cases in New York State.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2020 at 5:43 pm
ALBION – There are two more cases of Covid-19 at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Albion, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
That brings the total confirmed cases among residents to 51 at the 120-bed facility. Orleans County also now has 98 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with more than half at The Villages.
There aren’t any new confirmed cases to report today in Genesee County. That county has had 150 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
There is currently no further information to release on ages and location. Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon, the Health Departments said in a news release.
The local public health departments offered this advice for residents: “We continue to encourage our residents to be vigilant about handwashing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, properly wearing cloth face coverings over the mouth and nose, keeping your hands away from your face, limiting time out in public and when you do need to go out for essentials you designate one person from your household, keep social distancing and stay home if you are sick.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2020 at 1:29 pm
Martha and Bill Ames’ secret to a long and loving marriage: ‘remain best friends through it all’
Photos courtesy of Susan Fuller: Bill and Martha Ames are shown at their wedding on June 6, 1951.
MEDINA – Martha and Bill Ames were nearly inseparable since they started dating as young teen-agers at Medina. The couple was together until the very end, dying two days apart in the same room at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion.
They are two of the 13 residents at the nursing home who have died from Covid-19. Mr. Ames, 89, was a physical education teacher and coach at Medina. He passed away on April 22.
Mrs. Ames worked 20 years in the district office at the school. She died from Covid-19 on April 24.
“It was comforting to me that they were together,” said their daughter, Susan Fuller of Medina.
The couple married on June 6, 1951. They nearly made it to their 70th anniversary.
Mr. and Mrs. Ames raised two children in Medina, Susan and her brother Bill who lives in Indiana. After Mr. and Mrs. Ames retired in 1985, they lived at a summer cottage in the Thousands Islands and spent the cold-weather months in Sarasota. They returned to live year-round in Medina in 2015.
They were very social people who were active in the Masonic Lodge. The enjoyed having people over. Mrs. Ames would cook and bake. She was also an excellent card player. Her family said she was very competitive, except with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would always let them win.
Bill and Martha Ames enjoy a boat ride at the Thousands Island.
“We truly enjoyed spending time with them,” Fuller said. “Every holiday was spent together with an elaborate meal and fun board games and card games afterward. We spent many happy times all together at their cottage at the Thousand Islands and at their home in Florida.”
Mrs. Ames was interviewed by her granddaughter on the couple’s 65th anniversary. She was asked the secret to a long marriage: “Love, a sense of humor, and patience,” she responded. “It isn’t about the marriage license – that’s just a piece of paper. It is making sure you always remain best friends. That you trust each other, are patient, kind, and realize that there will be hard days but the good days far outweigh the other as long as you remain best friends through it all.”
Early days of dating
When Mr. Ames was 14 he spotted his future wife, Martha Fortunato, at the old Medina High School on Catherine Street. Martha was 13. To get her attention, he took off one of his boots and dropped it down two floors in the stairwell. The family lore says the boot hit Martha on the head, and that started their long story. They were soon dating. They married on June 6, 1951 when Bill was 20 and Martha was 19.
Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1950 and served in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1954. The Ames’s son was born in California when Bill was stationed there.
He earned his master’s degree in education and started his career as a teacher in Silver Creek in 1955 and then worked as a teacher in Neptune, NJ. He returned to his hometown in 1964, and coached wrestling and football. During the summer, he taught people to swim at a quarry on Bates Road at the conservation club.
The family said Bill really loved the outdoors, going hunting, fishing and boating.
Together at The Villages
Bill and Martha Ames are shown together when they lived in Sarasota Florida.
After an active retirement in the Thousands Island and Sarasota, including some time near their son in Indiana, Mr. and Mrs. Ames came back to Medina in 2015.
At that point, Mr. Ames has struggling with dementia. The family thought being back home with his friends and a familiar surrounding would help him. But his condition worsened and he entered The Villages in January 2017, staying in the dementia wing.
The family wanted his wife to be with him, but The Villages didn’t allow Mrs. Ames, who didn’t have dementia, to live in that wing with her husband.
“As a married couple they have a right to be together,” Fuller said.
Mrs. Ames moved into one of the other wings, for people without dementia, in September 2017.
With an impasse about Mrs. Ames being allowed to move into the dementia wing, The Villages last year agreed to let the couple stay together, but it had to be outside the dementia wing.
The Covid-19 outbreak at The Villages has spared the dementia wing. All 49 of the cases have been on the other wings.
Mr. Ames became noticeably sick on April 16 with a fever. Fuller was called at 9:30 p.m. that Thursday night that he wasn’t doing well.
The state has banned visitors to nursing homes since March 13, allowing some families a brief visit if a loved one is receiving end-of-life care.
Susan Fuller would go outside their parents’ window at the nursing home to see them, and would try to Facetime through a phone with a help of a social worker. The phone seemed to frustrate her father.
As his condition worsened, she was allowed inside his room to see him, with the visit a maximum of a half hour. She wore a gown, a mask and gloves. Her brother also came up from Indiana to see their parents. Fuller said not all nursing homes are allowing family to see loved ones who are dying.
“I am thankful we could do that because in New York City they aren’t allowing people (visitors) in the nursing homes or hospitals,” she said.
This family photo with Bill and Martha Ames was taken at The Villages of Orleans on Christmas in 2017.
Her father and mother both had photos of their family – their children, three grandkids and two great-grandsons – near them.
Mrs. Fuller held her father’s hand and let him know how proud she was to be his daughter. The entire family is very proud of him, she told her father. He had a lucid moment and said, “That’s nice.” He died peacefully at 11:30 a.m. on April 22.
His wife, who also had a fever, would die at 5:58 p.m. on April 24.
Mrs. Fuller is angry the coronavirus has spread to so many residents in The Villages.
She said she has taken her complaints to the State Department of Health, which regulates the nursing homes.
But she said her parents were loved and cared for by the staff, especially the physical therapists and aides who worked hard to keep them comfortable.
“The whole team of physical therapists are just wonderful,” she said. “There are very good aides and nurses there.”
The family can’t invite friends and many family members for calling hours and a funeral service because social gatherings are limited to 10 people. Fuller said there will be a large memorial service in the future when restrictions are eased on public gatherings.
EAST ELMHURST — State Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) — in partnership with the Northeast Dairy Producers Association — announced on Friday that farms and co-ops across upstate New York are donating more than 34,000 pounds of fresh milk, beef and produce for hundreds of hungry New York City families in need.
“In addition to the unspeakable loss of life caused by the coronavirus pandemic, two additional devastating tragedies are unfolding during this crisis — a spike in hunger as the economic pain takes its toll, and the breakdown of our food supply chain.” said Senator Jessica Ramos. “We cannot have hungry families in New York City, and farmers upstate dumping their product because they cannot sell it. Together with our farmer partners, we created our own network, and we will convert our district office into a food distribution hub to provide our neighbors with fresh produce and meals.”
Senator Ramos partnered with several farms and associations — including Torrey Farms in Elba, Deer Run Farms, Crist Farms, Kelder Farms, La Casa De Leche Farm, Northeast Dairy Producers Association, Dairy Farmers of America, New York State Growers and the New York State and Long Island Farm Bureaus — to pick up produce and dairy, and deliver them to New York City. The following donations were made possible by a partnership between Senator Jessica Ramos and a number of New York State farms:
300 pounds of beef donated by La Casa De Leche Farm (Livingston County) and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association Board of Directors.
1,700 gallons of milk donated by Dairy Farmers of America.
20,000 apples donated by Farm Fresh First, Inc., which markets NY apples from over 100 apple growers throughout the state.
14,000 pounds of onions, 8,000 pounds of potatoes and 4,000 pounds of cabbage donated by Torrey Farms, Inc. (Genesee County) and the New York State Vegetable Growers Association.
2,880 pounds of blueberry and vanilla parfait yogurt donated by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.
575 packs of Prang Crayons made with soybean oil for children to enjoy, donated by the New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association.
On Wednesday, April 29, a truck packed with vegetables and yogurt left Western New York, stopped to pick up more donations from farms in Central New York, and arrived in Albany in the evening. The truck loaded 1,700 gallons of milk from Dean Foods in Rensselaer County Wednesday evening and arrived in Queens on Thursday, April 30.
Northeast Dairy Producers Association Vice Chair and Owner of La Casa De Leche Dairy Farm (Livingston County) Keith Kimball said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all – our families, our businesses and the greater New York community. By pooling resources and working together to adapt to unprecedented market disruption, we’re able to get milk, beef and produce in the hands of those in need. I’m proud to partner with farmers, co-ops and processors across the state to make this donation a reality, and thankful to Senator Ramos for hosting the event for families in Queens.”
Maureen Torrey, co-owner of Torrey Farms, Inc. (Genesee County) said, “Thanks to the passionate employees on our family farm and our dedicated truck drivers, we’re able to donate 26,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to families in need, including onions that Senator Ramos helped us plant last year. This public health crisis has changed life as we know it, but what we’ve learned is that no matter where you live – Buffalo, Plattsburgh, New York City and everywhere in between – we’re all New Yorkers and together we are New York Tough.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2020 at 10:08 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Faculty and staff from Kendall Central School went on a 75-mile trip throughout the school district on Friday afternoon, going by the homes for the 51 members in the class. The vehicles honked horns to celebrate the seniors.
The caravan included three school buses, a Kendall fire truck, and several faculty and staff in their personal vehicles.
A day earlier, Junior-Senior High School Principal Carol D’Agostino went to all of the homes and placed signs celebrating the in their front yards.
Provided photos: Amber Salonen, left, and her friend Alma Botello pose with their signs, which were delivered on Thursday. They have been best friends during high school.
Carol D’Agostino, the school principal, organizes the lineup for the parade.
D’Agostino said the district and the Kendall Faculty Association are trying to make seniors feel special during a difficult end of their senior year. The students have been out of school since March 16 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They continue to do remote and on-line learning from their homes.
The caravan on Friday lasted three hours as the vehicles went by all the addresses for Kendall’s Class of 2020.
The school sign lets students and teachers know they are missed.
