Fire Departments are spending for PPE, cancelling fundraisers due to Covid-19
Three state legislators who represent Orleans County this week backed legislation in Albany known as the New York State Volunteer Fire Protection Emergency Reimbursement Account Act.
The bill would reimburse volunteer fire companies and EMS for the purchase of PPE and lost revenue due to municipal budget cuts or restrictions on fundraising events during the state of emergency declared by the governor due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With these organizations relying heavily on donations and fundraisers to support their services, and with the lockdown draining them of their resources, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) wants to ensure these workers are protected and ensure their success.
“During these tough times, with a budget that is struggling to keep up, we need to be provide state and federal funding to those risking their health and safety on the front lines,” Hawley said. “There is just about $90 million that’s been generated from wireless surcharges that is deposited into the state’s General Fund and not used for emergency response purposes; my recommendation is to start there.”
To further support these frontline workers, Hawley is urging Speaker Heastie and the Chair of Assembly Racing and Waging Committee, Assemblyman Pretlow, to allow a full vote on his Assembly Bill A2250, which would legalize the selling of raffle tickets online for non-profit organizations who fundraise, such as local firehouses, volunteer organizations, service clubs, or EMS operations.
State Senator Robert Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) and Assemblyman Mike Norris (R-Lockport) this week introduced the New York State Volunteer Fire Protection Emergency Reimbursement Account Act legislation in Albany.
“Volunteer Fire Departments rely heavily on the proceeds they receive from community events held at their fire halls,” Ortt said. “However, due to the current pandemic, these departments have been forced to close their doors for these events and have lost out on thousands of dollars in revenue. It is vital that we work with our federal partners and find ways to make sure that these volunteer companies are solvent, have the ability to purchase life-saving emergency medical equipment, and can continue providing crucial public safety services. Without assisting volunteer fire departments, we are putting at risk the communities that rely on these volunteer departments and the individuals who provide these emergency services.”
“Every day brave volunteers from our community rise up to put their lives on hold in order to train, prepare and respond to our emergencies, whether they be fires, floods or health-related,” Norris said. “To further compound these risks and costs, they need to take extra measures to protect themselves and the public from COVID-19, and not just while they are responding to daily calls. They have had to cancel the fish dinners, pancake breakfasts and other community fundraisers that we all enjoy and, more importantly, are their main sources of operating revenue.”
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 2 May 2020 at 8:24 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 6, No. 17
ALBION – This photograph, taken circa 1920, shows the billiard parlor in the Orleans House located on the southwest corner of Platt and East Bank streets in Albion. Anson Dunshee was the proprietor of the hotel at the time, so it is possible that he is the man pictured here.
In January of 1895, Dunshee ordered four new Babcock billiard tables for installation in this parlor at a cost of approximately $1,000. Three of the four tables in this image appear to be the same style, consisting of square legs, slate tops, and leather mesh pockets. At the time this photograph was taken, eight-ball pool was already popular in the United States.
Three of the tables are racked with a mix of solid and striped balls, typical of that particular version of the game. Eight-ball pool originally consisted of a point-based system where each player was awarded points for sinking each ball based on the ball’s corresponding number. A total of 120 points could be earned and the first player to reach 61 points, or one more than half of the total points, won the game. This was likely the version played at this venue. Readers will notice two wires running along the upper portion of the photograph near the ceiling. Known as the “wire” or “across the string,” these beads formed an abacus used for scoring the game. A darker bead marked one point while a lighter colored pendant marked every ten points.
The fourth table, situated front and center of this photograph, has no pockets. This type of table was used in carom billiards, also known as carambole billiards, where players scored points by bouncing the cue ball off the rails and two other balls situated on the table; points were awarded based on the complexity of the shot. The darker ball is visible in the corner of the table while two lighter colored balls are also situated on the felt. Players typically engaged in several variations of carom billiards including straight rail, cushion caroms, balkline, and three-cushion billiards. Cue sticks are held in racks mounted on the walls and mechanical bridges can be seen underneath the tables.
In May of 1876, the Orleans House hosted Frank “Yank” Adams, a professional carom billiards player known for his ability to manipulate the cue ball with his hands. Combining his proficiency in bowling with billiards, Adams was able to make trick shows with his digits rather than using a cue, which earned him the nickname, “Digital Billiard Wonder.”
During the 19th century, pool rooms were typically associated with betting parlors for horse racing. The billiard tables provided bettors with an activity to pass the time between races. The term “pool” became synonymous with billiards as the game was commonly associated with collective betting or antes. This would explain the presence of the “No Gambling Allowed in this Room” sign hanging over the doorway into the barroom.
Although the available identifying information suggests that this image was taken around 1920, the exact date is likely a few years earlier. Around 1922, Dunshee proceeded to renovate the billiards parlor and adjoining barroom into a restaurant. The inability to gamble and recent enactment of the 18th Amendment likely killed any interest in billiards. Earlier in that same year, the hotel was raided by Sheriff Scott Porter under the suspicion of selling illegal intoxicating liquor (v. 3, no. 22).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2020 at 9:07 pm
LynOaken Farms donates 300 five-pound bags of apples
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee distributed 210 boxes of food this morning in Albion. Foodlink provided the food in the boxes and LynOaken Farms in Lyndonville donated 300 five-pound bags of apples.
Jeff Atwell, a Community Action employee at right, helps get a box ready this morning. The distribution site was in front of the Main Street Store.
The crew from Community Action is ready to put boxes in trunks of vehicles. This photo was taken about 11 a.m. The food distribution started at 9:30 a.m. It was rainy and that may have kept some people away.
When Community Action did the Foodlink distribution two weeks ago, the 300 boxes were gone by 10:45. The distribution starts at 9:30 although many people are lined up well before that.
These boxes left over are going to the food pantry at Community Action and also Christ Church in Albion.
The Community Action workers include, from left: David Laraby, Mike Jessmer, Ricky Standish and Jeff Atwell.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2020 at 7:41 pm
Orleans and Genesee counties each have one new confirmed case of Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
In Orleans, the new positive case in a person in the 30s who lives in Albion. That brings the total cases in Orleans County to 96.
The individual had been on mandatory quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. The county has five people of the total active positive cases currently in the hospital.
Orleans County has lost two more residents to COVID-19. They were both residents at The Village of Orleans Health & Rehab facility. Both were over 65. That brings the total number of residents to die from Covid-19 to 13, and all were at The Villages.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of these individuals during this very difficult time,” the Health Department stated in a news release. “Please take a moment of silence to remember all we have lost in our counties, our state, our nation and around the world. These people are our parents, our grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors and co-workers. They have each been important to us and they have had an impact on all they have had contact with.”
Genesee County, with one new confirmed case, now has 150 positive cases. The latest case is a person in the 70s who resides in Batavia. The newly positive person was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Genesee County has three more recoveries bringing that number to 81. Four of the active cases are people in the hospital.
Click here to view an online map of confirmed cases in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties.
Here is the rest of the press release from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Non-County Public Regulated Facilities: The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities from where we received a positive swab for COVID-19. Facilities will be added when and if there is a positive case of COVID-19. If a regulated facility from either of our counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of COVID-19 as of the release of this briefing. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, etc.
In order to show community spread of the active cases, we have broken out the facilities and all active cases (mandatory isolation, mandatory quarantine and precautionary quarantine and recovery) will only be community cases.
We will continue to include all confirmed cases, total tests administered, total negative results, ages and deaths cumulatively for both community and facilities. We found that because we are not the agency that follows non-county regulatory facilities we couldn’t report recoveries. We expect this will give a clearer picture of what is happening in Genesee and Orleans Counties.
We are having conversations with our local facilities as appropriate to provide guidance and personal protective equipment (PPE) as it is available, but we are limited in what we can do because they are state or federal facilities and not under local oversight. If you have questions or concerns about a specific facility we encourage you to talk directly with the facility and the appropriate oversight agency.
• Nursing home complaint hotline: The NYS Health Department will partner with the State’s Attorney General to investigate nursing home violations. A hotline or online form can be submitted where residents, families, or members of the public can share complaints about nursing homes that have not provided required communications with families about COVID-19 diagnoses or fatalities, nursing home abuse, and neglect including failure to follow rules to keep residents safe. The hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click here for the link for the online form.
• Testing availability: Swabbing and antibody testing is becoming increasingly available in the WNY region. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your primary care provider and they will determine if testing is right for you. If the counties receive an increase in swabbing supplies and the protocol for testing is changed, we will notify the public. The Health Departments are not providing public swabbing due to lack of supplies.
• There is still no cure or vaccination available for COVID-19. Be alert to scams or home remedies. Contact your primary care provider if you have any symptoms and follow his/her instructions.
• Prepping to re-open the region: Although there currently isn’t any guidance on when WNY will be allowed to re-open, we are optimistic we will have guidance soon and encourage everyone to be prepared in our preparations with our goal to protect the health and safety of our residents.
Conditions will be monitored to limit and lessen (mitigate) any rebounds or outbreaks by restarting a phase or returning to an earlier phase, depending on the severity to protect the most vulnerable. Re-opening will be data driven to determine the viability of the process. If there is a sharp increase of positive swabs and antibody results we need to determine if it is related to increased testing, lack of following guidance or a combination of the two.
• For all businesses: Develop a plan to limit the risk of infection of employees and the public. Monitor workforce for symptoms, do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider. If possible continue to encourage telework whenever possible.
• The Health Departments encourage stores and businesses to set guidelines that include not allowing patrons to enter if they are not wearing a face covering or are not wearing it correctly (covering the mouth & nose). For those who cannot wear masks for legitimate breathing issues, ask someone else to run errands for your or call ahead to see if you can have curbside delivery. Make sure you have proper signage noting your policy and that it is visible to your patrons.
Close common areas where personnel are likely to congregate and interact or enforce strict social distancing protocols.
Ensure 6-foot buffer zones when dealing with the public and between work stations. • Prioritize online payments over cashiers when possible.
Provide handwashing/hand sanitizing stations for employees and the public.
Consider making properly worn face coverings (covering the mouth and nose) mandatory for staff and customers. For those unable to wear masks due to legitimate breathing issues, reassign them so they don’t interact with the public or have close contact with fellow workers.
Review your sick leave policy and enforce it so no on exhibiting symptoms is allowed to report for duty. If someone becomes ill at work, have disinfecting protocol in place to clean the area(s) the employee has been in.
For everyone: Wearing masks and social distancing is paramount to preventing flare-ups and mini-outbreaks. Everyone needs to be compliant. Correctly wearing cloth masks (covering the mouth and nose) is part of a multi-prong approach to stop/slow the spread of COVID-19. We know wearing a face covering is inconvenient and uncomfortable, but it can limit transmission of respiratory germs. The mask traps the droplets before they spread into the environment. Remember wearing a face covering helps to protect others from your potential germs. Since many have been asymptomatic, this will help limit the spread.
Minimize non-essential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel.
• 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.
• 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.
Advice to younger students: ‘Don’t take time in high school for granted’
Provided photos: Holley seniors celebrate in the gym after the class won the homecoming competition this fall.
(Editor’s Note: Morgan Cary, a senior at Holley, wrote this piece today after news from Gov. Andrew Cuomo that school buildings would be closed the rest of the school year. The schools have been closed since March 16 with students working on school work at home or remotely. Morgan plans to be an education major this fall at Genesee Community College. To send a Pandemic Perspective to the Orleans Hub, email news@orleanshub.com.)
By Morgan Cary, Holley senior
Morgan Cary
Dear fellow seniors,
On a half day in March we went home excited for a three-day weekend and upset that the musical was being postponed. The next Tuesday we were told that we are having a two-week break due to the Coronavirus. We were excited! Who wouldn’t be, two weeks off! Slowly those two weeks turned into seven and now those seven weeks of online learning are turning into the rest of our senior year.
Senior year. The year everyone waits for. The year that makes the past 3 years all worth it. The year you’re supposed to win homecoming, the year you take your class picture, have your senior nights, skip days, senior picnic, senior prank, senior prom, graduation parties, senior yearbook and the year you’re supposed to graduate.
Graduation. The day you walk across the stage in front of the people you’ve known forever, the teachers who have helped you along the way and your family who has supported you. The day you get your diploma and celebrate all that you have accomplished. Finally getting to throw your cap up in the air and say goodbye.
Goodbye. You’re supposed to prepare for the goodbye. Saying bye to every teacher, every person you’ve met along the way and saying goodbye to the place you spent so many hours at. Saying goodbye to your home field or court, your stage, and all the fun times you had. Now we have had no time to prepare for these goodbyes. We had no idea that half day was our goodbye to the place and people we’ve known forever. Will they remember us? What impact have we left? What legacy will the class of 2020 leave behind?
Our legacy. Not only is the class of 2020 going to leave legacy that will never be forgotten, but we will make sure that future students know what we went through. We will make sure they don’t take their time in high school for granted. We will make sure they don’t forget what they have because in a split second, that can all be taken away from them. We will make sure they know to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Lifetime. That is what we have ahead of us. A lifetime full of opportunities. Look ahead. We all have a bright future. If we can get through this, we can get through anything. Together we are the Holley Central School District Class of 2020 and we will not be forgotten.
Ballots for school elections, budget votes will be cast by mail
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
In an effort to keep New Yorkers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued an executive order delaying school board elections and budget votes statewide until June 9, 2020.
The school board elections and budget votes will all be conducted by mail and all qualified voters will be sent an absentee ballot with return postage paid. The Executive Order also delays local special district and village elections until September 15, 2020.
“We’ve made great progress to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but we still don’t know when this pandemic will end and we don’t want to undo all the work we’ve already done to flatten the curve,” Governor Cuomo said.
“We don’t want to put New Yorkers in a situation where they are possibly putting their health at risk, so we are delaying school board elections and conducting them by mail and delaying all local special district and village elections to help limit any unnecessary exposure to this virus among both voters and poll workers.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2020 at 5:04 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center has had 49 residents test positive for Covid-19, and 13 residents die after contracting the virus.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is asking the state Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Health to do a formal investigation of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility.
The site in Albion, a 120-bed nursing home and rehab center, has suffered 13 deaths from Covid-19 and 49 residents have tested positive.
Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman, said the Legislature continues to receive numerous calls from the community with concern about the facility.
“We have nothing but praise for the healthcare workers in the facility,” Johnson said this afternoon.
The Villages represents more than half of the Covid-19 cases in the county, 49 out of 96.
Johnson said the Legislature is being “proactive” in calling on the investigation from Attorney General Letitia James and the Department of Health, led by Howard Zucker.
Paul Pettit, director of Public Health in Orleans and Genesee counties, said the local health department has supplied The Villages with personal protective equipment and testing kits. That testing showed some employees tested positive for Covid-19 and were asymptomatic, and likely spread the virus when they didn’t have any symptoms.
The local Health Department doesn’t have jurisdiction in regulating the nursing home. That falls to the State DOH.
Pettit said the local Health Department will continue to try to be a resource to The Villages and help develop a strategy to keep residents and staff safe.
Pettit announced this afternoon that two more residents of the nursing home have died, bringing the total to 13. Both of those residents were over age 65.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those we are losing,” Pettit said.
“These are our family, our friends and neighbors. These losses hit us all close to home.”
Pettit said The Villages isn’t alone in the state in having the virus spread to many residents, causing several deaths.
“It’s just The Villages’ issue,” Pettit said. “There are many, many nursing homes around the state with significant outbreaks.”
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, also is asking for a state investigation into the deaths at The Villages. Hawley called it an “urgent matter.” He sent a letter today to Howard Zucker, commissioner of the State Department of Health.
“I am asking for an immediate and full-scale investigation of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center,” Hawley writes in the letter.
“We must ensure that residents and staff of these homes receive the care, respect and comfort they deserve. We must do all we can to protect the most vulnerable in our community at this time.”
The facility on Route 31 used to be owned by the county. It was sold for $7.8 million on Feb. 6, 2014 to Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC, a company from downstate New York.
Orleans Hub has reached out to the administration at The Villages for a comment about how the facility is responding to the crisis, but hasn’t received a call back.
State OK’s return of elective surgeries in 35 counties
Medina Memorial Hospital is doing elective surgeries again after the state had banned them to ensure adequate space in hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients.
But Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 21 said some counties didn’t have enough Coivd-19 cases to justify continuing the ban on elective surgeries. He allowed those surgeries to resume in 35 counties, including Orleans.
Medina Memorial resumed doing surgeries today. Those surgical services include: general surgeries, GI scopes, ENT and urology.
All surgical patients will need to be tested for Covid-19 three days prior to surgery and their physicians will provide them with details, Medina Memorial said.
Testing is currently being offered at the Albion Health Center – 14789 Route 31, Albion (585-589-2273). Patients will need to pre-register by phone the day prior to their surgery and a nurse will call them to discuss their health history and arrival time. When arriving at the hospital patients will have their temperature taken and will be provided with a mask.
No visitors will be allowed with the patient unless the patient is a child and then one parent may accompany them. The person who is bringing the patient for their surgery will be able to wait in the hospital parking lot. Information regarding the status of the patient and discharge instructions will be communicated via cell phone.
For any questions, please call your provider or Kim Gray, director of Surgical Services, at 585-798-8301.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2020 at 1:28 pm
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club has announced its annual Fourth of July celebration will be cancelled this year to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event typically attracts about 15,000 people to the village of about 800 residents.
“The Lyndonville Lions announce with regret the cancellation of their annual Fourth of July parade, fireworks and celebration,” said Lions Club President Bruce Schmidt. “These are our children, relatives and friends whose health and well-being must always be our primary concern.
The Lions Club has organized the event the past 44 years. There are events throughout the day, including a big parade at noon, with the festivities capped by fireworks at 10 p.m. The fireworks show is one of the biggest in Western New York. There is also an arts and crafts show, chicken barbecue, live music, a tractor pull and other activities.
“Because of the effects of Covid-19, having a huge public gathering would not be in the public’s best interests,” Schmidt said. “We look forward to a bigger and better event on July 4, 2021.”
Albion and Holley both have cancelled their festivals in June due to the pandemic.
A big crowd of people watched the fireworks on July 4, 2018 on the athletic fields at Lyndonville Central School. The fireworks display in Lyndonville is one of Western New York’s biggest fireworks shows.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 May 2020 at 12:16 pm
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement late this morning that schools will remain closed through the end of the current school year has officially put an end to the high school spring sports season.
In announcing the continuation of the school closing which began March 16, Cuomo said. “We must protect our children and educators, Given the current situation schools will remain closed for the rest of the current school year.”
“I feel terrible for our kids, especially the seniors, but it’s in everyone’s best interest,” said Medina Athletic Director Eric Valley. “In the greater scheme of things right now sports are not really that important. This has been a tough lesson but it shows that you can’t take everything for granted.”
“I feel sad for our seniors,” agreed Albion Athletic Director Adam Krenning. ” And it’s sad for the parents who like to watch their kids play. In small towns like ours this is what we look forward to seeing our kids play sports.”
“It’s sad because we really want to give our kids an opportunity to play sports,” said Lyndonville Athletic Director Jim Zeliff. “I wouldn’t be in the field I am now if it wasn’t for sports so I hope in the future we will be able to continue to give that same opportunity to our kids.”
Cuomo’s announcement followed decisions made early in the week by the State public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) to cancel the spring state playoffs and by Section VI officials to cancel the Section VI playoffs. Section V officials likewise today announced the cancellation of the spring season.
NYSPHSAA officials announced today that it “will begin the process of selecting members to serve on an ad hoc committee to address and analyze the potential impact of COVID-19 on the fall 2020 interscholastic athletic season.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2020 at 12:02 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that school buildings won’t reopen this school year. Distance learning will continue and schools will continue to provide meals to students.
The governor said it isn’t feasible to have safety plans in place at the 700 school districts around the state that would keep students, staff and teachers safe from Covid-19.
“There will be no opening of any school in New York State for the remainder of the academic year,” Cuomo said.
The governor said the state will decide in late May about summer school.
“We’re going to err on the side of caution for the rest of the school year,” the governor said.
Schools were first closed on March 16, and the governor has been extending that closure every two weeks, until today.
He announced the school buildings would stay off limits to students through the end of the school year in late June.
Colleges and universities also will have their facilities closed to students the rest of this academic year.
Cuomo said school districts and colleges need to develop plans with social distancing and student safety for the fall. That might include having fewer students in a classroom.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2020 at 11:43 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The staff at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Albion were presented with pizzas, flowers and coffee mugs with a photo of the nursing home in Albion.
The Albion Lions Club organized the effort, with Oak Orchard Bowl preparing the eight pizzas.
Alanna Gordan, an aide at The Villages, accepts some of the pizzas on Thursday evening from Randy Hanks, owner of Oak Orchard Bowl. Amy Jaczynski, a housekeeper, is in back. Mark Johnson of the Lions Club, back right, holds a box of the coffee mugs.
Mark Johnson holds one of the mugs which were made and donated by Jeff and Delores Mosher, owners of Dee’z Cups in Kent.
Amy Jaczynski and Alanna Gordon accept the pizzas and gifts last evening at The Villages. The flowers were donated by Bloom’s Flower Shop in Albion.
Johnson and Hanks said the groups all wanted to show support for the dedicated employees at The Villages, who are caring for residents in the 120-bed facility during a big outbreak of Covid-19. Nearly 50 residents at the site have tested positive for Covid-19, with 11 of the residents dying after contracting the virus.
“We know they are going through a lot here and we want to let them know we care about them,” Hanks said.
Jaczynski said the gesture was appreciated by the entire staff.
State looking to purchase surplus products for food banks
ALBANY – The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in coordination with its partners, is reaching out to New York producers that have surplus agricultural products as a result of COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions.
The Department is working to connect affected farmers to potential new purchasing opportunities through various institutions, such as food banks, retailers and more.
Governor Cuomo has made a commitment to using local foods to support the emergency food system. Cuomo on Monday announced a $25 million “Nourish New York” initiative where the state will buy farm products and direct that food to food banks that are seeing increased demand during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The governor also welcomed philanthropists to step forward and buy produce and milk from upstate farmers that could be given to people through food banks.
“We’re seeing a tremendous demand in food banks,” Cuomo said on Monday. “The numbers are very, very high, and we need to address it.”
Ag & Markets is looking to connect producers to food banks and those in need. Farmers and agricultural producers with surplus product are asked to contact Ag & Markets and give their name, contact information, and the type of product(s) in surplus.
Farmers should send that information to Lindsey McMahon at lindsey.mcmahon@agriculture.ny.gov. Ag & Markets wants the information by Monday, May 4.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2020 at 9:40 pm
2,761 have now filed claims in the past 6 weeks
The number of people filing unemployment claims took another big jump last week in Orleans County and state-wide.
The claims state-wide remain at a pace 10 times or more of what they were a year ago when the economy wasn’t so restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The State Department of Labor today released a report showing the unemployment claims filed last week. In Orleans County, there were 326 claims filed, which compares with 55 during the same week a year ago. week.
Statewide there were 222,040 claims filed last week. A year ago, there were 18,889 unemployment claims during the third week of April.
State-wide there have been 1,640,159 unemployment claims during seven weeks – March 14, 21 and 28, and April 4, 11, 18 and 25. That compares with 96,080 the previous year during those seven weeks.
Orleans County has now had 2,761 people file unemployment claims during the past six weeks since the state started closing businesses due to health concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.
The county has a workforce of about 17,000 people. The 2,761 unemployment claims represent about 16 percent of the workforce. There were about 1,000 people on unemployment before the pandemic. Those people plus the 2,761 who recently filed for unemployment would put the county’s unemployment rate currently over 20 percent.
Here are the weekly unemployment claims the past six weeks in the GLOW counties and statewide:
