ALBION – Hospice of Orleans normally has a big luncheon each year to recognize key volunteers and supporters. A big public gathering isn’t possible right now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions on more than 10 people in one place.

Hospice of Orleans, however, wanted to publicly acknowledge its annual award winners. Chris Fancher, the volunteer coordinator and a social worker for Hospice, announced the winners today through Hospice’s Facebook page (click here).

Mary Janet Sahukar Award – Annette Mannella and Beverly Saskowski

This award in named for Hospice’s founding director, and for the first time there is a tie. Hospice is recognizing Annette Mannella and Beverly Saskowski with the award.

Mannella is the board secretary for Hospice and serves on the Personnel Committee. She also chairs the Nominating Committee. She is a generous donor and supporter of Hospice with an incredibly large and giving heart.

Saskowski is the board treasurer and serves on the Personnel and Development/Volunteer Services Committees. She also chairs the Finance Committee. Saskowski assisted with the review and hiring of IT contractors. She is a generous donor and supporter of Hospice.

In addition to their Board positions both Manella and Saskowski serve as direct care volunteers, residence volunteers, residence grocery delivery volunteers, and co-facilitators of volunteer Relias training.

Business/Civic Service Award – Holley Pharmacy

Holley Pharmacy works with the Hospice team on a daily basis to ensure patients have the medications needed to ensure their comfort and well being. In times of a patient crisis where new medications need to be ordered and quickly picked up, Luke Miller, owner and pharmacist, will come out in the middle of the night to open the pharmacy and dispense the patient’s medications.

Pharmacist John Carl, Pharmacy Tech Chris Penna, and Pharmacy Tech Corey Miller-Lamb are extremely helpful and work very hard to ensure Hospice patients have the medications they need.

“A special thank you to their driver, Duane, and all the awesome people behind the scenes at the Pharmacy,” Fancher said.

Volunteer of the Year – Janice Mann-Beech

Janice Mann-Beech serves as a family support volunteer, providing much needed respite care to family members who are caring for patients in their homes. She gives selflessly of her time and talents to Hospice families.

She serves the Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence as a greeter and participates in Hospice fundraisers and events.

“Janice exemplifies the model of a humble, dedicated, hardworking volunteer,” Fancher said. “Janice unassumingly and diligently conducts her Hospice work.”

Village of Orleans in Albion now has 38 confirmed cases, 7 deaths from virus

ALBION – There are 10 more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, the biggest one-day jump for the county, and two more deaths.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases to 75 in Orleans, and seven deaths. The seven people who died from the virus were all residents at the Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, the former county nursing home in Albion. That 120-bed facility now has 38 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

The Villages of Orleans represents 51 percent of the county total cases. That doesn’t mean the rest of the community should feel like the virus isn’t pervasive in the county, said Paul Pettit, public health director for Orleans and Genesee counties.

Residents in all 10 towns in Orleans have tested positive for Covid-19.

The 10 new positive include two people outside the Villages, with one in Barre and one in Kendall. The other eight are residents of the nursing home.

Of the new cases, one person is in the 30s, one in the 40s, two in their 60s, one in the 70s, three in their 80s and two people in their 90s or older.

One of the new positive cases was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today. Eight of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.

The Health Department also is reporting one new positive in Genesee County, bringing that county’s total to 142 positive cases, which includes 49 detainees at the federal detention facility in Batavia and three residents of the Batavia VA Medical Center.

The new case reported today in Genesee is an Elba resident in the 50s. The person was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.

Genesee has five more recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 69. In Orleans, 22 people have recovered after contracting the virus.

The following information is from a press release from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

Non-county Public Regulated Facilities

• Due to the increased number of positive cases at specific regulated facilities, the G-O Health Departments have added a new chart to show the number of positive cases of Covid-19 for non-county public regulated facilities whose regulatory oversight does not fall within the local health departments.

• The numbers are part of the cumulative positive case numbers received since the first positive.  As of today, in Orleans County the number of positive cases of Covid-19 at The Villages of Orleans has surpassed the number of community cases. These facilities are regulated by the state or federal government agencies and those who live within those facilities are overseen by those respective agencies.  The local health departments will oversee any employees or community contacts (who reside within our counties) who had close contact with those who tested positive or who have become symptomatic.

This chart will be updated to reflect any public regulated facilities if and when confirmed Covid-19 cases are identified.

• Remember even though the numbers may be high at a specific location, the virus is still moving though our counties. People need to continue frequent handwashing and sanitizing shared surfaces, practicing stay safe at home, social distancing and wearing cloth masks when out in public. This is not the time for gathering at the grocery stores, take-out lines or play dates. This is the time to be kind and think of the health and well-being of others.

• 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 the link for the online form.

Testing

• Antibody testing: Preliminary Phase 1 results of the Antibody Testing Study shows 13.9% of the population have Covid-19 antibodies. That is based on 3,000 random samples taken at various locations (19 counties and 40 localities) across the state, including at grocery stores and big-box stores where people were openly going out in public.

The preliminary results are:

• Long Island made up 14.4% of the total tests and 16.7% had the antibodies
• New York City made up 43% of the total tests and 21.2% had the antibodies
• Westchester / Rockland made up 9.8% of the total test and 11.7% in that region had the antibodies
• Rest of the state accounted for 32.8% of the total tests and 3.6% had the antibodies

Wearing Masks and Social Distancing

• Wearing masks and social distancing at a minimum of 6 feet are paramount to preventing flare-ups and mini-outbreaks. Everyone needs to be compliant. Correctly wearing cloth masks 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.  “My mask protects you, and your mask protects me!”

• The Health Department encourages stores and businesses to set guidelines that include not allowing patrons to enter if they are not wearing a face covering or wearing it correctly (covering the mouth and nose). Make sure proper signage noting your policy is visible to patrons.

Prevent the Spread

As/when the state starts open up we all have to be diligent for quite some time to prevent the spread of this virus.

• Continue frequent handwashing/hand sanitizing if soap and water are not available.
• Continue frequent sanitizing/cleaning of shared surfaces.
• Continue social distancing – staying 6 feet away from others.
• Continue wearing face coverings – wearing face coverings correctly when out in public. The mouth and nose are to be covered and the face covering should be tucked under the chin. Wearing masks is a way of strengthening social distancing.
• Stay HOME if you are sick! Do not go shopping, Do not go to work, Do not go visiting!

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.

There is still limited swabbing available in Genesee and Orleans counties. 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.

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.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

In the face of a dangerous uptick of domestic violence incidents, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the immediate modernization of the state’s domestic violence hotline with a new text program and confidential online service to aid victims of abuse and provide potential lifesaving ways to get help.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary social distancing guidelines, domestic violence victims are even more vulnerable and unsafe while isolated at home without being able to get away from their abuser and there has been a reported uptick in the number of domestic violence cases in the state.

Calls to the state’s domestic violence hotline are up 30 percent in April compared to last year and calls increased 18 percent from February to March 2020. State Police also report domestic violence incident calls were up 15 percent in March compared to last year.

For many victims, making a phone call to get help or accessing services may be impossible because their abuser can easily monitor their calls. The new text program and confidential online service will make it easier for these victims in isolation to contact the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and get the help they need.

New Yorkers seeking help can text 844-997-2121 or chat with a professional on the new confidential website at www.opdv.ny.gov. The text and online services will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with OPDV staff who are experts in the area of domestic violence.

“New Yorkers are living through an unimaginably stressful period and we’re seeing signs that domestic violence is on the rise as victims are stuck at home with their abusers and unable to access the help they need,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’ve been working with state agencies to help address this issue and provide more resources, and this new text program and confidential online service will help make it easier for victims to get the help they need and get out of potentially dangerous situations.”

“The reality is that abuse victims are often closely surveilled by their abuser,” said Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor and Chair of the New York State Council on Women and Girls. “In New York, no one should be at risk because they can’t find a way to make their need for help known. The text and online confidential service programs we are rolling out today will provide additional and better methods for victims of domestic violence to get the help and intervention they need when they need it.”

Since NYS on PAUSE went into effect, OPDV and many state agency partners have been working diligently to pursue strategies for putting safety information in front of victims in places that such information would not normally be available, including on social media accounts of public utilities or tax/finance.  Additionally, major efforts have been underway to get safety flyers with the Hotline number hung up in essential retailers, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and home repair stores, among others.

‘No New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote.’ – Gov. Cuomo

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Photo by Tom Rivers: The American flag is lowered at the Orleans County Mental Health Building in Albion out of respect for victims of Covid-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that 422 died from the virus on Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll from Covid-19 to 16,162.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he will issue an Executive Order mandating that the New York State Board of Elections automatically mail every New Yorker a postage-paid application for an absentee ballot.

Earlier this month, the Governor issued an Executive Order allowing all New Yorkers to vote absentee in the June 23rd primary election.

The Governor also outlined the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state. New York State revenues are estimated to decline by $13.3 billion – or 14 percent – from the Executive Budget forecast. Additionally, the revenues are estimated to decline by $61 billion over the financial plan period of FY 2021 to FY 2024.

“We’re making great progress to flatten the curve and decrease the spread of infection, but we don’t know when this pandemic will end and we can’t put democracy on hold,” Governor Cuomo said. “I am issuing an Executive Order to ensure every New York voter automatically receives a postage-paid application for an absentee ballot because no New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote.”

The Governor confirmed 8,130 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 271,590 confirmed cases.

O’Brien praised for expanding mental health services in community

Photo by Tom Rivers: Mark O’Brien has led the Orleans County Mental Health Department the past seven years. During his tenure the department expanded to have staff working out of 15 sites in the community, including schools, healthcare facilities and the county jail.

ALBION – The Orleans County Mental Health Director is leaving the county to take the job as Erie County Commissioner of Mental Health.

Mark O’Brien has been the Orleans County director for seven years. He has worked for the county for a decade.

O’Brien, a Grand Island resident, told county legislators it was a “very difficult decision” to leave Orleans. He praised the legislators for supporting initiatives to expand mental health services in the county.

He was presented a “Special Recognition Award” on Wednesday by County Legislators.

“Your dedication and expertise has benefited our county tremendously,” the award states. “We appreciate your support and commitment to the residents of our county, which will forever be widespread, long lasting and extremely appreciated. The Orleans County Legislature does hereby wish you well as you enjoy your newest endeavor as the Erie County Commissioner of Mental Health.”

O’Brien built many partnerships in the community to expand mental health services, including satellite mental health offices in all five school districts in the county. Those offices allow students to receive mental health services without having to travel to county clinic in Albion. Transportation was a barrier for many families to access services.

Counselors help students who have anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

“It makes it more accessible for the kids,” O’Brien told the Orleans Hub in a previous article. “The superintendents have been super cooperative to work with.”

O’Brien also led the department in bringing mental health services to the county jail. About 80 percent of the inmates in the Orleans County Jail have mental health disorders. Providing them treatment and appropriate medication can help reduce recidivism.

The Mental Health Department also has worked with local law enforcement agencies to provide training for responding to people in a mental health crisis.

He also developed partnerships with the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Orleans Community Health and Oak Orchard Health to have mental health staff at their sites.

He was honored with the Constance Miller Award from the Mental Health Association of Genesee & Orleans in 2017. The award is named in honor of the founder of the MHA in 1993.

“We want to recognize people working promote mental wellness in the community,” Scott Wilson, vice president of the MHA board of directors, said then.

Wilson is also the Orleans County Jail superintendent. He has seen O’Brien work with many local agencies in the community to expand mental health services, including at the jail.

The Mental Health Department has two clinicians working at the jail, which has reduced psychotropic medication and suicide attempts, Wilson said.

O’Brien said he appreciated the response from partners in the county, welcoming mental health staff.

“It’s making mental health services more accessible to the community and reducing the stigma because they are not going to a classified mental health building,” he said.

He also worked to make county mental health building more accessible to the public by having open access where people don’t need an appointment to be served during regular business hours.

O’Brien’s last day with the county is May 7. The County Legislature has appointed Danielle Figura, the current clinic coordinator for Mental Health, to serve as interim director for the department beginning on May 8.

Provided photos: From left, Rob Klino and Dave Miller, members of the Medina Sandstone Society, help Theresa Nottingham from Mark’s Pizzeria unload pizzas which the Sandstone Society donated to staff at Medina Memorial Hospital.

From left, Dave Miller, president of the Medina Sandstone Society, and Avanti’s employee Carrie Ribbeck present sheet pizzas to Martin MacKenzie, administrator of Orchard Manor, and Mary Luckman, director of marketing.

MEDINA – Since the Medina Sandstone Society founded its Sandstone Trust in 2010, they have been able to provide financial aid to members of the Medina community, but with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Society has redirected the focus of its giving.

“In March, we were gearing up to have our annual meeting to discuss the recipient of our John Ryan Scholarship and the year of events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sandstone Trust ,” said Sandstone Society President Dave Miller. “Then the pandemic hit and we were forced to cancel everything. The board then started to discuss via e-mail if there was something we could do now for the community.”

“Our society’s mission is to promote community pride and what we wanted was a way to do that now,” Miller said.

What they decided to do was to send pizzas to all the health care workers in Medina. This included staff at Medina Memorial Hospital, Applegate, Orchard Manor Nursing Home and the Willows.

On Thursday, Avanti’s delivered pizzas to Orchard Manor and the Willows, while Mark’s Pizzeria made deliveries to the hospital and Applegate.

The donation of 30 sheet pizzas fed a combined 200 staff members in the four facilities.

At the nursing home, administrator Martin MacKenzie and director of marketing Mary Luckman were very thankful for the donation.

“This is quite a gesture for staff to show up here every day,” Luckman said. “A lot of them are putting in double shifts.”

The nursing home employs 100 health care workers, maintenance people and administration.

At the hospital, Heather Miles, and X-ray technician, took delivery of the pizzas there.

“We can’t thank all the people who have donated enough,” she said.

A second pizza delivery was made to facilities to accommodate those on the night shift.

The Sandstone Society maintains a gift shop on its website, and has also added an icon which allows people to make a $25 donation, which the Sandstone Society will then give it to organizations which help those in need during the pandemic, such as food pantries. The icon is called “Support Your Community During Covid-19.”

Provided photo: Billy Roman, right, president of Medina Lions Club, presents Tops gift cards to Lynn Creasey, president of the Senior Citizens of Western New York board. At left is Lions member Jim Hancock. Senior Center director Kelly Shaw was unable to attend the presentation, but distributed the cards to deserving seniors.

MEDNA – The Medina Lions Club continued its community service project this week with a donation of 20 Tops gift cards of $25 each to the Senior Center of Western Orleans.

The presentation was made by Lions president Billy Roman to the Senior Center board president Lynn Creasey.

“We really appreciate the Lions’ gesture,” Creasey said. “We definitely have people who can use a little help, especially widows and those living on Social Security.”

Senior Center director Kelly Shaw, who was unable to attend the presentation, later distributed the cards to seniors she knew have limited incomes and would appreciate the extra help.

Shaw considers members of the Senior Center “her family,” and was thrilled at being able to provide this gift to 20 of them.

“I know which ones can use the extra help and I know they will be very thankful,” Shaw said.

NY using some CARES Act funding to provide free child care

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Inc. Child Care Resource and Referral Program is pleased to announce that the Cuomo Administration has developed a plan to provide child care to eligible essential workers at no cost.

This allocation of funding for child care for essential workers comes to the state from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which has provided New York with $163.6 million in emergency relief to the child care system.

New York State is using a portion of this funding to provide free child care for income eligible essential workers. Essential workers using a regulated child care provider may receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as the funds to support it are available. All licensed and regulated providers who are caring for essential workers are able to participate in this new program.

Access to affordable and safe child care is a barrier for working parents during the best of times, and even more so during a crisis. New York State’s plan will ensure that the workforce that is needed to protect and care for the public during this pandemic have the child care that allows them to continue to serve us all. CCR&Rs are the child care experts and the conduit to accessing child care in New York State.

If you meet the definition of an essential employee and have child care needs, click here for more information on the application. You will be contacted by Community Action of Orleans and Genesee Child Care Resource and Referral staff within one business day. We will follow up on next steps to gather information about your household and help you identify a participating child care provider or work with your current registered or licensed child care provider. You may contact Taryn Moyle, CCR&R Manager at tmoyle@caoginc.org if you have questions.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo again today decried federal stimulus packages that don’t include funding to state and local governments for their operational aid, which is needed to pay teachers, firefighters, police officers and other critical public employees.

Congress has approved a new stimulus package for $484 billion, with $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to aid small businesses, $75 billion for hospitals and health care providers and $25 billion to facilitate and expand Covid-19 testing.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested this will be the last big stimulus package, and states should consider bankruptcy due to their deep budget holes.

Cuomo, speaking during a news conference today in Albany, called McConnell’s suggestion, “one of the dumbest ideas of all time.”

The bigger states – New York, California and Illinois – are getting hit hard by Covid-19. They face much higher costs than other states in responding to the virus, and also have seen tax revenues plummet. Cuomo said if those states fail economically, “you will see a collapse of the national economy.”

He blamed McConnell, a Republican and Senate Majority Leader, for not helping those states because they are strongly Democratic, rather than Republican.

“I mean for crying out loud, if there was ever a time to put aside your pettiness,” Cuomo said.

The governor also said New York contributes $116 billion more in taxes to the federal than comes back to the state. Kentucky, however, receives $148 billion more in federal aid than it contributes.

“Senator McConnell, who is getting bailed out here?” Cuomo said. “It’s your state living on the money we generate.”

Cuomo is vice chairman of National Governors Association which has requested $500 billion in federal aid to states to help offset the drastic revenue losses to the states.

Provided photo: Donna and Dick Anderson donated a stimulus check for $1,200 from the federal government to Community Action.

CARLTON – When Dick Anderson of Oak Orchard on the Lake heard the government was going to send checks to nearly every American to help out in this time of economic uncertainty, he supported the action.

“There’s definitely a need out there,” Anderson said from his home in Bradenton, Fl., where he and his wife Donna spend the winters.

But when the checks showed up in their bank account, Dick thought it was kind of ridiculous when he and his wife are living comfortably on their retirement and Social Security. Both are retired teachers – Dick from Spencerport and Donna from Churchville.

“We have a steady income, and don’t need the checks,” Anderson said.

He placed a call to his daughter Dawn Squicciarini, who teaches at Albion Middle School, telling her they would like to donate their checks. Squicciarini called Annette Finch, director of emergency services at Community Action.

Finch knew she would have no trouble finding a suitable recipient or recipients for the donation. She has already started a Covid-19 Fund to accept donations from people in the community who have called and said they want to help.

The Andersons are going to use one of their checks to help someone they know, but the other $1,200 is being sent to Community Action.

“It will be of much better use there than sitting in our account at the credit union,” Dick said. “It’s the least we could do.”

Finch said her office has been inundated with requests for assistance since the pandemic hit – from people who are asking for help with rent and utility bills to the recent young girl with a small child who is forced to move due to domestic violence and needs furniture.

Finch said she was very pleased to see the Andersons wanted to help someone less fortunate.

“It warms my heart that people in the community are coming forward in this crisis to help others,” Finch said. “I really thank Dick and his wife.”

Finch said she will make sure deserving families, individuals or seniors are able to take advantage of these donations.

Department of Health, Attorney General will investigate nursing home violations during pandemic; Facilities face $10K fines per violation and could lose license

(Photo by Mike Groll/Office of the Governor: Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a press conference in the Red Room today at the State Capitol.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the State Department of Health is partnering with Attorney General Letitia James to investigate nursing homes who violate Executive Orders requiring these facilities to communicate COVID-19 test results and deaths to residents’ families.

About 3,500 residents in nursing homes in the state have died from COVID-19, about 25 percent of the total deaths in the state from the virus.

The Governor also announced a new directive requiring nursing homes to immediately report to DOH the actions they have taken to comply with all DOH and CDC laws, regulations, directives and guidance.

DOH will inspect facilities that have not complied with these directives, including separation and isolation policies, staffing policies and inadequate personal protective equipment, and if DOH determines that the facilities failed to comply with the directives and guidance, DOH will immediately require the facility to submit an action plan. Facilities could be fined $10,000 per violation or potentially lose their operating license.

“Nursing homes are our top priority,” Cuomo said today during a news conference in Albany. “They have been from day one.”

The nursing homes are private facilities regulated by the state government.

“There are certain rules and regulations that they must follow and we put in additional rules and regulations on nursing homes in the midst of this crisis,” Cuomo said. “Staff must have appropriate PPE. They must have their temperatures checked before they come into the facility. There are no visitors who are coming into the facility which is a tremendous hardship but it’s necessary to protect public health. If they have a COVID-positive person in the facility that person has to be in quarantine. They have to have several staff for the COVID residents versus the non-COVID residents.”

The nursing homes must notify all residents and their family members within 24 hours if any resident tests positive for COVID or if any resident suffers a COVID-related death; and readmit COVID positive residents only if they have the ability to provide adequate level of care under DOH and CDC guidelines.

“If they do not have the ability to provide the appropriate level of care then they have to transfer that patient or they call the Department of Health and the Department of Health will transfer that patient,” Cuomo said.

Additionally, Cuomo and Attorney General James announced New York State will increase staffing through the New York state professional staffing portal and expand training and technical assistance for nursing homes to use the professional staffing portal.

The State will also continue to provide PPE to these facilities on an emergency basis, and families of nursing home residents who are concerned about the care they are getting can file complaints by calling 833-249-8499 or by visiting www.ag.ny.gov/nursinghomes.

“These facilities have become the optimum feeding ground for the virus, and the State Department of Health is going to partner with Attorney General Letitia James to ensure nursing homes are following the rules we’ve put in place and properly caring for and protecting our seniors as we continue to fight this virus,” Cuomo said.

Pandemic makes public gatherings for hearings impossible, while patchy internet service limits many rural residents if hearings on-line

A group of state legislators from Western New York is asking for a delay in implementing a new state law for siting large-scale renewable energy projects.

Several legislators on April 20 sent a letter to Secretary of State Rossana Rosado asking for a postponement of hearing dates for the development of new energy initiatives as part of the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act.

The recently passed state budget included the Act, which would speed up the process in siting renewable energy projects that are 25 megawatts or more.

“As home to the Niagara Power Project, the recently shuttered coal plants, and numerous proposed renewable energy projects, there is arguably no region in the state more directly impacted by energy policy than Western New York,” according to the letter from legislators.

The letter was signed by state senators Rob Ortt, Christopher Jacobs, Patrick Gallivan, George Borrello and Michael Ranzenhofer, as well as State Assembly members Michael Norris, Steve Hawley and Angelo Morinello.

The legislators said the state has approved a major change in the energy siting process. The legislation tasked the Department of State for developing a uniform siting standard over the next year, and required the Department of State to hold four public hearings.

But the Covid-19 pandemic will make holding public hearings nearly impossible, legislators said.

“Social distancing guidelines will prevent a physical gathering for the time being,” according to their letter. “While internet-based conferencing can be effective in some areas, it would not be appropriate for these public forums.”

The legislators said the solar and wind energy projects are almost exclusively sited in rural communities, which often lack access to reliable high-speed internet.

“Holding an online public hearing would deprive many rural residents of their ability to be heard and included in this process,” the legislators said.

They asked the Secretary of State to postpone hearings and developing siting standards until after our state of emergency has been lifted from Covid-19. Once it is safe to have the public hearings, one of those should be in WNY.

“Our residents have strong interest in siting policy, and our staffs would be happy to help you plan a hearing here,” the legislators said.

ALBION – Orleans County is reporting two more deaths from Covid-19 who are both residents for the Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center.

The county has now suffered five deaths from Covid-19, and all were residents of the nursing home on Route 31.

Both of the people who died were over the age of 65, the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments reported.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these individuals during this difficult time,” the departments said in a news release.

The Health Departments today are reporting three more Covid-19 cases in Orleans County, including one more at The Villages, bringing the total Covid-19 cases at the nursing home to 30. There are now 65 cases in the county.

One of the new cases reported today is a Clarendon resident. That is the first confirmed case in Clarendon. It was the last town without a positive case of Covid-19 among the 10 towns in the county.

The other two new cases reported today are in Albion, with one at the nursing home. Two of the new cases are people in their 20s, and one is a person in the 70s, the Health Departments reported.

One of the newly positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. There are six people from Orleans currently hospitalized from Covid-19.

In Genesee County, there is one new confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing Genesee’s total to 141. The person lives in Batavia and is in the 60s. The person was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.

The Health Departments are reporting three more recoveries from Covid-19 in Genesee, bringing that total to 64. In Orleans, 22 people have recovered after contracting the virus.

In Genesee, two people are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.

For more information on cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here to see a map about Covid-19 in the three counties.

ALBION – The Orleans County Emergency Management Office has a new deputy director who is very familiar with emergency services in the county.

Justin Niederhofer, 40, is the Carlton fire chief and a fire investigator for the county. He started the new job last week. Justin’s brother Andrew and their father, Jim, also served as Carlton fire chiefs.

Niederhofer is a 20-year veteran of the Air Force with 11 years of Active duty and the past nine years in the Reserve. He was working for the U.S. Department of Defense, leading a team of 10 in overseeing manufacturers with Defense contracts. That job took him all over upstate, and sometimes to other nearby states.

Niederhofer welcomed the chance to stay closer to home for his new job, and make local emergency services his priority.

“This is where my passion truly is,” Niederhofer said on Wednesday at the EMO. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone in the county.”

Niederhofer has a bachelor’s degree in emergency management from the American Military University in Charleston, WV, and is close to finishing a second degree from the university in fire science management.

Dale Banker, the director of the EMO, welcomes Niederhofer to the office. Banker and administrative Lori Grube have been running the two-person office as the work demands have grown exponentially in recent years.

The Emergency Management Office used to be primarily focused on the fire service. A fire training tower is next to the EMO center on West County House Road. The EMO coordinates 10 to 20 training classes each year for local fire departments.

Justin Niederhofer holds one of the Hanes masks that arrived on Wednesday. He is connecting with local stores to have them available for free to Orleans County residents.

The office, however, increasingly is focused on preparing for and responding to emergencies. This year looks like there will be another state of emergency along the southshore of Lake Ontario. The EMO coordinated the delivery of sandbags, AquaDams and other supplies to help Yates, Carlton and Kendall fight back against flooding in 2017 and 2019. It already has ordered sandbags this year and is prepared to do more to help the towns and residents preserve their property.

Besides coordinating the supplies, the EMO tracks the expenses for local governments and submits the paperwork to FEMA and other state and federal agencies for reimbursements.

The EMO also has a lead role in the emergency communications system, and is spearheading a $6 million upgrade with new radio towers in Albion, Kendall, Lyndonville and Holley.

The duties are immense, and Banker last summer asked the County Legislature for an addition to the staff. That process was underway before the EMO assumed the added task of ordering and distributing personal protective equipment to local first responders and health care workers. Banker said Orleans was the last of the county EMOs to only have two full-time staff.

Niederhofer started the job last week and he said he has “hit the ground running,” working to get N-95 respirators, gloves and masks to frontline workers. He has personally fitted county employees with N-95 respirators, getting the right fit for members of the Sheriff’s Office, corrections officers, probation and the Department of Social Services.

On Wednesday, 14,500 cloth masks arrived from Hanes and Niederhofer is working to get those to stores around the county where they will be given away for free.

Banker said Niederhofer is well organized and brings lots of energy to serving the public. His position is funded by state grants.

MEDINA – The Medina Teachers Association has purchased signs for all 110 members of the Class of 2020.

Seniors can order a sign by emailing teacher Jody Sargent at jsargent@medinacsd.org by April 30. The signs will be delivered. Seniors should include their name and address in the email.