Press Release, Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County

KNOWLESVILLE – Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County is promoting gardening during the coronavirus pandemic as a way to boost morale and personal food supply – a modern day Victory Garden.

Historically, Victory Gardens were promoted during WWI and WWII to ease the strain of food shortages brought on by wartime efforts. Today, because the coronavirus pandemic has impacted people’s lives in countless ways, NY residents are again looking to their own backyards or sunny windowsills to support their family’s food consumption.

Horticulture departments at CCE associations statewide have been seeing surges of inquiries from residents interested in learning about gardening. To respond to this need, Cornell Cooperative Extension has developed the “Just Plant it, NY!” program to support the efforts of home gardeners across the state.

The CCE Garden-Based Learning website has compiled gardening resources from Master Gardener Training and other teaching forums and made them available free to the public to support gardening efforts during these challenging times.  Click here to find video tutorials, tips for starting a garden, and garden-based activity ideas for youth and adults.

At the local level, Orleans County CCE Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes created CoronaVictory Garden Seed Kits with seed packets left over from last year’s Library Seed Bank program. The seed kits will be offered for free on the front porch of the Orleans County CCE office. Each seed kit contains 3-4 packets of food-based seeds (vegetables, fruit, or herbs) and 2-3 packets of flower seeds.

The envelopes are sealed to ensure the safety and quality of the seed packets inside – and also to keep the specific varieties of seeds a surprise for participants. Seeds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and to make sure the program has the furthest reach possible in our community, we are asking that each family take just one seed packet. Seeds are self-service and supplies are limited. The Orleans County CCE office is located at the 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 State Rt 31, Albion, NY.

Orleans County CCE 4-H Coordinator Kristina Gabalski also recognizes the importance of growing a garden for both physical and emotional health.

“I plan to encourage all of our 4-H families in Orleans County to consider growing a Victory Garden this year,” Gabalski said. “It will be a way to build community during a time of physical distancing as well as grow knowledge and self-sufficiency. Gardens are a great source of hope in the future and can be therapeutic in times of stress and uncertainty.”

Gabalski has already heard from at least one 4-H family that is planning a Victory Garden this year. The Gregoire family of Murray has already selected some seeds from the extension office to get a head start on growing their food plants.

“Mom taught us why Victory Gardens were planted,” the Gregoire children wrote in an email to Gabalski describing their Victory Garden. “We have already picked out most of the seeds, and we are going to purchase tomato plants through the 4-H Leader’s Plant Sale from Kirby’s.”

The Gregoires have also amended their garden beds with rabbit and horse manure to increase the nutrients available for their plants once they are in the ground.

But gardening isn’t limited to just those with rabbit and horse manure! Anyone with a small yard or even a sunny patio or window can grow something.

“I really want to make sure that people don’t feel intimidated by starting a garden,” Oakes said. “With a little guidance, some basic materials, and a willingness to try, gardening can be a really fun and rewarding hobby.”

To further support our county’s residents in starting a garden, Oakes will be offering a free Seed Starting class via Zoom on Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. The class will focus on basics like reading a seed packet, materials needed to get started, seedling maintenance, etc.

To join the class, please email Katie Oakes at klo54@cornell.edu to receive the Zoom invitation link. Oakes is also available by email to answer any gardening questions that come up throughout the growing season. Find more details about local horticulture or 4-H programs as well as other extension resources at orleans.cornell.cce.edu.

Billy Roman, president of Medina Lions Club, presents a stack of Tops gift cards to Laurie Joslyn, director of Orleans Community Health’s dialysis center in Medina. Joslyn will distribute them to staff at the dialysis center.

MEDINA – Employees of Orleans Community Health who work off-campus from the hospital were recognized for their service this week by Medina Lions Club.

Billy Roman, president of the Medina Lions, said the club wanted to do something for the healthcare workers who are so necessary and dedicated, especially in this time of uncertainly created by the coronavirus pandemic.

The club voted to donate Tops gift cards to deserving members of the community, and contacted Cindy Perry, director of outreach, education and marketing at Community Partners, to ask who they would recommend to receive the gift cards.

Perry asked hospital CEO Mark Cye, who suggested they recognize those healthcare employees who work off-site, in the dialysis unit in Medina and the medical care facility in Albion.

Those people don’t necessarily get the credit they deserve, Cye said.

The Lions will also donate 20 gift cards to the Medina Senior Center, to be distributed to deserving senior citizens.

The Lions Club purchased a total of 42 gift cards, valued at $25 each, and Julie Roman, Billy’s wife and the daughter of Lions member Jim Hancock, created notes to accompany each one.

On Tuesday, seven cards were presented to Laurie Josyln, director of the Dialysis Unit, who plans to distribute them to the staff there.

“This is very much appreciated,” Joslyn said. “We have talked about what we want to do with them, and will probably get together when this pandemic is all over and have food and share some down time.”

She said the pandemic situation has created a hardship for staff and patients who come there.

“We are all wearing masks, so the patients can’t visit and socialize like they used to,” Joslyn said.

The Dialysis Unit serves 40 patients, who each come for treatment twice a week.

On Tuesday at the medical center at the corner of Route 31 and Butts Road in Albion, Roman and Hancock presented 15 Tops gift cards to Nicole Helson, practice manager, and Bryan Yoakum, ambulatory patient representative.

“This is very generous and thoughtful of the Lions to think of us here, and we certainly appreciate it,” Helson said.

Julie Roman, wife of Medina Lions president Billy Roman, created these notes to go along with Tops gift cards, which the Lions donated to staff at Orleans Community Health’s dialysis center in Medina and the healthcare facility in Albion. Donations of gift cards will also be made later to the Medina Senior Center.

‘We want to send our seniors some love’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – James Denoncourt, an Albion High School senior, picks up a lawn sign that was distributed today outside Hoag Library. James is shown with his mother, Linda Yockel.

James and his classmates have been out of school since March 16. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced all public schools in the state will remain closed until at least May 15.

James said he misses seeing his friends at school. He has been looking forward to the baseball season, with the varsity team expected to compete for the league title and possibly advance deep into the playoffs.

James hopes students can return to school before the year ends, and he can end his senior year with the prom and graduation.

His mother appreciated the lawn sign, celebrating all the seniors in the Class of 2020.

“I think it’s awesome,” Yockel said. “They’re doing something for seniors who have had so much taken away.”

Kelly Ricker, left, and Kathy Harling passed out the signs today. They coordinated the efforts to have about 135 signs made for seniors.

They will be at the library again next Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. to pass put signs. Harling, president of the Board of Education, asked that parents or students send her an email at skharling@yahoo.com to request a sign.

The signs with the post were $12 each. They are all already paid for with the Albion Alumni Foundation covering half of the cost.

Harling’s son Michael is a senior this year. Sidari’s twins, Patrick and Laiken, also are in the Class of 2020.

“We are trying to make it a special time for them,” Harling said about the seniors.

“We want to send our seniors some love,” said Ricker, who is a lifeguard and assistant swimming coach at the district.

Kelly Ricker hands off a sign to Jocelyn Wilson, whose son Cody is in the Class of 2020.

Some Albion community members also are encouraging people to participate in “Friday Night Lights” every Friday until the end of June. They are encouraged to turn on their porch lights in support of the Class of 2020.

Press Release, Niagara County Acting Sheriff, Michael J. Filicetti

LOCKPORT – Niagara County Acting Sheriff, Michael J. Filicetti announced that a Communications Division employee has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The employee had an exposure outside of his employment during off-duty hours early last week and continued working in the dispatch center. The employee was notified later in the week of the possible exposure and continued working in the dispatch center, but was not showing any symptoms at that time.

The employee and the Sheriff’s Office were following guidance issued from the New York State Health Department and the CDC regarding safety practices for critical workers who may have been exposed to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

On April 9 new directives were issued to all dispatch employees requiring cloth masks, provided by the Sheriff’s Office, to be worn while working in the Dispatch Center.  On April 10 during the course of self-monitoring, the employee discovered a fever and was taken off work by a physician at that time. The employee was later tested and the positive result was revealed today. The employee remains at home, recovering, with minor symptoms at this time.

Once the employee was displaying COVID-like symptoms, the employee’s work area was thoroughly sanitized, as it is a station utilized by employees on each shift. No other employees had worked in that station from the time the employee left the shift and the extra sanitization occurred.

Cleaning has been enhanced in all areas of the Sheriff’s Office, including the Dispatch Center, to follow Health Department guidelines. The Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Niagara County Health Department to ensure that testing is available to any staff member showing symptoms and was specifically consulted regarding this employee once it was determined that a possible exposure had occurred.

This is the third employee of the Sheriff’s Office to test positive for COVID-19. Since the start of this pandemic, a total of 14 employees have been tested. Acting Sheriff Filicetti states, “as this pandemic progresses, we will continue to monitor and adjust our procedures, as needed, to keep our work environment as safe as possible.”

Charts are provided by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Orleans County has one new case of Covid-19, a person in the 80s who lives in Albion, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

That brings the total cases in Orleans County to 35. Health officials also are reporting that two more people have recovered from Covid-19 in Orleans, bringing the total recoveries to 14.

The Health Department earlier today reported the county’s first death from Covid-19.

Of the total cases in the county, three people are hospitalized.

Orleans County’s neighbor, Genesee County, has seven new positives bringing the total cases to 87.

Of the seven new cases, five live in Batavia, one in Bergen and one in Darien. The ages of people who tested positive include one in the 20s, three in the 30s, one in the 60s and two in the 90s.

Three of the new cases include people  who were in quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. Three of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.

State-wide, 8,505 new cases of novel coronavirus were reported today, bringing the total to 222,284 confirmed cases in New York State. At nearby Niagara County, there are 12 more cases for 216; Monroe County, 48 more for 932 total; and Erie County reported 99 more cases for 1,850 total.

To see a map and more data about cases and Orleans and Genesee, as well as Wyoming County, click here.

Provided photos

ALBION – Michael Neidert, left, presents a check for $750 to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. Neidert is president of the Orleans County Town Highway Superintendents Association. He is presenting the money, from a distance, to Annette Finch, director of community services for the agency.

The highway association is made up of the 10 town highway departments in the county, along with members from the Orleans County Department of Public Works, four village DPWs, retired highway superintendents and many vendors from Orleans and surrounding counties.

“We just want to be able to help those in our communities in this time of need,” said Neidert, who is the Albion town highway superintendent.

Neidert presents a check for $250 to Jack Burris, leader of the Hands 4 Hope ministry.

In December, the highway association also donated $250 each to Hands 4 Hope, the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and Hospice of Orleans.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Tillman’s Village Inn in Gaines is one of many restaurants where the building is closed to the public but take-outs are still available. Gov. Cuomo announced today that restaurants will have to continue to only offer take-outs, delivery or drive-through until May 15.

The state will remain “on pause” with schools and nonessential businesses closed until May 15, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at about noon today.

He will look at the data with the rate of infections and hospitalizations from Covid-19, and consult heath experts, to see if the closures will continue after May 15.

“NY Pause has worked,” Cuomo said at a news conference in Albany. “But we are not there yet.”

He announced today the state is developing a metric for allowing some businesses currently closed to reopen. The metric will consider the importance to society for the different sectors of businesses, and possible risk to public health with having them open.

The state is making progress in reducing the rates of infection, hospitalization and the deaths from Covid-19. But Cuomo said the state still needs to be very careful and take precautions or else the numbers can revert back to an upward trajectory.

“We’ve controlled the beast,” Cuomo said. “We’ve brought the rate of spread down.”

The state has been on pause since 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. The governor’s directive requires all non-essential businesses statewide to close in-office personnel functions and temporarily bans all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason.

The pause directive has shown many businesses can function with people working from home or telecommuting.

Once businesses reopen their worksites, Cuomo said there should be a plan in place for social distancing among co-workers.

“This will be a moment of transformation for society, and we paid a high price for it,” he said. “We can do things differently and better.”

Cuomo also issued a directive on Wednesday requiring masks or cloth covering over the mouth and nose when people are out in public and can’t maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. That directive doesn’t include children under age 2. The directive takes effect at 8 p.m. on Friday. The governor acknowledged a lot of pushback about the mask directive.

“I understand, I’m getting a lot of not happy phone calls,” he said. “I’m sorry it makes people unhappy. I don’t consider it a major burden and it is really a simple measure that can save lives.”

The first person in Orleans County who died from Covid-19, the Public Health Department in Orleans County is reporting.

The person who passed away is over 65 and had been in mandatory isolation.

“This is our first confirmed death related to Covid-19 in Orleans County,” said Paul Pettit, the Public Health director. “Due to privacy issues, I will not be releasing further details about this individual. I would like to express my sincerest sympathy to the individual’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the County Legislature, offered her condolences to the friends and family of the patient.

“The nurses, physicians and others who had been involved in this person’s treatment are also grieving,” Johnson said in a statement. “I want to commend our providers and employees for the extraordinary care they provided and to let them know how proud we are of their ongoing service and commitment to all our residents during this unprecedented and difficult time.”

The state suffered 606 deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday, bringing the state-wide total to 12,192.

“We continue to encourage social distancing, use of face coverings and for residents to stay home as much as possible, especially if you have older family members or family with underlying health conditions,” Pettit said. “If you are unwell with any symptoms, please do not have contact with our most vulnerable population. Keep in touch by phone, FaceTime, cards, and/or letters so your loved ones know they are being thought of. Ask other family or friends who are not sick or potentially exposed to check in on your loved ones and/or assist with errands.”

It has been a wild few days of weather in Orleans County and Western New York, with high winds on Monday followed by rain and even some snow the past two days.

Today is forecast for a high of 38 with daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 41 with a chance for rain after 1 p.m.

Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 49, followed by a high near 53 on Sunday.

Hyacinths are pictured in an Albion backyard this morning after it snowed last night.

Press Release, State Sen. Chris Jacobs

BUFFALO – State Senator Chris Jacobs is calling on US Senator Charles Schumer to put politics aside and quickly approve additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. The PPP, with an initial allocation of $350 billion, was created to provide critical assistance to small businesses to use to pay employees and other business-related expenses while their revenues and operations have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The need for this program and its funding is so great that in only a week’s time over 800,000 loans have been processed and more than $200 billion has already been committed,” said Jacobs.  “Ensuring this program is well funded and widely accessible will be critical to the recovery of our economy in New York State, particularly in Western New York.”

Last week Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put forth a “clean” bill with no legislative pork barrel or policy items attached that would have increased funding for the PPP by another $250 billion, bringing total funding to $600 billion. Similar to what they did before finally voting for the original CARES Act, Senate Democrats blocked the proposal, seeking leverage to pass a much bigger and more complex piece of legislation with funding for special interests, Jacobs said.

Saying that the midst of a global pandemic is “absolutely the wrong time to play partisan politics,” Jacobs in a letter to Schumer asked the Senator to support passage of the clean version proposed last week “as soon as possible.”

“People are hurting through no fault of their own and an economy that was once roaring has been ground to a halt,” Jacobs said. “Our leaders in Washington have to take action immediately and do so in a bi-partisan manner. New York’s small business owners and their employees do not have any more time to waste.”

College Board plans more opportunities in fall for exam

The College Board which administers the SAT, an exam critical for students pursuing college, has been cancelled for June 6.

The College Board on Wednesday said it is working to ensure students have more opportunities to take the SAT in the fall.

“We know students and educators are worried about how the coronavirus may disrupt the college admissions process, and we want to do all we can to help alleviate that anxiety during this very demanding time,” said College Board CEO David Coleman. “Our first principle with the SAT and all our work must be to keep families and students safe. The second principle is to make the SAT as widely available as possible for students who wish to test, regardless of the economic or public health circumstances.”

Coleman shared three commitments the College Board is making to ensure the SAT is available to all students this fall:

• If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, there will be weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration in September and the previously scheduled tests on Aug. 29, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, and Dec. 5.

• To replace canceled SAT School Day administrations this spring, the College Board will offer the SAT in schools this fall. Almost all of College Board state partners and many of its district partners have expressed interest in providing SAT administrations during the school day later this fall. Specific information about state and district testing will be shared with our partners in the coming weeks so they may create their testing plans for students.

• In the unlikely event that schools do not reopen this fall, the College Board will provide a digital SAT for home use, much as the organization is delivering digital exams for three million Advanced Placement (AP) students this spring. As with at-home AP Exams, the College Board would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple, secure and fair, accessible to all and and valid for use in college admissions.

• For national administrations, students will be able to register beginning in May. Students who registered for June and those in the high school class of 2021 who do not have SAT scores will have early access to register for the August, September, and October administrations. The College Board will communicate directly with students when the exact date is available. Eligible students will be able to take the test with a fee waiver.

For each administration of the test, the organization is preparing to significantly expand its capacity for students to take the SAT as soon as schools reopen. The College Board is calling on member schools and colleges, as well as local communities, to open their doors and provide additional test center capacity so every student who wants to can take the SAT.

Coleman also stressed that it has never been more important than at this unprecedented time to consider the context in which students live and learn. While all students will have the opportunity to take the SAT, the impact of the coronavirus on students varies vastly based on their circumstances. The families hit hardest are most often those with the fewest resources.

The College Board fully supports admissions officers at member colleges who have said the circumstances of the public health crisis will be taken into account when considering test scores, grades, and extracurricular activities in the coming year.

“Our commitment to students is to give them as many opportunities as we can to show their strengths to admissions officers, while relying on the guidance of public health officials,” Coleman added. “Throughout, we’ll continue to place a special focus on students benefitting from fee waivers and those requiring accommodations.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A woman was injured when her SUV rolled over this morning on Route 31 in front of the Walmart.

The woman didn’t need to be extricated but was helped out of her vehicle by Albion firefighters. She was then taken by COVA ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital. She was up and walking and didn’t appear to have serious injuries, an Orleans County Sheriff’s deputy said at the scene.

The woman was travelling eastbound when she veered off the road and the vehicle flipped over at about 7:50 a.m. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the accident.

Frank’s Auto in Albion removes the vehicle from the scene this morning.

Callie Updike raises nearly $1,400 for childhood cancer research

Provided photos: Callie Updike of Holley reacts after her head was shaved on Saturday in a fundraiser for childhood cancer research. Callie, 15, did the fundraiser for her Holley classmate Evan Valentine, who is currently being treated for leukemia.

HOLLEY – Callie Updike, one of the student leaders at Holley Junior-Senior High School, has a flair for style, including with her hair. She gives her hair a touch of purple, pink or some other color.

Callie, 15, is a junior at Holley. One of her long-time classmates, Evan Valentine, is currently in remission from leukemia for the second time. Callie last month announced she would shave her head on April 11 to raise money for childhood cancer.

Callie Updike

She picked April 11 in honor of my grandmother’s 73rd birthday. Her grandmother passed away to cancer in 2014.

Callie was hoping Evan could personally shave her head this past Saturday. He has been at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester and is currently home in remission, waiting for a bone marrow transplant. Callie instead went with a virtual event with Evan.

She set a $1,000 fundraising goal and passed that with donations averaging about $20. It’s at $1,368 currently. (Click here to contribute.)

Callie said she decided to shave off her hair when Evan lost his thick head of curls. She talked with Evan about her plan, and he suggested St. Baldrick’s, an organization created for the direct purpose of aiding in childhood cancer research.

“Seeing the hurt that Evan and his family had endured as well as the constant love and support that our community provided, I felt compelled to do what I could to help,” Callie said in an email.

Evan was first diagnosed in Oct. 19, 2018. He completed four rounds of chemotherapy and returned to school on April 22, 2019. In January, he received the news the leukemia had returned.

Callie thanked the donors for contributing to the fundraising effort.

“It’s a modest number, just over a grand, but knowing that we could reach so many community members and gather together in such a trying time brings me immeasurable joy,” she said.

Provided photo: Niagara Career and Technical Education Center Assistant Principal Rob Robinson with the boxed up donations from the center.

Press Release, Orleans-Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES is helping healthcare workers and facilities as they fight against COVID-19. District Superintendent Dr. Clark Godshall asked the Orleans and Niagara Career and Technical Education Centers to gather up any PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) supplies that can be used by healthcare personnel to protect themselves.

The centers were able to donate 500 pairs of safety glasses to the Niagara County Emergency Medical Services. To the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Eastern Niagara Hospital, Elderwood, Northgate, Medina Memorial Hospital and Absolute Care they were able to donate vinyl/nitrate/sterile gloves, alcohol wipes, surgical masks, Clorox wipes, Clorox bleach germicidal wipes, Medco gowns, Purell and Dial hand sanitizer, shroud kits, WetOnes, Dial hand soap and shoe covers.

The healthcare providers were chosen because of their partnership with Orleans/Niagara BOCES and were a way to thank them for allowing them to bring their Health Occupations Technician and LPN students to their facilities for the clinical portion of their classes.

Niagara Career and Technical Education Center Assistant Principal Rob Robinson and Orleans Career and Technical Education Center Assistant Principal Nicole Goyette personally organized the donations.

“I think I speak for everyone that it feels good to help out our medical professionals who are risking their health on a daily basis to help people recover from this pandemic,” Robinson said.