WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced landmark legislation, The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act, to provide economic relief for small farmers suffering from massive financial losses due to reduced demand and supply chain disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Currently, farm bankruptcies are at an eight-year high and net farm income has dropped by nearly half since 2013. The financial struggles of more than 30,000 New York farmers has only been exacerbated by the current crisis, which has devastated supply chains, as schools and restaurants have been forced to close.
The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act will alleviate debt, keep farms open, and fortify the nation’s food supply, providing direct relief to the nation’s most vulnerable farmers.
“New York farmers are struggling and the coronavirus outbreak has pushed many into insurmountable debt,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The CARES Act does not go far enough to sustain small farms through this difficult time; they need urgent and direct loan forgiveness so they can continue maintaining operations, paying their workers, and keeping food on Americans’ tables. I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will go directly to the farmers who need it most, and I will fight to include this legislation in an upcoming stimulus package to make certain our farmers are not left behind.”
Family farms received minimal benefits through SBA under the CARES Act and have struggled to access emergency federal farm aid which was allocated to USDA in the same coronavirus response package. These measures are not nearly enough to support small farms and keep them operating throughout the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act would directly address this crisis by providing a one-time debt forgiveness of up to $250,000, across three types of USDA FSA loans: Direct Farm Operating, Direct Farm Ownership, and Emergency Loans. All small farms with an average adjusted gross income of up to $300,000 for the previous five years will be eligible, regardless of their commodities.
Additionally, while many debt relief programs exclude farmers from future benefits, the legislation would ensure that farmers who receive debt forgiveness or write-downs maintain their eligibility for further USDA Direct and Guaranteed loans. It would also ensure that farmers receive the full relief by making the forgiveness nontaxable. The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act will help nearly 40,0000 farmers get back on their feet by providing a one-year window to apply for debt relief and will keep them farming for at least two years after receiving the loan forgiveness.
New York is home to one of the most diverse agricultural industries in the country and is largely composed of small and medium-sized family operations. However, even before the coronavirus outbreak, farmers across New York and the country faced economic hardship caused by tight margins, growing debt, natural disasters, and an unstable trade market.
Over the years, farm bankruptcies have continued to rise, with many small farms just one natural disaster or bad farm season away from bankruptcy. Now, the coronavirus pandemic has become the bad season they feared, as closed schools, restaurants, farmers markets, have disrupted the nation’s food supply and devastated revenue streams for farmers in New York State.
Dairy is the New York’s primary agricultural product, yet farmers have been forced to dump between 25 million and 35 million pounds of milk while prices plummet and processing plants close in response to COVID-19. Additionally, produce growers across the country who have been recently unable to sell their product, are now worrying about the possibility of entire harvests being wasted in coming months if they lack access to labor to harvest.
The current problems are compounded by years of financial hardship which has led to an average of 12,000 farmers leaving the farming business between 2011 and 2018. This financial distress has damaged rural mental health and contributed to the growing epidemic of farmer suicides in the United States. The Relief for America’s Small Farmer’s Act would help put farms back on the path to economic stability, while ensuring that relief is provided directly to the farmers that need it most.
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Gillibrand has prioritized support for farmers throughout the crisis caused by COVID-19. In addition to announcing the Relief for America’s Small Farmer’s Act, Senator Gillibrand has called on the administration to support dairy producers and provide assistance under the CARES Act for local food producers who have experienced losses due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“For more than six years, farmers and ranchers across the country have endured catastrophic price declines, volatile trade disputes, historic natural disasters, and now unprecedented challenges sparked by COVID-19,” said Alicia Harvie, Advocacy & Farmer Services Director at Farm Aid. “At Farm Aid, we hear everyday from farmers who struggle to endure these threats to their livelihoods, homes, and land, so many of whom are left out of federal farm policy. The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act provides much needed and well-deserved debt relief for the farmers and ranchers who continue to feed us, steward our land, and bolster our local economies. These are the very farmers who are selflessly galvanizing to bring fresh, healthy food to communities in need during today’s crisis.”
States are taking a regional approach to combatting Covid-19
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor: Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a press conference today in the Red Room at the State Capitol.
Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, the governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts and Rhode Island today announced the creation of a multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work.
This announcement builds on the states’ ongoing regional approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coordinating group – comprised of one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state – will work together to develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the virus.
The council will create this framework using every tool available to accomplish the goal of easing social isolation without triggering renewed spread – including testing, contact tracing, treatment and social distancing – and will rely on the best available scientific, statistical, social and economic information to manage and evaluate those tools.
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York said, “We have been collaborating closely with our neighboring states to combat this pandemic through a uniform approach to social distancing and density reduction and it has been working well. Now it is time to start opening the valve slowly and carefully while watching the infection rate meter so we don’t trigger a second wave of new infections. This is not a light switch that we can just flick on and everything goes back to normal – we have to come up with a smart, consistent strategy to restart the systems we shut down and get people back to work, and to the extent possible we want to do that through a regional approach because we are a regional economy. New York is partnering with these five states to create a multi-state council that will come up with a framework based on science and data to gradually ease the stay at home restrictions and get our economy back up and running.”
Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey said, “No one has given more thought or is more eager to restart our economy than I am, but if we don’t get the sequencing right, we put more lives at risk. The only path to a sustainable economic recovery is through a strong healthcare recovery. Then, and only then, do we position ourselves to fully ignite our economy and get the residents of our state back to work while minimizing the danger of this disease. A coordinated, regional approach, informed by a multi-state council of experts, will help us avoid a major setback with potentially disastrous consequences. I look forward to the day when the facts on the ground allow us to ease our restrictions and move our regional economy forward.”
Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut said, “One thing that’s undeniable is that this virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and healthcare systems. Working as a regional coalition to make the right decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our residents. We must solve these problems together.”
Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania said, “Our highest priority remains protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. While my administration continues to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don’t undo all of our efforts. Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually restore our economy.”
Governor John Carney of Delaware said, “We still have a situation in Delaware that is getting worse. Infections of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are rising. Delawareans should stay home. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Don’t visit Delaware unless you need to see a doctor, or care for a family member. You’ll only increase everyone’s risk. At the same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for moving our states out of this crisis, when that day comes. I’m grateful for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives. We’ll get through this by working together.”
Governor Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island said, “States are taking the lead as we fight to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. I’m proud of the steps we’ve taken, and I’m constantly thinking about what it will take to safely reopen our economy. But we know that this virus does not recognize borders, and it’s clear we need a strong, coordinated regional approach to avoid a second wave of this disease. I’m grateful to my fellow governors for their leadership during this crisis and I’m confident that this new partnership will support our efforts to get Rhode Islanders – and all Americans – back to work safely.”
Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts said, “The Baker-Polito Administration looks forward to participating in discussions with neighboring states and experts regarding the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts also remains focused on efforts to expand testing, ensure hospital capacity and provide the necessary PPE to those on the front lines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 4:39 pm
Orleans has 1 more confirmed Covid-19 case today, for 29 total
This chart from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments breaks down the number of people who have tested positive and negative for Covid-19 in the two counties, and also says how many people are in quarantine, and how many people have recovered from the virus. One person has died in Genesee County from Covid-19.
ALBION – The local Health Department has released a town-by-town breakdown of the Covid-19 cases in Orleans County.
In Orleans, the Town of Albion has the most confirmed cases with 11 while Clarendon is the only town without a confirmed case.
The town-by-town breakdown of the confirmed cases includes:
• Albion – 11
• Carlton – 4
• Kendall – 3
• Shelby – 3
• Yates – 2
• Ridgeway – 2
• Barre – 2
• Gaines – 1
• Murray – 1
• Clarendon – 0
(Click here to see the map, which includes a similar breakdown in Genesee County.)
The Health Department also announced today that the county has one new confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing the total in Orleans to 29.
Of the five new cases since the weekend, the county has 2 from Lyndonville (Yates), 1 from Murray, 1 from Albion and 1 from Ridgeway.
The ages include one person in the 30s, two in the 50s, one in the 60s, and one in the 70s.
One more person has recovered and has been released from mandatory isolation.
None of the positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, according to the Genesee and Orleans Health Departments.
Genesee County has two new confirmed cases for 76 total. Both people who tested positive live in Batavia, where there are 50 of the county’s 76 cases.
This chart from the Health Departments shows a breakdown of ages for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the two counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 3:20 pm
ALBION – There will be a drive-through food distribution from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday outside Community Action’s Main Street Store, 131 South Main St.
Community Action of Genesee Orleans is partnering with Foodlink and the Orleans County Office for the Aging for the food distribution. They will be giving out a 25-pound box of emergency food in response to the Covid-19 public health crisis.
There should be enough boxes of food for about 300 families. It will be distributed on a first come-first served basis.
There are no income restrictions. The food on Friday will be available for people with vehicles. Walk-ins won’t be served.
People who arrive for the food must stay in their vehicle and keep their windows rolled up. They should have their trunks cleaned out and open. Once the food is set in, the trunk will be tapped and people can drive away.
Staff and volunteers at the distribution will be wearing masks and gloves, and using sanitizer, said Annette Finch, director of community services for Community Action.
Community Action is seeing more demand for food at its Albion pantry and its community center in Holley, Finch said.
The Albion food pantry is open from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. That site is located at 409 East State St.
The Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley also provides take-out lunches from Monday through Friday beginning at 11:30 a.m. The site has served 600 take-out meals the past month. It also provides emergency food bundles.
“The demand has been unbelievable,” Finch said about the need for food in the community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 2:04 pm
Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club organized “Chalk the Walk 2020” and distributed 360 bags of chalk to houses in the Village of Lyndonville.
“We felt it a prudent time for our community to show its support of one another, while having them engage in some family time and outdoor fun,” said Terry Stinson, Lions Club member.
People were asked to decorate sidewalks and driveways in the village, and to include messages of inspiration and hope.
The event began on Easter Sunday and will continue throughout the week as weather permits. There are additional bags of chalk available through the club if needed.
So far more than 130 messages and pictures have been created.
“As we were driving around, it was amazing to see how happy a simple piece of chalk made people,” Stinson said. “To watch as families gathered and laughed while creating their drawings was just absolutely heartwarming.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 1:14 pm
ALBION – Mount Albion Cemetery will be closed to the public today due to concerns about the high winds, which could bring down trees and branches in the historic cemetery on Route 31.
The cemetery is a popular place for walkers and joggers. Mayor Eileen Banker said she expects it will be reopened on Tuesday as long as there isn’t any danger to the community from the wind storm.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 12:30 pm
Cuomo to look at reopening economy incrementally
New York State has topped 10,000 deaths from Covid-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. The state reported 671 deaths on Sunday, which brings the total to 10,056. The state also reported 6,337 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the total to 195,031.
The 671 deaths was the first time in seven days the daily deaths were under 700. That has Cuomo optimistic the state has hit its peak with daily deaths, hospitalizations and intubations.
“The worst is over if we continue to be smart going forward,” Cuomo said.
He will be consulting with public health and economic leaders on a plan to begin reopening the economy. The governor said it won’t be a dramatic reopening, but will be done incrementally with the state monitoring the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19. If those numbers go up, that’s a sign that the state is reopening too soon.
The governor also said a reopening of schools and nonessential businesses could differ around the states with some areas with low infections able to reopen at a faster pace.
“It’s a delicate balance reopening the economy,” Cuomo said during a news conference today.
Some countries that reopened too quickly are seeing a new spike in infections. Cuomo said New York, in its plan, will likely ease isolations, gradually increase economic activity and “recalibrate essential workers.”
“We never turned the economy off,” he said. “We turned it way, way down. We’ll start to open that valve on the economic activity, and we’ll turn that valve very slowly.”
The governor ultimately said New Yorkers can only feel like life is back to normal when there are proven treatments for people sickened by the virus and a vaccine is developed and deployable en masse.
“It’s not going to be we flick a switch,” Cuomo said about a return to life as normal. “It’s not going to happen that way. It can’t happen that way.”
In meantime, he urged people to continue practicing social distancing, washing their hands frequently and staying at home as much as possible.
“Do not reverse the progress we have made in our zeal to get back to normal,” Cuomo said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 11:21 am
Ed Wolfe and Mckenzie Horn prepare food at MJH Fresh Foods at a parking lot on Main Street in Albion across from Hoag Library. Horn, 22, opened his business, MJH Fresh Foods, last month and sells hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches six days a week in Albion.
ALBION – The Albion Village Board has adopted a new local law for regulating mobile food vendors.
The law establishes the following fee schedule to be paid to the village for mobile food trucks and trailers:
1 day to 7 days – $100
8 days to 6 months – $250
6 months to 1 year – $500
The local defines a mobile food trailer and mobile food vehicle as commercially manufactured or fabricated trailer or motorized mobile food unit for the purpose of commercial food preparation and sales. The trailer is self-contained and is towed/transported from site-to- site by a motorized vehicle. The trailer or food vehicle is a unit where ready-to-eat food is cooked, wrapped, packaged, processed or portioned for service, sale or distribution.
People who operate a trailer or vehicle need to first obtain a permit from the village clerk’s office at least two full days before operating in the village.
The mobile food trucks and trailers are not allowed within a 50-foot radius, or a 30-foot radius if on private land, of the nearest edge of any building or section of a building comprising a licensed food establishment, according to the Albion law, which was adopted last month. This requirement may be waived if the application is submitted together with the written consent of the proprietor of the adjacent licensed food establishment.
Some other terms in the local law
• All signage associated with a mobile food vendor must be permanently affixed to the mobile food vehicle. One additional sandwich sign is licensed as long as the additional sign in no way obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
• All mobile food trailers and mobile food vehicles shall be equipped with trash receptacles of a sufficient capacity that shall be changed as necessary to prevent overflow or the creation of litter of debris.
• It shall be unlawful for any mobile food trailer or mobile food vehicle to operate within 50 feet of the boundary line of any fair, carnival, circus, festival, special event or civic event that is sanctioned or licensed by the Village of Albion.
• All mobile food vendor licenses are null and void during the Albion Strawberry Festival.
• A mobile food vendor shall not conduct activities in such a manner as will interfere with a pedestrian or vehicular use of the public streets and places.
• All mobile food vendors shall not use any sound instrument or shout out for the purpose of attracting attention to his wares or giving notice of his approach.
• A mobile food vendor shall not sell any confectionery or ice cream within 250 feet of any school property between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any school days.
• Any person who violates any provision of this law shall be subject to a fine not less than $250 or to exceed $500, or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days or both.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 9:35 am
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a high wind warning for Orleans County and Western New York from 10 a.m. today until 2 a.m. tonight.
The strongest winds have been downgraded from near 70 miles per hour to 60 mph. The Weather Service reports there will be southwest winds from 30 to 40 miles per hour.
The damaging winds are expected to knock down trees and power lines, with widespread power outages. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, the Weather Service said.
“People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches,’ the Weather Service said. “Use caution if you must drive.”
(UPDATED at 1:09 p.m.: Mount Albion Cemetery will be closed to the public today due to the high winds, which could bring down branches and trees in the historic cemetery on Route 31.)
Local media operations strive for accuracy in reporting on pandemic
By Karen Sawicz, Pubisher of OrleansHub.com and Lake Country Pennysaver
A note to our readers & advertisers:
While we must grudgingly accept the new normal within our community for at least the next few weeks, we are determined to make the best of it. So, please be aware that Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub maintain our commitment to providing you with news and information to help you see the good news of the week. We plan to continue our normal publication schedule.
We ask that you also keep us posted on the good news in your world. Knowledge is power for us all, and as we spend less time in face-to-face dialogue with each other, publications like ours can help maintain the sense of community we share.
We need to share the good news with each other, so that while our community is honestly aware of the challenges we face, we can still be uplifted by our continued joys and successes.
Because the COVID-19 phenomenon is the most talked-about event of our time, it is also the least accurately talked-about event of our time. We encourage you to do what good journalists do and go to the primary sources of information as directly as possible.
To see information about confirmed Covid-19 cases in Orleans and Genesee counties, click here for data and a map from the local Health Department.
For worldwide and national statistics on the numbers of cases and fatalities, visit www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ which aggregates data and links directly to its primary sources in each country.
For more information on COVID-19 – symptoms, preventative measures and recommendations – go to the CDC website at CDC.gov.
A final word…
Tomorrow will belong to those who make the best use of their time today. Change, even unwelcome change, brings opportunities. New ways of doing things will present themselves. Those who use this uncomfortable time to observe the changes and prepare for their effects will be far more likely to find prosperity on the other side. Stay healthy, stay vigilant, and never allow complacency to set in.
We wish good health to all our readers and advertisers and we look forward to the day we can shake hands with you again and begin to seize the new opportunities awaiting us on the other side of this crisis.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2020 at 6:31 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A line of 25 vehicles heads down East Park Street this afternoon to welcome Sue Babbitt home. Babbitt is a well-liked office manager at the Ace Hardware in Albion.
She battled through a near fatal case of the flu and pneumonia, which deteriorated into acute respiratory distress syndrome. She came home on Friday. She was admitted to intensive care on March 11 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
Sue Babbitt is emotional when she was greeted this afternoon by a procession of family, friends and co-workers. Her husband, Ray Babbitt, is with her on the front porch.
Babbitt’s family and friends weren’t able to see her in the hospital after March 16. That’s when Strong instituted a policy of no visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After pulling through at Strong, she was transferred to Elderwood of Lakeside in Brockport. She was discharged on Friday and was finally able to see some of her loved ones.
But it wasn’t until today that many of her friends, family and co-workers were able to see her. They were relieved to see her in good spirits.
“Everybody wanted to see her so badly,” said Sue’s daughter, Jennifer Deskins.
She put an invitation on Facebook for a welcome home parade for her mother. There were 25 vehicles in the procession. They lined up at the CRFS parking on East Avenue and then headed past Sue’s house.
Gerry and Molly Ulrich, owners of Ace Hardware in Albion, made the trip from Lockport today to drive by Babbitt’s house. Babbitt is popular at the store, especially with her co-workers. She oversees the cashiers, who tend to be high school and college students.
“She awfully good to the cashiers,” said Ray Babbitt, Sue’s husband and an Ace employee. “She’s like a mother to all of them.”
Ray said he is grateful for his wife’s recovery. It feels miraculous to see her now. About a month ago doctors were doubtful she would survive the illness.
Sue said she feels much better now and is grateful for the medical staff at Strong.
“The people who cared for me you couldn’t ask for better people,” she said.
She was amazed to see so many people drive by her house today to show her some love, especially on the Easter holiday.
Many of the vehicles had signs, welcoming Sue Babbitt home after a difficult month battling flu and pneumonia.
Jennifer Deskins captured a video of the procession and streamed it online through Zoom for friends and family around the country and world, including a stepbrother, Michael Babbitt, who is in the Air Force and stationed in Germany.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2020 at 5:37 pm
Orleans County has two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 while Genesee County has one more confirmed case, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today at about 5:30 p.m.
The two new cases brings Orleans County’s total confirmed cases to 28, while Genesee County is up to 75 cases.
Health Department staff have started contact tracing, putting known contacts in quarantine for two weeks. Those people will be swabbed and tested for Covid-19 if they show symptoms.
There is currently no further information to release on ages and location, the Health Departments said in a news release.
Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon.
“We encourage everyone to continue social distancing and staying home,” the departments said in a statement. “If you need to go out, for essential needs, only one person should be running those errands so as not to risk further exposure. This is not a time for gatherings or play dates or date night. The life you save may be you or a loved one. We can do this together…we are one day closer to this being a memory.”
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he will issue an Executive Order directing employers to provide essential workers with cloth or surgical masks free of charge to wear when directly interacting with the public.
Governor Cuomo also announced he will issue an Executive Order to expand eligibility of individuals to conduct antibody tests to help ensure as many New Yorkers as possible have access to antibody testing as the state continues to bring this critical testing to scale. The State previously provided labs with the flexibility to allow more workers to do testing for COVID-19; this executive order expands that authority so the same workers can perform antibody tests.
The Governor also joined National Governors Association Chair, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan in a bipartisan effort calling for $500 billion in aid to states. The federal CARES Act contained zero funding to offset drastic state revenue shortfalls. The Governor also reiterated his call for the Federal government to repeal SALT.
“The big question for everyone right now is when do we reopen the economy, but first we need to make sure we have a smart, safe and coordinated plan in place to do it without risking public health,” Cuomo said. “The keys to reopening the economy are continuing to limit the spread of the virus and ramping up antibody testing. I am going to issue two executive orders – one directing employers to provide essential workers with a mask to wear when they are interacting with the public, and one to expand the number of people who are eligible to conduct the antibody test. These measures will be key to getting people back to work and making sure they are protected when they do go back.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2020 at 2:30 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The flag is lowered on Main Street near Christ Church in Albion. Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered flags to be lowered while the state is on pause with schools and nonessential businesses closed until at least April 29. The state is nearing 10,000 deaths from Covid-19.
More than 5,000 people died in New York State this past week from Covid-19.
“This is truly tragic news,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference today. “I want every family to know they are in our thoughts and prayers. We’re sorry they had to go through this. I want them to know New Yorkers did everything humanly possible to be there for their loved ones and try to save those lives.”
Saturday there were 758 deaths from Covid-19. This past week there were 5,226 people who died in the state from Covid-19. There was a high of 799 on April 8. The week started with 599 deaths on April 5.
Cuomo said the curve is flattening, and he is hopeful the state won’t see a higher number of deaths than this past week.
“It has been flattening but flattening at a terribly high level,” Cuomo said.
The state has now suffered 9,385 total deaths from Covid-19, with most of those in the past month.
“Every one is a face, and a name and a family that is suffering on this weekend.”
The governor today also confirmed 8,236 additional cases of coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 188,694 confirmed cases.
Governor returns 35 donated ventilators to nursing home near Albany
Photo by Mike Groll/Office of the Governor: Andrew Cuomo speaks at the Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niskayuna this morning. He thanked the facility for loaning 35 ventilators, which were returned today.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo returned 35 donated ventilators to the Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niskayuna near Albany. He also delivered cookies to the nursing home that were prepared by his daughters.
This ventilators were unsolicited by the state and came as a surprise to Cuomo. He said the donation lifted his spirit and gave him added resolve when facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
“That a nursing home would come forward, unsolicited, gratuitously, and say we want to lend 35 ventilators in case our neighbors downstate need them. What an incredibly beautiful, generous gesture. I want to say thank you on behalf of all of the people of the state. The family of New York we talk about. We talk about that we’re a family – upstate, downstate – we’re all one family. That family is there to support one another and I want to say thank you on their behalf.”
Cuomo said the nursing home’s spirit of sharing and thinking of others struggling sets a powerful example.
“I also want to say thank you, personally,” the governor said at the nursing home. “I also want to say thank you on a personal level because this hasn’t been easy for anyone, but I want the team here and the people at Pathways to know that they gave me an inspiration and they gave me energy and they gave me resolve. Their gesture was so beautiful and so kind and so symbolic of everything we want to be at our best. Everything we aspire to be. Everything we’re all trying to be. Listen to our better angels. Be better, be more generous, more gracious, more loving. Get to that level. That’s what Pathways did and they did it for me and I wanted to say thank you very much. Thank you and God bless you.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 April 2020 at 9:55 am
Director of child care center delivers treats to Medina families
Provided photo: Kim Southcott, director of Praising Kids Child Care Center, dons Easter Bunny ears to deliver Easter goodie bags to the homebound children from her daycare. Southcott delivered almost 50 bags Thursday and Friday.
MEDINA – The hardest part of Kim Southcott’s job is not being able to go to work.
Southcott is director of Praising Kids Child Care Center, the facility run by Medina United Methodist Church in their former church building on West Center Street. The center has been closed for three and one-half weeks due to the government-mandated shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Even though we can’t be open now, I wanted to do something to show the children I care,” Southcott said. “Even when I’m home, I never stop working. The first thing when I wake up in the morning, I think of the children and how I can help them.”
She thought it was important to do something to give the families a little bit of hope in this trying time.
Southcott contacted the board and got permission to compile Easter bags for the children. Several of the child care center’s dozen teachers and board members made donations and Southcott footed the bill for the rest. She purchased bags, candy bunnies, chocolate eggs, Nerds, crayons, paints and Peeps for the children to paint, on which Brushstrokes gave her a deal.
She also wanted to make sure each family had food and included food items, such as tuna fish, noodles and peanut butter in each bag. Some of the board members contributed encouraging notes.
Then she texted or contacted each family she felt wouldn’t be home and set out Thursday and Friday to deliver nearly 50 bags.
“The children were excited and the parents were very grateful,” Southcott said.
She said she left each of the bags on the family’s porch, and her reward was seeing the children’s smiling faces as they waved to her through the window.
“Even though we can’t be open now, this was a way to show the children and their families we care,” she said.
Easter Bunny pays a visit in Middleport
Provided photo: Kelsey Huwley dressed up as the Easter Bunny and rode in the back of a truck around Middleport on Saturday.
“Just trying to bring some Easter joy to the people in my community,” Huwyler posted on Facebook.
