MEDINA — Mayor Michael Sidari has issued an emergency order, closing the village playgrounds, including the skate park, to the public to assist in lowering the spreading of the coronavirus, which threatens the public health, the mayor said.

The emergency order also closes the village buildings to the public, except for employees and by appointment.

Sidari said the village parks and buildings will be monitored by the Medina Police Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement and the DPW superintendent.

The emergency declaration is in effect for 30 days, but Sidari said he would review it in five days.

The Village of Albion has also closed its public parks.

The Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Department has reported that 3 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Genesee County, bringing the total confirmed cases there to 16.

In Orleans County, there are no new cases, keeping the county’s total at 6.

In Genesee, the three new cases are all people under the age of 65. One lives in the central part of the county, while two others are on the western side of the county, according to the Health Department.

In addition, those new confirmed cases include two people who were under mandatory quarantine. Since they tested positive they are now under mandatory isolation.

Cumulative Data

• Orleans County –  6 confirmed cases, 110 negatives who were tested, 6 in mandatory isolation (after testing positive), 9 in mandatory quarantine, 5 in precautionary quarantine, 0 deaths and 0 recoveries.

• Genesee County – 16 confirmed cases, 161 negatives, 14 in mandatory isolation (after testing positive)m 30 in mandatory quarantine, 11 in precautionary quarantine, 1 death and 1 recovered.

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing has been initiated for all the new cases.  Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (if symptoms become present), according to the Health Department.

If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the local Health Department, quarantined and, if warranted, swabbed if indicated.

HIPPA Regulations

“Limited information is provided to the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations and out of the respect of those impacted by this virus,” the Health Department said in a news release. “When, and if, there is a situation where potential contact is made in a public location where contact tracing doesn’t have actual names we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts.”

Some in the community continue to voice requests about knowing the locations of individuals who have tested positive, those who are being monitored and where they have been in the county so that they may know where to avoid.

“The current situation is that every place is potentially a location that you could catch the virus,” the Health Department stated. “It would be a disservice to our communities to share specific locations that could indicate that there is any area in either county that is unaffected by the threat of COVID-19.  Please stay at home as much as possible, please stay home if you are sick, please encourage others to do the same and please show kindness to others.”

News site, now 7 years old, sets record for traffic

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Legislature met last week in a room that was capped at 10 people. The Orleans Hub has been covering local government meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic, even as some governments move to on-line meetings.

Orleans Hub set new records for traffic in March, with the big numbers driven by coverage of the coronavirus and its impact on the community.

The Orleans Hub had 1,064,215 pageviews in March. That topped the previous record of 875,006 pageviews in October 2019.

The daily pageview average for the month was 34,330, which is up 31.9 percent from the daily average of 26,035 in 2019.

We also averaged 11,519 daily users in March. Our previous high was 9,394 in October 2019. The 11,519 is up 35.9 percent from the daily average users of 8,475 in 2019.

Our traffic really started to take off on March 12. Since then we have been over 10,000 unique visitors and 30,000 pageviews every day. That is 20 straight days at those thresholds.

March 17 was the high with 49,533 pageviews, and March 28 had the most unique visitors at 17,645.

A story about Darlene Rich, the Shelby town clerk, sharing about coming down with the coronavirus on a trip to Florida was the most-viewed article during the month.

We’ve had to adapt to covering the local news, with more governments shifting to on-line meetings and many events being cancelled.

The Orleans Hub has now been around for seven years. We officially launched the site on April 2, 2013.

We appreciate the support of the community, especially the advertisers, many of which have been with us since Day 1.

But these are challenging times. News sites across the country are taking a big hit in advertising dollars as many businesses have been forced to close or scale back. Many news sites are laying off staff or putting them on furlough.

If you want to help support this local news operation, you can contribute online (click here) or you can send a check to Orleans Hub, 170 North Main St., Albion NY 14411. Thank you for your consideration.

LYNDONVILLE – The school district has cancelled a faculty and staff parade that was planned for Thursday. Medina also has nixed its “Mustang Motorcade” on Friday.

Jason Smith, the Lyndonville school district superintendent, said the event on Thursday was cancelled “out of an abundance of caution.”

The district is looking at other ways to boost school spirit and connect “virtually” with students and their families, Smith said.

“Our staff was excited to re-connect with our students and families, while maintaining social distance guidelines,” Smith said. “However, given the rapidly changing conditions and recommendations/restrictions, we do not want to take unnecessary risks.”

(Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub is trying to catch up from other articles before the coronavirus dominated the news. The Town Board voted to accept the state grant on March 12.)

YATES – The Yates Town Board is moving ahead with a $2.5 million upgrade of the Town Park on Morrison Road.

The state is paying 95 percent of the costs of the $2.531 million project or $2,404,450. It is part of $300 million in state funding for projects along the southshore of Lake Ontario.

The local share of the Yates project – $126,550 – will be covered with in-kind services by the town Highway Department and also funding by the Lyndonville Area Foundation.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from Oct. 23 shows some of the tables along the shoreline at the Yates Town Park.

The Town Board – Supervisor Jim Simon and board members Jim Whipple, John Riggi, Susan Hrovat and Harold Suhr – voted unanimously on March 12 to accept the grant from the NY State Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Commission. (Click here to see a bigger map of the project.)

“It’s a beautiful little park and now it will be more beautiful,” said Simon, the town supervisor.

Some highlights of the project include an L-shaped breakwater at $640,000; pavilion with bathroom and fire place, $394,000; park activities (kayak boat launch, dock ramp, ADA compliant playground), $266,000; road, parking, pavement, $95,000; stone dust trail with benches, garbage can, bike rack and plantings, $75,000; stormwater, $56,000; electrical, $42,000; erosion control, $41,000; sanitary/leach field, $31,000 and water service, $20,000.

Engineering costs also are estimated at $372,000, with legal and administration fees at $93,000.

Annual operation and maintenance costs with the added amenities are estimated at $3,000 for water and electric service, insurance, bathroom cleaning and septic tank costs and other operation, maintenance costs. However, the town will save $1,500 annually by not needing portable bathrooms at the park. So the net increased operation and maintenance costs will be $1,500 or an additional penny on the town tax rate, according to the town’s calculations.

Simon sees many reasons for moving forward with the project. He wrote a letter to the editor in the Orleans Hub on Jan. 31, outlining the positives of an expanded town park (click here).

Simon believes the park will improve the quality of life in the community, improve health and wellness, and boost property values in that part of the community.

Simon said he would like to see the community eventually work to put in sidewalks from north of the village on Route 63 to the Town Park. That would be an ideal link between the village and park for walkers, joggers and cyclists, Simon said.

MEDINA – The school district has cancelled a Mustang Motorcade that was planned for Friday, with teachers and staff driving throughout the community to see students.

“We are doing this for precautionary reasons,” said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent. “We do not want our children and families, who may be outside lining the parade route, to wind up becoming too close to their neighbors and friends.”

Kruzynski said the district will try another way to connect with children and boost their spirits during an extended school shutdown.

“The goal of this parade was to spread cheer and community, and we are going to put together a ‘virtual parade’ in the very near future,” he said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Albion Village Hall is shown on March 15, 2016 when there was a village election. The village was supposed to have an election on March 18. The election was moved to April 28 and then again to June.

The village elections that were moved back to April 28 now will happen in June, at a specific date to be determined.

The governor had already delayed the village elections that were set for March 18. He moved them to April 28, but said the health concerns over the coronavirus warrant pushing back the elections.

Albion, Lyndonville and Medina all were scheduled to have their elections on March 18. Holley has its election in June on third Tuesday or June 19 this year.

He issued an executive order that also moves back library and school elections scheduled in May to also be in June.

Executive Order 202.13 from the governor states: “Any school board, library board, or village election scheduled to take place in April or May of 2020 is hereby postponed until at least June 1, 2020, and subject to further directives as to the timing, location or manner of voting for such elections.”

The school elections and budget votes were scheduled for May 19. Libraries don’t have a uniform day for their elections. Hoag Library in Albion was scheduled to elect trustees on May 4 from noon to 7 p.m.

The governor also has moved the presidential primary and a special election for the 27^th Congressional District from April 28 to June 23. That day will also be a primary for local, state and federal positions.

All of the elections likely wouldn’t be on the same day at the same polling place. The village elections tend to be at the village offices (Medina has its election at the Senior Center, the former railroad depot). School elections are at the schools, and the library votes for board members at the libraries. (The funding for the libraries is voted on as part of the school elections, except at Medina where the library votes on its budget as part of the trustee election.)

The primaries for town, county, state and federal positions tend to be at town halls. (Albion uses Hoag Library as a polling place and part of Ridgeway votes at the Ridgeway fire hall).

If the local elections – village, library and school – were the same date residents could be voting at multiple locations. That could be confusing and perhaps frustrating for residents. There would also be a need for more voting machines if there were multiple elections at multiple locations on the same day. Those details all need to be worked out.

The governor, in his executive order, said the village, school and library elections are “subject to further directive as to the timing, location or manner of voting for such elections.”

Press Release, Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman

ALBION – Take 5 for New York is a new county-wide campaign that is being launched to encourage Orleans County residents to take five minutes out of each day to call a friend, loved one, or acquaintance who may be alone and feeling isolated during this period of social distancing.

Lynne Johnson

It is part of a state-wide effort promoted by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC).

“Participating county officials are calling on their residents to take just five minutes of everyday to call on a loved one, friend, neighbor, acquaintance to say hi, check on them, see if they need anything, lift their spirits, and tell them they are not alone, “ said Stephen Acquario, NYSAC Executive Director. “It doesn’t matter what you talk about. You can talk about this crisis or the latest show you are watching. The point is connecting with people in our community who could use it the most.”

This statewide campaign is being launched with the hashtag #Take5ForNY.

The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all the counties of New York State, including the City of New York.

You’re here checking the site, so you know: Orleans Hub is a vital resource for our community. Day in and day out, we share information and insights that matter to those who live and work in the towns, villages and hamlets of our county. Local advertisers help make the Hub possible, and so can you.
We do not charge for subscriptions, we do not have pop-up ads or ask you to do surveys to access the news.

Donate today to keep Orleans Hub healthy and accessible to all. Thank you!
A check can be mailed to Orleans Hub, P.O. Box 231, Albion, NY 14411.

Provided photo

MURRAY – A utility pole on Telegraph Road in Murray was struck by a truck at 7:06 p.m., causing a power outage for about 2,000 National Grid customers in the Murray and Brockport areas.

The company is estimating the power will be back on at 9:15 p.m.

The driver was walking outside the truck after the accident and doesn’t appear to have suffered any serious injuries.

No other information is available.

ALBION — The Orleans County Treasurer, who is tax enforcing officer for the county, will stay the enforcement of any foreclosure on residential or commercial property for 90 days, Kim DeFrank, the county treasurer, announced today.

She is adhering to the Governor’s Executive Order 202.8.

Information about the 2016 Tax Foreclosure proceedings and 2020 County Tax Foreclosure Auction can be obtained by contacting the Treasurer’s Office at (585) 589-5353.

The Treasurer’s Office remains open at 34 East Park St., Albion, and is accepting all delinquent tax payments with a safe and secure drop box, DeFrank said.

Any cash payment can be made by calling the office in advance and making an appointment.

‘Everyone is subject to this virus. It is the great equalizer. I don’t care how smart, how rich, how powerful you think you are. I don’t care how young, how old. This virus is the great equalizer.’ – Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Photo by Mike Groll/Office of the Governor: Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a news conference at Albany today. He also shared his brother Chris Cuomo, a journalist with CNN, tested positive for Covid-19.

New York State today reported its biggest daily jump of confirmed Covid-19 cases with 9,298 new positives. That brings the state-wide total to 75,795 confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the first case was reported a month ago.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also shared during a news conference today that more than 1,500 people have now died from the virus in the state. The number of deaths increased in one day from 1,218 to 1,550.

The governor said experts predict the apex, the high point of the crisis, to hit in 14 to 30 days, but no one can be sure.

“The number of cases still going up,” Cuomo said at a news conference today. “We’re all in search of the apex and the other side of the mountain. But we are still headed up the mountain.”

The governor announced hospitals state-wide will be working together to respond to the cases so patients get treated without any one hospital or system being overwhelmed.

The state is launching an online portal that will help connect hospitals and healthcare facilities across the state with the nearly 80,000 healthcare workers who have volunteered to work on a temporary basis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The portal will prioritize the deployment of workers to hospitals with the greatest need. Some of the volunteers are expected to be deployed as early as this Thursday.

“We have two missions overall that we are pursuing. One is the front line of this battle is our hospital system,” Cuomo said. “That’s where this is going to come down to.”

“The second is social responsibility. Stay at home. Don’t get infected in the first place. Don’t get infected in the first place because it goes back to your creating a burden on our health care system that our health care system cannot handle.”

The governor said he doesn’t expect life to return to normal anytime soon. He strongly urged people to stay vigilant in practicing social distancing, washing hands frequently and staying home. He knows it’s difficult for many people to stay inside and not be out enjoying their lives.

“It’s not just about you,” the governor said. “It’s not just about your health and your life that you’re playing with here, my friend. You can infect other people. So I’ve been trying to communicate this many different ways for many days.

“We still see people coming out who don’t need to be out. Even for essential workers, people have to be careful. And again, I’ve been trying to communicate that. Everyone, everyone is subject to this virus. It is the great equalizer. I don’t care how smart, how rich, how powerful you think you are. I don’t care how young, how old. This virus is the great equalizer.”

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is calling on his Assembly colleagues to consider passing a continuing resolution, a bill that sets aside money for government agencies, in order to ensure the state government continues to operate at the fullest capacity until a clearer image of what state expenses will look like appear.

“The fact of the matter is the state has no idea what its expenses and revenue will be tomorrow, let alone for the entire year,” Hawley said. “To try to vote on a budget that can anticipate state revenue in the middle of this crisis is impossible. It makes sense to give the state government a little wiggle room in order to stay functioning during this time.

“A continuing resolution was implemented under Gov. David Paterson’s tenure,” Hawley said. “It makes sense that, under these circumstances, a similar policy could be implemented to keep everyone healthy and keep the state running.”

Information from Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Departments

There is one new confirmed coronavirus case in both Orleans and Genesee counties, the Public Health Department reported today at 4 p.m.

The new case in Orleans is an individual under age 65 from the central part of the county. Orleans now has six confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Genesee’s latest case is under the age of 65 residing in the central part of the county. Genesee now has 13 confirmed cases.

• None of the new positive cases were under precautionary or mandatory quarantine when they became symptomatic and are not believed to be connected, the Health Department said.

• Contact tracing has been initiated for all the new cases. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (if symptoms becomes present).

If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the Health Department, quarantined and if warranted, swabbed if indicated.

“Limited information is provided to the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations and out of the respect of those impacted by this virus,” according to a news release from the Health Department. “When, and if, there is a situation where potential contact is made in a public location where contact tracing doesn’t have actual names we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts.”

Community Spread

Means you can get it from respiratory droplets from infected people and on any surface as long as the virus is still viable. If you touch a door handle, counter, etc. that has the virus on it, then touch a mucous membrane (nose, mouth, eyes) you can introduce the virus into your body.

Identifying a store or business where people may have been doesn’t help because the virus is everywhere and can give a false sense of security that the virus isn’t somewhere else. Limiting trips to the store and designating only one person for shopping can lower the risk of spreading the virus.

With the rising numbers, it is important to know the social distancing guidance will work but it takes time before we can see the results. The coming weeks are most critical in determining how many lives can be saved in our communities by staying safer at home, social distancing, and having good hand (wash often) and cough (do not cough in your hand, but in a disposable tissue or your elbow) hygiene.

Nature Breaks and Parks

We are getting reports of groups not practicing social distancing. Many parks have roped off areas of their parks to discourage group play (basketball, football, soccer, using shared equipment or frequently touched surfaces such as the playground equipment). This is not a time for playgroups. Parents remind your children they are to keep their distance from non-household members to limit the spread of disease.

State Parks are free with limited services available. They are encouraging New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice social distancing, and use common sense to protect themselves and others. Contact your local park for specific information on any changes to their operations in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt

State Sen. Rob Ortt (R,C,I,Ref-North Tonawanda) sent a letter today to Gov. Cuomo requesting that further measures be put in place to protect officers working in our state’s correctional facilities as well as parole officers.

According to a New York Post article, only officers who are dealing with sick inmates are provided PPE masks, while other officers are forced to work in close quarters with inmates who may have COVID-19, yet show no symptoms of the virus.

“The density of correctional facilities makes them a highly contagious environment, and keeping our law enforcement officers safe should be a top priority during an outbreak of an airborne communicable disease,” said Sen. Ortt.  “Our corrections and parole officers’ inability to wear PPE puts both officers and inmates at risk and opens the door to the possibility of these officers bringing the virus home to their families. The state has designated them as essential; we know they’re essential; let’s treat them as essential.”

According to the New York Post, as of last Monday, 56 officers and sergeants tested positive for the virus — including the president of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Michael Powers. There are also currently hundreds more in quarantine.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – If you are interested in enrolling your child in Holley’s universal pre-kindergarten (UPK) or kindergarten program, please complete the form (click here). This enables us to mail you the appropriate registration packet for you to complete.

Please note: If your child currently attends Holley Central’s UPK, you do not need to register for kindergarten. Your student will be automatically enrolled.

Once completed, applications can be mailed back to the school or dropped off by appointment only. Please contact Karen Bower (Kbower@holleycsd.org or 638-6318, ext. 2580) to set up an appointment.

Copies of birth certificates, proof of residency, immunization records and any applicable custodial paperwork will be collected at a later date. The mailing address is Holley Elementary School, 3800 North Main St., Holley, NY 14470.

Screening dates for UPK and kindergarten will be announced at a later date.