Photos by Tom Rivers
Some powerful wind and a thunderstorm passed through Orleans County around 3 p.m. today. This photo of the Orleans Coutny Courthouse in Albion was taken at 3:30, when there were still dark skies.
This photo of the courthouse dome includes a bird at the very top.
Pamela Moore sent in this photo after the thunderstorm passed through around 3 p.m. This is looking south of Barre with the storm heading east.
President Donald Trump announced today that he will be extending federal guidelines for social distancing until April 30. Those guidelines, intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus, were due to expire on Monday. The president put them in place originally for 15 days.
More than 2,000 people affected by the virus in the United States have died, including nearly 1,000 in New York State.
The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America
• Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities.
• If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.
• If your children are sick, keep them at home. Do not send them to school. Contact your medical provider.
• If someone in your household has tested positive for the coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work. Do not go to school. Contact your medical provider.
• If you are an older person, stay home and away from other people.
• If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition that can put you at increased risk (for example, a condition that impairs your lungs or heart function or weakens your immune system), stay home and away from other people.
Do Your Part to Slow the Spread of the Coronavirus
• Even if you are young, or otherwise healthy, you are at risk and your activities can increase the risk for others. It is critical that you do your part to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
• Work or engage in schooling from home whenever possible.
• If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule. You and your employers should follow CDC guidance to protect your health at work.
• Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
• Avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts — use drive-thru, pickup or delivery options.
• Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits.
• Do not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
Practice Good Hygiene
• Wash you hands, especially after touching any frequently used item or surface.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.
• Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Lucas Jones, his sister Mary and their mother Karen decorate their vehicle with a Happy Birthday sign.
They were part of a caravan of vehicles that drove through Kendall today sharing birthday greetings with children who have been homebound much of the past two weeks and haven’t been able to have a typical birthday party. There haven’t been any birthday recognitions at the school, with it being closed, and kids also are encouraged not to have friends over.
The Kendall school district, like the others and Orleans County, announced on March 14 they would be closed until further notice due to health concerns with the spreading coronavirus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that public schools in the state would be closed until at least April 15.
Mary Jones, 15, a freshman at Kendall said she misses her friends and being in class in person. She has been doing her schoolwork at home, and connecting with some of her teachers and classmates online through Zoom.
“Being at home without your friends it lonely and boring,” she said.
Jones was preparing to be in the school’s musical production of Annie. She hopes the show can go on, somehow.
Her brother Lucas, 13, is an eighth-grader. He was going to help with the musical in stage crew. He also was on the tennis team, which hasn’t been able to practice the past two weeks. The season is very much uncertain right now.
Lucas and his sister said they are trying to keep up with their friends through social media but it’s not the same as seeing them in person.
Their mother Karen Jones has been a Kendall bus driver the past seven years. She is still driving bus for the school during the closure, delivering meals and even schoolwork to students.
Kolby Primmer, left, and Eric Warren are both seniors at Kendall. They hadn’t seen each other in a couple weeks. They maintained social distancing at the Kendall Elementary School parking, where the vehicles gathered for the birthday caravan.
Kolby said the uncertainty with when school could reopen is hard for seniors.
“We don’t know what will happen with the senior trip or graduation,” he said.
The senior class is planning a trip to Philadelphia in late May. Commencement is scheduled for June 26.
Eric Warren, the other senior, said he welcomed the chance to see some classmates today.
“All of my friends go to school and that’s the only time I can see them,” he said.
Kolby Primmer and this mother Margaret decorate their vehicle for the processional.
Patty Longrod, a substitute aide at Kendall, decorates her vehicle with a birthday greeting. Her husband, Dana Longrod, is a fifth grade teacher at Kendall. He joined his wife in the caravan today, eager for a chance to see students and other community members.
Mr. Longrod, a teacher for 34 years, a couple weeks ago prepared a packet of schoolwork to last a month for his students who are at home. Longrod said he’s never experienced any kind of prolonged shutdown like this during his career, with a return date unknown.
“It’s sort of a work in progress,” Longrod said. “None of us have ever dealt with this situation. We’re seeing what works and what needs to be improved.”
Longrod said the spring is usually a highlight of the year with field trips and many engaging activities for the kids.
“I can’t wait to get back to class,” he said. “It’s a fun job.”
These people brought some school pride for the trek around town.
Kadence Schoonmaker, a Kendall third-grader, helps decorate her family’s vehicle for the trip around town today.
“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to see each other,” said her mother, Lindsay Schoonmaker. “She has been inside the past two weeks and has been losing her mind.”
The vehicles head north on Route 237. They traveled along several roads in town.
To see a video of the cars heading out of Kendall Elementary School, click here.
There was a small earthquake near Medina and Lyndonville at about 1 p.m. today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The earthquake measured 2.6 on the Richter scale and occurred at a depth of 5 kilometers somewhere between a mile and 15 miles north of Medina.
A map from the U.S. Geological Survey puts the earthquake out in Lake Ontario, not far from the shore in Yates. (Click here to see a map and the report from the U.S. Geological Survey.)
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Photo by Darren McGee, Office of Governor: Andrew M. Cuomo gives an update today on coronavirus cases and the state’s response.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced all NYS on Pause functions will be extended for the next two weeks. The governor also directed the state nonessential workforce to continue to work from home for an additional two weeks through April 15th. The state will re-evaluate after this additional two-week period.
In-person workforce restrictions, which have been implemented through various Executive Orders — 202.3 (restaurants and bars, gyms, fitness centers, movie theaters and casinos); 202.4 (local government workforces, school districts; village elections); 202.5 (malls, public amusement facilities); 202.6 (all non-essential reduce 50%); 202.7 (barber shops, salons, other personal care); 202.8 (DMV); 202.10 (non-essential gatherings of any size); 202.11 (extension of school district closure until April 15, 2020) — are also extended until April 15 to enable uniform extension and review of such restrictions, and any such restrictions may be extended by future executive orders.
• Governor Cuomo also announced that New York State’s Wadsworth Lab has developed a new, less intrusive test for COVID-19. The new test is done through a saliva sample and a self-administered short nasal swab in the presence of a health care professional.
Additionally, health care professionals can self-administer the test without another health care professional present. This new test will help conserve personal protective equipment, or PPE, for healthcare workers, reduce potential exposure of the virus to health care workers and will allow the state to continue to test as many individuals as possible in New York amid the national shortage of the more intrusive nasopharyngeal, or NP, swabs.
Self-collection of nasal swabs has been done before for other respiratory viruses such as flu and it has been shown to be effective and safe, and collection of a saliva sample is simple and non-invasive. This new testing will begin within a week.
• The Governor also issued an executive order to allow schools to host day care free of charge.
• After speaking with the state’s major pharmacy chains, the Governor announced that pharmacies have agreed to offer free home delivery to help reduce long lines for prescriptions at their facilities.
“There is no state in the nation that is better prepared or better mobilized to combat this virus than New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “The number of cases is still going up towards the apex, and the development of new, faster tests will be critical in flattening this curve, getting people back to work and returning to normalcy.”
• Finally, the Governor confirmed 7,195 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 59,513 confirmed cases in New York State.
(Editor’s Note: The latest state numbers show Genesee has 2 more cases for 9 positives total, while Orleans didn’t add anymore and remains at 4. Among the other GLOW counties, Wyoming added 1 and is at 8 cases, while Livingston has 5 more positives for 10 total.
Also nearby to Orleans, Erie has 40 more cases for 358 total, Monroe has 27 more for 219 and Niagara has 5 more confirmed cases for 38 total.)
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Orleans County from noon to 3 p.m. today. That warning also includes northwestern Wyoming County, northeastern Erie County, eastern Niagara County and Genesee County.
The Weather Service warns the thunderstorm could bring 60 mile per hour wind gusts and nickel-size hail. “Expect damage to roofs, siding and trees,” the Weather Service said.
A severe thunderstorm watch also is in effect until 6 p.m. That watch include all of Western New York.
A wind advisory also is in effect for Orleans County and much of WNY from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. today with the strongest wind gusts expected during the late afternoon and early evening.
“Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects,” the Weather Service said. “A few tree limbs could be blown down, resulting in isolated power outages. Tents and temporary outdoor structures may be damaged by the gusty winds.”
The barn is reflected in water along Route 237 in Kendall at about 12:30 p.m.
Sue Kingsbury of Hamlin sent in these photo of flowers that have popped out at the start of spring. Kingsbury, a Kendall Junior-Senior High School employee, took these photos on Friday.
She urged people to get outside and enjoy nature, especially during this time when the government is urging people to avoid crowds and social gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Today is forecast for a high in the mid-60s.
Press Release, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Due to extensive community transmission of COVID-19 in the area, CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.
This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply. These employees of critical infrastructure, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (click here to see the list) have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedules.
The Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will have full discretion to implement this Domestic Travel Advisory.
(UPDATED today at 1:28 p.m.) “This is not a lockdown,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today about the advisory. “This is a travel advisory to be implemented by the states, in essence. This is nothing that we haven’t been doing. Nonessential people should stay home. It’s totally consistent with what we’ve been doing.”
Day #1 of My Unpaid Holiday from work. It is 5:12 .p.m and I am still in my PJ’s on March 22nd.
Oh dear, I need a plan. This is the first time in over 18 years I have had more than four consecutive work free days off at home.
Honestly, it is a bit intoxicating that I have no place pressing to be. There are some things I am tempted to do like binge watch TV.
There are things I should do like clean out the bathroom pantry which I have been procrastinating on for longer than I am willing to publicly admit. Or I could get down on my hands and knees and organize all the lower cabinets in the kitchen, ugh! There are some things I really want to do that I don’t always take time for like read a good book.
My Aunt gave me The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Definitely going to crack that open. The idea of getting outside and practicing with my new camera is exciting, Lord knows I need it. Already I am spending lots of time texting with friends which is good and scrolling social media which is not so good and close to being restricted.
Now I know many of you are in this same boat as I am. Some may be looking forward to a little time off and many are too anxious, which is totally understandable. Truth be told I am dipping in both ponds. But I am going to choose to embrace this time of respite and regroup, because sometimes a little alone time is needed to clear all the cobwebs out, see clearly and reset.
Twenty years back I lost my job and was out of work for 3 months. I spent most of that time trying to be productive feeling that was the proper thing to do. What I wish I would have done is taken more time to just breathe while given the chance. Because before long it was back to a work schedule.
Now it is 20 years later and there is an opportunity for a do over. So maybe I won’t make that plan or overthink the should do’s or could do’s. Instead I am just going to take this bump in the road of life and cruise through it doing things that will bring me peace day by day, makeup free because no one can see me!
This is no time to put added pressures on ourselves by creating expectations. Just enjoy your families or quiet time. Because before you know it we will all be bustling about wondering when we are going to find time to do the things we have been wanting to.
By the time you read this it will be several days from the completion date of this post and I hope all us on Coronacation have seized the days at home and pray we are all healthy enough to enjoy them. And if you need help there is no shame in asking for it, because we all need a boost sometimes. It is an unsettling thing that is happening in the world, but my wish is that a little peace comes from it.
If anyone ever needs a boost, please hit me up. dlblooms@gmail.com. I am always available and when I help you, I help myself too.
Join My Blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com to catch up on weekly photo perks and past posts. Like and share your comments on what you would do with a Staycation.
Happy Perks to Everyone!
Truly,
Debbie Burgoon London
Your Sassy Small Town Missus from Albion
The state and federal governments have both pushed back the filing deadline for taxes by three months, from April 15 to July 15.
“This good news for individuals, for businesses,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. “You don’t have to file your state tax return, you file it with the federal tax return on July 15th. This is bad news for the State of New York on a parochial level. That means we receive no revenue coming in until July 15th.”
The governor’s announcement came about a week after Steven Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, announced the federal filing date would be July 15.
The IRS states the following on its website (click here) about the deadline:
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are providing special tax filing and payment relief to individuals and businesses in response to the COVID-19 Outbreak. The filing deadline for tax returns has been extended from April 15 to July 15, 2020. The IRS urges taxpayers who are owed a refund to file as quickly as possible. For those who can’t file by the July 15, 2020 deadline, the IRS reminds individual taxpayers that everyone is eligible to request an extension to file their return.
This filing and payment relief includes:
The 2019 income tax filing and payment deadlines for all taxpayers who file and pay their Federal income taxes on April 15, 2020, are automatically extended until July 15, 2020. This relief applies to all individual returns, trusts, and corporations. This relief is automatic, taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify.
This relief also includes estimated tax payments for tax year 2020 that are due on April 15, 2020.
Penalties and Interest
Penalties and interest will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of July 16, 2020. You will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by July 15.
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004.
Press Release, Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Departments
One more resident in Genesee County tested positive for Covid-19 since yesterday afternoon, stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
“This now brings the official total to 8 positive cases in Genesee County,” Pettit said. “Orleans County remains the same with 4.”
The individual who tested positive in Genesee County is under the age of 65 and resides in the central part of the county. The person is at home in mandatory isolation. The Health Department is reaching out to people the person has been in close contact with recently.
Genesee and Orleans County health officials emphasize that the public should take precautions against the spread of the coronavirus. Practice social distancing and wash your hands often.
If you are sick with any illness, the best way to keep it from spreading is to stay home! If you have a fever, cough and/or trouble breathing, please call your health care provider for an assessment of your symptoms. For general questions in regard to COVID-19, please contact the NYS COVID-19 Hotline at: 1-888-364-3065 or click here to ask a question electronically.
(Mike Groll/Office of the Governor: Andrew Cuomo holds a manual bag valve that could be used if a ventilator is unavailable. Cuomo today said the state has bought 3,000 of the valves and has ordered 4,000 more. They require a person to manually pump them. The governor said he hopes they aren’t needed. “This looks easy. I guarantee if you do this for any length of time, you’ll see how difficult it winds up being. This is the alternative if you don’t have the ventilators,” Cuomo said at a press briefing in Albany.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York has passed 50,000. The state added 7,681 new positive cases since Friday, bringing the total to 52,318. Four weeks ago, the state didn’t have any confirmed cases.
The 7,681 is the biggest increase one-day increase for the state.
Orleans didn’t have any new cases reported, but the state’s numbers show 32 more confirmed cases in neighboring Monroe, 99 more in Erie County and 10 more in Niagara County.
New York City accounted for 4,368 of the 7,681 new positives.
The governor shared some positive news in the fight against the virus. The number of ICU admissions on Friday was 172, down from 374 on Thursday.
But there was worse news with the number of deaths in the state from Covid-19, increasing from 519 to 728, with the 209 the biggest one-day toll from the virus.
“These are people who we lost because of this virus,” Cuomo said. “If they didn’t have this virus, they would be with us today.”
Cuomo urged people to not be complacent and continue to wash their hands frequently, practice social distancing in public and stay home as much as possible.
“It’s going to be a marathon, but we’re going to get through it and we will get through it, and we are going to be the better for it when we get through it,” Cuomo said. “We will have learned a lot. We will have changed. We will be different, but I believe net, we’ll be different in a positive way.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that a presidential primary scheduled for April 28 has been pushed back to June 23.
The governor said he didn’t want large groups of people heading to polling sites next month while the state is expected to be in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The special election for the New York 27th Congressional District also will be moved back. That election is scheduled for April 28. One of the candidates, Nate McMurray, urged the governor to push back the date of that election due to the health concerns from the virus.
On Twitter, McMurray thanked the governor “for putting public health over politics.”
Chris Jacobs, a candidate for NY-27, issued this statement about the postponed election: “My foremost concern is the health and safety of all New Yorkers in this difficult time. As we continue to deal with this national challenge, I urge everyone to stay safe and follow all the recommended guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will meet this challenge as we always have. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.”
Village elections, which originally were set for March 18, were pushed back to April 28. It’s unclear if those elections have also been moved to a later date.
The organization, Common Cause/NY, praised Cuomo for moving back the presidential primary, which also will be aligned with the congressional and state legislative primaries on June 23.
“Consolidating the presidential primary to June 23rd is the right move to protect voters’ health and free up much needed funding for more immediate public health needs,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY. “We applaud Governor Cuomo for taking this step. Next, New York lawmakers must expand absentee voting to ensure all voters can exercise their right to vote – no matter the situation.”
Press Release, FMC Middleport
MIDDLEPORT – FMC Corporation’s Agricultural Sciences facility in Middleport has stepped up to help the medical community and local first responders in the fight against COVID-19 by donating a limited supply of respirators, safety glasses and Tyvek protective clothing suits.
Dr. Roberta Kloda, FMC Middleport plant manager, announced that the plant has donated six cases of N95 respirators (about 300 total) to the Shelby Fire Department for distribution to local hospitals, 12 cases of safety glasses to the Niagara County Local Emergency Planning Committee and Tyvek protective clothing suits to the Middleport Fire Department.
“We are all in this unprecedented effort together,” Kloda said. “Safety is a core value of FMC’s operations and these needed items will help protect the local medical community and first responders as they treat and assist those who are affected by the coronavirus.”
Press Release, Tops Markets
The Tops Crisis Management Team and executive management have been monitoring and meeting daily and have been responding accordingly to ensure business continuity and to limit disruption to our customers.
Tops is no longer limiting milk purchases to two per customer.
At this time Tops is limiting the following items to two (2) per customer (unless otherwise indicated) to allow as much available inventory to assist as many of our customers as possible:
• Adult Care, Baby Formula, Baby Wipes, Bath Tissue, 18 roll pack or larger, Big Pack Chicken, Bleach – 1 container, Cereal – Four boxes
• Cleansing Flushable Wipes, Commercial breads and rolls, Cough & Cold, Diapers, Disinfectant Sprays, Disinfectant Wipes, Eggs – one carton
• Facial Tissue, Flour- one package per customer (all brands, all sizes), 4 total gallons of water per customer – This includes spring, distilled, purified or 3-pack gallon water
• Fresh ground beef, pork, chicken, and sausage, Frozen Vegetables – Four bags, Hand Sanitizer, Laundry Detergent, Liquid Dish Detergent, Multipack water (This includes all brands of water)
• Oatmeal, Pain Remedies, Pasta Sauce – Four jars, Peanut Butter, Rubbing Alcohol, Sanitary Protection, Sugar- One package per customer (All brands, all sizes), Tops Stick Butter Quarters 16 oz.
Additionally our bulk bin section will be closed temporarily. Many of these products are available in prepackaged form.
We appreciate your patience as our supply chain and distribution teams have also been working around the clock to ensure that the food, cleaning supplies, household essentials, and pharmaceuticals that you need are reaching our stores as quickly as possible and are available to purchase in-store, with grocery pick-up, or by delivery.
Since this is an ever changing situation, we will continue to monitor it closely and will make adjustments accordingly.
