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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 March 2020 at 10:15 am
Provided photo
CLARENDON – Courtney Campbell wore a dinosaur costume on Friday on Route 31A, sending a message that “Extinction Sucks #STAYHOME.”
Campbell wanted to encourage people to stay home as much as possible. If they must go out, practice social distancing, staying at least 6 feet apart from other people. Following those guidelines can help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“Non-compliance may prolong the spread of COVID-19 as well as increasing the spread which can overwhelm our healthcare systems,” the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments said on Friday.
The Health Departments recommended people stick to the basics, limit exposure to the public, wash hands frequently, stay home if ill with any respiratory illness, and keep at least 6 feet from other people.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 28 March 2020 at 8:53 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 6, No. 12
POINT BREEZE – This glass plate negative was recently found in a collection of images within the Department of History. Although the collection is not labeled, it is believed that the photographs are from the Carlton and Point Breeze area. Based on the content of the other images, this photograph appears to show a hotel once operated by Lewis Rogers. This photograph was likely taken before 1911 when the building was destroyed by a fire.
The history of the Point Breeze Hotel dates to around 1840 when, according to Isaac Signor, a small hotel was constructed on this site. Shortly after Capt. Jonathan Murray arrived in the area in the late 1840s, he acquired this property and expanded the hotel building as part of a larger warehouse and ship building operation.
Around 1876, the property was transferred to Moses Broadwell and Chester Warner who operated the hotel until 1881 when Lewis Rogers and L. Sydney Crooker acquired the property. That particular transaction involved a land swap including acreage in Wisconsin and financial interests in property associated with the Central Hotel in Batavia for ownership of the Orleans House at Point Breeze.
Around 1901 the property was sold by Rogers and Crooker to Mary Virginia Bascom of Boston, Massachusetts for the sum of $4,000. The property transfer seems to suggest that Rogers was unable to continue payments on his mortgage. Even though Mrs. Bascom took ownership of the hotel, Lewis Rogers continued to operate the hotel on site.
In late March of 1911, a fire started in the hotel’s kitchen around 3:30 a.m. while Rogers was visiting friends in Vermont. Although the neighborhood responded to fight the fire, gusty winds off the lake made it nearly impossible to control the blaze. The $6,000 building and over $3,000 in personal property owned by Rogers were only partially covered by insurance. Cutting his losses, Rogers transitioned into the role of proprietor of the Cottage House (now the Black North Inn).
The local newspapers noted a peculiar notice that appeared on the fire-damaged structure on May 18, 1911:
“This land is not for sale and no other lands that Mrs. Bascom owned prior to May 18, 1911 and no deed will be valid unless given by C. A. Deavenport, who owns every foot of land, every building, every stick of lumber of every name and nature and who has a bill of sale for every foot of land which Mrs. Bascom owned prior to May 18, 1911.”
The reason for the rather abrasive sign is unknown, but Deavenport purchased several old lumber sheds previously owned by A. V. Clark with the intention of converting the structures into lakefront cottages. It was believed that he intended to construct a bungalow on the site of the old Point Breeze Hotel for his personal use, but the hotel was rebuilt and operated under the name “Lakeland Hotel.” After remaining under the proprietorship of Lewis Rogers for more than 30 years, the property was sold numerous times over the coming years. In 1921, Deavenport sold the property to his son Carl, who then sold it to Clarence Egbert in 1922. It was transferred to Buffalo Parkside Properties, Inc. in 1929, then sold to Emma Kelemen the same year, once again sold to Clara Norton in 1931, then to Dorothy Valtas in 1933.
Around 1940, the hotel property was sold to Joseph Winghart of Lyndonville who changed the name to the “Winghart Hotel.” Winghart and his brother Bernard were known rum runners during Prohibition. The hotel again burned in the early 1940s and although the origin of the fire was never determined, Winghart was certain arson was the cause. Other sales included a transfer to Fred and Annabelle Hollenbeck who changed the name back to the Lakeland Hotel, sale of the property to Harvey Bardo of Rochester in 1946, and transfer of the hotel in 1956 to Herbert Seiler.
Although this building is long gone, locals will remember the property as the The Lakeland, The Barbary Coast, and was most recently the home of Gene and Joette Haines.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 March 2020 at 8:30 pm
‘This has been very scary, but I’m doing the best I can. You could say I’ve been to hell and back.’
SHELBY – Darlene Rich and her husband Mike were looking forward to their Florida vacation, which included going to the drag races.
Instead, they spent eight days confined to their motel room after she became sick after arriving in Orlando. A trip to the emergency room confirmed their worse suspicions. She had contracted the coronavirus.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Darlene Rich is recovering at home after contracting the coronavirus.
“People were talking about the virus before we left,” Darlene, the Shelby town clerk, said today by phone from her home, where she is currently recuperating. “We left March 10, a Tuesday, and flew to Orlando, planning to go to the drag races and spend a few extra days sightseeing. Things looked good on Thursday, and we had done a few things there, when we learned the races had been canceled.”
Later that day, Rich started coughing and couldn’t stop. She has asthma, and on Friday she was wheezing so bad it was hard to breathe. Mike went and bought a thermometer and she had a temperature of 101.5.
“I knew I had all the symptoms of the virus, and we called the ER,” Darlene said. “They did a chest X-ray and told me I had pneumonia. That scared the crap out of me.”
No testing for the virus can be done without approval from the Health Department, but it was 9 o’clock Friday night and they had gone home for the weekend.
“But the nurse said I had enough symptoms to do the test,” Darlene said. “Then they sent us back to our motel and ordered us to stay quarantined.”
They waited all weekend and all day Monday for the results, until Monday night when they got the call that her test was positive.
“All I wanted to do was sleep,” Darlene said. “Mike tried and tried to get me to eat or drink something, but I just wanted sleep.”
She had been given an antibiotic for the pneumonia and Tylenol for the pain and fever.
By Friday, Darlene was well enough that she wanted to go home. The Health Department had told them she couldn’t get on a plane, that they would have to drive. When they travel, she usually does most of the driving, but they rented a car and Mike drove the entire way home.
The trip home was an ordeal, as by then the truck stops had been ordered to close. Darlene was thankful she hadn’t had much to eat or drink, because there were no places to stop once they neared Pennsylvania and New York. The one stop that was open had Port-a-Potties, she said.
She said the Health Department in Florida gave them different guidelines than in New York.
Darlene was nervous she may have exposed some of her family members to the virus before the trip. She attended a birthday party at their daughter’s house the Sunday before they left for Florida. But the Health Department in Florida told Darlene she likely got it on the plane. She didn’t have any symptoms before the trip.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the incubation period for the novel coronavirus can appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. The symptoms generally include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
As a precaution, Darlene’s daughter and young granddaughter also were tested and the results came back negative.
After arriving back in Medina, the Riches contacted the Orleans County Health Department, who have been wonderful to her, Darlene said. A representative has been to the house and tested her again, and Darlene is praying Mike doesn’t get it. She is hopeful he won’t get the virus because today is the 14th day since she came down with it.
When she spoke on the phone today, Darlene said this has been one of her better days, but she is far from out of the woods, even though the Florida Health Department said she had more of a mild case.
“This has been very scary, but I’m doing the best I can.” Darlene said. “You could say I’ve been to hell and back. I know it’s going to be a long haul.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2020 at 5:23 pm
Paul Pettit, Public Health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, speaks at the Orleans County Legislature chambers this afternoon. This image is from a computer screen. The meeting was online through Zoom.
Genesee County now has three more confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to 7, while Orleans County doesn’t have any new cases to report today, keeping the county at 4 confirmed cases.
Paul Pettit, the Public Health director for the two counties, shared the update during an on-line conference with local reporters at 4 p.m.
In Genesee, two of the new cases are people over age 65 in the central part of the county, while the third is under age 65 in western Genesee.
Pettit said the Health Department isn’t giving more information about the peoples’ ages, what town they live in or their gender, even though some in the community have asked for more specifics.
“Respect / Social Responsibility / Fear mongering / Consequences – A reminder Genesee and Orleans Counties are small counties where just about everyone ‘knows your name,’ with that in mind the Health Departments are mandated to adhere to HIPAA regulations therefore we are not releasing potential identifying information of anyone who is under our care,” the Health Department said in a news advisory.
The relevant information, Pettit said, is there is community spread of the virus. If people develop symptoms of a respiratory illness, they should stay home and call a doctor’s office.
People in general should maintain social distancing when they are in public, staying at least 6 feet away from others.
“Talking about who has or hasn’t been tested, is sick or sharing rumors about anything COVID-19 is increasing anxiety in many people,” according to the advisory from the Health Department. “Be respectful and stay home as much as possible. It is safe to go outside or for a ride, but be mindful to keep at least 6’ distance between other people.”
Cumulative Data
Genesee County has received 75 negative test results and Orleans County has received 74 negative test results for COVID-19.
People seeking those tests had symptoms. Some of them had the flu.
Pettit said the flu remains prevalent in the community, with eight new cases in Orleans and 22 new cases in Genesee, for the week ending March 14.
“This data continues to show a high number of respiratory illness in our counties is not COVID-19,” Pettit said.
• Orleans County: 6 people are under precautionary quarantine, 8 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 4 people are under mandatory isolation – 1 of whom is hospitalized and 3 are recovering at home (one out of county).
• Genesee County: 17 people are under precautionary quarantine, 34 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 4 people are recovering under mandatory isolation at home and 3 person are under mandatory isolation and are hospitalized.
Clearance Protocol
Currently, the Health Department says the NYS clearance protocol for discontinuation of mandatory isolation for persons with confirmed COVID-19 is the following: it has been at least 7 days since the initial positive test for COVID-19, at least 3 days without fever and no use of fever-reducing medication, improvement in the signs and symptoms of the illness and 2 negative swabs at least 24 hours apart.
“Swabbing through the Health Departments is warranted as part of our quarantine/isolation protocol for those who become symptomatic,” the Health Department said in a news advisory. “We are not providing community testing at this time. We will be announcing further information on this as local capacity increases.”
Be careful what you flush
Toilet Paper: A reminder that flushing non-traditional toilet paper, such as tissues, paper towel, baby wipes and more will more than likely cause plumbing issues, the Health Department said.
“On-site septic systems and public sewers are not built to handle these types of materials and will cause problems,” the Health Department said. “If you are using non-traditional products as toilet paper, they are to be thrown in the trash receptacles.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2020 at 3:50 pm
ALBION – The 34thannual Albion Strawberry Festival, scheduled for June 12-13, has already been cancelled due to the health concerns with drawing several thousand people together in the Albion downtown and Courthouse Square.
The number of coronavirus cases has steadily been increasing, with the state banning any public gatherings with more than 10 people.
Costumed characters from Enchanted Princess Parties of Rochester met many people along the parade route.
No one knows for certain if the ban will be lifted in June. But the Albion Rotary Club, sponsor of the Strawberry Festival, decided to not wait to see if the situation changes.
Dick Remley, Rotary Club president, said there were practical issues getting in the way of putting on the festival. Rotary International carries the insurance for the event but notified Rotary Clubs it was cancelling insurance in the short-term for any events that were public gatherings. Remley doubts another insurer could be found for the event given the concerns with the coronavirus.
He also said the Rotary Club has an ethical duty to the community to not put people at risk of contracting the virus.
The Strawberry Festival draws a big crowd to the downtown and Courthouse Square for a parade, live music, and food and craft vendors.
“We felt there was a moral obligation to think of the community’s health and welfare,” Remley said. “We felt it was prudent to cancel.”
Remley is also the Albion town supervisor and has closed the town hall to the public due to concerns about the virus.
The festival should be back next year on June 11-12, said Don Bishop, a member of the Strawberry Festival Committee. Many of the craft and food vendors had already sent in deposits. Their money will be returned to them.
Bishop said the committee couldn’t meet in person because of the crackdown of gatherings larger than 10 people. They had two recent meetings online through Zoom.
Bishop supports canceling the festival this year, and coming back next year.
“We didn’t want thousands of people there with possibility of someone passing the infection to a whole crowd,” he said.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer formally announced the expected passage of the latest COVID-19 emergency package he directly negotiated, delivering +$40 billion dollars to the state, city and its citizens. In reaching an agreement, the Senate will help New York address the coronavirus crisis, support our local communities, and most importantly put workers first.
Sen. Charles Schumer
“This is not a moment of celebration but rather one of necessity,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “The more than $40 billion dollars of additional help on the way to New York is essential to save lives, preserve paychecks, support small businesses, and much more. These critical dollars will inject proverbial medicine into our state, city and localities throughout Upstate New York, to deliver much-needed resources, right now, that can help combat the coronavirus. Like all compromise legislation, this bill is far from perfect—but it now does much more for this state, its people and its future than what we began with.”
• First, this relief package includes a dramatic and historic expansion and reform of the unemployment insurance program, something Schumer has called “Unemployment Insurance (UI) on steroids.” Schumer conceived this plan with an understanding of how the modern New York economy functions and to provide more generous benefits during this crisis to a greater number of New Yorkers, including those who have non-traditional employment like freelancers and gig workers.
The extended and expanded UI program in this agreement increases the maximum unemployment benefit amount by $600 per week above one’s base unemployment compensation benefit and ensures that workers who are laid-off or out of work, on average, will receive their full pay for four months, a full quarter. It ensures that all workers are protected whether they work for small, medium or large businesses, along with the self-employed and workers in the gig economy, who might travel from Upstate to work in the city each day. The $260 billion dollar plan will deliver at least $15 billion directly to New York. Payments of $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for couples accounts for another $15.5B to New York.
• The second major priority of Schumer’s negotiating was to deliver a Marshall Plan for our hospitals and other medical facilities so they can provide necessary care during this pandemic. Schumer was able to create this plan and include over $150 billion for it nationally. Given the New York is the national epicenter of the pandemic, billions of dollars will begin flowing to New York right away.
The money will be available to fund efforts critical to defeating the virus. That includes a massive new grant program for hospitals and health care providers, personal and protective equipment for health care workers, testing supplies, increased workforce and training, new construction to house patients, emergency operation centers and more. Additional funding is also dedicated to delivering Medicare payment increases to all hospitals and providers to ensure that they receive the funding they need during this crisis, and new investments in our country’s Strategic National Stockpile, surge capacity and medical research into COVID-19.
• Third, Schumer, a proud fighter for state and local governments, negotiated a special program to deliver relief to those entities, to help stabilize the ones hardest hit by the virus, like Westchester. An expenditure relief fund of roughly $150 billion dollars will deliver at least $7.5 billion to New York, with more than $168 million going to Westchester County, over $159 million headed towards Erie County, and more than $128 million for Monroe County.
• Fourth, Schumer, a longtime champion of small businesses across New York negotiated a small business rescue plan that allocates more than $375 billion to forgivable loans and grants to small businesses and non-profits so they can maintain their existing workforce and help pay other expenses during this crisis, like rent, a mortgage or utilities. The self-employed, independent contractors, and sole proprietors are eligible for assistance.
New York, with its 2.2 million small businesses and tens-of-thousands of non-profits can expect to see billions of dollars once companies and organizations begin to apply for those funds. NYS small businesses that currently have over 19,000 existing SBA loans will also have relief from the burden of paying those loans with a new policy of the SBA instead paying the principal, interest, and fees for a 6-month period.
• Finally, Schumer negotiated several “emergency appropriations” totaling $180 million that range from billions for hard-hit airports, expanded benefits to SNAP, increased CDBG which helps all our municipalities, funding for child care, of which New York would receive an additional $162 million, nutrition for seniors, nearly $1 billion dollars to help heat homes when income becomes a problem, and $1.5 billion for the National Guard to support to the hardest hit States and territories, like New York where approximately 2,200 members of the National Guard have been activated, amongst other things. New York will see tens-of-billions from this account, as well.
Since Sunday, Schumer made several significant improvements to the bill Leader McConnell first introduced. Here are some of the improvements:
• 4 months of more unemployment insurance instead of 3 months.
• $55 billion increase in the Schumer Marshall Plan for our Health Care System.
• $6.3 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile for critical medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and life-saving medicine.
• $150 billion for a state and local Coronavirus Relief fund.
• $10 billion for SBA emergency grants of up to $10,000 to provide immediate relief for operating costs once a small business or non-profit has applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
• $17 billion for SBA to cover 6 months of payments for small businesses with existing SBA loans.
• $30 billion in emergency education funding and $25 billion in emergency transit funding.
• $30 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to state and local governments, as well as private nonprofits providing critical and essential services.
• $30.75 billion for grants to provide emergency support to local school systems and higher education institutions to continue to provide educational services to their students and support the on-going functionality of school districts and institutions.
• Make rent, mortgage and utility costs eligible for SBA loan forgiveness.
• Ban stock buybacks for the term of the government assistance plus 1 year on any company receiving a government loan from the bill.
• Establish robust worker protections attached to all federal loans for businesses.
• Create real-time public reporting of Treasury transactions under the Act, including terms of loans, investments or other assistance to corporations.
• Add a retention tax credit for employers to encourage businesses to keep workers on payroll during the crisis.
• Provide income tax exclusion for individuals who are receiving student loan repayment assistance from their employer.
• Eliminated $3 billion bailout for big oil.
• Eliminated “secret bailout” provision that would have allowed bailouts to corporations to be concealed for 6 months.
• Saved hundreds of thousands of airline industry jobs and prohibited airlines from stock buybacks and CEO bonuses.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 March 2020 at 12:32 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Two local golfers are shown playing a Shelridge this morning.
With many businesses and activities closed down due to the current Coronavirus concern area golfers anxious to get in some practice did receive some welcome good news this week as state officials have allowed golf courses to open which locally includes Shelridge, Hickory Ridge and White Birch.
“The course is open and we are following state guidelines,” said Shelridge Club Manager Brett Decker in referring to the guidelines issued by the New York State Golf Association for golfers and courses.
Hickory Ridge General Manager Sean Brooks, stated that ” the course is open for play, weather permitting. Please call the pro shop to verify, the number is 595 638-4653. Carts are out on all 18 holes.”
Brooks added that he “prefers the public to reserve and pay online as they cannot take cash. If online is not available please call the pro shop to arrange for payment.”
The State Golf Association release states that “courses in New York are allowed to remain open but must implement all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and state-mandated guidelines, and promote safe, social distancing. There is to be no access to pro shops, locker rooms, indoor facilities and restaurants/bars (unless for take-out purposes only).
“Social distancing on the course may include: Stay at least 6 feet away from others. Don’t shake hands before or after your game. Leave the flagstick in the hole. Remove rakes and ball washers from the course. Do not share clubs or any other equipment and if using a golf cart, limit to one person.
“Due to the unique COVID-19 precautions taking place at golf courses the United States Golf Association (USGA) has provided guidance on how to use the flexibility provided in the Rules of Golf while protecting public health.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2020 at 11:59 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that public schools in the state will stay closed for two more weeks, until at least April 15.
The governor on March 16 announced schools would be closed for two weeks until April 1, due to health concerns about the coronavirus.
The virus has been spreading in the state, with the number of confirmed cases now at 44,635 in New York, up by 7,377 since Thursday. (There are four confirmed cases in Orleans County.)
The number of deaths in the state from the virus is at 519, up from 383 on Thursday.
Cuomo said he will reassess in about two weeks whether schools should reopen. Until then, school districts need to continue to provide childcare, meals and daily programming, he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2020 at 11:13 am
The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest population estimates show Orleans County has one of the largest population declines, by percentage, among the 62 counties in the state.
Orleans County had a population of 42,883 in the 2010 Census. The 2019 population estimate puts the county’s population at 40,352. That’s a drop of 2,531 people. The 5.90 percent reduction ranks 56 out of 62 counties.
Counties with a larger percentage decrease than Orleans include: 57th, Chautauqua, (-5.93%); 58th, Chemung, -6.05%); 59th, Essex, (-6.31%); 60th, Chenango, (-6.48%); 61st, Delaware, (-8.01%); and 62nd, Hamilton, (-8.68%).
The population changes for other nearby counties include:
• Genesee, 4.66 percent drop, from 60,079 to 57,280;
• Niagara, 3.32 percent drop, from 216,469 to 209,281;
• Monroe, 0.35 percent decrease, from 744,344 to 741,770;
• Erie, 0.04 percent decline, from 919,040 to 918,702;
• Livingston, 3.79 percent drop, from 65,393 to 62,914;
• Wyoming, 5.45 percent decline, from 42,155 to 39,859;
State-wide, New York’s population grew by 0.39 percent or 75,459, from 19,378,102 in 2010 to 19,453,561 to 2019.
Upstate declined by 2.00 percent or by 126,830 people, from 6,339,276 to 6,212,446. Downstate grew by 1.55 percent or 202,289 people, from 13,038,826 to 13,241,115.
The data shows that 45 of 50 upstate counties lost population since the 2010 Census. Only three downstate counties had population declines.
The Census Bureau does a population estimate every year. The latest numbers reflect a 12-month period ending last July 1.
The data shows that 50 counties in upstate New York lost 20,846 residents, a decrease of 0.33 percent, while the downstate region lost a combined total of 55,944 people, or 0.42 percent. New York City has lost population the past three years, after a long period of growth, according to analysis by the Empire Center.
International Migration
The Census Bureau also looks at international migration and domestic migration for the counties.
Orleans County added 194 people through international migration for a 0.45 percent growth rate, which ranked 42nd out of 62 counties.
Among the other GLOW counties, Genesee ranked 50th, adding 222 people at 0.37 percent rate; Wyoming was 58th, adding 82 for a 0.19 percent growth rate; and Livingston was 25th, adding 752 people for 1.15 percent rate.
Domestic Migration
Orleans had 2,654 move out, or 6.19 percent of population, the 50th highest rate among the 62 counties.
Among the GLOW counties, Genesee had 2,564 people move out, or 4.27 percent of its population which was 24th highest of the counties. Livingston had 2,841 people migrate away from the county or 4.34 percent, the 26th highest rate. Wyoming ranked 44th with a 5.75 percent migration rate with 2,424 people moving out of the county since 2010.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2020 at 9:54 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The sun sets Wednesday evening in Albion, looking west down State Street. The two red lights are on the traffic lights at the intersection of Main and State streets.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Orleans County and much of Western New York.
“A warm front will slowly move northeast through the Ohio Valley on Saturday, then across our area Saturday night while associated low pressure deepens as it moves northeast into the Upper Mississippi Valley,” the Weather Service said. “This system will bring copious amounts of precipitation to the region over the weekend. This is likely to push some area creeks and rivers close or into action stage, but unlikely to produce flooding at this point.”
Today is forecast to start cloudy and then be sunny with a high near 47.
Saturday there is a chance of showers, mainly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., then rain likely after 3 p.m. It will be cloudy with a high near 50.
On Sunday, there will be showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then showers likely to follow with a high near 64.
(Editor’s Note: This is part of an ongoing “Pandemic Perspectives” series, with people sharing how they are coping with life during the coronavirus pandemic. We welcome more submissions. Send them to news@orleanshub.com.)
By Tom Gardner
HOLLEY – Lynn Unger begins her poem Pandemic, “What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath – the most sacred of times?” I sent this poem to members of our congregation. It contains the best advice I have read or heard about how to come to terms with the coronavirus COVID-19.
I’ve given quite a bit of thought to this question over the course of the last couple weeks. It has helped me to see this whole thing from a different perspective. Not that I’m unfamiliar with things sacred nor are you. I believe we all have some experience we can draw on that will help us to understand what she is getting at when she speaks of sacred times.
She answers this question listing a few ways the Sabbath is lived and honored and holy. She repeats the phrase “give up” a clue to the direction of her thoughts. One such way she writes is to, “Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is.”
I believe it’s time to step back from wherever we have landed and take advantage of the limitations now placed on us. What form it takes is up to each one of us. Some of us have been laid-off, most of us are working from home, as many are homeschooling. The threat is real. Can we find the sacred anywhere in the changes required of us? I like to read, to listen to classical music and walk when the weather permits. God, I believe, is present in all three.
I let our cat Werner out one morning last week a bit envious. He has the run of the yard, not a worry in the world. Seeing him skirt across the yard, running and jumping almost sideways as cats do, brought such unexpected joy – a sure sign of the first days of spring.
People of faith go to their sacred scriptures for comfort during a crisis. I’m all for doing so. There is great comfort in the words “fear not” or” be not afraid.”
We also turn to each other. We gather as families, friends and faith communities to help and support each other though troubled times. We look to the life experience of elders and others we respect for guidance and leadership. Today, this all happens online, in an email or text, over the phone or six feet from each other.
Unger reminds us “that we are connected in ways that are terrifying and beautiful. Know that our lives are in one another’s hands.” I talked with a friend earlier in the week. She has a health condition that puts her in the “at risk” category yet she is planning an outdoor visit with her mother who she hasn’t seen in several weeks.
I think most of us are familiar with the idea that less is more. Maybe that is what Unger is getting at. I pastor a small church in Holley – First Presbyterian. We have 50 members and plenty of pew space on Sunday mornings available for anyone interested. I’ve been the pastor for 11 years and our numbers continue to decline. But, here’s the thing. The smaller we get the better we are able to listen to the Spirit. The more we take to heart and say to ourselves – this is who we are.
We’ve recently taken on a mission project – building a school in remote area of Nicaragua for 50 children – when most weeks we struggle to cover our costs. This as it turns out is our antidote to COVID-19.
Lynn Unger’s poem is available online. I hope you take a minute and track it down. She ends this way, “Reach out with your hearts. Reach out with all the tendrils of compassion. Promise this world your love.”
(Tom Gardner is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Holley.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2020 at 8:18 am
Russ Peters, pastor of the Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship in Shelby, is among the singers in “We Are The World.” About 20 local musicians have solos in the song, which also includes Medina sixth-graders singing the chorus. The video was originally produced in 2014 to raise awareness about bullying.
A video featuring local musicians singing “We Are The World” has 12,000 views and counting since it was posted on Monday.
John Wragg of Middleport, producer of the video (click here), originally created it to send an anti-bullying message. In 2014 the video had about 5,000 views on YouTube.
Wragg believes the video carries a strong message of unity and hope. He decided to post the video again, with a new message about working together and everyone doing their part to fight the coronavirus.
“If you stick together you can achieve a common goal,” he said.
Vincent Guarino is one of the singers featured in the video. He suggested to Wragg that the video should be reposted to help the community during a trying time. Wragg agreed.
The video includes about 20 local musicians and 40 students in the sixth grade chorus at Wise Middle School in Medina. (Those sixth graders are now seniors at Medina.)
Wragg, owner of Torquil Studios, encouraged people to practice social distancing, staying at least six feet apart in public. He urges them to stay home as much as possible so the virus doesn’t spread.
“I wanted to put it out there because people see so much negative news,” Wragg said. “Things are very serious right now. We need to stick together.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2020 at 9:17 pm
Provided photos
HOLLEY – Many Holley teachers, staff and administrators travelled to neighborhoods in the district today, a caravan of cars to show students they are missed.
The district like others in Orleans County is in its second week of being closed to students due to the health concerns with the coronavirus.
Many students came out of their front porches and yards to wave to the teachers and staff, who put Holley Hawk school colors of red on their vehicles, as well as other messages such as “We Miss You.”
The parade of vehicles started at noon and passed through the Village of Holley, Thomas Estates, Akeley Manor and County Line Mobile Park.
The district also has been celebrating a virtual sprit week, encouraging students to post photos of themselves dressed up in the theme of the day. Those days this week include the following:
• Monday: Superhero Day – Post a photo of yourself dressed like a superhero in honor of all hospital workers, first responders, grocery employees and anyone else considered an essential worker during this time.
• Tuesday: Crazy Hair Day – Post a photo with your craziest hairstyle.
• Wednesday: Pajama Day – Post a photo of yourself in your favorite pajamas.
• Thursday: Jersey Day – Post a photo of yourself in your favorite team jersey in honor of all the athletes whose seasons are on hold right now.
• Friday: School Spirit Day – Post a photo of yourself in your favorite Holley gear of wearing the school color of red.
(Post photos to Twitter: @HolleyCSD and @Holley_MS_HS)
