4 simple steps: get vaccinated, take a Covid test, stay home if test positive or if feel sick

Screenshot: Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, speaks to media during a Zoom online meeting today.

Covid cases are surging dramatically locally, following the indoor gatherings over the holidays and spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Genesee had 1,509 new cases in December, which was by far the most it had during the pandemic – until this month. The county already reported 2,118 cases during the first 10 days of January.

Orleans had 1,045 cases in November, the most during the pandemic for Orleans, and followed that with 938 in December. The county already has 1,125 in the first 10 days of January.

Paul Pettit, public health director in the two counties, spoke about the “unprecedented spike in cases” today during a monthly update with local media.

The number of cases, nearly 3,000 in the two counties in the past week, has overwhelmed the local health department, forcing staff to limit contact tracing to those 18 and younger, and senior citizens (65 and older) who are more vulnerable to the virus.

Those who aren’t contacted by the health department for case investigations and contact tracing should continue to quarantine and stay home for at least five days. If they don’t have symptoms they can go out of the house but should wear a well-fitting mask in public, Pettit said.

If symptoms persist, people should continue to isolate for 10 days, Pettit said.

Both counties have done mass Covid test kit distributions and Matt Landers, Genesee County manager, said Genesee will be doing more at a drive-through distribution and by getting the kits out to town and village halls around the county.

The local schools are seeing “recond number of abseetism” with students and staff due to the Covid spread, Pettit said.

He meets with school superintendents weekly and he joins them in being committed to keeping schools open. The increased Covid testing has identified more cases and help to isolate those with the virus.

He urged parents not to send kids to school if they are symptomatic and not feeling well.

Dan Ireland, president of the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, said the hospital is near capacity with 86 percent of beds filled.

The hospital can still do emergency surgeries and respond to the community if there are broken bones, an appendicitis and other healthcare needs. He said 36 percent of the people currently hospitalized at UMMC have Covid. That shows the hospital is tending to other healthcare needs in the community besides Covid, Ireland said.

The “strong majority” of those in the hospital with Covid weren’t vaccinated. And none of those on ventilators with Covid took the vaccine, Ireland said.

“Those who are vaccinated are faring much better than those who aren’t,” he said.

MEDINA – For anyone who has ever considered giving blood – the time is now.

According to Orleans Community Health, for the first time in its history, the American Red Cross on Tuesday declared the current situation is a national blood crisis.

Since March 2020, the American Red Cross has reported a 10% decline in overall donations, Orleans Community Health said in a press release. If donation levels do not return to normal soon, many patients in need of transfusions will not receive them, the hospital reports.

Orleans Community Health is calling on the larger community to do its part to become a blood donor. On Feb. 4, from 2 to 6 p.m., Orleans Community Health is partnering with the Orleans County YMCA to hold a community blood drive. Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-Red-Cross or visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org.

“We have continued to host blood drives throughout the pandemic, as we want to be a space where the community is welcome to help one another, when they are able to,” said Greg Reed, executive director of the Orleans County YMCA. “Bringing the YMCA, American Red Cross and Orleans Community Health together in an effort to save lives through blood donations is what social responsibility is all about.”

“Not everyone can donate blood, said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “But if you can, we’re calling on you. Let’s pull together as a community and provide this life saving service.”

Anne Kawski is the laboratory director at Orleans Community Health. She regularly highlights the need to donate blood. Every two seconds blood is needed by someone in the United States, and just one donation can save up to three lives, she said.

The following facts are shared by the American Red Cross:

• More than 4.5 million patients need blood transfusion each year in the United States and Canada.
• Roughly 43,000 pints are used in the United States and Canada each day.
• Only 37% of Americans are eligible to donate blood, and only about 10% of those actually donate.
• Anyone who has received a Covid-19 vaccine is eligible to donate. They simply need to bring the name of the manufacturer with them at the time of donation.
• Patients could be forced to pass up a lifesaving organ if compatible blood is not available at the time of the transplant.
• Donating blood saves lives.

Anyone who donates blood during the month of February will receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card.

Orleans Community Health and the Orleans County YMCA ask everyone to join them in doing their part to save lives. Those eligible are urged to donate on Feb. 4 and then create a plan to donate again.

The American Red Cross said the current blood supply is at its lowest level in over 10 years. The organization is urging blood donors to schedule appointment to help ensure blood is available to support patients’ ongoing needs, including emergency situations like car crashes and household accidents.

“The Red Cross provides about 40% of the nation’s blood supply, and our patients rely on volunteer donors like you to help them heal,” the organization said an appeal to blood donors. “Please make this act of service a priority this year. You can even invite a friend to donate at the same center or blood drive so that you two can catch up. We’ve got snacks waiting for you!”

Some upcoming donor opportunities include:

• Tuesday, January 18, from 2 to 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Rd., Batavia.
• Friday, January 21, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Presbyterian Church, 107 N Main St., Lyndonville.
• Thursday, January 27, from noon to 5 p.m. at Brockport Exempts, 248 West Ave., Brockport.
• Friday, February 4, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Orleans County YMCA, 306 Pearl St., Medina.

To make an appointment or to see other upcoming blood drives, click here.

ALBANY – New York’s soybean growers had a record crop in 2021, and the corn output was a near record, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.

Soybean farmers produced a record high 17.0 million bushels, up 7 percent from 2020. Soybean yield is estimated at a record high 53.0 bushels per acre, up 2.0 bushels from 2020. Harvested area in 2021, at 320,000, is up 3% from last year, NASS reported.

Corn production in 2021 totaled 97.7 million bushels, up 24 percent from 2020. The average yield in New York is estimated at a record high 167.0 bushels per acre, 10.0 bushels above the 2020 average yield of 157.0 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain, at 585,000 acres, is up 17 percent from 2020, NASS reported.

Nationally soybean growers  also had record-high production and near-all-time high for corn production, according to the 2021 Crop Production Annual Summary released by NASS.

Soybean production for 2021 totaled a record-high 4.44 billion bushels, up 5 percent from 2020. With record high yields in 21 states, the average soybean yield is estimated at 51.4 bushels per acre, 0.4 bushel above 2020 and the second highest on record.

U.S. corn growers produced 15.1 billion bushels, up 7 percent from 2020 and the second highest on record. Corn yield in the United States is estimated at a record high 177.0 bushels per acre, 5.6 bushels above the 2020 yield of 171.4 bushels per acre.

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

CLARENCE – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Rettig on Tuesday calling for the IRS to address the backlog in amended tax returns and asking specific questions on operations.

“For months, my constituents have waited for their amended tax returns from IRS and have received no answers,” Jacobs said. “My constituents, and Americans around the nation, are anxiously awaiting their returns and are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of action from the IRS. This is unacceptable and represents a massive dereliction of duty from the agency.”

In a letter from November, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) reported the IRS had a backlog of over 2.7 million unprocessed amended returns. TAS also recently stopped accepting congressional inquiries from offices due to the high backlog. Currently, some NY-27 constituents are reporting delays of up to 30 weeks to receive their amended tax returns from the IRS.

“2021 tax season is rapidly approaching. This problem must be resolved by then, or millions of Americans face massive backlogs for their returns,” Jacobs said. “The IRS has been using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to deny timely service to millions of Americans. It is far past time to drop that excuse and get back to work safely and efficiently as many other government agencies have been able to do – Americans are relying upon it.”

Will expand availability of road tests for CDL applicants

Photo by Tom Rivers: School buses are lined up in May 2017 at the middle school parking lot in Albion.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a plan to help address a critical shortage of truck and bus drivers by significantly expanding the availability of road tests for Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants.

The initiative would allow qualified third parties to offer the road tests, which would create more testing locations statewide and expand capacity at the existing state-run sites, reducing the time it takes to get qualified CDL drivers on the road.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 26, to hear and review comments on the plan. The hearing will take place virtually via WebEx from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

It will be open for public comments following a brief introduction by DMV representatives. Written comments may be submitted to CDLThirdPartyTesting@dmv.ny.gov from January 18 to February 4.

“As we continue to fight this pandemic, we remain committed to expanding opportunities for New Yorkers, supporting our schools, and doing all we can to address the supply-chain issues that have affected many businesses throughout our state and country,” Governor Hochul said. “By enabling third parties to give the road test for truck and bus drivers, we will create new avenues for New Yorkers to begin exciting careers, for our children to get to school, and to ensure that vital goods get where they need to be.”

During the public hearing, the DMV will provide an overview of the proposal that calls for a phased roll out of this initiative that would initially allow other state agencies and authorities that have large fleets of commercial vehicles to begin conducting CDL road tests.

The second phase would include qualified private entities. The DMV will establish a rigorous monitoring system to ensure that qualified CDL trainers safely administer the road tests in compliance with state and federal regulations. The DMV will use the feedback gathered during the public hearing to evaluate and develop an implementation plan.

“We at DMV know how important it is to have qualified truck and bus drivers on the road, and we are committed to doing what we can to address the need,” said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “We look forward to gathering public input at this hearing and then acting to enable qualified third parties to offer CDL road tests to give New Yorkers greater opportunity to take the test and to get good jobs driving these essential vehicles.”

Those interested in obtaining a Commercial Driver License can find more information by clicking here.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

BATAVIA – It takes everyone, both locally and globally, to adjust and improve the conditions of climate change. Ask Peter Boyd.

Peter Boyd

“There is no Planet B,” he said. “This is a decisive decade to get on a sustainable path. Fortunately, there are multiple benefits from action, but also a huge cost of inaction.”

Boyd has been Launch Director and COO of Richard Branson’s global initiative, an advisor to the “B Team[1]” on their ‘Net-Zero by 2050’ initiative and Chair of The Energy Efficiency Deployment Office for the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change. Currently he serves as Executive Fellow at Yale University’s Center for Business and the Environment. His latest venture, Time4Good Group, allows sought-out leaders to optimize their time so that they have more energy to dedicate themselves to the environmental and social causes they care about.

Boyd headlines GCC’s 2022 Wolcott J. (Jay) Humphrey III Symposium on Leadership and Community Life. He will speak on Thursday, April 21, at 9 a.m. in The Richard C. Call Arena. A panel moderated by Dr. Benjamin Houlton, The Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, will present after Boyd’s message.

2022’s topic, “Climate Change and Sustainability” will inform community members of global issues and encourage action to improve our local economy and environment. A panel, moderated by Dr. Houlton will include perspectives from industries including solar, wind, dairy, viticulture, fuel cell and hydrogen energy. CEO Andrew J. Marsh, CEO of Plug Power; William Carleton, General Manager, Solar O&M of Clearway Energy; Suzanne Hunt, Co-Owner of Hunt Country Vineyards; and Curt Gooch, Dairy Environmental System Solutions Expert, Land O’Lakes Truterra, give perspectives on their areas of expertise.

The Humphrey Symposium honors the memory of one of the region’s foremost civic leaders, Jay Humphrey. After his sudden passing in 2001, his family worked with the College to develop the Symposium to continue Jay’s commitment to leadership development. A committee of community and college leaders work together to explore various kinds of speakers and topical issues, and to coordinate a community event that not only honors Mr. Humphrey’s memory, but also engage the community in a meaningful way.

“We are well into a time of disruptive change here at home in Western New York and across the world,” said Nathan Rudgers, director of business development at Farm Credit East and current Humphrey Symposium committee chairman. “Our planning committee felt it was important to bring together subject matter experts to help us better understand the impacts and implications of what we are experiencing from a changing climate.

“From impacts on cropping patterns, yield results and new production opportunities, to the frequency and severity of weather events, there is much to discuss and digest in this arena,” Rudgers said. “We trust you find this an exciting panel discussion and compelling keynote presentation and welcome your attendance and participation.”

Registration is available by clicking here. Lunch is included along with the opportunity to network with others.

For more information contact Vice President, Development and External Affairs Justin Johnston at (585) 345-6809, or via email: foundation@genesee.edu.

Charts compiled by Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

Both Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting a major increase in Covid cases in the past week with nearly 3,000 in the two counties.

Orleans County has 855 new confirmed cases from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11, with 622 from lab-based tests and 233 home tests, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.

The 855 is up from 379 the previous week, Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, and 159 the week earlier, from Dec. 22 to Dec. 28.

The 855 cases in Orleans represents 2.1 percent of the total population of 40,343. Orleans has now had 7,654 positive Covid cases since the pandemic started nearly two years ago in March 2020.

Genesee is reporting 1,848 during the week from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11 with 1,523 from lab-based tests and 325 from home tests. That’s up from 383 the previous week, Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, and from 276 on Dec. 22 to Dec. 28.

“Due to the Omicron variant, the post-holiday Covid-19 surge, the delay in case investigations, and the recent change in case investigation protocol, the Genesee and Orleans County Covid-19 data reflects a dramatic increase in our cases for this week’s report,” the G-O Health Departments stated.

The 1,848 new cases in one week represents 3.2 percent of Genesee’s total population of 58,388. Genesee has now had 12,105 confirmed cases of Covid since the pandemic started in March 2020.

Genesee also is reporting another Covid-related death of a person over 65. Genesee has had 164 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic and Orleans has had 104, but none in the past week.

The local health departments today are shifting to providing weekly Covid updates on Wednesdays, instead of twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A firefighter heads face first down a ladder, escaping dark smoke from the upstairs of 136 Knapp St.

The upstairs was full of gray smoke but it turned quickly into rolling black smoke. Four firefighters were upstairs and had to bail out in what firefighters said was a flashover, when a fire quickly intensifies.

Justin Niederhofer (in red) quickly gets out of the house as the fire intensifies while another firefighter hangs out a window. It was a scary moment for the firefighters on the ground and the onlookers as the dark smoke spewed out of the windows with the firefighters inside.

Niederhofer, Seth Dumrese, Steven Papponetti and Dustin Pahura all were able to get out.

Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management coordinator, has been battling fires for over 40 years. He didn’t recall a fire change so rapidly.

Papponetti suffered a cut to his hand in making his escape out of the upstairs, coming down a ladder head first.

The fast-moving caused extensive damage to a home. The homeowner, Mike Reigle, suffered burns on his arms and head. He was able to drag a mattress outside that was on fire.

A propane heater likely caught the mattress on fire, officials at the scene said.

Jerry Bentley, deputy fire coordinator, gets water on the flames in the house.

The dispatch call to firefighters at about 10 a.m. initially said it was a porch fire. But that changed to a fully involved structure fire at about 10:20 a.m.

One firefighter is grabbed after coming down the ladder face-first while another firefighter gets ready to come down in a tense moment this morning.

This screen shot shows Assemblyman Steve Hawley holding a “No Farms No Food” bumper sticker at the close of his testimony last week during a virtual hearing about lowering the overtime threshold for farms below the current 60-hour threshold in a week.

Farms in New York State are again facing the prospect that the overtime threshold will be changed.

There wasn’t an OT threshold until 2020, when it was set at 60 hours a week. Some state legislators are pushing to reduce that to 40 hours a week, like many other industries, but the farming sector has said that will likely put many of the operations out of business, or force them to switch from labor-intensive fruits, vegetables and dairy.

“Their very existence is jeopardized unlike ever before,” Assemblyman Steve Hawley said during the first of three virtual hearings about lowering the OT threshold.

Hawley is a former cash crop and livestock farmer in Batavia. He was the Genesee County Farm Bureau president. A back injury forced him to go into the insurance business where he continues to work with many farmers.

He said many pushing for lowering the overtime threshold have good intentions, but miss the reality that the change will result in smaller paychecks for workers, who will likely pursue farm jobs in other states where they can make more money.

“The surrounding states do not have this restriction,” Hawley said. “The workers will leave for other states where can get more hours.”

Hawley testified during the hearing on Jan. 4. The next two hearings are 5 p.m. on Jan. 18 and 5 p.m. on Jan. 20. (Click here for more information.)

New York farms work on a short growing season, compared to competitors in California and other warmer states. New York farms need to put in long days due to a compressed growing season and that often means working well beyond 40 hours a week, Hawley said.

“Farms cannot operate on a less than 60-hour work week, and the failure to recognize that fact will lead to the loss of our beloved family farms and all the jobs they provide,” Hawley said.

He praised the agriculture community, where he said “less than 1 percent of our population feeds our state, our country and our world.”

Farmers can’t set their prices for what they receive, but face rising costs for fuel, fertilizer and supplies.

“They are at the mercy of the weather and their government,” Hawley said.

A three-person Farm Labor Wage Board is convening the hearings. The group includes David Fisher, President of the New York Farm Bureau; Denis Hughes, former President of the New York State AFL-CIO; and Brenda McDuffie, President of the Buffalo Urban League.

The Wage Board about a year ago on Dec. 31, 2020 voted 2-1 to keep the OT threshold at 60 hours.

Hughes of the AFL-CIO cast the lone nay vote that day. He wanted an eight-year phase-in to 40 hours. In that scenario, Hughes said the OT threshold would be reduced by 2.5 hours each year over eight years until it was at 40 hours a week.

Fisher of the NYFB a year ago advocated for waiting at least three to five years to consider lowering the threshold, so more data could be analyzed on the impact for farms and the workers. Farmers have said in hearings there could be unintended consequences where workers get paid less per week with the overtime threshold dropping because farms could be force to cut hours.

McDuffie of the Urban League about a year ago said there was too much uncertainty in the farm economy to commit to lowering the overtime threshold. She said then farmers have had their markets disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. There is no certainty when the Covid impact will end, she said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Farmworkers harvest vegetables in August 2019 by Townline Road in Barre.

No construction start set for project ending in 2024

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Main Street lift bridge in Albion was originally built in 1914. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.

ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge in Albion may close for about two years as part of an estimated $21,200,000 project that includes major repairs to the lift bridge in Brockport on Route 19.

The state Department of Transportation is reviewing bids right now. No schedule has been set for when the lift bridges will close and construction will start, a DOT spokesman said.

The Albion bridge was originally built in 1914. It typically closes a few days each year for short-term repairs. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.

The DOT said the work includes installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace the steel floor system and select truss members.

Updates will also be made to the mechanical and electrical components of the lifting mechanisms. The lift tower will also be rehabilitated.

In addition, the bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches will be improved and bridge will be repainted.

The DOT will have the project done the same time contractors work on the lift bridge on Route 19 in Brockport.

Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2024.

The lift bridge on Main Street in Albion typically closes a few days a year for repairs. It will get an extensive overhaul that will have it closed for about two years.

Photo from Rob Ortt’s Office: Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt is at the podium and is joined by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, left, and Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, at right.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, their fellow Republicans, and law enforcement professionals from around the state today called for an immediate restoration to public safety in New York.

“No New Yorker should ever feel unsafe in their homes, neighborhoods, and local communities,” Ortt said. “Regrettably, the radical extremists now running the State Legislature have placed the interests of dangerous criminals above the rights of everyone else, including crime victims, law-abiding citizens, and the dedicated law enforcement professionals who keep our communities safe. The results are painfully clear, and New Yorkers have had enough. Today, the Senate Republican conference will be introducing a hostile amendment that will repeal the discovery and bail reforms that passed in 2019 and 2020. It’s time to restore common sense and public safety to our state now.”

Some of the public safety challenges New York is facing include:

• A 46.7% increase in murders from 2019 to 2020;
• Overall index crime in New York City increased by 21.3% in November 2021, compared with November 2020;
• Hate crime rates in NYC increased 97% from November 2020 to November 2021;
• Firearm related violent crime increased by 28.9% from 2019 to 2020 in New York outside of New York City; and
• According to the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, New York has the highest demand for domestic violence services in the country.

For years, Republicans successfully led the fight to support and fund law enforcement, as well as enact landmark, tough-on-crime policies such as Megan’s Law, Kendra’s Law and many others designed to toughen penalties for violent criminals and sex offenders – and to provide services to those in need.

“The safety of our citizens should be the top priority for anyone who holds public office,” said Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay. “But year after year, Democrats have done everything in their power to undermine our laws, pardon violent criminals, and make it harder for police to protect the communities they serve. Those who supported and celebrated ‘bail reform’ as a means to make the community safe have lost all credibility on issues of law and order. They are responsible for establishing a system that enables crime and ignores criminal behavior, and it’s time to reverse course. Liberals’ platform on criminal justice isn’t simply misguided – it’s actually dangerous.”

The Republicans’ 2022 agenda to restore public safety includes:

Protecting Those Who Protect Us:

• Invest in law enforcement;
• Provide them with the support they need to make our communities safe and serve those in need; and
• Fight Democrat efforts to “Defund the Police.”

Rejecting Dangerous “Reforms” like Cashless Bail:

• End cashless bail, restore judicial discretion and reject proposals like “Clean Slate”;
• Require state agencies to be transparent about the effects of public safety policies; and
• Enact policies that get dangerous individuals off our streets.

Reforming the Broken Parole System:

• Recenter the Parole process around the protection and rights of crime victims and their families;
• Ensure that cop-killers, serial killers, child killers, and other dangerous murderers can NEVER be released; and
• Reject dangerous Democrat proposals like “Elder Parole” and “Fair and Timely Parole.”

Passing a Victims’ Justice Agenda:

• Strengthen penalties for violent and repeat offenders, as well as hate crimes;
• Create and support more victims’ services and resources; and
• Invest in proven mental health, addiction, and homeless programs.

“The bail and discovery reforms enacted two years ago have led to record increases in crime in New York State,” said Chief Patrick Phelan, Executive Director of New York State Association of Chiefs of Police. “Judges must have the ability to make decisions about remanding dangerous criminals to jail for the safety of the communities they serve. We hope that the legislature will make common-sense changes during this legislative session. Positive changes to the bail reform agenda are vital to the safety of every New Yorker.”

State Assemblyman Mike Norris of Lockport also issued this statement about repealing bail reform:

“The fact is that since these so-called bail reforms were enacted by the downstate-driven majorities, crimes have significantly gone up all across our state,” Norris said. “Many of these crimes are happening by repeat offenders who should have been held on bail in the first place. A full repeal needs to happen now and judicial discretion must be restored to immediately allow judges the opportunity to determine whether bail is appropriate or not – instead of state law mandating that appearance tickets only be granted for certain offenses. Everyday New Yorkers have and continue to be in danger of becoming victims of criminals who should have been held on bail, and our communities remain at risk so long as these so-called bail reforms remain law.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia issued this statement:

“If we want New York to be a place people want to live, start families and spend their money, it must first and foremost be a safe place. During our governor’s State of the State address, there was a glaring absence of any discussion of the marked rise in violence we’ve seen in our communities all across New York. So putting public safety back on the agenda for the upcoming legislative session is a priority for me and our conference as a whole.”

Some parts of Orleans County will have today’s regularly scheduled solid waste pickup delayed until Wednesday.

Modern Disposal Services is feeling the impact of a rise in Covid cases that requires some employees to quarantine, said Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer.

“Unfortunately these delays may continue to occur this week on future routes due to quarantine and isolation periods for Covid-19 exposure,” Welch said. “Please leave your waste out if it is not collected this week. It will be collected the following day.”

ALBION – The Orleans County made several appointments during an organizational meeting last week and also gave final approval for 2 percent raises for the legislators, the same rate as the county employees and department heads.

Legislator Don Allport cast the lone vote against the pay increases for legislators, saying local taxpayers are already seeing big hikes in inflation, driving up costs for purchases and shouldn’t have to shoulder any more increases.

With the 2 percent increases the salaries for the legislators for 2022 includes $19,243 for the chairman, $14,550 for the vice chairman and the five other legislators at $12,828 each.

The appointments and designations approved by the Legislature include:

• Lisa Stenshorn to continue as Clerk of the Legislature
• Kathy Bogan to continue as County Attorney for a term of two years
• The Daily News of Batavia designated as official newspaper for legal notices
• Don Allport designated by the Republicans as Majority Leader of the Legislature and that Fred Miller is designated by the Democrats as Minority Leader of the Legislature.
• The 2022 regular meetings of the County Legislature will be held on the fourth Wednesday of the months of January through October at 4:30 p.m. at the Orleans County Legislative Chambers. The November meeting will be the third Wednesday and the December meeting will be the third Monday.
• The Legislature appoints the following delegates and alternates to the InterCounty Association of Western New York to represent Orleans County, effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023: Skip Draper, John Fitzak, William Eick, Lynne Johnson, Jack Welch and Lisa Stenshorn.
• Appointed the following county legislators to board of directors for Orleans Economic Development Agency: Skip Draper of Medina and John Fitzak of Carlton.
• Appointed the following as members of the Soil and Water Conservation District Board: county legislators Bill Eick and Ed Morgan, Ridgeway town highway superintendent John Olinger.
• Appointed the following the sportsmen and legislative representatives to the Fish and Wildlife Management Act Board, terms effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023: county legislators Ed Morgan and Bill Eick, and Murray resident Neil Valentine.

This print, 13×18 inches, which has hung in the Ward House at the Cobblestone Museum for years is entitled, “Neapolitan Boy.” It is a chromo-lithograph printed on textured paper to resemble canvas. Also noted on this copy is “copyright 1881 by E.G. Rideout NY” and “Cadwell Lith. Co.”

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum director, and Bill Lattin, retired museum director

Vol. 2 No. 48

GAINES – This is the first in a series of articles about four paintings/prints in the Cobblestone Museum collection that were very popular long ago. For many years now, the print shown above has hung in the Museum’s Ward House.

This image is also known as “Neapolitan Fisher Boy.” Our black and white copy shows the original painting from which this was taken. The artist that created this was Gustav Richter who was born in Berlin in 1823. He studied painting in Berlin, Paris and Rome, making frequent trips to Italy during his career. The following quote is taken from an art book published in 1899 entitled, “The Crown Jewels of Art.”

“The sketch for this picture lay for years in the artist’s studio uncared for. When at last made into a picture and placed on exhibition, it won not only public admiration and praise but the approbation of artists and critics. The large soft eyes of the beautiful boy, which seem to possess seer-like powers in their angelic sweetness, and his half-forlorn, half-happy expression, call forth feelings of both love and sympathy.”

It is believed the painting was completed in 1870 when Richter was considered to be an outstanding portrait painter.

Gustav Richter (1823-1884) and his wife, Cornelie, Wikipedia Commons

In this black & white 1899 reproduction of the original painting through a half tone process of engraving we see an exact likeness. All other pictures in this article show slight variations.

In 1876, Richter sent this portrait for exhibition at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. It immediately won great acclaim and immense popularity with the American public. Consequently, this image was wildly copied by both Sunday Painters and professionals, alike.

Print makers, likewise, seized on to this picture and thereby thousands of copies were made. It was a fad! We can only wonder in today’s world what there was about this “pretty boy” with wind swept hair, necklace and earring that so infatuated the aesthetic senses in people during the late 1870s and 1880s. (Surely no American boy of that time would have had an earring.) The public must have simply passed this off as “old-world,” a term much more frequently used in 19th century America.

A small litho card 4×5 inches which was probably a complimentary gift.

Thanks to Dee Robinson for research of facts about the artist. We are going to conclude this article with examples for the Neapolitan Fisher Boy which are in the collection of Bill Lattin. He states that in antiquing this picture occasionally appears in antique shops.

Oil painting on canvas, 14×18 inches, probably by a Sunday Painter, circa 1880

Oil painting on canvas, 13×17 inches, circa 1880. We note here the boy is facing to the right. This indicates that the artist who copied this may have worked form a print. In the printing process the image could have reversed.

Painting on porcelain in original brass frame, 5” high, circa 1885. In today’s antique market, a painting like this should retail for around $300.

Painting on porcelain in Florentine frame, 1 ½” high, circa 1885