Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The smell of the evergreen trees, the taste of warm hot cocoa, and the cheerful Christmas songs are some lovely things that bring family and friends together during this festive season.  With cold weather moving people indoors, there is also an increased risk of the spread of illnesses such as the flu, also known as influenza.  However, there are ways to lower your risk of getting sick with the flu.

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is December 5-11. NIVW is an annual observance in December to remind everyone that there is still time to get vaccinated against the flu to be protected during the upcoming winter and holiday months.

“You can protect you and your family members by getting vaccinated against the flu each year,” said Paul Pettit, Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “The vaccine lowers the chance of getting you and those around you sick with the flu.  We also encourage those that have not received the Covid-19 vaccine, to get vaccinated as soon as possible ahead of the holidays.”

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. Experts say that flu viruses are spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby.

The runny nose, sore throat and slow development of symptoms which are common for a cold, are not as common for the flu which tends to appear suddenly and includes a fever, body aches, chills, fatigue, chest discomfort and cough. Although a cold can be a bother, you usually feel much worse with the flu and sometimes influenza’s complications could be deadly.

Everyone 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine every year. It’s best to get the flu vaccine early in flu season, ideally by the end of October. That way, the body develops antibodies in two weeks’ time which provides protection from the influenza virus. You might wonder, is it too late to get vaccinated?  The simple answer is no.

“Getting the vaccine later is better than not getting it at all,” Pettit said. “Once you have the flu vaccine, research shows that the vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness if you do get the flu.”

Below are the number of reported flu cases for Genesee and Orleans Counties since 2018 according to the New York State Department of Health. You will notice that there was limited flu in 2020-2021 because people were practicing public health precautions such as frequent hand washing, social distancing, limiting social gatherings, wearing face coverings and staying home when ill.

In addition, less germs were spread because people were staying home and limiting their contact with people outside of their household as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Flu seasons are unpredictable every year, so there is a new flu vaccine developed to potentially provide protection for the viruses that are considered to have the most potential to cause serious illness.  As long as flu viruses are spreading and causing illness, vaccination should continue throughout the flu season in order to protect as many people as possible. If you have not received your annual flu vaccine this year, now is the time! It generally takes 2 weeks after receiving the vaccine for your body to develop immunity.

Talk with your primary care provider or visit your local pharmacy to get the flu vaccine. To make an appointment for the Covid-19 vaccine, visit the GO Health website by clicking here. If you want to see weekly flu updates, you can use the NYS Flu Tracker (click here).

For more information about Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, visit www.gohealthny.org. You can also visit Facebook at Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments, Twitter, and Instagram: @GoHealthNY.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This pile of about 6,000 tires is next to the Orleans County DPW on West Academy Street in Albion. About 3,000 more will soon to be delivered to the site.

ALBION – Orleans County is paying $25,000 to have about 9,000 tires removed this month that have been collected by the local towns and villages.

There are currently about 6,000 of those tires piled up at the Orleans County Department of Public Works on West Academy Street. They have come from other municipalities that have picked them up from ditches, roadways and in the community.

About 3,000 more tires are expected to be delivered to the DPW on West Academy Street.

They should all be gone by the end of December.

The County Legislature approved paying $25,000 to Modern Disposal Services on Thursday for the one-time service of removing the tires and property disposing of them. The county uses $2 from the annual $216 solid waste collection bill to residents to deal with disposing of tires.

The county also will continue to accept tires during the household hazardous waste collection in August. More than 1,000 tires have been collected at those events the past two years.

The Legislature said it wants to be good stewards of the environment and assist the towns and villages which accumulated big piles of tires.

Press Release, Assemblyman Michael Norris

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) is encouraging members of the agriculture community to continue reaching out to the state’s Farm Labor Wage Board to persuade them against further reducing the overtime threshold for farm workers.

Recently, downstate special interest groups have spearheaded efforts to reduce the overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours a week, a move that would spike grocery costs for consumers and put local family farms out of business.

Farms across the state have been besieged by rising costs, including energy prices, various taxes, and rising labor costs as well as the addition of costly mandates from the state leading many farms, particularly small, family-run farms to close, consolidate or downsize operations. As the Consumer Price Index has risen more than 5.4 percent in the last year, New Yorkers, like all Americans, are struggling to make ends meet in the face of inflation. Fewer family farms would reduce local access to produce and other fresh products at a time when global supply chains are in crisis.

“I voted against this matter when it came up in the Assembly because the negative impact it would have on our farms was clear. Now, with inflation and rising costs, families are struggling – even the cost of Christmas trees is through the roof this year,” said Norris. “Families are having to make tough choices and I, for one, think our nation, and this great state, can do better. We have people who want to work, are willing to work and there’s work to be done. This is not the time to limit hard work, entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity by putting farmers and farm workers alike out of business.”

An ardent agricultural advocate, Norris says the more people who reach out directly to the Farm Labor Wage Board, the more likely they will be to offset the proposed farm worker overtime expansion. To contact the board, you can call the state Department of Labor at (518) 457-9000, or a better option is to write to them at:

Ms. Brenda McDuffie, Chair

New York Farm Labor Wage Board

W.A. Harriman Campus, Building 12

Albany, NY 12240

In addition to rallying the public, Norris has been working with dozens of his legislative colleagues across party lines to encourage the board, as well as the Department of Labor and Department of Agriculture and Markets, to beat back these crippling mandates.

“This is a tough, yet decisive, time for our state. There are far too many people going hungry and out of work,” said Norris. “There are shortages on the shelves. This is not the time to further hinder our path or any individual’s will to work hard and move forward.”

‘Wilson’ was bred by Johnson Farms in Lyndonville

Photos courtesy of Clancy Johnson: Wilson, a Saint Bernard bred by Johnson Farms, is shown with a beer can featuring his face as part of nation-wide holiday promotion.

LYNDONVILLE – A happy dog on the can of Budweiser beer for a holiday promotion was bred by Johnson Farms in Lyndonville.

Wilson the Saint Bernard was chosen by Budweiser over about 100,000 other entries. He is nationwide this holiday season as part of a promotion for Budweiser.

“We were really excited about it,” said Clancy Johnson, owner of the Johnson Farms.

Wilson lives with a family in Liberty Township, Ohio.

Johnson Farms also bred the two Saint Bernards – Saint and Maggie – that are the mascots at D’Youville College. The college in 2020 adopted the “Saints” as the mascot for the school. This photo shows Maggie.

The 160-pound dog is the latest celebrity canine bred by the farm. Two of their Saint Bernards were picked to be mascots for D’Youville College in Buffalo. That school announced in 2020 it would adopt “Saints” for its mascot as part of a move from Division III to Division II athletics. Those two dogs – Saint and Maggie – are very popular on campus and Maggie has an active social media account tracking her movements and work as a D’Youville goodwill ambassador.

Another one of the Johnson dogs was featured as Beethoven in the movie, Beethoven’s Big Break.

“We’ve got really lucky,” Johnson said today.

Her dogs also compete in shows around the country. Those events have catapulted Johnson Farms to one of the top breeders of Saint Bernards in the world.

Clancy Johnson has been running the business since 2002, not long after graduating from high school. Her parents, Jeff and Lynne Johnson, have owned Saints since 1976. Clancy Johnson also breeds Newfoundlands.

The farm has “great lines” of genetics in their dogs, and has connected with many leading breeders. She praised the handler and groomer for helping the dogs to excel at the shows.

The holiday promotion from Budweiser with one of their dogs faces is a fun confirmation they have been giving families quality dogs.

“My goal here is to produce the finest quality Saint Bernards and Newfoundlands,” Johnson writes on the business’s website. “Temperament is of the utmost importance. I am very active in conformation, obedience training and rescue work. I strive for correct health and structure, conforming to the AKC written standard.”

For more on Johnson Farms, click here.

MEDINA — The school district stayed open today after the Medina Police Department investigated a social media post that told kids to stay home because of possible violence at the school, District Superintendent Mark Kruzynski wrote in a letter to the community.

The district was made aware of the social media post at about 6:45 this morning.

The distract has had enhanced security throughout the day “to ensure the continual safety of our students and staff,” Kruzynski said. “The safety and security of all our students and staff is our top priority.”

Batavia city schools closed today “out of an abundance of caution” following threats of violence that were made over social media.

MEDINA – The Village of Medina wasn’t picked by the state for one of two $10 million downtown revitalization grants for the Finger Lakes Region.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the $10 million grants will go to the City of Rochester in Monroe County and the Village of Newark in Wayne County.

Medina was one of five finalists for the grant, just like in 2019, the last time the funding was available.

Medina has a committee that identified residential, commercial and tourism projects that would build on recent successes and investments in the downtown and canal area.

Mayor Mike Sidari is hopeful the state will offer the $10 million again. He said it would have a major impact in the village of about 6,000 people.

Sidari posted this comment to the Orleans Hub Facebook page: “First thing, I would like to thank Chris Busch and Kathy Blackburn for working with me to put this application together with the assistance from the Bergmann Group. Also, thanks to Scott Robinson and Andrew Meier for joining us to present our application to the committee. Yes, this is disappointing for the village. However, we need to look at where we were 10 years ago and where we are now. Our village has been transformed, from our downtown to our recreation areas. We have a lot of hard-working dedicated residents and business owners working to continue to improve our village. Let’s be proud of what we have and continue to make Medina one of the most outstanding communities in WNY and the Finger Lakes.”

The state chose Newark which has a population of about 9,000 people and Rochester, which has about 210,000 residents.

Previous $10 million grant winners in the Finger Lakes region include the City of Geneva in 2016, the City of Batavia in 2017, the Village of Penn Yan in 2018 and Seneca Falls in 2019.

Medina’s application sought funding for streetscape Improvements, multi-use trail along the Medina Railroad from the museum to Main Street, upgrades to Canal Village Farmer’s Market, improved waterfront access and amenities at the Canal Basin Park, enhanced programming at State Street Park (ice skating rink, enhanced lighting, boat tie-ups, benches and bicycle racks, and a construction of a nature trail), boat tie-ups and docking facilities at the Lions Park, viewing platform and at Medina waterfalls, wayfinding signage, small grant fund for local businesses, adaptive reuse of the old Medina High School to turn into apartments, and redeveloping the Snappy facility on Commercial Street by the Erie Canal into a mixed-use commercial and residential space.

“Investing in our downtowns is vital to reigniting New York’s recovery,” Governor Hochul said in announcing the DRI winners. “These awards will enhance Rochester and Newark so that locals and visitors alike can enjoy all these areas have to offer. The Finger Lakes is a region brimming with history and attractions and I look forward to seeing how these winners will use their funds to bring their communities to the next level.”

Here is what Hochul’s Office said about Rochester and Newark in announcing the awards:

Rochester – Rochester’s DRI will focus on the transformation of the long-blighted area in the center of downtown along the north side of Main Street from Clinton Avenue down to the Genesee River.

With a 17% population increase since 2010 and 50% of the population being aged 20-34 years old, Rochester’s downtown has seen significant private and public investment in the last 15 years, including new housing, hotels, updates to the convention center, multiple high-tech business and incubators to boost a burgeoning Downtown Innovation Zone, and a resurgence of the city’s waterfront thanks to dozens of projects that are part of the state supported ROC The Riverway initiative.

However, the Main and Clinton block is in desperate need of redevelopment while progress continues all around it. The winning plan will help to improve streetscapes and public spaces, upgrade the built environment, and increase pedestrian access/connections in order to catalyze further investment in the area, putting the finishing touches on the city’s downtown revitalization, creating a resurgent Rochester where more people will want to live, work and play.

Newark – Downtown Newark is a compact, walkable, well-defined, and concentrated area that the village aims to make the heartbeat of a lively, world-class village and the cultural and commercial center of the Finger Lakes region with the Erie Canal serving as the village’s center of commerce.

With multiple, large anchor institutions and ongoing job growth, Newark has seen nearly $220 million invested in the village in the last 10 years. A robust public engagement process led the village to identify needs for infill mixed-use development, more housing for workforce and seniors, and new space for indoor recreation and wellness with a focus on utilizing space along the Erie Canal.

The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council conducted a thorough and competitive review process of proposals submitted from communities throughout the region and considered all seven criteria below before recommending Rochester and Newark as the nominees:

• The downtown should be compact, with well-defined boundaries;
• The downtown is able to capitalize on prior or catalyze future private and public investment in the neighborhood and its surrounding areas;
• There should be recent or impending job growth within, or in close proximity to the downtown that can attract workers to the downtown, support redevelopment and make growth sustainable;
• The downtown must be an attractive and livable community for diverse populations of all ages, income, gender, identity, ability, mobility and cultural background;
• The municipality should already embrace or have the ability to create and implement policies that increase livability and quality of life, including the use of local land banks, modern zoning codes and parking standards, complete streets plans, energy efficient projects, green jobs, and transit-oriented development;
• The municipality should have conducted an open and robust community engagement process resulting in a vision for downtown revitalization and a preliminary list of projects and initiatives that may be included in a DRI strategic investment plan;
• The municipality has the local capacity to manage the DRI process; and
• The municipality has identified transformative projects that will be ready for near-term implementation with an infusion of DRI funds.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Aurora Avery portrays Rafiki and holds up a baby lion named Simba during the opening scene of the Lion King. The cast is singing the “Circle of Life.”

Fifth- and sixth-graders at Lyndonville are performing The Lion King Kids. There were performances on Thursday and there is another show today at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

There are about 40 students in the cast, and the production is led by teachers Kelly Follman and Jennifer Trupo.

Lane Woodworth plays the role of Simba, and sings “I just can’t wait to be king.”

Scar, who is brother to Mufasa the king, is jealous of Mufasa and his son Simba. Amir Zimmerman plays the role of Scar, who is shown here plotting with the hyenas and singing, “Be Prepared.”

Mufasa (Jake Gidley) is killed when he attempts to rescue Simba from a stampede of wildebeests. Here Mufasa is mourned by Sarabi (Grace Kenyon) and Nala (Jena Ferguson).

Simba flees the scene in shame and meets new friends in the jungle. Gavyn Draper, left, plays Timon and Logan Fonda is Pumbaa. Timon is a meerkat lacking confidence and Pumbaa is a very sensitive warthog. They are singing “Hakuna Matata” and urging Simba to take it easy and have no worries.

A wise madrill guides Simba on his journey home to reclaim his role as king of the Pridelands.

Scar is confronted for his acts of treachery against Mufasa and Simba.

Photo by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – WKBW news reporter Mike Randall interviews Brody George Thursday morning at the Medina Railroad Museum for a segment on the upcoming Polar Express trains.

Brody is a conductor on the trains which are expected to bring nearly 20,000 passengers to Medina. The segment on the ABC affiliate will air on the 6 a.m. news Friday morning.

Three people were charged after a high-speed chase on Wednesday. From left include Jason Schmeer, Zachary Hursh and Alexander Scheg.

CLARENDON – A high-speed chase that started in Genesee County ended with a crash on Route 237 near Glidden Road on Wednesday night in Clarendon.

According to a police report issued by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Conservation Officer F. Fuerch was investigating a conservation violation in the area of Horseshoe Lake Road and Sanders Road in the town of Stafford. When the officer attempted to make contact with the suspect’s vehicle by activation of her emergency lights, the vehicle failed to comply and took off, initiating the motor vehicle pursuit.

Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies in the area joined the chase and successfully deployed a tire deflation device, known as a spike strip, in the area of Route 127 and 33 in the town of Stafford. The vehicle continue to flee at a high rate of speed, failing to yield to emergency vehicles pursuing it. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office was notified, based upon the direction of travel, and the pursuit continued into Orleans County.

The suspect vehicle failed to negotiate a left turn onto Glidden Road in the town of Clarendon, going off the north shoulder of the road, striking a street sign and utility pole. The vehicle became inoperable and the driver and front seat passenger fled on foot. The rear seat passenger was taken into custody at the vehicle and was identified as Jason R. Schmeer, 41, of Rochester.

Responding Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies, Albion police and Batavia police with their K9 partner set up a perimeter. ENCON officer Fuerch deployed her K9 partner, leading to the apprehension of the passenger, identified as Alexander Scheg, 27, of Byron, in a heavily wooded area.

Meanwhile, a resident in the area heard the sirens, and called a neighbor ask her if she had heard all the commotion. The neighbor decided to go her garage and when she opened the door, she heard moaning. A deputy was in her driveway and discovered the driver in the back of the resident’s pickup truck, apparently injured from the crash.

The driver, identified as Zachary Hursh, 37, of Rochester, was taken into custody.

Following the investigation, it was determined the vehicle they were operating, a 2017 Honda Civic, was reported stolen out of the city of Rochester. A search of the vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia and cocaine.

All three suspects were arraigned in the town of Stafford court by Honorable Judge R. Penepent. Hursh was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree and reckless driving and various other vehicle and traffic violations.

Scheg was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree.

Schmeer was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

Both Hursh and Shmeer were remanded to Genesee County Jail, based on having two or more previous felony convictions. Scheg was released on the arraigned charges and held in Genesee County jail on an active city of Batavia warrant.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s office and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were assisted in the investigation by members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s office, Albion Police Department, New York state police and Batavia Police Department.

County also at new pandemic high for active cases

Orleans County is again at the top of the state for percent of positive Covid tests with 15.1 percent coming back positive in the past seven days. That is well ahead of the state’s 4.61 percent positive rate in the previous 7 days.

The four GLOW counties are all over 10 percent in positivity rate over the 7 days with Genesee at 14.0 percent, Livingston at 10.6 percent, Orleans at 15.1 percent and Wyoming at 14.5 percent.

Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming are the three highest positive test rates in the state.

Orleans also had the highest Covid positivity rate in the state with a 7-day average of 11.9 percent on Nov. 22. The state’s 7-day rate was 3.30 percent on Nov. 22.

Orleans County also is reporting 174 new positive Covid cases since Monday, and 79 more recoveries or people who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

The county has 315 active Covid cases, a new pandemic record. It’s previous high was 281 on Nov. 12.

Orleans also has 17 residents hospitalized due to Covid, up from 15 on Monday, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Genesee County is reporting 140 new cases since Monday and 138 more recoveries. The county has 39 people hospitalized due to Covid, up from 30 on Monday.

The county also had another person die from Covid, a resident over age 65. This is the 145^th Genesee resident to pass away from Covid during the pandemic since March 2020.

Parker served as one of General Grant’s secretaries and rendered surrender documents at Appomattox to end Civil War

US Mint: Ely Parker will be featured on the back of the 2022 Native American $1 Coin.

Ely Parker, a Union officer who was born on the Tonawanda Seneca Reservation in Indian Falls, will be featured on the 2022 Native American $1 Coin, the U.S. Mint announced.

The coin commemorates Parker, a U.S. Army officer, engineer, and tribal diplomat, who served as military secretary to Ulysses S. Grant during the U.S. Civil War.

When Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia, on the morning of April 9, 1865, Parker rendered the formal surrender documents in his own hand.

The front of the coin will continue to feature the central figure “Sacagawea” carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste.

The reverse side features Parker depicted in Army uniform, with a quill pen and book, along with a likeness of his graceful signature, as symbols of his experience as an expert communicator, the U.S. Mint said.

The inscriptions “TONAWANDA SENECA” and “HA-SA-NO-AN-DA” recognize his tribe and the name given to him at birth. Additional inscriptions include “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1.”

The Native American $1 Coin Program is authorized by Public Law 110-82 to recognize the important contributions made by Native American tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States. The public law mandates a new reverse design with an image emblematic of one important Native American or Native American contribution each year.

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – The Health Occupations Technician students received clinical hours for helping out the Red Cross with their recent blood drive at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.

Teacher Courtney Slack says her students enjoyed helping out for a worthy cause.

Mrs. Slack is pictured with Keira Wass (Barker), Gracelin Mahnke (Medina), Jovany Trejo (Albion), Antinina Sikora (Lockport) and Seana Hamilton (Royalton-Hartland).

There is a wind advisory in effect today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Orleans County and much of Western New York.

There will be westerly winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 to 50 mph expected.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo said the gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The 5th annual Parade of Lights Toy Drive resulted in eight big bags filled with donated toys and $1,852 in donations. Canalside Tattoo was the collection point for the donations this past Saturday.

Pictured from left include Shawn Ramsey, owner Canalside Tattoo; Andrew Szatkowski, organizer of the effort; Ronnie Barhite, representing Medina Area Association of Churches; Michelle Figueroa of Community Action; Sherry Touhey of MAAC; and Melinda Daniels of Community Action.

The toys and money were given to MAAC and Community Action, which then distribute the toys to many local children and families for Christmas.

“We are grateful to the community for stepping up and making sure there are more kids that will experience a better Christmas this year,” Szatkowski said. “I would also remind people of the very simple and true fact: a kid will be unwrapping your gift, and in that moment they will smile, feel the magic of Christmas, and that’s something they will have forever. No matter how many toys we get, when you look at it like that, one is enough.”