Farms eligible for up to $200K to replace and upgrade housing
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new $25 million package in grants and loans to improve housing conditions for farmworkers and to protect the health and safety of this critical workforce.
The Farmworker Safety Housing Grant Program will fund the rehabilitation and replacement of existing substandard farmworker housing. Grants are available from NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) through Federal Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding, which provides resources to municipalities to improve housing and community facilities in response to Covid-19.
In addition, the State oversees a $15 million Farmworker Housing Program, a revolving loan program designed to improve farmworker housing, through which farmers can apply for up to $200,000 per farm.
“The New Yorkers who work hard to keep our farms operating deserve housing that is safe, secure, and does not jeopardize their health or wellbeing,” Governor Hochul said. “Many of these individuals often reside in congregate housing already in need of rehabilitation, and with the risks still posed by Covid-19, it’s critical we get this work underway as soon as possible. Thanks to this funding, we can make that a reality and ensure these hardworking New Yorkers have a suitable place to call home.”
For the Farmworker Safety Housing Grant Program, municipalities may apply for grants of up to $1 million to support a farm or group of farms with 5-10 housing units in need of rehabilitation or replacement to address issues such as environmental hazards, outdated air filtration systems, and to provide essential personal protective equipment such as masks and hand sanitizer.
Grants must benefit low- to moderate-income individuals with incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income and work must be completed within 12-18 months of award.
The Farmworker Safety Housing Grant Program complements the New York State Farmworker Housing Program, which was created more than 20 years ago to help farms provide safe and appropriate housing for their employees.
The program is administered by Farm Credit East in partnership with New York State Homes and Community Renewal and provides no-interest loans to finance improvement of existing housing or the construction or purchase of new housing for farmworkers. New York agricultural producers, including fruit, vegetable, greenhouse and nursery, equine, and dairy operations are eligible to apply.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “New York’s farmworkers have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep food on our tables. We owe it to them to make sure their living conditions do not put them at additional risk for Covid-19 exposure. I’ll keep fighting to protect farmworkers and keep New York’s agricultural community strong.”
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “New York’s farmers value the men and women who perform essential work on our farms. This includes providing safe housing for our employees. The grant and loan programs announced today will assist farmers to construct new housing and modernize their facilities. New York Farm Bureau has been a longtime advocate for the Farmworker Housing Program, and we commend Gov. Hochul for continuing the effort and making grant dollars available to farms that have been on the front lines protecting farmworkers during the pandemic.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The Farmworker Safety Housing Grant Program and the New York State Farm Worker Housing Program are critical resources, allowing our farmers to invest in updated or new housing for their employees. As part of our work on the Agriculture Labor Advisory Group, which was formed several years ago, the state emphasized the importance of housing improvements for the safety and welfare of our year-round and seasonal workers who are essential to bringing food to our communities. Thanks to the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal, and its partnership with Farm Credit East, our farmers have a unique opportunity to access much-needed funding in this area and I encourage them to consider applying for the programs.”
ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) is reminding localities the application period for the FY21 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program has opened for eligible fire departments.
“Firefighters protect our communities. They have an incredibly dangerous job and consistently run toward danger to save lives,” Jacobs said. “I am proud to represent these brave men and women in Congress, and I am excited to say the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program has opened once again for applications. These grants allow fire departments to purchase critical equipment and make necessary upgrades so they can continue protecting our communities and themselves effectively.”
The FY21 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is open for applications until 5 p.m. on Dec. 17. The AFG Program is open to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations, and State Fire Training Academies. This year a total of $414 million is available for grants through this program, last year (FY20) $3,774,414.00 was awarded to NY-27 fire departments.
Additional AFG Program information can be found by clicking here.
Press Release, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
As the holiday shopping season gets underway, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union issued the following statement urging holiday shoppers to treat workers with dignity and respect as they return to shopping in stores amid supply-chain issues:
“Our members are eager to welcome customers back to stores this holiday season, but as incidents of harassment, violence and hate continue to rise in stores workers are worried about their physical and mental safety,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
“The supply chain is still precarious as we emerge from the pandemic. Retail workers bear the brunt of shoppers’ frustration. Tempers quickly rise when customers hear that coveted holiday items are stuck on shipping containers at sea and have been backordered for months; and especially if they’ve gone to multiple stores only to go home empty handed.
“Workers are not to blame, and stores should provide security, safety protocols and training to handle irate shoppers this season. Retail workers experience heightened stress and pressure this time of year, even in normal times. Shoppers need to remember what this season is supposed to be all about – kindness,” Appelbaum said.
Provided photo: Orleans Career and Technical Education Center Team includes Haylee Green (Lockport), Camellia Higgins (Barker), Lilian Streich (Lockport), SkillsUSA Advisor Sarah Ivory, Aleena Silker (Medina) and SkillsUSA Advisor Anne Carnahan.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
ALBANY – SkillsUSA student officers from the Orleans and Niagara Career and Technical Education Centers recently participated in the Fall Leadership Conference in Albany.
Students participated in a three-day training session where they learned and practiced leadership skills that are needed to communicate, collaborate, motivate and lead their peers as they plan community service and fundraising events throughout the school year. The Golisano Children’s Hospital was the focus of this year’s community service project.
At this training, the teams of officers received intensive training on SkillsUSA Framework, a series of 17 essential elements our industry partners and employers are looking for to have better trained and better prepared employees. With the knowledge they gained, they are better prepared to lead their fellow students in how to strengthen their skills for the world of work.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2021 at 8:09 am
ALBION – Orleans County has one of the highest positivity rates for Covid tests in the state, with 11.8 percent of tests coming back positive in the past seven days ending Monday.
Only Washington County, at 12.7 percent, tops Orleans. That county moved past Orleans for the highest 7-day average after having 27.3 percent of its tests – 84 out of 308 – test positive on Monday. (Orleans had 15.3 percent positive on Monday with 27 out 177.) Neighboring Genesee County is at 9.2 percent for its 7-day average.
The state 7-day average is currently 3.40 percent, putting Orleans more than three times the state average. The positivity rate varies around the state. Orleans is in the Finger Lakes Region which has a positive test rate of 8.73 percent, the highest in the state and just ahead of the 8.52 percent for Western New York. New York City has the lowest rate at 1.41 percent.
“It’s not just in Orleans and Genesee,” said Paul Pettit, public health director for those two counties. “We’re seeing increases throughout Finger Lakes and Western New York.”
The increased screening and surveillance testing is picking up more positives, he said.
And seasonal changes are bringing people back inside for gatherings, meetings and parties.
“This environment is more conducive to the spread of respiratory illnesses, including Covid,” Pettit said.
As the pandemic stretches to 20 months and counting, there is also fatigue from the public with less adherence to current CDC recommendations on masking, distancing, and staying home if symptomatic, Pettit said.
The Delta variant also spreads with a high infectivity rate and there is reduced efficacy in vaccines over time in preventing Covid, Pettit said. About 25 to 30 percent of the new Covid infections are “breakthrough cases” of people who had been vaccinated.
He continues to strongly recommend the vaccine to protect the public from Covid. “The vaccine is very effective in preventing severity of disease, including hospitalization and death.” He encourages people to get the vaccine booster shot “to get vaccine efficacy back up for increased protection.”
Pettit offered this advice to slow the spread of Covid: “Wear a mask when in crowded areas, stay home if you have symptoms, get vaccinated which will lessen the severity and get the booster.”
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for November.
All households participating in SNAP—including those already at the maximum level of benefits—will receive a supplemental allotment later this month, bringing in roughly $230 million in federal funding into the state’s economy.
“No New Yorker should have to face the prospect of hunger and food insecurity,” Governor Hochul said. “It is impossible for children to focus on school and adults to be successful if they are worried about where their next meal will come from. This supplemental food assistance will help to ensure that everyone in this state can make ends meet and put enough food on the table to support themselves and their families.”
SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should see these benefits between now and Nov. 19. Those SNAP households in the five-county New York City region should see their benefits post between today and the end of the month.
The emergency assistance supplement will be provided to households that do not ordinarily receive the maximum allowable benefit per month on SNAP – a federally funded program administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Those households already near or at the maximum benefit level will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95.
OTDA Executive Deputy Commissioner Barbara Guinn said, “The supplemental food benefits continue to play an important role in helping New Yorkers avoid food insecurity. As we continue to weather the ongoing public health crisis, these benefits remain an important stop-gap to help struggling households make ends meet.”
As with the prior months, the payments will be delivered directly to recipients’ existing Electronic Benefit Transfer account and can be accessed with their existing EBT card. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Any unused SNAP benefits will be automatically carried over to the following month.
Struggling New Yorkers continue to rely heavily on SNAP as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact everyday life. As of September 2021, there were more than 2.77 million SNAP recipients throughout the state.
Every dollar invested in food benefits can generate up to $1.54 in economic activity, according to a federal study quantifying the impact of SNAP on the U.S. economy. The study also found that an additional $1 billion invested in new SNAP benefits could support roughly 13,560 jobs nationwide.
Find more information on the emergency supplemental SNAP benefits, including answers to frequently asked questions, by clicking here. New Yorkers can check their eligibility for SNAP and apply online by visiting mybenefits.ny.gov.
ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) recently cosponsored the Keeping Our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act (H.R. 5860) to protect essential and frontline workers from overreaching vaccine mandates so they can stay on the job and continue to drive our economic recovery.
“While I believe the vaccines are safe and effective and encourage everyone to speak to their physician about receiving the vaccine, I strongly oppose mandates and believe the President has vastly overstepped his authority by forcing them on the American people,” Jacobs said.
The Keeping Our COVID–19 Heroes Employed Act would exempt essential workers from COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed by the federal government, a government contractor, or a private entity receiving federal funds. For the purposes of this bill, an essential worker is defined as those deemed essential by a relevant state, Indian tribe, or territory during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have proven we can work, live, and conduct business safely throughout the pandemic – we can continue doing so without forcing hard-working Americans who support our health care industry, national security, and critical government services off the job,” Jacobs said. “The President’s mandate will only cause issues in our supply chains, manufacturing, small businesses, and cost the livelihoods of thousands of Americans. I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation to rebuke this overreach.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 November 2021 at 2:07 pm
MURRAY – The Orleans Economic Development Agency has approved mortgage and sales tax abatements that will save the owners of Big Guys Campground about $144,000.
The owners are developing a 98.5-acre campground at the former Brockport Country Club at 3739 Monroe Orleans County Line Rd.
The project will cost nearly $3 million and will be built in three phases with about 350 camp sites when it’s done.
The EDA said the project will be a tourism draw for the county, drawing many visitors from outside the area.
The owners of the project – Laura Perri, William Bosley, Marie Loewke and Jim Loewke –said the $2.9 million project includes new construction, site work, utilities and infrastructure, and design and legal fees.
They are estimating 3 full-time permanent jobs in the first year, and 8 full-time jobs by year 3, paying average of $25,000 a year.
The EDA board on Oct. 18 approved the $144,566 in abatements. That includes abated the 8 percent sales tax on $1,517,251 for construction materials, fixtures and equipment or $121,380 and the 1 percent mortgage tax on a $2,318,576 mortgage or $23,186.
Big Guys is planning to construct 350 new camp sites, in a project over three phases that is expected to be complete by May 2025.
Big Guys have a motto “have a XXL-ent time!” The camp sites are at 3,000 square feet, which are bigger and more private than most sites, according to information from the company submitted to the EDA.
The campground will offer full hookups with water, sewer and electric, and Big Guys are looking into providing cable and WiFi. Most of camp sites are pull through to accommodate bigger rigs.
The owners also will be offering clamping tents, unique cabins such as sheds with a bed, and standard trailer/cabin rentals.
The property will include Glow Golf, two activity rooms, coffee bar, tiki bar, bar and restaurant, event room, multiple rentable spaces and natural playground made from trees, tires and recycled materials. Big Guys also will keep most of the mature trees to provide natural barriers from neighbors and sun shade.
Press Release, Orleans Community Health Foundation
MEDINA – After two years, Treasure Island was brought back on November 6th at a new location with a new bidding format.
With the introduction of a mobile bidding app, bidders could participate not only at the event at Shelby Fire Hall, but they could also do so from the comfort of their home. Anyone from anywhere could be bidding on the donated items during the auction.
Heather Smith, OCH Foundation Executive Director and Kimberly Gray, OCH CNO and Director of Surgical Services, enjoyed the fundraising event.
Although some missed the silent auction bidding sheets, it was evident that this new format brought a different element of bidder excitement and in the end it helped them exceed their goal.
This year’s event was a part of the 2021 “Together We Are Stronger” Fundraising Campaign that was built to benefit several different departments all across the Orleans Community Health system.
Treasure Island was specifically dedicated to raising funds for the purchase of a new stress test system in the Cardiac Services Department and the purchase of new patient lifts for our patient care area on the second floor of Medina Memorial Hospital.
There was an assortment of over 170 gift baskets and certificates that were donated by community members, hospital departments, local businesses, and also by several businesses located from the Finger Lakes to Buffalo. Some of the featured items were a trip to Myrtle Beach, overnight stay to local & regional hotels that included dinner, museum memberships, area golf course memberships, sporting goods & events, Coach purses, an assortment of furniture, a high-end bourbon tasting and local winery tasting parties.
Nearly 150 guests were on site to enjoy a wonderful buffet dinner provided by Zambistro’s Catering. In-person guests were also able to exclusively participate in the live auction, the Lucky Cork wine pull, door prizes and a 50/50. The event also boasted a small cash raffle with five different cash prizes.
During the event we heard from OCH Foundation Executive Director Heather Smith and guest auctioneer Wes Pickreign who both kept everyone up to date on how the bidding was going through the night. They were excited to close out the evening by announcing that they had met the goal of $35,000! Additional cash donations came in over the next few days that pushed the event past the goal and helped raise just over $36,000.
A highlight of the evening was hearing from the events honorary chairperson, Kimberly Gray, Orleans Community Health’s Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Surgical Services. During Kim’s speech she addressed the community as a whole, “Whether you are clinical practitioners, executive directors, administrators, health care workers, state/federal employees, social workers, work in academics, or community members supporting our local hospital – Thank you for the work that you do in serving our community. We need leaders and hard workers like you in all sectors working together to improve and maintain our local rural hospital.”
Kimberly was selected by the Treasure Island Steering Committee for her dedication to providing compassionate care to every patient we serve and her love of this community.
The Treasure Island Committee would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of this year’s sponsors, volunteers, participants and donors. It is because of all of your generosity that this event was a success and we are grateful for your continued dedication to the services we provide here at Orleans Community Health.
A special thank you to Shelby Fire Hall for donating the hall and to our corporate supporters: Baxter Healthcare, Cooper Funeral Home, Generations Bank, Jr. Wilson’s Sportsman Club, Lake Country Pennysaver, OCH Medical Staff, Takeform, Visiting Nurses Association of WNY and WNY Energy.
This group enjoys the Treasure Island event. From left include Ken and Carol Baker, Gloria Brent, Michael Snyder, Brianna Pasnik and Angel Wolf.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 November 2021 at 9:48 am
Contributed Photos – Roy-Hart first team honorees, from left, Trent Choate, Peter Martillotta and Elijah Giroux.
Four players from champion Roy-Hart head the first team of the annual Niagara-Orleans All League boys soccer squad.
The Rams are represented by senior forward Trent Choate, junior forward Peter Martillotta, senior midfielder Elijah Giroux and junior defender Aiden Guild.
Choate and Martillotta are both repeat honorees.
Martillotta, who has been named N-O Player of the Year, had 21 goals and 10 assists on the season. Giroux had 10 goals and 9 assists, Choate 8 goals and 6 assists and Guild 2 goals and 6 assists.
Medina/Lyndonville has placed the senior duo of defender Jack Whipple and goalie Zach Fike.
Fike, a repeat honoree, made 154 saves and registered 8 shutouts to finish his career with a school record 27 shutouts. Whipple, a two time first team honoree and a four year starter, scored 4 goals.
Akron is represented by the underclassmen trio of sophomore forward Cole Fleming (16 goals, 5 assists), junior midfielder Collin Rehwalt (3 goals, 13 assists) and junior defender Caleb Suchow (3 goals, 1 assist).
Wilson likewise has a trio of honorees including senior midfielder Owen Cloy (4 goals, 8 assists) who is a repeat selection, freshman midfielder Keegan Herrmann (9 goals, 9 assists) and senior defender Patrick Hemming (11 goals, 2 assists).
Roy-Hart’s Aiden Guild, left, along with Medina/Lyndonville’s Zach Fike and Jack Whipple, right.
Medina/Lyndonville has three second team honorees including junior forward Jackson Moreland, senior midfielder Zaric Boyce and junior defender Josh Hilobuk.
Wilson also has three second team selections including senior forward Joey Moote, senior midfielder Noah Kurial and junior defender Charles Clemente.
Newfane likewise has a trio of second team honorees including senior midfielder Ty Williams, senior defender Connor Gunby and senior goalie Brady Harrington.
Rounding out the second team are Roy-Hart senior defender Christian Lates, Albion junior midfielder Andrew Uderitz and Akron senior forward Sean O’Shaughnessy.
Akron’s first team honorees Cole Flemming, Collin Rehwalt and Caleb Suchow.
The Honorable Mention selections, listed by school, are as follows:
Akron – Sean Brennan (Sr.), Bryce Cayea (Sr.), Justin Syroczynski (Sr.) and Trey Trzenski (Sr.)
Albion – Carson Bader (Sr.), Ulises Ledesma (Jr.), Corleone Plain (Jr.) and Joshua Martin (Sr.)
Medina/Lyndonville – Cole Callard (Fr.), Evan Harris (Sr.), Cole Seefeldt (Sr.) and Sam Kingsbury (Sr.)
Newfane – Adam Huntington (Sr.), Max Czekaj (Sr.) and Jacob Miller (Sr.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 November 2021 at 8:34 am
Betterment Committee pushing to have statue in time for Strawberry Festival in June 2023
Photos by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 24, 2021 shows the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee with sculptor Brian Porter after they signed a contract to have Porter create a bronze statue of Santa Claus in downtown Albion at Waterman Park. Pictured from left include ABC director Joe Gehl, Brian Porter, and ABC directors Gary Derwick and Gary Kent. The Betterment Committee is making a fundraising push for the project, which includes landscaping, mural(s), interpretive panels and lighting.
ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee is excited about the progress in bringing a bronze statue of Santa Claus to downtown Albion, a project that will honor the legacy of Charles Howard in leading a Santa School that was in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.
Howard also operated Christmas Park in Albion and is revered among Santa portrayers even today. The Santa School is now in Midland, Mich., and continues to bear his name. It graduated a new class of Santas last month.
The Betterment Committee has raised $64,000 towards the statue project. It needs about $100,000 total to include lighting, interpretive panels, mural(s) and landscaping for a park on Main Street, a half block south of the Erie Canal. This is the spot where there is a mural showing Santa in flight with a sleigh and reindeer, high above the Courthouse Square and downtown Albion.
“On the 55th anniversary of his passing we have an opportunity to memorialize a man who became a beautiful reflection on our community and a source of pride,” ABC directors Joe Gehl, Gary Derwick and Gary Kent write in a letter seeking support for the project.
Howard is an icon among those who portray Santa. About 200 of the “Santa’s” attended a convention in Albion in 2015. That Santa convention “raised awareness of the community-building potential represented by greater acknowledgement of his place in history,” the ABC directors said.
They have put up new signs in Albion celebrating Howard’s legacy, and also were successful in getting the state to declare part of Route 31 in Albion as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway. Those signs went up last December right before Christmas.
Joe Gehl, one of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee, is interviewed last Dec. 21 by the media in front of the sign declaring Route 31 in Albion as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway. There are signs erected on 31 near Transit Road on the eastern end of town and near Wood Road on the western side.
The Albion Merchants Association last year also commissioned a large mural with a Christmas theme on the north side of the Pennysaver building.
Brian Porter has been commissioned to create the statue. He has made several in Western New York, including the bronze statue of a soldier at the Orleans County YMCA, the former Medina Armory.
The Betterment Committee welcomes tax-deductible donations in any amount. They can be sent to the Albion Betterment Committee – Charles Howard Fund, and sent to Joe Gehl at 14487 Baker Rd., Kent, NY 14477.
The statue is an opportunity to honor “a humble, yet visionary, farmer who added to our identity and shed such a positive light on Albion and Orleans County,” the ABC said.
The group is pushing to have the statue in place by the Strawberry Festival in June 2023.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 November 2021 at 7:00 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Georgia Thomas, a member of Medina Historical Society, is dressed in her reindeer costume as she fills the Historical Society with nearly 300 of her stuffed animals. They will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 27 to celebrate Christmas in Medina.
MEDINA – Georgia Thomas would be the first to admit she’s just a kid at heart.
As proof, she recently dressed up in a reindeer costume to show off most of her collection of nearly 300 stuffed animals which she has set up throughout the Medina Historical Society, for viewing on Nov. 27.
“People often think of museums as ‘stuffy,’ but I want everyone, especially children to know we are not stuffy, we are ‘stuffed.’” Thomas said.
The museum will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Christmas in Medina celebration on Nov. 27.
It’s the moose’s time to dine at the Medina Historical Society. Each room is filled with Georgia Thomas’ collection of stuffed animals.
Thomas’ collection includes everything kind of stuffed animal, including Teddy bears, Nemo, unicorns, Clifford the Dog, moose, Disney characters and superheroes.
Every spare inch of the museum’s entry way, three exhibit rooms, dining room, kitchen and back entry are outfitted for Christmas.
As visitors walk in the front door, they are greeted by an animated moose, a stairway full of small stuffed animals and a chair draped with a Santa suit, originally worn by Medina’s Santa and made by Elizabeth Babcock of Albion. Babcock is famous for making the Santa suits for the late Charles Howard, founder of the world’s only Santa Claus School.
In the parlor, stuffed animals are nestled among all the artifacts and a porcelain doll with a mink cloak Thomas got in Canada sits on the mantle over the fireplace. Next to it are two dolls made by Medina’s Elizabeth Cooper.
This room at the Medina Historical Society is filled with a variety of stuffed animals, some of nearly 300 belonging to Georgia Thomas.
On a display case in the military room sits a row of action figures and superheroes.
The dining room table is enchanted with a stuffed moose in every chair.
Thomas said she has liked stuffed animals since she was a child and had Teddy bears.
“I started collecting stuffed animals when I was living in Maryland in the 1980s and taught sign language,” she said. “Stuffed animals help children learn sign language faster. Then my friends started giving me stuffed animals, and it just snowballed.”
Three Nemos are positioned throughout the house, and children will be given a piece of paper on which they can write the rooms in which they find all three Nemos. The family of the winner chosen will receive a year’s free membership to the Medina Historical Society and Museum.
This is the second time Thomas has filled the Historical Society with her stuffed animals for Christmas. The first time was in 2019, and last year they didn’t open because of Covid.
Georgia Thomas stands next to a case holding her collection of action figures and superheroes at the Medina Historical Society.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2021 at 8:20 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jason Smith, Lyndonville Central School superintendent, welcomes the audience to a patriotic concert on Sept. 15, 2017 featuring World War I songs sung by students from Albion, Medina and Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – Jason Smith, Lyndonville school district superintendent the past 10 years, is leaving to take a job in Batavia.
Smith lives in Batavia and is a Batavia High School graduate. He will start on Jan. 3 as the new superintendent for the Batavia City School District.
“This was a challenging decision for me, yet the temptation to serve my home community was strong, especially coupled with an invitation to do so,” Smith said in a message to the Lyndonville community.
Smith has worked 20 of 27 years as a educational professional in Orleans County, with his first 10 years in Albion. He started there as a social studies teacher before becoming an administrator.
“During my time at Lyndonville, it has been my honor and joy to develop positive relationships with many of you for the benefit of our District, including our dedicated booster groups, our wonderful community partners, such as the Lions Club, the Lyndonville Area Foundation, the Yates Community Library, and our committed local legislative and community leaders,” Smith wrote in his message to the Lyndonville community.
He said he is committed to a smooth transition to his successor at Lyndonville.
Batavia announced Smith’s hiring this afternoon.
“The Board of Education is thrilled to welcome Jason Smith as the new superintendent of the Batavia City School District,” said Alice Ann Benedict, Batavia Board of Education president. “We’re confident that his years of previous superintendent and administrative experience will serve our district well, not to mention he’s a BHS grad himself. As a local Batavian with children in our district, Jason understands the unique challenges and opportunities within our community, and we’re certain he will be a strong and dedicated leader for our students, staff, and families.”
A Batavia High School graduate of the class of 1990, Smith followed his 10 years at Albion with seven years in various principal positions in the Elba Central School.
He received his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration and his Masters of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Brockport. He is also a graduate of The State University of New York at Geneseo, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Sociology.
“First, I would like to thank the Batavia Board of Education for entrusting me with this tremendous opportunity,” Smith said in a statement posted on the Batavia district website. “As a proud BHS grad, I am thrilled to be returning to Batavia in this new leadership role. Batavia is a very special place to me, and I look forward to working alongside the incredible and inspiring students, staff, and community members. I can’t wait to hit the ground running in the new year.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 November 2021 at 6:55 pm
Active cases climb in Genesee to all-time high of 326; Orleans sees slight dip after hitting record on Friday
Orleans County currently has the highest Covid positivity rate in the state with a 7-day average of 11.9 percent. That is well above the state’s 7-day rate of 3.30 percent.
Orleans on Friday had the second-highest Covid positivity rate in the state, behind Cattaraugus. Orleans was at 11.1 percent and Cattaraugus was at 11.5 percent.
The rate in Orleans has continued to climb since then, while Cattaraugus is down to 11.0 percent, the fourth highest 7-day average today. Washington County is at 11.4 percent, with Montgomery at 11.2 percent and Fulton at 10.7 percent.
Genesee is also well above the state average at 9.0 percent for its 7-day average.
The number of active Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties is at 581 today, up by two from Friday when the two counties together set a new pandemic high of 579 cases in the two counties.
Genesee is driving the increase from Friday, going from 298 active cases to 326 today, a new record high for Genesee during the pandemic since March 2020.
Orleans is down from its record high of 281 active cases on Friday to 255 today, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Orleans has 83 new positive cases since Friday, and 109 more recoveries or previously positive individuals who completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.
There are currently 4 from Orleans hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee is reporting 166 new positive cases in the past three days, and 127 recoveries.
There are currently 22 Genesee residents who are hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee has also had six residents die from Covid in the past three weeks, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported. That includes five people over age 65, and one under age 65.
“We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families,” the Health Departments said in a news briefing. “Our deepest condolences are extended to the family and friends of these individuals.”
