Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Tuesday that New York State will adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidance on mask use for fully vaccinated people.

The guidelines state that fully vaccinated people, defined as two or more weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, no longer need to wear masks outdoors, except in certain crowded settings and venues.

However, masks should still be worn indoors and should still be worn by people who are not fully vaccinated. This guidance reemphasizes the importance of getting vaccinated and closely adhering to public health guidance, particularly if you are not yet vaccinated. Fully vaccinated individuals with immunocompromising conditions should consult with their healthcare provider first.

“The CDC announced new guidance today saying that when Americans who are fully vaccinated are outside, biking, hiking, running, or in small gatherings, you don’t need to wear a mask,” Cuomo said on Tuesday. “That is liberating, especially now that the weather is getting warmer. This news underscores the fact that if you get vaccinated, more freedom is available to you, and I encourage all eligible New Yorkers who have not yet received the vaccine to make an appointment today.”

According to the new CDC guidance, fully vaccinated people can engage in more activities than unvaccinated people, which include:

• Fully vaccinated workers no longer need to be restricted from work following an exposure as long as they are asymptomatic
• Fully vaccinated residents of non-healthcare congregate settings no longer need to quarantine following a known exposure
• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
• Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe Covid-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
• Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in certain crowded settings and venues
• Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel
• Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States.
• Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
• Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
• Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible (in nonhealthcare settings)

NY would have kept all 27 Congressional seats if 89 more people had completed Census

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Following the U.S. Census Bureau’s announcement that New York State will lose one congressional seat next year, having fallen 89 Census responses short of keeping all 27 seats, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is calling on the New York State Attorney General to review the state’s legal options to challenge the decision.

Cuomo released the following statement:

“Census takers in New York faced unprecedented challenges last year in their efforts to get New Yorkers counted – from the pandemic’s effect on the mail system to the Trump Administration’s xenophobic, flagrant, and illegal efforts to hurt blue states by discouraging non-citizens and people of color from being counted.

“And despite a growing state population, New York State’s congressional delegation will lose a seat in the House of Representatives next year, having fallen an equally unprecedented 89 responses short of continuity.

“So much of our state’s recovery, revitalization, and resilience is dependent on having our voice heard in Washington, and we won’t allow Trump and his cronies to use one of our greatest attributes – our diversity – as an impediment. I’m calling on the Attorney General to review all legal options available to ensure the voice of every New Yorker is fairly and wholly represented in the halls of Congress.”

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Ferris Wheel, pictured at sunset during the Orleans County 4-H Fair in July 2013, is among the many attractions at the fair.

The New York State Fair will be back in August, with capacity limited to 50 percent, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday.

The governor, in touting the upcoming State Fair, did not mention county fairs, and the state hasn’t released guidance if those events can also continue this summer, and how they can operate.

“We’re all hopeful that it comes by week’s end,” said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, which runs the annual fair in Knowlesville. This year’s event is scheduled for July 26-31.

The state would need to provide how to measure capacity for county fairs, which are generally held on a sprawling campus.

The Orleans County 4-H fair usually draws 25,000 to 30,000 people during its week-long run in late July. Last year the county fairs and State Fair were all cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

“Every fair is working through the difficult decisions and new challenges that our volunteers and partners are concerned about,” Batt posted on the Orleans County 4-H Fair’s Facebook page. “We really do hope to make it happen and are waiting to see just what we can do to bring the fun.”

The State Fair will be back Aug. 20 to Sept. 6 with live music and entertainment, Midway rides, and agriculture education and awareness in four different, concurrent festivals. They will take place exclusively in the outdoor areas of the fairgrounds in Syracuse.

“This celebration is a unique reward for New Yorkers who have made so many sacrifices during this pandemic and will allow visitors from across the state and the country to enjoy some of the best attractions the Fair has to offer with all necessary safety guidelines in place,” Cuomo said on Monday during an announcement at the fairgrounds. “This is an important step towards the full return of New York’s largest events as we continue to reopen and reimagine our state’s economy.”

Nicole Mrzywka, left, and Will Trembley hand out trophies last July 27, 2019 during the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

At the State Fair this year the fairground’s buildings will not be open to the public, except for bathrooms. Attendees will be required to observe social distancing and wear masks, except when eating or drinking.

People buying food and drinks will be asked to sit while they eat and drink, and ample tables and dining spaces will be made available. Midway rides, games and attractions, as well as all surfaces of frequent customer contact will be rigorously and frequently cleaned and sanitized, according to the Governor’s Office.

Tickets will be sold for each of the outdoor areas, so families can decide which areas they want to visit and plan their day accordingly. To ensure capacity limits and social distancing, attendance at concerts and other live performances will be limited.

The Genesee County Ag Society, which is planning a July 24-31 fair in Batavia, said it is encouraged that the State Fair is going forward. The Genesee fair last year held livestock shows and looks forward to expanding what is offered this year.

“We are hoping that, in the near future, the Governor and his office will be addressing how the County Fairs should proceed, so that we can move forward with some great entertainment and Livestock shows for our community,” the Genesee County Ag Society said in a news release.

Press Release, State Senate Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt – along with Senators Pam Helming, Mario Mattera, Dan Stec and members of the Senate Republican Conference – blasted the so-called climate and community investment act, a proposal being advanced by Albany Democrats that would increase the cost of gas by as much as 55 cents per gallon and increase home heating costs by more than 25 percent.

Rob Ortt

The legislation would impose a carbon tax of $55 per ton of fossil fuel emissions in order to reach renewable energy mandates under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, passed by the Legislature in 2019.

“New Yorkers are dealing with devastating social and economic impacts from the pandemic, our economy continues to struggle as our small businesses are forced to continue to operate under the Governor’s mandates, and the Legislature just passed a state budget with huge tax and spending increases,” Ortt said. “This out-of-touch bill is just the latest hit to hard working New Yorkers who will be forced to endure skyrocketing costs at the pumps and to heat their homes. It’s time to reverse the tax and spend insanity coming from Albany that continues to drive families and businesses out of our state. This is a bad bill at any time, but particularly now at a time when so many New Yorkers are already struggling.”

According to the Tax Foundation, New York currently has the 7th highest gas tax in the country, at 43.12 centers per gallon with  California currently the highest at 62.47 cents per gallon. This legislation would raise New York’s tax to 98.12 cents per gallon, an increase of more than 127 percent, and would make New York’s gas tax more than 57 percent higher than any other state. New York State has repeatedly been named as one of the worst business tax climates in the nation by the Tax Foundation.

“The road to renewable energy should not be paved with higher taxes,” Helming said. “This proposal would significantly increase costs for families, seniors, farmers, businesses and virtually every New Yorker. If you use gas or diesel in your vehicle, you’ll pay more under this proposal. If you heat your home with natural gas, fuel oil or propane, you’ll pay more under this proposal. If you power your manufacturing business with heating oil or propane, you’ll pay more under this proposal. It’s time to pump the brakes on Albany’s appetite for higher taxes. I urge my Senate colleagues to reject this proposal.”

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – There is still time to sign your child up for PreKindergarten at Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School.

To be eligible for the 2021-22 Albion Universal Pre-K (UPK) program, a child must be 4 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2021 and reside in the Albion Central School District.

There are two sessions each day. The morning session will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. while the afternoon session will run from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

If you are interested in registering a child for the UPK program, you will need to fill out and return the UPK application, the UPK Transportation Information form, and meal information form.

All forms must be completed and returned to Amy Castricone at the District Office by May 1 at 4 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Castricone at acastricone@albionk12.org.

Provided photos: Gerry Zinkievich, left, of East Shelby and Doris Antinore of Albion were recognized at the April meeting of the East Shelby Ladies Auxiliary for 50 years of membership. Debbie Green was elected vice president of the East Shelby Ladies Auxiliary.

EAST SHELBY – The East Shelby Ladies Auxiliary recognized its slate of officers and dedicated members at its April meeting.

President Bronwyn Green said because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fire company did not have its annual banquet in March this year, so members were honored at the regular meeting.

The slate of officers recognized were Bronwyn Green, president; Debbie Green, vice president; Sawyer Green, secretary; Carol Lonnen, treasurer and chaplain; sunshine, Jessie Green; historian, Wanda Dingman; three-year trustee, Shirley Printup; two-year trustee, Elaine Newton; and one-year trustee, Sue Green.

Gerry Zinkievich and Doris Antinore each received certificates for 50 years of membership. Other service certificates were awarded to Sue Green, 35 years; Debbie Green, 40 years; and Marcia Walter, 45 years.

Other special recognitions included the Steward’s award, which was presented to Sawyer Green for her service to the fire company during the 2020 year; and the Ladies Auxiliary President’s Award, given to Carol Lonnen.

During the past year and restrictions due to Covid-19, the Auxiliary has been conducting most of its business through its phone tree, Bronwyn Green said.

Sawyer Green, left, has been elected secretary of the East Shelby Ladies Auxiliary. Carol Lonnen, treasurer and chaplain of the East Shelby Ladies Auxiliary, was presented with the President’s Award at their April meeting. The award would have been presented at the annual banquet, which was canceled this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

RIDGEWAY – The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that the bridge carrying Route 104 over Oak Orchard Creek in the Town of Ridgeway is now closed to accommodate construction.

Contractors will replace the existing structure with a new multi-girder bridge that features upgraded bridge shoulders and an improved hydraulic opening.

The new bridge is expected to open to traffic in September. A signed detour is currently in place for motorists to use Route 98, Route 31A, Route 63 and Route 104. Local roads near the bridge will be accessible during construction.

The bridge is being replaced by Union Concrete and Construction Corp. of West Seneca. The $2.65 million bridge replacement is 80 percent funded by the federal government with the state paying the other 20 percent.

The new bridge will replace one from 1954. The new bridge is a single span multi-girder bridge featuring two 12-foot-wide travel lanes and two 6-foot-wide shoulders. New approaches will also be constructed as part of the project. The new bridge is expected to last at least 75 years.

Active cases in 2 counties up from 153 to 180 in past 7 days

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 33 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the total in the two counties to 7,895 since March 2020. That includes 2,852 in Orleans and 5,043 in Genesee.

The number of active cases in the two counties is up from 153 on April 20 to 180 today. In Orleans, the actives cases is down slightly from 83 to 80 in the past seven days, while Genesee is up from 70 to 100.

Orleans County today is reporting 10 new Covid cases, and they are residents in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Orleans is reporting 21 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 2 Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 23 new positive Covid cases. The new cases are residents in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Genesee has 28 more of the previous positive individuals recovered and removed from the isolation list.

Genesee County continues to have IT issues and the hospitalizations will be updated as soon as the issue is fixed, hopefully in the next day, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Cassandra Dash is in remission and working to get her strength back

Cassandra Dash

ALBION – An Albion woman will be leading a walk on Saturday morning to help the fight against multiple sclerosis.

Cassandra Dash, 39, and her family and friends will be among the participants who will gather at 10 a.m. at the Butts Road bridge and then walk about 2 miles along the canal east towards the village. Participants, however, can walk any length of distance they want.

Dash, an elementary school attendance secretary, encourages people to wear orange to support all of the “MS warriors.” People can sign up and donate by clicking here, which is a link to virtual MS walks in the Rochester region.

Dash is leading a team called, “NO CANE NO GAIN.” She was diagnosed with MS last month after a four-day stay at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. At that point she couldn’t feel her legs below her knees and was walking with leg braces and a cane.

“I felt like I was walking around in a fog and could fall asleep if I sat still too long,” Dash said. “But, I had recently lost over 100 pounds and was living a completely different lifestyle than I ever had. I kept telling myself all these little symptoms were just because I was exercising or may have pulled a muscle. So, the diagnosis was a complete shock.”

She is working with a neurologist with a treatment plan that includes 5 days of steroid infusions at the hospital and then 5 days of chemo injections.  Dash said she felt very sick, and her hair started falling out in clumps.

“My doctor warned me that it was going to get way worse before it got better,” she said. “But, it did get better!”

She is now on a monthly home maintenance injection. She will soon start OT/PT to start getting her strength back.

“I can walk without my leg braces and my cane,” Dash said. “I am officially in remission. This community and my co-workers have shown my family so much love throughout all of this that I wanted to give back.”

Dash is determined to cover the distance on Saturday during the MS walk.

“I can’t walk very fast or for long distances, but I will finish!” she said. “A lot of people donated to me and my family and I wanted to pay it forward, to try and bring some hope to someone that is going through this. MS changes you, it changes your family. But you can’t give up! Just put one foot in front of the other – everyday!”

Crosby Whipple building will be demolished to make room for new building

Photo by Tom Rivers: A developer will knock down the Crosby-Whipple building at 30 North Main St. and replace it with a 7,600-square-foot Dollar General with 29 parking spaces. This photo was taken in December.

LYNDONVILLE – A new Dollar General store is coming to Main Street in Lyndonville after the company secured the approvals last week during a joint meeting of the Village of Lyndonville Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

That follows a vote on March 25 by the Orleans County Planning Board in support of the project.

The Broadway Group in Huntsville, Alabama is the developer for the project. The company is proposing to demolish the Crosby Whipple building at 30 North Main St. and then build the new 7,600-square-foot store. That size store is the smallest model offered by Dollar General, said Tara Mathias, development manager. Most of the Dollar Generals are more than 9,000 square feet.

The parcel of land on Main Street doesn’t give enough room for that size store. The developer is seeking a variance on the rear setback. The village code requires a 50-foot setback from the rear and Dollar General is asking for 30.5 feet, with a variance of 19.5 feet needed.

The Village ZBA approved that variance as well as one allowing for a 9-foot-high retaining wall by the side of the building facing Johnson Creek. The code calls for a maximum height of 6 feet on a retaining wall. The size of the lot didn’t allow enough room to grade the space for a smaller retaining wall, Mathias said during last month’s Orleans County Planning Board meeting.

The code also calls for vegetative buffer as a visual screen, but that wasn’t possible on the east side of the building where there is a 20-foot easement for a waterline. There will instead be a 6-foot-high stockade-style fence on the rear perimeter of the property.

Mathias said the company designed the new store in a way to fit in on a historic Main Street. The store would have 8 to 10 employees and offer convenience for Lyndonville shoppers. Dollar General has another store 3.75 miles away at the corner of routes 63 and 104 in Ridgeway.

Construction could start in June or July with the new site operational before the end of the year, village officials said today.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced increased capacity for large-scale outdoor event venues, casinos and gaming facilities, gyms and fitness centers, and offices.

Cuomo on Monday cited failing Covid-19 positivity rates and increased vaccinations for the changes.

“We are increasing the capacity limits throughout several industries, including gyms outside of New York City, casinos, offices and large-scale outdoor event venues,” Cuomo said. “This is all great news, but we are not out of the woods yet.”

The changes announced by Cuomo include:

• Large-scale outdoor event venues can increase spectator capacity from 20 to 33 percent beginning May 19.
• Casinos and gaming facilities can increase capacity from 25 to 50 percent beginning May 15.
• Offices can increase capacity from 50 to 75 percent beginning May 15.
• Gyms/fitness centers outside of New York City can increase capacity from 33 to 50 percent beginning May 15.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt

Senate Republican Leader Ortt, along with Senators Peter Oberacker, Fred Akshar and Phil Boyle, on Monday echoed the calls of advocates throughout the state to ensure that any future opioid settlement funds be put into a “lockbox” dedicated to improve and expand treatment and recovery services for New Yorkers struggling with addiction.

The call follows passage of a state budget, negotiated between Governor Cuomo and legislative Democrats, that funneled opioid settlement funds into the general fund instead of creating a dedicated “lockbox” that could be used to enhance and increase investment in much needed prevention, treatment, and recovery services for New Yorkers who are struggling with addiction.

Earlier this year, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of AGs from 47 states, announced a $573 million settlement agreement with McKinsey & Company for their role in the ongoing opioid epidemic. New York State will receive more than $32 million from the agreement.

Upon the announcement of the award, advocates and lawmakers urged the money – and all future opioid settlement funds – be put in a “lockbox” for the sole purpose of expanding and improving prevention, treatment, recovery and support services for those struggling with addiction or in recovery. Senate Democrats hailed a proposal they included in their one-house proposal to do so – but instead, voted in favor of the enacted budget that failed to create a dedicated “lockbox” for the settlement funds.

In a letter to Governor Cuomo, the Senators expressed frustration at the final budget language that gives the Executive broad authority on how to disperse the funds, and called on him to ensure that the entire amount is used toward enhancing treatment and recovery services throughout the state.

“Senate Democrats are talking out of both sides of their mouths – they said one thing in their one house, but did another when they voted in favor of the final budget that funneled a majority of the opioid settlement funds into the general fund,” Ortt said. “Yet, now they claim ‘No administration should have the ability to use opioid settlement to supplant state aid rather than to supplement the effort.’ They voted for this budget that did exactly that, so their calls now for a dedicated lockbox are disingenuous at best – talk about too little too late.”

ALBION – There are two candidates for two trustee positions in a May 3 election for the Hoag Library of the Swan Library Association.

Kevin Doherty, the former library board president, and Dawn Squicciarini, an Albion special education teacher, will be on the ballot. Voting will be at the library from noon to 7 p.m. with results to be announced at the annual meeting immediately following.

All library service area residents are eligible to vote and attend the annual meeting. The service area includes the central Orleans towns of Carlton, Gaines, Albion and Barre.

Kevin Doherty

Doherty in his candidate bio on the Hoag website stated:

“I am excited to run again for a seat on the Hoag Library Board, after sitting out a term limit pause. We’ve done some great work since 2010, locating, designing, building and staffing the best library of its size in Upstate New York. The Hoag Library should be proud of the support it has received from our community, and the service it has provided to a broad section of that community.

“My first service to the Swan Library was as the representative of the Mayor of the Village of Albion. I was subsequently elected for a number of terms. Prior to and coincident with the first few years of that service, I was an elected member of the Board of Education for the Albion Schools.

“To be honest, I miss being there. I have confidence that I can provide some useful and positive perspective to the Trustees; and a documented track record of leadership.”

Dawn Squicciarini

Squicciarini said she and her family have been library users since moving to Albion in the early ’90s.

“Summer reading programs were a part of my children’s summer as much as soccer practice,” she said in her candidate statement. “Our love and respect for libraries was deepened by my sister-in-law who was the young adult librarian at the Fairport Public Library and founder of the Rochester Teen Book Festival which also became an important part of our lives. My youngest, Claire, is a teen representative on the TBF board currently.”

Squicciarini said her teaching career has shown her how important the libraries are, especially in the rural communities. She has been very active in the Albion Soccer Club, serving as treasurer, vice president and president over 12 years. She is also on the board of directors for the Oak Orchard Lighthouse at Point Breeze.

“The library should be a welcoming place for the community,” Squicciarini said. “A place where children are free to come learn as well as a respectful place of work.”

Library planning Summer Reading Program

Hoag Library remains open to patrons for browsing, copy/fax/print/scan/notary, and computer lab use. WiFi is available 24/7 in the parking lot and green space, and no password is required to access the public guest network. The outdoor garden – furnished with lawn chairs, benches, and picnic tables – also is open to the public.

Hoag Library said plans are underway for this year’s 2021 Summer Reading Program “Tails and Tales” with more details coming on the library website and social media accounts.

County goes from lowest rate in early April to now tied for 3rd lowest

Orleans County in early April had the lowest vaccination rate among 62 counties in the state. But not any more. Orleans is moving up and is now tied for the third lowest rate.

The state’s Vaccine Tracker on Monday had Orleans and Fulton counties both at 32.8 percent of their populations with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. That is  ahead of Allegany at 29.9 percent and Tioga at 32.5 percent.

Orleans, despite its improvement in the vaccination rate, is still well behind the statewide vaccination rate (with at least one dose) at 44.3 percent and the nine-county Finger Lakes Region which is at 45.4 percent.

Less than three weeks ago on April 8 Orleans was at the bottom of all counties at 25.6 percent of the residents have had at least one vaccine shot. Bronx County was the next lowest at 25.9 percent, with Fulton at 26.6 percent, Tioga at 26.7 percent and Allegany at 26.8 percent.

Orleans has been holding many mass vaccination clinics to boost the rate, and has been accepting walk-ins at those clinics and has a helpline to help others make appointments.

Here is updated data on the vaccination rates.

Lowest vaccination rates in the state

• Allegany County (46,430 population) – 29.9 percent with at least one dose
• Tioga County (48,560 population) – 32.5 percent with at least one dose
• Orleans (40,612 population) – 32.8 percent with at least one dose
• Fulton County (53,591 population) – 32.8 percent with at least one dose
• Bronx County (1,432,132 population) – 33.1 percent with at least one dose

Nearby counties

• Wyoming County (40,085 population) – 35.4 percent with at least one dose
• Genesee County (57,511 population) – 39.2 percent with at least one dose
• Niagara County (210,433 population) – 42.6 percent with at least one dose
• Erie County (919,719 population) – 47.3 percent with at least one dose
• Monroe County (742,474 population) – 48.1 percent with at least one dose

The Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments wants to work with local businesses to host a pop-up vaccine clinic for employees.

Businesses with 50 or more employees are urged to fill out a 4-question survey (click here) to show their interest in hosting a clinic.

The Health Departments note that all vaccine recipients must complete and pass a screening questionnaire to qualify for a vaccine.

Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to receive Moderna vaccine and 16 years of age to receive Pfizer vaccine. All individuals must be able to commit to a second dose vaccine to receive the first dose – 4 weeks after first dose for Moderna and 3 weeks for Pfizer.

In the survey, the Health Departments ask how many employees would be expected to receive the vaccine at the clinic, and whether the business has a facility where at least 20 people can be socially distanced by at least 6 feet.