Buds of trees in sensitive stage after warm start to spring

Provided photos: These peach trees at Hurd Orchards are in the blossom stage and now covered in snow.

The snow-covered landscape today in Orleans County is more than an annoyance for local fruit growers, who are concerned their crop of cherries, peaches, apples and other fruit could be damaged from the cold temperatures.

Fruit growers are hopeful they will get by without significant damage, because the temperatures aren’t expected to go below 28 degrees where there can start to be damage.

These apple buds at Kast Farms are just breaking out of the tight cluster stage, where they are more vulnerable to cold temperatures.

Although the snow-covered orchards is a scary sight for fruit growers, the bigger worry is tonight with how low the temperatures will go and for how long, said Craig Kahlke, a fruit specialist for the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Lake Ontario Fruit Program.

If it drops to 28 for about 4 hours, growers can expect a 10 percent loss in the crop. Dropping to 25 degrees in the full blossom stage could result in a 90 percent loss, according to Michigan State University which has developed a chart of critical spring temperatures during bud development.

Kahlke has worked as a local fruit specialist for 14 years. He recalled 2012 when half of the fruit crop was wiped out when freezing temperatures killed buds in early May.

He doesn’t expect the snow today and cold later tonight to do much damage. But he worries the buds still have two or three more weeks of being vulnerable to the cold.

It hit 80 on one March day and locally there have been other days in the 70s. That has the fruit trees more advanced than normal with their budding stages. Many of the apples trees broke bud in late March, Kahlke said, when there are still several weeks remaining where the weather could drop to damaging freezing levels.

Amy Machamer, co-owner of Hurd Orchards, said she is concerned for the crop, but remains hopeful. Last year, the temperatures dropped to dangerous cold in early May and on Mother’s Day. She thought the crop would be significantly diminished but Hurd Orchards had a full crop in nearly everything.

“We are hoping beyond hope that that kind of mini miracle will be the reality for 2021,” Machamer said.

If the buds aren’t damaged, Machamer said there is also the worry that the blossoms may not get properly pollinated due to the snow.

Machamer said the temperatures don’t affect the orchards and farmland uniformly.

“There are micro-micro climates,” she said.

There can be pockets with slight temperature variances, and a contrast by even a couple degrees can make a huge difference in damage.

“It’s not a one size fits all,” she said. “And there are different varieties at different stages. It’s certainly scary but hopefully it will be OK.”

Brett Kast of Kast Farms in Gaines was nervous with the snow last night, but felt better the temperature didn’t drop below 30.

“28 is the magic number (when there can be damage),” he said. “Tonight will be a cold one and that is a concern.”

He also was encouraged checking the orchards and spotted a bee out looking to pollinate despite the cold.

The snow could benefit the sensitive peach blossoms by providing some insulation with expected low temperatures tonight.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have first dose Pfizer vaccination clinics with appointments available targeting those who are 16 and older.

The clinics will be Thursday at the Ridgeway fire hall and Saturday at Genesee Community College in Batavia. The vaccine doses are open for any New York State individuals who reside, work or study in the state.

Currently in New York, being fully vaccinated will begin to offer opportunities that have been limited for the past year. Anyone who is fully vaccinated (2 weeks after the J&J vaccine or the second dose of Pfizer and Moderna) will be able to participate in various activities without having to be tested for entry for events such as professional sports, weddings with over 100 guests, proms, graduations and more.

Also, when fully vaccinated, the individual will not have to quarantine if they are exposed to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. Most importantly, you are protecting your health along with others you come in contact with.

“We want to see all of these clinics filled up with those who can also commit to returning for the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine 21 days later,” said Paul Pettit, public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties.

Visit the Genesee and Orleans vaccination web page by clicking here. Choose either the GCC Pfizer Clinic or the Orleans Pfizer Clinic button and follow the directions.

Keep the link handy, as there are Moderna clinics scheduled on April 27th at Ridgeway Fire Hall and on the 28th at GCC. The buttons are live when we have that particular vaccine available. If the clinic is full or we do not have vaccine, it will show “No Appointments Available.” Please share this information with family, friends, co-workers and social groups.

For those who do not have internet they can call the GO Health Vaccine Registration Help Lines – Genesee: 585-815-7168 and Orleans: 585-589-3170.

These lines are only to make vaccine appointments, are not able to answer Covid-related questions, and are not associated with either Health Department.

If you are interested in making an appointment to get your Covid-19 vaccination, now is the time to do it locally!

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A man walks across the intersection at Park and Main streets in Albion this morning at about 6:45 while the snow was falling.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Orleans County today until 2 p.m. with 2-3 inches of snow expected, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The snow will make for slushy and slippery road conditions for the morning commute, the Weather Service said.

“This will be a heavy, wet snow, and may result in some power outages and a few downed tree limbs,” the Weather Service said.

Many of the trees are in bloom, and are now covered in snow, including the trees by the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion, facing Main Street.

The blossoms, which have added an explosion of pink and white on the local landscape, now have snow.

Today is forecast to reach a high of 37.

The snow sticks to the sign for the offices of the county treasurer and historian on East Park Street.

Traffic moves along Platt Street this morning.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued the following statement on former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin being found guilty on all charges in the death of George Floyd:

“The verdicts delivered today were a powerful statement of accountability. George Floyd’s family and his loved ones got well-deserved closure, and all of us who deeply and personally felt his loss gained hope in the possibility of progress.

“But while I’m grateful that the jury returned these verdicts, accountability is not the same as justice. It doesn’t make an unacceptable situation acceptable, and it doesn’t bring Gianna’s dad back. But it must fuel our continued march towards equity.

“Emmett Till. Medgar Evers. Rodney King. Amadou Diallo. Sean Bell. Trayvon Martin. Eric Garner. Michael Brown. Philando Castile. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. Daunte Wright. Adam Toledo. Our country has never fully lived up to its founding ideal, of liberty and justice for all. Still, our greatest attribute has always been our optimism, our belief in an ever better future, our faith in the strength of humanity.

“We saw that faith in streets across the country last summer and over the last 11 months. Our charge now is to channel our grief, our anger, our righteous energy, and make real, positive, and long-overdue change happen.”

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand issued this statement: “Today’s verdict delivers a small measure of justice to the family of George Floyd, but nothing can ever erase the pain of losing a loved one. Our nation remains in a moment of moral reckoning and we must take bold and decisive action. Congress must pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to address the systemic and institutional racism that plagues our criminal justice system and continues to lead to the deaths of countless Black Americans.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer: “I am thankful for George Floyd’s family, friends, and loved ones that justice has been served. Our country was forever changed by the horrendous video of Derek Chauvin’s killing Mr. Floyd in cold blood. This guilty verdict serves as an official proclamation of what so many of us have known for nearly a year: George Floyd was murdered by an officer who was sworn to protect and serve.

“However, we should not mistake a guilty verdict in this case as evidence that the persistent problem of police misconduct has been solved or that the divide between law enforcement and so many of the communities they serve has been bridged. We must remain diligent in our efforts to bring meaningful change to police departments across the country. The Senate will continue that work as we strive to ensure George Floyd’s tragic death will not be in vain.”

182 cases reported in past 7 days in 2 counties

There are 30 more confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported today combined for Orleans and Genesee counties, bringing the total for the two counties to 7,722 in the past 13 months of the pandemic. That includes 4,957 in Genesee and 2,765 in Orleans.

There have been 182 new cases in the two counties in the past 7 days, including 96 in Genesee and 86 in Orleans.

In Orleans County there are 9 new positive cases reported today and those cases are in West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in their 30s, 40s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Orleans is reporting 7 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Of the new cases reported today, 1 was previously on quarantine prior to testing positive, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

There are currently 4 Orleans residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Albion Central School reported today a student from the Elementary School has tested positive for Covid-19. As the student was last in school on April 20, those deemed to have been in close proximity with the student have been contacted by the Department of Health, the school district stated on its website.

Lyndonville Central School said on Monday that the district was notified over the past weekend that one student tested positive for Covid-19. The Health Department  determined that some students will need to be quarantined, and those families have already been contacted.

Medina Central School on Monday reported six students tested positive for Covid, including 3 in the high school, 2 in the middle school and 1 in the elementary school.

The Department of Health, in cooperation with the school district, has notified people who need to be quarantined.

The high school will be operating virtually with students fully remote through Monday, April 26. All school-sponsored sporting events, including practices and games, are suspended through April 26. Medina expects to reopen the high school on April 27.

In Genesee County there are 21 more new positive cases, with those 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, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Genesee is reporting 27 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 7 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Vaccine clinics: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments encourage people to check the health page (click here) for upcoming vaccination clinics. Those clinics are targeted for Genesee and Orleans residents but open to residents who live, work and/or study in New York State.

Both counties are offering vaccination clinic registration via phone. These numbers are for Covid vaccination registration only. In Genesee, call (585) 815-7168. In Orleans, call (585) 589-3170. For both numbers ask for the vaccine registration help line.

Orleans Robotics Photo – Orleans County 4-H Robotics team members Jacob Draper, 17; Zach Neal, 16; Jayden Neal, 18; and Jacob Foote, 17, work on adjustments to their robot in advance of participating remotely in the 2021 FIRST Robotics competition.

Press Release, Orleans County 4-H Robotics Team

KNOWLESVILLE –  “It was frustrating at first, but the kids thrived when they got together, adapted, and made the best out of one of the better robots we have ever built,” said Jody Neal, a mentor and coach of the Orleans County 4-H Robotics Team “Hardwired,” regarding the 2021 FIRST Robotics Competition, held remotely.

Neal explained that the Orleans team of 10-12 youths is much smaller than many teams they compete against, which can have 100 members.

“It gave the kids a boost to see the robot they built compete,” he said, adding the Orleans Hardwired team feels they did well and likely would have been in the top section at in-person finals based on their performance.

Club members typically work for weeks developing a robot they take in-person to the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Finger Lakes Regional Competition at RIT. Neal said the team was at RIT in mid-March of 2020 when the competition shut down as the first Covid lockdowns and restrictions were put in place.

The RIT competition typically draws 50 teams with complicated and varied Covid regulations around the country this year, the FIRST organization made the decision to offer remote opportunities for competing in 2021. “2021 Infinite Recharge II” included a Games Design Challenge, an Innovations Challenge and a Skills Challenge, which utilized the robot made during the 2020 season.

Neal says the Innovations Challenge, “had nothing to do with the robot. The teams had to market an idea to judges.” The Orleans County Hardwired team came up with a tool to help people utilize Zoom who live in places like assisted living facilities and often face challenges using the video and audio conferencing platform.

Orleans team members Jacob Foote and Zach Neal worked on the Game Design challenge. Foote, who is currently enrolled at GCC and a junior at Albion, explained, “Each team could design the outlines of a competition for the robots. The theme of the competition we made was centered around medieval fantasy. During the design process of our game, we bounced ideas for obstacles and challenges in the game. We also had to consider the different experience levels for different teams so the game wasn’t too easy or challenging.”

Team member Jayden Neal of Albion, a homeschooled high school senior who also takes courses at GCC through their STEM program, worked on the Skills Challenge portion of the event. The challenge consisted of five separate challenges.

“The top three scores in these challenges were counted. We entered four of the challenges – the HyperDrive Challenge, AutoNav Challenge, Power Port Challenge, and the Interstellar Accuracy Challenge,” he said. “For the HyperDrive Challenge, our driver had to manually navigate four courses. For the AutoNav Challenge, our robot had to autonomously navigate three of those courses. In the Power Port Challenge, our robot had to shoot as many balls at a target as we could in one minute. For the Interstellar Accuracy Challenge, we had five minutes to shoot from several specific locations on the field with a limited amount of balls.”

Orleans Robot Photo – Team members only needed to make a few adjustments and programming changes to get their robot ready for the remote 2021 competition. The robot was built in 2020, but the FIRST competition at RIT was shut down when Covid hit in March of last year.

Jayden said the challenges were recorded on video and submitted online. Orleans team members ended up with good scores on some of the challenges.

The experience provided an opportunity for Jayden and the team to be mentored and guided on programming skills. “We used our robot from last year, and we did not make too many changes,” he explained. “We did switch out the front and back wheels to a different style to allow smoother turning. One the programming side – my job – I wrote some code that would allow us to list a bunch of points on a grid that the robot would then follow, then created those paths for the AutoNav Challenge, it wasn’t the fastest, but it did work.”

Team members did not have to spend much time on adjustments for the shooting challenges, Jayden noted. Last year, a vision system was added to the Orleans robot that allowed it to line up with the target as well as estimate the distance and set the speed accordingly.  “Just doing a minor tweak to the shooter to optimize it for the further distances we would be shooting at in the accuracy challenge, and a recalibration of distance to rpm portion of the code, allowed us to do alright in those challenges,” he said.

Overall, the team did well. “We ended up placing 8th in our group for the skills challenges,” Jayden said. “Our team is typically right in the middle of the pack at competitions, so we were pretty happy with that.”

Jayden has also been working to analyze unofficial statistics for this year’s competition. “Out of a little over 1,400 teams, we would be in 338th place on team 3015’s global leaderboard,” he said. “Our scores would also put us in 14th place out of the 45 teams from New York State that chose to compete. Although I wish I could have seen how this robot would have performed at a normal competition, these challenges were fun and did give us away to compete against other teams.”

Town Supervisor doesn’t want to see prime farmland lost to renewable energy projects

MURRAY – The Town Board expects to pass a moratorium to give Murray officials time to review and update its ordinances for solar and wind energy projects.

The board could approve the moratorium during the May 17 Town Board meeting. Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Moore said the town should update the laws, especially for large-scale solar. Murray might consider looking at an overlay district where extra protections can be put in place for residents, Moore said.

The current ordinance doesn’t include any regulations or standards for battery storage systems for the solar projects, Moore said.

Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said the town should also look at its ordinance for large-scale wind projects as part of the moratorium.

Sidonio said he wants to see protections for prime farmland from the projects. The renewable energy projects should be steered to marginal farmland, he said.

“Orleans County has some of the best farmland in the world,” Sidonio said. “It’s tragic that these projects are looking at some of our prime farmland.”

In other action, the Town Board:

• Voted to raise the water rates for farmers by 25 cents from $4.25 to $4.50 per 1,000 gallons. This is for agriculture that uses water from town hydrants. The town provides meters for those users.

The 25 cents reflects the same increase to the town from the Monroe County Water Authority. The other town users will remain at a $4.99 rate per 1,000 gallons.

• Accepted the resignation of Kevin Moore as the town’s code enforcement officer, effective May 1. Moore works full-time as code enforcement officer for the Town of Clarkson and he said his duties will be increasing in that community. He thanked the Town Board for the opportunity to work in Murray.

• Accepted the resignation of Annette Curtis as the town’s clerk for the planning and zoning boards, effective May 1. Curtis will continue to work as the deputy town clerk. The town will look to fill the clerk and code officer positions.

• Agreed to hire Jeff Martin as an attorney for the Planning Board on an as-needed basis at $175 an hour. That expense would be paid for by applicants for projects in the town, unless Martin is providing training for board members.

MURRAY – The Town Board is discussing whether it should expand health insurance eligibility to the domestic partners of town employees, and the children of those partners.

Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said Murray would be the first municipality in Orleans County to offer that coverage. He said it could be a significant cost increase for Murray taxpayers.

The current cost for a single health care plan is $539.06 a month ($6,468.72 a year) for a single plan, $1,078.12 per month ($12,937.44 per year) for a two-person plan and $1,536.32 per month ($18,435.84 a year) for a family plan. Town employees pay 15 percent of the costs.

Sidonio said four employees could be eligible for two-person or family plans if the town approves the expanded eligibility.

There is currently one employee with domestic partner coverage, but town officials declined to comment on how that happened during Monday’s Town Board meeting. John Sansone, the town attorney, advised the board to not discuss specific personnel matters in public.

Sidonio urged the Town Board to thoroughly go over its policy for health insurance coverage for town employees.

“I don’t want to do a sloppy job on a complicated subject,” he said.

Sansone said the town would need to determine what qualifies someone as a domestic partner, whether it’s financial support and living together, and what documentation would be needed. He suggested an affidavit from the parties testifying to the relationship.

If the town approves the policy and an employee has a domestic partner and dependents on the health insurance policy, the employee should be aware there will be a taxable liability for the expanded insurance which could result in smaller take-home pay.

Sidonio was faulted by Town Board member Paul Hendel for a recent Facebook post, where Sidonio called out the other four board members as “No Show Board” for not attending a work session on April 8 to discuss a domestic partner health insurance policy.

Sidonio’s Facebook post resulted in many comments from residents critical of the other board members.

“I don’t think that moves the agenda of positive, collaborative working relationship with you, Joe,” Hendel said about the social media post and its response.

Hendel said the Town Board members all have near perfect attendance for the regular monthly meetings and they do other work for the town outside of the meetings.

“Social media is a platform for uninformed people to bully others,” Hendel said.

Hendel didn’t attend the work session because Sansone wasn’t going to be there and there wasn’t a draft policy yet to discuss. Sansone doesn’t attend the work sessions as a cost-saving measure from Sidonio, Hendel said.

Sidonio said he doesn’t control peoples’ comments on social media. He also wrote a letter to editor on the Orleans Hub.

Hendel said he didn’t see the letter, but he wouldn’t write a letter about Sidonio if he was trying to build a good working relationship.

The board tabled the discussion until the May 17 board meeting. It will continue to research the issue. Samson, the town attorney, also was encouraged to attend any work sessions about the issue.

Press Release, Supportive Care of Orleans

ALBION – National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, provides the opportunity to recognize the millions of Americans who provide volunteer service in communities across the country.

At Supportive Care of Orleans, approximately 160 trained volunteers give selflessly to help people live as fully as possible, even when facing a serious or life-limiting illness. Even now, when our volunteers cannot visit patients and their families in the home as they used to before the pandemic, they are making a difference by collecting personal protective equipment, making phone calls, sending thoughtful cards and messages to patients, helping with hospice fundraising events and so many other kind things.

“Given that hospice volunteers accompany people along the journey of a serious or life-threatening illness, they serve an essential part in enabling Supportive Care of Orleans to offer the best care possible,” said Derek Reiner, Development & Public Relations Manager. “By sharing their time, energy, and expertise, our volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need and we celebrate them not only during National Volunteer Week but every day.”

It is federally mandated under Medicare that 5 percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers, reflecting the vital role that volunteers play in the provision of care. But even if the integration of volunteers was not required, we would still consider them critical members of our team. Our community is a better, more compassionate place because of their service.

For those interested in learning more about hospice or volunteer opportunities, please visit www.SupportiveCareOrleans.org or call us at (585) 589-0809.

Her body was found in refuge in Shelby by hunter

Press Release, NY State Police

Courtesy of State Police: Shari Lynee Ball is shown in this undated photo. This facial reconstruction rendering was done to compare and also render sketches.

SHELBY – On October 29, 1983, a body was found by a hunter off the shoulder of Route 63 in the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, in the town of Shelby, Orleans County.

The victim was found in a severely decomposed state and was believed to have been there for several months. In 1984, the Center of Human Identification was used by the NYSP to make a facial reconstruction from the remains (pictured). The reconstruction was done to give the public a possible identity to compare and also render sketches.

In October of 2013, the still unidentified body was exhumed and DNA testing was performed. Through a multi-step investigation, the body was identified as Shari L. Ball.

Shari Lynne Ball was reported missing by her family in June 1983 to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. She had told her family that she was going to New York State with an unknown friend to pursue a modeling career.

At the time of her disappearance, Ball, 20, was living in Boca Raton, FL. She is described as a white female, 5’ 4, 100 pounds, with hazel eyes and blonde hair.  Shari Lynne was also known to use the last name of Timmerman.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Batavia by calling (585) 344-6200. Please refer to SJS # 3032334.

Town will try to lower speed, add signs and will seek more law enforcement patrols

Photo by Tom Rivers: Brian Fauci, a resident of Gulf Road, presents a petition signed by about 50 people, highlighting safety concerns on Bennetts Corners and Gulf roads.

MURRAY — The Town Board and highway superintendent will look for ways to make Gulf and Bennetts Corners roads safer after residents presented a petition on Monday, highlighting concerns on the roadways.

Brian Fauci, a Gulf Road resident, circulated the petition along with Dave Knapp. Fauci said drivers often exceed the 45 mile per hour speed limit on a narrow winding road without sidewalks. Pedestrians and other drivers are in danger in the current conditions, which he said would also benefit from signage about school bus stops and blind driveways. Fauci also asked for more presence from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and State Police.

The petition asks for the town to pursue lowering the speed limit to 30 miles per hour on the two roads, with the Bennetts Corners section north of Route 31. Dirk Lammes, the highway superintendent, said he would take that request to the state Department of Transportation for approval. The town can’t lower the speed limit without DOT approval, Lammes and the Town Board said.

But Murray does have discretion for putting up signage, double-striping the road for no passing, and modifying the intersection on the curve, where Bennetts Corners transitions to Gulf Road.

“This petition is all safety,” states the document which was signed by about 50 people. “Both roads lack proper signage, which would include speed limit postings, schools stops, blind curves and canal bridge approaches.”

Google Maps: Residents want more signage and a lower speed limit on Bennetts Corners Road and Gulf Road in Murray.

Fauci said he worries schoolchildren could be killed with so many motorists speeding on the road without clear sight lines ahead.

“Speeding on both roads is out of control with no law enforcement presence,” the petition states. “These roads have seen an increase in traffic from the mobile home park combined with the fact that a lot of local and neighboring town residents use these stretches of roads as a shortcut between Route 104 and Route 31.”

The petition also requests to transform the curve transition of Gulf Road and Bennetts Corners Road into a 3-way stop intersection. This would slow down traffic in both directions and be easier to plow for the highway department. “Currently the plows have to back up and take extra passes to remove the snow out of the intersection,” the petition states.

Lammes said he would start the process for getting more signs on the road and modifying the curve to an intersection with a 3-way stop.

Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said he would write a letter to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and State Police, requesting more patrols on the two roads.

Winter weather advisory in effect tonight through Wednesday afternoon

A winter weather advisory has been issued for Orleans County and much of Western New York from midnight to 2 p.m. on Wednesday. There are 3 to 6 inches of snow expected, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

The advisory includes Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

The Weather Service said motorists should plan on slippery road conditions with the hazardous conditions impacting the Wednesday morning commute.

“This will be a heavy, wet snow, and may result in isolated power outages and downed tree limbs,” the Weather Service said.

Museums, zoos and large-scale arenas in New York will soon be able to increase their capacity and still meet Covid-19 restrictions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday.

Movie theater capacity will increase to 33 percent starting April 26. Low-risk, indoor and outdoor arts and entertainment – including museums, aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens – will increase to 50 percent capacity, also beginning April 26.

Beginning May 19, spectator capacity will increase to 25 percent at large-scale arenas and event venues, including professional and collegiate sports, and major performances. Social distancing, masks, health screenings and all other health and safety protocols remain in effect.

“New Yorkers should be encouraged by the incredible progress they have made in reducing the infection rate and getting vaccinated,” Cuomo said. “While we are not yet out of the woods, thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, we have been able to safely re-open more facets of our economy.”

Statewide the percent positive for Covid-19 tests on Sunday was 2.94 percent. The 7-day average for the state was 2.85 percent.

Western New York has the highest positivity rate in the state at 4.78 percent for the 7-day average. The Finger Lakes Region, which includes Orleans, was at 3.04 percent for the 7-day average.

MEDINA – Jason Flores was checking out at Aldi’s grocery store in Medina today at about 5 p.m. when he realized he left his wallet at home. The cashier had wrung up $65 worth of groceries.

Flores was in a panic and frazzled.

He was shocked when another customer reached over with her credit card and paid for the groceries. She didn’t give her name, told him not to worry about it and to “Pay it forward” if he ever sees someone in a similar position.

Flores went home to Lyndonville, and decided to help his neighbor stack their wood. He remains stunned someone would pay that much of a bill for someone they don’t know.

“It was just super kind,” he said. “We need more people out there like that.”

Flores, 49, is a 1989 Medina graduate. He works for a large software company based in California. He heard the woman who paid for his groceries works at Mark’s Pizzeria.

Flores said he intends to give her a gift card for helping him in a tough situation, and for shocking him about the good in some people.

There are 69 new confirmed Covid-19 cases since Friday afternoon in Genesee and Orleans counties, bringing the total to 7,692 in the two counties during the pandemic, including 2,756 in Orleans and 4,936 in Genesee.

In Orleans County there are 36 new cases since last Friday. Those cases are 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, 70s and 80s.

Of the new cases, 9 were previously on quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Orleans is reporting 24 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.

Five of the new cases are inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility, where 49 have now tested positive during the pandemic.

There are 3 Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 33 new confirmed cases of Covid, and those cases are 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, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Genesee is reporting 39 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 7 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Active cases down in Genesee, up in Orleans since a week ago: The number of active cases in the two counties is at 159 today, which is down 10 from a week ago. In Genesee the active cases decreased from 92 to 78, while in Orleans the cases are up from 77 to 81 in the past seven days.

Vaccine clinics: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments encourage people to check the health page (click here) for upcoming vaccination clinics. Those clinics are targeted for Genesee and Orleans residents but open to residents who live, work and/or study in New York State.

Both counties are offering vaccination clinic registration via phone. These numbers are for Covid vaccination registration only. In Genesee, call (585) 815-7168. In Orleans, call (585) 589-3170. For both numbers ask for the vaccine registration help line.