The cast includes, top row from left: Michaela Anstey (Middleport), Matthew P. Barry (Kenmore) and Sarah Hill (Buffalo); second row – Theresa M. Jones (Brockport), Jennifer Neroni-Trupo (Albion) and Debbie Tompkins (Henrietta); bottom row – Scott M. Weber (Newfane), Brian Wilson (Lockport) and Dan Zerpa (Newfane).

MIDDLEPORT – The Lake Plains Players have an online recital today of “Puppy Love an Online Cat-baret.”

The show features a nine-person cast and promises to be “joyful and silly,” director Gabby Montgomery said of the animal-themed recital.

The Players are seeking $5 donation per household to access the link to the show. Which will be shown on YouTube today between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Those who buy access to the link should start watching by 9:45 p.m. because the link for the 1 hour, 15 minute show times out at 11 p.m.

The Players did other digital recital in August 2020, and with the Summer 2020 Kids Theatre Program.

Montgomery said the singers auditioned early this year and received their music about two months before the show.

“They rehearsed, prepared and filmed their sections of the show on their own at home, and then submitted their videos to be edited together to create the whole program,” she said. “Most of the cast prepared 2-3 videos for the recital. The entire show runs a little over an hour in length.”

The donation supports a scholarship program from the Players who recognize high school seniors in the performing arts.

To donate and access the link click here and then click the yellow “donate” button.

“Once you’ve made your donation, we will receive the email address that you use for PayPal account and will send the link to the show to that email between 6-6:30 pm on April 17 so you can access the show at 7 pm.,” Montgomery said.

Provided photo: Brian Wilson performs with this dog in the “Puppy Love an Online Cat-baret.”

Program will reimburse out-of-pocket child or dependent care, transportation, lodging and other qualifying expenses for eligible workers

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that applications are being accepted for the $26.6 million available to support essential workers and first responders through the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund program.

The program, coordinated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, is designed to reimburse out-of-pocket child or dependent care, transportation, lodging and other qualifying expenses that eligible workers incurred while employed in New York State between March 1, 2020, through the date of application submission. Up to $1,000 is available per household. The funding comes from private donations from individuals, charitable trusts and businesses made during the COVID crisis.

“From day one of the Covid-19 pandemic, New York’s essential workers and first responders did their jobs so the rest of us could stay safe. Their brave and selfless service to New Yorkers will never be forgotten and we must ensure we support them in the midst of unique transportation, lodging and child care challenges,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund will reimburse essential workers for important living expenses they’ve incurred while keeping the rest of us safe, and I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to apply for funding now.”

Qualifying applicants include first responders, health care workers and many multi-industry essential workers. Eligible workers can apply on their own or be referred to the application by employers, unions or social service providers who employed them during the Covid emergency. Families who earn up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level – or $125,470 for a family of four – are eligible to apply for the funds to cover expenses.

OCFS Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said, “We at OCFS are proud and honored to assist our first responder and essential worker neighbors by getting relief to those who honorably and tirelessly responded to the Covid-19 crisis. Thousands of essential workers have expressed interest in the funding, and we are pleased to coordinate this grant program for these worthy employees. They have saved so many lives throughout the pandemic.”

About the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund

The Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund is a non-competitive application. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and who submit the required income documentation and had eligible expenses will be awarded up to $1,000 to reimburse out-of-pocket costs incurred while responding to Covid-19 that have not been reimbursed by another source. Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. The maximum reimbursement amount is $1,000 per household. Applications and grant opportunity instructions are available by clicking here.

Site was well known in WNY as a speakeasy during Prohibition

Photo courtesy Orleans County Historian

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director

GAINES – What was once called “The Castle,” a white Italianate, 19th century mansion in the Hamlet of Childs, has been the scene of several ups and downs over its storied lifetime.

A point of interest, which is no longer to be seen, was a “200 foot cathedral aisle of trees which serves as an approach to the house from the road.”

In the winter folks could get a glimpse of the mansion, but in the summer, “the arching limbs of the trees are heavy with foliage, offering only a dim glimpse of the home at the end of the shadowy avenue.”

An early 1900s newspaper headline, seen here, describes the property as an “Empty Mansion Dimly Seen from the Road – Intrigues Passers-by.”  The writer went on to describe the scene of “the house which sits back from the road, just south of Fairhaven, or Childs, as it is now called.”

It was said at that time, that perhaps the stone wall fronting the property is even more striking and attention-getting than the shadow of a house that was visible from the road. Close inspection of the wall at 2755 Oak Orchard Road showed its hand-carved stones, and vertical projecting stone posts which support a chain with “catenary curve.” At the time of construction, the stones were joined without mortar or cement in the wall. All of the materials were bedded using lead. Early reports state that over a ton of metal was used.

The mansion itself is credited to a certain John Dixon, who came to Albion in the mid-1800s as a wealthy man, after a successful career as a ship chandler. Once here, Dixon married a young girl from Gaines, and carried out his ideas for a house that would “surpass in luxury of construction any residence known in this part of the country.” Much of the building materials and interior furnishings of the place were imported at considerable expense. Hand-cut stone foundations formed the two foot thick cellar walls.

Each of two front rooms in the house had round arch, grey Italian marble fireplaces. A pair of central glass doors opened into a long hall with a circular staircase. The balustrade and large walnut posts were said to date to Dixon’s ship supply business.

The second floor bedrooms were similarly equipped. The third floor attic room contained a large lead lined cistern to provide rain water to the house. From there, an open stairway led to the widow’s walk and cupola on the roof, which was said to “afford an excellent view of the Canadian shore.”

A later owner imported a good deal of wrought iron work that served as trellis arch and entryway around the estate.

Dixon was described as an eccentric by his contemporaries.  After completing the house, he moved out and left it for his wife’s occupancy.  He moved next door in a smaller home and his wife lived in the mansion until her death. The two had no children.

After Dixon, the succession of ownership went first to William DeWitt Merrick and then to Frank (“Patty”), Mary and Leo Majewski in 1925. The Majewskis opened up a “speakeasy” and continued to operate a country saloon for about ten years. The place gained a colorful reputation during Prohibition and became known throughout Western New York as “The Castle.” As stated earlier, the tree lined drive and deeply wooded front lawn provided the necessary privacy and intrigue.

The next owner was Elizabeth Keeney Hart (Mrs. Elizur Kirke Hart II), who acquired the property from the Majewskis in 1935. At that point, the home had fallen into one of its periods of disrepair but still had strong “bones.” After “Bess” Hart’s death a year later, the property passed to her son, E. Kirke Hart III and his wife Marcia. Mrs. Hart offered that she believed the house was once decorated about 1894 by the Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company, when that firm was doing work on the new Pullman Memorial Church in Albion. Marcia and her husband Kirke proceeded to remodel the home through the 1930s.  Marcia’s reflections follow:

“The property Kirke inherited was The Castle, two large barns, outbuildings and ten acres of land. A long time employee of the Hart family, Wonderful Raduns and his wife Daisey and son Eric, moved into the house to become its caretakers. Daisey told of turning away many former customers of the speakeasy. Almost immediately, Kirke and the Raduns started the job of cleaning up the years of neglect.  They removed 68 trees from the front yard to let in more sunlight. A tall pine was stripped of its branches to become a flagpole. Behind the house overgrown bushes, grape vines and dead fruit trees were pulled out. It took several trips to the dump at Five Corners to clear away the large pile of bottles, broken glass, tin cans, etc. from outside the backdoor.

“Kirke and I decided to remodel the house to live in after our marriage. All of the floors had to be hand sanded and varnished because Albion Electric service was 25 cycles and Rochester Flooring couldn’t use their 60 cycle equipment.” 

The Harts were married in June 1938 and daughter, Marcia Elizabeth, was born in July 1939. After Mr. Hart’s death in 1953, Mrs. Hart and her daughter continued to live at the Castle. In 1955, Mrs. Hart left the home but returned frequently.

During the night of October 31, 1959 tragedy struck and the house was partially destroyed by fire. Following the fire, the second story and attic were removed by the next owner. Those who had seen the house’s splendor, reflected that the grandeur was never the same again.

A series of owners followed, including the McMurray family, Wilson family, Marty and Kathy Worth, and a more recent occupancy as “Piccolo’s Italian Bakery and Gift Shop.” Another period of neglect followed, but it’s good to see a new restoration taking place on this landmark property by the current owners, El and Susan Roberts.  This duo has ambitious plans for restoration/renovation of the main house and barns, icehouse and more.  They look forward to returning the beautiful trees, gardens and ponds once associated with the property. The five-year plan will find the couple living in the restored barn and using the Castle as an Airbnb.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Corey Saj goes up the middle for good yardage during the Mustangs win over Cleveland Hill at Vets Park this evening.

A big four touchdown first quarter scoring explosion ignited undefeated (3-0) Medina to a 48-0 victory over Cleveland Hill in a C North Division game this evening at Vets Park.

The shutout was the seond for the Medina defensive unit which has now allowed just one touchdown in three games.

The Mustangs decisive four touchdown scoring burst came within a span of just six minutes in the opening stanza.

Medina’s Lennon Meacham tries to cut to the outside.

During that key stretch quarterback Xander Payne completed touchdown passes of 17 yards to Corey Saj at the 8:39 mark, of 59 yards to Tyler Chinn at 6:27 and of 75 yards to Brian Fry at 2:41. Iverson Poole also chipped in with a 13 yard TD run at the 5:20 mark.

A pair of two-point conversions on a Payne to Fry pass after the second TD and a Poole run after the fourth score gave the Mustangs a commanding 28-0 first quarter lead.

The Medina advantage jumped to 40-0 at the half as Payne hooked up with Joe Cecchini on a 16 yard scoring strike and Fry returned a punt 58 yards for a TD in the second quarter.

The Mustangs final score came in the third quarter on a 15 yard touchdown pass from Payne to Poole. Fry added the two-point conversion run to make it 48-0. Payne now has 12 TD passes in three games.

Medina next hosts Wilson next Friday. Wilson (1-2) defeated rival Newfane (0-2) 21-0 on Thursday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Sh’kwe Riley breaks loose for a long gain during the Purple Eagles win over visiting Dunkirk this evening as Chris Shabazz blocks Dunkirk’s Davon McCall.

Snapping a brief two game season opening losing streak, Albion posted a 26-12 victory over visiting Dunkirk this evening in a B2 Division game.

Albion jumped out to a 6-0 lead on a 7 yard touchdown run by Sh’kwe Riley with 5:41 to go in the first quarter, a tally he set up himself with a big 53 yard run.

Albion quarterback Amari Jones gets loose around the end for a good gain as Christian Ortiz tries to make the tackle for Dunkirk.

Dunkirk tied the game at 6-6 on a 5 yard TD run by Christian Ortiz three minutes into the second quarter.

The Purple Eagles though regained a 12-6 lead at the half as Amari Joens completed a 34 yard touchdown pass play to Bailey Blanchard who made a nifty over the shoulder catch in the end zone.

The Albion defense then came up with a big interception by Javon Jones deep in Purple Eagles territory late in the quarter to preserve the lead.

The Marauders did retie the game one more time at 12-12 early in the third quarter on a 1 yard TD run by Jayden Rodriguez.

However, the final two touchdowns of the game and the win belonged to the Purple Eagles.

Albion quickly regained the lead for good at 20-12 just two minutes later on a 28 yard TD run by Amari Jones as Riley added the two-point conversion.

Riley, who had 135 yards rushing on the evening, then scored the clincher three minutes later on a 13 yard TD run for a 26-12 Purple Eagles lead.

Albion next visits Olean next Friday while Dunkirk, which slips to 0-3, visits West Seneca East also on Friday.

Tyler Gibson hauls in a catch for Albion as Chris Torres defends for Dunkirk.

2 counties report 180 cases in past 7 days

Orleans and Genesee combined are reporting 33 new cases of Covid-19 today, which brings the total to 7,623 for the two counties in the past 13 months of the pandemic. That includes 2,720 in Orleans and 4,903 in Genesee.

There have been 180 cases the past seven days in the two counties, including 74 in Orleans and 106 in Genesee. The week before that there were 186 cases in the two counties.

The percent positive rate the past 7 days is 3.5 in Orleans and 2.5 percent in Genesee. The positivity rate the past 14 days is 3.2 in Orleans and 3.1 percent in Genesee.

In Orleans County there are 16 new cases reported today and that includes 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, and 60s.

Orleans is reporting 9 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 3 county residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Of the new cases, 2 are inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility, and one is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also said it removed one of yesterday’s positive individuals as they are not a resident of Orleans County. Yesterday’s final number of new positives was 2,704.

In Genesee County there are 17 new positive cases and they 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 and 80s.

Genesee is reporting 19 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 3 current residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Of the new cases, one is a resident of The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Batavia.

Genesee also is reporting a death from Covid, a community resident over 65. Genesee has now had 121 deaths from Covid during the pandemic.

“We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families,” the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments said. “Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time.”

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

To check for vaccination clinics in Genesee and Orleans counties, click here.

Internet service providers required to offer $15 per month high-speed internet plan for qualifying families

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation establishing the first-in-the-nation requirement for affordable internet for qualifying low-income families, as proposed in the 2021 State of the State.

This legislation requires providers operating in New York State to offer $15/month high-speed internet to low-income families across the state.

New Yorkers qualifying for this affordable internet program include households who are eligible or receiving free or reduced-price lunch, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, Medicaid benefits, the senior citizen or disability rent increase exemptions, or an affordability benefit from a utility. It also requires providers to report to the Public Service Commission annually on their offers and uptake.

“High-speed internet is essential to our everyday lives, and as we continue to reopen our state and adjust to new norms that have been shaped by the pandemic, we need to make sure every household has access to affordable internet,” Governor Cuomo said. “Remote learning, remote working, and telemedicine are not going away. This program – the first of its kind in the nation – will ensure that no New Yorker will have to forego having reliable home internet service and no child’s education will have to suffer due to their economic situation.”

Affordability is a key issue in the fight for universal broadband, as many families cannot afford to pay for broadband service in their homes. A basic high-speed internet plan, on average, costs more than $50 per month. Nationwide, 43% of those earning less than $30,000 are not connected to internet at home, and 26% of those making $30,000 to $50,000 remain unconnected at home. It closes to 8% unconnected for those making $75,000 or more. Meanwhile, nationwide only 66 percent of Black households, 61 percent of Hispanic households, and 53 percent of Native Americans living on tribal lands are connected to internet at home, compared to 79 percent of White households.

To further bridge the internet gap in New York, the State has partnered with Schmidt Futures and the Ford Foundation to launch ConnectED NY, an emergency fund to provide approximately 50,000 students in economically disadvantaged school districts with free internet access through June 2022.

In addition, Governor Cuomo launched the Affordable Broadband Portal to help New Yorkers find the affordable broadband programs in their area. This website also includes critical information about the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program ($50/month subsidy for broadband service, plus a one-time discount of up to $100 on computers and tablets).

Furthermore, New York State will conduct an in-depth statewide mapping study of broadband to identify the availability, reliability and cost of high-speed broadband services and report on its findings within one year. This study will map the quality – not just the availability – of coverage. This is part of the State’s effort to make broadband accessible and affordable for all.

Press Release, NYS Department of Agriculture

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today reminded New York farmers ahead of the tax filing deadline of May 17, 2021 that they are eligible to receive a tax credit for qualifying food donations made to food banks and other emergency food providers in the tax year 2020.

According to the New York Farm Bureau, farmers across the state donated more than eight million pounds of food in 2020, helping to feed many families who faced increased food insecurity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“New York’s farmers are consistently among the nation’s leading donors to food banks, food pantries, and other charitable food organizations – a great feat in any year and especially during 2020 when our producers faced difficult challenges brought on by the pandemic,” Ball said. “Our farmers’ donations have provided fresh, healthy foods to millions of New York families who needed assistance more this past year than ever before.”

The farm donations to food pantries tax credit was enacted in 2018 to compensate farmers for costs associated with harvesting, packaging, and distributing local products to eligible food pantries, food banks, and other emergency food programs across the state.

New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt said, “We welcome the opportunity to join with our government partners to administer and support this commendable program, which provides fresh and nourishing food to struggling families while simultaneously encouraging farmers to reinvest in their land and vital operations.”

The tax credit, which is supported by the New York State Council on Hunger and Food Policy, is a refundable credit equal to 25 percent of the fair market value of qualified donations up to $5,000. Eligible donations include fresh fruits and vegetables grown or produced in New York State and provided to emergency food programs that qualify for tax exempt status. To claim the credit, the taxpayer must receive proof of the donation in the form of a receipt or written acknowledgment from the eligible food program.

Information about eligibility requirements for the tax credit is available by clicking here. For additional tax credit and exemption programs available through the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, agri-businesses can are encouraged to click here and choose “Farming and Agriculture.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Greg Gilman, an employee with Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, helps with a food distribution this morning in Albion. The federal government has funded the program since last April but announced it won’t continue after May.

“This helps hundreds of families every week,” said Annette Finch, emergency services coordinator for Community Action.

The program has been going most Fridays in Orleans County since April 2020. People line up in vehicles often by 5:30 to 6 a.m. for the distributions that are scheduled to start at 8 to 8:30 a.m. There are usually 300 boxes of food each week, but sometimes there are more, including today when the usual 20-pound box was supplemented with oranges, pears, Brussels sprouts, hummus and eggs.

“We never know what we’re going to get until they pull up here,” Finch said about the delivery trucks.

The schedule the next two weeks includes:

• April 23, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville
• April 30, Community Action Main Street Store, 113 South Main St., Albion

Tom Vilsack, USDA secretary, announced this week the fresh produce boxes will be delivered as part of the Emergency Food Assistance Program where they can be delivered more efficiently with less waste and at a lower cost.

The “Families Food Box Program” had five rounds and delivered 157.1 million boxes of fresh produce, milk, dairy and cooked meats to Americans across the country.

Anthony Washington, an Iroquois Job Corps employee, takes a box to one of the vehicles.

Samantha Koons of the Office for the Aging has been a steady presence at the distributions for many months.

Kevin Ross was among a team from the Job Corps that assisted this morning in the rain with temperatures in the low 40s.

Photos courtesy of Melissa Ierlan

CLARENDON – Jeremy Arnold (right), owner of Arnold’s Tree Service in Holley, and his friend and employee CJ Stevens replaced the flag at Clarendon Town Park on Route 237 on Thursday.

The previous flag was tattered and tangled at the top of the flag pole.

Melissa Ierlan, the town historian and code enforcement officer, called Arnold to see if he could replace the flag. He responded within minutes.

Ierlan gave him the new flag to replace. She keeps many flags to update ones at town cemeteries and the historical society.

Arnold and Stevens are both veterans and were glad to help with the task.

Arnold used his bucket truck to free the tangled flag from the pole.

Stevens secures the new flag to the park that includes the Clarendon waterfalls.

Show can be viewed through online streaming

Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: Myleigh Miller, center, is Ellie Blake who switches bodies with her mother in Freaky Friday. She is joined on stage by Leah Kania, left, who is Gretchen and Emily Mergler who is Hannah.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – With Broadway stages still shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the excitement is palpable as Albion High School’s Theatrical Department gets ready to launch its virtual spring production of Disney’s “Freaky Friday.”

According to Director Connor Doran, while a lot of thought went into choosing this year’s show, taking into consideration the ever-changing safety restrictions but wanting to carry on the tradition of a spring musical, the goal remained the same: “choose a show that will make the students shine.”

Aubrey Boyer, right, portrays Katherine Blake, the mother who turns into a teen. She is on stage with Annalise Steier, who plays Fiona.

“As a new teacher, having no previous knowledge of the student make-up, and working in the confines of a pandemic, I wanted to choose something that would be meaningful, musically catchy, and also a challenge,” Doran said. “We made the decision back in November once we got the go-ahead from our administration.”

One of the deciding factors was that “Freaky Friday” has streaming options, which was ideal for the pandemic and ensured they could share the show with the greater Albion community.

According to Doran, one of the best parts of producing this show was finding creative solutions to the challenges it posed.

“Between producing a theatrical work while masked, making sure everyone was comfortable, creating our protocol sheet and following it to a ‘T’, reimagining the way some things are done in a pandemic world, pushing our students to reach their potential, and allowing everyone’s creativity to shine through, there was a lot to consider,” Doran said.

The cast rehearsed for two hours a day, Monday through Saturday, every week leading up to the filming of the show.

“What you don’t see are the countless hours of practicing lines, music, choreography, set building, lighting design, props creation, organization, and general creativity,” Doran explained. “What one would see in a rehearsal is only a fraction of the time that led up to the preparation of that moment.”

Myleigh Miller, who plays one of the leads, Ellie Blake, in the show, said that even with all the hours of preparation, she was still finding new ways to improve and learning about her character during the live shows.

“The most challenging aspect was the limited amount of time we had,” Miller explained. “I found myself learning new things about the characters I portrayed in the middle of a live performance, and having to be done with the show, just as I was getting to truly know the characters, was a bit hard.”

The show went on for the Albion High School Theatrical Department with the production of Freaky Friday. There won’t be an in-person audience but the show will be available to stream online Friday through Sunday.

Another difficulty was learning how to communicate their characters’ emotions while wearing their masks.

“In order to be heard, I had to learn some techniques on how to project [my voice] more and adjust my breathing since it was so much harder to hear us,” Miller explained.

The production’s costume team – led by Kathy Winans and Karen Dibley and included countless other volunteers like members from Winans’ Life Skills class – created, designed, and sewed each performer their own “singing mask.” Each costume received a matching mask and, for some performers, that means they had four masks.

“The masks were one of the hardest parts about the show because you had to rethink as an actor how to express emotion and tell a story using only your eyes,” said Miller’s co-star Aubrey Boyer, who played Ellie’s mother Katherine Blake.

Annalise Steier is Fiona and Rowan Ford is Adam in the Freaky Friday musical.

Despite these challenges, the duo said that the best part about this year was getting to perform again, especially since their production of “The Little Mermaid” was canceled last spring due to the pandemic.

“The whole process of putting together a show was something I’d worried about missing this year,” Miller explained.

Boyer agreed, adding, “my favorite part of the show was working with the cast. These people are so amazing and are like one big family. The memories you create will last a lifetime.”

With the first virtual show set to premiere Friday, April 16, at 7 p.m., the actors promise the show will be fun yet sentimental.

“Audience members can look forward to fun songs, fun costumes, and fun characters; Freaky Friday is an all-around fun time,” Miller said.

“This show is an absolute rollercoaster but an amazing ride,” Boyer emphasized. “The audience can look forward to a laugh and maybe even some tears.”

This vibrant, colorful, funny, heartfelt performance can be streamed on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. as well as on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be bought online by clicking here.

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 24 more cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the total in the two counties to 7,591 in the past 13 months of the pandemic, including 2,705 in Orleans and 4,886 in Genesee.

In Orleans County there are 14 new cases of Covid reported today with those cases 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, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

One of the new positive individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Orleans is reporting 9 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 3 county residents hospitalized due to Covid.

This chart was prepared by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments and shows Covid trends in Orleans County since January.

Genesee County is reporting 10 more positive cases of Covid-19. The new positive cases reside 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 and 40s.

Genesee reported 8 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 3 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

This chart was prepared by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments and shows Covid trends in Genesee County since January.

Statewide data shows hospitalizations declining: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Covid-19 hospitalizations in New York State dropped to 3,963, the first time under 4,000 since December 1.

The statewide positivity rate dropped to 2.76 percent, the lowest since November 21. The statewide 7-day average positivity rate dropped to 3.05 percent, the lowest since November 25.

Half of New York adults have received at least one dose of vaccine: Cuomo today also announced that more than 50 percent of New Yorkers 18 years of age and older have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and more than one in three in the same age group have been fully vaccinated.

More than 12.5 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in New York State. 198,257 doses have been administered across the state’s vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1.5 million doses have been administered over the past seven days.

“Thanks to the extraordinary efforts and commitment of our providers and volunteers, more than half of New Yorkers who are 18 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than a third are fully vaccinated,” Cuomo said. “You take the vaccine not just for yourself – you take it to keep other people safe.”

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments prepared this chart of the local vaccination rates.

Photo from Rob Ortt’s Office: State Sen. Rob Ortt joins Assemblymen Angelo Morinello and Mike Norris, as well as officials from Niagara County municipalities in pushing back against Gov. Cuomo’s implementation of section 575-B which gives the state the power to tax renewable energy projects instead of local governments. They are shown at the Babcock House Museum in Appleton.

Press Release, State Sen. Rob Ortt

APPLETON – State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt today was joined by Assemblymen Angelo Morinello and Mike Norris, Niagara County Legislators John Syracuse and David Godfrey, local town officials, and community groups decrying Gov. Cuomo’s new renewable-energy edict.

Last week’s 2021-2022 New York State Budget included language that would establish a new state process for wind and solar projects in Upstate and Western New York communities. This new language would essentially undo the current “home rule” law and remove local input from the process.

“Local legislators, residents, and community-based opposition groups have been fiercely outspoken against these industrial energy projects, and up to this point, we have been successful in keeping these unwanted projects out of our backyards,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt. “The new process is Albany’s one-party rule way of removing local voices from the equation entirely and erasing any control that municipalities have over land usage in their communities. This is only further evidence of Gov. Cuomo and Albany Democrats’ complete disregard for local concerns and demonstrates their intent to force the ‘Green New Deal’ agenda upon us whether we like it or not.”

The new section, 575-B of the “New York State Real Property Tax Law,” will task New York State, not local municipalities, with assessing the taxation of proposed land usage for wind and solar projects, eliminating any negotiations between local governments and renewable energy project developers.

Assemblyman Mike Norris said, “These massive energy projects should be assessed under the cost approach and within the discretion of the local municipal assessing unit. This is yet another encroachment of the State government on decisions that should be left to our local communities. I am proud to have voted against this legislation, and I will continue to fight against initiatives that limit or circumvent local control.”

Assemblyman Angelo Morinello said, “This issue is not an objection to alternative energy, but with the loss of local control over land use within the jurisdictional boundaries of towns, villages, and cities by further limiting their zoning and tax authority over massive solar and wind projects. This equates to a form of eminent domain without just compensation.”

Niagara County Legislator John Syracuse said, “575-B eviscerates a local municipality’s Home Rule as it relates to zoning ordinances and further shifts the determination of taxable value on these projects to downstate bureaucrats.”

Niagara County Legislator Dave Godfrey said, “This is just the latest attempt by Gov. Cuomo to silence local voices, and it paves the way for him to do whatever he wants on land he does not own. He wants to decide where these unwelcome projects are located and when they will begin while removing local governments from the negotiating table. Thanks to Democrats in Albany, Gov. Cuomo’s executive power will now give him his way with what happens in our backyard regardless of how we feel. As the saying goes – Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is utterly unacceptable.”

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) joined his Assembly Republican colleagues in calling on Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and associated committee leaders to provide them with copies of the required notices and justifications from the governor’s office regarding a modification to an executive order that mandates a 12 a.m. curfew on bars and restaurants, and why the curfew was simply pushed back an hour from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. instead of being done away with entirely.

Pursuant to Chapter 71 of the laws of 2021, the governor is now required to inform legislative leaders and relevant committee chairs of any extension, modification or alteration to existing executive orders related to the pandemic.

Hawley has been critical of this curfew for months, especially as similar restrictions were lifted on casinos, theaters and gyms. The curfew has been in effect in some form since mid-November of last year and has placed great strain on family-owned businesses and small restaurants, forcing many of them to close on a temporary or permanent basis.

“Every day we wait to do away with this senseless curfew, the more real the fear of closure for restaurant owners becomes,” said Hawley. “It is ridiculous to think casinos can stay open all night while restaurants are forced to close, and I hope our legislative colleagues in the Majority will join us in standing with restaurant owners against this nonsensical and burdensome curfew.

“Many of the restaurants threatened by this mandate have been built and operated by several generations of family members and for us to let this mandate drive them out of business would be nothing short of tragic. Covid-19 doesn’t suddenly grow more aggressive after midnight, and it certainly isn’t more infectious in restaurants than it is in theaters and casinos.”