By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2021 at 10:00 pm
Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke has released the names of two people who were allegedly involved in two robberies at stores in Orleans this morning, and then a high-speed chase.
John S. Cecchini
John S. Cecchini, 27, of Medina is being held in the Orleans County Jail on a parole warrant.
Chakya Williams, 19, of Rochester has been charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and petit larceny. Williams was arraigned and is currently being held in jail on $10,000 cash/$10,000 partial secured/$20,000 Surety Bond.
The investigations by several law enforcement agencies involved are continuing and additional charges are expected, Bourke said.
Chakya Williams
Cecchini and Williams were involved in the two robbery cases today in the villages of Albion and Medina, and the pursuit of the vehicle through several towns in Orleans County, Bourke said.
The duo allegedly robbed the Crosby’s Store on North Main Street and then fled with the cash on foot, got in a vehicle and left the area, Bourke said.
At 10:36 a.m., one of the suspects entered the Family Dollar on Maple Ridge Road in Medina, displayed what was reportedly a handgun, left with cash then fled in a small black car with out-of-state plates, the sheriff said in a news release earlier today.
Medina Police, Albion Police, the New York State Police and the Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area to search for the vehicle, which was spotted east bound on Route 104 in the Town of Ridgeway.
The driver sped away refusing to stop and travelled through several towns including Ridgeway, Gaines and Carlton. The vehicle was travelling at high rates of speed at times, through lawns and ditches and avoiding police road blocks, Bourke said.
At one point the suspect vehicle intentionally drove at a deputy blocking the roadway with a marked patrol vehicle causing the deputy to jump out of the way to avoid being struck and killed.
As the suspect was attempting to strike the deputy, shots were fired into the suspect vehicle in an attempt to stop the suspect from using the vehicle as a deadly weapon. The vehicle continued several more miles before losing a wheel and coming to a stop on Stillwater Road in the Town of Carlton, Bourke said.
Cecchini and Williams were taken into custody. There were no injuries to any police officers or the suspects.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have vaccination and testing clinics with appointments available for Genesee and Orleans County residents.
“All approved vaccines are effective and saves lives,” said Paul Pettit, director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “We encourage anyone that is currently eligible to register for an upcoming clinic. Residents in Genesee and Orleans counties are eligible to attend either clinic location when vaccine is available.”
Here are some of the vaccine clinics this week:
• April 6, vaccine clinic (click here for appointment) at GCC in Batavia (17 appointments available as of 8:20 p.m.) – Public Site for 1st Dose Moderna, from 9 a.m. to 6:05 p.m.
• April 12, vaccine clinic (click here for appointment) at Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department (926 appointments available as of 8:20 p.m.) for the Moderna vaccine, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(There are no appointments available for GCC or Ridgeway clinics for Pfizer vaccines or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as of 8:20 p.m. on April 5. The Health Departments suggest people check back to see if appointments open for those vaccines.)
Starting April 6th the vaccine is now available for people age 16 and older (only Pfizer vaccine if 16- and 17-year-olds with a parent/guardian present with them). Pfizer is a 2-series dose, 21 days apart and is recommended for people aged 16 and older. Moderna is a 2-series dose, 28 days apart and is recommended for people aged 18 and older. Johnson & Johnson is a one-series dose and is recommended for people age 18 and older.
It is important to note that those who register must be able to return for the second dose 21 days for Pfizer or 28 days for Moderna after the first dose at the location where they received the initial vaccination. The second appointment will be made on site after the getting the first dose. If people cannot make the date for the second dose, please do not make an appointment for a 2-dose series until both appointments can be kept.
Visit the vaccination web page at: https://bit.ly/GOHealthVaccine. Choose either the Moderna Clinic, the Johnson & Johnson Clinic or the Pfizer Clinic button for whichever clinic site works best to make a appointment, the Health Departments advised.
When registering, it will also show which vaccine will be at the clinic during that day. When clicking one of the clinic buttons to register, it will show what vaccine is available or, if there is not a clinic or it is full, it will show “No Appointments Available.” Check the links often for added clinics.
In Genesee County, the clinics are held at the Athletic Center at GCC in Batavia and in Orleans County, the clinics are held at the Ridgeway Fire Hall in Medina.
Free Rapid Covid-19 Test Clinics have been moved to the respective health departments. Anyone over 4 years of age (with parent/guardian present) can make an appointment for either county by clicking here.
Law enforcement also investigating robberies today of stores in Albion, Medina
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
ALBION/MEDINA – Law enforcement agencies in Orleans County have been working two robbery cases today in the villages of Albion and Medina along with a pursuit of the suspect vehicle through several towns in Orleans County.
The Albion Police Department is investigating an early morning robbery that occurred at the Crosby’s Store on North Main Street where a suspect brandished a weapon and demanded cash. The suspect then fled with the cash on foot, got in a vehicle and left the area.
At approximately 10:36 a.m., a suspect entered the Family Dollar on Maple Ridge Road in Medina, displayed what was reportedly a handgun, left with cash then fled in a small black car with out-of-state plates.
Medina Police, Albion Police, the New York State Police and the Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area to search for the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle was spotted by APD Lt. David Mogle traveling east bound on Route 104 in the Town of Ridgeway.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to stop the vehicle. The vehicle sped away refusing to stop and travelled through several towns including Ridgeway, Gaines and Carlton.
The vehicle was travelling at high rates of speed at times, through lawns and ditches and avoiding police road blocks. At one point the suspect vehicle intentionally drove at a deputy blocking the roadway with a marked patrol vehicle causing the deputy to jump out of the way to avoid being struck and killed.
As the suspect was attempting to strike the deputy, shots were fired into the suspect vehicle in an attempt to stop the suspect from using the vehicle as a deadly weapon. The vehicle continued several more miles before losing a wheel and coming to a stop on Stillwater Road in the Town of Carlton.
The suspects, a male and female, were taken into custody. There were no injuries to any police officers or the suspects. The District Attorney’s Office/Major Felony Crimes Task Force, and the Niagara County Sheriff Office are assisting with the investigation. It is believed that this suspect(s) is linked to multiple robbery/ grand larcenies cases in Monroe and Orleans counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2021 at 4:27 pm
There are 65 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Orleans and Genesee counties since the last update on Friday, bringing the total in the two counties to 7,322 cases during the pandemic. That includes 2,601 cases in Orleans and 4,721 in Genesee since March 2020.
In Orleans County there are 18 new cases of Covid-19 since Friday, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon. The positive cases reside 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 and 60s.
Of the new cases, 1 person was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans is reporting 20 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
The county currently has five residents hospitalized due to Covid.
The new cases reported since Friday include five inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility, where 36 inmates have now tested positive for Covid at the women’s prison, and one inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, where 67 inmates have tested positive at the men’s prison during the pandemic.
In Genesee County there are 47 new confirmed cases. 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, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.
Genesee is reporting 17 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are 9 Genesee residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.
Of the new cases, 12 are inmates at the Genesee County Jail, where 25 inmates have now tested positive during the pandemic.
• Active cases up from a week ago: The number of active cases in the two counties is at 131 today, compared to 97 a week ago. That includes 45 in Orleans today, compared to 29 on March 29, and 86 in Genesee. A week ago, Genesee had 68.
KNOWLESVILLE – The State Department of Transportation temporarily has closed the lift bridge in Knowlesville to traffic to accommodate maintenance work by the State Canal Corporation.
The bridge is expected to be closed until April 16, the DOT said in a news advisory.
A signed detour is in place for motorists to use Route 104, Eagle Harbor Waterport Road and Route 31.
Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2021 at 2:26 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – These two people walk their dog on the 1.2-mile Onondaga Nature Trail at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday evening.
There were many people out last evening enjoying the nature scenes and hoping to see an owl, bald eagle and other wildlife.
Elias Eaton, 22, of Middleport fishes for bass and pike at the Ringneck Marsh Overlook along Sour Springs Road. He hadn’t caught any yet when this photo was taken after 5 p.m. but he said some of his friends had better luck.
This angler was among several trying to catch a fish at the refuge.
The Ringneck Marsh, approaching from the north, is a popular spot for watching migrating geese.
These cattails are near the shore of the Ringneck Marsh by Sour Springs Road.
To reach the Onondaga Nature Trail go from the parking lot on Sour Springs Road and follow follow the dirt and gravel road. The trail is named for one of the five original tribes of the Iroquois Federation. This spot is near the Iroquois Job Corps, about a half mile from Route 63.
This bird which I think is a vulture was perched above the dirt road near the trail.
The bird took off when walkers got too close.
This tree bears the markings of four names of people who visited the trail in 2017.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2021 at 10:29 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – A tractor trailer from Georgia got stuck under the railroad underpass/bridge this morning. Holley Police and firefighters from the Murray Joint Fire District have been on scene since just after 9 a.m. The Village Department of Public Works also is at the scene, helping to clean up debris in the road.
Holley police and firefighters say a truck gets pinned under the bridge about every six months.
A tow truck was called to help pull the truck and trailer out from under the bridge on Route 237. The clearance is 11 feet, 11 inches.
The stuck trucks are a frequent occurrence in Holley where there are signs posted that say, “11′-11” CLEARANCE” just before both sides of the bridge, and also on the bridge.
Truckers over the years have said their GPS systems route them through Holley on Route 237. The truckers don’t have a straight-shot view of the bridge in either direction. Often they are upon the bridge before it’s too late to slow down and avoid it.
Village officials in the past have asked nearby manufacturing plants, cold storages and food processors to tell truckers not to use the route by the bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2021 at 9:05 am
LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville couple and four children have been temporarily displaced from their South Main Street home after a carbon monoxide leak on Saturday night.
Jessica and Kris Skowneski and their family were transported by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. They have been released and are staying in a hotel.
Their pets also received veterinary care, including oxygen.
A family friend has set up a GoFundMe account to assist the family with their expenses.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2021 at 8:45 pm
Orleans County reached a milestone with 10,000 people in the county now with at least one shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The state’s Vaccine Tracker showed the milestone today. The county was at 9,798 on Friday, and was within about 50 in the update on Saturday.
The county has now had 24.6 percent of its population – 10,003 out of 40,612 – receive at least one shot. The state’s Vaccine Tracker says 5,992 have completed the vaccine series.
Last week the state expanded eligibility to people 30 and over, which was a change from the 50 and over. On Tuesday, April 6, people 16 and older will be eligible for the vaccine.
Orleans County has been making gains in getting people vaccinated. A week ago the county was at 21.3 percent with at least one dose. At that rate, the county was the lowest among the state’s 62 counties.
With today’s update, Orleans is no longer last. Bronx County, at 24.4 percent with at least one dose, is behind Orleans. Only three counties are below 25 percent with at least one dose. They include Tioga County, 24.9 percent; Orleans, 24.6 percent; and Bronx, 24.4 percent.
State-wide 33.0 percent have had at least one dose and 20.4 percent of population have completed the vaccine series. Orleans is one of nine counties in the Finger Lakes Region, which has 35.2 percent with at least one dose and 22.1 percent who have completed vaccine series.
The vaccine rates among the four rural GLOW counties include:
Genesee: 17,672 out of 57,511 county population (30.7 percent) completed at least one dose, and 10,760 completed vaccine series.
Livingston: 19,553 out of 63,227 total population (30.9 percent) with at least one dose, and 12,205 have completed the vaccine series.
Orleans: 10,003 out of 40,612 total population (24.6 percent) have received at least one dose and 5,992 have completed vaccine series.
Wyoming: 11,274 out of 40,085 population (28.1 percent) with at least one dose, and 6,725 completed vaccine series.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2021 at 8:30 am
Chris Ray sent in this photo of the sunrise this morning along the railroad tracks in the village of Albion.
Today’s Easter forecast calls for it to be sunny in Orleans County with a high of 56.
The high temperatures for the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, include mostly sunny and 58 on Monday, sunny with a chance of showers on Tuesday with a high near 58, and partly sunny and high of 60 on Wednesday.
Thursday is forecast to be partly sunny with a high near 68, followed by a mostly cloudy Friday with a high near 64. Saturday there is a chance of showers with a high near 60.
When you were a child what was in your Easter Basket? Some people have received underwear or a toothbrush from the Easter Bunny. HMMM, What? Your Easter Bunny was much more practical and cared about your hygiene much more than mine did as a kid. Phew, thankfully. We got candy!
Each year when The Easter Bunny came hopping down the Bunny Trail she would bring me one special white chocolate mold from Niagara Candy on Easter morning. She was a smart Bunny and a clever little gal, too, because she made me work for it, like a little scavenger hunt. It wasn’t just sitting on the table for me to easily find and eat. No. It was hidden somewhere.
When we finished finding the hidden baskets in our childhood home, we would then go in search of the dyed eggs the Easter Bunny left hidden in little nooks and crannies around the house. If we did not find them all, one might turn up days later in a well hidden spot!
Every year I put out the same basket and each year she blessed me with sweets. The basket was not very big, but the joy it brought as a child into young adulthood was very Bbig! I do not know what happened to that basket, but I can picture it in my mind. It had a tall handle, bold colors and was plastic rather than bamboo.
I read that the German Protestants first created the original tradition of the Easter Basket. It began with Eostre the Goddess of spring and fertility who it is believed Easter is named after. Folklore tells us that Eostre found a bird dying from frigid temperature and transformed it into a rabbit so it could keep warm. However, the rabbit still laid eggs as if it was still a bird. So each year children would create nests like baskets and bonnets so the Easter Hare could lay her eggs in it. The Easter Hare would later be known as The Easter Bunny. Fascinating!
This tradition made it’s way to America with the Pennsylvania Dutch Settlers. Always loved the Protestants, being an honorary member and all. Baptized Catholic, but attending the Albion First Presbyterian on occasion with my grandmother, always knowing that Jesus rose on this sacred day.
In some traditions people fill their baskets with lace and food to be blessed before the Easter Feast and others put seedlings or eggs in them as a sign of fertility and renewal of life. A resurrection of not only God’s Son, but springtime after the harshness of winter. One very good reason that the the Easter Basket is traditionally filled with chocolate confections is because during lent, chocolate is a common treat that people refrain from. So, may your heart and home be filled as high and plentiful as the Easter Basket this Easter with Easter Blessings. Not just with jelly beans, Peps, chocolate eggs, games or toothbrushes, but with the mutual love, acceptance and tolerance of family and friends.
Happy Easter, everyone. What was in your Easter Basket as a child? Visit My Blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com and catch up on Weekly Photo Perks and past Sunday Posts. Like and share your comments.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2021 at 11:51 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – Firefighters tonight were able to put keep a smoke situation in a vacant apartment in Murray from turning into a big fire. Firefighters were dispatched to 16576 Ridge Rd., across from the Murray Superette at about 10 p.m.
The building, a former video store, has two apartments. The one that is vacant was full of smoke and the tenants in the other apartment called 911 to report the smoke coming out of the apartment.
Firefighters discovered electrical wiring had melted and the insulation and studs were charred and smoking. They sprayed some water to keep it from becoming a fire.
The owner of the building has been renovating the vacant apartment, a Sheriff’s deputy said.
The four residents in the opposite apartment need to find a temporary place to stay while repairs are made and the site passes inspection, said Harris Reed, the Murray Joint Fire District fire chief.
Fire investigators are on site trying to determine the cause.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2021 at 9:52 pm
Director and performer expanded shows for Lake Plains Players
Photos by Tom Rivers: Lance Anderson portrays Jean Valjean in the production of Les Misérables. Anderson said playing Valjean in October 2013 was a dream come true. Anderson expanded the LPP’s number of productions, including a children’s theater camp over the summer.
Lance Anderson, a star performer and director for the Lake Plains Players, passed away on Thursday. He suffered a stroke in mid-December. His friends say he was preparing to go to a rehab site and his death is a shock – and a great loss.
Anderson was in his mid-50s. He caught the theater bug while a student at Albion in the early 1980s. He went on to a career as a vocal teacher, and remained deeply involved in the local community theater group, the Lake Plains Players.
Anderson was the group’s president. He performed on stage, directed many shows, and would do many of the thankless tasks behind the scenes.
“Lance was heavily involved in every single show,” said Gabrielle Montgomery, the Lake Plains Players acting president. “He did so much for the group. He was indefatigable.”
Anderson led a group that was friendly and accepting to everyone, but also pushed to put on high-quality productions.
He was proud of the group for its production of Les Misérables in the fall 2013. Anderson played his dream role, of Jean Valjean in a show which included a cast of 78.
Anderson expanded the LPP’s productions to include summer recitals and a children’s theater camp in the summer. He led the theater camp with Jennifer Trupo, a Lyndonville vocal teacher who directs the Lyndonville-Medina school musicals.
They took on the summer theater camp despite the commitment of three nights a week of rehearsals with a large group of kids. And he drove about an hour each way from his home in Spencerport.
“He just felt it was so important to give kids a chance to do theater,” Montgomery said.
During the Covid pandemic, Anderson and the LPP performers posted many “Living Room Concerts” on Facebook. Anderson performs “Sweet Zoo” by Jeffrey D. Harris from Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra” album. His video was posted on April 17, 2020.
The Players don’t make cuts for the large fall musicals among community members. The cast has a strong camaraderie, and Anderson was able to connect with everybody.
“He wasn’t just a boss or a director or someone you did a show with,” said Montgomery, who has been involved with the group since 2011. “He was really a good friend to a lot of us. He really made a huge impact.”
Lance Anderson hams it up while singing “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” during a Christmas recital at St. Mary’s in Albion on Dec. 5, 2013. Anderson and the Lake Plains Players performed in many venues in Orleans and Niagara counties.
Anderson was a mentor to many of the LPP members, including Montgomery. He encouraged her first to get started in set design, promoted her to assistant director and then director of some of the LPP productions.
Many of the performers have been with the LPP for many years. Anderson was a big part of building an organization with a strong camaraderie, drawing people from Orleans, Niagara, Genesee and beyond.
“The Lake Plains Players is a different sort of theater group,” said Montgomery, who has been involved with the group since 2011. “It’s a family atmosphere. The group really cares about its members.”
Anderson would often teach vocal lessons in Albion and Medina, and then make it to rehearsal for the Players. He taught many of the leading performers on the high school stage, and he made it to all of their shows.
Jennifer Trupo, a longtime member of the LPP, first met Anderson when was in seventh grade at Lyndonville and Anderson was vocal director for the school musical, Singing in the Rain.
“He was a force, making us march around the stage while singing,” she recalled.
He was intimidating when she was in junior high, pushing hard for excellence. Later they performed many shows together, including You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown in January 2013, when Trupo was Lucy and Anderson was Charlie Brown.
Courtesy of the Lake Plains Players: Jennifer Trupo is Lucy and Lance Anderson portrays Charlie Brown in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” by the Lake Plains Players in January 2013.
The Players used to performed their big fall musical in either Medina or Lyndonville’s auditorium. In recent years it has performed just over the Orleans County line in Niagara, using Roy-Hart’s auditorium in Middleport.
Anderson had his heart in Orleans County, and he pushed for other venues for LPP shows, including summer recitals at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina.
These children are elves enjoying singing and dancing to the song, “Sparklejollytwinklejingly.” They are shown in August 2018 during the summer theater camp performance of Elf Jr. The Musical. There were 45 children in the cast.
Trupo and Anderson paired up to lead the summer theater camps, which included Little Mermaid in August 2015, Alice in Wonderland in 2016, Wizard of Oz in 2017, Elf the Musical in 2018 and The Lion King in 2019. Last year’s camp was cancelled due to Covid.
Anderson took on the challenge, even though he was nervous about working with a large group of kids from elementary to high school. The Players kept the cost down and find a spot for every kid who wanted to be on stage.
“He was just so wonderful,” Trupo said. “He was so great with the kids. They just loved him.”
Anderson was a star performer in his own right, but in the past decade he was willing to be put in the long hours as director, putting together programs, stage work and other tasks, so others could shine on stage.
“His goals were all about making things better, and having the group have longevity, and have a strong presence in the community,” Trupo said. “(His death) is the most heartbreaking, terrible tragic loss.”
Anderson was presented an award by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council in October 2014 for his dedication to the Lake Plains Players.
Lance Anderson has the role of Jean Valjean, left, and Tyler Weymouth plays his nemesis, Inspector Javert, who ruthlessly pursues Valjean in Les Misérables.
During his acceptance speech, Anderson said the Players are like a family that finds a spot for interested community members to be part of their shows.
“It’s an honor working with so many lovely people,” Anderson told the GO Art! crowd at Terry Hills Golf and Banquet Facility in Batavia. “I’m very proud to be a part of the Lake Plains Players.”
Donations are being accepted in memory of Anderson to the Lake Plains Players Performing Arts Scholarship, c/o Lake Plains Players, 94 Jesson Pkwy, Lockport, NY 14094 or by clicking here.
By Kim Pritt, Contributor Posted 3 April 2021 at 3:00 pm
Let’s go on an adventure together…to Monument Valley!
New Mexico was the last state I had to visit to complete my bucket list of visiting all 50 states and I checked it off the list in early October 2019. It was the second half of a two week trip to check off the last TWO states – Colorado and New Mexico.
This is me in the Mitten pose in front of the buttes known as…wait for it…”The Mittens” in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park .
I flew into Albuquerque airport and immediately took the rental car on a three hour drive to my hotel in Farmington, NM where I planned to spend two nights while exploring Monument Valley and the Four Corners area. The drive from the airport to the hotel was really nice – all good highway, but pretty much nothing but highway – lots of dirt, rock, and buttes with a few oil rigs, a couple tiny villages, several reservations, and several casinos planted smack dab in the middle of nowhere – with a lot of nothing in between. But it was a beautiful and easy drive.
The next morning, I got up about 4:00 am to start another three or so hour drive to Monument Valley. The views I had on my drive from Farmington to Monument Valley were more of the same – so far, I was really getting my fill of stunning views of buttes and wide open spaces. Absolutely breathtaking.
Monument Valley is part of a large Navajo territory that spreads across the borders of New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado – the bulk of the land is in Utah and Arizona. The actual Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is a National Park that sits well within the Navajo territory and is protected by the Navajo people. The park consists of a cultural center and many natural rock formations, including delicate spires and gigantic buttes. The park spans 91,696 acres. The formations are all natural and not interfered with by humans in any way – if they erode or crumble, they remain eroded or crumbled – they believe that nature must be left to run its course.
Known as the “Sling Shot to the Heavens”, this is one of many awesome photo ops within the areas of Monument Valley that are accessible only with a Navajo guide. Our guide showed us how to get this perfect photo.
From the moment you enter until you leave, it is very obvious why Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Museum and revered as one of the most beautiful parks in the world! Movie directors, like John Ford, shot many popular films in Monument Valley, forever immortalizing it as an icon of the American West.
I booked a tour with Monument Valley Safari Tours. It was an awesome 3.5 hour tour in a 4×4 Jeep with an amazing Navajo guide. There are parts of Monument Valley that are accessible by the public without a tour guide, but they still recommend you use a 4-wheel drive vehicle. However, much of Monument Valley is only accessible when accompanied by a Navajo guide because they want to ensure the formations and the land are respected and not desecrated in any way.
And, it is so worth the cost of the Navajo guided tours – the best views are in those restricted access areas and our guide, Comasheena, gave us such an interesting education on her heritage and cultures – you can’t get that when doing it on your own. She made sure we got the most amazing photos and even sang us authentic Navajo songs using vintage tribal instruments. I highly recommend using this or one of the other Navajo led tours when experiencing Monument Valley.
After I left Monument Valley, I drove about an hour to the Four Corners Monument – the only spot in the entire USA where four states border each other – New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. For such a famous and significant spot, it sure was a letdown to see. It is in the middle of nowhere and is just a large cement area noting the four states, a couple vendor booths with Navajo crafts for sale, a restroom with no running water, and absolutely nothing else. But, it was still really cool to say I was there and I got a photo with one foot in NM and one in CO to commemorate the last two states to visit on my bucket list. I’m glad I did it and recommend everyone do it once just for the bragging rights, if you happen to be in the area.
These and many other Petroglyphs are why there are areas of Monument Valley that can only be accessed with a Navajo guide – they don’t want to risk having anyone destroy them by touching or defacing them. They are believed to have been created by Navajo ancestors centuries ago.
Then, I drove the three or so hours back to Farmington, got a good night’s sleep (I was definitely exhausted after an absolutely fabulous day). The next morning, I drove another three hours back to Albuquerque, which was my home base for the rest of my time in New Mexico. I spent the next few days checking out the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Sandia Peak (where I rode the tram to the top for awesome views at 10,300 ft elevation), Old Town Albuquerque (very cool – definitely glad I spent time there), Historic Route 66 (including having lunch at the famous Route 66 diner), and Sante Fe (ahh-mazing). I really enjoyed everything I did in and around Albuquerque, but wasn’t impressed with Albuquerque, itself – just a big, congested city with horrible traffic. But, I totally LOVED Sante Fe, about an hour drive from Albuquerque, and wished I had planned to spend more time there.
Typical Navajo dwelling called a Hogan. They are currently not usually occupied, but some Navajo do still use them as their homes. We stopped at one that is set up to show the inside of a typical Hogan with displays of how the Navajo lived and their culture – fascinating.
I loved my time in New Mexico – I put 894 miles on my rental car and made a ton of wonderful memories. I originally planned to do more, though. My original plan was to leave Farmington and drive about five hours south to Roswell, NM and spend a couple days there checking out the alien stuff and spend some time in Carlsbad to see the bats fly out of the caverns before heading back to Albuquerque in time for the International Hot Air Balloon Festival. BUT – best laid plans, as they say!On my last night in Farmington I was watching the news and saw that they were having severe storms, torrential rains, and flash flooding in the Roswell / Carsbad area and it was predicted to continue for several days. I decided to get on the phone and cancel and change hotels, flights, etc., skip the southern part of the trip, and cut my overall trip short by five days. Unfortunately, leaving to come home early, also meant that I missed the Hot Air Balloon Festival, too – I timed the original trip so that was the last big thing to do. I still had a fabulous trip and enjoyed my time in the Albuquerque / Sante Fe area. And that means, I have a great reason to go back so I can do the Hot Air Balloon Festival and all the alien and bat stuff another time.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and six other Governors have issued a letter asking President Joseph R. Biden to support repealing the cap on state and local tax deductions implemented by the Trump Administration as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017.
The SALT cap will force approximately 11 million Americans to pay $670 billion in taxes over a decade. In New York, taxpayers are being forced to pay more than $12 billion in additional taxes to the federal government annually.
The letter notes the efforts of the Biden Administration to pass the American Rescue Plan and Treasury Secretary Yellen’s willingness to work with Congress to ease the $10,000 cap on SALT. The letter was signed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Hawaii Governor David Ige, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Oregon Governor Kate Brown.
“In short, middle-class Americans are struggling under this federal tax burden, while corporations – which are still able to fully deduct SALT as business expenses – are profiting because of the same law,” according to the letter from the seven governors. “The negative impacts of the SALT cap on middle class families are particularly egregious when you consider that in the states most affected by this cap, the federal government already takes more in federal taxes than the states receive in federal support, effectively subsidizing federal payments to other states.
“It was heartening to hear Treasury Secretary Yellen agree to work with Congress to ease the $10,000 cap on SALT recently. On behalf of our residents, we urge your administration and Congress to continue these efforts to relieve this immense financial burden on our residents and eliminate the SALT cap entirely.”
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