Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of a free, online Citizen Public Health Training Course for New Yorkers to learn about preparedness for and prevention of public health emergencies from top public health experts.
This innovative course, delivered by the New York State Department of Health in partnership with Cornell University and supported by the State University of New York, will prepare and equip New Yorkers to become NYS Citizen Public Health Leaders and build an informed network of community health leaders across the state.
Participants will learn about Covid-19, public health emergency preparedness and response, and other public health issues, while gaining insight into information and resources that will benefit their communities. More information on the Citizen Public Health Training Program, including how to register to become a NYS Citizen Public Health Leader, is available by clicking here.
“The innovative Citizen Public Health Training Program will empower New Yorkers to become Public Health Leaders in the fight to defeat Covid once and for all and help us build a more resilient New York for the future,” Cuomo said.
This training, developed by Cornell University’s Master of Public Health Program and delivered through eCornell, is a four-part online training program to equip New Yorkers with expertise and tools to help build and support community-led initiatives surrounding prevention, detection and response in the event of public health emergencies. Upon completion of the training, participants will be designated a “NYS Citizen Public Health Leader” and will be informed about how they can volunteer in support of their local public health operations – especially during emergencies – as well as how to find, use and share verified information about public health matters from reliable sources.
This program was first announced as part of the Governor’s 2021 State of the State proposal. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, New Yorkers were asked to do their part to fight a virus in ways they had never done before. Everyone was given a crash course in virology, learning to properly wash their hands, sanitize their homes and businesses, and safely care for their family and neighbors.
Thousands of New Yorkers signed up and were trained to be contract tracers, helping to track and mitigate the spread of the virus. When other states needed help, these New Yorkers heeded the call and brought their new public health skills to the rest of the country. This new training will help New Yorkers gain the tools to protect themselves, their families and others against future health emergencies.
“We are calling on New Yorkers in every neighborhood and community in the state to become trained Citizen Public Health Leaders to help their community prepare for and respond to public health issues and build the knowledge to mobilize against the current crisis and beyond,” said New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2021 at 8:48 am
Contract with U.S. Marshals could net county several hundred thousand dollars annually
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Jail and the County Courthouse are pictured recently. The jail on Platt Street in Albion has a capacity for 82 inmates but has been well under that in the past year.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved a three-year contract on Wednesday with the U.S. Marshal’s Service to house federal detainees in the county jail, an agreement that could net the county several hundred thousand dollars a year.
The county agreed to house the detainees at $115 a day. The Sheriff’s Office also will transport detainees to court appointments in Buffalo, Rochester and Niagara Falls, and will be paid $40 per hour for each of two staff members assigned to the transport and court appearance. The county will also be paid the current IRS mileage reimbursement rate, which currently is 56 cents a mile.
Sheriff Chris Bourke said the agreement could net the county $500,000 or more. It also won’t overwhelm the jail, which currently has 30 inmates in a facility with a capacity for 82. Of those 30 inmates, 12 are “state-ready” inmates who have been sentenced to state prison. The local jail population during the pandemic in the past year and in the era of bail reform has been about 15 to 20 inmates a day.
Even at the smaller inmate population, the county still must maintain full staffing.
“We have the same costs,” Bourke said. “With the agreement with the Marshals, we’d just have more food and some over-the-counter medications.”
Bourke said the county plans to have up to 10 detainees from the U.S. Marshals at the beginning of the agreement, and then expects to increase it to 15 to 20 detainees.
At 10 detainees a day, the county would be paid $1,150, and that doesn’t include any additional money for transport.
If the county averaged 10 detainees over a year that would be $419,750 in revenue. If the county averaged 15 detainees in the county jail, that would be $629,625 for the year.
The agreement approved on Wednesday runs for a year, from March 1, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2024. county can opt of the agreement with 30 days notice.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2021 at 7:37 am
A high wind watch is in effect Friday morning through afternoon in Orleans County and much of Western New York.
There will be southwest winds from 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 mph possible, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
The high wind watch is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties.
“Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines,” the Weather Service said. “Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
The high temperatures the next few days includes 71 today, followed by a high of 59 on Friday, 53 on Saturday and 55 on Sunday.
This is a view the sun setting looking through the bottom of the lighthouse.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 4:10 pm
There are 19 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported today in Genesee and Orleans counties, bringing the total to 7,083 in the two counites since March 2020.
In Orleans County there are 7 new positive cases today for a total of 2,523 cases during the pandemic.
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, 50s and 60s.
Orleans is reporting one more of the previous positive individuals has recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
One of the new positive individuals is an inmate at Albion Correctional Facility. No one is currently hospitalized due to Covid in the county.
In Genesee County there are 12 new positive cases reported today for a total of 4,560 confirmed cases during the pandemic.
The new positive cases reside in the 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.
Five of the new positive individuals are inmates at the Genesee County Jail in Batavia, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.
Nine more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are also 4 current Genesee residents hospitalized.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 3:52 pm
Betterment Committee wants to recognize Charles W. Howard’s legacy as Santa School founder
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Albion Betterment Committee today signed a contract with Brian Porter of Pendleton to create a bronze statue of Santa Claus that will resemble Charles W. Howard, the founder of a Santa Claus School.
Pictured from left include ABC director Joe Gehl, Brian Porter, and ABC directors Gary Derwick and Gary Kent.
The statue is planned for the park on Main Street, a half block south of the Erie Canal where there is a mural showing Santa in flight with a sleigh and reindeer, high above the Courthouse Square and downtown Albion.
Porter expects to have a final depiction in a month of Charles Howard as Santa for the statue. The Albion Lions Club has agreed to let Porter borrow an original Charles Howard Santa suit to help finalize the model of the statue. Howard designed Santa suits that remain a distinctive style today. Howard also operated Christmas Park in Albion and served as the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade for 18 years.
The Betterment Committee has been working five years to raise funds for the projects. It can still use some more money for the base for the statue and other park improvements. Donations can be sent to Albion Betterment Committee/Charles Howard Project, 14487 Baker Rd., Kent NY, 14477. That is the address for Joe Gehl, one of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee.
It will take Porter about two years to create the new bronze statue honoring Howard, who started the school in Albion in 1937 and ran it until his death in 1966. (Click here for more on the school.)
Porter is no stranger to projects in Orleans County. He created the 7-foot-high bronze statue of a soldier outside the former Medina Armory, which is now the Orleans County YMCA.
Porter is shown during a Sept. 7, 2019 dedication ceremony for that statue, which weighs 1,400 pounds. That project honored the 550 soldiers who trained at the Armory from 1898 to 1947 and they fought in four major conflicts: the Spanish American War, Mexican Border Incursion, World War I and World War II.
Santa portrayers from around the country visited Albion for a convention in April 2015. They gathered for a group photo by the County Courthouse.
Howard remains a revered figure among Santas. The Santa School continues in his name in Midland, Mich. Albion has twice hosted gatherings for the Santa community, the last in 2015 when there were about 200 Santa impersonators in Albion.
That group was disappointed when it was in Albion and there wasn’t more in Howard’s hometown recognizing his role in helping to shape the modern Santa Claus.
There have since been two large-scale murals installed in Albion, celebrating the community’s role with the first Santa Claus school. The Betterment Committee has put up “Believe” signs and convinced the local and state governments to name the portion of Route 31 in Albion in memory of Charles W. Howard. The new signs went up along Route 31 in December, just before Christmas.
The Betterment Committee wants to honor the Howard legacy in Albion, and provide incentive for the Santas to come back for their conventions, and also add an attraction in downtown Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 2:54 pm
Photo by Donato Rosario
ALBION — The Albion Rotary Club spearheaded a trash pickup this morning along the railroad tracks from Platt Street past Liberty Street, and then part of one of the fields across from Walmart.
Albion Interact Club and service learning students, and some members of the cross country, boys and girls basketball teams joined in the effort.
The group filled 23 garbage bags with trash in about 2 hours. Pictured, in front, from left: Rotary Club members Deb Boyer and Tom Rivers, and Dalton Dexter. In back: McKenna Boyer, Aubrey Boyer, Allison Mathes, Mckenzie Snook, S’koi Sanders-Smith, Lucy Rivers, Nate Gibson, Albion teacher Tim Archer, Reuben Rivers, Nicolina Creasey, Tyler Gibson, Rotary Club member Don Bishop, Kenzi Hapeman and Bailey Blanchard.
Kenzie Snook, Lucy Rivers and S’koi Sanders-Smith clear trash from along the railroad tracks.
This area along the railroad tracks was much cleaner after this group went through.
Don Bishop fills a bag with litter.
The group tackled trash in the front part of a field along Gaines Basin Road by Walmart.
Photo courtesy of Medina Central School: From left include Janet Lyndaker, Heidi Lyndaker, Evie Schultz, Bailey Jackson, Sydney Watts and Emma Carson.
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – Congratulations go to Evie Schultz, Bailey Jackson, Sydney Watts and Emma Carson of Medina High School for receiving the Harvey A. Lyndaker Living to Serve Scholarship.
Mr. Lyndaker was the Vocational Agriculture teacher at Medina Central School District for 35 years and the advisor for the Medina Chapter of the FFA. He passed away in 2020 and the memorial scholarships were set up in his honor at the request of his family. Students applied for the scholarship by answering a series of questions about their feelings on FFA, community service and their future plans after high school.
“I feel incredibly honored,” said Evie Schultz, who was awarded the first place scholarship. “He was a very great man that I was lucky enough to have met quite a few times. I appreciate greatly all the work that Mrs. Lyndaker and their daughter Heidi put into making this possible.”
Mrs. Janet Lyndaker and Heidi presented each of the students with a check and a keepsake box. Heidi told the students that her father lived the FFA motto and how he lived to serve. She encouraged the young ladies to be constant learners.
“Sometimes that means you have to teach yourself, just like my dad,” she said.
Evie Schultz will be attending SUNY Fredonia for Psychology, Emma Carson will be attending Elmira College for Pre-Med (Biology), Bailey Jackson will be attending Cobleskill College for Animal Science and Sydney Watts will be studying Biology/Zoology and an unconfirmed college.
This is the first year for what will be an annual scholarship.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 8:04 am
Extra allocations should help boost county’s vaccination rate
Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign directs people to a Covid-19 vaccination clinic at Genesee Community College in Batavia on March 9.
Orleans County currently has the lowest vaccination rate in the state, with 19.2 percent of its residents receiving at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The county has been lagging behind the state and regional average for vaccination rates, but has been ahead of Bronx County, until now.
Bronx is just ahead of Orleans with a vaccination rate of 19.4 percent. Kings County, also in New York City, is at 19.6 percent, according to the state’s Vaccine Tracker.
A week ago, Orleans was at 16.6 percent of its residents with at least one dose of the vaccine. That was just ahead of the Bronx at 16.2 percent.
Orleans County’s current 19.2 percent rate is well behind the state average of 26.5 percent and the nine-county Finger Lakes Region of 28.8 percent.
Among other nearby counties, the vaccinate rates (with at least one dose) include: Genesee, 24.6 percent; Wyoming, 22.6 percent; Erie, 28.3 percent; Niagara, 24.6 percent; Monroe, 30.1 percent; and Livingston, 25.4 percent.
Paul Pettit, the public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties, said Orleans will be getting extra allocations to help get caught up in vaccinations.
The county will be getting 600 doses this week as part of its state allocations. It also will be receiving 1,170 doses from the state in a special allocation, and another 1,170 allocations from neighboring Monroe County.
The county will be working with local physicians to administer the 1,170 doses from the state, Pettit said during a conference call on Tuesday with elected officials in Orleans County.
With the 1,170 doses from Monroe, Orleans will administer about 700 on Tuesday during a vaccine clinic at the Ridgeway Fire Hall, and about 500 will also go to a vaccine clinic at GCC next Wednesday, Pettit said.
“Hopefully these extra allocations will help us get our vaccination rates up higher and be more in line with the region,” Pettit said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 7:20 am
County officials will ask towns, schools to contribute some stimulus funds to expand high-speed internet
ALBION – The American Rescue Plan includes several millions for local governments, money that the Orleans County Legislature leader says would be put to good use by expanding high-speed internet throughout the county.
Lynne Johnson
The American Rescue Plan also includes $7.9 million for Orleans County, and an additional $4.4 million for the 10 towns and four villages, and $12.5 million for the five school districts.
“If we’re all in this together, it makes it affordable,” said Lynne Johnson, the Orleans County Legislature chairwoman.
The county has been working for about a decade to expand broadband or high-speed internet, but has largely missed out on state and federal grants. The county has data points where the service is currently unavailable. It would cost an estimated $4.2 million to fill all of those gaps.
Johnson would like to bypass another state and federal grant cycle and move quickly to use some of the stimulus funding to bring in broadband. The state and federal grant programs can take many months of waiting to find out if an application is approved, and then many more months to get a project complete. Johnson said it would likely be 1½ to 2 years before broadband could be expanded in Orleans County if the project was funded through a grant.
The Covid pandemic exposed the shortcomings in the county for high-speed internet service, with many households unable to log on to the internet to do homework assignments or to have the option of working from home, Johnson said.
The federal stimulus funding encourages municipalities to use the money for infrastructure projects, including expanding high-speed internet.
“I think the timing is just right,” Johnson said about the funding.
County leaders will be meeting with Niagara County officials to see if they want to do a joint project for broadband. The two counties have been working together on the issue through the Niagara Orleans Regional Alliance. Estimates for bringing high-speed internet in the two counties is over $10 million, with the areas in Orleans at $4.2 million.
Johnson also said she will be convening a roundtable discussion with town and school leaders in Orleans County, trying to get them to help pay for the cost. The county has a breakdown of the internet gaps in all 10 towns, she said.
The county’s $7.9 million from the federal government in the American Rescue Plan doesn’t come in one lump sum. The county gets half this year and the other half next year.
“We would like to move forward immediately,” Johnson said. “We’re ready to go.”
ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) announced he formed an agriculture advisory committee.
That group includes the county Farm Bureau presidents from the eight counties in the 27th Congressional District, representatives from the New York Farm Bureau, and other farmers from each of the eight counties. The representation spans the dairy, crop, poultry, and maple industries.
“Agriculture is the number one economic sector in our region, and our farmers provide nutritious produce and dairy nationwide,” Jacobs said. “I am proud to represent them on the House Agriculture Committee, and I want to make sure that they have a seat at the table as well. This committee serves as a way for me to hear directly from our farmers about their needs and concerns and will allow me to share pertinent information.”
The committee is set to have its first official meeting later this month and will meet quarterly. Jacobs is also a member of the House Agriculture Committee for the 117th Congress, serving on three subcommittees.
“Western New York is home to over 4,400 farms,” Jacobs said. “This committee ensures the voices of Western New York farmers and agribusinesses are heard and I am able to represent them as best I can. I look forward to working with them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2021 at 6:14 am
Protests, new state laws seen as deterrent for people pursuing law enforcement as a career
ALBION – The list of exams for Civil Service positions currently available in Orleans County includes deputy sheriff. Today is the last filing deadline for the position with the agility exam on April 24 and then the written test on May 15.
Normally there are nearly 100 people who file to take the exam. This time there have only been 18 so far, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.
Not only has the position been listed by the Orleans County Personnel Department (click here), but local media have shared press releases from the sheriff, encouraging people to take the exam.
The protests against law enforcement and new state laws, including bail reform, have discouraged people from pursuing a career with the Sheriff’s Office, Bourke said Tuesday during a conference call with local elected officials.
“Police feel we’re under attack,” Undersheriff Mike Mele said about law enforcement as a profession.
Bourke said the atmosphere against law enforcement is resulting in a much smaller pool of people interested in the test for deputy. That could result in “slim pickings.” Usually half of the people are eliminated after the agility test, he said.
Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, believes the Sheriff’s Office is a great place to work. She encouraged people to consider it for their career.
“The Sheriff’s Department is very well supported in Orleans County,” she said during the conference call.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 March 2021 at 8:42 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – The driver of this pickup truck crashed into this row of trees at about 5:20 p.m. on Route 104 in Murray, between Norway and Hurd roads.
The driver then took off running into a wooded area. As of 8 p.m., the man had not been located by law enforcement. State Police brought in a helicopter and K-9 and were unable to see the man, a state trooper said.
“We’re still looking for him,” the trooper said at the scene of the accident, while the truck was being removed. “We’re mainly concerned about his welfare, that he may be injured and need help.”
The trooper said it’s possible the man may have been picked up by someone. A witness soon after the accident said the man claimed he was OK and then took off running.
A section of Route 104, between Hurd and Norway, was shut down for more than two hours. The road was about to reopen at 8 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 March 2021 at 4:32 pm
Genesee reports another Covid death; State passes 40,000 Covid deaths during pandemic
Genesee and Orleans counties combined are reporting 15 more confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the total during the pandemic, going back to March last year, to 7,064 cases in the two counties.
In Orleans County there are 3 new confirmed cases reported today for a total of 2,516 positive cases during the pandemic.
The new positive cases reside in the Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s and 40s.
Orleans is reporting 5 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. Currently, there aren’t any Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.
In Genesee County there are 12 more positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 4,548 during the pandemic.
The new positive cases reside in the 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, 70s and 80s.
Genesee is reporting 30 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. Genesee has three residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee also is reporting another death from Covid. The individual is over age 65. The person is the 121stwith a Covid-related death in Genesee County during the pandemic.
“We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said. “Our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this very difficult time.”
• Active cases decrease: The number of active cases in the two counties dropped from 112 on Monday to 90 today as the recoveries outpace the new Covid infections. Genesee is down from 83 to 63, and Orleans dropped from 29 to 27.
• Covid deaths in NY pass 40,000: New York had 53 more Covid-related deaths on Monday, putting the state’s total during the pandemic to 40,023.
• Rapid Tests at Health Department: Starting March 24th, Orleans County will have limited rapid testing available at the Orleans County Health Department. Those getting a test need an appointment in order to be tested. Click here for the link to register for a test.
