County leaders press state to help Orleans get caught up with vaccines

Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign directs traffic at the mass vaccination clinic at Genesee Community College in Batavia on March 7. Of the 3,500 doses available over 5 days at GCC, Orleans County residents only were able to get 169 or 4.8 percent.

ALBION – Orleans County is lagging well behind the Finger Lakes Region and the state in getting people the Covid-19 vaccine.

County officials have tried the past three months to get more vaccine for residents, but the supply sent by the state has been far too low, said Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman.

The state a month recognized the disparity in Orleans and approved a one-time special allotment of 1,170 doses. However, those doses didn’t come to Orleans. The state instead directed them to a mass vaccination clinic at Genesee Community College from March 5-9.

The clinic was supposed to be restricted to residents in the counties of Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming. But the state, a day before the clinic started, opened registration to everyone, without a residency restriction.

Orleans County residents only received 169 or 4.8 percent of those doses.

“It’s criminal that Orleans County is so far behind,” Johnson said on Tuesday evening in a conference call with local elected and appointed officials. “We were behind when PPP was distributed. We were behind with rapid tests when they first came out and now we are with vaccines.”

In Orleans County, 16.6 percent of the population of 40,612 has received at least one dose of the vaccine. Only the Bronx County has a lower rate, 16.2 percent, than Orleans out of 62 counties in the state.

The statewide vaccinate rate is at 22.9 percent with at least one dose. In the nine-county Finger Lakes Region, which includes Orleans, the rate is at 24.9 percent.

The vaccination rates in those nine counties includes: Orleans, 16.6 percent; Genesee, 22.1 percent; Wyoming, 19.5 percent; Monroe, 26.0 percent; Livingston, 21.8 percent; Wayne, 23.3 percent; Seneca, 21.3 percent; Yates, 25.9 percent; and Ontario, 27.8 percent.

Orleans County would need about 1,000 doses to catch up to Wyoming County, which has the second lowest rate among those nine counties. Orleans and Wyoming both have about 40,000 residents. In Orleans, 6,726 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine. In Wyoming, 7,807 have received at least one shot, according to the state’s Vaccine Tracker.

Johnson and Paul Pettit, the public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties, sent a letter on Tuesday to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, requesting a special allocation of vaccine to get Orleans caught up with the other counties.

“This is a matter of life and death for these residents,” Johnson said.

The Orleans officials also are asking for another mass vaccination clinic at GCC that would be restricted to Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming. Those three counties only got about 25 percent of the vaccines at the least clinic.

This week Orleans will receive 400 doses, which is down from the 600 last week in the weekly allotments from the state. The County Health Department will administer 300 of the doses, with Orleans Community Health (Medina Memorial Hospital) doing the other 100, Pettit said.

“Orleans County continues to lag,” Pettit told the local officials in the conference call. “Ultimately we’re not where we need to be compared to other counties. We are doing heavy advocacy for more vaccines.”

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) cosponsored and helped pass H.R. 1799, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act.

“Small business owners are still facing major challenges as a result of Covid-19,” Jacobs said in a statement. “As we work to rebuild our economy and get people back to work, it is important to ensure businesses have access to every resource possible. This legislation extends the application deadline for this successful program so more businesses can receive benefits and reopen.”

The Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act extends the deadline for a small business to apply for a PPP loan by two months. The application deadline was previously set at March 31st, 2021.

For more information on how to apply for PPP, click here.

Marciano, Toale elected trustees in Medina

Photos by Tom Rivers: Zack Burgess sings with his band Zero tonight at Maison Albion where many of his friends and family surprised him with a celebration. Burgess was elected to the Village Board today.

ALBION – Zack Burgess was elected to the Village Board today, getting 76.6 percent of the vote in a victory over Joe Martillotta, 111 to 34.

Burgess, 31, becomes one of the youngest elected officials in Orleans County. He has been active in the village, serving as co-chairman of the Rock the Park Music Festival at Bullard Park. He works as a sales representative at Bentley Brothers.

Burgess, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party, said he knows the current Village Board members and many of the village employees through Rock the Park. He presented plans to the board for that music event many times in recent years and also connected with village department heads on the music festival, which was a fundraiser for the park.

He has attended recent Village Board meetings, and also went to several back when he was in high school and Martillotta was his social studies teacher. Martillotta, who is now retired, required students to attend local government meetings.

Burgess said he welcomes feedback from village residents on how the village government can best serve the community.

“I want people to feel comfortable talking to me,” he said. “I want to be as accessible as I can to the people in the village.”

Burgess said it was humbling the past month to see so many signs in yards, with people showing support for his election.

“I’m super appreciative of everyone who put out a sign,” he said.

Burgess was given a surprise party tonight at Maison Albion on West Countyhouse Road. Laura Olinger, president of Bentley Brothers, organized the celebration. She appreciates a new generation stepping forward to help lead the community.

The turnout for the election was low with 145 out of 2,970 eligible voters or 4.9 percent. That was still nearly three times the turnout in the last election in September, where the top candidate had 54 votes.

Burgess starts the three-year term on the board on April 1.

Dylan DeSmit, left, joined Zack Burgess and the band Zero in performing music and having some fun tonight at Maison Albion on West County House Road.

• MEDINA – In the other village election in Orleans County, two trustee candidates in Medina were unopposed for two-year terms. Jessica Marciano received 59 votes and Owen Toale, 48. They ran together on the “Accountability Party.”

Evan Valentine

HOLLEY – The Board of Education approved a request to establish a new scholarship in memory of Evan Valentine, a courageous student who passed away on February 21, 2021 after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

A member of this year’s senior class, Evan played soccer and golf and performed in the school musicals. He was confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in August and was the altar server of the year in 2018 in the Western New York Diocese. He also was active in Boy Scouts.

The scholarship will likely start at $500. No qualifications have been developed yet. The Valentine family will be working with a school committee to come up with a profile and the family will also be involved with the selection of the recipient(s).

The Valentine family and the district want to make this an annual scholarship to be presented each year at graduation.

New cases reported today include 2 in Orleans, 10 in Genesee

Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting the lowest levels of active Covid-19 cases in more than four months. There are currently 26 active cases in Orleans, the fewest since 25 on Nov. 9, and 54 in Genesee, the lowest since 55 on Nov. 9. The active cases are dropping as the number of recoveries outpaces the new Covid infections.

In Orleans County, there are 2 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today for a total of 2,481 positive cases since last March.

The positive cases reside in the Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19 and the 50s, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

In Orleans, there are four more recoveries and those people have been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 3 county residents hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 10 new positive cases reported today for a total of 4,453 confirmed cases during the pandemic.

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 their 20s, 30s, 50s, 60s and 80s.

Two of the new cases are inmates at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia, where 120 inmates have now tested positive during the pandemic.

Genesee is reporting 17 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 2 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid, the G-O Health Departments reported.

Photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Prestyn McMillion, a Holley eighth-grader, was presented with a Soaring to New Heights award on Monday evening by Sue Cory, the junior-senior high school principal.

Prestyn assisted a neighbor who was having a medical emergency. He noticed a car was running, the driver appeared unresponsive and he was able to get her help. He was recognized by the school district for “his compassion and fast action.” He is part of a family that is active in the fire department.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Brian Bartalo, the Holley school superintendent, said there is a “gray area” for athletes wearing masks during high school events. Pictured in back are Connie Nenni, left, the district clerk and Robin Silvis, the BOE president.

HOLLEY – School leaders who watch high school sporting events or who see photos on the Orleans Hub notice that many of the athletes have their masks pulled down and aren’t covering their nose or mouth.

Some of the opposing players aren’t even wearing masks.

Brian Bartalo, the Holley school superintendent, said other students and parents see that and wonder why other students can’t do the usual musical, marching band or chorus concert.

“It’s created consternation for the music and drama folks,” Bartalo told the Board of Education on Monday.

Board member Anne Smith brought up the topic, saying she sees many of the sports photos on the Orleans Hub with masks that don’t seem to be properly worn.

Bartalo said the New York State Public High School Athletic Association allows a “gray area” with the masks. The association calls for athletes to wear masks at all times “unless unable to tolerate face covering for physical activity.” If they feel they can’t tolerate a mask, they can lower it, Bartalo said.

If athletes decide to lower their masks, referees or game officials have told the schools they aren’t going to “police” it, Bartalo said.

Coaches are taking athletes at “face value” if they lower their masks, it’s because they can’t handle playing the sport with the mask on, said Robin Silvis, the board president.

HOLLEY – When the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan was signed by President Biden last week, Holley Central School was expecting the package would include $1,114,999 for the district.

That follows the $373,533 approved last March for Holley in the $2.2 trillion CARES Act. That initial funding helped the district pay for additional costs of PPE and other Covid-19 expenses.

Turns out Holley is getting the $1,114,999, plus another $2,428,000 in the American Rescue Plan. The district was notified of the unexpected funding on Monday at 2 p.m.

Sharon Zacher, the district assistant superintendent for business, said Holley has until Sept. 30, 2023 to spend the money. So far the only stipulation known for the money is at least 20 percent needs to go to “loss of learning costs” to help students get caught up who fell behind during the pandemic, Zacher told the Board of Education on Monday evening.

The $2.4 million takes some pressure off the district in the next two to three years. Holley is plugging the $1,114,999 into the proposed 2021-22 budget. Zacher was concerned the following year how the district would respond with the loss of that funding from the budget, especially if state aid didn’t increase significantly.

“This eases the worry about when the $1.1 million is gone,” Zacher said about the additional $2.4 million.

She updated the Board of Education on Monday about the budget progress so far. Next month the board will vote on a budget to present to voters in May.

Right now the budget is at a 3 percent spending increase, $26,553,900 compared to the $25,780,000 for 2020-21. The budget was also at $25,780,000 the previous year.

Zacher’s draft proposal would increase taxes by 2 percent, from $7,427,919 to $7,576,477. That would be just under the district’s allowable tax cap for next school year, which is a 2.029 percent increase.

Holley has the usual budget increases with staff raises and the costs of health insurance. Next school year, Zacher said Holley should budget for an additional bus attendant, some equipment for Buildings and Grounds, a new kettle at $25,000 for the kitchen, and a bigger expense for repair costs for take-home devices for students.

Zacher expects to receive more information from the state and federal governments about the $2.4 million and how it can be used by the district.

“We want to hear more before making a recommendation,” she told the board.

Generous government relief for so many puzzles long-time reporter

By Ginny Kropf

Photo by Tom Rivers: Ginny Kropf has worked as a local reporter for the past half century.

It has been several years since I’ve written a column, but after all we’ve been through this past year, there is lots to write about.

It was just a year ago our country basically shut down due to Covid-19. During that time, some have shown how ignorant they can be by refusing to do something as simple as wearing a mask, while others have been responsible and worn a mask in public – something very basic which could have achieved overwhelming results, had everyone done it in the beginning.

There might not have been more than 500,000 deaths, with loved ones dying alone, millions and millions spent in health care and healthcare workers and hospitals taxed to the limit – and beyond.

But that, hopefully, is in the past. And if everyone – with no exceptions for any reason – gets the vaccine, we can lay this Covid demon to rest.

My husband Al and a 98-year-old friend were able to get our first shots a week ago and the second is scheduled at the end of March. Hopefully then we can feel comfortable going out in public, but I’m sure we will continue to wear our masks for the near future.

So much has been lost in this past year – and not only human life. I had rented Camp Rainbow for a day last summer to have a graduation party for our great-granddaughter, who wanted to come here from South Carolina to have her party with us. That, of course, didn’t happen.

There have been birthday parties nearly every month which had to be canceled. And weddings canceled or downsized. And tragically, funerals which could only be for a handful of relatives or friends.

But we have survived it.

However, the effect of the virus is going to be long-lasting.

Last summer, Scott Robinson, who is part owner of the Shirt Factory Café and founder of the Medina Area Partnership, said many restaurants would fail due to the pandemic.

I can only speculate as to the hardship dealt to business owners of every kind – especially the travel and tourism industry.

As much as I am sure the stimulus checks sent by our Federal government are needed, I also have a great concern.

Has the government considered how that money is going to get paid back? Also, I feel there was no responsible action taken by either party when deciding who should get the checks.

I am getting $2,000 from the government – $600 in December and now the $1,400. For our household, that totals $4,000 between Al and I, just dropped into our accounts. While I’m sure many legitimately needed the money, many, many more did not.

Al and I aren’t rich, but we certainly don’t want for anything. A gentleman I know is quite well off and donated his first check to a charity, and I’m sure he’ll do the same with this second check. When I heard the checks were going to anyone making less than $75,000, I wanted to scream!

The poverty level for a family of five is $30,680. Yet anyone making up to $75,000 is going to get “free” money from the government. Not good thinking on my part. I could easily survive on $40,000 a year if I had to.

Then there are the extended unemployment checks. Just sent to practically anyone. I know a person whose unemployment check is almost twice what her part-time salary was. And I know a handful of people who won’t go back to work because they can get the extended unemployment. An employer in Genesee County told me when they re-opened after initially having to shut down, half of their work force refused to come back to work.

In Medina, another company CEO has the same problem. He said a stipulation was included with the unemployment checks that if a person’s job was available and he didn’t go back to work, his unemployment checks would end. UNLESS – he or she had reason to fear Covid. So, the CEO said, the employees just said they had a health problem which made them afraid of Covid and they are staying home collecting unemployment, while the company is struggling to complete its work.

While I’m on the subject of our government, how absolutely stupid and irresponsible to open our borders. Of course, the illegal immigrants will be so grateful, they will vote for the party who let them in. But how many more can the working people in our country sustain.

Dean Bellack of Medina has a sign in his office written by Thomas Jefferson decades ago, which reads, “Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not.”

How long before we get to the point where the unemployed people outnumber the working population? What then?

Al and I are thankful we are in our 80s. We’ve seen the best years.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Karri Schiavone, Holley Elementary School principal, tells the Board of Education on Monday that the school had a great first day with students in grades K through 2 back this week without the hybrid schedule.

HOLLEY – It felt like the first day of school at Holley Elementary School on Monday for students in kindergarten through second grade.

It was the first day without the hybrid schedule, where students were in-person for two days a week, alternating with half their class to keep the capacity down in the classroom and on buses.

Holley school officials did the calculations and found they could bring students in those grade levels back for four days of in-person a week. Wednesday will remain a day for remote learning.

“It was so smooth,” Karri Schiavone, the elementary school principal, told the Holley Board of Education on Monday evening. “It was happy kids and happy teachers everywhere.”

Students were able to meet some of their classmates in person for the first time this school year. Some of those students were only known as faces on a computer screen for Zoom video conferencing.

The district needs to work out details for the student drop-off because there was a line out to Perry Street.

“We need to tweak the arrival and dismissal times for cars,” Schiavone said.

Otherwise, she said the shift to bringing more students back has gone “fantastic.”

She praised the Buildings and Grounds staff for rearranging desks and tables to meet the 6-foot social distancing guideline from the state. The food service, transportation, district office, teachers and support staff “all made it work,” Schiavone said.

Holley wants to bring back more students for in-person each day but Schiavone said the social distancing guideline would need to be lowered. Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent, said school officials around the state are expecting the guideline to be reduced to 3 feet, as long as students are wearing masks. That change would allow for more students on buses, more in classrooms and more in the cafeteria.

“We expect the changes will come,” Bartalo said.

This elementary classroom has plastic barriers on the desks as an added protection against the spread of Covid-19.

If the distancing isn’t lowered from 6 to 3 feet, Bartalo said the district will still try to bring back more students, but may not be able to do more full grade levels.

The district wants to have more students in-person by April 19, which is the start of the final quarter when students will be gearing up for final exams and state assessments.

Bartalo noted that Monday was very close to the one-year anniversary of when schools last year were closed to in-person learning due the Covid-19 pandemic. March 13 was last day for in-person learning in 2020.

“Today was our youngest students and we will start working are way up,” Bartalo told the Board of Education.  “We can all agree that having 5- and 6-year-olds at home on a computer being supervised in very challenging.”

The district early in the school year increased the in-person days to four days for students in prekindergarten, those in self-contained special education classes and the alternative high school, which is held in a wing of the elementary school.

Those groups are all smaller classes of no more than 12 students where the district can meet the social distancing requirement, keeping desks 6 feet apart.

The district also brought back for four days of in-person learning about 100 students with IEPs who have a learning disability and need some additional educational services.

Holley on March 1 also allowed students at the WeMoCo in Spencerport to attend in-person classes four days a week.

“Our goal is to get all of the hybrid kids back for the fourth quarter,” Bartalo said.

That will depend on the state changing the social distancing to 3 feet. He said he is encouraged by the number of new cases in the county being the lowest since October, while more people are getting vaccinated from Covid.

There will be increased law patrols from law enforcement for driving while intoxicated or impaired beginning today through March 21.

This special traffic enforcement detail is designed to reduce alcohol and drug-related traffic crashes. It is sponsored by STOP-DWI with funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

“As New Yorkers celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, I urge them to do so safely and responsibly,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “There is zero tolerance for impaired driving in New York. It is grossly reckless on the part of the driver, and it puts all those on the road in danger. Impaired drivers will be caught and held accountable, so plan for a safe ride home.”

During the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day campaign, which occurred March 13 through March 18, law enforcement throughout the state issued 77,444 tickets for vehicle and traffic law violations, including 1,944 arrests for DWI.

These STOP-DWI enforcement campaigns occur throughout the year. During the recent Super Bowl campaign, which was held from Feb. 5 through Feb. 8, law enforcement agencies throughout the state issued 26,127 tickets for vehicle and traffic law violations and made 846 arrests for DWI.

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said law enforcement agencies in Orleans County will join forces to increase DWI patrols the next five days.

The sheriff urges people who are drinking to plan a safe way to get home. They can call for a ride from a sober friend or family member, or reach out for a taxi or Uber.

Village residents will go to the polls today to vote for trustees on the Village Board in Albion and Medina.

In Albion there are two candidates running for one open seat on the board, a three-year term. Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Office, 35 East Bank St.

The Democratic Party nominated Zachary Burgess of Hamilton Street, and the Republican Party nominated Joe Martillotta of North Main Street. They are seeking to fill a vacancy created when Kevin Sheehan resigned as trustee to become the village code enforcement officer.

The election is back on the schedule for the third Tuesday in March. Last year’s election was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was finally held on Sept. 15.

Burgess, 31, works for Bentley Brothers as a sales representative. He also has been very active in the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park. He serves as co-chairman of the event which has been renamed as the Albion Summer Festival. Last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19. Burgess and the organizers are hoping this year’s festival with many bands can happen the first Saturday in August.

Through that event, Burgess said he has worked with many village officials and community members. He also is a member of the Albion Lions Club.

Martillotta, 69, retired in 2009 after 36 years as a high school social studies and economics teacher. He and his wife Debbie did extensive renovations of 469 East State St. and opened the Crooked Door Tavern on Jan. 31, 2011. It was his dream of owning a restaurant and bar. They operated the business for more than three years, selling it in April 2014.

Martillotta owns other properties in the village.

“I’ve been paying taxes for years in the village – lots of them,” he said.

He has long advocated for shrinking the size of local government through consolidation. That is an issue he wants to explore.

In Medina there are two candidates for two trustees. Owen Toale is seeking re-election. He is joined on the “Accountability Party” by Jessica Marciano, a member of the Parks Committee. Todd Bensley, who has been on the board for six years, isn’t seeking re-election.

Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. at Senior Center on West Avenue.

Toale has 10 years experience on the board and is the current deputy mayor.  Marciano is making her first run for the Village Board. Toale is retired as the publisher of the former Journal-Register in Medina.

“I’m privileged to serve with a board that understands the needs of the village and has no hidden agendas other than to make Medina a better place to live,” Toale posted on his Facebook page. “I think the progress that has been made in the village with the cooperation of village residents has been nothing short of remarkable.”

Toale noted the trustees each have departments to oversee, and are involved in different committees in the village government. He also has been the chief negotiator for union and department contracts for the past five years.

“Previous administrations have hired labor attorneys at the cost of $150 an hour to negotiate their contracts,” Toale said. “Working with another trustee I have managed to get the contracts done and save the village thousands of dollars in lawyer fees while being fair to the unions and the village.”

He said he works on village budgets that maintain services without an “excessive tax load.” He said he is pleased to see Marciano step up and run for the board.

“Jess is a newcomer to the process but has spent time on the Parks Committee along with attending board meetings for quite some time,” Toale said. “She is learning the role of trustee and will become an asset to the village.”

State Assembly members Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, and Mike Norris, R-Lockport, both voted against the State Assembly budget proposal.

The two Assemblymen both represent parts of Orleans County. Hawley said the Assembly budget proposal misses an opportunity to overhaul the state’s business climate, especially with a big influx of federal aid. Norris said the Assembly budget will chase more residents and businesses out of the state.

Assemblyman Hawley issued this statement:

“Following an incredibly generous allocation of federal aid to the tune of approximately $100 billion that would, according to a member of Sen. Chuck Schumer’s staff, wipe out our state deficit for the year entirely, we have been presented a tremendous opportunity to overhaul our state’s business climate and bring our economy roaring back through this recovery like never before.

“We have been given a clean slate with which we could finally make New York a competitive place to do business and create economic opportunity but, unfortunately, our colleagues in the Majority seem to be more interested in burdening our state with billions in new taxes in their budget proposal, even as we have seen a mass exodus of New Yorkers in recent years.

“This proposal by the Majority is a clear sign of a shifting paradigm in Albany, as it goes far above what even the governor proposed this year under the assumption our state would receive only minimal aid, as opposed to the massive package headed our way. Clearly the governor has lost any effective leverage in the budget process and is being walked over by radical progressives, and this proposal shows exactly why he needs to step down. We need a leader in this budget process who can stand up to ideologues and do what’s best for everyday working people, and Gov. Cuomo is in no position to be that person.”

Assemblyman Norris issued this statement:

“Today I voted against the $208.3 billion budget that imposes an additional $14.6 billion in new taxes on New Yorkers.

“While I am encouraged that so many of our communities’ priorities that I have been advocating for during this year’s budget process have been included in the Assembly’s one-house budget, this overall spending plan breaks the state’s spending record at over $208 billion and would impose an additional more than $14 billion in new taxes — a measure that is totally unnecessary given the state’s increased revenues and additional $12.6 billion in federal stimulus. If these tax hikes are enacted, our state’s out-migration problem will only worsen and our economy, which is in critical condition already, will further suffer.

“I urge leaders to remove these tax hikes and to produce a final budget agreement that is more fiscally prudent and responsible in order to protect our economy, create jobs and support New Yorkers’ path to recovery. That path should support investments in broadband, small business support, libraries and education, infrastructure, and resources for veterans and people with developmental disabilities who need our help now more than ever.

“We can make that happen with this one-shot investment from Washington, and be fiscally responsible at the same time without forcing more New Yorkers out-of-state by permanently driving up taxes.”