By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2021 at 9:38 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The VFW Post in Albion reached its 75th anniversary on Nov. 19, 2020. The Post hasn’t been able to have a celebration for the milestone due to Covid-19 restrictions and concerns. However, the Post’s leaders on Wednesday acknowledged the 75 years during its monthly meeting.
Pictured outside the Post on Platt Street include from left: Orville Preston, chaplain; Mike Donahue, trustee; Mark Roberts, past commander; Matt Passarell, current commander; Joe Gehl, trustee; Kevin Christy, quartermaster; and Gary Befus, trustee.
The VFW Post works with the American Legion on setting flags on about 2,000 veterans’ graves annually. The VFW also provides scholarships and helps organize the annual Memorial Day observance.
Matt Passarell, the current commander, praised the efforts of the VFW members since the post’s founding. He thanked the current members for continuing to serve at the post and serve the community.
“The 75th anniversary is an impressive milestone,” Passarell said during Wednesday’s monthly board meeting. “A lot of this can be attributed to people from long ago who wanted a VFW post in Albion.”
The Veterans of Foreign Wars national office recognized the local VFW with a Diamond Jubilee Award on Nov. 19, which was the 75th anniversary of the post’s founding.
“In special commemoration and grateful recognition of its seventy-five years of exceptional service to the nation and its veterans throughout its seven and one-half decades of dedicated support for the programs and purposes of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,” the citation read.
Harold “Hal” Roesch, II, commander-in-chief of the national VFW, sent a letter of congratulations to the VFW.
“The members of VFW Post 4635 are a pillar of support for Albion, New York,” Roesch wrote in his letter. “Year after year, you have provided superb public service to others. You provide an invaluable network of service to those who have borne the battle, as well as to their families, and you advance the health and well-being of those who bear the burden of defending our nation and our way of life.”
VFW leaders pause for a prayer during Wednesday’s monthly board meeting.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2021 at 8:32 am
ALBION – Veterans organizations in Albion are planning a Memorial Day observance that will be smaller in scale.
Last year’s Memorial Day parade and service was cancelled when the state set a limit on social gatherings to no more than 10 people.
The state’s new limit for the maximum size for outdoor social gatherings will be 200, as of March 22.
Leaders of the VFW and American Legion in Albion are planning for a Memorial Day event that include a short procession and service, but won’t include the marching band, Scouts, firefighters and other community groups.
Mark Roberts, a past VFW commander, said Covid-19 is still in the community and he doesn’t want to put people at risk of catching the virus. He had Covid-19 and said it was an ordeal. He knows many people who died after getting it.
Roberts doesn’t want the sacrifice of veterans to go unnoticed on Memorial Day, which this year will be May 31.
The VFW and Legion are planning a modified route where veterans would march from the VFW on Platt Street, turn left on East Bank Street, and then another left on Main Street to the Courthouse lawn, where they will have a service. The group needs permission from the County Legislature to use the Courthouse lawn for the service.
The parade route usually starts on Main Street at the Park Street intersection, heads south to Route 31, and then heads east to the middle school lawn, where there is a Vietnam War Memorial. Usually many community groups, including the Albion marching band, are part of the parade.
Gary Befus, a member of the American Legion and VFW, is working on the details for the Memorial Day observance. It would start at 10 a.m. at the VFW with the procession, with the service to start about 10:30 a.m.
Local veterans also plan to visit local memorials and cemeteries to pay their respects to veterans on Memorial Day. The veterans typically have the Honor Guard visit eight sites in Albion for a gun salute and the playing of Taps.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2021 at 5:28 pm
Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 18 new Covid-19 cases today, and are nearing 7,000 total for the pandemic. There are currently 6,952 cases in the two counties in the past year, according to the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed case in Genesee and Thursday is the one-year anniversary of the first case in Orleans County.
Orleans County has 6 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,487 positive cases in the pandemic.
The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby) and Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre). The individuals are in their 60s, 70s and 80s.
The Health Departments reported 1 of the new positives was quarantined prior to testing positive. There aren’t any new recoveries reported today.
There are currently 3 Orleans residents hospitalized due to Covid.
In Genesee County there are 12 new positive cases of Covid-19 reported today for a total of 4,465 positive cases.
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 70s.
Genesee is reporting 15 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are currently 3 Genesee residents hospitalized with Covid.
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Quarantine for domestic travelers: Beginning April 1st, New York State will no longer require quarantine for domestic travelers. International travelers will still need to quarantine.
All travelers will still be required to complete the Traveler Health Form. For updated Traveler Guidance, click here. Regardless of quarantine status, all individuals exposed to COVID-19 or returning from travel must:
Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene, and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated);
Must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact their healthcare provider or the local public health authority to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
BROCKPORT – Dr. David Tinkelman, a board-certified pediatrician for 30 years, has chosen to join Oak Orchard Health at its Brockport location. He will begin seeing patients there on April 5.
“Oak Orchard Health was my first and only choice,” Dr. Tinkelman said. “I know I can continue to provide my patients the best of care there. And it’s a convenient location for everyone.”
Dr. Tinkelman joins Medical Director and pediatrician Danielle Renodin-Mead, DO, James Goetz, MD, MPH, Monica Henoch, MD, Kelsey Izzo, MD, and Jan Saxton, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
Dr. Tinkelman has practiced in the Rochester area since 1979 and has been in solo practice since 1991 at Tinkelman Pediatrics. He completed his undergraduate degree in biology at Cornell University and received his medical degree in 1975 from SUNY Upstate Medical Center. His residency was completed at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
“We’re excited that Dr. Tinkelman will be part of our pediatric team at Oak Orchard Health,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO of Oak Orchard Health. “All patients have access to adult medical services, dental, behavioral health, and vision care.”
Oak Orchard Health
Originally founded in 1966, Oak Orchard has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone located in the communities we serve. Currently serving over 23,000 patients at eleven locations, Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2021 at 3:26 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: These two people and a dog pass underneath the Ingersoll Street lift bridge in Albion on Oct. 14, 2017, when it was a 70-degree fall day.
The State Canal Corp. today announced the schedule for the upcoming boating season with the canal opening on May 21 and continuing until Oct. 13.
That is close to being back to normal after last year’s start was pushed back until June 26. The start in 2020 was supposed to be May 15 but was delayed because canal staff and construction crews were sidelined early in the pandemic. That prevented the State Canal Corp. from doing some of the work needed before the canals could be opened.
In an announcement for the upcoming season today, the Canal Corp. said, “This proposed schedule of operations could be impacted by the Covid pandemic and/or the need to repair critical infrastructure.”
The Canal Corp. also again won’t be charging any tolls or fees for recreational use of the canal system. This is the fifth straight year the tolls have been waived. Those tolls were normally $25 to $100 for a season pass, depending on the size of the vessel.
The upcoming boating season will be the 197th continuous season. Last year the system was in danger of not opening due to Covid, but it opened later than usual.
Standard hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following lift bridges in Orleans County will operate on demand from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. until September 15: Holley, Hulberton, Ingersoll Street in Albion, Main Street in Albion, Eagle Harbor, Knowlesville and Medina.
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION – New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Michael Owczarczak, a Medina resident, a combat veteran, and a member of the 107th Attack Wing who also served in the Army National Guard, has been named Outstanding Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year for the 5,800- member New York Air National Guard.
Owczarczak serves as the unit training manager of the 107th Attack Wing’s Security Forces Squadron, based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
Owczarczak was selected for the award by a board made up of senior enlisted leaders from across the New York Air National Guard.
The New York National Guard picks four Airmen of the Year annually in the categories of First Sergeant, Airman, Non-Commissioned Officer and Senior Non-Commissioned Officer.
“Sergeant Owczarczak distinguishing himself as a resilient and strategic leader built for success,” said Command Chief Master Sgt. Denny Richardson, the senior enlisted leader for the New York Air National Guard.
Owczarczak enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1998 and served as a combat medic assigned to the 105th Military Police Company in Buffalo. He joined the New York Air National Guard and the 107th Security Forces Squadron in 2001.
In September 2019, Owczarczak deployed to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, where he served as superintendent of plans and programs. He coordinated efforts to protect equipment valued at $3 billion, and led a joint, Norwegian and American response force to help secure airfield perimeter defense, safeguarding 4,500 coalition personnel.
When the base came under Iranian missile attack on January 8, 2020, Owczarczak played a key role in responding to the attack, Richardson said.
He received the Bronze Star in recognition of his efforts.
“His accomplishments of this past year to include the deployment, earning a Bronze star, and multiple award categories is no surprise to anyone he works with,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jerrod Kester, the 107th Security Forces enlisted manager.
Owczarczak is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
He also works with multiple committees and councils to bolster wing development and morale.
“Master Sgt. Owczarczak is a clear example of what a SNCO should be not only in security forces but our Air Force,” Kester said. “I have witnessed the hard work and dedication he has put in on a daily basis.”
Owczarczak’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2021 at 12:25 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Central School is slated for $1,274,000 in federal funding as part of the newly approved American Rescue Plan.
The newly passed American Rescue Plan will bring $12.5 million to the five districts in Orleans County, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said today.
The breakdown for the five districts in Orleans County includes:
Albion, $4,265,000
Holley, $2,304,000
Kendall, $1,233,000
Lyndonville, $1,274,000
Medina, $3,411,000
The funding is part of $2.5 billion in federal money headed to school districts in Upstate New York, Schumer said.
The Senator said the Covid crisis forced schools to close, with safely reopening them costing districts tens of thousands of dollars. The federal funding allocated for schools in the American Rescue Plan will help bring students back to their desks when New York recovers from the pandemic.
“Everyone wants schools to reopen completely and for our children to be able to return to the classroom, but it needs to be done in a way that is safe for students, families, educators, and learning institutions,” Schumer said. “Covid brought unprecedented challenges that have cost a year of learning and development for students—challenges disproportionately felt by students of color, students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and more. As Majority Leader, I was proud to make funding for our schools a priority, and the American Rescue Plan will deliver this much needed aid to get Upstate students back in school. Help is on the way for Upstate New York’s schools put behind the curve by the pandemic.”
The federal aid will help districts fill budget gaps, address learning loss, meet the needs of students with disabilities, assist students experiencing homelessness, provide summer enrichment and afterschool programs, and other services.
“Without this funding, districts would continue to be forced to redirect resources for many of the unanticipated costs related to the pandemic,” said Sherry Johnson, executive director of Monroe County School Boards Association. “Now, our districts can focus on getting students and staff back safely, make determinations on how best to meet student needs moving forward and begin to focus on helping our communities see the opportunities for education beyond the pandemic.”
Press Release, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
File photo by Tom Rivers – The Old Hippies became The Traveling Towpath Troubadours for a concert series at canal towns in July 2015. The group, led by Bill McDonald, is shown on July 12, 2015 at Medina’s Canal Basin. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is offering grants for activities along the canal this year.
With New York State beginning to open more and an increase in gathering sizes allowed in public spaces, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation, has opened a call for applications for 2021 canal-related event funding.
Municipalities and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations may apply for $500 sponsorships for events that promote or celebrate the distinctive historic, cultural, or recreational resources throughout the Canalway Corridor. Events that actively include or serve people with disabilities or people from underserved populations are encouraged to apply.
“We are eager for a return of safe events that showcase New York State’s extraordinary canal heritage and recreational resources. Pre-pandemic research shows that events and tours draw hundreds of thousands of people to the canal each year and deliver $1.3 billion annually in economic benefits to communities,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
“As New York begins to reopen and return to normal, we’re thrilled to be working with canalside communities and partners to uplift local economies and remind New Yorkers of the tremendous historic significance and opportunity offered by the Erie Canal,” said Brian U. Stratton, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation. “Alongside the efforts of Governor Cuomo to reinvigorate upstate cities and towns along the canals through the Reimagine the Canals program, these events will bring New Yorkers together in a safe way and bring a much-needed boost to communities along the length of the Canal.”
Applications are due by April 16 and events must take place from May 1 through October 31, 2021. A minimum one-to-one match is required. Eligible events must comply with New York State Covid-19 guidelines.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2021 at 9:27 am
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.”
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2021 at 10:16 pm
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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2021 at 8:28 pm
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2021 at 4:46 pm
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2021 at 3:13 pm
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.
