By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2021 at 2:10 pm
The entire Republican conference in the State Senate is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.
“The Governor’s Office is under a cloud of multiple scandals and ongoing investigations,” according to the joint statement from the senators.
“New Yorkers need a leader to focus on the important work facing this state, but the ability of the Governor to be anything but a distraction is damaged beyond repair. He must resign for the good of all New Yorkers. If the Governor does not resign, the next step is impeachment.”
The statement was signed by the Republican conference that includes: Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Fred Akshar, George Borrello, Phil Boyle, Patrick Gallivan, Joseph Griffo, Pamela Helming, Daphne Jordan, Andrew Lanza, Mike Martucci, Mario Mattera, Thomas O’Mara, Peter Oberacker, Anthony Palumbo, Edward Rath III, Patty Richie, Sue Serino, Daniel Stec, James Tedisco and Alexis Weik.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 March 2021 at 12:25 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Employees of Baxter Healthcare in Medina clean up the lawn at Head Start on Ensign Avenue in Medina in this photo from May 9, 2019. From left are Tammy Pogel, Tim Ingrassia, plant manager Kevin Foley and Melinda Pitcher.
After Covid-19 forced organizers to cancel the Day of Caring last spring 2020, United Way of Orleans County is bringing back the day on April 30.
Day of Caring is a volunteer-oriented event of United Ways nationwide, which encourages volunteerism in the community by helping people and non-profit agencies in need.
Creig Shockley, left, and Brian Hosmer, both Baxter employees, repair and put up swings at Camp Rainbow during the Day of Caring on May 9, 2019. Four more Baxter employees painted cabins, while another cleaned the bathrooms.
“The day combines volunteers with work projects county-wide,” said Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County. “It highlights giving back. If we can get 150 to 200 that will be great.”
Any company employee or member of the community is urged to volunteer for a couple of hours that day in performing simple tasks for agencies or individuals, such as painting a fence, raking a lawn, sorting donated food, delivering meals to the elderly, landscaping or other minor tasks.
“It is an exciting day that offers a unique opportunity for businesses, employees and individuals to participate in making a difference, and to see first-hand how their donations to United Way are benefiting the lives and vitality of our community,” Bellack said.
Not only are volunteers needed to perform various tasks, but projects to do are also needed to make the day a huge success.
Registration forms are available on United Way’s website by clicking on “volunteer” and then “Day of Caring.” Registrations forms should be returned by April 10.
On April 30, volunteers should report to the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. for breakfast. They should dress in comfortable clothing to suit the day. Volunteer projects will begin immediately following the breakfast and typically last from 9 to 10 a.m. and/or from 2 to 3 p.m.
“This is a great day,” Bellack said. “It promotes good deeds – and the United Way.”
Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory starting April 1st.
While no longer required, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread – wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings.
“New Yorkers have shown strength and perseverance throughout this entire pandemic, and it shows through the numbers that continue to decrease every day,” Cuomo said. “As we work to build our vaccination infrastructure even further and get more shots in arms, we’re making significant progress in winning the footrace between the infection rate and the vaccination rate, allowing us to open new sectors of our economy and start our transition to a new normal in a post-pandemic world. As part of that transition, quarantine for domestic travelers is no longer required, but it is still being advised as an added precaution.”
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 the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
HOLLEY – The Holley Police Department will be holding a police forum at 7 p.m. today at the Village Office (the former Holley High School), 1 Wright St.
The purpose of this forum is to get the input form the community so that the Police Department can better serve the citizens of the Village of Holley.
The Orleans County District Attorney and Public Defender will be in attendance to address recent changes to the legal and criminal justice system and can address any questions.
The intent is to have open discussions. If anyone would like to speak or address a particular issue, we ask that you contact the Village Office at 638-6367 before the event to be placed on the agenda.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2021 at 8:34 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – These snowdrop flowers popped out of an Albion front yard on Wednesday, when temperatures were nearly 70 degrees. The flowers beat the start of spring, which is March 20.
This week the weather will feel like spring. Today is forecast to be cloudy with a high of 67, followed by highs of 49 on Friday, 38 on Saturday, 39 on Sunday and 31 on Monday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2021 at 9:35 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Heidi Haines, right, and her daughter Bri Haines walk their dogs this evening in Albion along East Park Street. Heidi is walking the dachshund named Diesel and Bri, 17, is with the golden retriever, Archie.
Today’s high temperature was nearly 70 degrees in Orleans County, a major turnaround from the freezing cold only a few days.
The high hit 69 in Albion, and 68 in Medina and Holley, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. The 68 degrees in Rochester tied an all-time record from 1977 for the city.
The warm temperature brought lots of people to playgrounds and out for neighborhood walks.
The high for Thursday is forecast for 66 in Orleans County. The high on Friday drops to 50, and then the highs will only be 37 on both Saturday and Sunday, according to the Weather Service.
Heidi and Bri Haines enjoy some outdoor time with their dogs.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
The New York State Senate Republican Conference today announced the introduction of a concurrent resolution (B477) to rescind Governor Cuomo’s mandate that prohibits bars and restaurants from serving alcoholic beverages to patrons who do not order food.
The arbitrary Executive Order (202.52 of 2020), which was put into effect last July by Governor Cuomo, stated any establishment licensed by the SLA could only serve alcoholic beverages if accompanied by the purchase of a food item by each individual being served an alcoholic beverage.
The change was announced by Governor Cuomo during a news conference, with no guidance in place, and caused mass confusion within the bar and restaurant industry that was already struggling to comply with constantly changing regulations and mandates.
“While we all recognized the need to make adjustments to help contain the spread of the virus in the midst of the pandemic, this order was completely arbitrary, with absolutely no scientific data to back it up. Our bars and restaurants continue to struggle under burdensome mandates passed on by the Governor, and lifting this one is a no-brainer that would immediately help these businesses get back on their feet,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.
“As we mark a year into the pandemic, the cumulative economic toll on our restaurants, hospitality businesses and their hardworking employees keeps growing. Burdened by the Governor’s overly restrictive and arbitrary mandates, New York’s industry is in worse shape than its peers in other states and, every day, we see more of these small businesses forced to close their doors. While the Governor is consumed with defending himself against a series of unfolding scandals, we need to be laser focused on doing everything in our power to help our struggling hospitality sector and the New Yorkers it employs by rescinding senseless directives like this one that accomplish nothing other than causing further economic harm,” said Senator George Borrello.
“Restaurants have been one of the businesses hit especially hard by pandemic-related restrictions, many of which are arbitrary and not based on science. The requirement for customers to purchase food when ordering alcoholic beverages is just one example. As we move to safely reopen our economy, we must continue to ease restrictions and eliminate unnecessary burdens on businesses and consumers,” said Senator Patrick Gallivan.
Last week on the floor of the Senate Chamber, Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris stated, “for example, there is currently a rule in place that if you’re at an establishment and having a beverage, you have to also have food. It is our opinion that would no longer be able to be in effect because that is unrelated to public health.”
The comments were made by Senator Gianaris while discussing a Democrat-negotiated deal with the Governor’s office on legislation that was supposedly intended to remove the Governor’s emergency powers. However, that bill did not go far enough and was not an actual repeal.
Under the bill passed by the Majorities, directives already made by the Governor still remain in effect, and he maintains the ability to modify or extend them. Senator Gianaris stated “if there is something in there you don’t like, put it in a resolution and call for its repeal. We have the ability to do that with a simple majority.”
“I’m encouraged that Senator Gianaris shares our sentiment that there is no scientific reason for this mandate – which hurts our bars and restaurants – to remain in place. I look forward to our colleagues in the Majority bringing this to the floor, and joining us to support this commonsense resolution that would actually provide some relief to our small businesses,” said Leader Ortt.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2021 at 8:13 pm
State Senator Rob Ortt, the Republican conference leader in the State Senate, issued a statement this evening calling for the impeachment of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Rob Ortt
Ortt follows Assembly Republicans, including minority conference leader Will Barclay and Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia, in pressing for the governor’s impeachment.
Ortt’s statement came after a sixth woman accused the governor of sexual harassment.
Ortt’s district includes Orleans, Niagara and parts of western Monroe. He issued this statement:
“The Governor is no longer capable of leading New York at a time when we need leadership. New York State is still fighting this deadly pandemic and we are days away from beginning state budget negotiations. With so much at stake, he and his closest aides continue to plunge Albany into a morass of scandal, the scale and scope of which are truly unprecedented.
“These are dark and shameful days for our state government. Despite all the swirling scandals, all the investigations, all the damning media reports, and all the victims of his destructive behavior coming forward, Governor Cuomo remains arrogantly defiant.
“The era of this Governor’s misdeeds must come to an end. We as state legislators must bring it to an end. I support my colleague Assembly Leader Barclay’s call for the Assembly to begin the impeachment process immediately.”
HARTLAND – A fire this afternoon on Stone Road in Middleport destroyed a detached garage. All of the contents, including two classic automobiles, were a total loss, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
There was a 911 call at 1:58 p.m. reporting the fire at 3829 Stone Rd. Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies and officers of the Village of Middleport Police Department responded and confirmed the single story 2 ½-car garage was engulfed.
The fire was subsequently extinguished by members of Middleport Fire Department. Besides the loss of the garage, a wooden shed that was located adjacent to the garage also suffered fire damage, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
No injuries were reported. An investigation into the cause of the fire by the Niagara County Origin and Cause Team is underway.
The Orleans County Youth Board currently has three open positions available. The seats represent the following municipalities: Medina/Ridgeway/Shelby and Yates/Lyndonville, and also a youth representative.
The Orleans County Youth Board is an advisory body made up of citizens from local municipalities, as well as youth representatives and members from various human service agencies.
The board works with Genesee-Orleans County Youth Bureau staff and is responsible for recommending funding allocations annually. The Youth Bureau administers population-based funding made available to the county by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
Youth Development Prevention funding supports programs that provide opportunities for youth to gain important life skills and core competencies, and that allow youth to have meaningful roles in their community. The Youth Board also assists with programs such as the annual Youth Recognition Awards Banquet and Family Game Night.
The board meets on the first Wednesday of the month, September through June, and meets a minimum of six times a year. The meetings last an average of one hour.
Any residents interested or who would like more information can contact the Youth Bureau office at 585-344-3960 or via email at youthbureau@co.genesee.ny.us for an application.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is reminding constituents that due to a new boating law passed last year, all motorboat operators, regardless of age, must have a boating safety certificate by 2025 in order to operate motorized watercrafts, including personal watercraft such as jet-skis.
Under the new law, all motorboat operators:
Born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 needed a boating safety certificate beginning in 2020.
Born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2022.
Born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2023.
Born on or after Jan. 1, 1978 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2024.
All motorboat operators regardless of age will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2025.
Information on taking the boating safety course in-person or online can be found by clicking here.
“I encourage anyone who has even a mild interest in boating to take the state boating safety course, because it’s never been easier to get your certificate,” said Hawley. “Whether taking the course in-person or online, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon and ensure everyone stays safe in New York waters.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2021 at 4:44 pm
In Genesee, 11 of the new cases are at Detention Center
There are 24 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today in Genesee and Orleans counties, for a total of 6,844 cases since last March in the two counties.
In Orleans County there are 6 new positive cases today for a total of 2,456 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, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. One of the newly positive individuals was under mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.
In Orleans, 1 more of the previous positive individuals has recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are currently 2 county residents hospitalized due to Covid.
In Genesee County there are 18 new positive cases of Covid reported today for a total of 4,388 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 and 60s.
Of the new cases, 11 are inmates at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center, where 117 inmates have now tested positive during the pandemic.
Genesee is reporting 17 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 4 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.
More from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments:
• Vaccine eligibility expanded: Beginning March 10th, all New Yorkers 60 years and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.
Public facing essential workers from governmental and nonprofit organizations will be eligible beginning March 17th. This expansion includes public-facing essential building services workers. Providers will be able to vaccinate any eligible New Yorkers, with the exception of pharmacies who will focus on individuals over the age of 60 and teachers, in line with federal policy beginning March 10th.
This is all subject to the availability of the vaccine to the providers. This new addition of new eligible residents still far exceeds the supply of vaccine received in our counties. Individuals who are eligible must have an appointment in order to get a vaccine. To check for vaccination clinics in Genesee and Orleans counties, click here.
For more information about the vaccine and access for those who are 60 and older who do not have internet access, please contact your respective Office for the Aging (OFA).
For Genesee OFA please call 585-813-2457 for COVID-19 vaccine assistance between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and leave a message if you get voicemail and someone will return the call. For Orleans OFA please call 585-589-3191 between 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and leave a message if you get voicemail and someone will return the call. The OFA offices can only assist with the clinic links as they are available. The system may experience slowdowns and crashing due to high volume. Please be patient and try again later.
Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that DEC will resume holding in-person, instructor-led Hunter Education Program (HEP) courses starting April 1. DEC will continue to offer online hunter education courses, as well.
“To prevent the spread of Covid-19, last year DEC successfully transitioned all of our hunter education courses online,” Commissioner Seggos said. “I’m proud of the way our staff quickly pivoted, working with our contractor to offer online courses for new hunters and bowhunters, and I applaud their efforts to safely allow for resuming in-person instruction again in time for new hunters to pursue turkey this spring.”
Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed in every in-person course, including health screening upon arrival, mandatory mask wearing, social distancing, smaller class sizes, and sanitizing hands and equipment.
In-person courses are free and taught by volunteer HEP instructors. Courses are offered in hunter, bowhunter, trapper, and waterfowl hunter education. Registration is required and all in-person courses require mandatory homework that must be completed prior to participating in the class. For more information, or to register for a HEP course, visit the Hunter Education Program page on DEC’s website.
Although the number of courses offered may be limited this spring, interested participants are encouraged to check back often as new courses may be added. Online courses are also available. The cost of the online hunter education course is $19.95. The course can be found on DEC’s hunter-ed website. DEC also continues to offer an online bowhunter education course.
Since March 2020, DEC has seen more than a 12 percent increase in hunting and fishing license sales compared to sales from the previous 12-month period. During this time, which roughly coincides with New York State on PAUSE, resident turkey permits have increased more than 13 percent and junior hunting licenses increased by more than 25 percent.
Certain types of lifetime licenses also increased by as much as 50 percent. A combination of factors, including the availability of online hunter education for new hunters and more time available to participate in the hunting and other activities as New Yorkers looked for recreational options during the pandemic, likely contributed to the increase.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2021 at 10:29 am
Participants in colon cancer awareness event will be released in groups of 25 every 10 minutes
Photos by Tom Rivers: Runners take off at the start of the Run for Wayne on Clarendon Road in Albion on April 22, 2017. This year’s event is scheduled for March 27.
ALBION – Last year’s Run for Wayne in late March was cancelled at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year the race will go on, but in a way to spread out the runners and walkers on a 3.17-mile course that starts on Clarendon Road, goes along Route 31 to Mount Albion Cemetery and then comes back on 31 to the elementary school parking lot.
The race started in 2015 to honor the memory of Wayne Burlison, an Albion elementary music teacher who died at age 36 from colon cancer on March 26, 2014. The “Run for Wayne” is now known as the Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K, which highlights the second leading cancer death among men, but is often treatable if detected in the early stages.
This portrait of Wayne Burlison was displayed on a tree along the course in Mount Albion during the 2016 race.
The race is slighter longer than a typical 5K at 3.17 miles. Burlison lived 3 months and 17 days after he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Bert Gallmon, one of Burlison’s friends, is managing this year’s race. Gallmon is releasing the participants in groups of 25 every 10 minutes, with the first group starting at 1 p.m., then additional groups at 1:10, 1:20 and 1:30. Participants can also complete the distance virtually at another location.
The race usually has about 100 participants. Click here to sign up in one of the four different groups on March 27. Race-day signups should also be available, Gallmon said.
Proceeds from the race in the past have gone towards a scholarship in Burlison’s name and also towards a new running/walking trail at Bullard Park that hasn’t been built yet.
Burlison was active in several musical groups in the community and also helped start the Albion Running Club. He lost more than 150 pounds through better nutrition and exercise and completed a marathon and half-marathons.
Press Release, Orleans County Master Gardeners Coordinator Katie Oakes
Master Gardener volunteer Jena Buckwell will teach two of the classes in the upcoming Master Your Garden Series. Here, she shows participants of a past MG event a soil drainage demonstration.
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans CCE Master Gardener volunteers have typically offered annual events intended to bring big crowds – Plant Sales, Summer Garden Tours, Spring Education Days, etc.
Last March the pandemic put a halt to all programs they had planned, and the volunteers were faced with the task of coming up with ways to offer educational programming to the public in a way that could allow for more predictable attendance as well as flexibility in the event of unforeseen changes.
“Last year was such a let-down,” said Horticulture Educator and MG Volunteer coordinator Katie Oakes. “The volunteers had planned all of these really great, ambitious projects, only to have them all cancelled just as the season was getting started.”
Many of the events and projects typically planned by the Master Gardeners require planning months in advance, purchase of supplies and materials, rental or speaker contract fees, etc.
“We just couldn’t afford to plan a typical year of events without being able to recoup those costs with large numbers of participants,” explained Oakes.
Master Gardener volunteer Jena Buckwell spearheaded the effort to adapt MG programming to a pandemic society, and together the volunteers came up with this year’s “Master Your Garden Educational Series” held on the first Saturday of every month.
“I really felt that a monthly series could go a long way in increasing accessibility to our programs,” said Buckwell, describing the motivation behind the altered programming. “The cost for these programs will be low, and by hosting them on Saturday mornings for a shorter amount of time, we are hopefully opening up our programs to people who work full time, parents who have a hard time finding childcare on weeknights, participants who may not feel comfortable driving home in the dark after an evening class, or anyone who just couldn’t find the time to attend our longer educational events in the past.”
The topics of the class series range from current gardening trends (Soil Blocking and Square Foot Gardening) to volunteer passions (Roses, Common Beans) to public requests (Propagation and Grafting, Mushrooms). They will all be taught by Master Gardener volunteers or CCE staff who are eager to share their own successes and experiences in gardening with the public. It was important to the volunteers to offer these classes in a way that’s inclusive to all, therefore, all of the classes are available to the public for free, with an optional donation of $5.
“I hope that by providing more casual programming on a regular basis, we will encourage a sense of community for Master Gardeners and all those attending our programs,” said Buckwell.
All classes will be held in person (following current Covid-19 guidelines) and on-site at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 State Rt. 31, Albion, NY 14411. For more information and details on the class lineup, visit the Master Your Garden event page of the Orleans CCE website. To register for these classes, call 585-798-4265.
A stunning variety of rose grown by Master Gardener Brenda Radzinski. She will be teaching a class on how to grow this garden favorite on July 3.
CCE Wyoming County staff member Don Gasiewicz will teach about Mushrooms on November 6. Mushroom growing has been requested multiple times by participants of past MG events.
