Restaurant has been mainstay in hamlet for two centuries

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director

The genesis of the Tillman family’s involvement in the Hamlet of Childs dates back to the early 1950s.

Before that, Sam Tillman and his son, William, were living and working in Rochester. Sam had a successful career with Kodak at the time, and William was finishing up a tour of duty with the Army Air Corps.

Like any good father, Sam wanted to help his son get established with a meaningful career. The duo decided to investigate the prospect of buying a bar. They traveled along the Ridge Road leaving Rochester and stopped at the Country Kitchen, near Kirby’s Farm Market. The two decided that the restaurant was not in their price range.

The Tillman duo then came to Childs, and pulled into the old stagecoach stop, known then as the Fairhaven Inn. The building (seen above) had not been well cared for, but still had a small clientele including a fresh produce operation with sales from the front porch.

The owner, Carrie Welch, set a price of $5,000 for the business. Sam told his son that he would invest $2,500 if Bill could come up with the remainder. Bill didn’t have ready access to the funds, but he knew his wife, Lynn, did. Lynn’s father, Mike Elinski, had been a prominent blacksmith in Rochester and had amazed a good deal of money prior to his retirement. At the time, Lynn, herself, was already a successful model who trained with Barbizon in New York City and then worked for Sibley’s in Rochester.

Lynn agreed to front the purchase money needed as long as she could be made a full partner.  So, the partnership of Sam Tillman and his wife Mary, and Sam’s son Bill and his wife Lynn, purchased the Fairhaven Inn in 1952 and shortly thereafter opened the Village Inn (seen above.) This began a lifelong family business relationship that has stretched 70 years, and with the addition of Bill and Lynn’s children, Tom and Mark, has continued the life of the historic stagecoach stop for almost 200 years.

Mark’s mother Lynn, in addition to working as a model for Sibley’s in Rochester, soon began work as a bartender at the Village Inn. Mark said, “That was the arrangement until my mother’s boss from Sibley’s happened into the establishment and saw her tending bar. He fired her on the spot because no one working for Sibley’s was going to be seen tending bar.”

Then, with the income from the restaurant providing the family’s sole support, it became imperative that the business needed to quickly become successful. One only need look at what the restaurant has become today to realize that the Tillman family’s years of hard work has created a fine dining establishment, unparalleled in the region.

“The $2,500 my mother used to buy the restaurant was the best investment she ever made,” Mark said. He explained that he and his brother, Tom, bought out their parents in 1982, and agreed to provide a lifetime income for both parents, setting them up to enjoy their retirement for almost four decades until Bill’s death in 2017 and Lynn’s in 2020.

Mark Tillman, born in 1956, remembers literally growing up in Tillman’s Historic Village Inn.  Bill, Lynn, and children Tom and Mark lived in the upstairs rooms above the old bar. There were originally five small guest rooms and several rooms for the Tillman family. Mark recalled having the run of the establishment as a child, and played with his brother in the old dance hall above the restaurant.

The dance hall was a large unfinished room that sports open beams and supporting cables that were added in the 20th century to pull the leaning walls back into shape.  Mark’s childhood bedroom still sports the crayon marks he made on the wallpaper. “Boy, did I get a whooping for that!” he said. Today the room, under lock and key, is used for liquor storage, so Mark said, “It’s still my room.”

Mark offered, “My parents worked hard, but they played hard, too.” Mark recalls that his parents took many trips to exotic destinations. “They left me and Tom with the restaurant’s cook or bartender for a few weeks every year.” He described one such trip in 1958, seen above, where his parents (left) and grandparents (right) travelled by car, cross-country, into Mexico, ending their road trip at Acapulco where they enjoyed fishing and all the resort had to offer. “This was a day and age before interstate highways!” Mark reflected.

Later, continuing their tradition of vacation junkets, Mark said his parents traveled to Naples, Italy in 1974 to visit him when he was stationed there in the military.

The original Fairhaven House (seen above around 1860) got started in 1824 and went through a series of owners and expansions over the years.

This later view from about 1900 shows the addition of a two story porch, a much larger tree on the east side, and a name change to Fairhaven Hotel.

At some point in the early days, Bill Tillman acquired and stored the original bar from the Fairhaven Inn in his barn. Mark (seen here) recently moved the 20-foot cherry bar into the newest room at the restaurant, an 1,800 square foot addition, that was added in 2014.

The original bar is an amazing piece of finely crafted furniture. Mark believes that at one time the bar probably sported brass eagles to complement carvings in the wood itself.

The Tillman family made a series of additions to the restaurant including what they call The Main Dining Room with its beautiful stone fireplace. Mark said the fireplace cost $500 at that time it was built.

A later addition utilized the site’s original carriage house to become “The Carriage Room,” with its large wall of glass facing Ridge Road which replaced the old barn doors. The carriage house at one time had stalls for 13 carriages and horses. Mark uses this large dining room to display photos and artifacts from the restaurant’s storied past. With the most recent addition to the north-end of The Carriage Room, the seating capacity of the restaurant grew to 400 people.

Mark reflected on his life at Tillman’s and said, “It’s been an amazing life. I got started as a kid by washing dishes.”

Mark got more involved with the restaurant following his tour of duty with the Marine Corps.  “My dad told me and my brother we had to learn the ropes, so I worked a year each as cook, bartender, and host,” Mark said. “I trained under our cook at the time, Joyce Mack, in 1974.  She worked me so hard, I just about quit! Even the Marine Corps was easier!”

Mark described working with family as “the best of times and the worst of times.” After Tom and Mark bought out their parents in 1982, they divided up the duties so the two wouldn’t “bump heads.” Tom supervised the bar and kitchen and Mark handled the dining room, hiring staff, and bookkeeping. Mark and Tom worked together to make annual changes to the menu and other tasks that needed mutual agreement.

Tom decided to retire from daily operations in 2009, but continues as a joint owner with his brother. Mark said, “I’m going to be 65 years old this year. This has been a labor of love, but there has to be an end in sight. I’ve always said I hope I can make it until the restaurant’s 200th anniversary in 2024.”

Other extended Tillman family members have been involved throughout the years as well.  Mark said, “My wife Susyn worked with me in the restaurant for five weeks as a hostess. After that, we both knew we couldn’t continue with that and maintain a happy marriage.”

Susyn elected instead to pursue her mental health counseling business, “All About You,” and opened an office in the Village Inn. She also has separate facilities in Brockport and Batavia.  Mark and Susyn’s daughter Samantha is currently working at the restaurant as a manager alongside Victoria Mortensen.

Mark proudly displays a small portion of his family’s bottle collection that goes back to the earliest days of the restaurant.

“At one point, we had over 2,000 bottles,” Mark said. “Whenever a new collector’s edition bottle became available, my father and grandfather would buy it, pour the contents into a decanter and add the collector’s edition to the growing bottle collection. When my Dad passed away, I offered the bottles to family and friends with the stipulation that they had to display the bottles, not sell them.”

When asked about the restaurant’s signature dish, prime rib, Mark responded, “Prime rib has not always been on the menu.” (Original menu shown here.) “Our cook in the 1960s, Bertha Beam, asked if she could try cooking prime rib for a Sunday special.”

The item was such a huge hit that it was extended, first to a special every Sunday, and eventually available every day.

“Our prime rib supplier is Kip Palmer from Palmer’s Food Service, a business that was started in the 1850s,” Mark said. “Kip and my grandfather became good friends. We are their oldest customer.”

Mark recalled that a few years back he attempted to estimate how many pounds of prime rib the Village Inn has served. In the course of doing so, Palmer’s offered to give him an exact accounting from their records. As of three years ago, the Village Inn has served 3,500,000 pounds or 1,750 tons of prime rib.

Mark Tillman wanted to be sure to acknowledge that the success of the Village Inn is not just about the Tillman family. Many others have worked hard to create the Village Inn today. He said, “This has been a labor of love, and I’m looking forward to whatever is next.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Girl Scouts in Troop 82007 in Albion today are selling cookies in a drive-through option in the parking lot at the Main Street Store, across from Hoag Library.

Pictured from left include Aubrey Gannon, Aniela Wilson and Neveya Barnes.

The cookies are $5 a box and proceeds support the cost of badges and programs for the Scouts. The troop has been meeting weekly on Tuesday evenings at the North Point Chapel on Platt Street.

The Scouts have been selling from tables next to a camper. They started at 9:30 a.m. and expect to be there until 4 p.m.

Pictured in front from left include Kaylin Gannon, Annabelle Leddon and Eva Mateo. In back are troop leader Pauline Bachorski, Meadow Smith, Peyton Nolan and Kinzie Rickner.

This is the first time the troop has tried a drive-through option. Bachorski said they may try other locations.

There is one new flavor of cookies this year: Toast-Yay!, a French toast–inspired cookie dipped in icing. The other cookie flavors include: Lemonades, Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Shortbreads, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and S’mores. Some troops in Orleans County also have a limited supply of gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Dean Bellack, left, director of United Way of Orleans County, and George Bidleman, local automobile dealer, stand outside Orleans Ford in Medina.

MEDINA – A local car dealer is stepping up to help United Way of Orleans County by sharing his profits during the month of March.

For every vehicle sold during the month, George Bidleman will donate $25 to United Way and also offer buyers the opportunity to match the donation.

Bidleman is owner of Orleans Ford in Medina and Bidleman Chevrolet in Albion, and also has ownership in Hartway Motors in Medina.

He has long believed in the mission of United Way having served as a board member about 15 years ago. Since last year, he has been president of the board.

“United Way is the best way to give back locally,” Bidleman said. “I don’t want the money I donate to go out of our county. I welcome anything I can do locally.”

Sales average from 285 to 375 vehicles monthly between the three dealerships, Bidleman said.

United Way of Orleans County’s executive director Dean Bellack said this could mean a substantial donation, and it’s wonderful to see local businesses come up with their own promotions to benefit United Way. He said even smaller businesses could do something in their stores on a lesser level.

“It all helps,” Bellack said. “It gives a sense of community, and I hope others will also follow the lead of George and his dealerships. If we all come together, things like this will make us stronger.”

United Way’s allocations are up 20 percent this year, with requests exceeding the amount to give, Bellack said.

Photos by Tom Rivers: The clocks on the former United Methodist church in Holley’s Public Square loom large on Friday morning.

Daylight Saving Time starts tonight at 2 a.m. with clocks going forward an hour. Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 7.

AAA warns that as Americans “spring forward” and set their clocks ahead one hour, they will be losing an hour of sleep. The change in daylight hours means motorists could experience drowsy driving and added distractions behind the wheel, AAA said.

AAA urged motorists to take precautions against drowsy driving and be alert for kids walking home from school or playing outside.

“While many people are looking forward to the end of winter, few realize the added dangers that can come as a result of a time change, especially when behind the wheel,” said Elizabeth Carey, Director of Public Relations, AAA Western and Central New York. “This hour change can disturb sleep patterns, perhaps even resulting in drowsy driving.”

Holley’s Public Square was busy on Friday morning. The former church has been a landmark in the square for more than a century. The four clock faces on the clock were refurbished in 2015 after being bare for many years. Glenn Hughson, owner of the former United Methodist church building, put back the clocks and their mechanical systems.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.

They issued a joint statement this evening, urging the governor to step down following allegations of sexual harassment from six women.

“Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership,” Schumer and Gillibrand said. “We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.”

After the statement from Schumer and Gillibrand, Tom DiNapoli, the state comptroller, also Tweeted for Cuomo to resign.

“These allegations are extremely disturbing and are impairing Governor Cuomo’s ability to lead, as our state struggles through a crisis and must make critical budget decisions,” DiNapoli said. “It is time for him to step down.”

118 new cases in 2 counties in the past week

Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting 23 new Covid-19 cases today in the two counties. There are 118 new cases in the two counties in the past week, for a total of 6,886 since last March. Those new cases in the past seven days include 32 in Orleans, and 86 in Genesee.

In Orleans County there are 7 new cases reported today for a total of 2,469 during the pandemic. The new positive cases reported today are 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, 50s and 60s.

Of the new cases 3 were under mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Orleans also is reporting 7 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are currently 3 county residents hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 16 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 4,417 positive 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 the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s and 90s.

Genesee is reporting 24 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed

from the isolation list. There are currently 3 Genesee hospitalized due to Covid.

Active Cases: The number of active cases in the two counties declined from 108 to 93 in the past week. In Orleans County, the active cases was up from 34 to 37, while in Genesee the active cases dropped from 74 to 56. Two weeks ago there were 148 active cases in the two counties.

EAST SHELBY — Due to the high winds and falling temperatures, Orleans-Recovery Hope Begins Here is forced to cancel its bonfire and Gospel sing-a-long with Pastor Joe Szalay that was planned from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the East Shelby Community Bible Church.

The event won’t be rescheduled due to the outdoor burn ban from March 16 to May 14, said Don Snyder, president of Orleans-Recovery.

Workers granted up to 4 hours of excused leave per injection

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S.2588-A/A.3354-B) granting public and private employees time off to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.

Under this new law, employees will be granted up to four hours of excused leave per injection that will not be charged against any other leave the employee has earned or accrued. This legislation becomes effective immediately.

“Our essential employees have been on the front lines of this pandemic since day one, and as we begin to work toward a new normal in a post-pandemic world, it is critical that these employees are able to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to protect themselves and their families,” Governor Cuomo said. “This legislation will allow both public and private employees to take time off to get vaccinated without exhausting the leave they have earned, putting us one step closer to getting every single New Yorker vaccinated and defeating this virus once and for all.”

Assemblymember Charles D. Fall, D-Staten Island, said, “The quicker and more efficient we can get residents of New York vaccinated, the faster we can reopen businesses, further extend business hours in a safe manner and once again achieve normalcy in our daily lives. We all realize that the vaccine roll-out has not been smooth, to date, but with the federal administration bringing forth a clear plan to get more vaccine in arms, this law ensures that hardworking New Yorkers are not forced to choose between losing wages and receiving their vaccination.”

Several members of NY delegation in Congress call for his resignation

Photo by Mike Groll/ Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo: Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a press conference in the Red Room at the State Capitol in Albany on March 25, 2020.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing increasing pressure to resign today, including from the majority of New York’s Congressional delegation who are Democrats.

The governor, however, said he won’t be resigning. He urged the public – and the politicians – to allow an investigation be complete about allegations of sexual harassment against him. Six woman have stepped forward so far to complain about inappropriate comments or contact by the governor.

“Women have a right to come forward and be heard, and I encourage that fully,” Cuomo told reporters in a conference call. “But I also want to be clear, there is still a question of the truth. I did not do what has been alleged. Period.”

Members of the State Legislature have been calling for his resignation the past week, including Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat and the leader of the State Senate.

Today, 13 of the 19 Democrats in the House went public in demanding Cuomo step down, including Brian Higgins of Buffalo.

“Over the past several weeks we have heard stories of strong and brave women,” Higgins said in a statement. “I previously issued a statement supporting ongoing, independent investigations into the early accusations, but given continuing new accounts, it is clearly time for the Governor to resign.

“This is a challenging time for New York. There is too much important work to be done. We need to move forward.”

Congressman Chris Jacobs, a Republican whose district includes Orleans and seven other counties, also issued a statement urging the governor to step down from office.

“As I’ve said from the beginning, the sexual assault and harassment allegations against Governor Cuomo are deeply troubling,” Jacobs said. “I continue to support the Attorney General’s investigation and believe it is imperative. And while I strongly believe in due process, the revelations that the Governor and his staff worked to conceal the truth and undermine his accusers are unconscionable and disqualifying.

“It is clear to me that this crisis of his own making is a distraction from the very important work that needs to be done right now to move our state forward,” Jacobs said. “The Governor is incapable of leading our state and can no longer effectively carry out the duties of his office. “The investigations must continue, and he must be held accountable for his actions, but for the good of our state, he must resign.”

Tax revenue from Airbnb locations doubled in third and fourth quarters

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Woolston family has operated Cedar Valley Lodging on Park Avenue in Waterport since 1986. Pictured from left include Irene Woolston, Dana and Lynda. They are joined by their dog, Sunny.

Orleans County lodging operators saw business take a dramatic drop a year ago in March when Gov. Andrew Cuomo put New York on “Pause.” That order closed many businesses temporarily, and urged people to stay home for nonessential travel.

The local lodging operators saw many cancellations and few bookings from March through June. But then business really started to pick up, especially for smaller operators with only a few rooms. That appealed to families looking to get away but not wanting to be around too many people during a pandemic.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Andrew Meier is shown at the check-in desk for the Hart Hotel in Medina. Corporate clients were down last year, but the site attracted new customers from Western New York who went on “stay-cations.”

The numbers show that overall the county didn’t see a drop in the bed tax, the 4 percent tax charged for people who stay in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, lodges and 68 rentals in the county through Airbnb.

The total bed tax collected for 2020 was $58,438.45. That is about 100 dollars more than the $58,424.31 in 2019, according to data from Kim DeFrank, the county treasurer.

“Initially we had many cancellations and refunds and that was painful,” said Andrew Meier, owner of the Hart House Hotel in downtown Medina, which has eight rooms available.

“But then business picked up and we saw a shift in guests. There was less corporate and faraway visitors to more stay-cationers.”

Meier said the Hart House saw more customers the second half of the year who were from Western New York. People looking for a change of scenario and short getaway after being confined to their residences, especially with schools shifting to on-line learning and more parents working from home.

Laura and John Olinger opened a cottage and guest house at the Bridges last year, next to Narby’s on the Oak Orchard River. The Olingers worked about a year getting the places ready, and thought the timing was bad when they opened the cottage in May. They book customers through Airbnb.

“After Covid hit we didn’t think we would get much business but we were booked solid,” Mrs. Olinger said.

Nearly all of the guests we within driving distance. Many spent the weekend in the area and went to Niagara Falls or they visited wineries. Many just wanted a break from their daily routine.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Joan Page opened the Bell Tower Lodge in 2015 at the former Kenyonville United Methodist Church. The site on Oak Orchard River Road has five rooms for rent.

“It’s been people from Rochester and Buffalo, and some from New York City,” Olinger said. “We had people close by from Middleport and Holley. They just wanted to get away for the night because of Covid.”

The Olingers are adding a house boat that can be rented and they are putting in new floating docks.

The bed tax had its biggest gains in Airbnb rentals, with the second half of 2020 doubling the bed tax revenue from the same time in 2019, said DeFrank, the county treasurer.

Joan Page owns the five-unit Bell Tower Lodge, the former Kenyonville United Methodist Church. She opened it in 2015 following three years of renovations.

She does most of her bookings through Airbnb. Her bookings “tanked” in the spring due to Covid, with the restrictions and health concerns. She said she lost $8,400 in cancelations. She was worried but then in the summer and fall she was busy.

“I had a lot of families who were basically losing their minds and needed a getaway,” Page said.

The site appealed to customers too because there are only five rooms and only a few other customers. That eased their concerns about being around lots of other people during a pandemic.

“We were appealing because we’re not 40 rooms,” she said. “Having fewer rooms proved advantageous.”

Page and other operators all said they intensified their cleaning in between customers.

Page said her revenue which recovered later in the year was still down from 2019. She said she already has several bookings this spring and summer. She is pleased to see more people in the region looking for a vacation in the rural areas, and not necessarily going to resorts or the glamour of a city for a getaway.

“I always thought that our little area is an undiscovered heaven,” Page said.

Dana Woolston said Cedar Valley, which overlooks Oak Orchard River, is a popular getaway for fishermen and people who want a break from the hustle and bustle.

Dana Woolston operates Cedar Valley Lodging on Park Avenue in Waterport. The five lodges overlook the Oak Orchard River and has repeat customers going back 30 years. Many are fishermen.

Cedar Valley took a hit last spring and summer. New York’s travel restrictions, requiring many out-of-state visitors to quarantine for 2 weeks once in New York, kept many of the Woolston’s long-time customers away.

Dana Woolston put in new hardwood floors, fans, lights and made other improvements during some downtime at the lodging business last year.

“We had some cancellations because people were afraid once they got here they would get fined,” Woolston said.

With weddings capped at 50 people by the state for much of 2020, Woolston said there were a couple cancelations at Cedar Valley for wedding parties.

He said the overall revenue was down about a third in 2020, but did pick up in the second half of the year.

Cedar Valley saw some new faces last year, with families looking for an escape. Woolston also sees a growing clientele in drivers for local Amish. Some of those drivers are helping Amish relocate from Pennsylvania or Ohio to Orleans County where real estate is less costly.

Woolston’s parents, Glenn and Irene, started Cedar Valley in 1986. Dana has remodeled the five sites, putting in new hardwoods floors that he said are easier to clean. There are new fans, lights and other upgrades.

“Most of our customers come from word of mouth,” he said. They come for the secluded lodging along the Oak Orchard River. When you come down here you are in a different world.”

The motel tax has been on the rise in Orleans County in recent years. Prior to the $58,438 in 2020 and $58,424 in 2019, the motel tax generated $51,002 in 2018. In 2017, the bed tax generated $45,374. The county uses the funds for tourism promotion.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Albion’s Charles D’Amico High School is pleased to announce that four of its students have been inducted into Orleans/Niagara BOCES National Technical Honor Society.

Jacob Coolbaugh

The first of the inductees is Jacob Coolbaugh, a senior at the High School. He is in Computer Technology at the Orleans Career & Technical Education Center (OCTEC).

According to Coolbaugh, he is planning on majoring in Cyber Security at Genesee Community College.

“My goal is to be a cybersecurity expert and work at a reliable company,” Coolbaugh said.

In addition to his academic successes, Coolbaugh also competes on Albion’s Swim Team.

Benjamin Hickman

Benjamin Hickman is focusing on Electricity and Electronics at OCTEC. Currently, Hickman’s goal is to head straight into the work-force after graduating this spring.

“My goal is to get and keep a job,” Hickman explained.

On top of his scholastic accomplishments, Benjamin is also a swimmer for Albion in addition to being a trap shooter.

Elijah Lloyd

The third inductee is Elijah Lloyd and is also a senior at Albion High School. Lloyd is focusing on Security and Law Enforcement and plans to attend the University of Buffalo for Computer Engineering once he graduates.

“My goal is to become a State Trooper,” Lloyd said.

Succeeding not just as a student but as an athlete as well, Lloyd also plays on Albion’s basketball team and runs track and field.

Jakob Talbot

Lastly, Jakob Talbot was also inducted into the NTHS. Talbot has been studying Electricity and Electronics at OCTEC and plans to further his education by attending college for electricity wiring or computer programming.

“My goal is to accomplish my future plans,” Talbot stated.

His accomplishments don’t stop there, Talbot was recognized for being on Honor Roll, a member of National Honor Society, and a tri-sport athlete in the Purple Eagle Athletic Program as a member of the track and field, wrestling, and cross country teams.

All four inductees were also recognized for their perfect attendance as well as being members of SkillsUSA, a national organization that provides leadership, teamwork, citizenship, and character development experiences for its students.

New York Farm Bureau is disappointed the state’s growing eligibility list for people to get the Covid-19 vaccine doesn’t include farmworkers.

NYFB President David Fisher issued this statement on Wednesday, a day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited a mass vaccination clinic in Syracuse. The governor this week announced the age eligibility for the vaccine would be lowered from 65 to 60 years old. Farmworkers haven’t been included among the eligible essential workers for the vaccine.

“It is frustrating that Governor Cuomo visited a location synonymous with New York agriculture, the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, to announce the expansion of the state’s COVID vaccine eligibility list, yet he still refuses to protect farmworkers by including them in the ongoing rollout of phase 1b,” Fisher said in a statement. “The CDC recommends that food and agricultural workers be eligible for their own safety and that of our food system. It is time do what is right and prioritize the essential workers who help ensure New Yorkers have food on their tables.”

There are 19 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today in Genesee and Orleans counties, bringing the total to 6,863 in the two counties since March a year ago.

In Orleans County there are 6 new cases reported today for a total of 2,462 cases during the pandemic.

The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

One of the newly positive individuals was under mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said today.

In Orleans, 3 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There is currently 1 county resident hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee County today reported 13 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 4,401 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 the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 50s, 70s and 80s. (One of the new positive individuals is an inmate at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia.)

Genesee is reporting 4 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 5 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.