Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting 21 more confirmed cases of Covid-19 today for a total 6,752 in the two counties since a year ago.

In Orleans County there are 5 new positive cases of Covid reported today for a total of 2,433 during the pandemic.

The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s and 50s.

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

Orleans is reporting 2 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are currently 2 county residents hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 16 new Covid cases for a total of 4,319 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, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee is reporting 12 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 4 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Vaccine update:

Rollators, wheelchairs, walkers with 4 wheels, and knee scooters all needed

MEDINA – The medical loan closet in Medina, which stopped taking items in December when Covid-19 cases were on the rise locally, is once again accepting donations.

The Medina Lions Club manages the medical loan closet, and items are stored at the Olde Picke Factory.

There is a need for more Rollators, wheelchairs, walkers with four wheels and knee scooters, said Jim Punch, the closet’s coordinator.

The closet currently has an abundance of aluminum collapsible walkers, he said.

The closet loaned out more than 120 items from October through December. Some of the equipment includes hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, commodes, shower chairs and other medical items.

The program was run by Lyndonville Lions Club and shifted to the Medina Lions Club this past fall. A small portion of the program remains in Lyndonville, with a student group, the Leos from the high school, overseeing it.

Anyone in Orleans County and eastern Niagara County may borrow equipment from the loan closet. For more information, call (585) 205-3502.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Charlie Ralph, right, and his son Todd hold a wooden clock presented to him by Mike Fuller, left, in honor of Charlie’s 50 years of membership in the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

EAST SHELBY – The East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company took the opportunity to honor dedicated members during their March meeting Tuesday night.

The honors would have been awarded during the fire company’s annual banquet the first Saturday in March, however, the pandemic prevented that, so they decided to award the honors at their meeting.

“These people were certainly deserving to be recognized,” said David Green, a 60-year member of the fire company.

Officers of the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company were sworn in by Orleans Emergency Management Coordinator Dale Banker during the monthly fire department meeting Tuesday night.

Dale Banker, director of Orleans County Emergency Management, installed the following line officers for 2021:

Chief – Deb Taylor; 1st asst. chief – Devin Taylor; 2nd asst. chief – Andy Beach; 3rd asst. chief – Dennis MacDonald; captain – Jeff Taylor; lieutenant – Sharon Grimes; fire police captain – Laura Fields; and safe/training officer – Todd Ralph.

Administrative officers installed were:

President – Mike Fuller; vice president – Joe Newton; secretary – Karen Bracey; treasurer – Allen Turner; trustees – Gordon Reigle, Ken Printup, Norm Beherend and Alan Lonnen; and steward – Dave Green.

Certificates for years of membership were presented to Josh Green, five years; Sharon Grimes and Devin Taylor, 10 years; Matt Grimes and Joe Newton, 15 years;  Laura Fields and Amy Herman, 20 years; Ken McPherson and Allen Turner, 35 years; Mike Zelazny, 45 years; Charles Ralph, 50 years; and David Green, 60 years.

Ralph also received a large wooden American flag with a clock for his years of service to the fire company.

Mike Fuller presented the President’s Award to Deb Taylor, the first woman chief of East Shelby Volunteer Fire Department, at their March meeting Tuesday night.

Mike Fuller presented his President’s Award to Debbie Taylor, who last year became the fire company’s first woman chief.

“She spent a lot of time here during the Covid pandemic, making sure everything was safe,” Fuller said. “Her leadership is what made it all happen.”

An EMS award was presented for only the second year by Fuller, who chose Dennis MacDonald for the honor.

“He has been heavily involved all year, and goes to all the calls,” Fuller said.

Steve Wolter, left, received the Chief’s Award from Andy Beach Tuesday night at the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s March meeting.

Andy Beach said the Firefighter of the Year was somebody behind the scenes at any fire or whatever else is going on, shutting down the roads and making it safe.

“He puts in a lot of time as a fire police,” Beach said, naming Steve Wolter as recipient of the award.

Beach also presented his Chief’s Award, saying he thought about it long and hard.

“This year the award goes to the entire East Shelby Fire Company, who have been great during my last four years,” Beach said.

The award was accepted by Mike Fuller.

The final award was presented by Deb Taylor to Andy Beach, who she said has contributed to the betterment of the fire company.

Dennis MacDonald, left, received the EMS Award from East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s president Mike Fuller at their March meeting.

Medina business raising funds during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Nicole Tuohey, right, and her mom Mary Lou stand in front of the store window at Case-Nic Cookies in Medina, which advertises a promotion they are doing during March to benefit the Arc of Genesee Orleans.

MEDINA – Mary Lou Tuohey and her daughter Nicole are taking advantage of March as “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” to raise money for the Arc of Genesee Orleans, while urging people not to judge people with disabilities.

Nicole, who will be 31 in May, was born with Triple X Syndrome. Doctors told her parents at her three-week checkup that she may never walk, talk, read, write or do math.

“As of that moment, we were determined (and she has been determined) not to be labeled because of a disability,” Mary Lou said. “Labels are for soup cans, not for people.”

Nicole has done all of what the doctors said she wouldn’t do – and more. She has danced with Miss Stephanie for 25 years. She plays baseball, bowls, rides a horse, swims and rides a bike. She volunteers for events at the Arc and in the fall of the year, she makes paper links, which she sells and hooks together to form a chain down Main Street – all to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. She has walked in all 21 of the Arc runs in Medina.

This is third year Nicole and her mom have sponsored their “Have a Heart” campaign to benefit the Arc. To promote their campaign, Mary Lou, who owns Case-Nic Cookies, baked two heart-shaped cookies – one with red frosting and the other frosted pink with a bite taken out of it. The object is to show, that while the cookies look different, they are the same – they are made with the same ingredients, rolled out the same, cut the same and taste the same.

Such is the case of a person with a disability. They may not do things the way other people do, but that doesn’t mean it is wrong. It means there are other ways to accomplish the same goal.

Nicole, who attended the Arc’s Rainbow Preschool from age three months to five years, currently attends Day Hab at the Arc.

To show their support for the Arc, the heart-shaped cookies are for sale at Case-Nic Cookies for $1 each through the end of March. All the money raised will be donated directly to the Arc for programs assisting individuals who are part of the Arc. Cookies can be purchased at the store or ordered by calling (585) 798-1676.

Case-Nic Cookies is also sponsoring a basket raffle through March 16. Mary Lou has designed the event to adhere to Covid restrictions. Baskets are on display in Case-Nic’s window. A table outside the door has a box of envelopes in which there is a form listing all the baskets and a plastic bag with a pen and ticket stub from a sheet of raffle tickets. Each sheet has 26 tickets and after indicating on the form how many tickets the buyer wants placed in each basket, they include their $10 per sheet with the form in the envelope and drop in through the mail slot in the door.

As a reminder, Mary Lou asks everyone to remember, “Until you have walked in the shoes of those with a disability, don’t judge them by the way they look, the way do something or the way they might communicate their needs. They are a person, just like you. They have feelings, they deserve respect and they deserve to be included.”

By 9:20 this morning, all 3,500 spots taken

BATAVIA – The 3,500 vaccine appointments went quickly this morning once they were made available on the state website.

The state-run website for appointments opened at 7:59 a.m. for the clinic at GCC. By 9:20, there weren’t any appointments left. There were about a dozen clinics listed with appointments on the state website. They are listed alphabetically and Batavia was second from the top, just under a clinic in Albany.

The Batavia clinic runs five days from Friday through Tuesday. It was intended to help increase the vaccination rates in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, which are lagging behind the rates in the state and the Finger Lakes Region.

The state, however, opted not to restrict the appointments to residents of the three rural counties.

Paul Pettit, public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties, said some appointments could open up and he encouraged people to keep checking the state’s website. He said the rural counties will keep pushing for more vaccines.

“We realize this may be disappointing and frustrating for our local county residents as it is to us,” Pettit said about the appointments getting filled up so fast. “We will continue to advocate for increased vaccine allocations moving forward. Every dose of vaccine that comes to our counties are administered within the week of receipt. We will continue to call on the state to increase allocations to rural counties as our vaccination rates continue to lag in comparison to surrounding counties.”

BATAVIA – The mass vaccination clinic at Genesee Community College is targeted for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, but isn’t restricted to those counties.

The three rural counties wanted the clinic to be limited to the three counties, but the state Department of Health is making it available to whoever signs up.

The state has other vaccine clinics listed on its website that have residency restrictions for Albany, Brooklyn, Queens, Rochester and Buffalo.

Because the clinic in Batavia is open to people outside the three counties, local health officials are urging Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming residents to sign up right away this morning before all the appointments are gone. Click here to sign up.

The three counties lag behind the vaccination rates in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region and across the state. In the Finger Lakes the percentage of residents who have received at least one vaccine dose is 16.2 percent and 9.5 percent are fully vaccinated. The statewide averages are 15.6 percent with one dose and 8.4 percent fully vaccinated.

• In Orleans County, only 10.8 percent of the 40,612 residents have received at least one dose and 5.8 percent are fully vaccinated.

• In Genesee County, 14.7 percent of the 57,511 residents have received at least one dose and 8.7 percent are fully vaccinated.

• In Wyoming County, 13.2 percent of the 40,085 residents have had at least one dose and 8.0 percent have had both doses.

The neighboring metro areas in Erie and Monroe counties have higher vaccination rates.

• In Monroe County, 16.8 percent of the 742,474 residents have received at least the first dose of the vaccine and 9.9 percent have completed the vaccine series.

• In Erie County, 16.1 percent have received at least one dose and 9.7 percent are completed with the vaccine series, according to the data on the state’s Covid-19 vaccine tracker.

Site will administer 3,500 vaccines 5 days through Tuesday; Orleans residents urged to sign up

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

BATAVIA – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health have agreed to host a temporary regional mass vaccination clinic at Genesee Community College main campus center (1 College Rd, Batavia) to provide the Covid-19 vaccine to rural counties.

The announcement comes after the legislative leaders and public health directors of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties sent a letter last week to the Governor urgently requesting the designation of such a clinic to serve rural populations in the region.

“Orleans County has received lower vaccine allocations throughout the pandemic which has resulted in substantially lower vaccination rates here compared to other regions of New York,” said Lynne Johnson, chairperson of the Orleans County Legislature. “I am pleased our request for a GCC site was well received and hope to work cooperatively with our local partners and the state moving forward to facilitate more mass vaccine clinics for rural residents who have been largely underserved during the crisis.”

This state-run clinic, expecting to vaccinate 3,500, is targeted to Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County residents who are in the state eligible groupings. The state has confirmed, as of March 2, the vaccine will be the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) one dose vaccine. The clinic is located at the GCC Athletic Center where signs will guide those with appointments to the entrance. The clinic will be held starting:

• Friday, March 5, from noon – 4 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday (March 6th and 7th) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Monday and Tuesday (March 8th and 9th) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Appointments must be made via the New York State ‘Am-I-Eligible’ webpage (click here) or by calling the New York State Covid-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-697-4829 only.

“We are pleased to be a part of this mass vaccination clinic,” stated Rebecca Ryan, Chairwoman of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors. “This will help put a dent in our priority groups.”

“To say this Covid vaccination site is necessary is an understatement, as I speak with constituents daily who are told they have to travel hours in some cases just to get their vaccine,” said New York State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. “I am hopeful we will see progress made toward opening this site for the convenience of all who wish to receive the vaccination in the Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County communities. We need to do all we can to stop the spread of Covid-19 throughout New York State.”

“I am very happy that GCC will be serving as a vaccination site for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. In the joint legislative health hearing this past Thursday, I specifically requested Commissioner Zucker establish a vaccination site at GCC,” said New York State Senator Edward Rath. “I am pleased that this all is happening very quickly, and we can work to get residents in our rural counties vaccinated. Thank you to our local leaders for their leadership on the issue.”

“We hope this is just the beginning of our region getting an equitable share of the vaccine,” stated Rochelle Stein, Chairperson of the Genesee County Legislature. “In order to continue to provide vaccine to those in rural counties, we encourage the state to continue to provide these limited mass vaccination clinics to assist our counties and get the vaccine in the arms of our residents who choose to get it.”

Organization moves ahead with expanded services, key capital projects

By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist

ALBION – The Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse is excited about the construction of a 25-bed women’s residence to be located in Albion.

John Bennett, GCASA executive director, said the agency is hoping to have its state Department of Health contract within weeks, with construction bids to go out in November.

“Ten of the units will have the capacity to house women with children,” Bennett said. “It’s sorely needed as there aren’t that many programs around that offer services to women and their pre-school age children, which is a significant barrier for women to receive the intensive-type treatment they may need for addiction.”

He said that there are only two programs west of Albany that assist women and children in this way.

“Our percentage of female population has gone up over the years. I think when we wrote the grant it had gone up over 12 percent in a three- or four-year period – up to the mid- or high-30’s,” he advised.

Editor’s Note: Mayor Eileen Banker said the apartments will be built close to the Orleans Community Health site east of the village near Butts Road.

Return to ‘in-person’ status

As more people get vaccinated and, hopefully, as the Covid-19 infection rate continues to subside, Bennett is increasingly optimistic that all of the agency’s services soon will be returning to “in-person” status.

“The Recovery Station (on Clinton Street Road in Batavia) is open to the public two days a week and our residential program is fully open because we had limited beds for a while,” Bennett said. “We’re starting to do more in-person counseling and actually look to resume in-person group (sessions) by springtime.”

Bennett also mentioned that transportation of clients is starting to pick up and, “as always, our peer recovery advocates are available at all times to help those in need.”

GCASA has expanded its programming through the awarding of grants and is looking forward to embarking upon significant capital projects to provide essential services.

Making room for a detox center

One of the major projects slated for the Genesee County campus on East Main Street is the construction of a 20-bed detoxification facility.

“Work has finally started on the new detox center which will be attached to the existing Atwater Home residential building. This project will have 16 detox beds and four swing beds for a total of 20 beds,” Bennett offered. “The four swing beds can be used as transition beds from detox to another residential setting and/or as overflow for Atwater.”

Bennett said the detox center originally was scheduled to open in December of this year but in all likelihood won’t open until the beginning of 2022.

Supportive living gets a boost

Last month, it was announced that GCASA will receive $250,000 from the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative for an additional 10 units (beds) to go toward operating costs of its supportive living program. This means that the agency will have 15 units in Genesee County to go along with its two units in Orleans County.

ESSHI funds are earmarked for operation of the program, Bennett said.

“The home that we are renovating for this is 99 percent completed and ready to be used for the ESSHI grant,” Bennett said. “This five apartment unit will become permanent housing for individuals who have substance use disorder in the family. It can be a family member who has SUD or the individual who needs housing.”

Bennett underscored the demand for suitable housing for the population that is served by GCASA.

“Having adequate housing, jobs, daycare, food and balanced sober recreational activities can have a huge impact on the outcomes for persons and families dealing with SUD,” he explained. “By building more permanent housing, GCASA is addressing the social determinants of health that can make a difference in person’s recovery.”

Renovations at The Recovery Station

Bennett said GCASA has received several bids to complete the Phase II renovations of The Recovery Station (the old Bohn’s Restaurant). This project will create office space for eight employees of the Genesee Prevention Education department – who will relocate from the East Main Street office — as well as a laundry room, new bathroom and small meeting room.

“A final Phase III project for The Recovery Station will be completed at a future date and will include rebuilding the commercial kitchen, creating storage and two small additional offices,” he said. “This has been an amazing reuse of an old commercial building.”

Another project focuses on renovation of the kitchen space at GCASA’s childcare center on Harvester Avenue, said Bennett, adding that childcare will resume within the month or as soon as the renovations are complete.

Hotline is there in a crisis situation

He mentioned the GCASA peer hotline is available “24/7 for people in crises.” Calls coming into 585-815-1800 will trigger response from the agency’s trained peer recovery advocates.

In closing, he said that the addition of these new programs and projects has increased the organization’s size by close to 40 percent over the past five years.

“All the credit goes to our staff, who have tirelessly worked through this pandemic to serve our communities,” Bennett said, noting that most GCASA employees have been vaccinated.

14 more cases at Detention Center for 105 total during pandemic

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 28 new confirmed Covid-19 cases today, bringing the total to 6,731 in the two counties since last March, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

In Orleans County there are 7 new cases for a total of 2,428 confirmed cases during the pandemic.

The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 50s and 60s.

Among the new cases, 2 people were under mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans is reporting 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.

In Genesee County there are 21 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 4,303 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 new cases include 14 inmates at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia, where there have now been 105 confirmed cases during the pandemic.

Of the 21 cases reported in Genesee today, the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

Genesee is reporting that 13 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee currently has 3 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

More from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments:

Travel Guidance Update: According to the Governor’s announcement today, those who travel domestically will no longer be required to quarantine or test-out within 90 days of full vaccination. International Travelers will continue to follow CDC quarantine guidance. Check for the updated guidance by clicking here.

Gathering Size: Beginning March 22 for residential gatherings 10 people indoors, and 25 people outdoors. For social gatherings, there can be up to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. Click here for updated guidance.

Event, Arts, and Entertainment Venues: Beginning April 2, reopening at 33% capacity, up to 100 people indoors, 200 people outdoors. With attendee testing, capacity increases to 150 people indoors, 500 people outdoors. Rapid test is valid for 6 hours; PCR test is valid for 72 hours. Social distancing and face coverings are required by all attendees. Click here for updated guidance.

Cuomo apologizes, says he didn’t mean to make people feel uncomfortable

File photo from Governor’s Office: Andrew Cuomo speaks in New York City on May 9, 2020.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this afternoon he won’t be resigning, despite calls for him to step down after three women accused him of sexual harassment.

Cuomo said his “customary greeting” is often to hug and kiss people. But he said he realizes now that his style can make some people uncomfortable and cause them pain.

“I truly and deeply apologize for it,” Cuomo said. “I never meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone or cause anyone any pain. That is the last thing I ever meant to do.”

The governor asked the 19 million New Yorkers to hold off on judgement until an independent review is complete through the Attorney General’s Office.

“I have learned an important lesson,” Cuomo said about his style. “I’m sorry and I’m sorry for whatever pain I have caused someone. I will be the better for this experience.”

The governor held an afternoon news briefing and highlighted declining Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations, and an increase in the number of vaccinations.

He is pushing to get a state budget done that can help the state with its economic recovery.

He has no plans to step down as governor, a position he has held for just over 10 years.

“I’m not going to resign,” Cuomo said. “I work for the people of New York State. I’m going to do the job the people of New York State elected me to do.”

ALBION – The above undated news article includes Mrs. Arthur McAllister, left, who was the first woman to graduate from the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School. McAllister graduated from the school in 1949.

The late Charles W. Howard opened the school in 1937 and ran it until his death in 1966. The school continues to operate in Howard’s name in Midland, Mich.

Phil Wenz portrays Santa Claus year-round at the Santa’s Village theme park in Dundee, Illinois. Wenz also is a Santa historian and coordinates annual Santa conferences, which have twice been in Albion.

Wenz is seeking more information on Mrs. McAllister, including her first name and what roles she fulfilled as a Santa ambassador in the community, as well as other biographical details.

Anyone with information on Mrs. McAllister can send it to news@orleanshub.com and we’ll pass it on to Wenz.

Press Release, Orleans County Mental Health Department

The Care & Crisis Helpline (585) 283-5200 serving Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties is back in service after being down and non-operational on Tuesday.

In the case of a mental health crisis or if you are in need of additional information on your counties available mental health resources, please contact (585) 283-5200 or 911.

MEDINA – After being closed for several months due to Covid concerns, the Senior Center of Western Orleans in Medina is again reopen on a limited basis, starting today.

Volunteers will run the Center, which will be open for euchre and pinochle on Wednesdays and Thursdays and euchre on Fridays.

Doors will open at noon each day, with card playing beginning at 1 p.m.

Masks will be required when entering the building or moving about the room. Hand sanitizer will be available on every table. Beverages will be allowed if they are in a covered container.

The Center is also open to the public from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Monday for free bread and pastries from Tops.

Organization that serves 13 school districts has responded to Covid challenge from many fronts

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Photos from the Orleans/Niagara BOCES: The diesel technology program has been offered at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES since the 1960s.

As Orleans/Niagara BOCES celebrates its 65th anniversary, it is also marking a year of dealing with the challenges of providing educational services during a pandemic.

As hands-on and classroom learning went to an all virtual format last March, the summer found District Superintendent Dr. Clark Godshall and the Board of Education making the decision to go back to a five day in-school format for the fall under the safety protocols.

“The efforts of our BOCES staff was admirable and our technology staff went above and beyond to make sure we had the resources to help with their goal to continue in-person and virtual education and providing services,” Godshall said. “The bottom line is we know that the students had to be in school and get the rigor to not only help them educationally, but mentally and socially as well, while adhering to all safety requirements.”

While periodically classes are shut down for quarantining when a positive case or exposure occurs with students or staff, the model has been successful and has received positive feedback from students, parents and the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ component districts.

“We are very proud of this model and the support of our staff,” Godshall said. “I think it shows how important BOCES is to the community in our career and technical education programs, adult education, special education, safety risk and instructional services.”

Across the state, BOCES are the unsung heroes that need to be recognized. New York State policymakers over 65 years ago had the foresight to build a shared service model into the fabric of our public education system in the form of BOCES – a shared service program with highly trained specialists who would be available to component school districts to improve the quality and depth of learning for students.

To provide some history, the BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services) was established in 1948 as a way for school districts to work together and provide services that would be difficult and more expensive for them to offer on their own.

This has grown to 37 BOCES across the state that provide hundreds of programs and services, from career and technical education to health and safety services to support in areas such as computer networks, human resources and teacher training. Orleans/Niagara BOCES was established on January 6, 1956.

Some of the current students in the diesel technology program at the Orleans Career & Technical Center in Medina include Jacob McEwen, David Rhim Jr, Jacob Dickson, Jacob Draper and Aidan Pearson.

During the pandemic, New York State has perhaps needed BOCES more than ever. BOCES has been there as a role model for service delivery under strenuous safety protocols. When schools needed to mobilize to efficiently get laptop devices to students and internet connectivity to families in need, BOCES was there. According to BOCES of New York State, BOCES were involved in the procurement of more than 172,000 computers, tablets and laptops for students across the state this past year.

“As our state dealt with the worst public health crisis in a century, administration and staff assisted in ‘flipping’ to virtual instruction, conducting Covid screenings, maintaining logs for  contact tracing, quarantining when needed and adhering to compliance requirement from federal, state and local levels,” said Orleans/Niagara BOCES Board of Education President Ed Grabowski.

Schools who needed to train teachers in distance learning had someone to turn to thanks to BOCES’ Professional Development teams. When schools started reopening last fall, BOCES provided 5,800-plus professional development opportunities, according to BOCES of New York State. Thanks to BOCES, New York’s students are learning, connected with their teachers and classmates and other critical services.

“We have always been a place where public schools can turn to for solutions and we are proud to have been able to assist during this pandemic,” Grabowski said.

Many of our staff members also provided assistance in other ways as well. Teachers used their classrooms’ 3D printers to produce facemasks and shields for healthcare workers, a group of students in our Fashion Design program sewed multiple masks to distribute to the community and not to mention the thousands of masks, gowns, soap, sanitizer and gloves that administration donated to local hospitals from their own medical programs. BOCES continues to be there to help their communities.

The one bright spot of the COVID-19 crisis, is that it has reinforced the saying that “We’re all in this together!” BOCES has been around for more than seven decades, and in the past year has demonstrated why we are so fortunate to have this resource in New York.

Orleans/Niagara BOCES is now celebrating their 65th year of serving their 13 school districts and could not be prouder to do so. Congratulations to all the staff, administration and Board of Education members who have made it a success through their hard work, commitment and passion for education!

Covid has wiped out other events

KENDALL – The Kendall Faculty Association is planning a drive-through pancake breakfast for March 20, a new fundraiser after so many of the KFA events have been cancelled due to Covid.

The breakfasts will help the Faculty Association offer scholarships. The organization offers 6 scholarships in honor of former teachers. They usually range from $500 to $1,000. Once those scholarships are awarded, the KFA has other scholarships that are usually $100 to $200 depending on how much money the KFA was able to raise that year.

The past 12 months has been a challenge for the organization to raise money. In previous years, the Faculty Association held a basket raffle at homecoming, two roller-skating parties, and a movie night.

“All of those events were cancelled due to Covid,” said Heather Tomasino, KFA president and a special education teacher. “The only fundraiser that we have been able to hold this year is the Christmas Sale, which will solely fund our scholarships. This means that we will be forced to award fewer and for smaller amounts.”

Tomasino said the pancake breakfast, if it’s a success, could become an annual fundraiser. There aren’t presale tickets for the event. It’s first come, first serve until sold out. Adult meals are $10 and kid meals are $5 and it includes pancakes, sausage and eggs. The event will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the high school.