By Kim Pritt, Contributor Posted 30 January 2021 at 3:00 pm
Old Colorado City is a great neighborhood in Colorado Springs that is full of history, shops, restaurants, and architecture.
Let’s go on an adventure together …. to Colorado!
In my last article, two weeks ago, I shared a teaser from my 2019 Colorado Adventure by writing about the Garden of the Gods. But, there was so much more to that trip. I flew into Denver, picked up my rental car, and drove to Colorado Springs, where I spent five full and two partial days. I could have easily spent several more days there – I had a blast! So, as Paul Harvey used to say, “And, now, here’s the REST of the story”.
If you’re in the Colorado Springs area, be sure to spend some time in Old Colorado City. Formerly known as just Colorado City, it used to be one of the first towns founded during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush of 1859 and was briefly the capital of the Colorado Territory. It is now an historic neighborhood in Colorado Springs.
Known for coal and gold mining in its heyday, it is now on the National Registry of Historic Places. It is a very quaint little commercial district with lovely shops and fabulous restaurants. I had most of my meals there. I recommend Mountain View Restaurant for breakfast, also Dat’s Italian, Mother Muffs, and the Mason Jar for dinners. And, be sure to get a sweet treat at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
If you’re in the area on a Sunday and are looking for a worship service, I really enjoyed Pike’s Peak United Methodist Church – super friendly congregation. Old Colorado City is very enjoyable, even if you just take time to stroll the streets and take in all the amazing shops, murals, and architecture.
A wonderful place to spend time in Colorado Springs is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Located on the side of Cheyenne Mountain, it is several levels of animal exhibits – including a huge giraffe enclosure with a board walk that you can walk all around it at eye level with the giraffes where you can feed and pet them (I spent a LOT of my time right there on that board walk). They also have a chair lift that takes you up the side of the mountain for some amazing views. Another feature of the zoo is the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. You have to pay extra to get through the gate to drive up a long, winding road up to the top of the mountain to the shrine. It is WELL worth it. Built in 1937, it is a memorial to Will Rogers that they call a “singing tower”, because of the noise the wind makes as it blows through the tower. Even if you don’t care to go to the zoo, consider going to the shrine – the views up there are incredible. Photos of the shrine are in the link for the zoo.
Another great place to visit in Colorado is Manitou Springs. It is near Colorado Springs and so worth the time to go there. It is such a pretty little cowboy town with a mix of history, quaint shops, and quirkiness with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Do yourself a favor and plan your visit to include breakfast at Adam’s Mountain Café – awesome breakfast! My day in Manitou Springs also included an accidental drive along the historic Ute Pass, which was a stunning drive.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings in Manitou Springs. Original dwellings of the Anasazi Indians, believed to inhabit the Four Corners area about the time of Christ’s birth.
But, the main and coolest attraction in Manitou Springs is the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. The dwellings are original and authentic, but were not originally located in Manitou Springs. They were constructed and used in the Four Corners area (the spot where Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona meet). There was a risk of them being ruined because they were not being preserved. A group decided to move them where they could be preserved and made available to the public as an educational tool to showcase the heritage.
The dwellings are comprised of Anasazi Ruins and were carefully disassembled, moved, and reassembled in their current location embedded into the cliff as it would have been originally. This took several years beginning in 1904 and completed in 1907, when it was opened to the public. It is a 40-room site that provided living space for several families of Anasazi Indians. The word Anasazi comes from the Navajo and loosely translates to mean “enemy ancestors”. They were believed to inhabit the Four Corners region about the time Christ was born.
A big highlight on my time in Colorado Springs was two ½ day cowboy-led jeep tours provided by a company called Adventures Out West. They were pretty pricey, but so amazing – I recommend spending the money, if you can fit it in your travel budget. The tours are in open 4×4 jeeps with really great guides and small groups – so lots of opportunity for questions, fun, and specialized photos. Also – a lot of the time, we were on roads that you REALLY need an experienced driver and a 4-wheel drive vehicle – trust me! They take you off road and off-off road along very narrow dirt roads with no shoulders and lots of curves, switch backs and tunnels. Between the two of them, we traveled along what used to be the Short Line Railroad tracks that wound along the side of the mountain, old stage coach routes, and trails with ruts, boulders, and streams to navigate across. It was so much fun. One of the tours had a cowboy guide named “Prairie Dog” and the other had a cowgirl guide named “Rambler” and they were both excellent guides.
The Shrine of the Sun is a tribute to Will Rogers with stunning views overlooking Colorado Springs. It is located in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
I did a few other things while I was there, as well. I had dinner one night in downtown Colorado Springs at a really cool place called “The Rabbit Hole”. It is an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant that is totally underground – a fun experience. I took one day and drove to Cripple Creek and Victor – two old mining towns that were pretty cool to drive around. The big story there was that I got so hopelessly lost between the two towns that I thought I was in the Hotel California – “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”. Go to the link below for “Colorado – The Rest of the Story” to read all about that little fiasco – in hindsight, it is a pretty funny story. I also drove to Pueblo, CO and spent some time walking along the Arkansas River in a lovely River Walk District.
Colorado is definitely God’s Country – so beautiful! And, the Colorado Springs area has so much to offer – and, if you want a big city experience (not for me, but you might), it is close to Denver. I hope you can experience it, someday, if you haven’t already.
In addition to the link from my Garden of the Gods article, here are five more links to blog posts with many, many photos and info about my Colorado Adventure. Check them out:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2021 at 11:36 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Rick Cary, the deputy fire chief for the Murray Joint Fire District, speaks to Holley prekindergarten students on Wednesday when he gave them a virtual tour of the Holley fire house on Thomas Street. Kevin Dann is filming the session, which should be available on the fire department’s website and Facebook page.
Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray firefighters usually do a fire prevention program in-person at the school in October. That was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. The school district also alternates days for students to be in school to reduce the student population, with others fully remote only.
“We still want to send a message about fire prevention,” Cary said about making the video. “This is a trial. Hopefully it worked.”
The firefighters plan to make another video about kitchen safety.
Holley and FHM, which on Jan. 1 began operating as the Murray Joint Fire District, want to stress fire prevention to younger students and also familiarize them with firefighters and their equipment.
Sparky the firedog joined the tour and stressed the ABC’s of fire prevention. (A is for Alarms that let you know there’s a fire in your home. B is for Beep, Beep, Beep the sound a smoke alarm makes. C is for Calm, as in calmly get outside when the smoke alarm sounds.) Click here for more on the ABC’s.
The video shows life in the fire house, and shows Ron Meiers cooking in the kitchen. Cary said the firefighters wanted to show they are regular people.
This group put on their turnout gear. Cary, speaking in the video, told the students they don’t need to be afraid if the see firefighters show up and their homes wearing the thick coats, boats and masks.
Some of these firefighters include Andrew Cary, Justin McMillion and Michael Snell.
Cary talked about some of fire trucks at the Holley fire house. The driver put on the lights and turned on the siren.
Loss of processing plants in Albion hurt family farms in Childs
By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director
Ted Swierczynski in 1966
GAINES – Stanley Swierczynski got involved with farming in Gaines during the Great Depression. In 1950 he and his son Frank acquired 104 acres in the Hamlet of Childs on the south side of Ridge Road.
Later, Frank’s brother Ted got involved in the farm in the 1950s after he came home from the Korean War. The principal crops in the region at the time were tomatoes and cucumbers. They operated under the banner of Fair Haven Farms.
Fair Haven also had a small peach orchard across from the Cobblestone School. During this time period most local farmers sold peaches at the side of the road. Ted said, “It was easier then, less regulation.”
Ted Swiercznski remarked, “We later acquired or rented more land to eventually farm a couple thousand acres in the region. We had to use migrant farm labor out of the southern states. Still in need of even more laborers, we bussed in about 200 laborers a day from Rochester to hand pick snap beans and tomatoes.”
Ted Swiercznski considered his farm to be a family operation, seen here in 1977 driving tractor with the help of a few neighbors to round out his cabbage planting team. Manning the planter were (left to right) John Stirk, Colleen Swiercznski, Maureen Swiercznski, Cathy Swiercznski, Chris Swiercznski, Tim Stirk, Patrick Swiercznski and Tod Swiercznski.
Chris and Karen Watt are well known in the local farming community. In addition to their Farm Market at Five Corners, they have maintained orchards in Childs, too. In 1990, Chris took over farming Eugene Leigh’s apples on Route 98 and also his pears on the south side of Route 104 in Childs.
Chris said the Farm Market got started with a tent by the side of the road. In the 1980s, he and Karen worked under a tent for several years and then decided to build the Watt’s Farm Country Market to avoid the elements. They later added the ice cream stand. Watt Farms sells a large variety of local fruit including apples, pears, cherries, peaches, strawberries and melons. Chris said, “We farmed a total of seven different farm orchards.”
When questioned about the future, Chris said, “What we used to call a farm, is nothing but a field today.” Farms are getting bigger and bigger. “I’m winding down. I’ve got no kids who are interested in farming, so the operation might eventually become part of a larger farm. I’ve held the same job for 40 years. How many people can say that?”
In a small way, even the Cobblestone Museum can trace its own roots to a history of agriculture in Childs. In the period 1930-1960, before the Cobblestone Society was formed, the Cobblestone Universalist Church was rented out by the Balcom Brothers, Walter and Oris, to store cabbage in the church basement. Mike Zambito, who operated Zambito Produce across the street from the church reflected on this. “The Balcom’s were notorious for storing cabbage in every available space. They rented out every conceivable nook and cranny they could to store cabbage. They filled the space by hand, starting by laying down straw and then stacking cabbage on top of that up to the rafters.”
He recalled that the cabbage was delivered using 10 wheelers or “canvas trucks.” He said, “Those old trucks had charcoal heaters.” Years of cabbage storage had taken a toll on the Cobblestone Church and one of the early tasks that the Cobblestone Society tackled in the early 1960s in preparation for public tours was adding a concrete floor to the Church basement.
Photo courtesy Orleans County Historian
In its heyday, most local farms sold their tomatoes to Snider Packing in Albion which became a part of the Birdseye Division of General Foods in 1943, and then became Hunt-Wesson. An early morning delivery tie-up at the Snider plant is shown here in the 1950s. Ketchup, chili sauce and tomato paste were the principal products produced here.
Albion also had Dailey’s sauerkraut plant which processed 500 tons of cabbage each year and employed 100 workers. A canned cherries plant and several other local food plants thrived in the area following WWII including Comstock, Duffy-Mott, Lipton, Forman’s Pickles, Tree Pickles and H. J. Heinz.
The large food processing plants in Albion left the region in the 1960s and moved on to greener pastures in California. Ted Swiercznski said, “In the late 60s and 70s it all disappeared. Albion couldn’t compete with the better weather and longer growing season in California.” Local farmers also needed to find hundreds of hired hands to harvest their crops, and finding those hand laborers became increasingly more difficult. Machines were used to harvest the crop in California, making it much easier and cheaper to process food there instead.
Food processing plants, just like the farmers, had a hard time securing enough labor to package the food products. Here, in 1946, Snider Packing is shown with one of their expensive full page newspaper ads that they used each week to try to get workers to process all of the crops that farmers took to the plant. Snider Packing supplemented its labor force during WWII by operating a prisoner-of-war facility behind their plant. German war prisoners were barracked on site and used as laborers in the food plant. Similar provisions were used in nearby Medina, as well as Youngstown in Niagara County where prisoners were housed in special barracks at Fort Niagara and were used to harvest the fruit crops.
An employee badge from Snider Packing is shown here. The demise of the local processing plants eventually led to the end of the small family farm era in Childs, too. Orleans County IDA administrator Raymond Pahura remarked in 1977 that the region had been lulled into a false sense of complacency in the post WWII years. He said, “I can remember a few years back when people were smug about our employment situation. Heinz, Hunt-Wesson, Duffy-Mott and Birds-Eye were fixtures in our community. We woke up one morning and they were all gone.”
Ted Swiercznski eventually sold his farming interests in 1981. He also served as Town of Gaines Supervisor, along with Ron Radzinski (left), who are both seen here in Childs participating in the Town’s Bicentennial Parade in 2009.
Agriculture in the Hamlet of Childs is now continued in part by Kirby Farms. Their lineage is traced to brothers Robert, John, Francis and George Kirby. Now, Bob’s son Jim is farming both sides of Ridge Road in Childs, along with his son Adam.
Sadly, for the most part, the era of small family farms came to an end in the 1970s and large corporate farms took their place. In Childs, the Zambito, Albanese and Swiercznski families actually joined forces to form ZAS Inc. to continue the farming tradition into the transition years. The three local farming families purchased an old building on Route 31 (across from current day Tops Market) where A&P Packing packaged onions and potatoes during the 1960s and 70s.
The Swiercznski family legacy continues in the region today operating in conjunction with Dragan Farms headquartered in Albion. Dragan principals, Steven Swiercznski and his cousin Tod Swierczynski, are farming about 2,000 acres of soybeans and wheat in the region with Dragan Farms.
Jim Kirby has continued his family’s farming legacy stretching back to 1878, including tending this field of corn behind the Cobblestone District #5 Schoolhouse in Childs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2021 at 7:13 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Patty Fredendall, center, was greeted by friends and family today at 5 p.m. in the parking lot at the Public Safety Building. She worked her last day for the county today after more than 33 years, with the first 27 at the county nursing home and the past six at the Probation Department.
“I work with a great group of people,” Fredendall said. “I have a great family and a great work family.”
The Holley resident started with the nursing home as a medical records technician in October 1987. She went to the Probation Department in April 2015 and worked there as an account clerk typist.
Patty Fredendall is pictured with a big group of family and friends today after she worked her last day for the county.
Fredendall was presented with a “Special Recognition Award” on Wednesday by Lynne Johnson, the Orleans County Legislature chairwoman.
“Pat has been a great asset to both the Nursing Home and the Probation Department,” Johnson said. “Your dedication and expertise has benefited our county tremendously. We appreciate your support and commitment.”
Luci Taylor-Welch, the Probation Department director, said Fredendall will be “greatly missed” by her co-workers.
“Pat is an extremely conscientious employee who goes above and beyond in all that she does,” Taylor-Welch said.
Provided photo: Fredendall’s colleagues at the Probation Department congratulate her on her retirement.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2021 at 4:29 pm
2 counties report 3 more Covid-19 deaths
Orleans County is reporting 8 new positive cases of Covid-19 total, which is a rare day in the past two months when the county wasn’t in double digits for new cases. Orleans has now had 2,128 people test positive for Covid since last March.
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, 40s and 70s.
Of the new cases, 2 were on quarantine prior to testing positive. One of the cases also is a resident at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina.
The county also is reporting 20 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are currently 7 residents hospitalized due to Covid.
There are currently 127 actives cases in the county, which is down from 167 a week ago.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting another death from Orleans due to Covid. The person is over age 65. Orleans is reporting five deaths from Covid since a week ago and 76 during the pandemic due to Covid.
“We will not be reporting any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family,” the Health Departments stated in a news briefing this afternoon in announcing the death. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this individual at this very sad time.”
• Medina Central School is reporting four students tested positive for Covid, with two in the high school and two in the middle school.
With the four students, the Health Department is working with the school district to identify any potential close contacts and is notifying families who may have to quarantine, according to a letter on the district website from Mark Kruzynski, Medina’s district superintendent.
In Genesee County there are 46 new positive cases for a total of 3,821 confirmed cases since March.
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, 80s and 90s.
The new cases include a resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center and a resident of Premier Genesee in Batavia.
The county is reporting 39 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee currently has 165 active cases which is down by 76 from the 241 a week ago.
The county also is reporting 21 residents are hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee also has two more Covid-related deaths, who are both over the age of 65 and were residents of the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility. The county had six Covid-related deaths since a week ago and now has had 107 residents pass away due to Covid since last March, according to the Health Department data.
Corrections from the G-O Health Departments: The following two cases previously identified as residents of the Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility were double counted and have been retracted from today’s data: a case in his/her 80s and a case in his/her 60s. Two other cases previously reported as residents of the Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility are community members and have been retracted from today’s data.
Chart from Governor’s Office: This is each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days.
Statewide Data: There were 12,579 new positive cases in the state reported on Thursday out of 270,518 tests for a positivity rate of 4.65 percent.
There were 8,357 people hospitalized due to Covid, which is down by 163 from Wednesday. There were also 151 deaths, bringing the total to 34,893.
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that assuming New York State’s Covid-19 infection rate stays on its current trajectory, indoor dining in New York City can reopen at 25 percent capacity on Valentine’s Day.
Cuomo also announced that marriage receptions will be able to resume in accordance with state guidance on March 15. Events must be approved by the local health department. There will be a 50 percent capacity limit and no more than 150 people can attend the event. All patrons must be tested prior to the event.
“As data on infection rates and hospitalizations continue to improve, we must begin taking steps to jumpstart our economic recovery as long as public health can be protected,” Cuomo said.
ORCHARD PARK – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) has joined a bipartisan group to call on the Biden Administration to work with the Canadian government to develop a cooperative plan to reduce cross-border travel restrictions.
“Reopening our Northern Border will have a direct impact on improving our local economy and allow for businesses and key industries relying on cross-border travelers to receive a much-needed boost,” Jacobs said. “In addition to injecting needed dollars into our struggling local economy, opening the border is of great personal concern for family members who have been separated for almost a year and property owners who have been unable to maintain or even check on their homes.”
The letter, signed by 24 representatives including Rep. Jacobs and New York Reps. Stefanik, Higgins, Katko, and Reed calls for the Biden Administration to develop a bi-national plan to cooperatively reopen the Northern Border and identifies five key actions that need to be taken:
Establish a Bilateral Plan for Restoring Travel – Both U.S. states and Canadian provinces have created extensive frameworks for reopening their respective economies based on public health metrics and criteria identified by public health experts. While these have guided reopening decisions in their respective territories, the U.S. and Canadian governments have yet to work collaboratively to use their existing frameworks to develop guidance for reopening the U.S. – Canadian border.
Prioritize Vaccines and Testing for All CBP Staff – Agents and staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) work on the frontlines to protect American interests and citizens. We need to ensure they have a continued supply of necessary PPE and that eligibility for vaccinations is expanded beyond its current level of only personnel within a 200-mile radius of a Veterans Affairs hospital.
Allow for Families to Safely Reunite – Since the travel restrictions were first implemented, Canada has expanded exemptions to allow family members and extended family members to enter Canada. However, the U.S. has yet to offer a similar procedure for land border crossings.
Develop a Policy for Property Owners – Individuals who own property in Canada have been unable to travel by car to their homes to conduct maintenance and collect necessary belongings, despite the ability to implement safe procedures such as a negative COVID test before traveling and implementing quarantine guidance.
Ensure Reciprocal Access to Transit through Boundary Waters – During the pandemic, Canadian boaters and boat tour operators have enjoyed access to U.S. waters so long as they did not dock at a U.S. port. U.S. boaters have not had the same reciprocal treatment from Canadian authorities. This has particularly harmed the U.S. boat tour industry, which has been unable to conduct unrestricted tours resulting in lost revenues.
“The Biden Administration has indicated through an executive order that they are pursuing a plan to open the U.S.-Canadian Border safely,” Jacobs said. “I urge them to work collaboratively with the Canadian government to develop an actionable plan that puts a stop to the endlessly extended travel restrictions and uncertainty for thousands of businesses, cross-border families, and American homeowners.”
ALBION – The Hoag Library will be moving our digital magazines from RBdigital to the Libby app as part of our OverDrive collection on Feb. 2. You will continue to be able to browse, borrow, and enjoy all the same great magazines from ZINIO you loved in the RBdigital app, now available in Libby from OverDrive.
If you have already been enjoying the Libby app, there will be no change, other than you may notice even more great titles available for you to borrow.
Getting Started with Libby
Our library is proud to offer you a wide selection of digital magazines for you to access anytime, anywhere through Libby, the one-tap reading app.
For those who have not yet tried the Libby app, all you need to get started is your library card number. The Libby app is easy to use and will guide you through the setup process and get you connected to our library in just a few minutes. You can find in-app support, or visit the Help site or Libby Academy within the app for assistance.
Patrons needing further assistance can call the library at (585) 589-4246 and schedule a one-on-one tech appointment with Adult Services Librarian Mike Magnuson.
New to digital?
In just a few taps, you can start reading instantly on your phone or tablet. The digital library is available 24/7 without leaving home and is free from our library. Download the Libby app to get started.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the selection of SHoP Architects as the lead designer of the Brockport Loop Pedestrian Bridge over the Erie Canal.
Originally announced as part of the Governor’s State of the State address in January 2020, this new pedestrian bridge in the Village of Brockport represents the first large-scale infrastructure project to begin under the state’s Reimagine the Canals initiative.
The Board of Trustees for the New York Power Authority, which owns and operates the New York Canal Corporation as a subsidiary, selected SHoP Architects and chose Ove Arup & Partners as engineer of record on the project.
“The Erie Canal has been a tremendous resource for New York for more than 200 years and this project will utilize long-standing infrastructure to provide recreational amenities and greater connectivity for the Village of Brockport,” Cuomo said. “The Brockport Loop Pedestrian Bridge builds upon the Canal’s iconic infrastructure and provides new opportunities for New Yorkers to get outdoors and take advantage of the beauty and countless activities along the Canal and the Empire State Trail. This project is only one aspect of our efforts to Reimagine the Canals – a visionary plan to transform the historic waterway that will help grow tourism, spur economic activity for decades to come.”
Construction of the Brockport Loop Pedestrian Bridge will begin in 2023. For more information about the Reimagine the Canals initiative, click here.
Constructed adjacent to an existing Erie Canal guard gate, the new Brockport Loop Pedestrian Bridge will connect the SUNY Brockport campus to the Empire State Trail, a multi-use trail envisioned by the Governor that connects New York City to Canada, and Albany to Buffalo.
The trail, which parallels the Erie Canal, provides an important centrally located recreational amenity for New Yorkers who want to experience the outdoors. Once built, the bridge will also complement the Village of Brockport’s recent installation of a kayak dock and plans for a nearby boathouse by serving as a viewing platform for anticipated rowing competitions on the canal. Most importantly, the Brockport Loop Pedestrian Bridge represents a new future for the Erie Canal by adaptively reusing historic infrastructure for community benefit today.
“The Village of Brockport is excited about the Brockport Loop and the pedestrian bridge that is the anchor to the entire project,” said Village of Brockport Mayor Margay Blackman. “The state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge not only underscores the strong partnership between SUNY Brockport and the Village, but literally links the college directly to the village via the Erie Canal. The bridge itself will provide a platform for viewing future regattas, and a place to safely sit and experience activity on the canal. As the architectural anchor for a much larger project (the Loop), the pedestrian bridge represents an economic stimulus to completing a literal loop connecting the college and the village to the Empire State Trail.”
Funding for this bridge project will come from NYPA and a $2 million grant by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, which will be administered by the Rochester Area Community Foundation. To complete the Brockport Loop, additional funds will be secured to create a new trail along the SUNY campus side of the Canal leading from the new pedestrian bridge to the nearby Smith Street bridge, which also will see future improvements.
“SUNY Brockport is so pleased that progress is continuing on the Brockport Loop Pedestrian Bridge. As a College engaged with our community, we know that connecting the campus to the Empire State Trail will benefit both the campus and the Village, so I thank Governor Cuomo, NYPA, and the Canal Corporation for their vision,” said SUNY Brockport President Heidi Macpherson.
The Brockport Loop Pedestrian Bridge is one of the many economic development projects along the Erie Canal announced by Governor Cuomo in his 2020 State of the State Reimagine the Canals initiative, a plan to invest in canalside communities and encourage economic activity and outdoor recreation throughout the state. The New York Power Authority has committed $300 million to the Reimagine the Canals program.
NYPA selected SHoP Architects, a New York City-based New York State Small Business Enterprise firm, to leverage its experience with revitalizing aging urban infrastructure and further develop a context-sensitive conceptual design for the project.
Ove Arup & Partners, a global firm with an office in New York City, has extensive experience with pedestrian bridge design and engineering, both in New York State and around the world.
“In a time when New Yorkers are increasingly looking toward the outdoors, and in particular toward the Canal and the Empire State Trail, for opportunities to enjoy the best of our state while remaining socially distanced, this project represents a tremendous step forward toward showcasing the innumerable ways we can enjoy local, outdoor recreation along the state’s iconic canals,” said Brian U. Stratton, director of the New York State Canal Corporation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2021 at 10:09 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Cole Glover carries a box of food to a vehicle in line this morning at a food distribution in Albion. About 300 boxes of food were given out from the parking lot at the Main Street Store, a thrift store at 113 South Main St.
Volunteers put boxes of food in cars and trucks on a cold morning with temperatures in the low teens.
The food distributions will continue in February.
Greg Gilman, maintenance supervisor at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, assisted with the food distribution this morning. For the first time, the food included eggs and bags of brown rice.
About 300 boxes of food were given away this morning in the “Families Food Box Program” which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Susie Miller, assistant director of the Office for the Aging, grabs three dozen of eggs for one of the vehicles in line.
The schedule for February includes:
February 5th – Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 NYS Route 31, Albion, NY 14411-entrance is on Taylor Hill Road. The line of cars needs to form south on Taylor Hill Road. There will be no entrance on Route 31.
February 12th – Community Action Store, 113 South Main Street, Albion 14411
February 19th – Medina Central School District, 1 Mustang Drive, Medina- Line will start off Oak Orchard Road, no entrance off of Route 31.
February 26th – Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 NYS Route 31, Albion, NY 14411-entrance is on Taylor Hill Road. The line of cars needs to form south on Taylor Hill Road. There will be no entrance on Route 31.
All start times are approximately 8:30 a.m. If the Foodlink truck is there and unloaded it may start at 8 a.m.
Organizers ask that people not line up before 8 a.m. due to possible winter weather conditions. “We remind people not to block driveways,” said Melissa Blanar, director of the Office for the Aging, which helps organize the events. “We want to thank all the volunteers. Without them there would be no events. Please be patient and kind.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 January 2021 at 8:26 am
Just two days after they thought they would begin practice next Monday Niagara-Orleans League wrestling coaches and athletes found out Thursday that Section VI had postponed the wresting season until spring. The wrestling season is now scheduled to run from May 10 until June 30.
“My heart goes out to the kids,” said Albion Coach Pat Uveino. “They were anxious to get going when they heard we could start next Monday and then it’s postponed. It’s tough for the kids. They’ve been itching to do something. You try to be as optimistic as possible but it’s a little frustrating. It’s going to be very challenging trying to go in the spring but as long as we have something that is better than nothing.”
“It doesn’t bode well for small schools like ours with four sports (baseball, track, lacrosse and wrestling) now going on in the spring competing for kids,” said Medina Coach Eric Gross. “It’s a challenge. It’s a tough situation and I really don’t like it but we’ll try to make it work. It’s just tough the way it has put kids on a roller coaster of emotion.”
Neighboring Section V is still allowing wrestling to begin next Monday. However, Section VI’s decision to postpone its season until May affects the scheduling plans of Orleans County’s two Genesee Region League wrestling programs, Lyndonville and Holley/Kendall, which annually fill a number of their non league dual meet dates against N-O League opponents.
“We haven’t got our wrestling schedules completed yet and this will definitely have an impact,” said Lyndonville Athletic Director and wrestling co-coach Jim Zeliff.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 9:53 pm
Local state legislators say Cuomo, health commissioner misled the public
New York Attorney General Tish James issued a report today that says the state undercounted nursing home deaths from Covid-19 by as much as 50 percent.
Attorney General’s Office photo: Tish James
The state has attributed about 8,700 nursing home deaths to Covid-19. James, in her report, says there were thousands more.
The state Department of Health often did not attribute a death to a nursing home when a resident, gravely ill from Covid, went to a hospital and succumbed to the virus.
“Preliminary data obtained by O.A.G. suggests that many nursing home residents died from Covid-19 in hospitals after being transferred from their nursing homes, which is not reflected in D.O.H.’s published total nursing home death data,” the AG’s office wrote in a summary of the report.
James and her staff also revealed that nursing homes’ lack of compliance with infection control protocols put residents at increased risk of harm, and facilities that had lower pre-pandemic staffing ratings had higher Covid-19 fatality rates.
“As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why the residents of nursing homes in New York unnecessarily suffered at such an alarming rate,” James said. “While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents. Nursing homes residents and workers deserve to live and work in safe environments, and I will continue to work hard to safeguard this basic right during this precarious time.”
DOH Commissioner: No ‘undercount’ on total death toll
State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said the report makes it clear there was no undercount “of the total death toll from this once-in-a-century pandemic.”
The total number of deaths in hospitals and nursing homes is full and accurate, Zucker said.
The DOH on its website reports the number of fatalities within hospitals irrespective of the residence of the patient, and separately reports the number of fatalities within nursing home facilities, Zucker said in response to the report. The DOH has consistently made clear it based its count on place of death, he said.
“The word ‘undercount’ implies there are more total fatalities than have been reported,” he said. “This is factually wrong. In fact, the OAG report itself repudiates the suggestion that there was any ‘undercount’ of the total death number.”
Local legislators respond, with Ortt asking for health commissioner to resign
State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, leader of the Senate Republicans, issued this statement:
“The report released today by the Attorney General is confirmation for the thousands of families who lost loved ones to Covid-19 in New York nursing homes. For months, Governor Cuomo and his administration have refused to be transparent or take any responsibility for actions they have taken during this public health crisis – including the deadly March 25, 2020 order to send Covid-positive patients into nursing homes.
“By underreporting Covid deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50 percent, the Department of Health has betrayed the public trust. To repair that broken trust, I am calling on Health Commissioner Howard Zucker to resign.”
Hawley wants hearing on state DOH
Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, wants a legislative hearing regarding the handling of the pandemic within New York state’s nursing homes by the Department of Health, as well as the revocation of the Governor’s emergency powers. The report revealed that residents and staff were not provided with sufficient amounts of PPE and Covid-19 tests, and that many nursing homes were not complying with an executive order requiring communication with family members of residents.
“What was revealed in today’s report from the Attorney General is nothing short of tragic, and, at this point, I consider it a moral obligation to hold hearings into this matter so we can get to the bottom of what caused this unfathomable tragedy,” Hawley said. “I am shocked we are only learning today of the magnitude of this unthinkable loss of life, and I am resolved to restoring proper and constitutional government in our state to ensure the Legislature has the oversight capability to assure this never happens again.”
Norris says New Yorkers deserve accountability from Governor, DOH
Assemblyman Mike Norris, R-Lockport, issued this statement: “On behalf of the constituents who have been pleading for answers regarding the health and well-being of their loved ones in nursing homes over the past 11 months, I am outraged by the results of the attorney general’s report which confirmed our worst fears — that Gov. Cuomo’s administration has been hiding as many as 50 percent of nursing home deaths.
“It is beyond shameful. The state Legislature should immediately, as I have been calling for time and time again since July 1, 2020, strip the governor of any and all emergency powers he has exercised for way too long during this pandemic. We should restore our legislative authority and begin to do our jobs in representing the people. New York state’s government was set up with a division of power for this very purpose — with checks and balances. Attorney General James has at last done her job by issuing this report. The downstate driven, one-party controlled state Legislature must do their jobs now before another life is lost or more facts are hidden from the public.
“Taxpayers deserve open and transparent government. Where is the accountability from the administration here? For example, I have been asking the Health Department for months for a basic breakdown of how coronavirus deaths are being recorded and have yet to receive a response to my repeated inquiries. Taxpayers and lawmakers deserve responses to these questions.”
Jacobs says Cuomo ‘complicit in cover-up’
Congressman Chris Jacobs issued this statement: “Two days ago, Governor Cuomo callously remarked ‘incompetent government kills.’ Tragically, those words can now clearly be used to describe the actions of his own administration. Governor Cuomo directly jeopardized the health and safety of thousands of nursing home residents with his directive mandating Covid positive patients be accepted back. As a result, thousands of our seniors died after contracting Covid-19. For months, the Governor has refused to take responsibility, and his Department of Health Commissioner has refused to provide transparent information to elected officials and grieving families.
“New York Attorney General Letitia James’ report finally shows what we have all suspected for months. Governor Cuomo and his administration could be complicit in a cover-up of the true effects of this disastrous decision. Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Zucker, and any member of the administration who had a hand in this callous decision must be held accountable.
“The grieving New York families who have been brushed aside by Governor Cuomo deserve justice, and we must ensure they get it.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 7:03 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – Zach Busch, a junior-senior high music teacher in Holley, received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine this afternoon. Connie Ferris gave him the shot.
“It’s peace of mind,” said Busch, 27. “I feel it’s important to protect not only myself but my students and my colleagues.”
Many of the people vaccinated today were school employees, who are in the 1b eligibility group.
Ferris has been a nurse for 54 years. She volunteered at the vaccination clinic today at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company at the corner of Ridge Road and Horan Road.
Today was the first Covid vaccination clinic run by Orleans County. The slots filled up quickly and 100 doses were given out. The site could accommodate up to 600 people in a day.
Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, looks forward to more doses being available locally. If there is a big increase in doses, the clinic could have expanded hours each day and be available on multiple days during the week.
The Health Department ran smaller-scale vaccination clinics about a decade ago for H1N1 at the Health Department building in Albion, and the department also runs flu vaccine clinics.
But Pettit said the Covid-19 clinics will be a much larger scale and for a longer duration.
Orleans Community Health, Oak Orchard Health and some of the local pharmacies also have been administering vaccine doses.
Dan Doctor, in front at right, served as a greeter at the clinic. He works as the community outreach liaison at Medina Central School. He is chatting with David Bell, the emergency preparedness coordinator for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Many community members volunteered to run the clinic today from 1 to 4 p.m. Volunteers don’t need a medical background. There are other roles as greeters, runners, observers and data recorders.
People interested in volunteering at a clinic can contact the Health Department at (585) 589-3278 or the Orleans County Emergency Management Office at (585) 589-4414.
Jeanne Crane, left, and Carla Wahls draw the vaccine. Each vial of the vaccine from Moderna had about 10 doses. Some had 11. The nurses make sure each shot had the right amount to be administered.
Crane is a retired nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital. She retired in 2003, and heeded the call for assistance at the vaccination clinics.
“I feel very strongly that the vaccine will help us to get out again and I saw the need to volunteer,” Crane said. “The Health Department doesn’t have the necessary staff during this pandemic. So I called them.”
Those who received a vaccine today should get a second dose of the vaccine in 28 days. Carla Wahls, the registered nurse, acknowledged the vaccine is in high demand.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 4:53 pm
Orleans and Genesee counties today are reporting 69 more cases of Covid-19 in the two counties, for a total of 5,897 since last March, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
In Orleans County, there are 33 new confirmed cases for a total of 2,120 positive cases. The new cases reported today are residents of 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, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Of the new cases, 5 were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
The new cases also include 12 residents at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina, which has now had 104 of its residents test positive for Covid during the pandemic.
Orleans is reporting 11 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
The county also has 11 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.
Rapid Testing Results: Orleans County conducted a rapid testing clinic on Wednesday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Of the 316 tests, there were 18 positives, including 17 from Orleans County.
This was going to be the last scheduled rapid test clinic, but the Health Department is planning to do another one next week on Wednesday at the Fairgrounds.
Medina Central School is reporting a middle school student has tested positive for Covid-19. After consultation with the Orleans County Health Department, the district is in the process of notifying all the families of those who will be quarantined, Mark Kruzynski, district superintendent, wrote in a letter on the school website.
In Genesee County, there are 36 new positive cases reported today for a total of 3,777 confirmed cases since last March.
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, 80s and 90s.
The new cases also include a resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center and resident of the New York State Veteran’s Home at Batavia.
Genesee is reporting that 27 more previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are 20 Genesee residents currently hospitalized with Covid, the G-O Health Departments said.
The Health Departments confirmed the death of a person over age 65 who was a resident at the Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility. The death from the State Department of Health said this is the 107th death in Genesee County from Covid, and the sixth reported since Friday.
The state data also shows another death from Covid in Orleans County for 75 Covid deaths in the pandemic. Click here to see the state data on Covid deaths.
