TOWN OF ALABAMA – After working tirelessly last year to secure a provision in the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act to boost American-based semiconductor manufacturing, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer yesterday followed up on his efforts and reached directly out to Samsung Senior Vice President of Samsung Device Solutions, Joe Herr, and other top brass about Samsung’s interest in locating their new plant on the Genesee STAMP campus and expressed his strong support for the project coming to Western New York.
Samsung is currently considering the STAMP campus, as well as several other locations in other states, for its semiconductor fabrication (“fab”) plant – with 1,900 jobs – that the company plans to open late next year. Samsung’s Device Solutions division includes Samsung’s Global Semiconductor Foundry business.
“This Samsung project is an exciting and a potential game changer for the region. I made it clear to Samsung that I strongly support locating their planned 1,900 worker state-of-the-art semiconductor chip fab at the shovel-ready STAMP site in Genesee County,” Schumer said in a news release. “I know firsthand that STAMP is shovel-ready – and that, combined with Upstate New York’s robust semiconductor industry, make Genesee the perfect location for Samsung’s new chip fab.”
Schumer has long championed the Genesee site and toured STAMP in August, and knows firsthand how ideal the campus would be as home for Samsung’s new chip fab. Schumer explained to Samsung that he, alongside the Genesee County Economic Development Center, New York State, and Western New York officials, worked for a decade to help ensure that it was shovel-ready for a semiconductor facility.
“Our world-class Western New York workforce combined with New York’s considerable experience in semiconductor manufacturing and R&D means STAMP is tailor-made to be the home for Samsung’s new facility,” Schumer said. “I stand ready to help Samsung harness all that the federal government has to offer to continue to lead the tech industry and position New York as a global hub of semiconductor manufacturing.”
Schumer said Samsung is relying on his legislation to building new fabs like this one in the U.S. In fact, Schumer pointed out, the U.S. has gone from producing 24% of the world’s semiconductors in 2000, to just 12% while China, by comparison, has gone from producing zero chips to 16% of the world’s supply because the U.S. is not matching the investments that other competing nations are making in order to land new job-creating semiconductor chip fabs.
Schumer’s first-ever legislation will reverse this imbalance and level the playing field for companies like Samsung to build new chip fabs in the United States. For the first-time Schumer’s legislation will provide federal incentives to semiconductor chip fabs to build in the U.S.
The senator pointed out many cost and infrastructure advantages to the STAMP campus location, including low utility costs, access to existing transportation networks, access to New York state’s existing chip fab supply chain ecosystem, and 62 colleges, universities, and community colleges within a 2-hour drive of the site including Cornell University, University at Buffalo, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, Genesee Community College.
“The STAMP campus, sitting on 1,250 acres of land between Buffalo and Rochester, New York’s second and third largest metros respectively, with a 1.2 million person world-class workforce, is specifically designed for large-scale fabs and provides maximum flexibility in layout and infrastructure connections,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 2:42 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Local firefighters are shown at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, responding to a fire at 9 Wright St. in the Village of Holley.
Press Release, Rick Cary, deputy fire chief at Murray Joint Fire District
HOLLEY – The Murray Joint Fire District responded for the report of a house fire at 4:54 p.m. on Wednesday at Wright Street in the Village of Holley.
Upon arrival of the fire crews, they found smoke coming from the second story and roof area. The house on Route 31 is utilized for seasonal employees for the local farming community and was vacant at the time of the fire.
The fire was contained to the second story and attic of the structure. Due to the cold weather several mutual aid companies from both Orleans and Monroe counties were called either to the scene or to back fill the Murray fire house.
No injuries were reported during the incident and the fire was determined to be accidental by the Orleans County Fire Investigation Team.
Firefighters credit the on-duty crew of “Engine 372” for the quick response and initial knock down of the fire. Engine 372 is a group of volunteer firefighters that gather at Murray station on Wednesdays to assist all department with additional manpower if needed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 12:04 pm
This chart from the Governor’s Office shows each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results over the last three days.
The Finger Lakes Region, which had nearly 1,000 people in hospitalized due to Covid a month ago, now has 634 in the hospital, according to data from the Governor’s Office.
Besides reducing hospitalizations from 964 to 634 since Dec. 28, the region’s percentage of positive Covid tests has dropped from near 9 percent to less than 5 percent.
The current 7-day average of positive tests is 4.67 percent, the third lowest of the 10 regions.
State-wide, the numbers of hospitalizations due to Covid dropped by 251 on Wednesday to 8,520.
The statewide positivity rate is currently 5.34 percent. A month ago is 7.14 percent statewide.
“New York State is once again making our way down the mountain after experiencing a holiday surge,” Governor Cuomo said today. “Our infection and hospitalization rates are steadily declining thanks to the actions of New Yorkers, but there is still more work to be done. While more vaccines are on the way from the Biden administration, we must continue actively working to protect our hospitals and their staff to help ensure they do not become overwhelmed.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 11:03 am
Sue Dickinson showing improvement after experimental medicine
Courtesy of Dickinson family: Robert and Glenna “Sue” Dickinson are shown together in this photo. Both have contracted Covid-19, with Sue currently in intensive care, but improving at a Rochester hospital.
ALBION – An Albion woman with Covid-19 is improving at a Rochester hospital after a court ordered for her to be able to have an experimental treatment.
Glenna “Sue” Dickinson’s family is grateful for the actions of State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso, local physician Tom Madejski and The Law Office of Ralph C. Lorigo.
Sue Dickinson, 65, tested positive for Covid on Jan. 7. After her oxygen levels fell and she struggled to breathe, she was admitted to Rochester General Hospital on Jan. 12. She continued to decline and was put on a ventilator on Jan. 17.
She didn’t get better and the medical staff told her family they had exhausted options and Dickinson had a 40 percent chance of survival.
Natalie Kingdollar, Dickinson’s daughter, was sent a copy of a Buffalo News story about an 80-year-old Cheektowaga woman, where State Supreme Court Justice Henry Nowak ordered Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital on Jan. 8 to continue treatment with Ivermectin.
That woman was on a ventilator and then improved and has been released from the hospital.
Sue Dickinson
Kingdollar and her family wanted Dickinson to have that treatment option. Kingdollar reached out to Dr. Tom Madejski, Dickinson’s physician, who wrote a prescription for Ivermectin after seeing success with some of his other patients.
RGH objected to giving it to Dickinson. That hospital didn’t use Ivermectin in treating Covid patients.
But with Dickinson not responding to the treatment at RGH, her family wanted to try Ivermectin.
Kingdollar saw the Lorigo law firm represented the Cheektowaga woman in her case seeking treatment. The family reached out to Lorigo and that office filed the court order.
Judge Caruso ruled last week for Dicksinson to be treated with Ivermectin, citing Madejski’s affidavit in support of the medicine.
“We are so thankful for Dr. Madejski,” Kingdollar said. “He was instrumental in getting my mother the medicine.”
The family twice has delivered doses to RGH. Dickinson has improved oxygen levels, better kidney function and has been completely weaned off of a paralytic, Kingdollar said. Her mother remains in critical condition but is now stable.
“She’s making progress each day and it’s Ivermectin and God making this happen,” Kingdollar posted on Facebook.
During an interview last night, Kingdollar said the family hired an attorney and pursued the court action to “cut through the red tape” so her mother could take Ivermectin, after not responding to the other treatment.
The case has been covered in the Rochester and Buffalo media, and Kingdollar said the family and Lorigo’s office are getting inquiries around the country and world.
The family didn’t want the media attention. They just wanted their mother to have a better chance at overcoming Covid, Kingdollar said.
“My mother was a full-of-life woman who was very active in the day-to-day activities of her grandchildren,” Kingdollar said. “She was just starting to enjoy retirement.”
Sue contracted Covid soon after her husband Robert got it. He also was very sick with Covid, but didn’t develop the Covid pneumonia like his wife.
The family has established a GoFundMe account to help cover medical and legal bills. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 10:05 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The arch at the main entrance of Mount Albion Cemetery is pictured last week on a chilly evening.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 6 p.m. today until 7 a.m. Friday with 3 to 5 inches of snow expected in Orleans, Monroe, Wayne and Ontario counties.
Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will produce blowing and drifting snow, the National Weather Service.
“Plan on snow-covered and slippery road conditions,” the Weather Service said. “Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the early morning commute on Friday.”
Today is forecast for the high of 19 with an overnight low of 12 degrees. The high on Friday in Orleans County will be near 17, with a high of 18 on Saturday.
Press Release, Katie Oakes, horticulture educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County
Photos courtesy of Cooperative Extension: Certified Horticulture Therapist Gerry Sherman will lead the introductory Zoom class “Horticulture as Therapy” on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
KNOWLESVILLE – A new class series offered by Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension will guide participants through the basics of common horticultural subjects as well as provide a hands-on plant-based project intended to boost the spirits.
The “Horticulture for Mind and Body” class series will feature monthly educational classes that touch on the benefit of each topic to human health, basic educational groundwork of each topic, and a hands-on activity.
The series will launch on Wednesday, February 24th, with a general overview “Horticulture as Therapy” on Zoom by certified Horticulture Therapist Gerry Sherman of Hello Dahlia Horticulture.
The classes will continue once a month on Wednesday (in-person) or Thursday (virtual) evenings until the end of November. Topics include Indoor Greenspace, Herbs for Health and Well-being, Tremendous Trees, and more. Complete class descriptions, dates and times can be found on the Orleans County CCE website: orleans.cce.cornell.edu.
Research now backs up what many gardeners have known for centuries … it feels good to be around plants! Plants can have many benefits to human health and well-being, often with little input or effort by the human! Being around plants has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels, increase creativity, happiness and self-esteem, and improve memory, attention span, and productivity (Journal of Environmental Horticulture, March 2019).
The effects of these benefits can be felt in natural greenspaces such as parks and forests, in landscaped environments like yards and gardens, or even indoors with the help of potted ornamental plants or natural décor.
Potted houseplants like this coffee plant brighten indoor spaces.
These benefits can be so important to human health, that they are regularly recommended to people across all demographics to combat the stress and strains of everyday life. In fact, Cornell University launched its Nature Rx program in 2017, modeled after a similar program developed by a group of Washington DC doctors and the National Park Service. The idea of these innovative programs is that spending time in nature can be an effective tool against a wide range of physical, psychological, and social maladies. At Cornell, the Nature Rx program is a collaboration between university faculty, staff, students, and medical professionals where time in nature is actually prescribed to patients as a part of their treatment for various issues. Learn more about the Nature Rx program at naturerx.cornell.edu.
Horticulture Therapy is a blossoming field of therapy focusing on the use of horticulture (defined by Merriam Webster as “the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants) to improve physical and mental health. This type of therapy is typically conducted in clinical settings by certified Horticultural Therapists. But the benefits of using plants to feel good can be as informal as tending to a potted houseplant in your own home!
Plants can add color and cheer to an otherwise dull living space.
With that in mind, Orleans County CCE Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes designed a series of classes for the community with the focus on the mental and physical benefits of horticulture, especially important this year as the Covid 19 pandemic continues to impact people’s lives in numerous ways.
“We’ve seen such a surge in first-time gardeners over the past year, as more and more people are spending extra time at home, “ explained Oakes. “It has also been documented that the pandemic has increased levels of stress, anxiety, and negative feelings in people of all ages. I wanted to offer a program that addressed this shift in a fun and educational way.”
The class series will be offered both in-person (following all current NYS Covid-19 guidelines for gatherings) and virtually via Zoom, and the class fees will be on a sliding scale based on self-assessed payment ability (participants pay what they can afford).
Because each class will have materials included for the hands-on activity, class size will be limited, and pre-payment is required to offset the cost of supplies. These classes will be geared toward a wide range of ages (older children to the elderly) and abilities.
To register for these classes or to ask any horticulture related question, please call 585-798-4265 or email Katie Oakes at klo54@cornell.edu.
Starting seeds at home is the hands-on activity for the Ready, Set, Grow class on May 19th and 20th.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 7:30 pm
2 honored for saving Walmart customer; Undersheriff praised for quick action in avoiding head-on collision
Photos by Tom Rivers: Congressman Chris Jacobs, third from left, presented Congressional Commendations to three law enforcement officers in Orleans County, including Orleans County Undersheriff Mike Mele, Investigator Kevin Colonna and State Trooper Scott Gregson. Pictured from left include Undersheriff Mele, Sheriff Chris Bourke, Congressman Jacobs, Investigator Colonna, Trooper Gregson and Major James Hall, Troop A commander based in Batavia.
ALBION – Three law enforcement officers in Orleans County were presented with Congressional Commendations today for life-saving efforts while on duty.
Congressman Chris Jacobs presented the commendations in the legislative chambers at the Orleans County Administration Building.
“These men have answered the call to serve their communities,” Jacobs said. “They are wonderful examples of law enforcement officers.”
Congressman Chris Jacobs presents the commendation to Sheriff’s Office Investigator Kevin Colonna, who was joined by his wife Kallie and 1-year-old son, Cal.
He first recognized State Trooper Scott Gregson and Kevin Colonna, an investigator with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. They responded to call at Walmart in Albion on Nov. 3.
That day a 77-year-old man was down, non-responsive in the store and not breathing. A Walmart employee did chest compressions while Gregson ran to get an A.E.D. (automated external defibrillator) from his patrol vehicle.
Colonna had just had refresher training two weeks before on an AED. The two officers administered the AED and the shock revived the man.
State troopers have been carrying AEDs in most of their patrol cars for at least five years, said Major James Hall, Troop A commander based in Batavia. The troopers are often the first on the scene for people in medical distress.
State Trooper Scott Gregson is presented his commendation by Congressman Jacobs. Gregson is joined by Major James Hall, Troop A commander based in Batavia.
Undersheriff Mike Mele attended the event in the legislative chambers to show his support for Colonna. It was Mele’s first public appearance since he was badly injured on Dec. 5 in a car accident on Route 31 in Albion.
Mele was driving to the Public Safety Building after meeting with two people in a Covid compliance check for the Health Department.
On his way driving on slick, snow-covered roads, another driver slid across the center line and would have hit Mele in a head-on collision. He instead turned right and went off the road. He struck the corner of a house and suffered three broken ribs and badly broken right leg.
He had his dog, Sadie, with him. Sadie, a mastiff, died from her injuries from the crash.
Undersheriff Mike Mele is joined by Sheriff Chris Bourke when Mele accepted the Congressional Commendation from Jacobs.
Jacobs presented Mele with a Congressional Commendation for his quick action, which may have saved the other driver’s life – certainly sparing her from serious injury.
Mele said he remains in pain from his right leg. Doctors just discovered two more broken bones near his ankle. He has had to keep the leg straight after getting plates and screws in his tibia plateau, the area below the kneecap.
He expects to begin physical therapy in early March and return to the office in mid-March.
He said he has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from the community and law enforcement agencies around the state. He said at least half of the sheriff’s offices from the state have sent cards, wishing him well in his recovery. Many in the community have dropped off meals and have been praying for him.
“I’ve been really humbled by all the support and the cards,” he said.
Mele has stayed connected to the Sheriff’s Office through Zoom meetings and phone calls. He said he is used to an active lifestyle and taking on many rolls for the Sheriff’s Office.
“Some things in life you take for granted, and one is being able to get out of bed and walk,” Mele said. “Everyday it’s getting better, but this has been hard. I’ve gone from functioning on three to four hours of sleep to be totally bedridden.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 6:56 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – A fire damaged a Holley house used for seasonal farmworkers on Route 31 in the village. Holley firefighters said they house was currently vacant.
They were dispatched to 9 Wright St. at 4:54 p.m. and were joined by fire companies from neighboring communities.
Ron Meiers operates the Holley ladder truck. The ladder allowed firefighters to get up high at the attic.
Holley fire officials said there was heavy smoke on the second floor, which spread to the attic. Firefighters would cut into the roof and a window in the attic to try to ventilate the house.
The site is between the U.S. Post Office and Holley Presbyterian Church. A section of Route 31 was closed so firefighters could put out the fire.
Diane Rietman sent in this photo of Holley firefighters responding to the smoky house.
No other information is available. Fire investigators are on the scene.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 4:59 pm
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke announced there will be two public forums in February for residents to discuss community perceptions on policing, police oversight and police reforms.
These forums will be conducted to meet the requirements set by Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1, requiring all police agencies in the state
Cuomo is requiring all 500 jurisdictions with law enforcement agencies to adopt a plan for reform by April 1 to be eligible for future state funding. The plan needs to have a chance for public comment. Some police agencies and communities may decide no reform is needed and the agency is meeting the expectations of their residents, Cuomo has said.
The Orleans County Legislature today approved the following appointments as Reform and Reinvention Community members of the Collaborative Committee on behalf of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
Chris Bourke, Orleans County Sheriff
Jack Welch, Chief Administrative Officer
Jeff Gifaldi, Orleans County Chief Deputy
Jimmy White, Orleans County Seasonal Marine Deputy
Margie Aldeco, Community Participant
Trellis Pore, Community Participant
Thaddeus Nauden, Community Participant
Eddie English, Community Participant
The sessions will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 and Feb. 8 at the Orleans County Office Building, Legislature Chambers on the second floor, 141016 Route 31 west, Albion, NY 14411. Capacity is limited to 50 people. The meetings will also be available through Zoom videoconferencing.
The Zoom meeting ID is 861 4221 7035 with the passcode: 412090. To join the meeting by phone, call +1 646 558 8656 US (New York).
The Sheriff’s Office intends to conduct these meetings with the public present to review current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures and practices to develop a plan to improve such deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, for the purposes of addressing the particular needs of the communities served by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and promote community engagement to foster trust, fairness, and legitimacy, and to address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 4:26 pm
Orleans and Genesee counties each have 28 new confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today, bringing the combined total for the two counties to 5,828 since March.
In Orleans County, the 28 new positive cases bring the county’s total to 2,087 confirmed cases during the pandemic. The new 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, 50s, 60s and 70s, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting.
Of the new cases, three are residents of the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina and one is an inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a men’s prison in Albion.
In addition, 8 of the new positive individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
Correction from the G-O Health Departments: The following cases were determined not to be Orleans County residents and have been retracted from today’s data: Case in his/her 50s from the West Region and 0-19 from the East Region.
The county also is reporting 15 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are 11 county residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.
Albion Central School is reporting an elementary student tested positive for Covid-19. As the student was last in school on Jan. 21, the Department of Health has determined there is no need to quarantine any additional students or staff due to the 48-hour look-back period, the district posted on its website.
Holley Central School said two staff members have tested positive for Covid-19, one at the Middle School/High School and one at the Elementary School. The last day each person was in the district was Jan. 26.
“The health department is still processing these cases and we will cooperate with them,” Brian Bartalo, district superintendent, posted on the HCS website. “If warranted, any official decision on mandatory quarantining of students or additional staff members will come directly from the health department. If the health department indicates to us that there is quarantining required for the students who may have had close contact with these staff members, we will reach out to those families ASAP. In the meantime, if you don’t hear from the school district or the department of health, there’s nothing for anyone to do at this time.”
At Lyndonville Central School all 5th grade students will be on remote learning tomorrow, January 28th, due to a precautionary Covid-19 quarantine.
“Fifth grade families/students impacted by this positive Covid-19 case will be contacted tomorrow with further information and more details after we gather more information and direction from the Health Department,” said Superintendent Jason Smith.
In Genesee County, the 28 new positive cases bring the total to 3,741 confirmed cases during the pandemic.
The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford).
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Genesee is reporting that 27 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 23 residents hospitalized with Covid.
The local Health Department said a resident over age 65 has passed away from Covid-19. The state Department of Health website (click here) shows 2 more Genesee residents have died from Covid since the last update on Tuesday, and 5 more since Friday, for 106 total now in Genesee.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are providing the following information for schools, businesses, coaching staff, athletes, parents of student-athletes, and youth and adult amateur sports leagues in both counties.
“After extended internal consultation and discussion among Finger Lakes and Western Region County Health Officials, it has been determined that higher-risk and moderate risk sports may proceed in Genesee and Orleans counties in accordance with New York State guidelines,” stated Paul Pettit, Director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
New York State Interim Guidelines for Sports and Recreation were announced by Governor Cuomo late Friday, January 22. These revisions allow local health departments to authorize non-professional and non- collegiate sports, such as wrestling, ice hockey, basketball, contact lacrosse, and volleyball, to proceed with individual and group training, competitions, and tournaments, effective February 1. Updates were also made to low- and moderate-risk sports and recreation activities.
All responsible parties (schools, businesses, leagues, organizations) must follow the New York State Department of Health’s and applicable Executive Orders for the conduct of their sports and recreation activities.
Per current State guidance, indoor facilities must limit their capacity to no more than 50 percent occupancy and a maximum of two spectators per player. In addition, protocols to ensure social distancing, use of face coverings, and enhanced disinfection protocols must be implemented.
For moderate and higher risk sports, if an athlete, coach or referee receives a positive Covid-19 diagnosis, all in-person team or group activities for that sport (e.g. practices, scrimmages, games, meetings) may result in a 10 day suspension to lessen the spread of infection and allow for the case investigation and contact tracing to occur. Situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Participating in higher-risk sports presents significant risks. The level of risk presented by a return to sports is driven by the sport and setting, local disease activity, and individual circumstances including underlying health conditions that may place the athlete or household contacts at increased risk of severe disease should they contract Covid-19.
Individual schools and businesses, student and adult athletes, and parents/guardians must carefully consider a variety of factors before making an individual decision to participate.
To allow continuation of higher risk sport and recreational activities, local health authorities will continue to consider many factors, including but not limited to the following:
Whether there is a more transmissible variant of Covid-19 identified in the area
Local rates of Covid-19 transmission or rate of positivity, and
Local ability to monitor and enforce compliance.
We must work together during these stressful times to ensure that our youth and adults have the opportunity to participate in athletics safely.
The State Department of Health issued this Interim Guidance for Sports and Recreation (click here).
The State Department of Health issued these guidelines for reopening sports and recreation programs (click here).
The state offered this safety plan reopening template (click here).
Stop the spread of Covid: Wear a mask; maintain a social distance of 6 feet; wash your hands often.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 11:55 am
Governor faulted for ‘catastrophic policy’ that Ortt and colleagues say has shuttered many hospitality businesses
State Senate Leader Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, and his GOP colleagues in the State Senate are pushing a relief package for the restaurant industry.
Since the state imposed restrictions on indoor dining last March, more than 8,000 restaurants have closed in the state, including 4,500 in New York City, resulting in a loss of 365,000 jobs in the state, said State Sen. George Borrello, a Republican from Chautauqua County.
“This has been a pandemic issue that has been exacerbated by catastrophic policy,” he said.
Borrello, a restaurant owner in Sunset Bay, and Ortt said the restaurant industry has suffered from state policies that have unnecessarily curtailed business. They spoke during a press conference in Albany on Tuesday.
“This is truly an emergency,” Borrello said.
He said the governor’s own statistics show only 1.4 percent of the recent Covid spread is from restaurants, while more than 70 percent is attributed to indoor home gatherings.
“This is not a policy that is working for our economy or for the public health,” Borrello said about the restrictions on restaurants.
The Senate Republican Conference unveiled a package of legislation called “Reset New York’s Restaurant and Hospitality Industry.”
Besides the hundreds of thousands of workers who have lost jobs and wages in the restaurant and hospitality industry during the pandemic, the industry is the main slaes tax generator in New York City and is second for the state.
“Unfortunately, our Governor does not seem to understand how important these restaurants, hotels, and their employees are to making our economy function,” Borrello said. “Using his executive authority, the Governor has put extremely damaging and burdensome restrictions on the industry without outlining any plan for how government will help reverse the damage it created. The Senate Democrats have been a voiceless non-entity in this situation, devoid of any plan of their own or proactive initiative to help. It’s high time state government – including the State Senate – roll up our sleeves and begin to restart, rethink, and renew our commitment to restaurants and hospitality businesses to make our State thrive again.”
The Senate Republican proposals for the restaurant and hospitality industry include:
Exempt small businesses from being penalized with higher unemployment insurance rates due to layoffs resulting from Covid-related, government-mandated closures. The exemption would extend for a period of one year from when they are permitted to return to full capacity.
Prohibit internet-based food delivery services (GrubHub and DoorDash) from charging higher fees than they charged on or before March 1, 2020.
Provide small businesses additional time to pay monthly sales and payroll taxes, as well as, business and property taxes;
Offer interest-free loans or lines of credit to small businesses.
Provide a one-year extension for renewal of liquor licenses.
Provide businesses a 90-day grace period to pay any fees or penalties due to state and local agencies.
Also included in the plan announced by the Senate Republican Conference were pieces of legislation that would:
Direct SLA-inflicted fines into a business relief fund to help small businesses get back on their feet.
Provide for a credit on liquor license renewals for the amount of time bars and restaurants were forced to be shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Create a limited state sales tax exemption for the sale of food and drink at restaurants and taverns from state sales and compensating use taxes and granting municipalities the option to grant such limited exemption.
Provide a tax check off box that will direct funds into a business relief fund.
Create an employee retention tax credit, modeled after the Federal Employee Retention Credit, to help employers keep workers on payroll.
“This package of legislation includes necessary measures to help our restaurants and hospitality industry get back on their feet after the sharp declines in revenue they’ve suffered as a result of the pandemic and bad policy,” Borrello said. “Without assistance, too many of our small businesses are going to be forced to close their doors for good – the state needs to act quickly to provide relief.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 9:00 am
County may add more testing clinics if needed, but will shift to vaccination clinics
There is a rapid Covid-19 testing clinic today from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. This is the last one scheduled by the Orleans County Health Department.
It will be shifting its focus to vaccination clinics, with the first one Thursday at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company. The appointments are full for that clinic where about 100 people will be vaccinated. That clinic will have the capacity to do 600 vaccinations a day once the county gets more vaccine doses, said Paul Pettit, the public health director for Orleans and Genesee.
“We’re ready to go it’s just a matter of getting the vaccine,” he said.
He praised local volunteers for stepping up to run the rapid test clinic and now the vaccination effort. More people are needed to run the vaccination clinics. Anyone interested in volunteered at the vaccination clinics can reach out to Justin Niederhofer, deputy director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, at (585) 589-4414.
The county has been testing about 500 people at the weekly clinics at the Fairgrounds. As of 8:50 this morning, there were still 66 spots open. Click here to register and click here to fill out a form from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Pettit said the county and region’s daily new Covid cases and percentage of positive tests have been trending downward. He expects the governor today to announce some restrictions to be lifted in the micro-cluster zones in Genesee, Niagara, Monroe and Erie counties. Orleans wasn’t designated in one of those zones.
He said public health officials around the state has been frustrated by the “very slow” distribution of the vaccines so far.
“It is an issue throughout the state,” he said on a conference call Tuesday evening with local officials. “Rural, urban it doesn’t matter. We are all proportionally hurting.”
The supply so far from the federal government has been “anemic,” Pettit said.
“The volume we’re getting is a pittance of what we need,” he said.
Orleans received 200 doses this week, but the Health Department is putting in requests for thousands of vaccine doses.
“We’re doing what we can to advocate from our end,” Pettit said. “Everybody is in the same boat.”
HAMLIN – Remodeling work at the Crosby’s store in the Town of Hamlin is now complete, and the location will host a reopening celebration on Thursday to show off the new features, services and amenities available for customers.
The official ribbon cutting is slated for 9:30 a.m., when area officials, Crosby’s staff and local business representatives will be on hand at the store, located at 1449 Lake Rd North. During the ceremony, Crosby’s will present a check for $1,000 to the Brockport Central School District in support of student activities at the district’s schools.
Customers who use their My Crosby’s Rewards Card will be entered for a chance to win an Amazon Echo Auto Smart Speaker (valued at $49.99). The giveaway runs through February 23rd and is permitted to one entry per day.
Customers may also enter a raffle for their chance to win one of 20 gift cards valued at $25. Winners will be chosen in March for both the gift cards and Amazon Echo Auto. In addition, the first 100 customers (starting at 8 am on Friday, January 29th) will receive a $5 Crosby’s gift card.
“Crosby’s is not just a convenience store – it’s a part of the communities we serve – and we are thrilled to offer an even better shopping experience for our loyal customers and to continue to support the local schools,” said Doug Galli, vice president and general manager of Reid Stores/Crosby’s Convenience Stores. “The remodeled store in Hamlin provides a variety of fresh food options and other convenient amenities – including a new f’real milkshake/smoothie machine. As with all of our locations, the remodeled store incorporates safe checkout procedures to protect both our employees and customers.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) and his colleagues in the Assembly Minority have written a letter to Gov. Cuomo, Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie and New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins demanding they do not use the budget process to legalize marijuana.
Hawley believes substantial matters of public policy such as the legalization of marijuana should not be advanced through the budgetary process and should instead be debated and discussed as any other legislation would be.
“This policy matter is deserving of meaningful scrutiny and debate, something we haven’t seen much of since the Governor was granted his prolonged and egregious executive powers,” said Hawley. “Legalizing marijuana is a decision for our state that would come with consequences worth discussing, and I am fearful as usual the Governor will care more about acting quickly to please activists and special interests than examining legalization in earnest and what it would really mean for New York.”
