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.
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.”
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.
