Press Release, VA Western New York Healthcare System

VA Western New York Healthcare System announced Dr. Philippe Jaoude was selected as chief of staff.

Dr. Jaoude

Dr. Jaoude is a board-certified physician in Sleep, Critical Care, and Pulmonary Medicine and is certified as Diplomate in the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has been with VAWNYHS since 2013 and has held several chief and director level positions to include Acting Chief of Staff, Chief of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, along with Chair of the Cardiac Arrest Committee.

He received his M.D. from Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2000 and later completed his internship there in 2001. Dr. Jaoude then went on to complete his residency in internal medicine in 2004, a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care in 2011 and a sleep medicine fellowship in 2012 from The State University of New York at Buffalo.

His professional appointments include several years as an attending physician at Buffalo General Hospital and VAWNYHS. He has held a variety of appointments at SUNY Buffalo since 2001 to include Assistant and Associate Professor for Clinical Medicine.

Dr. Jaoude is a member of CHEST (a peer reviewed medical journal and society), The American Thoracic Society, and The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He has published over 18 peer reviewed journal articles including several book chapters and abstracts covering his experiences, findings, and outcomes in multiple medical specialties. He resides in Williamsville with his family.

VA Western New York Healthcare System is a Joint Commission accredited multi-site health care system with medical centers in Buffalo and Batavia and eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics employing over 2,200 employees who care for over 50,000 veterans.

The average price for gas in New York State is $2.39 a gallon today, which is down 34 cents from a year ago, AAA Western and Central New York is reporting today.

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.32, up 6 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.59.

AAA Western and Central New York reports the following averages:

• Batavia – $2.31 (up 4 cents since last week)
• Buffalo – $2.33 (up 7 cents since last week)
• Rochester – $2.36 (up 6 cents since last week)

Pump prices are on the rise despite gas demand falling to the lowest level recorded since the end of May 2020, AAA said.

Domestic crude prices climbed above $50 per barrel while total refinery utilization increased from 79 percent to 81 percent leading to higher pump prices. If crude prices continue to stay above $50 per barrel alongside higher refinery utilization rates, drivers could see pump prices continue to climb, which is unusual given that low winter gas demand typically pushes prices to their lowest point of the year, AAA said.

Crude prices increased last week after Saudi Arabia announced that it would cut its crude production by 1 million barrels per day in February and March after OPEC met with its partners, including Russia and Kazakhstan, to discuss their ongoing production reduction agreement. If total domestic crude supply continues to drop, crude prices could continue to increase and push pump prices higher, AAA said.

Legislation will include electric, gas, water, telecommunications, cable and internet

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a proposal to prohibit utility disconnections in regions that are under a state of emergency as part of the 2021 State of the State.

The Governor will propose legislation that will apply to electric, gas, water, telecommunications, cable and internet services. Utilities that fail to comply will be subject to penalties.

“In a year in which we dealt with an unprecedented pandemic, ferocious storms added insult to injury by knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “Utility companies provide essential services, and we need to make sure they continue to provide them, rain or shine. That’s why we’re proposing legislation to make sure that New Yorkers, especially those living in regions under states of emergency, have access to these critical services to provide for themselves and their families.”

Cuomo has taken a series of actions to protect New Yorkers’ access to utilities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the Governor signed legislation extending a moratorium that prevents utility companies from disconnecting utilities to residential households that are struggling with their bills due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Utility companies must instead offer these individuals a deferred payment agreement on any past-due balance.

Provided photos

ALBION – The Tree House, which opened in March 2020 in downtown Albion, has relocated to the space for the former Rainbow Preschool at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex, 243 South Main St., and given the site a vastly new look.

Michelle Waters

The move more than doubles the space to 3,500 square feet for the Tree House, which offers child enrichment programs, parent-child classes and birthday parties.

“We are able to have different classes and offerings at the same time,” said Michelle Waters, Tree House owner. “We are so excited!”

The space for many years was used by the Rainbow Preschool, until it was closed in late August by the Arc of Genesee Orleans.

The announcement today that Rainbow Preschool is closing ends a program that is nearly 50 years old.

For nearly 50 years, the Arc ran Rainbow Preschool, serving children ages 2 ½ to 5 with developmental and intellectual disabilities. At its peak, the school served 300 children. The enrollment for 2020-21 was at 26 students.

Michelle Waters opened The Tree House on March 12 at 116 North Main Street, 2nd Floor. That was just before the state imposed restrictions to slow the spread of Covid-19. Waters was forced to temporarily close to in-person services.

Waters was able to pivot the business that specializes in preschool and toddler programs. She developed activity kits to help families who suddenly had children home – nearly all the time. She delivered them throughout Western New York. Those kits were fun and educational.

The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce in November recognized The Tree House as the “New Business of the Year.”

Waters said The Tree House provides in-person programs that meet social distancing and public health guidelines.

“The Tree House is the place for the kind of loud and messy fun that promotes learning,” Waters said. “From musical instruments to the ooey gooey there is something sure to inspire wonder in your child.”

Proposals would expand mental health and substance use disorder services in underserved and rural communities

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced legislation to expand and improve access to telehealth for all as part of the 2021 State of the State. The Covid-19 pandemic laid bare the inequities in our healthcare system and showed that telehealth is a critical tool to expand access and lower costs for low-income communities, especially for behavioral health support. During the crisis, the Governor took executive action to expand access to remote care, and these proposals codify and build on those successful reforms.

In partnership with the Reimagine New York Commission, the Governor will enact comprehensive telehealth reform to help New Yorkers take advantage of telehealth tools and address existing roadblocks.

These reforms will address key issues like adjusting reimbursement incentives to encourage telehealth, eliminating outdated regulatory prohibitions on the delivery of telehealth, removing outdated location requirements, addressing technical unease among both patients and providers through training programs, and establishing other programs to incentivize innovative uses of telehealth.

“While New York State has been on the cutting edge of promoting telehealth for its residents, the adoption of telehealth by both patients and providers has been slow,” Cuomo said. “Covid-19 has changed not only the way we live, but the way healthcare providers support their patients, especially in regard to mental health. New Yorkers have adapted throughout 2020, but it is time to push telehealth to the next level in New York State and fully integrate it into our existing healthcare system. These proposals will better allocate our healthcare and technological resources for the 21st century.”

Governor Cuomo proposes comprehensive reforms to permanently adopt Covid-19-era innovations that expanded access to physical health, mental health and substance use disorder services including:

Unlocking the Benefits of Telehealth Through Policy Modernization

The Governor’s proposal includes the following regulatory and statutory changes to allow for greater flexibility in where and when patients use telehealth, while maintaining oversight to ensure high-quality care is delivered:

• Eliminating obsolete location requirements by requiring Medicaid to offer telehealth reimbursement for services rendered to patients regardless of where the patient or provider is located in a non-facility setting;
• Developing interstate licensing reciprocity with states in the Northeast region for specialties with historical access shortages to ensure that there is sufficient access to medical and behavioral health professionals; and
• Continuing Covid-era flexibilities for mental health and substance use disorder services by allowing certain unlicensed staff, such as Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor trainees or Peer Specialists, to deliver substance use disorder and mental health services. This also includes eliminating the remaining in-person evaluation requirements before telehealth services can be delivered, expanding the types of staff who can deliver remote services, developing a regulatory structure for a predominantly virtual outpatient substance use disorder treatment program and exploring the expansion of existing initiatives that extend behavioral health services into nursing facilities. This will include reimbursement of all mental health and substance abuse provider types, including certified recovery peer advocates so patients and providers can choose the care setting that best suits their needs.

Ensuring Coverage and Reimbursement for Telehealth

Telehealth played an indispensable role in providing quality care to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. To build on what we have learned during the crisis, the Governor’s proposal will:

• Require commercial health insurers to offer a telehealth program to members, and provide Medicaid coverage, subject to federal approval, to cover services furnished telephonically when medically appropriate;
• Ensure that telehealth is reimbursed at rates that incentivize use when medically appropriate; and
• Require providers to disclose to patients in writing or through their websites whether they provide telehealth services. Require insurers to provide up-to-date information in their provider directories about which providers offer telehealth services. Any telehealth platforms offered as part of a mandatory telehealth program will be required to participate in the Statewide Health Information Network for New York or otherwise demonstrate interoperability with other providers in the insurer’s provider network.

Expanding the Use of Technological Advancements in Health Care

The Governor’s proposal will also facilitate the adoption of innovations in technology to ensure higher quality and more efficient care for patients by:

• Requiring insurers to offer members an e-triage or virtual emergency department platform that enables individuals to receive a symptoms assessment and a referral to a network of providers or a nearby Emergency Department when warranted, allowing New Yorkers, particularly in underserved areas that lack health infrastructure, to receive better and faster care in times of emergency;
• Facilitating the use of expert consultations between providers via telehealth by encouraging insurers to reimburse providers directly for engaging in e-consults or permitting the inclusion of insurers’ costs associated with e-consult platforms within the health care service costs. The increased use of e-consults will empower primary care providers to make accurate treatment decisions and help patients avoid unnecessary and costly care; and
• Streamlining the SHIN-NY patient consent process to increase interoperability and record access amongst health care providers.

Supporting Patients and Providers Through Professional Development, Education, and Innovative Support Programs

While regulatory flexibilities have increased access to services for many New Yorkers, telehealth is new for many and education and outreach is needed to help get people comfortable connecting with a provider from their home, while providers are also learning how to most effectively use this technology. With the support of the Reimagine New York Commission and the Department of Health, two initiatives are already underway to ensure the successful adoption of telehealth by patients and providers:

• Launch of a new Telehealth Training program created with the leadership of the Reimagine New York Commission in partnership with SUNY Stony Brook and the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, and with support from Weill Cornell Medicine, Cityblock Health and additional advisors. Designing an open access, continuing professional education curriculum on telehealth will help providers deliver higher-quality care — especially as technologies continue to develop as New York State is paving the way on these tools; and
• Pilot of an innovative telehealth facilitator program conducted by AlRnyc and Mt. Sinai Health Partners, under the guidance of Schmidt Futures and the Reimagine New York Commission. The program aims to improve comfort with and access to telehealth tools for underserved populations, including through hands-on support for the intake and onboarding process. Patient discomfort with and lack of access to technology is a deterrent and this program will help inform how New York can best assist people in learning to use telehealth and lay the groundwork for future expansion.

Chart information from Governor’s Office.

The Finger Lakes Region continues to have among the highest positivity rates for Covid-19 tests in the state, and the region also has the highest percent of Covid patients hospitalized in NY.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo provided an update on Saturday of the state’s fight against the spread of Covid. The state on Friday set a new record high for Covid tests, with 258,031 results reported with 16,943 positive for a positivity rate of 6.57 percent.

The Mohawk Valley had the highest percent positive at 10.50 percent, followed by the Finger Lakes at 9.83 percent.

The nine-county Finger Lakes Region, which include Orleans County, has 887 people hospitalized with Covid, for 0.07 percent of the population, well above the state-wide percentage of 0.04 percent.

The number of people hospitalized with Covid in the state declined on Friday by 34 to 8,527. There were 188 Covid-related deaths for 31,519 confirmed Covid-related deaths in the state since March.

Cuomo on Saturday also announced three additional cases of the more contagious UK strain of the Covid-19 virus have been identified in New York. Two of the cases are connected to the initial discovery of the UK strain identified in Saratoga Springs, while a third case, unrelated to the Saratoga Springs exposures, has been traced back to an individual living in Massapequa, Nassau County.

The cases were sequenced through Department of Health’s Wadsworth laboratory which has analyzed more than 2,200 viral sequences as part of the state’s UK strain testing program.

“The UK strain is here, it is real, and the Usain Bolt-like speed through which it spreads is nothing short of frightening,” Cuomo said. “There’s no mystery as to how it got here – it got on a plane and flew here from Europe, just like the original strain did. Yet, the federal government continues to refuse to learn from the spring and mandate testing for all international travelers. Their failure to act means the rest of us need to be that much more vigilant in our work to stop the spread, as well as do all we can to accelerate the distribution of the vaccine.”

The pace is increasing in administering vaccine doses of Covid-19. New York has administered 543,147 doses so far. In the first week (Dec. 14-Dec. 20) there were 33,709 doses administered, followed by 102,190 doses in the second week (Dec. 21-Dec.27), 148,165 doses in week three (Dec. 28-Jan. 3) and 259,083 doses so far in week four, which started Jan. 4.

“The good news – a new testing record has been set. The bad news – three more cases of the UK Covid strain have been found,” Cuomo said. “If we are to beat Covid once and for all, we need to win the footrace between how fast the infection rate rises and how fast vaccinations are administered.”

Hats off to the Hat!

National Hat Day is January 15th. Do you own many hats? I have quite a few.

I like them, buy them, then rarely wear them. Not because I don’t like them. I feel pretty smart in them. But you see if I am keeping it 100%. I just don’t want to mess my hair up! Vanity is real.

The best time for a Hat is when you wake with AM bedhead, simply throw a hat on. The best hats for this situation are the ball caps. Put it on, throw your pony through the back hole and snap the back. If you are of the male persuasion, just put it on.

I like the fedora. My closet has a nice burgundy fedora. It lets one channel Lady Gaga. I put a beautiful brown feather in it. That hat made its way a-top my head to my cousin’s birthday party. Great hat and makes the statement you have arrived and are ready to mingle.

Goodness, my closet has alot of straw hats too. Some feature large rims, some have a southwestern flare and there is even a straw visor. These are perfect for a summer day when we need to protect our delicate skin and eyes from the sun but do not want to end up with a sweaty head of hair.

Then there is the cowboy or western hat. There are a few of those in my closet as well. There is my white Bailey Hat that hangs on a hook, waiting for an occasion up to its standards to re-debut after 30 years. Most certainly there is the standard weaved hat with the little leather band and shiny embellishments that has made its way to a few concerts.

Tucked in the closet is even a crochet cowboy-style hat with a big yellow flower on it. That is my lucky casino hat. I like to wear that to play the slots. It has been known to bring on luck. Lately I have been putting on the knit stocking cap hat, for practical reasons. In my box are snug ones, knit ones with big balls on the top and even one with a visor sewn into it.

Mostly I like my old khaki Tilley hat. This old beauty keeps my head dry, protects my eyes and slides on easily without messing my hair. Whether your hat makes you feel like a star, smart, chill or even lucky, embrace the hat this week to bring some much needed fun and attitude into the world. Dance to the beat of your own drummer – don’t be shy. Let your hat bring you into a world of imagination and break from the mundane everyday life.

I think on January 15th I might wear my white sailor hat. That hat found its way to my head a few summers back in Captiva Island. I was at a Love Boat themed party – remember that fun show from the 70s with Doc Bricker, Isaac, Julie, Gopher, and Capt. Stubing. I am going to keep it on all day and into January 16th because January 16th is National Nothing Day.

Nothing says do nothing like sitting in a chair, day drinking rum punches, imagining being on a tropical island while reading a scandalous novel. So put your hat on and dream big! Dream hard enough, it might even come true. What is your favorite hat?

To see the Low Boy visit My Blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com and catch up on Weekly Photo Perks and past Sunday Posts. Like and share your comments.   

Truly,
Debbie London

PEMBROKE – When the Western New York National Veterans’ Cemetery opened for interments on Dec. 18, Orleans County veterans were among the first to volunteer to provide honor guards for every veteran whose burial takes place there.

Honor guards who offered to provide their services, in addition to Orleans County, are Genesee, Erie and Wyoming counties. Each county is assigned a day, with Orleans County responsible for Tuesday burials.

Jim Freas from Medina has been in charge of organizing the honor guard, which includes veterans from VFW and American Legion posts in Medina, Lyndonville, Albion and Holley.

On Tuesday, those who participated in a Batavia veteran’s funeral were Freas, Glenn Whitmore of Gasport, Dave Kusmierczak of Medina, Steve Johnson from Lyndonville, John Follman of Lyndonville, Greg Stanton of Medina, Tony Vicknair of Lyndonville, Orville Prutin of Albion, Ron Ayrault of Holley, Al Pulcino of Holley and Larry Szatkowski of Medina.

An honor guard, made up of veterans from VFW and American Legion posts in Orleans County, fire a 21-gun salute at a local veteran’s funeral Tuesday at the Western New York National Veterans’ Cemetery. Honor guards from Genesee, Orleans, Erie and Wyoming counties are each assigned a day to participate in funerals at the cemetery.

Any veteran and his or her spouse is eligible to be interred in the National Cemetery, said Brooke Tinaglia, management analyst for the cemetery. The cemetery accepts coffins or cremations.

Each interment will have two members of the active military, representing the branch in which the deceased veteran served. These two military members will unfold and ceremoniously refold an American flag and present it to the family. This is followed by a 21-gun salute by the honor guard and playing of Taps.

“It’s an honor to be here and give fallen veterans a last military honor,” said Specialist Cameron Sackett from the Masten Street Armory in Buffalo, who with Sgt. Austin Dycha of Buffalo has participated in four veterans’ funerals.

Freas said more volunteers are needed to participate in the honor guard. For the time being, honor guards must wear black trousers, a black jacket, white shirt, and black shoes and cap. Freas said by January 2023, honor guards from each county will be required to have a standard uniform.

Freas also said so far no veterans from Niagara County have stepped up to fill one day and anyone interested can volunteer by contacting their veterans organization.

Funerals are scheduled at 10 and 11 a.m., noon, and 1 and 2 p.m. each day, Monday through Friday. Interment for any eligible veteran can be arranged through their funeral home at the time of need, by presenting their discharge papers, Tinaglia said.

Since the cemetery opened, there have 37 interments, most of whom are from Western New York or have roots in the area, Tinaglia said.

Jim Freas, left, a member of the Medina VFW and American Legion, stands with Specialist Cameraon Sackett and Sgt. Austin Dycha from the Masten Street Armory in Buffalo, prior to a funeral for a local veteran Tuesday at the Western New York National Veterans’ Cemetery in Pembroke.

Districts will perform musical, Little Women, after last year’s show cancelled due to Covid-19

File photo by Tom Rivers: Layna Viloria, second from right, portrayed Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, which was performed  in Lyndonville in March 2019. It’s the last show performed by the combined drama program of Lyndonville and Medina. Last spring’s show was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

LYNDONVILLE – The combined Lyndonville and Medina high school drama program will perform a musical this spring.

It will be a much different experience for the cast, with rehearsals and the performance, director Jennifer Trupo said.

Last year’s school musical was cancelled in the spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Covid caseload remains high with restrictions still in place on crowd sizes.

Lyndonville and Medina plan to put on the show, Little Women. Trupo said that show doesn’t have a large cast ensemble and there “isn’t a ton of dancing.”

There will still be solos, duets and some songs with the entire cast. They won’t be performing in front of a live audience. The performance will be recorded and then made available by streaming online, with tickets to be purchased online, Trupo said.

Most of the rehearsals will be online with the students not together in-person as a group. As the spring show gets closer, there will be some group rehearsals, blocking and vocals – “just not as much as we are used to in the past,” Trupo said.

Friday was the deadline for students to audition for the show. Trupo said Little Women will be an opportunity for students to shine on stage.

“There are several great roles in this production and we will be doing it with an expanded cast,” Trupo said in her message. “I love you and I miss you and I can’t wait to see you, online.”

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has issued a press release to the public in light of the recent steady increase of Covid-19 cases in Orleans Community Hospital.

The information comes from Jessica Capurso, director of Education, Outreach and Marketing at the hospital’s Community Partners.

With the onset of Covid-19, Orleans Community Health went immediately into “ready mode” and braced for the impact this would have on the community. All elective services were mandated to be shut down, walk-in services at Medina Memorial Hospital and the Middleport lab draw station were placed on hold and a multitude of restrictions, processes and procedures were put in place to ensure the safety of residents, staff and community.

For the most part, Orleans County and Orleans Community Health’s Medina Memorial Hospital have managed to remain under the radar and had only experienced a limited amount of cases. The hospital has since been able to resume elective services and added pre-registration for all lab and imaging services.

In addition, Orleans Community Health is providing Covid-19 screening, testing, and most recently began administering Covid-19 vaccinations. Dedicated healthcare workers are taking on extra shifts and filling in for roles they would not normally be working, Capurso said. She added they are so very proud of everything they do for patients and the community members.

If one reviews the daily reports that are received from the Department of Health, they will notice for the past six weeks the number of Covid-19 positive cases has been on a steady rise, resulting in an uptick in the Emergency Room cases that are being received at Medina Memorial Hospital, along with an uptick in the number of those patients being admitted into the hospital.

The hospital is asking the community to please continue to do their part and take every precaution they can to slow the spread of Covid-19. This includes wearing a mask covering the mouth and nose (a cloth mask should be washed after every use).

Do not wear the mask under your chin or store it in your pocket between uses. Clean hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Put distance between yourself and other people (at least six feet).

“We ask this not only because we want you to remain healthy, but because we do not want to be mandated to shut down elective services again in our community,” Capurso said. “We want to continue providing these services to our community and it takes all of us working together to achieve this goal.”

For more information on the vaccine, click here.

Information on testing is available by calling (585) 589-2273 to make an appointment at the Albion Healthcare Center on Route 31.

Other information on ways to further help the hospital can be obtained by contacting Heather Smith, Orleans Community Health Foundation director at (585) 798-8426.

Those who would like to work with the hospital can click here for more information.

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum, Director

GAINES – Another farm operation in the Hamlet of Childs is attributed to Alphonse Zambito who operated Zambito Produce in 1950s in the gray barn across from the Cobblestone Museum on the south side of Ridge Road.

Al got started in the produce business working for the A&P food chain after WWII as their head produce buyer for 13 states.  The company offices were located to the right of the barn in the photo above.

Here in Childs Al Zambito ran one of the largest sorting facility for cucumbers in the area.  Processing pickles were graded and packed on the ground floor level of the produce company. On the upper floor, fresh market cucumbers were packed with a capacity there up to 5,000 bushels a day.

The plant also packed tomatoes, acorn squash, and cabbage. Al’s son, Michael Zambito, carried the torch forward for many more years, into the last quarter of the 20th century. Mike said, “I remember we brought in loads of red cabbage from Holland and green cabbage from Michigan and Virginia. My dad also brokered onions and beets. We were a very busy place.”

Mike Zambito recalled that his father got started after leaving school in the 6th grade. Al worked to help build the Lipton Plant in Albion and then left for the service. Mike said, “After the war, Dad teamed up with Mike Kodish from NYC who gave him some money to start his packaging plant in Childs. Dad eventually bought out Mike Kodish!”

Mike Metcalf offered his reflections on farming in the Hamlet of Childs, too. He grew up on the east side of Route 98, about one-half mile north of Route 104. Mike’s dad, William, was a Soil Conservation Service Officer. This was a federal position that supervised farm drainage and construction of farm ponds.

As a child, Mike recalls that Lee Harding and John Murray raised sheep on their adjoining farms in the 1950s. Mike said, “Growing up with all the sheep, it was like a giant playground.” He recalls the sheep creating trails that crisscrossed the pastures that he and his brother and two sisters would enjoy running through.

Mike received his farm training, graduating in 1974, from Iowa State University, where he received the “Outstanding Member of the Year Award,” from the University’s Farm Club, and the “Real Guy Award,” the highest honor bestowed by the Iowa State University College of Agriculture. Immediately following college, Mike became involved in Orleans County farming, including animal husbandry and crop farming. Mike’s current farming interests include about 300 acres on Route 279 and has held many leadership positions in Orleans County Farm Bureau.

Mike Metcalf also remembers the fire in 1970 that destroyed Lee Harding’s barn on Route 98. After the fire, Harding sold his property to what would become the large corporate farm, Intergrow, a farm operation that deserves its own story in a later article.

Another historic farm on the west end of the Hamlet of Childs was called Coloney Farms, dating back to the early 1800s.  The progenitor in the Coloney family was George Coloney who purchased the farm from Russell and Betsey Gillett in 1885. George started the farm keeping horses and grew the farm to over 160 acres, primarily on the west side of Childs. George and his wife, Bertha Balcom Coloney, built a 2,700 sq. ft. house on the property in which the extended family still resides today.

George and Bertha Coloney had six children (shown above): Orson, George, Jr., Rosabell, Marian, Marjorie and Eleanor. Eleanor’s son, Gerald Coloney Monagan and his wife, Beverly (Thompson) Monagan, now live in the Coloney family homestead. Jerry explained that the Coloney homestead (shown above) passed out of the family for about 16 years until his purchase of the property returned it to the extended Coloney family line. Jerry professed, “I’m really just a gentleman farmer. Eugene Leigh farmed the back 128 acres. I bought 32 acres and raised about 10 acres of cucumbers.” Jerry’s principal livelihood was employment at Kodak in Rochester.

George Coloney’s sons, Orson and George, Jr., continued the Coloney farming legacy and managed 2,000 acres, primarily in Carlton. They produced tomatoes that they sold to Hunt’s in Albion and also maintained a labor camp for field workers who came up from the southern states in the summer.

Coloney Farms with its active horse stables, needed a plentiful supply of fresh straw for bedding. Here we see an early 1900s straw stack on the farm.

Horses provided the “horsepower” to do many farm chores during the 1800s and early 1900s.  The next generation of horsepower was provided by steam engines.  Here, in this 1950s farm scene, we see an early Case Steam Tractor at work.  This tractor displays the “Old Abe” eagle logo on its front, a Case trademark beginning in 1865.

Tragedy struck Coloney Farm on Friday, November 22, 1935 when the K&B Tea Room, a small structure on the farm, was destroyed in an early morning fire.

Current farm residents Jerry and Bev Monagan always had a problem with standing water near the house, so they decided to dig a pond.  Gerry said, “We went down 14 feet and hit bedrock, but never hit water.”  The 14’ deep pond is just filled with surface water.” The family has used the pond for swimming and has kept Black Labs that have enjoyed the water, too, along with some coy fish and bass that have been stocked.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a transformational proposal that continues to expand access to voting and improves procedures as part of the Governor’s 2021 State of the State agenda by speeding up vote counting, and adding additional time for early voting.

“Our election system, on which our democracy is built, has, and continues to be, under attack by those seeking to undermine the founding principles of our nation and we must not only protect it, but ensure it can be accessed by all,” Governor Cuomo said. “While we have already made some progress in modernizing New York’s election system, there is much left to do and this historic package of election reforms will be critical in strengthening how elections are run and ensuring all New Yorkers are able to exercise this fundamental right.”

• Expand Access to Early Voting: Among Governor Cuomo’s most important voting rights and election administration achievements is the 2019 enactment of legislation establishing early voting in New York State. In the general election in 2020 – the first major election following the implementation of New York State’s early voting law – more than 2.5 million New Yorkers, representing nearly one-fifth of all registered voters in the state, chose to cast their ballots during the early voting period. Governor Cuomo will advance legislation that extends early voting hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends as well as on a minimum of three week days during the 10-day early voting period.

• No-Excuse Absentee Voting for All New Yorkers: In 2019, Governor Cuomo celebrated the Legislature’s passage of a resolution beginning the process of amending the state constitution to make no-excuse absentee voting a reality in our state. In 2021, the Governor will call on the Legislature to act quickly to pass the resolution again so that the proposed amendment can go on the ballot to be ratified by the voters.

• Allow More Time for Voters to Request Absentee Ballots: The state’s election law currently prohibits voters from requesting their absentee ballots more than 30 days prior to Election Day. Particularly in elections with large numbers of absentee voters, this timeline may make it difficult for county boards of elections to process ballot requests in a timely and efficient manner. This, in turn, provides voters with less time to receive their ballots, vote, and mail them back. Governor Cuomo will advance legislation allowing voters to request absentee ballots 45 days prior to the election, ensuring they can be mailed as soon as the ballot is finalized and approved by the Board.

• Speed Up the Counting of Absentee Ballots: New York State’s election law does not facilitate the speedy counting of large numbers of absentee ballots – the law only requires that boards of elections meet to process and count ballots within two weeks of a general election and within eight days of a primary election. In practice, this means that counties do not finish counting absentee ballots until weeks after Election Day, and in 2020, when large numbers of absentee ballots were cast, New York State was among the slowest states in the country to post the results of its absentee ballots. To ensure that New York State counts absentee votes quickly and efficiently after each election, Governor Cuomo will introduce legislation requiring county boards of elections to process absentee ballots as they are received and to begin counting and reporting those ballots on Election Day.

With the first day of swim practice scheduled for January 18 (pending final approval by the Section VI Executive Council on Tuesday) Niagara-Orleans League athletic directors have set January 28 as the date for the first meets.

The meets this season will be virtual with each team swimming in its own pool with no spectators. Scores will then be compared by computer program to determine the winner of each individual event and the overall team winners.

Albion and Akron had been looking at the possibility of hosting regular meets but have decided to go with virtual meets.

“It’s the right thing to do right now keeping everyone in their own pool,” said Albion Athletic Director Adam Krenning in noting concerns over the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in the area.

The first meets on the 28th will have Albion vs. Barker, Medina vs. Akron and Roy-Hart vs. Newfane.

The league is looking to have mainly a Tuesday-Thursday- Saturday weekly schedule for the remainder of the 10 meet regular season.

There are also tentative plans to try and hold boys and girls All-League meets at the end of the season.

Roy-Hart is the defending boys and girls champion.

There are 100 new reported cases of Covid-19 today in Genesee and Orleans counties, bringing the total to 4,530 in the two counties since March. That’s also 705 cases in the two counties so far in January.

In Orleans County, there are 32 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today for a total of 1,644 positive cases since March.

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, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Of the new cases, 6 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans also is reporting 48 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. That reduces the number of active Covid cases in the county from 279 on Thursday, a high in the pandemic, to 263 today.

Orleans has 14 residents hospitalized with Covid.

• Albion Central School reported two students have tested positive for Covid-19. One is a hybrid learner from the high school, and the other is a hybrid learner from the elementary school.

The elementary student was last in school on Jan. 5 and the high school student was last in school yesterday, Jan. 7. The district has notified any anticipated students and staff members who are deemed to have been in close contact with the infected students, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Health, the district stated on the school website.

In Genesee County, there are 68 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,886 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and the 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.

Of the new cases, 3 are residents at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 3 are residents at the Batavia VA Medical Center, and 1 is a resident at the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.

Genesee is reporting 66 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. The number of active cases is down from 238 on Thursday to 222 today.

Genesee has 26 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Press Release, Assemblyman Mike Norris

LOCKPORT – Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C -Lockport) has been named chairman of the Assembly Minority Conference, a prestigious leadership position, and reappointed to membership on the powerful Assembly committees on Rules and Ways and Means.

Mike Norris

These appointments make Norris, a third-term lawmaker, highly positioned and among the most influential members of his conference in Albany. Norris’s district includes Shelby in Orleans County, and parts of Niagara and Erie counties.

“I want to congratulate Mike Norris on his new appointment as minority conference chairman for Assembly Republicans,” Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said. “Mike has been an outstanding representative since coming to Albany and has worked tirelessly on a wide range of issues for the people of the 144th Assembly District. He has shown tremendous leadership during these unprecedented times, and I applaud his tireless work for his constituents and our conference. I’m excited to continue our work together as he takes on this deserving leadership position.”

Norris said, “I would like to thank Leader Barclay for this opportunity and his faith in me to help lead our conference. I would also like to thank the people of Erie, Niagara and Ontario counties for continuing to put their trust in me as their voice in state government. Working together, our voice will only continue to get stronger, and I will keep fighting for Western New York.”

Toward that goal, Norris requested to keep his leadership position as ranking member on the Assembly Election Law Committee to help oversee and improve our state’s election process.

He will also be continuing to help oversee the legislative process as a member of the Rules Committee, and the budget process on the Ways and Means Committee. In addition, Norris will be a member of the Assembly Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Transportation.

“These are all important roles. We need better roads and infrastructure, and I’ll be fighting hard for that, especially during the budget,” Norris said. “But on top of my legislative work, me and my staff are also here to help constituents directly, and I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public of that. As the pandemic continues, I know many are still struggling with unemployment or the uncertainty their business faces. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for help with these state issues. We are here to help and here for you.”

Assemblyman Norris can be reached at norrism@nyassembly.gov or by calling his office at (716) 839-4691.