By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2021 at 5:00 pm
Genesee reports 2 more deaths for 28 since Dec. 1
There are 87 more confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today in Genesee and Orleans counties, including 26 at nursing homes in Batavia and Le Roy, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported in an afternoon daily news briefing.
In Orleans County, there are 34 new positive cases of Covid, bringing the total to 1,535 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and the 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 were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans today also is reporting 42 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There 17 Orleans County residents hospitalized with Covid, down from 19 on Tuesday.
The G-O Health Departments said 1 individual has been removed from yesterday’s total due to the person not being a resident of Orleans County.
Albion Central School reports today that three staff members have tested positive for Covid-19. Two work in the Elementary School and the other works district-wide.
They were last in school on Dec. 23. Due to the 48-hour lookback period, the Department of Health determined there was no need for contact tracing or the quarantine of additional students and staff members, the district stated on its website.
Holley Central School is reporting an elementary teacher has tested positive for Covid-19. The last day the teacher was in school was Monday.
“The health department is still processing this case and we will cooperate with them,” said Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent. “If warranted, any official decision on mandatory quarantining of students or staff members will come directly from the health department. If the health department indicates to us that there is quarantining required for the students (Red Hawks) who may have had close contact with this teacher on Monday, 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.”
Medina Central School on Monday reported several cases from winter break. Anyone associated with these cases due to school contact has already been contacted, Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said in a letter.
The positive cases include a student and a staff member in the high school, three students and one teacher in the middle school, two students and two teachers in the elementary school.
In Genesee County, 53 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,759 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford).
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Genesee also is reporting today that 47 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 25 residents hospitalized with Covid, up from 21 on Tuesday.
Of the new cases, 16 are residents at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia, 7 are residents at the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility, 2 are residents at Genesee Senior Living in Batavia, and 1 is a resident at the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.
Genesee is reporting two more deaths due to Covid, for 35 during the pandemic and 28 since Dec. 1. The deaths reported today include a resident of Genesee Senior Living and a resident at Leroy Village Green. Both of the individuals were over 65 years old.
“We will not be releasing any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family,” the G-O Health Departments said. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of these individuals during this difficult time.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2021 at 4:01 pm
Supporters of President Donald Trump pushed through barriers and security to breach the U.S. Capitol building today at about 1 p.m., stopping the count to certify the electoral vote for Joe Biden.
The breach by the protestors prompted members of Congress to be evacuated.
Area elected officials have issued the following statements:
State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda: “As a veteran, I’ve proudly fought for American’s right to protest peacefully. There is nothing peaceful about the chaos in Washington today. This is NOT who we are.”
Congressman Chris Jacobs, R-Orchard Park: “I condemn the violence and destruction that is taking place in our nation’s capital in the strongest possible terms. While our country cherishes peaceful protest, this current behavior is unacceptable and has no place in a democracy. I urge all protestors to immediately and peacefully leave the Capitol building and the surrounding area and to follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel.”
Congressman Joe Morelle, D-Rochester: “I am safe and sheltering in place while the Capitol is on lockdown. There is no place in our democracy for this violence. It must stop.”
Congressman Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo: “The US Capitol is a sacred space — a building at the literal center of our capital and central to our democracy. The actions of protestors today, egged on by the outgoing President to disrupt the certification of electrical votes of what is a ceremonial formality, should be seen by all Americans as a challenge to the legitimacy of our democracy. This is domestic terrorism and it has no place in America.”
Congressman Tom Reed, R-Corning: “Violence such as what we are seeing at the Capitol is absolutely unacceptable. We must de-escalate the situation immediately. We are Americans and do not do this.
“My heart breaks for our nation right now. Our country and its beautiful democracy is better than this. Our Constitution calls for the civil transition of power and though we may not agree with the election results, we must agree to always act with honor and civility towards all. We believe in the right to peacefully protest, but we must emphatically reject these horrible instances of physical attacks on our governing institutions and let democracy proceed.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo: “The cornerstone of our democracy is the peaceful transfer of power. We must call this what it actually is: a failed attempt at a coup. This is the final chapter of an incompetent, cruel, and divisive administration that has trampled on the Constitution and the rule of law at every turn, and we won’t let President Trump, the members of Congress who enable him, or the lawless mob that stormed our nation’s Capitol steal our democracy. The election results are clear and the will of the American people will be carried out.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia: “We have our First Amendment for a reason, violence is never acceptable regardless of what you believe politically. We are a people of one nation, regardless of political beliefs.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) released the following statement regarding the objections to the certification of the Electoral College.
“There is no question the presidential election was contentious and conducted under trying circumstances, leading several states to make unprecedented changes to their electoral systems without the authorization of their respective state legislatures as the Constitution dictates. This troubling fact, along with countless reports of election irregularities, has left many Americans with valid concerns about the integrity of the November 3rd presidential election because these concerns have yet to be properly adjudicated.
“I have a duty to represent my constituents and a constitutional duty to ensure the security and integrity of our elections. I do not take this decision lightly, but for these reasons feel it necessary to object to the certification of the electoral votes from contested states.
“The American people must have confidence in their elections, and I intend to work to restore that trust. As such, I will support efforts to achieve a full review of the actions taken by states that have led to the widespread distrust that now exists. I feel it is imperative to allow for this crucial national conversation to be debated in public on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Governor will include the proposals in State of the State
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a proposal to legalize and create a comprehensive system to oversee and regulate cannabis in New York as part of the 2021 State of the State.
Cuomo also will propose legislation to authorize mobile sports wagering as part of the 2021 State of the State.
Under the Governor’s proposal, a new Office of Cannabis Management would be created to oversee the new adult-use cannabis program, as well as the State’s existing medical and cannabinoid hemp programs.
Additionally, an equitable structure for the adult-use market will be created by offering licensing opportunities and assistance to entrepreneurs in communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Once fully implemented, legalization is expected to generate more than $300 million in tax revenue.
“Despite the many challenges New York has faced amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, it has also created a number of opportunities to correct longstanding wrongs and build New York back better than ever before,” Cuomo said. “Not only will legalizing and regulating the adult-use cannabis market provide the opportunity to generate much-needed revenue, but it also allows us to directly support the individuals and communities that have been most harmed by decades of cannabis prohibition.”
The Governor’s proposal builds on years of work to understand and decriminalize cannabis for adult use. In 2018, the Department of Health, under Governor Cuomo’s direction, conducted a multi-agency study which concluded that the positive impacts of legalizing adult-use cannabis far outweighed the negatives. It also found that decades of cannabis prohibition have failed to achieve public health and safety goals and have led to unjust arrests and convictions particularly in communities of color.
In 2019, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to decriminalize the penalties for unlawful possession of marijuana. The legislation also put forth a process to expunge records for certain marijuana convictions.
The new proposal reflects national standards and emerging best practices to promote responsible use, limiting the sale of cannabis products to adults 21 and over and establishing stringent quality and safety controls including strict regulation of the packaging, labeling, advertising, and testing of all cannabis products.
Cannabis regulation also offers the opportunity to invest in research and direct resources to communities that have been most impacted by cannabis prohibition.
Operator of online sports wagering needs to partner with a licensed casino
With the proposal for mobile sports wagering, the New York State Gaming Commission will issue a request for proposals to select and license a sports operator or platform to offer mobile sports wagering in New York.
This operator or platform must have a partnership with one of the existing licensed commercial casinos. The Commission will also require any entity operating mobile wagering apps include safeguards against abuses and addiction.
“At a time when New York faces a historic budget deficit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the current online sports wagering structure incentivizes a large segment of New York residents to travel out of state to make online sports wagers or continue to patronize black markets,” Cuomo said. “New York has the potential to be the largest sports wagering market in the United States, and by legalizing online sports betting we aim to keep millions of dollars in revenue here at home, which will only strengthen our ability to rebuild from the Covid-19 crisis.”
The sports gambling market is evolving rapidly. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court in Murphy v. NCAA overturned a federal law prohibiting most states from authorizing sports wagering. Sports wagering is now legal online in 14 states, including the bordering states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, while it is only legal in New York at the four Upstate commercial gaming facilities and Native American gaming facilities.
An industry study found that nearly 20 percent of New Jersey’s sports wagering revenue comes from New York residents, costing the State millions of dollars in lost tax revenue, Cuomo’s office said.
Press Release, New York State Association of Counties
With New York State reaching grim milestones in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, county executives from around the state held a press briefing on Tuesday where they pledged to help the state increase their vaccine distribution efforts.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, county leaders have been the onsite generals in this battle against the novel coronavirus,” said Stephen J. Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties. “Now, they are sitting on the bench waiting to get into the vaccine game so that they can do their part in the next phase of this pandemic. To be successful in this vital task, county leaders are now looking for information and data so that they can answer questions and help coordinate the distribution of the vaccine in their communities.”
“At the end of the day, the response to a public health concern begins and ends with local health departments. We have the plans in place, we just need to be empowered to activate them and implement them. We also need access to data so that we can track who is accessing vaccines and where we need to direct resources,” said NYSCEA President and Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro. “This will be the most important role we’ve ever undertaken. As someone who’s lost a loved one to this, I think it’s my mission as a local elected official to make sure we have the most robust, aggressive and efficient vaccination program in America, and I strongly believe we can achieve that if all levels of government work together.”
“We’re on the front lines with the on-the-ground knowledge. We see the people critical to the function of county government who are getting sick and need the vaccine now – police, firefighters, emergency management, 911 dispatchers,” said Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus. “We’re ready and able, we just need the green light to do what we need to do to start making a difference.”
“Our hospital network was not set up for what is going on here, that’s why the county health department should have been used. They’re making the best of a bad situation, but the fact of the matter is we’re wasting resources by duplicating efforts,” said Chemung County Executive Chris Moss. “If we don’t have better data sharing and coordination with the state, this just isn’t going to work.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2021 at 8:56 am
Independence, Green, Libertarian and Serve America Movement all knocked off the ballot
Four political parties in New York State – Independence, Green, Libertarian and the Serve America Movement – did not have enough votes in the last general election to remain a political party with a ballot line.
The state used to have a 50,000-vote threshold to allow ballot status for political parties. But that was changed to a 130,000-vote minimum in December 2019. The presidential election in November was the first with the new higher threshold.
The four parties all missed the mark and don’t have ballot status. The Orleans County Board of Elections has sent letters to registered voters in three of the parties (Green, Libertarian and Independence) advising them their parties no longer have ballot status and won’t be able to participate in a primary going forward. (The Serve America Movement doesn’t have registered voters in Orleans County.)
In Orleans County, the Board of Elections sent letters to 863 registered voters in the Independence Party, 120 in the Libertarian Party and 63 in the Green Party.
Those voters can remain in those parties but their enrollment will be changed to either OTHER-INDEPENDENCE, OTHER-LIBERTARIAN or OTHER-GREEN.
Registered voters in those parties could have the parties appear on the ballot but they would have to submit petitions and meet a signature threshold to have a candidate run as an independent, which would appear on the bottom of a ballot, and not be listed with candidates on parties with ballot status.
The parties with ballot status include Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Working Families. If registered voters in Orleans County from the Green, Libertarian and Independence want to switch to a party with ballot status and participate in a potential primary in June, they need to send a change of enrollment form to the Board of Elections by Feb. 14. Any enrollment change received after Feb. 14 will be effective on June 29.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2021 at 8:24 pm
Norris: Little chance legislation would even be brought to floor for a vote
State Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport, said his office has received hundreds of phone calls and emails from constituents concerned about legislation in the Assembly, calling for people to be detained who are potentially dangerous to public health.
Norris said the chances of the legislation passing are “extremely slim.” There is one Assembly sponsor and no matching bill in the State Senate, Norris wrote on his Assembly Facebook page.
His staff member, Alex Quinn, relayed Norris’s comments this evening in a conference call with elected officials in Orleans County.
Norris is “adamantly opposed” to the bill – A.416 – introduced by Nick Perry, D-Brooklyn. The issue has been highlighted in recent days by many Republican state legislators, including Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia.
“This bill is unconstitutional on its face and disregards all basic concepts of due process that make us free in this country,” Hawley said in a news release on Monday. “Protecting the health of our neighbors is a noble goal to be certain, but this bill forfeits our constitutional liberty in a way we can never allow.”
Norris said there are thousands of bills introduced in the State Legislature every year, and this bill has very little chance of being passed or even being brought to the floor for a vote.
“I am happy that so many people are engaged and making their voices heard,” Norris wrote on Facebook. “As your representative, I am proud to oppose this bill!”
The Poynter Institute’s Politifact researched the issue and found the legislation was first proposed in 2015 during the Ebola outbreak. It has not gained any traction in the Assembly and has never been heard in committee, Politifact stated, calling it “a dormant, years-old bill.”
Politifact said the legislation has been the subject of rapidly spreading conspiracy theories with some people claiming it’s a scheme by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to throw people into detainment camps.
The legislation was drafted during the Ebola outbreak in 2015, before a vaccine for that disease was approved, Politifact stated.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2021 at 4:31 pm
Hospitalizations due to Covid rise in both counties
The two counties of Genesee and Orleans are reporting 116 more confirmed cases of Covid, and both counties are seeing an increase in hospitalizations due to Covid, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
In Orleans County, there are 25 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported today, bringing the total to 1,502 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, 70s and 80s.
Of the new cases, only 1 was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported.
Orleans also is reporting 20 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
The county has 19 residents currently hospitalized with Covid, up from 16 on Monday..
In Genesee County, there are 91 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,706 cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford).
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Of the new cases, 1 is a resident at the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility, where 90 residents have now tested positive for Covid during the pandemic.
Genesee also has 35 more of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 21 residents hospitalized with Covid, up from 11 on Monday and 4 last Wednesday.
Genesee also is reporting two more deaths from Covid, both nursing home residents. One was a resident of Genesee Senior Living and the other lived at Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility. Both of the individuals were over 65 years old.
Genesee has now had 26 residents die since Dec. 1 due to a Covid-related illness.
• Health Alert – People should monitor themselves for symptoms of Covid-19 if they were at Denny’s Restaurant in Batavia from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 or Dec. 30.
If the symptoms develop, contact a primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until the test results are received.
Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Vaccine Information: Limited clinics are now open for only those in the Priority Group 1A. As of this release the following are included in this group:
All outpatient/ambulatory frontline, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care, or other staff in a position in which they have direct contact with patients (i.e. intake staff) will be eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. This includes but is not limited to individuals who work in private medical practices, hospital-affiliated medical practices, public health clinics, specialty medical practices of all types, dental practices of all types, dialysis workers, diagnostic and treatment centers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, phlebotomists, behavioral health workers, and student health workers.
All frontline, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting Covid-19 tests, those handling Covid-19 lab specimens and Covid-19 vaccinations.
Home care workers and aides, hospice workers, personal care aides, and consumer-directed personal care workers,
Staff and residents of nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and adult care facilities.
The vaccine availability is limited and determined by the state. For more information on when it will be available for the general public, keep checking the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department websites or the NYS Department of Health website.
Press Release, Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt
As the Legislative session is set to begin this week, Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) and members of the Republican Conference today unveiled a comprehensive vision to Reset New York.
The plan includes several components to address mounting economic and fiscal challenges facing the State – many of which were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic – and to help forge a better path forward for all New Yorkers.
“Under New York’s one-party control, we have seen a dramatic and unwelcome shift in our state’s priorities,” Ortt said. “Democrats displayed no interest in rebuilding our local economy, lessening the financial burden on our middle class, or stemming the ever-increasing outflow of New York residents fleeing our state. They sought to release dangerous criminals into our communities, undermine our law enforcement, and waste millions of dollars on progressive agenda items. The Covid-19 pandemic has only highlighted the need for immediate action on the unresolved challenges facing our small business community and New York’s hardworking taxpayers.”
The Senate Republicans’ plan includes proposals that prioritize restarting our local economies, rethinking how New York State operates, and renewing a commitment to New York State’s residents to ensure strong, robust communities.
Restart our Local Economies by:
Safely reopening our small businesses to help them get back on their feet and offer gainful employment for residents;
Helping our schools and colleges stay open; and
Investing in our physical and human infrastructure to rebuild our state’s competitiveness.
Rethink how New York State Operates by:
Ending New York State’s unaffordability problem, which has been made worse by the pandemic;
Taking on State government’s culture of overspending and restoring fiscal responsibility; and
Reasserting the Legislature’s constitutional authority as an equal branch of government.
Renew our Commitment to Residents by:
Fostering the growth of vibrant local communities;
Developing a robust economy with diverse opportunities; and
Creating safer neighborhoods with common sense public safety measures.
“New York government is failing its people,” said Deputy Leader Andrew Lanza of Staten Island. “Broken policies have made New York more expensive, less safe and have diminished the quality of life for our residents. We need to change course before it is too late.”
MIDDLEPORT – The new Royalton-Hartland Agriculture Foundation kicks off 2021 with a board of directors committed to providing investment and resources for innovative approaches to agriculture education, meeting needs of the Royalton-Hartland School District and the regional agricultural community.
Working cooperatively with the district, the RHAF plans to strengthen relationships with community leaders and businesses, increase leadership and character development opportunities for students, create a speakers bureau, arrange field trips for students and teachers, explore apprenticeship and job shadowing programs, and convene important conversations between the district and the community, said Mike Landers, president of the new foundation.
“The RHAF is separate from the district’s Board of Education,” Landers explained. “We believe we can bring countless opportunities to help the district, educators, administrators, students, parents and community. Our foundation is not responsible for any portion of the district’s budget.”
Joining Landers (Howell Motors) on the board include: Bob Confer (Confer Plastics), Dan Conley (USI Insurance Services), Mike Drum (Drum Oil & Propane), Steve Giroux (Middleport Family Health), Bob Masse (Frontier Airlines), Carisa Masse (JFK Middle School), Jeremy Silsby (Silsby Settlement Farms), Debi Sweeney (Maple View Dairy Farm) and John Sweeney (Maple View Dairy Farm). Non-voting members include Dr. Hank Stopinski, district superintendent, and Matthew Sweeney, Roy-Hart High School agriculture teacher.
A primary goal of the Foundation is to invest in creative educational programs and projects that have a significant positive impact on the lives of the students and families served. Beyond fund development, the RHAF seeks to provide networking opportunities, build relationships with stakeholder groups and the private sector, and offer culturally relevant information and training.
“In this unprecedented time for education, due to the pandemic and a reduction in state contracts, it is heartening that these high-profile community leaders are rallying others to learn about the exciting agriculture initiatives and programs in our schools,” Stopinski said. “Their leadership is gratifying to our school board, teachers and staff. The district looks forward to working with the Foundation to build a strong Agriculture Center of Excellence in the coming years.”
Provided photo from Orleans/Niagara BOCES: Pictured from left include Casey Lefever (Newfane), teacher Matt Anastasi, Robert Morehouse (Medina) and Kim Haas (Lockport).
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Last year, Orleans/Niagara BOCES Building Trades teacher Matt Anastasi was approached by Habitat for Humanity to work with them on building modular homes. Since Mr. Anastasi was already giving his Orleans Career and Technical Education Center students various skills to prepare them for a career in the construction field, the opportunity was too good to pass up.
“Habitat for Humanity’s mission is such an amazing one as far as transforming families’ lives through affordable home ownership, so it’s a real honor for me and my students to be able to help them with that,” Anastasi said.
With the pandemic curtailing class trips, such as visiting a building site, the opportunity to build the house at the center turned out to be very beneficial especially for this school year.
“The plan is to build a house every school year with the specifications given to us by Habitat for Humanity,” Anastasi said.
The 1,366-square-foot modular home is built from the ground up and the electricity/electronics program gets a lesson in wiring the house as well.
“Thanks to our administration and maintenance team we have a designated space in our classroom to work on it and my students are really able to see what is entailed in building a house and also the inspection process as well,” Anastasi said.
Both the junior and senior classes are working during class time to get the house completed by the spring.
“The seniors are handling the more detailed aspects of the house like the kitchen, bathroom, cabinets and countertops,” Anastasi said. “The juniors are working on the bedrooms, closets and sheds since they are just starting to learn about tools and techniques. It has also become a little competitive with the juniors asking what the seniors completed that day and wanting to top their efforts. I am also fortunate that some of my seniors will stay for the other half of the day to be peer-mentors to the juniors. It is just awesome the dedication I am seeing and the sense of pride.”
Student Kim Hass said she is really enjoying the class, but the process of building the house has made her a little nervous.
“Knowing that someone will be living here and this will be their home makes me want to do my best and make it perfect for them,” she said.
“An inspection company from Pennsylvania has been coming to our classroom to see that we are following code and they are very impressed with the students’ hard work,” Anastasi said. “They have driven 200 miles each time for the four inspections as we move on to the next layer of completion. Their inspector said he was so impressed with the students’ work he said he would buy the house himself. That is very gratifying as a teacher that the students have been able to pass every one of those inspections with flying colors and get that kind of validation. I am really proud of them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2021 at 9:24 am
Assistant superintendent, Mary Leto, announces she will retire on June 30
ALBION — The Board of Education is suspending the 30-hour community service requirement for seniors who haven’t met the threshold.
Their graduation credits will be adjusted from 23.5 credits to 23. That is still more than the state graduation requirement of 22 credits.
During its monthly meeting on Monday, the board also voted to give seniors who were scheduled to have internships the opportunity to reschedule a different course or be released following the third block. Parent permission will be needed for early dismissals.
In other action at the Board of Education meeting:
• The board was notified that Mary Leto, the assistant superintendent for instruction, will retire, effective June 30, 2021.
Michelle Powley, the high school secretary, also notified the district she will retire on Jan. 31.
“We have some pretty significant retirements coming up which will leave a very big hole in the district,” said Board of Education President Kathy Harling.
Leto has been one of the district’s top administrators for several years. She was at Monday’s BOE meeting.
“It will be very difficult to imagine not having you here Mary because you’ve been such a huge part of the district for so long,” Harling said.
• The board accepted an anonymous $1,000 donation to be used to purchase a sewing machine in the 12:1:1 life skills program. The sewing machine will go to a graduating senior in the 12:1:1 program who shows an interest in sewing as an ongoing life skill. The award recipients will be chosen by the 12:1:1 high school teacher and the high school principal.
• The Board of Education approved the following extracurricular athletic appointments:
Caleb Orbaker, modified baseball coach
Keith Akers, modified softball coach
David Skrip, middle school weight room, intramurals
Patrick Uveino, middle school weight room, intramurals
Michael Fahy, high school weight room, intramurals
Ocie Bennett, high school weight room intramurals
• The Board of Education approved the following additional extracurricular appointments:
Shari Berg, high school musical and play assistant director
Kailey Winans, high school musical and play assistant director
Photo courtesy of Albion Central School: Bailey Nesbitt and Adonis Guzman Ramirez were recognized on Monday by the Albion Board of Education.
Press Release, Albion Central School
ALBION – Two students from Albion’s Charles D’Amico High School were honored as part of the Board of Education meeting on Monday.
The virtual meeting featured a pre-recorded video of High School Principal Jennifer Ashbery officially presenting seniors Adonis Guzman Ramirez and Bailey Nesbitt with the Board of Education Character and Leadership Awards for the month of January.
“Anyone who knows Adonis knows that when you pass him in the hallway, you will see a smile on his face,” Ashbery said, presenting him with the BOE Character Award.
“Adonis is always going above and beyond in the classroom to help the other students in the class,” Krenning said when nominating Guzman Ramirez. “He wants everyone in the class to be successful and consistently helps others before himself.”
Krenning also noted that when Guzman Ramirez helped with the FFA Food Drive last month, he didn’t stop until it was finished – “He was the last student working, laughing and enjoying every minute.”
Elizabeth Henn, a foreign language teacher who has worked with Guzman Ramirez for the past four years said, “ I am so proud of Adonis. So many kids in our school look up to you, a true role model for our district and a true example of ‘Value Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere!’”
Nesbitt, also a senior, was been nominated for the Leadership Award by FFA Advisor Betsy Krenning.
“Nesbitt has led the Albion High School FFA, serving as the chapter’s president for the past four years,” Krenning said. “Each year she takes the lead in the Annual FFA Food Drive and this year’s food drive proved to be a monumental success.”
Despite the challenges of Covid-19, having only virtual meetings with the other officers, a new FFA advisor and starting the process three weeks later than previous years, they collected 53,000 pounds of food to donate to Community Action – surpassing their goal and collecting more produce than ever before.
“Bailey continues to model our district’s value of Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow,” Ashbery said. “I have no doubt that Bailey will take her Albion leadership skills out into the world and continue to make a positive impact on those around her.”
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday announced the latest prioritization for New Yorkers eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Beginning yesterday, eligibility is being expanded to include all outpatient/ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers who provide direct in-person patient care, as well as all public health care workers who provide direct in-person care, including those who conduct Covid-19 tests and handle lab specimens.
Beginning this week, eligibility will also be expanded to include home care workers, hospice workers, and nursing home and other congregate setting workers who have yet to receive a vaccine through the federal nursing home vaccination program.
“While we’re trying to control Covid with one hand, we’re trying to defeat it with the other and the vaccine is the weapon that will win this war,” Governor Cuomo said. “Getting this vaccine out is going to be the single greatest operation government has ever had to accomplish and we’re taking bold actions to ensure it is delivered swiftly and equitably for all New Yorkers.”
Continued Expansion of Eligibility
Under the Department of Health’s most recent eligibility guidance, beginning January 4, all Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care, or other staff in a position in which they have direct contact with patients will be eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccine.
This includes, but is not limited to:
Individuals who work in private medical practices
Hospital-affiliated medical practices; public health clinics
Specialty medical practices of all types
Dental practices of all types
Dialysis workers
Diagnostic and treatment centers
Occupational therapists
Physical therapists
Speech therapists
Phlebotomists
Behavioral health workers
Student health workers
Additionally, all front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including individuals who administer Covid-19 tests, handle Covid-19 lab specimens, and those directly engaged in Covid-19 vaccinations are also eligible to receive the vaccine.
Eligibility also expands this week to include home care workers, those in the consumer directed programs, hospice workers, and staff of nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities and other congregate settings who did not receive the Covid-19 vaccination through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.
• New Efforts to Expedite Vaccine Delivery and Administration
As part of New York’s effort to further expedite the delivery and administration of the Covid-19 vaccine, a number of efforts are now underway.
New ‘Am I Eligible?’ App
New York State has launched a new ‘Am I Eligible ” app to help New Yorkers determine their eligibility, connect them with administration centers, and schedule appointments. To access the app, as well as find the latest information concerning the vaccine and its administration, click here.
Supplemental Support for Federal Nursing Home Vaccination Program
Currently, 611 facilities in New York have enrolled in the federal government’s Nursing Home Vaccination Program, in which staff and residents receive vaccinations through a partnership with pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.
According to the latest data, 288 facilities – or 47 percent – have completed the first dose for residents. Through state facilitation, 234 more facilities will administer the first dose this week. This will ensure that 85 percent of facilities have administered the first dose to residents by week’s end, with the remaining 15 percent to be completed over the next two weeks.
Planning for Vaccination of General Public
As the state moves closer to the vaccination of the general public, a number of special efforts are now underway to ensure resources are in place to facilitate widespread vaccination, especially in underserved communities.
First, the state will establish a number of pop-up vaccination centers to facilitate public vaccinations, similar to the state-run mobile testing centers which were established in the spring. The state is also identifying public facilities and convention centers to also be used as vaccination centers, and is recruiting retired nurses, doctors and pharmacists to support vaccine administrations.
A main focus of these efforts will also be focused on ensuring vaccine access in underserved communities and health care deserts. The state is already in the process of building Community Vaccination Kits to support these efforts and will work with public housing officials, churches and community centers to identify the most appropriate locations for kit deployments.
Each kit includes step-by-step instructions for how to set up a site, and critical supplies and equipment such as:
Office Supplies
Workstation Equipment
Communications Equipment
Cleaning Supplies
Lighting Equipment
PPE
Crowd/Traffic Control Equipment
Vials
Syringes
Room Dividers
Privacy Curtains
Ensuring Accountability Within Vaccine Administration Process
The vaccine will only be effective if it is administered quickly and fairly across every corner of the state. To facilitate this, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker issued a letter to vaccine providers in recent days outlining the expectations which have been placed on providers to ensure an expedited administration of the vaccine. This included:
Any provider must use the vaccine inventory currently in hand by the end of week or face a fine up to $100,000;
Moving forward, facilities must use all of its vaccine allotment within seven days of receipt;
Providers who do not comply or are found to be seriously deficient can be subject to more serious sanctions and fines, including being disqualified from future distribution
Additionally, with fraud being a real concern of any operation this size, the Governor is signing an Executive Order stating that if any entity falsifies who or what they are, or if any entity does not follow state guidelines on vaccine eligibility, that provider will be subject to license revocation. The Governor will also be proposing legislation to make these acts criminal moving forward.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2021 at 8:11 pm
2 counties combined pass 4,000 cases in pandemic
There are 267 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Genesee and Orleans counties, in the first update since Thursday from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments. The new cases put the combined total in the two counties past 4,000 to 4,092 since March.
In Orleans County, there are 101 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,477 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, 70s, 80s and 90s. Of the new cases, 8 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans also is reporting 65 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
There are 16 residents from Orleans hospitalized with Covid.
The Health Department also is reporting a resident over age 65 passed away due to Covid.
“We will not report any other details out of respect for the person and their family,” the Health Department reported. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this person during this very difficult time.”
Albion Central School reported an elementary student and elementary school staff member tested positive for Covid-19 over winter break.
“As we were not in session, the Department of Health determined there was no need for contact tracing or the quarantine of additional students and staff members,” the district stated on its website.
In Genesee County, there are 166 new confirmed cases for a total of 2,615 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford).
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Of the new cases, 3 are residents at the Batavia VA Medical Center, 2 are residents at the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility and 1 is a resident at the Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia.
Genesee also has had 141 of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 11 residents hospitalized with Covid.
Genesee also is reporting that 2 residents from LeRoy Village Green have passed away due to Covid. Both of the individuals were over 65 years old.
