George Bower and John Heise both made a lasting impact and delighted in small-town life

HOLLEY – The Holley community has lost two of its most dedicated leaders with the recent deaths of former County Legislator George Bower and John Heise, a retired Holley school administrator who remained active on the Board of Education and the Rotary Club.

Photos by Tom Rivers: George Bower is pictured in December 2013 at Holley Public Square after a breakfast at Sam’s Diner. He and his wife Sandy raised their four children in Holley and all remained in the community as adults.

Both enjoyed life in a small town and attended numerous school events and community activities.

Bower was at Sam’s Diner almost every morning where he relished being one of the guys. He didn’t want to talk about county business or politics. Instead, it was updates on the grandkids and the Holley sports teams.

Bower passed away at age 83 last week. He had a long career at Kodak and 45 years of local public service, with 21 years as a Murray town justice and 24 years on the County Legislature, including a term as the chairman and six years as vice chairman.

“We remember George as a very dedicated family man,” Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said in leading a moment of silence for Bower during last week’s Legislature meeting. “He also was very involved in the community.”

Heise worked as a Holley school principal. He waited two years after he retired before joining the Holley Board of Education. He was the board president for 9 years. He served on the Library Board and the Village Board. He was Holley’s representative on the board for the Monroe II-Orleans BOCES.

“I know it’s a cliché but I want to give back to the community because the community has been good to me,” Heise told me in an interview in 2013. “It’s a good little community. We love it here.”

John Heise gives Holley’s commencement address on June 28, 2014. He was heavily involved with the school district the past 40 years.

Heise was very active with the Holley Rotary Club and the Rotary District 7090, which includes about 70 Rotary clubs in Western New York and Ontario, Canada. He was district governor in 2011-12. He led Rotary’s youth exchange programs and brought many foreign exchange students to Holley. He delighted in taking them to sites around Western New York, and attended many of their school events as a doting supporter.

Heise passed away on Wednesday at age 73.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of an extraordinarily beloved, irreplaceable member of our Rotary Club and a pillar in the Holley community, Mr. John Heise,” The Holley Rotary Club posted on Facebook today. “John was a selfless soul, always ready to help and give whatever the goal. He was a leader and a friend to all of us. He touched so many lives both here and abroad over the decades and personified the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self,” enriching everyone he came across with a spirit of joy and enlightenment.”

Bower was often outspoken on the County Legislature, willing to cast a lone nay vote. He opposed the effort to sell the county nursing home, for example.

Bower say the nursing home as a source of pride. He often stopped by and visited with residents, especially on the major holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

When the county completed a $10 million expansion and renovation of the nursing home in 2007, Bower proudly led tours of the site.

Bower made friends with the residents, many who seldom were visited because their families are out of town. He offered encouraging words to the staff, who Bower said do the hardest jobs in the county, with the least appreciation.

“I think the workers are special,” Bower told me in an interview back in January 2006. “I understand what they do day in and day out. They make the nursing home the best asset in the county.”

George Bower, left, and Carson Bailey walk through The Villages of Orleans after a $10 million addition and renovation project was complete in 2007. Bower was proud of the nursing home when it was owned by the county.

Bower enjoyed the community, whether the annual bocce tournament at St. Rocco’s Italian Festival the Sunday before Labor Day, snowmobiling on local trails or attending the many sporting events for his grandchildren – Holley soccer, basketball, baseball or softball games.

Bower was proud of his kids. His late son, Ed, worked at Kodak and was a Murray Town Board member for more than 20 years. Randy was a dispatcher before being elected Orleans County sheriff. Mike owns the Erie Way Tree Farm in Clarendon with his wife Jill. Bower’s daughter Lisa Logsdon has run a popular dance studio in the Public Square, Lisa’s Dance Boutique, for more than 40 years.

Bower lived in the Holley area all of his life. He grew up in the Erie Canal hamlet of Brockville, only a few miles from Holley. His wife Sandy grew up nearby in Hulberton. They were married 62 years.

He resisted moving closer to the city for his job at Kodak. Bower worked 48 years for Kodak, starting as a draftsman and working his way up to head of patent researching, a job that took him to Washington, D.C. monthly for more than 25 years. He went to D.C. to the U.S. Patent Office to check patents. He would make sure other companies weren’t infringing on Kodak, and vice versa.

Bower told me in previous interviews that as the town justice he abhorred fines, preferring to assign community service. If teen-ager was in trouble, Bower scheduled appointments were the teens had to meet with him and prove they were doing their homework. But court got busier near the end of Bower’s tenure, and he didn’t have the time to work with some of the troubled teens.

“The job wasn’t as rewarding,” he said.

With the Legislature he quickly found his niche. First off he pushed to start a work crew were welfare recipients would build sidewalks and do other public works for local municipalities. Rather than sitting at home and “wasting time,” Bower said they people on the crews were learning work skills. The program drew attention to the county from throughout the state.

Bower in previous interviews also was pleased with the development of the Holley Business Park, where Holley’s low-cost village electricity was a draw for companies.

Provided photo: John Heise took Milla Steenholdt, Holley’s exchange student from Greenland, to Niagara Falls last year. Milla was at Holley for the 2019-2020 school year. Heise welcomed many of the exchange students at Holley, and took them to many of the popular sites in Western New York, as well as attending many of their athletic events and activities at Holley.

John Heise enjoyed life in Holley, and frequently posted on Facebook about how proud he was of students at Holley Central School. He shared his photos from athletic games, school musicals, concerts and other events.

His daughter, school social worker Samantha Zelent, leads the Interact Cub, which is affiliated with Rotary. Those students tackle numerous community service projects throughout the year and Heise loved to talk them up on Facebook.

Heise was one of Holley’s most enthusiastic cheerleaders, and one of its most dedicated workers.

Heise and his wife Sandy, a retired Albion teacher, were married more than 50 years. Besides Samantha, they have a son, Kevin. The family lived on North Main Street. Heise loved to read the New York Times and a novel from his porch. He often posted book reviews on Facebook, or his thoughts on a news article. He shared his feelings on the emotional roller-coaster ride as a Buffalo Bills fans in recent years.

He came to Holley after 11 years in the Rochester City School District. He was first hired at Holley Elementary School principal and then went to the high school as principal.  He ended his career as the district’s Director of Special Education, retiring in 2002.

Heise in his role as Board of Education president congratulated and handed diplomas to about 1,000 students in a decade. He was picked to give the Holley commencement address on June 28, 2014.

“No matter what your path, you have an opportunity to reinvent yourself,” Heise told the graduates. “Keep what is good, get rid of what is not, and move forward. There will always be new skills to learn. Listen to others. Choose your friends wisely. Anything you achieve will come from hard work.”

In Genesee, new cases include 43 nursing home residents from 3 sites; Genesee passes 2,000 cases

Message from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments: Due to the Christmas holiday, we will not be reporting out on Friday. Monday’s report will include Friday and the weekend coverage. We would like to take this time to wish everyone a healthy, safe and Merry Christmas! Please limit contact and time with non-household members, wash hands frequently and wear a mask/face covering to limit the spread.

Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting 149 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today. The two counties combined now have had 3,238 confirmed cases since March.

In Orleans County, there are 26 new positive cases, bringing the county’s total to 1,159 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 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Of the new cases, 2 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Of the new cases, 8 are inmates of the Orleans Correctional Facility. That men’s prison has now had 29 inmates test positive for Covid.

The county is reporting that 19 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 8 residents from Orleans County hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County, there are 123 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 2,079 positive cases.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Corfu, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Stafford and Pavilion).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Genesee is reporting 38 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county has 29 residents hospitalized due to Covid, which is up from 14 on Monday.

Of the new cases, 23 are residents at Genesee Senior Living, 13 are residents at LeRoy Village Green, 7 are residents at New York State Veterans Home in Batavia and 1 is an inmate at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia. The Health Departments also said one positive case previously reported as a resident of Premier Genesee is actually a resident of Genesee Senior Living.

• Health Alert – This is a new format for announcing when there is a time when the G-O Health Departments cannot contact potential close contacts. This will replace several press releases and will be reported as needed.

The Health Departments encourage all businesses and organizations to take down names/contact information and time in attendance at their business to assist with contact tracing should someone be positive for Covid-19. This may eliminate the need for a press alert if the health officials are able to contact potential close contacts.

For people at Tully’s in Batavia on Dec. 13, between noon and 1:30 p.m., and for people at Fortunes in Batavia on Dec. 13, between 3 and 8 p.m., they should monitor for symptoms of Covid-19. 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.

Orleans could get 2-5 inches, with other parts of WNY forecast for up to 18 inches

Orleans County and Western New York should have a white Christmas. It has been raining today in Orleans County with a high near 50.

But that will start to change later this evening. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Orleans and Niagara counties, from 7 p.m. today until noon on Christmas, with 2 to 5 inches of snow expected and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch.

“Plan on very slippery road conditions due to the combination of mixed precipitation and snow,” said the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The high temperature for Orleans County is forecast to be 30 on Christmas.

Other Western New York counties – Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua – are forecast for 9 to 18 inches of snow.

Orleans County has had fewer people working during the pandemic than in the last 30 years. It is likely even longer than that, but the state Department of Labor data only goes back to 1990.

The DOL this week released employment data for November 2020. The state report shows 15,800 people were working in the county in November. That is the fewest of any November since 1990.

The most workers the county has had in a November was in 1998 when there were 20,300 workers, according to the DOL. In November 1990, the first year of the statistics available online, Orleans had 18,300 workers. In November 2019, there were 16,700 employed.

The 15,800 working last month is actually a big improvement from April, when the state Department of Labor counted 14,300 workers in Orleans. That was the peak of the government shutdown on nonessential businesses.

The 14,300 was the only time in the past 30 years Orleans has dipped below 15,000 workers.

The highest level of employment in the 30 years: June and July in 1998 when the county had 20,800 people working.

To see the data on Orleans, click here and search under Orleans County.

Unemployment rate continues to go down from pandemic high

The latest data from state Department of Labor shows the number of people working in Orleans County is down by 1,000 people from a year ago, when there wasn’t a Covid-19 wreaking havoc on the economy.

The DOL reported there were 15,800 people working in Orleans County in November, down from 16,800 in November 2019. The county’s unemployment rate last month was 5.4 percent, compared to 4.4 percent the previous November.

Here are the unemployment rates and number of unemployed in the Orleans County during the pandemic:

• March: 5.4 percent, 900 unemployed
• April: 15.9 percent, 2,700 unemployed
• May: 11.5 percent, 1,900 unemployed
• June: 10.8 percent, 1,900 unemployed
• July: 12.7 percent, 2,300 unemployed
• August: 9.8 percent, 1,700 unemployed
• September: 5.5 percent, 900 unemployed
• October: 6.0 percent, 1,000 unemployed
• November: 5.4 percent, 900 unemployed

Nationally the number of people working is down by 8.7 million, from 158.9 million in November 2019 to 150.2 million last month. In New York, the number of people employed shrunk by 790,000 in the 12 months, down from 9.15 million to 8.36 million.

The Rochester metro has 30,000 fewer workers, down from 500,100 to 470,000, while the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro is down by 19,500 workers — from 517,300 to 497,700.

The employment data for other nearby counties (with November 2019 in parentheses) and the change in the number of people working:

• Erie, 5.9 percent (4.2) – Decline from 423,200 working to 407,300
• Genesee, 4.6 percent (3.8) – Workers down from 28,400 to 27,000
• Livingston, 5.6 percent (3.9) – Decline from 29,500 to 27,700
• Monroe, 6.0 percent (4.0) – Down from 346,900 working to 326,100
• Niagara, 6.0 percent (4.7) – Decline from 94,100 employed to 90,500
• Ontario, 4.6 percent (3.6) – Down from 53,300 working to 50,100
• Orleans, 5.4 percent (4.4) – Down from 16,800 workers to 15,800
• Wyoming, 4.7 percent (4.0) – Decline from 17,100 to 16,400

New York City is suffering the highest unemployment rates — 16.0 percent in Bronx, 12.1 percent in Kings (Brooklyn), 9.3 percent in New York County (Manhattan) Richmond (Staten Island), 9.8 percent and Queens, 11.6 percent.

Tompkins and Columbia counties have the lowest rates at 4.0 percent.

Provided photos: Roy and Phyllis Salmon are shown with their son, Scott; grandson, Dale Salmon, and daughter, Trudy Salmon.

Roy and Phyllis Salmon were married on Dec. 24, 1960 at a church in Eagle Harbor.

WATERPORT – Phyllis and Roy Salmon are celebrating their 60^th wedding anniversary today. Phyllis is retired from Marine Midland Bank in Albion and Roy is retired from Albion School as bus driver.

They have lived on their farm in Waterport their entire marriage. They have two children, Scott and Trudy, and a grandson, Dale Salmon.

Mr. Salmon is the third generation on the farm. He raised beef cattle and cabbage until the mid-’80s. Now it’s outsourced for corn and soybeans.

“Their secret is to work hard and have always put the family first,” said their daughter, Trudy. “My parents are content to have us around and the chaos and laughs we bring.”

Genesee County tops 1,000 cases so far in December

Message from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments: Covid-19 is widespread throughout Genesee and Orleans counties. With the high prevalence of active cases, we are changing the way we are reporting the positive cases to regionally rather than listing each of the towns. Detailed demographic data is still being captured by the state.

The Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments reported 65 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the two counties today.

In Orleans County, there are 15 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 1,133 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, 70s and 80s.

Four of the new positives are inmates at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a men’s prison.

Of the new cases, one was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported in a news brief this evening.

The county also is reporting 14 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Orleans has 8 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid, which is up from 2 a week ago on Dec. 16.

Since Dec. 1, Orleans has 510 new confirmed cases of Covid, going from 623 cases to 1,133.

Genesee suffers 14^th death this month from Covid

In Genesee County, there 50 new confirmed cases of Covid for a total of 1,956 positive cases since March.

Genesee County started December with 954 cases during the pandemic. It has added 1,002 more in just over three weeks.

The new positive cases reported today reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Corfu, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Stafford and Pavilion).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Of the new cases, 16 are residents at LeRoy Village Green, 6 are residents at Premier Genesee, and 3 are residents at New York State Veterans Home in Batavia.

Genesee is reporting that 74 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 20 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid, which is down from 24 a week ago on Dec. 16.

Genesee County also is reporting a resident over age 65 has died due to Covid, the 14^th death in the county from Covid in December. Genesee has now suffered 21 deaths in the pandemic after people were sickened by the coronavirus.

Photos contributed: Volunteers who worked to pack food and gift boxes for more than 60 families posed for a picture at The Grove United Methodist Church in Medina on Saturday. From left are chairwoman of the MAAC Red Barrels, Sherry Tuohey, Bev Woodward, Robin Dubai, Judy Holbrook, Barb Vreeland, Kathy McMoil, Ruth Cleveland, Diane Mazur and Denny Dubai. The number of volunteers was limited because of Covid restrictions.

MEDINA – Christmas came a little early to more than 60 families in the Medina area on Saturday.

It was the day local firefighters delivered food and gift boxes from MAAC’s Red Barrel program.

Sherry Tuohey, who heads the annual Christmas program, said the number of families who applied for holiday assistance this year was a little less than other years, yet they still provided Christmas boxes to more than 180 adults and children, as well as 19 senior citizens.

Volunteer Diane Mazur chooses gifts and packs a box for a family who was helped by MAAC’s Christmas Barrels. The barrels were delivered Saturday by local firefighters.

The boxes were delivered by firefighters from Medina, Ridgeway, Shelby and East Shelby, who also picked up the full barrels from local businesses and organizations.

Due to the Covid pandemic, Tuohey said it was a challenge this year to still be able to run the program and adhere to the restrictions in place.

“Everything had to be tweaked this year,” Tuohey said.

First, the barrels had to be picked up earlier than usual so they could quarantine for three days before volunteers started unpacking them. Then, when the barrels were sorted and the boxes packed, they had to quarantine for three days before firefighters could deliver them.

Also, there was a limit of 10 volunteers at a time at The Grove United Methodist Church, where the barrels were unloaded and boxes packed up. And, the church was unable to serve breakfast to the firefighters as a thank you. Instead, they gave each firefighter, and any family member who came with them, with breakfast in a bag.

“We tried to patronize local businesses in providing breakfast for the firefighters,” Tuohey said.

Sue Metzo checks the paperwork for the more than 60 boxes of food and gifts which were delivered to adults, children and seniors on Saturday, through the MAAC Red Barrel program. Metzo was in charge of the program for many years.

Cinnamon rolls came from Case-Nic Cookies, Papa Thom’s Rockin’ Bagels provided bagels and Della’s Chocolates made chocolate firemen’s badges and helmets. Little bottles of cider came from Roberts’ Farm Market and bottles of chocolate milk were purchased from Sure Fine in Albion. Gift cards from Tim Hortons and a candy cane completed the breakfast, which was put in festive red plaid bags.

Food for the gift boxes was purchased from Tops and Aldi’s, Tuohey said. Each family received, not only gifts for everyone, but food for a complete Christmas dinner. New this year was the addition of personal care items, an idea of Kathy McMoil, who gathered all the items and made up a bag for each gift box. The committee also included a roll of wrapping paper and Scotch tape this year.

Kristin McAdoo and her dad Don Marchner, members of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, were among the firefighters who volunteered Saturday to deliver gift boxes to more than 60 families for MAAC’s Red Barrel program.

Lt. Steve Cooley of the Medina Fire Department coordinated efforts of the firefighters, who have volunteered their services for several decades. They start in November when they deliver the barrels to sites throughout the Medina area. This year 41 barrels were delivered, and Tuohey said many of them were overflowing when they were returned.

“We couldn’t do this without so many volunteers and the cooperation of the community,” Tuohey said. “We thank the businesses who allowed us to place barrels in their building and the individuals who knitted and crocheted hats, mittens and scarves.”

It may be a lot of work, but Tuohey said it is so rewarding.

“Some families have already reached out to thank us,” she said.

Lt. Jacob Crooks of the Medina Fire Department checks addresses on some boxes of gifts and food, which were delivered to families in Medina on Saturday.

Provided photo

A new billboard recently went up near Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. That’s the home of the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills’ main nemesis the past 25 years in denying the Bills an AFC East title. That changed this season with the Bills winning the division and eyeing a deep run in the playoffs.

Megan Baker, a Kendall graduate, lives in Quincy, Ma. She stopped by the billboard with her friend, John Ryan, a Rochester native. They are both proud members of the Bills Mafia.

Fox hosted the online competition and the Bills fans won for the best in the NFL. Their reward: a billboard recognizing the honor. Bills fans voted to have the billboard near the Patriots home field.

The Bills will be in Foxborough on Monday to play the Patriots beginning at 8:15 p.m. The Bills are 11-3 so far this season and the Patriots are 6-8. Other AFC East teams include the Miami Dolphins at 9-5 and the New York Jets at 1-13.

Buffalo on Saturday clinched its first AFC East title since 1995.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that plans are currently under development to allow fans to attend the Buffalo Bills’ first home playoff game in more than two decades under strict Covid-19 protocols.

Under the proposal, which is being developed cooperatively between the Bills and New York State, fans in attendance would be required to receive a negative Covid-19 test result before being allowed into the stadium. Contact tracing will also be conducted after the game. If implemented, this plan could serve as a model for reopening entertainment venues across New York.

“New Yorkers are incredibly proud of the Buffalo Bills and with their first home playoff game in more than 20 years coming up in just a few weeks, we are working closely with the team to develop a plan to allow a limited number of fans to attend the game,” Governor Cuomo said. “Not only would strict mask and social distancing guidelines be in effect, but under the current proposal, this would be the first stadium in the nation to require that all fans obtain a negative Covid-19 test before entering. If a final agreement can be reached and the plan works, this could also serve as a model for reopening other entertainment venues across the state. Bills fans have been waiting decades for another home playoff game and after such a tumultuous year, they deserve the opportunity to be able to root for their team in person, as long as it can be done safely. Go Bills!”

Under the plan submitted by the Bills to the state, team staff will control all exit and entry points to the stadium and only fans with a documented negative Covid-19 test would be allowed inside. To facilitate testing prior to the game, the State Department of Health would facilitate the deployment of rapid testing resources. If implemented, this would be the first stadium reopening plan in the nation to require testing and contact tracing.

Once inside the stadium, fans would be required to wear a mask at all times and adhere to strict social distancing protocols. Fans who refuse to comply with these protocols would be removed from the stadium by Bills’ security personnel. Ushers will also be present in throughout the stadium to ensure all fans are in compliance. As part of the state’s review, personnel from the Department of Health have traveled to other stadiums outside of New York where similar protocols are in place to confirm their effectiveness.

Tailgating would remain banned under this plan and New Yorkers are being reminded to avoid gatherings and parties before, during and after the game as these events are prime for viral spread.

Dr. Howard Zucker says New York State prepared to allow 6,700 fans in for playoff games. Fans will be tested before entering the stadium, with potential contact tracing to follow. Zucker says it will be a kind of first-in-the-nation plan to allow fans this way.

New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that New York had the biggest population decline in the country since 2019.

The state’s population shrunk by 0.65 percent or 126,355, down from 19,463,131 on July 1, 2019 to 19,336,776 on July 1, 2020.

That compares to the national population growing by 0.35 percent during the year, or up another 1,154,170, according to the report released Tuesday from the U.S. Census Bureau.

New York hasn’t gained population since the last Census in 2010, when there were 19,378,102 residents. If the latest estimate reflects the population in the 2020 Census, the state could see its congressional seats reduced from 27 to 25, with less political clout for New York.

The Empire Center in Albany attributed the decline in the past year to foreign immigration falling off sharply in New York. Previous Census estimates show the main factor for the state’s lack of growth is due mainly to an outmigration flow of 1.4 million people to other states since 2010, the Empire Center said.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday signed the New York Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2020 (S.8806 / A.8280C) into law, requiring designated State agencies to establish an automatic voter registration system as proposed by the Governor in State of the State in 2019 and 2020.

This modernized system will expedite voter registration and create a straightforward process for New Yorkers applying for services at designated agencies to also register to vote. The law will help increase voter turnout while reducing administrative barriers to processing voter registration applications.

“The right to vote is one of, if not the most, sacred pillars of our democracy and for too long, bureaucratic red tape has made it unnecessarily difficult for New Yorkers to exercise this right,” Cuomo said. “From instituting early voting to making necessary reforms to the absentee ballot process, New York has already made elections more accessible, but we are far from finished. With this new law on the books, we are taking this work a step further and not only instituting automatic voter registration, but creating a single uniform platform for registering online.”

The new law designates the Department of Motor Vehicles and other State agencies that interact directly with New York residents to work with the State Board of Elections to integrate agency and voter registration applications. This new, single application will serve as both an application for services and a voter registration application.

Only eligible voters may register, and applications will be transmitted to the State Board of Elections with the signature and consent of the applicant. Applicants will also be given the opportunity to choose a political party. Pursuant to changes agreed to by the Legislature, the DMV will come online in 2023, followed by the Department of Health, Department of Labor and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance in 2024. The State University of New York will come online in 2025. This system will remove yet another barrier to voter participation by making it easy for New Yorkers to register to vote.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Personnel at the first Orleans County rapid test clinic last Wednesday take rapid tests of people in vehicles. They submitted self-administered tests of nasal samples. The county did 420 tests that day with 12 testing positive, or 2.9 percent. On Monday, there were 22 positives out of 546 for 4.0 percent.

ALBION – Orleans County in recent weeks has had one of the highest positivity rates in the region for Covid-19 tests.

The county currently has a 9.0 percent positivity rate over the past 14 days. Only Genesee, at 10.1 percent, is higher among the nine counties in the Finger Lakes Region.

The percentage in Orleans is expected to drop as the county does weekly rapid tests for people who are asymptomatic.

The county’s rate for the past 7 days is 8.6 percent, down from the 9.0 percent over two weeks. The 8.6 percent the past seven days is the third highest in the Finger Lakes, behind Genesee at 11.4 percent and Monroe at 8.7 percent.

The first rapid testing clinic in Orleans County a week ago had 12 positives out of 420 tests, or a 2.9 percent positive rate. On Monday, there were 546 tests with 22 positives, or 4.0 percent. Of the positives, 21 were Orleans County residents, said Paul Pettit, the public health director in Genesee and Orleans.

Here is how the nine counties in the Finger Lakes Region compare in the past week, and two weeks for percentage of tests that are positive for Covid-19:

• Genesee, 7-day average – 11.4%; 14-day average – 10.1%
• Livingston, 7-day average – 6.9%; 14-day average – 6.5%
• Monroe, 7-day average – 8.7%; 14-day average – 8.7%
• Ontario, 7-day average – 7.0%; 14-day average – 7.0%
• Orleans, 7-day average – 8.6%; 14-day average – 9.0%
• Seneca, 7-day average – 7.7%; 14-day average – 7.0%
• Wayne, 7-day average – 6.7%; 14-day average – 6.4%
• Wyoming, 7-day average – 8.6%; 14-day average – 8.3%
• Yates, 7-day average – 3.8%; 14-day average – 4.7%

Source: Forward NY (Click here)

Orleans County will be doing the weekly rapid testing clinics until at least late January. In Genesee, there are two a week. Oak Orchard Health also did a rapid testing clinic on Friday evening with 140 tested.

“I think we’ve turned a corner to provide that access to our residents, which was something we struggled with,” Pettit said.

Orleans has its next clinic on Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Click here for registration information.

Pettit praised the staff at the Health Department, Orleans County Emergency Management Office and other agencies and businesses for providing the personnel for the clinics. About 40 people have helped with the clinics.

“This is a great collaboration,” Pettit told elected officials on a weekly conference call on Tuesday evening. “It takes a lot of hands to make it work. It looks like things are running very smooth. We should all be very proud of that.”

Genesee County next hosts a rapid testing clinic on Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management/Fire Training Center on State Street Road in Batavia. Click here for registration information.

The clinics in Orleans and Genesee are open to people outside the host county.

Provided photos

KENDALL – Santa makes a connection with a Kendall child during a visit on Tuesday evening. Santa made 31 stops in the Kendall community on Tuesday, visiting homes of children who are housebound due to a Covid-19 quarantine.

Kristen Ostrander, who has two children in the district, said she felt bad for kids in mandatory or precautionary quarantine during the holiday season.

“Hearing that these kids were missing out on the best time of the year, broke my heart,” she said. “Being in quarantine stinks in general but to be in quarantine during Christmas is terrible.”

Santa delivers a gift bag and a friendly greeting to this boy.

Ostrander last Friday posted in a  Facebook group for Kendall parents. She asked if anyone wanted to me with a project for the students that are in quarantine this holiday season.

“Never did I think I would get such a huge response from our community,” Ostrander said. “Not only did I have people contacting me from Kendall but other counties and even from another state. Everyone wanted to help make Christmas a little brighter for the students in quarantine.”

Ostrander received gift bags, snack items, craft items, coupons for free ice cream cones from Circle R Farms, monetary donations towards Redbox codes and McDonald’s gift certificates.

“I’m so thankful for everyone that helped me,” Ostrander said.

Ostrander also reached out to Santa to see if he would stop by the homes. Santa was able to give nearly four hours Tuesday, going house to house for the kids in quarantine.

“It was not your normal visit from Santa, but we made it work,” Ostrander said. “The kids were just as happy to see Santa through a window or door.”

Nate Smith, a Kendall ninth-grader, smiles when Santa stopped by.

The Hardenbrook family was happy to see Santa on Tuesday.

“It was an awesome time,” Ostrander said. “Many times I was fighting back tears. The joy the kids had when they saw Santa was priceless.”

Kristen Ostrander and Santa spread some holiday joy on Tuesday in Kendall.

Former Congressman Chris Collins, who starting serving a 26-month sentence in a federal prison in October, has been pardoned by President Donald J. Trump.

Chris Collins

Collins was the first member of Congress to endorse Trump for president on Feb. 24, 2016. He also was a frequent Trump surrogate, appearing on many news programs to speak on behalf of Trump and his policies.

Collins was charged with conspiring to commit securities fraud and making false statements to the FBI. He was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison and on Oct. 13 he reported to a minimum security federal prison camp in Pensacola, Fla.

In a news release from the White House, President Trump granted the full pardon “at the request of many Members of Congress.”

The news release notes that Collins served in Congress for nearly seven years, and “spent his early career as a successful businessman and entrepreneur, before devoting his life to public service.”

Collins was elected County Executive for Erie County in 2007, and served one four-year term.

“During his tenure in Congress, Mr. Collins was known for his particular focus on the wellbeing of small businesses, agriculture, and sciences,” according to the White House press release.

Trump also pardoned Duncan Hunter, a California congressman who pled guilty to misusing campaign funds.

Nate McMurray lost a close race to Collins for the 27^th Congressional District in November 2018. He said on Twitter soon after the news broke about Collins that Republicans should denounce the pardon.

“Disgraceful, but sadly we predicted it,” McMurray tweeted. “No justice. No ethics. No dignity.”