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.”

2 counties combined pass 3,000 Covid cases since March

Orleans and Genesee counties reported a combined 119 new cases of Covid-19 today. Together the two counties have passed 3,000 cases during the pandemic with 1,118 in Orleans and 1,906 in Genesee.

The 3,024 cases is about 3 percent of the combined population of the two counties, which is 97,632, according to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates – 40,352 in Orleans and 57,280 in Genesee.

In Orleans County, there are 44 new confirmed cases reported today with the new cases in Albion, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates.

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

Of the new cases, 1 is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina and 1 is an inmate of the Orleans Correctional Facility. Orchard Rehab has now had 62 resident test positive during the pandemic and Orleans Correctional has had 17 inmates with confirmed cases of Covid.

Of the 44 cases, 2 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

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

Orleans has seven residents hospitalized due to Covid-19.

Albion Central School said an elementary school staff member and a high school student have tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend.

The student learns remotely and the last day the staff member was in school was Tuesday, Dec. 15. Contact tracing and the quarantine of students and staff members was implemented according to health department guidelines, the district posted on its website

Medina Central School reported today a high school staff member tested positive for Covid-19. “Anyone who needs to be quarantined has already been contacted, and the Department of Health has determined that no further quarantines are required from the school,” District Superintendent Mark Kruzynski wrote in a letter on the district website.

In Genesee County, there are 75 new confirmed cases. They live in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Bergen, Byron, Corfu, Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield and Stafford.

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

Of the new cases reported today, 7 are residents at LeRoy Village Green, 3 are residents at Genesee Senior Living, and 1 is a resident at Premier Genesee.

The county is reporting 57 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been

from the isolation list.

Genesee also has 16 residents hospitalized due to Covid, the Health Departments reported.

Due to the increased positive cases reported yesterday, the Health Departments said there was a mistake in calculating the number of active cases. The number reported was 343 but should have been listed as 247.  Today’s number is correct at 266. Orleans is at 168, the most in the pandemic for that county.

Percent Positive 7-day average as of Dec. 20 – Genesee: 10.5%; Orleans: 8.7%

Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt

GOWANDA – In the wake of yesterday’s announcement by the Cuomo administration that Gowanda Correctional Facility is one of three state prisons scheduled for imminent closure, a contingent of state legislators, including Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, joined with local officials and union representatives to denounce the cost-cutting move.

They noted that the decision will devastate employees and their families and undermine the community’s already vulnerable economy.

“Governor Cuomo’s announcement that the Gowanda Correctional Facility will close is not only untimely but demonstrates an ill-will toward hard-working Western New Yorkers. It is no secret that Gov. Cuomo and his allies in Albany have buckled under the pressures of pro-criminal special interest groups, but to make this announcement the week of Christmas is especially cruel,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.

“The closure of this correctional facility will devastate the local community, cost Western New York hundreds of jobs, and will force families to uproot and relocate during what is already a very challenging time,” Ortt said. “The brave men and women who show up every day to ensure the protection of New York’s residents deserve better than this.”

“After months of putting their health and safety at risk to do their jobs in the midst of a pandemic, the hardworking men and women who staff Gowanda Correctional Facility have received their holiday ‘thanks’ from the state: notification that their place of employment is closing in a matter of weeks,” said Senator George Borrello, whose 57th Senate District encompasses the Cattaraugus County portion of the Village of Gowanda.

“What looks like a few lines on a budget spreadsheet to the Governor and DOCCS officials represent the economic anchor for these employees, their families and the entire Gowanda community,” Borrello added. “Decades of investment in the infrastructure, programming and personnel of the prison is being decimated in one stroke.”

Senator Patrick Gallivan, whose 59th Senate District includes the village’s Erie County portion, said: “The impact this decision will have on the dedicated men and women who work at the Gowanda facility and their families, especially at this difficult time for so many people, is concerning, as is the impact on the community. My office will work with DOCCS and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), AFSCME, CSEA and PEF to ensure the best possible outcome for all those affected.  I thank all of the hardworking public servants at the Gowanda Correctional Facility for their professionalism under these very difficult circumstances.”

The slated closure of Gowanda is one of three prisons targeted under the plan announced by the NYS Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS). The 2020-21 State Budget gave the Governor the authority to close an unspecified number of prisons with 90 days’ notice. The other facility closures announced this week include the Watertown Correctional Facility and the Annex at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora. Altogether, more than 1,000 employees will be affected, including more than 600 at Gowanda.

“Once again, in a rush to check the ‘done’ box, best practices like transition planning and facility repurposing go out the window. It is a poor way of managing what is arguably one of the state’s most critical operations and a terrible way to treat public servants who have devoted themselves to the important work and rehabilitation that takes place inside these walls,” said Senator Borrello.

Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio, who represents the 148th Assembly District and is the ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Corrections, underscored the fact that these closures will further undermine public safety in the state.

“This is the latest of the governor’s attempts to systematically dismantle the corrections system in New York state, which he has done since day one. The employees who work in corrections will be in greater danger from assault as inmates are transferred within the system,” said Assemblyman Giglio.

“The closure of these facilities further illustrates this administration’s lack of concern for public safety and the protection of our citizens. In addition, this action shows complete disregard for the men and women who work at these facilities, as well as their families,” he added.

Gowanda Mayor David Smith indicated that while the state’s offer to work with employee unions on arranging voluntary transfers to other facilities may work for some families, for others, it will be impossible.

“Most Gowanda Correctional employees have deep roots in this community. They have spouses with jobs, children in the local school district and extended family in the area. The notion that they can easily relocate in just a few weeks’ time is simply insulting,” said Mayor Smith.

“It is impossible to overstate how economically devastating this closure will be to our community. As the largest employer in the area, it drives most of our economy, either directly or indirectly. This rapid closure, without any plan in place to repurpose the facility and replace those jobs, is incredibly reckless,” the Mayor added.

NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President Mark DeBurgomaster emphasized the importance of the state pausing its closure plans until the epidemic of violence within the prison system is addressed.

“The job of a corrections officer has always been a difficult and dangerous one. However, in recent years, the violence inside our prisons has escalated to unprecedented levels. Additional closures will only exacerbate the situation by forcing the existing prison population into a decreasing number of facilities, further jeopardizing the safety of NYSCOPBA members and the inmate population,” said DeBurgomaster. “Rather than help the state, such a situation will increase its challenges, and its costs, and make it even harder to recruit new corrections officers. This is a lose-lose proposition. Together with everyone here today, I urge the Governor and the Commissioner to revisit this decision.”

Provided photos from Orleans Community Health

MEDINA – Leighann VanAuker, director of the emergency department at Medina Memorial Hospital, was among 46 employees at Orleans Community Health to receive the Covid-19 vaccine this morning.

Mary Williams, the director of HR for Orleans Community Health, administered the vaccine shots.

The OCH employees traveled to Unity Health in Rochester to receive the vaccinations.

This group received the vaccinations and includes from left: Kate Brauen, director of pharmacy; Mary Williams, director of HR; and Rebecca Mannella, director of human resources education.

Jessica Capurso, director of marketing, outreach and health education for OCH, receives her vaccine.

“The clinic went well this morning,” Capurso said. “No adverse effects. The employees were very excited that this happened.”

Elizabeth Wagner, who works with physicians as the medical staff coordinator, gets her shot of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr. Christine Cameron, family medical doctor, also was among the first at OCH for the vaccine.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – There are 79 Christmas trees decorated at Veterans Park in Lyndonville in the annual display for the holidays. That is the most since Lyndonville started festive tradition in 2013 with 26 trees. The effort has grown each year since then.

In the top photo, the tree with an angel on top was decorated by the Duncanson family in memory of Megan Dix.

The trees are dedicated by community organizations and families. The tree at the corner in this photo is in memory of Alan J. Goda.

The trees were available for $30 each, and then needed to be decorated. Lyndonville turned on electricity to light the trees on Dec. 5. They will stay lighted up through Jan. 1

This year there wasn’t a festival or big bash when the lights are turned on for the first time for the collection of trees, like there has been in years past, due to Covid-19 concerns.

People are welcome to stop by and see the trees and get their photo taken with the Santa cutout.

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming all have their most Covid cases during pandemic

(Editor’s Note on Dec. 23 at 5:48 p.m: The Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments said they made a mistake with the 343 active cases for Genesee County. That number should have been 247. With that correction, the active cases for the three counties would be 538, which is still the most during the pandemic.)

The three local rural counties of Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming set a new record high on Monday for active cases of Covid-19 with 634 combined in the three counties.

They passed 600 active cases for the first time. On Friday, they hit 500 cases for the first time with 527.

Genesee County accounts for more than half of the cases with 343, followed by Orleans at 152 and Wyoming at 139.

Those caseloads are all the most for each of the counties during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Genesee’s previous high was 269 active cases on Dec. 7. Orleans was at 151 on Dec. 18 and Wyoming’s high was 123 on Dec. 10.

The three counties, which have a combined population of about 140,000, also have 2,071 people under mandatory quarantine for being close contacts to people with Covid. That includes 1,057 in Genesee, 530 in Orleans and 484 in Wyoming.

An active case is someone who has tested positive but hasn’t been cleared from mandatory isolation. If people test positive for Covid, they must be in mandatory isolation for at least 10 days. They are cleared after they have been fever free the last 3 days with symptom improvement. Sadly, if people die after contracting Covid, that also is no longer an active case.

Public health officials and leaders of the County Legislatures in Orleans and Genesee have pleaded with residents to take precautions against spreading Covid.

They are urging people to wear masks, adhere to social distancing and limit social gatherings. State officials say 74 percent of the recent Covid spread is from private social gatherings and households.

Steve Hawley

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) has been reappointed deputy minority leader of the Republican conference in the State Assembly.

Hawley also will be serving on the committees for Agriculture, Insurance, Rules, Veterans’ Affairs and Ways and Means.

“I am honored to have been chosen once again to serve our conference as deputy minority leader, and look forward to continuing to use my role in our conference to give a voice to the people of the 139th Assembly District, as well as working people and families from all walks of life throughout our state,” Hawley said in a statement today.

The 139th Assembly District includes all of Genesee, most of Orleans and part of western Monroe counties.

Hawley, owner of an insurance business in Batavia, has been in the Assembly since winning a special election on February 28, 2006.

The Republicans in the Assembly re-elected Will Barclay of Pulaski as the minority leader .

“The members of the Assembly Minority Conference will continue to fight for policies to ensure the health and safety of our communities is maintained, to protect taxpayer dollars, preserve the resources for our schools and provide assistance to the small businesses on which we all rely,” Barclay said in a statement. “I look forward to a productive 2021 session, and working collaboratively with Speaker Heastie and his conference to develop solutions to some of the most important challenges our state has ever faced.”

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Senate passage of a $900 billion coronavirus relief package and omnibus, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, released the following statement:

“While I am disappointed that Senator McConnell continues to oppose funding for state and local governments, I voted for the $900 billion aid package and omnibus in order to get urgent relief to New York families.

“This bill has many important provisions that will help families and small businesses, including enhanced unemployment benefits, direct payments, small business aid, SNAP benefits, and funding for vaccine distribution, hospitals and schools. More aid will be needed to help families make it through this crisis and I will be working hard with the incoming Biden administration to deliver it.”

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer

With a bipartisan spending and Covid relief deal just reached, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer detailed its pending impact on Upstate New York as more than $50 billion dollars.

The deal includes direct stimulus checks, extending enhanced unemployment insurance, and secures another round of forgivable PPP for small businesses, restaurants and nonprofits across the state. As part of the deal, more than $13 billion flows directly to New York State government via education funding, vaccine distribution, Covid health funding, emergency assistance for renters and more.

“Today’s deal marks $50 billion-plus for New York workers, families, renters, communities, healthcare organizations and New York government —the things the federal government must immediately fund to get us through this pandemic,” Schumer said on Monday. “This marks the second biggest relief bill in the nation’s history—second to the CARES Act—and it delivers aid that is urgently needed by the unemployed, by renters at risk of losing their homes, by small business owners throughout New York that are worried about going out of business, by people seeking vaccination, by schools that spent money to keep kids safe, by families struggling to make ends meet and so much more. Clearly, there is more to be done –this is not a stimulus this is an emergency survival bill, and we will fight for more relief under President Biden, because this crisis is not over.”

The details and the impact on New York appear in the breakdown below. These numbers are tentative.

Direct aid to governments in New York State

• $5.8 billion – Education Stabilization Fund
• $4 billion – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, provides relief to K-12 public schools across the State of New York.
• $1.4 billion – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, directs funds to New York’s university system, like SUNY and CUNY.
• $313 million – Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, the governor can use these funds at his discretion to support the state’s K-12 education and higher education needs related to Covid-19. (This includes a set aside that will be prioritized to private schools serving low-income students who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.)
• $200 million – Emergency Transit Relief will support county bus services and upstate transit agencies.
• $426 million – Critical aid to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to backstop declining revenues and support construction jobs.
• $105.5 million – Relief for New York airports to continue operating safely during the pandemic. Upstate airports will receive: $6.4M for the Hudson Valley, $6.5M for the Capital Region, $6.9M for Central New York, $4.8M for the Finger Lakes, $7.6M for Western New York, and $4.1M for the Southern Tier.

Covid Health & Relief

• $1.6 billion – Vaccine, Testing, and Tracing, and Flexible Local Health Funding. $810M for NYS and $810M for NYC
• $135M for NYC for vaccine distribution
• $135M for NYS for vaccine distribution
• $675M for NYC testing, tracing, isolation support and COVID mitigation
• $675M for NYS testing, tracing, isolation support and COVID mitigation

Rent & Eviction Relief

• $1.3 Billion – Emergency Rental Assistance funding. This is a historic and unprecedented federal emergency rental and utility assistance program. It will assist multiple New York government entities and by extension help provide critical aid to keep thousands of New Yorkers safely in their homes.
• The CDC federal eviction moratorium will also be extended until January 31, 2021, and can be extended further by the next administration.

Emergency Childcare Grants

• $465 Million – Child Care Development Block Grants (CCDBG) – These funds ensure that the child care sector will continue to assist essential workers and working families, and to support child care providers in meeting their increased operation costs during the pandemic.

FEMA Disaster Relief Fund

• $1 Billion – FEMA estimates that in Fiscal Year 2021 New York will receive about $1 billion in FEMA aid for COVID-19 alone. Schumer just negotiated an increase of these funds in this Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) account

Direct Checks, Enhanced Unemployment and FEMA Funerals

• Over $6.5 Billion for NY in Enhanced Unemployment Compensation – This bill provides billions in additional federal relief for struggling New Yorkers by extending the historic unemployment insurance reforms established in the CARES Act through March 14, 2021.
• Importantly, it reinstates the critical lifeline of the enhanced unemployment assistance, providing an additional $300 per week on top of all state and federal unemployment benefits. The bill also extends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which provides unemployment benefits to the self-employed, freelancers, gig workers, part-time workers and other New Yorkers in non-traditional employment, and increases the number of weeks of PUA benefits an individual can claim from 39 to 50.
• Provides 24 additional weeks of federally-funded unemployment insurance benefits to New Yorkers who have exhausted their regular state benefits.
• Continues the full federal financing of state Shared Work programs, allowing thousands of New York employers to keep their valued employees on payroll during this downturn.
• Delivers a federally-funded $100 per week additional “mixed-earner” benefit to New Yorkers who have a combination of traditional (W-2) and independent employment (1099) income and are disqualified from receiving PUA because they are still eligible for regular state benefits.
• $9 Billion for New Yorkers – Direct cash payments to New Yorkers, including $600 for individuals making up to $75,000, $1,200 for couples making less than $150,000, and an additional $600 per child. This amounts to $2,400 for a family of (4).
• $260 Million – FEMA’s funeral assistance – financial aid to those who have lost a loved one among the over 35,000 deaths in New York caused by COVID – which comes at no cost to the state. This historic use of FEMA’s funeral assistance program ensures those grappling with unspeakable loss are not also saddled with the financial burden of exorbitant funeral costs.

Relief for New York Small Businesses, Families, Live Venues, Cultural Institutions and other entities

• Over $20 Billion forNew York – Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide a second round of forgivable loans to New York small businesses, including restaurants, nonprofits and grant assistance to very small, underserved businesses and live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions, as well as:
• New dedicated set-aside for PPP lending through Community Development Financial Institutions, Minority Depository Institutions, and other community lenders to reach minority-owned and other underserved small businesses and nonprofits.
• New dedicated set-aside for very small businesses to gain greater access to PPP.
• New larger forgivable loans for the restaurant and hospitality industries and the ability to use funds for PPE, outdoor dining enhancements, and more.

“Save Our Stages” ($15B Nationally)

• Dedicated relief for Broadway, comedy halls, music venues, other live entertainment, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions—New York is positioned to get a large share of the $15 billion.
• Housing cooperatives, tourism organizations, and local newspaper, TV and radio stations made eligible for PPP.
• $10,000 SBA grants will be available for very small and underserved businesses in low-income communities.
• Provides $3.5 billion to resume debt relief payments of principal and interest (P&I) on small business loans guaranteed by the SBA under the 7(a), 504 and microloan programs.
• Includes $2 billion to enhance SBA’s core programs, including 7(a), Community Advantage, 504, and the Microloan program, by making them more affordable and useful to small businesses.
• SBA Microloan Program is funded at $57 million to provide technical assistance and leverage about $64 million in microloans for minority-owned and other underserved small businesses.

The bill also extends and expands the refundable Employee Retention Tax Credit. The extension of this tax credit, through July 1, 2021, will help keep thousands of additional New Yorkers on payroll and small and mid-size employers all across New York afloat.

• $15 billion to renew the CARES Act Airline Payroll Support Program which will save thousands of New York airline jobs by keeping workers on payroll without furloughs or reducing pay rates and benefits until March 31, 2021 New York will receive sizable share of these funds.
• $1 billion in CARES ACT Contractor Payroll Support Program will help thousands of New York’s aviation industry contractor workers keep their paychecks.

Connecting More NY Families to Broadband

• $7 billion – Emergency Benefit for Broadband Service to provide free or low-cost broadband service to low-income families or those who have been recently laid off or furloughed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. New York will receive sizable share of these funds.

NY Hospitals & Health Centers

• $1 billion to New York in support and relief for hospitals, mental health, community health centers and providers

New York Nutrition Assistance

$13 billion nationally in Nutrition Assistance (NY will get a sizable share), which includes:

• A 15% increase in SNAP benefits from January 2021 through June 30, 2021 to support the nearly 2.8 million New Yorkers who receive benefits
• Increased access to nutrition benefits by waiving college student work requirements
• Provides $5 million to add additional retailers to online SNAP, including for farmers markets and direct to consumer sales
• Additional funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to fund the continued work of New York’s food banks
• Funding for senior nutrition through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and Meals on Wheels program
• Includes critical improvements to the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) program, which provides additional nutrition benefits for families with children who are eligible for free school lunches to help cover the cost of meals children would have otherwise received at school
• Allocates $4.6 billion nationally to expand P-EBT by extending the program to help cover cost of meals for kids enrolled in childcare programs
• Nutrition assistance grants for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Funds to support the food supply chain through food purchases, donations to food banks, and support for local food systems

New York Agricultural Assistance

$13 billion nationally in Agricultural Assistance (NY will get a sizable share), which includes:

• $400 million set aside to support dairy product donations to encourage donations of dairy products and minimize food waste
• $473 million for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program to assist small and mid-sized dairies that have grown over the last seven years by establishing supplemental margin coverage based on the difference between 2019 actual production and Dairy Margin Coverage production history
• $325 million set aside for specialty crops, including $225 million for supplemental payments to producers of specialty crops for losses in 2019 and $100 million for Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG) to support investments in specialty crop marketing, increasing training, and research investments
• $100 million for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), which supports the development and expansion of local food businesses and markets, and helps increase consumer access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products
• $28 million in state block grants to support farmer and rancher stress management and mental health

New York Fisheries Assistance

• $300 million available nationally for assistance to fisheries participants to help mitigate coronavirus-related economic impacts
• $30 million set aside for Tribal fisheries of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native groups
• $15 million set aside for fishery participants in states bordering the Great Lakes

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) helped pass a targeted, bipartisan Covid-19 relief package today in the House of Representatives.

“After months of deliberation, countless calls for targeted aid from my Republican colleagues and me, and hours of hard work, we have finally passed a bipartisan Covid-19 relief package through the House of Representatives,” Jacobs said. “This relief has been long overdue, and I am disappointed in the last-minute, rushed process that got us here. But I am glad this necessary aid is finally making its way to the people of NY-27.”

“Notably, this relief includes key provisions I strongly advocated for the past few months, including more small business relief through the successful Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and tax-deductibility for PPP loan-covered expenses. For months, $138 billion in appropriated funding has sat waiting to be used. Now, that money and more will be available to millions of small businesses and employees. This aid comes at a critical time when New York small businesses are facing new restrictions and arbitrary shutdowns,” Jacobs said. “We are also tackling key priorities like funding for the safe reopening of our schools, direct assistance to families in need, supporting farmers, and ensuring Americans receive safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines.”

The bipartisan Covid-19 Package includes important the priorities:

• $284 billion to extend the Paycheck Protection Program and allow for both first and second-time borrowers to receive loans.
• $15 billion in aid for entertainment venues, movie theaters, zoos, and museums.
• Makes Paycheck Protection Program loan-covered expenses tax deductible.
• $48 billion for the purchase and distribution of vaccines and state testing assistance.
• $600 stimulus checks for both adults and dependents.
• $300 per week in supplemental unemployment benefits.
• $92 billion to support the safe re-opening and operating of universities, schools, and childcare centers.
• $7 billion for high-speed internet development, including $300 million in rural broadband funding.
• $13 billion in funding to support American farmers, including funding for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

“Finally, although regrettably not included in this package – I remain committed to fighting for aid for local governments,” Jacobs said. “There is still work left to do in the new Congress, but this legislation is a major step toward supporting the American people and bipartisan cooperation.”

Community Energy says construction of 200-megawatt Orleans Solar could start in 2022, be complete in 2023

This is the proposed layout for Orleans Solar in Barre and Shelby.

BARRE – A company wants to build Orleans Solar, a 200-megawatt solar energy project in the towns of Barre and Shelby.

Community Energy went over the project in an online forum this evening. The project would cover 1,300 acres, with about 75 percent in Barre and 25 percent in Shelby.

Community Energy expects it will complete the permitting process by the second quarter in 2022, with construction to commence in the third quarter of 2022. Interconnection to the grid would be complete in the third quarter 2023, with construction done the fourth quarter that year.

That was the timeframe presented by Joe Green, director of development for the company based near Philadelphia, Pa.

The layout of the project would be from east of East Shelby Road in Shelby, past Burns Road in Barre. The solar project is in a sparsely populated part of the two towns near the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. A main transmission line from National Grid runs through the project. Community Energy won’t need any battery storage facilities for the project, with the power going right into the grid, Green said.

Most of the land is currently used for corn and soybean farming. Community Energy is working with 10 landowners on the project.

Community Energy did the first and only large-scale solar project so far to make it through the Article 10 siting process for renewable energy in New York. Mohawk Solar in Montgomery County is a 95-megawatt project, less than half of what is proposed with Orleans Solar.

With Mohawk Solar, Community Energy is paying the taxing jurisdictions $300,000 annually, with 2 percent increases. That is $3,333 per megawatt the first year.

If Community Energy reaches a PILOT for payments to taxing jurisdictions at the same $3,333 level, the total revenue paid to the taxing jurisdictions would be about $667,000.

Green said the company wants to work on the PILOT agreement with the local government leaders in 2021. “We haven’t had those discussions yet,” he said about the PILOT.

The project should have 5-6 full-time equivalent employees. Construction is expected to be between $200 million to $250 million, Green said, with 170 construction workers on site for about six months.

The state is moving to a new siting process for large-scale renewable energy, from Article 10 to 94-C. James Muscato, an attorney assisting the company with the siting process, said 94-C should allow projects around the state to be sited “in a more uniform fashion.”

Community Energy needs to work with several state agencies and the host municipalities as part of the review.

“The project must be designed to avoid or minimize, to the maximum extent practicable, potentially significant adverse environmental impacts,” Muscato said.

The company needs to provide $200,000 in intervenor funds – $1,000 per megawatt – for the municipalities and community organizations to hire experts to review the application.

Community Energy is working to delineate wetlands and streams. The company will establish boundaries of all wetlands and streams on lands with the project, and will need to minimize impacts or avoid those areas.

It is also doing its avian studies in consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service, NY Natural Heritage Program and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The company has done multiple habitat evaluations and has identified northern harriers, short-eared owls and upland sandpipers.

The company will also be providing visual impact studies as part of the project with simulations throughout the 2-mile visual study area.

For more on Orleans Solar, click here.

Courtesy of Jan Downey: Jan Downey of Albion shared this photo of herself and her brother, David Taylor, when they visited Howard as Santa at Christmas Park. Downey estimated the photo is from 1956 when she was 5. Many local residents still have strong memories of Howard and Christmas Park.

ALBION – A sign proclaiming Route 31 in Albion as the “Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway” was dedicated today by two state legislators and other community members.

Howard started the world’s first Santa School and ran it from 1937 until his death in 1966. He also was the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 18 years.

He remains a revered figure among people who portray Santa Claus. The school he started continues in his name in Midland, Mich. Howard, who is known in the Santa community as “The Dean of Santa Clauses,” in 2010 was a charter inductee in the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame. (Click here for more information on the Hall of Fame.

The State Department of Transportation erected the sign on Route 31 near the Transit Road intersection, which is the eastern end of the town. Another sign is expected to go up on the western end near Wood Road.

The Albion Betterment Committee worked about two years to secure the approval. They sent letters to local government leaders – The Village Board, the Town Board and Orleans County Legislature. They all endorsed naming the section in honor of Howard, who also was a farmer, toymaker, and operated Christmas Park on Route 31 near Phipps Road.

The Albion Betterment Committee has worked in recent years to raise Howard’s profile locally and to help celebrate his legacy. The ABC put a sign on Route 98, south of the village, declaring Albion as the hometown of the Santa School founder. The ABC also has “Believe” signs in the community and is raising funds for a statue of hometown in downtown Albion. They group has raised $60,000 so far for the statue and plans to seek proposals for the project soon, said Joe Gehl, one of the ABC’s directors. He expects the project will be near $100,000.

Other groups have joined the effort to celebrate Howard. The Albion Rotary Club organized an effort to have a mural in Waterman Park that shows Santa in a sleigh over Courthouse Square. A new mural about Albion as home to the Santa School was completed this fall on the northside of the Lake Country Pennysaver.

A group of students in Rich Gannon’s AP US History class also had an interpretive panel made in Mount Albion Cemetery near Howard’s grave that celebrates his life.

The Betterment Committee sees Howard as a local man who did a lot of good for the community, a selfless person focused on others. Howard was known for setting high standards for Santa in how to act with children and how to look. He also designed and sold Santa suits.

Howard’s granddaughter, Jane Holland, was unable to attend today’s dedication. She sent a letter of appreciation that was read by Gehl.

“Grandpa was a humble man of little means but a big heart and a giving, caring soul,” Holland wrote. “To see him honored on this trail to and from the town the family still today cherishes and welcomes its comfort when we visit is a great privilege.”

State Sen. Rob Ortt said Charles W. Howard was a farmer in Albion who made a local and national impact, serving as the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Santa for 18 years and shaping the look and actions of Santas all over the country and even the world. Ortt and Hawley both thanked the DOT for getting the sign up on short notice before Christmas. The State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo both approved naming the section of the road in honor of Howard.

Joe Gehl, one of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee, is interviewed by Ed Reilly of WGRZ (Channel 7 in Buffalo) in front of the sign, which was erected on 31 near Transit Road. That is the eastern end of the Town of Albion. Another sign is expected to be installed near Wood Road, on the western end of the town.

Both counties also report new deaths from Covid; Orleans passes 1,000 Covid cases since March

The neighboring counties of Genesee and Orleans combined have 235 more confirmed cases on Covid-19 since Friday, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported in a news briefing this evening.

In Orleans County, there are 76 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,074 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in all 10 towns in the county: Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates. (Of the new cases, 1 is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina and 2 are inmates at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion.)

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

Of the new cases, 8 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans is reporting 72 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county has six residents due hospitalized due to Covid, up from two on Friday.

The G-O Health Departments also reported a resident has died due to Covid. The person was a community member over age 65. This is the 61^st resident to die from Covid since March.

In Genesee County, there are 159 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,831 since March.

The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Byron,

Corfu, Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pavilion and Stafford. (Of the new cases 28 are residents at New York State Veterans Home in Batavia and 2 are residents at the LeRoy Village Green.)

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

Genesee is reporting 112 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county is reporting 14 residents are hospitalized, which is down from 29 on Friday.

A resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center also has died due to complications from Covid. The individual was over 65. This is the 20^th resident of Genesee County to pass away from county since March.

Photo and article courtesy of FMC Middleport

MIDDLEPORT – GHD employee Micah Santos (far right), contracted by FMC Middleport, offers instruction on a drone flight demonstration to Michelle Parker (far left), Royalton-Hartland High School technology teacher, and students (from center left to right) Tyrek Wright and Christopher McCullum, as part of FMC’s effort to better acquaint interested Roy-Hart teachers and students with this evolving technology.

Micah is a technologist and lead remote pilot for the GHD Aerial and Ground Intelligence Team. Drones are being used increasingly for commercial and consumer purposes, especially aerial photography. Parker currently teaches a technology class at the high school and will be teaching a class section on drones in the upcoming school year.

Press Release, NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association

ALBANY — The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, Inc. (NYSCOPBA) today criticized Governor Cuomo’s decision to close more prisons as a part of his Executive Budget plan for fiscal year 2020-2021.

The announcement to close Gowanda Correctional Facility, Watertown Correctional Facility and the Annex at Clinton Correctional Facility will impact more than 900 NYSCOPBA positions, disrupt the family lives of thousands and devastate communities.

“Announcing closures just days before Christmas is not only highly inconsiderate but it also demonstrates a lack of respect for the hardworking men and women of NYSCOPBA and their families,” said Michael B. Powers, President of NYSCOPBA. “Can Governor Cuomo look our members in the face and say that, despite prison violence at near record levels, closing prisons is what’s best and will produce a safer environment?”

Despite having authority to close more state prisons, NYSCOPBA has urged the Governor and the Legislature to halt any closure plans until violence escalation within the prison system is first addressed.

“Even in the face of the pandemic that greatly restricted inmate movement, New York did not see a reduction in prison violence during 2020,” Powers said. “And despite limited visitations during the pandemic, illegal contraband remains a significant problem in correctional facilities. Calling for additional closures will only serve to condense the prison population within a decreasing number of facilities, further jeopardizing the safety of NYSCOPBA members and the inmate population as a whole.”

The Union, which represents correctional officers and sergeants working inside New York’s prisons, has for years been calling on the State Legislature and the Governor to refrain from prison closures before an adequate assessment of safety within the prison system occurs. That has yet to happen, according to NYSCOPBA.

Likewise, the economic impact of this news cannot be understated. Upstate communities that maintain prisons rely heavily on revenue generated from those employed in such facilities.

“Upstate communities were struggling even before the onset of COVID-19. Removing hundreds of jobs within these localities will be a crippling financial blow,” Powers said. “And to deliver this news just days before Christmas is flat out wrong. We’ll continue to fight for our members and the communities where they live.”

NYSCOPBA is also calling on the State Legislature and the Governor to enact safety reforms to the prison system that recognize the dangers that the men and women who are on the front line face every day, regardless of the existence of a pandemic.

According to Powers, the State needs to reinstitute a secure vendor package program, enact statutory measures requiring the removal of double bunks in the medium dormitory settings, and provide a more robust officer to inmate ratio, among other initiatives.

NYS Senate Republican leader Rob Ortt issued this statement: “Today’s announcement by Governor Cuomo that three upstate correctional facilities will close is not only untimely but demonstrates an ill-will toward hard-working Upstate New Yorkers.It is no secret that Albany has buckled under the pressures of pro-criminal special interest groups, but to make this announcement the week of Christmas is distasteful.

“The closure of these three corrections facilities will make our state less safe and devastate the communities where these facilities are located. I urge Governor Cuomo to stand up for Upstate communities and the men and women who serve them by immediately reversing this decision.

“We thank the brave men and women who showed up every day to ensure the protection of New York’s residents – you deserve better.”