Provided photo

MIDDLEPORT – Employees from FMC’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport, working with Local 1180 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and plant management, helped to collect and donate more than 100 pounds of non-perishable food and toiletries to the Middleport Area Community Food Pantry.

Assisting in dropping off the donated items are Brent Sensenich (left), FMC plant manager, and Joe Burkett, FMC employee and union steward.

ALBION – Inspectors from the New York State Commission of Correction Inspectors visited the Orleans County jail recently and concluded the site has the needed protocols in place to protect against the spread of Covid-19.

The jail has recently had an outbreak with 13 corrections officers and three inmates testing positive.

Commission of Correction staff reviewed the jail’s protocols for screening of employees, incarcerated individuals and anyone entering the facility. They also said signage throughout the facility, disinfecting procedures and the utilization of face coverings are consistent with the guidance provided by the Commission, the New York State Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control.

Allen Riley, Chairman of the Commission, sent a letter on Dec. 9 to Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke, informing him of the results of the visit.

“As you are aware, detention facilities are at a greater risk for the spread of COVID-19 due to the close proximity of the individuals who reside and work in these facilities,” Riley wrote in the letter. “As such, a facility must take all available precautions to minimize the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak, while simultaneously maintaining a secure facility.”

Bourke said the jail staff have stepped up their efforts to keep the facility clean and fight off Covid.

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication by Superintendent Scott Wilson, the Jail Command Staff, Correction Officers, Cooks and nursing staff during these unprecedented times,” Bourke said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Volunteers carry 20-pound boxes of produce and food during the rain on May 29 at the Orleans County 4-H fairgrounds. Volunteers distributed 1,200 boxes of food that day.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County each year presents a “Friend of Extension” award, typically to a volunteer or supporter of the agency.

This year many of the Extension activities were cancelled including the 4-H fair due to Covid-19. The fairgrounds, however, were a busy place on about a dozen days, when the Extension distributed boxes of produce, meat and dairy products. On those dates, more than 1,000 vehicles stopped by the fairgrounds for the food.

The Extension counted about 50 people who volunteered for the food distributions. Many stayed for several hours, sometimes in the rain, and other times in stifling heat.

The Extension’s leadership decided to recognize those volunteers with the “Friend of the Extension” award for 2020.

“We are extremely grateful for all the people who came out because we couldn’t have participated in these distributions without them,” said Robert Batt, the Extension executive director.

Each volunteer will receive a thank you card and a small gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts. (This doesn’t include the volunteers who helped with the distributions in Albion, Holley and Medina.)

The Extension hosted and coordinated the distributions from May until early December. The U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn’t said if the program will continue after Dec. 31.

Photos courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and U.S. senator, served as electors for the state in a vote in Albany today.

The Electoral College affirmed the presidential victory for Joe Biden today, giving him 306 votes to 232 for Donald Trump. The electors also cemented Kamala Harris as the next vice president.

The votes will be sent to Congress to be counted on Jan. 6. Biden is to be inaugurated at noon on Jan. 20.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo presided over the Electoral College vote in New York today, with all 29 electors in the state casting votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo presided over the Electoral College vote today in Albany in the State Assembly chambers. Cuomo also served as one of the state’s 29 electors. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and secretary of state, also were electors for the state.

Judith Hunter of Geneseo served as an elector, representing rural New York.

“The brevity of our proceedings does not minimize the gravity of our actions,” Cuomo said in the Assembly chambers. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite. This pandemic, these masks, this physical configuration, are a stark reminder to the nation that government matters, and leadership matters, and good government can not only improve people’s lives, but can literally save people’s lives. So today, let the people choose our government and let us move forward.”

Biden, the president-elect, later addressed the nation and condemned Trump’s efforts to undo the results of the election through legal challenges and pressure on officials in battleground states that Biden won – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia. Judges, including at the U.S. Supreme Court, have dismissed the Trump election lawsuits.

“In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed,” Biden said. “We the people voted. Faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact. And so, now it is time to turn the page. To unite. To heal.”

In the popular vote nationwide, Biden had 7 million more votes than Trump, or 81,283,495 to 74,223,755, according to the Associated Press.

Press Release, VA Western New York Healthcare System

BUFFALO/BATAVIA – VA Western New York Healthcare System announced it has been selected as one of 37 VA sites to receive initial doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

VA WNYHS was selected for its ability to vaccinate large numbers of people and store the vaccines at extremely cold temperatures.

In accordance with Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, VA Western New York Healthcare System will begin vaccinating VA health care personnel and veterans in VA’s long-term health care facilities now that the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the vaccine.

Covid-19 vaccine implementation will include an initial limited-supply phase followed by a general implementation phase, when large supplies of the vaccine will be available to veterans who want to receive one. Our goal is to offer it to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated. As more vaccine becomes available, we will announce it to schedule appointments with eligible veterans.

“We are very excited to provide a vaccine that has the potential to help get Covid-19 under control when used alongside public health measures such as masking, physical distancing and frequent handwashing,” said Michael Swartz, Executive Director.

Veterans seeking additional information should visit the VA Coronavirus FAQs webpage. VA will provide more information to enrolled veterans when the phased mass vaccination will be scheduled.

Part of Genesee County – Batavia to East Pembroke – are now in a yellow micro-cluster zone, where there are some added restrictions intended to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that an area of Genesee County has been put in a precautionary yellow micro-cluster zone.

The area includes Batavia, East Pembroke, and goes as far north on Route 98 to near Elba, just north of Edgerton Road and south of the village. Click here to see a more detailed map.

In Genesee the cases and hospitalizations due to Covid-19 have surged since Nov. 1. As of Oct. 31, Genesee had 375 Covid-19 cases in the first eight months of the pandemic. It had 579 more in November.

In the first 13 days of December, Genesee has 492 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, and has suffered 12 deaths due to Covid. Genesee currently has 21 people hospitalized due to the virus.

The state also has expanded the Yellow Zone in Niagara County. Niagara’s Yellow zone was confined mostly to North Tonawanda, but has been expanded to include Lockport, Sanborn, and Lewiston. Click here to see the Yellow Zone map in Niagara County.

The restrictions and guidelines for the micro-cluster zones include:

Yellow

• Non-residential gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• Residential gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• Houses of worship: 50 percent of maximum capacity
• Businesses: Open
• Dining: Indoor and outdoor dining permitted but limited to a maximum of 4 people per table, and bars and restaurants close at 10 p.m. for on-premises consumption.
• Schools: Open but 20 percent weekly testing required for in-person students and faculty.

Orange

• Non-residential gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• Residential gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• Houses of worship: Lesser of 33% of maximum capacity or 25 people
• Businesses: Gyms, fitness centers and classes operate at 25% capacity; barber shops, hair salons, personal care services can provide services so long as employees performing services are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.
• Dining: Gyms, fitness centers and classes operate at 25% capacity; barber shops, hair salons, personal care services can provide services so long as employees performing services are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.
• Schools: Closed to remote-only but can reopen if they follow new guidelines that require mass testing in schools before they reopen followed by vigilant symptom and exposure screening conducted daily.

Red

• Non-residential gatherings: prohibited
• Residential gatherings: prohibited
• Houses of worship: Lesser of 25% of maximum capacity or 10 people
• Businesses: Non-essential businesses are closed
• Dining: Takeout or delivery only
• Schools: Closed to remote-only but can reopen if they follow new guidelines that require mass testing in schools before they reopen followed by vigilant symptom and exposure screening conducted daily.

2 deaths due to Covid also reported in Genesee

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are reporting 164 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the two counties since the last update on Friday afternoon.

In Orleans County, there are 55 new cases since Friday, bringing the county’s total to 884 cases since March.

The new positive cases are residents of Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Of the new cases, 16 were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. The county is also reporting 67 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

In Orleans, 4 of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

Albion Central School was notified today that three high school students and one elementary student tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend. Two of the high school students learn remotely while the third high schooler and elementary student are both hybrid learners, the district said.

The last day the hybrid students were in school was Tuesday, Dec. 8. Contact tracing and the quarantine of students and staff members was implemented according to Health Department guidelines.

Medina Central School notified the community that six students have tested positive since the last update on Friday, which includes four in the high school, one in the middle school and one in the elementary school.

The four in the high school were on precautionary quarantine and the Health Department has determined no further quarantines are required from school contract, District Superintendent Mark Kruzynski said in a letter to the community today.

The middle school student also was on precautionary quarantine, and the elementary student is 100 percent remote learning. No further quarantines are needed with both students and their school contacts, Kruzynski said.

In Genesee County, there are 109 new positive cases of Covid-19 since Friday, bringing the Genesee total to 1,446 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pavilion and Pembroke.

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. (Of the new cases 13 are residents at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia.)

Genesee is reporting 97 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 21 residents hospitalized due to Covid, according to the news briefing from the Health Departments.

Genesee also was notified of 2 deaths of community members due from Covid. One of the individuals was over age 65 and the other was under 65.

“To protect the individual and their family we will not be releasing any further information,” the G-O Health Departments said. “We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this community member during this very difficult time.”

Genesee has now had 12 residents die from Covid in December and 19 since March.

• Yellow Micro-Cluster Zone: Batavia and part of Genesee County have been designated as a being in a Yellow micro-cluster zone. The state hasn’t updated the map yet. Click here to be directed to the state website on micro-cluster zones.

The following restrictions are now in place in these identified locations:

• for non-residential gatherings – 25 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• residential gatherings – 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• House of Worship – 50% of maximum capacity
• Businesses are open
• Dining indoor and outdoor dining permitted with 4 person maximum per table, and bars and restaurants close at 10:00 p.m. for on-premises consumption
• Schools are open with 20% weekly testing of in-person students and faculty.

”We continue to encourage everyone whether located in a micro-cluster zone or not to limit gatherings as much as possible, properly wear masks/face coverings, social distance at least 6 feet, frequently wash/sanitize your hands and frequently shared surfaces to minimize the spread,” the G-O Health Departments said. “If the rates continue to increase further restrictions are possible.”

• 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.

We encourage all businesses 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 we are able to contact potential close contacts.):

For people at the three locations above during the stated times, 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.

• 3-county data (active cases decline): Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are currently 409 active cases in the three counties, which is down from 443 on Friday.

Genesee has 173 actives cases, Orleans has 132 and Wyoming is at 104.

Suzanne McAllister would dress up in characters to make programs more fun for kids

File photo by Tom Rivers: Suzanne McAllister, the children’s librarian at lee-Whedon Memorial Library, passes out some Santa Dust for the kids to take home on Nov. 30, 2018. McAllister organized the annual Santa pajama storytime event at the library.

Press Release, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina

MEDINA – The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library would like to announce the retirement of “Mrs. Mac” – our beloved Children’s Librarian for the past 22 years.

Suzanne McAllister has worked at the library since 1996, first as a library aide and then as the Children’s Librarian. Mrs. Mac, as she is known to her many, many children, has touched the lives of thousands of children every year.

Suzanne’s personality and passion were infectious – her story time programs often filled with laughter and smiles. Throughout the years Suzanne has contributed immensely to the library family whether dressing up as Clifford the Big Red Dog or Doctor Who for LibraryCon. She organized teddy bear sleepovers, invited all sorts of wildlife into the building, and rode out into the community on her bike-mobile to give away books.

Due to Covid-19, a large party to honor her cannot be held. However, the community is welcome to come in this week to show their appreciation. Please join us in wishing Suzanne the very best in the next chapter of her life!

Maison Albion welcomed community to holiday party

The Glovers cut the ribbon at Maison Albion. They are joined by their son Benjamin, Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, left, and Darlene Hartway (right), the executive director of the Orleans County of Commerce. Mr. Glover put in four new columns on the building, finishing that job on Saturday. He will repaint them next year.

ALBION – Kerri and Cole Glover on Saturday celebrated the grand opening of Maison Albion, a wedding and event center with a French design. They used the grand opening to throw a holiday party, spread out over eight hours for groups of no more than 50.

They gave tours of the former Pillars, and gave people a chance to see a property transformed in the past five months.

“Orleans County has been great and so welcoming,” Mrs. Glover said in a tour of the house, which was built in 1878.

Mrs. Glover, a native of Maui in Hawaii, has worked 22 years in the wedding industry and has been a key leader in developing 13 other wedding venues in Hawaii, Colorado, California, Texas and Montana. Her brother, Michael Bolster, also is a part owner in the Albion site.

Mr. Glover, a seventh-generation Texan, was scouting the country for a site the couple could develop into a wedding venue. They narrowed it to 10 locations, and saw the most potential with the property in Albion, which they said can draw from the Buffalo and Rochester markets.

They have connected with many local vendors to put on weddings and events. The work from many of those vendors was on display at Maison Albion on Saturday, with flowers, interior design, live music, photography, food, desserts, a wedding cake, even a Gingerbread House made to look like Maison Albion, a mansion originally built in 1878.

The Glovers hosted Fête de Nöel, which translates to “Christmas Party” for the event on Saturday. Tickets were $25 and those proceeds will be donated to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Michele Hughson and Lori Laine attended the party and gave Maison Albion a glowing review on Facebook.

“I would get remarried just to have my wedding here,” Hughson posted.

Hughson posted several photos of the decorations inside, which included nine Christmas trees.

“Thank you Maison Albion for opening up your doors to our community,” Laine said. “You have an amazing venue. The work you have done thus far is nothing less than amazing! We can’t wait to see more!!”

The bridal suite has many mirrors and chairs for people to get ready for the wedding.

The Glovers said they are at the first phase of their plan for the property. They will be doing more interior work, expanding the parking lot and developing gardens and a patio bistro.

The former Pillars was known by many for being featured on Ghost Hunters, when paranormal detectors studied the site for ghosts.

The Glovers said the house isn’t haunted. The Glovers live there with their two children.

“Some people say it is haunted, but we feel the opposite,” Mr. Glover said on the tour. “There is a lot of love in this house. We’ve lived in a lot of places and this is by far our favorite place to live as a family.”

Darlene Hartway, Chamber executive director, Praised the Glovers for connecting with many local businesses as vendors for the weddings and events. The Glovers have also led marketing workshops for local businesses.

The dining room had many desserts to sample during the party on Saturday.

The ballroom was decorated for an elegant dinner on Saturday. The ballroom seats 250, and a patio has room for 180 more.

Actions should make Lake Ontario less vulnerable to flooding in spring

Press Release, International Joint Commission

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has approved the International Lake Ontario- St. Lawrence River Board’s request for authority to deviate from Plan 2014, and as conditions permit, outflows from the Moses-Saunders dam on the St. Lawrence River can be increased to exceed Plan 2014 flows.

The risk of high water on Lake Ontario in 2021 is moderate due to persistent high-water levels on Lake Erie and the upper Great Lakes. This will cause inflows to Lake Ontario from Lake Erie to remain high over the coming winter months. The main driver of a high-water event in the Lake Ontario basin will depend on seasonal factors such as precipitation and snowpack runoff.

Since June, Lake Ontario levels have steadily declined to just above the seasonal long-term average. Levels remain well below those that would automatically grant the Board the authority to deviate from Plan 2014 outflows.

The Board and IJC recognize the continued threats posed by high water supplies into the system and the risk of another high-water event in 2021. The Board will implement a deviation strategy to take advantage of opportunities that may arise through the winter.

The IJC has granted this authority under Condition J of its Orders of Approval, which allows for the testing of some regulatory deviation strategies from Plan flows. This authority will begin on Jan. 1, 2021 and continue through the end of February.

This regulatory strategy will be reassessed in February and could be revised with a request for further deviation authority from the IJC should conditions warrant. During this period flow limits are expected to pertain to low Lake St Lawrence levels, municipal water intakes and river ice formation.

All deviation strategies, regardless of magnitude of impact, implemented by the Board in this time frame are intended to cumulatively reduce the risk of high-water impacts and balance the interests of other groups throughout the system.

There remains considerable uncertainty in the weather and water supply conditions between now and next spring. These natural, uncontrolled hydrologic factors are the primary driver of water level fluctuations on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

If basin conditions are extremely wet, and similar to those observed in 2017 and 2019, no deviation strategy will prevent water levels that can cause flooding and damage shoreline properties. Providing those types of benefits are beyond the reach of water regulation and are more reliably addressed through coastal resilience and planning.

By Doug Farley, Director Cobblestone Museum; and Bill Lattin, Retired Director

CHILDS – The impetus for this article surrounds this historic photo circa 1905 which Bill Lattin recently purchased at an antique shop. Notice here the set of steps used for mounting and dismounting a horse, wagon or buggy.

On the back of the photo is written Miss A. D. Reidel. The name of the presumed photographer, August Christe, is also stamped on the back with a rubber stamp. Retired Cobblestone Resource Center Director Dee Robinson researched these two names and found them in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census.

Annie Reidel was 14 years of age and living on Bessell Avenue in Buffalo. Albert Augustus Christie was age 33 and lived on Fifth Street, also in Buffalo. Through this little bit of detective work, we can guess this picture may have been taken in Erie County.

Notice again in this picture of the steps how the platform overhangs the base. This was done intentionally so the hub of the wheels on the democrat wagon, shown in the picture, could roll under the platform. This arrangement reduced the gap between the wagon box and the mounting steps. There had to be innumerable wooden mounting steps and platforms in use in the area in horse and buggy days.

Using the historic photo as a guide, Bill Lattin recently built a replica set of mounting step, seen here in this modern photo, now located in front of the Vagg House in Childs.

The buggy in the photo was donated to the Cobblestone Museum by Bill, Tom and Mark Tillman in the 1980s when they renovated their old barn to become what is now the Carriage Room at the Village Inn Restaurant. The buggy is one of several historic vehicles that are planned for a new exhibit in the Vagg Carriage Barn located behind the Vagg House. Tours of the house and barn will begin in 2021.

Also typical of the era, are the horse block or carriage stone seen here in front of the Ward House at the Cobblestone Museum. The large stone blocks had the advantage of not being easily moved and did not rot.

This piece of beautiful Medina Sandstone has the local family name “Bacon” carved into it. Bill Lattin recalls this horse block was given to the Museum around 1970 by Earl Harding. It was once located in front of the brick house at Five Corners. The Bacon horse block was moved to the Ward House about 1977 along with two fine Medina Sandstone hitching posts donated by former Orleans County Historian Cary Lattin. Each hitching post has the number 74 on it. Lattin said these came from 74 West State Street in Albion.

Because carriages and wagons were high off the ground it was advantageous to have a step, especially for ladies with long skirts, to embark and disembark such conveyances. This historic photo of the Cobblestone Universalist Church at Childs shows a high terrace in front for the same purpose.

It seems originally there was only a very high flight of wooden stairs up to the front entrance. In 1874 an earth ramp, brick platform and stone steps were added to the front of the church. This was so carriages on Sunday could pull right up in front and ladies and children could disembark on the level.

The driver of the buggy could then drive around to the carriage shed behind the church for the duration of the church service. Note a small portion of the shed shows on the left side of the photo behind the evergreens.

A similar situation existed at the Fair Haven Hotel, circa 1903, now the Village Inn at Childs. Notice the steps are at the corner. The rest of the porch is high across the front so carriages could pull right up close for people to easily step off onto the porch.

When carriage blocks were not in sight, the nearest stump often served as an easy way for the horse back rider to mount or dismount his steed.

Press Release, New York State Association of Counties

With Covid-19 cases surging and counties across the state bracing for the worst of a second wave of coronavirus deaths, county coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors joined the New York State Association of Counties to issue a stark warning that in the absence of federal aid, they could face shortages of materials and financial resources needed to safely and respectfully care for the deceased.

With the number of Covid-19 related deaths in New York since March, county coroners, medical examiners, and local funeral directors are facing a myriad of challenges. From shortages in body bags, proper morgue space for the deceased, burying the indigent, county governments find themselves in the sensitive and often unspeakable challenges of caring for the deceased and their families during this global public health emergency.

“This global pandemic has overwhelmed resources in every county,” said Scott Schmidt, Orleans County Coroner  and President of the NYS Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners. “We need funding. We need money for our protection, which in turn protects our families, it protects our colleagues, it enables us to do our jobs and with care and respect at all times. We have a sacred trust that we are charged with, but we can’t do it without the appropriate protection that we need.”

NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said “This 2nd wave surge in positive cases of COVID impacts all of our frontline public health care and emergency service workers and essential workers, but it also impacts the end of life essential health care workers – the county coroners and medical examiners. They are finding themselves short staffed and in need resources and a dedicated supply chain for personal protective equipment, including body bags. Ensuring dignity in death must remain our top priority and we must develop a ‘surge and flex’ model that can be used to devote support and assistance to coroners, medical examiners and funeral homes and cemeteries in the regions that are seeing higher increases in deaths.”

Counties have been leading the local response to the global COVID-19 pandemic since March, and staff and resources are becoming depleted. County officials are on the front lines working with the sick, the unemployed, the homeless, struggling business owners, families with special needs, those suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues, and even the deceased.

To ensure counties across the state have the resources they need to continue to lead the local response to the coronavirus pandemic, NYSAC is calling for Congress to pass legislation that includes the following.

• Direct, flexible federal aid for all counties
• Allocation formula and city-county funding split outlined in the HEROES Act (H.R. 6748 – the Direct Support for Communities Act)
• Extension of the current deadline for Treasury CRF dollars until late 2021
• Reasonable “guardrails” that ensure Covid-19 relief dollars are tied to the public health, economic and community impacts of Covid-19

Mike Lanotte, president of the New York State Funeral Directors Association, said “Funeral directors play is critical public health role in caring for the deceased. The challenges they have faced throughout the pandemic have been unprecedented, yet they remain committed and have professionally and with care fulfilled their role. The challenges will become even greater if financial deficits result in a lack of needed resources. NYSFDA supports all efforts to secure federal funding so that the death care industry continues to be able to fulfill its essential role throughout the pandemic.”

ALBION – There will be a service of remembrance and hope on Tuesday that will be shown online. The “Blue Christmas” service will include reading the names of nearly 500 people who have died.

After each name is read, a candle will be lit and a blue ribbon will be tied to a Christmas tree of remembrance located outside First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

The service is a three-year collaboration of the Albion Ministerium, Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Supportive Care of Orleans (Hospice), Orleans Recover of Hope Begins Here and the Suicide Prevention Coalition.

The names that will be read during the service include people that Christopher Mitchel Funeral Homes cared for, all those served by Supportive Care of Orleans/Hospice and names provided by churches in the Albion Ministerium. Other people will be remembered during the service who passed away in a previous year but remain sorely missed at Christmas, said the Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the Presbyterian Church.

Due to Covid, there won’t be a large in-person service of remembrance. The groups needed to adapt and opted to do an online service that has been recorded.

Thaine and other local church pastors will be joined in the service by two representatives from Christopher Mitchell, a  representative from Suicide Prevention Coalition, and two representatives from Supportive Care/Hospice.

Gary Simboli and the Rev. Aleka Schmidt, pastor of the First Baptist Church, each sing during the service.

To see a video of the service beginning on Dec. 15, click here to be directed to the Facebook page for the Albion Ministerium.

Provided photo

ALBION – Roots Hair Salon on East Bank Street won the Albion Merchants Association’s annual window decorating contest.

The AMA picked the winner based on which business’s window had the most likes on the AMA’s Facebook page. Roots received 331 “likes.” The business, owned by Amber Mogle, wins a $100 gift card from the AMA.

Photos by Tom Rivers

There were many storefronts decorated for the holidays. This photo shows Serenity Tan, left, and Tease on East Bank Street.

“Every storefront window looked gorgeous this year, and definitely boosted our town’s holiday spirit!” The AMA posted on tis Facebook page. “Thank you everyone!!!!”

The AMA also is having a “Deck the Town” contest for best residential holiday decorations. Dec. 15 is the deadline to vote. Click here for the AMA Facebook page for more information.

Frontier Heating & A/C Service Inc., last year’s winner, had another big holiday display for 2020.

Snell Realtors’ display included Santa, wrapped presents, ornaments and an old root beer dispenser from when the site was Fischer’s Newsstand.

Residents urged to familiarize themselves with insect and report any sightings

Press Release, Katie Oakes, horticulture educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County

Photo by Michael Houtz: The Spotted Lanternfly as an adult.

KNOWLESVILLE – A relatively new invasive species, Spotted Lanternfly Lycorma delicatula, has been discovered in New York State this fall.

This destructive insect (native to Asia) was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to several neighboring states, including just recently to New York. Most of southwestern Pennsylvania is under quarantine for this insect, restricting the movement of landscaping or construction waste, tree parts, or any other material that could harbor a life stage of the insect.

Discoveries of both live adult Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) and egg masses have been found in specific areas of Staten Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Southern Tier of New York State. SLF does not sting or bite, and it does not pose a direct health hazard to pets or humans. However, SLF has the potential to severely impact the agricultural and tourism industries of NY, as well as the forests and delicate ecosystems in our natural areas.

Spotted Lanternflies are not really flies at all, but rather a type of insect called planthoppers that have specialized mouthparts that puncture plant tissue and suck the underlying sap. After sucking the plant sap, the insects will excrete a clear sticky substance called “honeydew”.

In addition to weakening the plant and making it more susceptible to other disease and insect attack due to the insect’s feeding, the excreted honeydew can cover anything below the infested area, making crops unmarketable and impeding human activity.

The honeydew itself is an annoyance, but often a black fungal growth called sooty mold will grow on the excreted honeydew, making the area beneath an infestation unsightly and difficult to clean.

Spotted Lanternfly will feed on over 70 species of plants, but the preferred hosts are the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Maples (Acer spp.) and Grapevines (Vitis spp.).

The life stages of a Spotted Lanternfly.

The biggest concern in New York is the impact this insect could have on vineyards, orchards and hardwoods. Levels of SLF in NY are currently relatively low, but have potential to increase quickly. Management of any invasive species is best done before an infestation is established.  Residents are urged to familiarize themselves with Spotted Lanternfly and report any sightings as soon as possible.

Adult SLF are about an inch to inch and a half long, grayish tan in color with black spots on their folded wings and a yellow underside to their abdomen. When their upper wings are spread, the lower wings are distinctively bright red with black spots. Adults can be active through December but will be killed off with the harsh winter temperatures.

Photo from Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: Spotted Lanternfly adults massing on a tree.

The insect overwinters in egg masses that were laid in late summer and fall. The egg masses are about an inch long, brownish-gray in color, and look like a clump of cracked mud (they are not hairy like a Gypsy Moth egg mass). The nymphs (juvenile SLF) will emerge from the egg masses as early as April, and they will be wingless, black with white spots. They turn red with black and white spots before transforming into the winged adult, usually around July.

SLF can hop and fly short distances, but their primary means of spreading is by human activity.  The adults can be in plant material or logs that are moved place to place. The egg masses can also be laid almost anywhere, making it extremely important to check vehicles, camping equipment, boats, outdoor gear, furniture, etc. when traveling in and around places where SLF might be present.

The infestations found in NY this past fall have been assessed by experts and a meticulous IPM (Integrated Pest Management) plan is in place to monitor and manage surrounding areas. It is likely that there are more SLF present in New York that just have not been detected yet, so it is important for the public to be aware of this invasive insect and to be vigilant in detecting and reporting any further sightings.

If you think you’ve seen Spotted Lanternfly, please report the sighting to the NYS Department of Ag and Markets via their Spotted Lanternfly Public Report. Photos and exact location will be useful.

For more information, or to inquire about this or any other invasive species, contact Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes at klo54@cornell.edu.