ROYALTON – The driver of one of the vehicles in fatal collision in Royalton on Wednesday evening has died, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported today in an update from this morning.
A child was also killed in the accident, and four other children remain in intensive care with two children in critical condition in the pediatric intensive care unit at Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Another child is in guarded and critical condition in the PICU, and the fourth child is in guarded condition, but stable in the Intermediate Care Unit, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The driver of the vehicle with the children was pronounced dead at ECMC, and the front passenger is listed in stable condition in the trauma ICU at ECMC.
The sole occupant of the other vehicle was treated and released from Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. That vehicle was southbound on Griswold Street and failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Lewiston Road and Griswold Street.
That caused the collision with the other vehicle with seven occupants that was eastbound on Lewiston Road, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Names of all the parties involved are not being released at this time.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 November 2020 at 9:15 am
Contributed Photos – Albion’s regulars for the 1936 season included Rosato, H. Dragon, T. Colella, G. Dragon, D.L. Stirk, Pask, Buckley, Morrow, Monacelli, Woods, D.H. Stirk and Barrett.
Today for sports fans watching football on TV is as much a part of Thanksgiving as the turkey dinner.
For Orleans sports fans the long standing Albion vs. Medina high school football rivalry was once the feature event on Thanksgiving Day.
From 1924 to 1936 the rivalry contest was played on Thanksgiving afternoon often in very challenging playing conditions.
In fact, three of those games (1926, 1928 and 1934) ended in a 0-0 tie as game stories report that in each case the field was a sea of mud.
The other 10 contests saw the teams both emerge with five victories.
Albion won the first Turkey Day Classic 12-2 in 1924 as John Donovan scored both touchdowns.
Medina answered back with a narrow 12-6 win in 1925 on touchdowns by Herb Blount and Brit Cooper.
Then sandwiched between the two muddy 0-0 ties in 1926 and 1928 Medina claimed a 19-6 victory in 1927 as John Kelly scored two touchdowns.
Medina’s most lopsided win in the Turkey Day series came by a 31-6 margin in 1929.
The following year was much closer as Medina nipped Albion 6-0 on a fourth quarter touchdown by Montgomery who recovered a teammate’s fumble at the goal line and plunged over the line for the score.
Medina also scored a slender 6-0 win in 1933 on a TD by Red Howe.
Albion closed out the Thanksgiving Day series by winning four of the last six contests by margin of 19-6 in 1931, 14-0 in 1932, 24-12 in 1935 and 27-0 in 1936.
Edward Nesbitt, John McKenna and John Page took turns scoring touchdowns for the Purple and White in the 1931 game while Don Armstrong accounted for both scores in the 1932 contest.
Albion’s last two wins in the Turkey Day series capped off outstanding seasons for the Purple and White which won 24-12 in 1935 to finish at 6-1 and 27-0 in 1936 to complete an undefeated 8-0-1 campaign.
Tommy Colella, who went on to star at Canisius College and then with the Cleveland Browns, scored two touchdowns in both of those contests. Henry Dragon also scored once in the ’35 game and twice in ’36. Joe Rosato scored Albion’s first touchdown in the 1935 game.
The following year the rivalry contest was moved up to Armistice Day (now Veterans Day) and continued to be played on that day until 1958 when it became part of the regular season schedule.
Medina’s 1934 squad included, in front, White, Hare, Garrett, Bacon, Clapp, Monagan, Root, Palmer, Acer, Clark and Hagerman. In the middle row are Stilwell, Smith, Lynch, Rumsey, Hay, Pegelow, Padoleski, Wanecski and Maines. In the back row are Coach Evans, R. Clark, Heveron, Hungerford, Ward and Prahler.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2020 at 9:10 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Traffic passes over the Gaines Basin Road canal bridge this morning. The bridge has reopened after a major rehabilitation.
The bridge has been closed since March 23. It is one of seven canal bridges that have been upgraded as part of a $10.7 million initiative by the state Department of Transportation.
Crane Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport was the contractor. The company installed high-strength galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates and truss elements.
The seven single-lane truss bridges were constructed between 1909 and 1914.
The bridges in the $10.7 million project include Bennetts Corners Road in the Town of Murray, Telegraph Road in the Town of Murray, Transit Road in the Town of Murray, Densmore Road in the Town of Albion, Gaines Basin Road in the Town of Gaines, Bates Road in the Village of Medina, and Marshall Road in the Town of Ridgeway.
ROYALTON – A child was killed, and four other children and two adults were injured on Wednesday evening, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported today.
There was a two-car collision at 7:33 p.m. at the intersection of Lewiston Road and Griswold Street.
Responding patrol units, fire personnel, EMS units arrived on scene of the accident and provided immediate first aid.
Initial investigation at the scene revealed that one vehicle was southbound on Griswold Street and the other vehicle was eastbound on Lewiston Road. The vehicle on Griswold Street failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection, causing the collision, the Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release.
The eastbound vehicle, traveling on Lewiston Road, had a total of seven occupants in the vehicle. The two adult occupants in that vehicle were transported via ambulance to Erie County Medical Center.
The remaining occupants of the vehicle consisted of five children. Four of those children were transported by ambulance and Mercy Flight to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
A fifth child from that vehicle was transported by ambulance to Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport. That child was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The sole occupant of the southbound vehicle on Griswold Street was transported by ambulance to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.
Names of the parties involved are not being released at this time, pending notifications of family members. Current conditions of the parties involved in the accident are not available at this time as they are being evaluated.
The accident is currently being investigated by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 November 2020 at 6:36 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf
MEDINA – Employees with the village of Medina strung lights on this giant Christmas tree next to the cannon in State Street Park on Tuesday.
The two Department of Public Works employees worked high in their bucket trucks to string Christmas lights in this tree at State Street Park.
Decorating the park for the holidays has been a tradition for Medina Lions for several decades, and this year is no exception.
The Christmas display which extends the full length of State Street Park is an annual tradition in Medina. The manger and Three Wise Men are just part of the extensive display, which Medina Lions put up on Saturday.
Lions’ members spent several hours putting up the decorations, which run almost the entire length of the park and include the Manger scene, Three Wise Men and Advent wreath.
Lion Dean Bellack said this a favorite project of the Lions and members support it wholeheartedly. More than two dozen members showed up to help put up the decorations, he said.
After the holidays, the Lions will remove the decorations and store them away for next year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2020 at 6:22 pm
MURRAY – The community can offer input on a proposed comprehensive plan for guiding the town’s land use, and policies and actions for zoning regulations and capital investments.
There will be a 7 p.m. meeting on Monday through Zoom where the community can learn about the plan and offer feedback. Click here for a link to the meeting. The meeting ID is 861 2115 5436, with the passcode, 172412.
An Advisory Committee appointed by the Murray Town Board has been working on preparing the comprehensive plan with assistance from LaBella Associates. Click here to see a draft of the proposed 130-page plan.
The document includes descriptions of existing conditions, analysis of issues, and recommended actions to advance the town’s goals. The plan will help the town publicize its agricultural, natural, historic and scenic assets for beneficial development of compatible businesses and homes.
The plan addresses the following topics:
Land Use
Historic Resources
Population and Housing
Recreational Resources
Economic Vitality
Utilities
Agriculture & Farmland
Transportation
Natural Resources
Public & Community Services
A representative from LaBella Associates will summarize the findings and recommendations and facilitate public comment during the meeting on Monday. The session will be recorded for viewing later.
Following the presentation, those in attendance will be invited to comment. Written comments will be accepted through December 18. Comments can be sent to the Town Clerk via e-mail at clerk@townofmurray.org or by mail to:
Town Clerk, Town of Murray
3840 Fancher Road
Holley, NY 14470
Please call Cindy Oliver, Town Clerk, at (585) 638-6570 with any questions.
BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department has received a positive Covid-19 test from an individual who was at Kelly’s Holland Inn, 25 Evans St. in Batavia, on the following dates:
Tuesday, November 17th, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 18th, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, November 19th, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday, November 20th between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact tracing is in progress. However, unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the positive case.
We advise all individuals who were at Kelly’s Holland Inn on the stated dates and times to monitor their symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms of Covid-19 develop, contact your primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2020 at 4:33 pm
In past 7 days Genesee has added 212 new cases while Orleans has 49 more
Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting 45 new cases combined today.
In Orleans, there are 11 new confirmed cases for a total of 587 positive cases since March. The new positive cases reside in Albion, Clarendon, Gaines, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby.
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s, 50s and 60s. None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said this afternoon.
Orleans is reporting four more recoveries and those individuals have been removed from the isolation list.
Two of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Medina Middle Schooler tests positive: Medina Central School was informed that a student at Wise Intermediate Middle School has tested positive for Covid. That student hasn’t been on campus since Nov. 17, and was on mandatory quarantine due to exposure to Covid, district superintendent Mark Kruzynski wrote today in a letter to district families and staff.
“In this situation, the Department of Health has determined that there will not be a need for any further school-related quarantines due to these cases,’ Kruzynski said. “However, any determination of the need for quarantine will come directly from the Health Department.”
In Genesee County, there are 34 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 827 since March.
The new positive cases reside in Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pembroke and Stafford.
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Eight of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee reports that 14 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed
from the isolation list.
Genesee has 16 residents hospitalized who have Covid.
• Covid cases rose significantly in past seven days: Since Nov. 18, Genesee has added 212 cases, from 615 to 827. Geneses’s recoveries also are up by 126.
In Orleans, the cases since a week ago increased by 49, from 538 to 587 with 79 recoveries.
• 3-county data: To see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here. There are currently 315 active cases in the three counties, with 221 in Genesee, 41 in Orleans and 53 in Wyoming.
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• No updates until Monday: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, both Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed on Thursday and Friday. We will not be updating the websites or the maps on these days and over the weekend.
Our next update will be Monday afternoon to include data from today after 2:00 p.m. until Monday afternoon. Many of our staff will be working to handle investigations and quarantine-related issues. We hope you have a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving.
Over this weekend, we can’t stress enough the importance to limit time with non-household members. Continue to do your best to limit the spread of Covid-19 and the flu by frequently washing/sanitizing your hands, wearing a mask/face-covering over your mouth and nose when out in public and keeping at least 6 feet from non-household members. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and contact your primary care provider for guidance.
Businesses, residents urged to be vigilant in fight against Covid spread
Press Release, Advocacy Coalition of Rochester Area Chambers
ROCHESTER – The Advocacy Coalition of Rochester Area Chambers is deeply concerned about the resurgence of Covid-19 in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier Regions and its effects on our local businesses and economy.
In that spirit, its leadership team released the following statement:
“ACRAC is not interested in taking political sides on this issue but rather focusing on the health and well-being of our region. We believe that each of us has a role to play in helping to tackle the pandemic.
“To avoid further business interruptions, ACRAC is asking our collective members and the community at large to observe social distancing, wear masks, disinfect regularly, and employ good hand hygiene. Employers should set good examples for their employees, and employees should set good examples for customers.
“Recovering from the impact of this virus continues to be a struggle. We will continue working with our Congressional Delegation to quickly pass an additional stimulus package that includes support for small business owners. So too will we continue to support efforts by state leaders to increase infrastructure for Covid-19 testing, speed up turnaround time for results, and improve contact tracing capabilities in an effort to efficiently curb the spread of Covid-19.
“We commend the work of Governor Cuomo and his administration in working to keep infection rates among the lowest in the country and stand ready to assist in any way that we can.
“Business owners are rightly concerned about the increase in Covid-19 and the effects that another shut down will have on them, especially during the profitable holiday shopping season. Business owners must take every precaution to keep shoppers safe and remain open.
“Residents can support their local businesses, economies, and communities not only by shopping locally, but also by following the recommendations set forth by the CDC, New York State, and our local county health departments.
“Each of us must ask ourselves if we will be part of the solution, or part of the problem.”
About the Advocacy Coalition of Rochester Area Chambers:
Formed in 2019, The Advocacy Coalition of Rochester Area Chambers is a group of chamber executives from throughout the Finger Lakes region committed to helping our members grow and promoting the region through teamwork and collaborative advocacy.
ALBION — Due to the rise of Coronavirus cases, there is an increasing demand for tests. Many of our health centers including Albion, Brockport, and Hornell provide testing for people with and without symptoms.
At the Corfu, Batavia, and Alexander locations we are testing people with symptoms who meet the criteria. To keep everyone safe, all testing is by appointment only.
Covid-19 swab tests are available at our health centers outdoors to ensure safety for patients and staff, however, if you have symptoms, please call in advance for arrival instructions. Test results are typically back in 3-5 days but in some cases can take up to seven business days.
“We want the community to know that Oak Orchard Health is here for them should they need a Covid-19 test. We have several testing locations and options including a free LetsGetChecked Self-Collection Kit,” said Dr. Mary Obear, MD, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer, Oak Orchard Health.
Regarding payment, Oak Orchard starts by billing the insurance companies (co-pays may apply), and should it not be covered, we also offer a sliding fee scale discount based on family size and annual income. For questions or more information, please call (585) 637-3905 ext. 221.
The LetsGetChecked Covid-19 Self Collection Kits were purchased by Oak Orchard but are being given out free to our patients 18 years of age or older. They can be used at home but are in limited supply. The kits can be used when appropriate based on current testing guidelines. The test kit comes with a UPS next day air return shipping label to send your sample back to the lab. They aim to deliver your results within 24-72 hours of your sample being received in their laboratory.
Take a moment look at the Covid-19 testing options available at Oak Orchard Health. For more information, click here or call (585) 637-3905.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2020 at 1:09 pm
At 2 local prisons, Orleans Correctional hasn’t had any cases, while Albion Correctional reports 10
ALBANY – The union representing corrections officers is asking the governor and state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to take immediate steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in prisons.
The state’s DOCCES Covid-19 Report says 1,705 staff have tested positive for Covid, 1,737 inmates have contracted Covid and 125 parolees have got it. Click here to see that report.
The confirmed deaths from Covid include 5 staff members, 18 inmates and 4 people on parole.
Of the 2 state prisons in Orleans County, there have been 10 inmates who have tested positive – all at the Albion Correctional Facility, which is a women’s prison. That site has also had 548 negative tests. At the Orleans Correctional Facility, there have been 595 tests and all have come back negative for Covid at that men’s prison.
That is a significant contrast from Elmira, where 605 inmates have tested positive. Four other prisons have had more than 100 inmates test positive: Greene, 161; Green Haven, 129; Fishkill, 114; and Shawangunk, 101.
“With Covid-19 rates beginning to spike throughout New York, we are calling on the Governor and DOCCS to take immediate steps to prevent any outbreaks inside the facilities where my members serve the people of this state,” said Michael B. Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. “We are requesting that all non-essential inmate movement cease, visitations be paused and inmates be placed in an ‘every other cubical’ setting inside prison dormitories.”
NYSCOPBA said its insistence on safety measures for the protection of corrections officers and the incarcerated population helped slow the spread in the first and second quarters of the year.
However, Power said the recent easing of these restrictions has resulted in virus outbreaks inside the prison walls of several prisons in New York..
“New York should once again heed NYSCOPBA’s call to put immediate safeguards in place before additional outbreaks occur,” Powers said. “When the positivity rates inside Greene and Elmira exploded, NYSCOPBA called for the stoppage of visitations and nonessential transports, as well as implementing social distancing and rapid testing for staff. As a result, we’ve seen the positive levels decline significantly in those two prisons. The state needs to act now, system-wide, before it’s too late.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2020 at 9:07 am
Number of workers in county drops by 1,400 — from 16,900 to 15,500 in past year
Orleans County’s unemployment rate was 6.0 percent in October, far less than pandemic high of 15.9 percent in April but more than the 4.1 in October 2019, when there wasn’t Covid-19.
The latest monthly report from the state Department of Labor shows there were 1,400 fewer people working in Orleans County in October, compared to a year earlier. The number of employed people in the county dropped from 16,900 in October 2019 to 15,500 last month.
The number of unemployed was up from 700 in October 2019 to 1,000 last month.
The number of unemployed has generally being going down since April’s high of 2,700, to 1,900 in May and June. It was at 2,300 in July and then 1,700 in August. Last month, the state DOL said it 900 in Orleans County.
In September, the unemployment rate was down to 5.5 percent in Orleans, the low of the pandemic. It went up to 6.0 in October. Since the pandemic hit, and the state closed or restricted many businesses, the unemployment rates in Orleans have been 15.9 percent in April, 11.5 percent in May, 10.8 percent in June, 12.7 percent in July and 9.8 percent in August.
While the rate is much less than the pandemic peak in April and May, it is still far more than a year ago. New York’s statewide unemployment rate was at 9.2 percent in October, compared to 3.7 percent in October 2019. Nationally the rate was at 6.6 percent in October, compared to 3.3 percent a year earlier.
New York City is suffering the most, with the rate up from 3.7 percent in October 2019 to 13.7 percent last month.
The Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro increased from 4.1 to 6.9 percent in the year, while the Rochester metro rate was up from 3.9 to 6.4 percent.
Other unemployment rates for October in the Western New York region include:
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 November 2020 at 8:05 am
MEDINA – In spite of not being able to have an in-person fundraising event this year, Orleans Community Health’s Mega Drawing on Tuesday was a huge success, according to Heather Smith, director of the hospital’s Foundation.
“We are so thrilled with how it went,” Smith said, after the drawing took place live on Facebook at noon Tuesday. “It was our first time hosting a live virtual fundraiser and it will not be our last.”
Participating in the live drawing with Smith were hospital CEO Marc Shurtz and Foundation board member Jeanne Crane.
Smith said the Foundation was in the early stages of planning an event when Covid-19 first hit the region in March. They had originally planned for it to take place outside at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in August, but in April the committee decided to put all fundraising plans on hold.
“After thinking things through and doing a little research, we decided we could do this event completely virtual through Facebook,” Smith said. “It was much simpler than I thought it would be. We will definitely do something like this again in the near future. We did sell out all 300 tickets with a net profit of just over $18,000. All our winners live locally and represent hospital employees, the fire department, local business owners and community members.”
Seven cash prizes were awarded, ranging from $10,000 to $100, in addition to a lottery tree, office chair and Buffalo Bills fire pit.
Due to the success of the event, Smith said they are able to finalize fundraising for two special projects they are working on with Orleans Community Health. One is the Recovery Room renovation in memory of Nancy Albanese, where they plan to update the lighting, install secure patient lockers, replace the nurses desk, privacy curtains and flooring and install new storage cabinets.
The second project is at the dialysis units in Medina and Batavia. Both locations will receive a new wheelchair scale and new office chairs for the nursing stations and administrative offices. Lastly, they will soon receive a few new laptops to assist with charting while working chair-side with the patients.
Smith extended the Orleans Community Health Foundation’s thanks to all who purchased a ticket and to sponsors, which included Lawley Insurance, Lumsden and McCormick, Dr. Joseph Canzoneri of the Wound Care Center at Medina Memorial Hospital, Western New York Energy, the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and Takeform.
Scratch-off donors were Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Zambistro, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and the OCH Foundation board members. In addition, prizes were donated for the drawing from Indoff and Orleans/Niagara BOCES.
“Everyone was so enthusiastic about the drawing and so glad to participate,” Smith said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 November 2020 at 7:48 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Staff of Salon de Coiffeur in Medina presented $1,681 to Supportive Care of Orleans as the result of a basket raffle they held. Presenting the gift to Supportive Care’s Development and Public Relations Manager Derek Reiner are, from left, stylists Leslie Saj and LeAnn Phillips, and salon owner Terah Jackson.
MEDINA – A Medina beauty salon jumped into the holiday spirit by holding a fundraiser to benefit Supportive Care of Orleans (Hospice).
The staff of Salon de Coiffeur had a holiday open house with a basket raffle last year and donated the proceeds to CareNet.
But this year, with the Covid pandemic, they couldn’t have a live open house at their location on Maple Ridge Road, but they decided they could do a basket raffle, said salon owner Terah Jackson.
“We had Hospice for my mother before she died June 1,” Jackson said. “They helped us enormously and I wanted to do something for them. They were just amazing. When we needed meds on Memorial Day weekend, we got meds on Memorial Day.”
The ladies at the salon never expected the basket raffle to be as big as it was. They advertised it among friends and customers and on Facebook. Downtown businesses support it, and they soon ended up with 60 baskets.
Phillips said customers would come in and see another basket had been added and buy more tickets.
“People we didn’t even know came in and wanted to donate or buy tickets,” Phillips said.
In the end, 150 people bought tickets, either in person or online.
On Tuesday afternoon, Derek Reiner, Development and Public Relations manager at Supportive Care of Orleans came to accept the donation. He expressed appreciation for the salon’s efforts and said they were grateful for the support.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2020 at 8:08 pm
Photo courtesy of Owen Toale: Medina Police Chief Kenward (left), Tyler Draper and Lt. Todd Draper are pictured with Kye at the Village Board meeting on Monday. Kye has retired as Medina’s K9 and will be staying with Draper’s family.
MEDINA – Kye, Medina Police Department’s K9 for 8 ½ years, has officially transitioned to civilian life.
Kye, a Belgian Malinois, had his last day on the job on Nov. 13. He worked with Lt. Todd Draper since 2012.
Phoenix, the Medina PD’s new K9, has taken over for Kye. Phoenix works with handler and Medina police officer Jacob Reeves.
The Medina Village Board declared Kye “surplus” on Monday and agreed to sell him for $1 to Lt. Draper. Kye will continue to live with the Draper family.
Draper was joined at Monday’s meeting by his 8-year-old son, Tyler, who has spent his entire life with Kye in the Draper household.
Tyler actually paid the $1 for Kye and did a small demonstration for the Village Board on Monday, showing the trustees and Mayor Mike Sidari some of the commands he has learned while Kye has been a member of the family.
