Orleans has 33 new confirmed cases in past week, while Genesee has 25

Orleans and Genesee counties are each reporting one new confirmed case of Covid-19 today. Since a week ago, there are 33 new cases in Orleans and 25 more in Genesee.

In Orleans, the new case today is a Gaines resident in the 50s. The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Orleans has now had 399 people test positive for Covid since March.

The county has 9 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Orleans also is reporting three more recoveries who have been removed from the isolation list. One of the positive individuals also is hospitalized.

In Genesee County, the new case is a Pembroke resident in the 60s. The individual was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee County has now had 375 people test positive for Covid since March.

Genesee also has 9 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

The Health Departments also is reporting two Genesee residents are hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee County was informed on Thursday that a student at the LeRoy Junior/Senior High School has tested positive for Covid-19. The last day the student was in the school was Tuesday, October 27. All contacts have been identified and have been placed under mandatory quarantine.

Statewide Data: There were 2,255 positive tests for Covid out of 146,885 for a statewide positivity rate of 1.53 percent.

The positive testing rate in all focus zone areas is 2.75 percent, while the rate outside the focus zones is 1.38 percent.

“We cannot become complacent and risk going backwards,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “We continue to closely monitor the data and handle micro-clusters as they happen, as well as watching what is happening around us as cases surge again across the country.”

More from the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments:

Flu Tracking:  For the 2020-2021 Flu Season we will provide data on Fridays on the current influenza activity.  To check the data, click here.

For the current week, ending date Oct. 24, Genesee County has 0 cases and Orleans County has 1 case. There are 62 cases statewide. This data is influenza that is confirmed by laboratory testing.  Not everyone seeks testing for confirmation of the flu.

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office collected 650 pounds of unused medication and sharps last Saturday during a drive-through Drug Take Back event at the Public Safety Building.

There were about 100 vehicles that pulled in with residents dropping off unused pills and sharps, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.

Law enforcement this year has now collected 1,057 pounds of unused or expired medication, and sharps, Bourke said.

The medication will be incinerated. The Drug Take Back events are a chance to turn in unused or expired medication for safe disposal and help prevent prescription drug abuse, accidental poisoning and also protect the environment.

About 9,500 pounds of medication and needles have now been collected in the county since 2012, Bourke said.

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

On the week marking the 195th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul D. Tonko held a press conference on Thursday to call to extend the authorization of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission. The members both announced legislation this week that would extend the Commission’s authorization from its current sunset date of September 30, 2021 to September 30, 2034.

“The Erie Canal is a part New York’s rich history of innovation. Since its construction it has been a critical part of our economy, most recently as a central part of our tourism economy in Upstate New York. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has helped sustain strong communities for the millions of New Yorkers who call the Erie Canal Corridor home,” said Senator Gillibrand. “As we approach the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, we must ensure the Commission has the full support of Congress to continue to implement the Canalway Plan and protect and provide access to the historical, cultural, and environmental resources the canal provides. I’m proud to introduce this bicameral legislation with Congressman Tonko to reauthorize this important program for years to come.”

“For nearly two centuries, our Erie Canalway has acted as a staple of our region’s history and heritage as well as a vital source of economic energy, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for the Upstate New York economy each year,” Congressman Tonko said. “We must work to protect and preserve our Canalway, which gives so much to our communities. I am proud to join with Senator Gillibrand in introducing this commonsense legislation to put our Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission on sound financial footing and deliver the resources necessary to ensure our precious waterway can be enjoyed for generations to come. I thank the many members of our New York delegation who are supporting this effort and I call on our colleagues in the House and Senate to pass this extension and assure a vital future for one of our nation’s most historic sites.”

Barbara Blanchard, Chair of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission, said, “We truly appreciate Congressman Tonko and Senator Gillibrand’s steadfast support of the more than 200 communities that are connected by our legendary waterways. Erie Canalway heritage-based activities are producing positive community and economic development results that benefit millions of upstate New York residents. We look forward to working with all of our partners at the federal, state and local levels as we keep up this exciting momentum.”

The legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Representatives Brian Higgins (D-NY), Joe Morelle (D-NY), John Katko (R-NY), Tom Reed (R-NY), Anthony Brindisi (D-NY), Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY).

‘This fall could be a one-two punch for infection as we manage the start of another flu season while working diligently to keep the Covid-19 virus at bay.’ – Governor Cuomo

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today reminded all New Yorkers to get a flu shot to prepare for the flu season, which usually begins in October and runs through May. The New York State Flu Tracker launches today. The tracker displays daily and weekly flu data and provides timely information about local, regional and statewide flu activity.

“This fall could be a one-two punch for infection as we manage the start of another flu season while working diligently to keep the Covid-19 virus at bay,” Governor Cuomo said. “I’m reminding all New Yorkers that getting a flu shot not only protects you from the flu but will allow us to direct vital healthcare resources to fighting the next wave of the COVID-19 virus.”

During the 2019-20 flu season, there were 22,217 flu-associated hospitalizations in the state and 13 pediatric deaths.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your flu shot to protect yourself this season against the dual threat of Covid-19, which can mimic flu symptoms,” said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. “The ability to track activity for both viruses on a daily basis will help identify trends and help the Department put the appropriate public health measures in place. I also want to remind New Yorkers that contracting the flu does not mean you cannot contract Covid-19 and vice versa.”

The New York State Department of Health recommends that anyone over six months of age get vaccinated for the flu to protect themselves and others during the upcoming flu season. Click here for locations to get a flu shot.

Adults aged 65 years and older, people with certain chronic medical conditions, young children and pregnant women are among those at highest risk for serious flu complications, which may require hospitalization and could result in death.

Since the flu virus can spread through coughing or sneezing, it is especially important for family members and people who have regular contact with high-risk individuals to be vaccinated.

Over the last four years, there have been a total of 33 pediatric flu-associated deaths in New York State and an average of 19,318 flu-related hospitalizations each year. In January 2019, during the severe 2017-2018 flu season, Governor Cuomo signed an emergency Executive Order allowing pharmacists to administer the flu vaccine to children ages 2 to 18. Subsequently, the Governor passed legislation codifying the order into law. During the 2019-2020 flu season, 56,264 flu shots were administered by pharmacies to children under the age of 18 in New York State outside of New York City.

ALBION – The early voting numbers continue to far exceed the in-person ballots cast early a year ago.

Orleans County had 536 early voters on Wednesday and then 406 on Thursday. That followed the 476 early voters on Monday and 530 on Tuesday.

Early voting started last weekend and there were 364 on Saturday, followed by 332 on Sunday.

That puts the six-day total at 2,644 in-person votes before the Nov. 3 election. That represents 10.9 percent of 24,265 active registered voters in the county.

The 2,644 early voters far exceeds the number of early voters in the 2019 general election when only 374 people used the option over nine days. That was the first time people could do early voting in person in Orleans County.

Early voting continues until Nov. 1 at the Board of Elections at the Orleans County Administration Building on Route 31. The hours include:

• Today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 31-Nov. 1 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The county has also seen a big increase in requests for absentee ballots with 2,885. That is up from the 952 received in 2016 during the last Presidential election.

Provided photo and article from Medina Central School

MEDINA – Medina Teacher Association members spent a fall day cleaning up Maple Ridge Road. The teachers have been doing this for 20 years and adopted the stretch of highway which they clean in the spring and fall every year.

The 23 participants who took part this year stayed socially distanced as they cleaned up the roadside.

Todd Bensley, a high school social studies teacher, said it is a great opportunity for them to give back to the community.

“It’s a way to support the MTA’s efforts in the community and give myself and my colleagues a chance to see each other outside of the school day and connect with teachers in other buildings at our district,” Bensley said. “We even found a $20 bill!”

Press Release, AAA Western and Central New York

New York’s new rear seat belt law goes into effect Sunday, November 1, requiring all passengers to wear a seat belt in the back seat of a motor vehicle, including passengers of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

Until now, passengers over age 16 were not required to wear seat belts in the rear seat in New York. The new law, championed by AAA New York State, will save lives and prevent injuries across state roadways by requiring all occupants in a motor vehicle to buckle up. Unbelted rear passengers account for eight injuries per day across New York State.

The state pioneered auto safety in 1985 as the first state with a law that required passengers wear seat belts in the front seats of passenger cars. But New York has lagged requiring the use of seat belts in rear seats, with 289 unbuckled rear seat passengers killed, and 25,596 injured from 2010 to 2019.

“As an advocate for traffic safety, AAA supports the new law requiring rear seat belt use in New York. While critics may claim that we don’t need another traffic law, research shows that states with rear seat belt requirements consistently have higher overall seat belt usage rates and seat belts are proven to save lives,” said Elizabeth Carey, Director of Public Relations at AAA Western and Central New York.

According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), teens and young adults 16-24 are least likely to buckle up and most likely to die compared to any other age group in New York State.  Seat belt use unequivocally reduces risk of injury and death for all vehicle occupants. Rear seat occupants who fail to buckle up are:

• 2 times more likely to be killed
• 8 times more likely to be seriously injured
• 2 times more likely to kill a front seat occupant by becoming a projectile

The current fine for an unbuckled front seat passenger is $50 dollars. The fine will remain the same and will be extended to unbuckled back seat passengers as well. New York will join 30 other states which have implemented similar laws.

Provided photos: John Papponetti, commissioner of the Orleans County Department of Public Works, accepts a “Partner of the Year” award on Wednesday from Katie Sommerfeldt, District Manager of the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District.

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Public Works was recognized on Wednesday for its assistance on many conservation projects in the county.

Katie Sommerfeldt, District Manager of the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District, presented Soil & Water’s “Partner of the Year” award to the DPW, which is led by commissioner John Papponetti.

This award was originally intended to be presented to the DPW during Soil & Water’s annual meeting earlier this year, but due to Covid-19 this meeting was cancelled.

“Orleans County Soil & Water has a long history of working with the DPW, and over the last few years our partnership has gotten even stronger,” Sommerfeldt said.

The DPW assists Soil & Water by offering manpower and equipment to improve the drainage in Orleans County.

As a tradeoff, Soil & Water offers technical expertise with culvert sizings and ditch designs for the DPW.

“Together these entities continue to try and improve the resources of Orleans County,” Sommerfeldt said.

Here are some photos of the DPW working on projects with Soil & Water:

The Orleans County DPW maintains a stream bank using the County DPW’s excavator and operator, and the Soil & Water Slashbuster attachment.

The County DPW maintains roadside ditches using Soil & Water’s Boom Mower.

The County DPW replaces a culvert where Soil & Water provided technical assistance.

ROYALTON – The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the driver in a fatal motor vehicle accident on Thursday.

Christopher L. Mahar, 55, of Gasport was in an accident at 1:51 p.m. on Mill Road. He was driving a 2011 Honda and going northeast on Mill Road when he crossed the center line and entered the southwest bound lane.

The vehicle continued across the southwest bound lane and exited the roadway’s edge. The vehicle then struck an earthen embankment and overturned. The Honda continued a short distance across the grass where it ultimately came to rest against a stand of trees, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Mahar succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit is continuing.

Provided photo: U.S. Rep. Jacobs held a press conference this morning with NYS Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Mike Norris, and Niagara and Orleans County Chairwomen Rebecca Wydysh and Lynne Johnson to discuss state and local Covid-19 aid funding.

Press Release, U.S. Rep. Chris Jacobs

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) held a press conference this morning to highlight the critical need for additional state and local Covid-19 relief funding. He was joined by NYS Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Mike Norris, Niagara County Legislature Chair Rebecca Wydysh, and Orleans County Legislature Chair Lynne Johnston.

“Our small rural governments are struggling and facing severe cuts to first responders, education, hospitals, and other critical services unless additional aid is provided to them,” Jacobs said. “I am working tirelessly to ensure they are supported, and that is why I proudly cosponsored the SMART Act to deliver $500 billion in relief, specifically $161 billion to county and municipal governments that have been hardest hit by Covid-19 revenue loss and expenses.”

“The state’s Division of Budget is currently withholding $3 billion in Covid-19 recovery funds, a third of which could be immediately distributed to the smaller counties of our state that did not receive assistance previously,” State Sen. Rob Ortt said. “By releasing this funding, the Governor could provide much-needed support to our counties, towns, villages, and cities, these counties and municipalities that are struggling to maintain vital services due to the economic impacts of the Covid pandemic.”

“I commend Congressman Jacobs for supporting the SMART Act to assist municipalities recover during Covid-19,” Assemblyman Michael J. Norris said. “It is very important that this proposal gets enacted to assist counties like Niagara and Orleans to directly receive funding to help taxpayers and small businesses rebuild.”

In NY-27, Monroe County and Erie County received CARES Act funding because they met the population threshold of over 500,000 residents. With this funding these counties were able to launch programs to aid towns and small businesses.

Meanwhile, smaller counties, including Orleans and Niagara, have received little to no funding. The SMART Act would send one-third of the $500 billion ($161 billion) directly to local governments based on revenue loss, population size, and Covid-19 caseload.

“The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the local economies of all counties across New York State, large and small, and as such, all counties should have received a share of CARES Act dollars,” said Becky Wydysh, chairwoman of the Niagara County Legislature. “We do not begrudge the fact that Erie County received funding, and quite frankly, they have done some great things like grants to small businesses that we would emulate. That is why I join with Congressman Jacobs and my colleagues in calling on New York State to release CARES dollars that are still sitting in Albany to counties like Niagara that so far have received nothing.”

“I am calling on Governor Cuomo to release CARES Act funds to our rural counties. Each day that he stalls forces smaller counties to make difficult decisions,” said Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of Orleans County Legislature.

Photos courtesy of Melissa Ierlan

HOLLEY – This new historical marker was installed today at 35 South Main Street. It notes the site was once a “Safe House” and the home of Chauncey Robinson, who lived from 1792-1866.

Robinson was an Orleans County pioneer and an abolitionist. He sheltered escaped slaves at this site as part of the Underground Railroad.

The sign was funded by Roy Bubb, James Robinson, the Orleans County Historical Association and the Orleans County Historian’s Department under Matt Ballard.

The other side of the marker notes the location is the “Brainerd Home,” which was built by Col. Ezra Brainard, inventor of Brained Truss Bridge. He was a contractor on the Erie Canal who built the Sandy Creek embankment in Holley.

Local historians have long suspected there were houses in Orleans County on the Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of trails and homes. But there wasn’t documentation to back it up, until Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan found a letter from Robinson’s grandson.

In the lengthy letter, the grandson details visiting his grandfather, who took him up to the second floor of the back side of the house. The grandfather pulled back a curtain, and there was a group of escaped slaves on beds.

More research showed that Robinson was in fact an outspoken abolitionist,.

This is the second historical marker in Orleans County about African-American history. Medina in April 2015 unveiled a marker on Main Street in recognition of two speeches delivered in the community by Frederick Douglass, a leading abolitionist.

The Holley marker highlights a local resident advocating for escaped slaves.

The Holley marker is two-sided with one side highlighting Robinson and the Underground Railroad, and the other side noting the work of Ezra Brainard, who built Robinson’s home and oversaw construction of the canal embankment over Sandy Creek.

ROYALTON – There was a fatal motor vehicle accident on Mill Road in Royalton this afternoon, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 1:51 p.m. about an accident at the 7800 block of Mill Road.

The initial investigation by deputies at the scene revealed that a 2011 Honda was traveling northeast on Mill Road when it crossed the center line and entered the southwest bound lane.

The vehicle continued across the southwest bound lane and exited the roadway’s edge. The vehicle then struck an earthen embankment and overturned. The Honda continued a short distance across the grass where it ultimately came to rest against a stand of trees, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

The driver of the vehicle succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the driver involved is being withheld at this time pending notification to family.

An investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit is continuing.

NEWARK – The two teens who were sought by law enforcement after an Amber Alert was issued on Wednesday turned themselves in at the Newark Police Department today, Orleans County Undersheriff Michael Mele said.

Both Alyssa Bel, 15, of Clarendon and Kevin Huntington, 16, were suspects in their daughter’s abduction. On Wednesday the Amber Alert was cancelled after they left their baby, nearly two months old, at a family member’s residence.

The Amber Alert was activated at 2:22 p.m. on Wednesday and was cancelled shortly after 3:30 p.m.

“Thank you to all who have sent in tips and information regarding the locations of these individuals,” Mele said in a news release.