NORTH TONAWANDA – Standing outside the Riviera Theatre, which has been closed for six months, State Sen. Rob Ortt today urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature to allow theaters to reopen for live music and entertainment.

Theaters were expecting to be approved for reopening in Phase 4, but the state didn’t allow that.

Ortt said the state has allow NBC Studios to open, but not community theaters, including the Riviera in North Tonawanda and the Palace Theatre in Lockport. Not only does that put historic theaters on the brink, but it hurts musicians, technicians and other performers who depend on those venues.

David Fillenwarth, executive director of the Riviera, led a news conference today, saying the theater has a safety plan for reopening that has passed the Niagara County Health Department. He said the Riviera provides a critical boost to local restaurants and other small businesses, who see theater patrons before and after concerts and other performances.

Fillenwarth said the Covid-19 pandemic has threatened 90 percent of theaters with closure.

He has pressed the Governor’s Office for answers or a timeline on when theaters can reopen. He hasn’t received a reply.

The Riviera’s reopening plan would require patrons to line up 6 feet apart before a performance. There would be temperature checks for patrons, staff and artists.

Patrons and staff would be required to wear masks inside the building the entire time, including during performances.

The Riviera, if following similar guidelines for other larger venues, would be limited to a 50 percent capacity. Fillenwarth said the theater would happily reopen at 25 percent in the beginning of the reopening.

There wouldn’t be concessions, alcohol and merchandise sales. There wouldn’t be an intermission. A traffic flow for people would be mapped on the floor.

People could sit next to people in the same party, but then there would be two seats of space from the next group, and people would be seated every other row to allow for social distancing of 6 feet.

The Riviera would have security on hand to enforce mask wearing and guidelines, Fillenwarth said.

The theater also won’t allow its popular mosh pit for the many bands that perform at the site.

The Riviera would like to host its first shows on Sept. 25-26 with The Chicago Authority, a Chicago tribute band. At 25 percent capacity, the theater could have about 300 people for the event.

But the governor and state need to approve live entertainment in the reopening.

“We can no longer be ignored,” Fillenwarth said at the news conference, which is posted on the Riviera’s Facebook page. “It’s time to turn back on the light.”

Ortt knows the theater well from when he was North Tonawanda mayor. He said theaters and live entertainment are important cultural centers that provide an economic catalyst for downtown business districts.

He worries if theaters close they may not come back.

Ortt said the state hasn’t be fair with reopening businesses in Phase 4. Gyms and casinos had to wait long after phase 4 was introduced. Amd the state “selectively” allowed NBC Studios to open while smaller theaters are in limbo.

“The thought was they would be in phase 4 but they weren’t,” Ortt said. “There is no phase 5.”

He said he would press Cuomo and the State Senate and Assembly, which Demcoratic majorities, to reopen theaters.

Fillenwarth said the state needs to give the green light soon for the live entertainment industry.

“This is no longer wait and see,” he said. “We need an answer immediately. We got to find a way to make this work.”

New nursing home visitation guidelines in effect today

Orleans and Genesee counties both are again reporting no new confirmed Covid-19 cases today. Orleans has gone two days without a new case while Genesee’s streak is up to eight straight days without a new confirmed case.

Genesee is reporting four more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, while Orleans has added 2 more people on precautionary quarantine.

• State-wide Data: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state’s Covid-19 infection rate remained below 1 percent. Yesterday, 0.98 of test results reported to New York State were positive or 896 of the 91,504 test results.

Other state data includes:

• Patient Hospitalization – 486 (+3)
• Number ICU – 135 (-3)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 68 (+1)
• Deaths – 3 (Total Deaths – 25,413)

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Nursing Home Visitation: New guidance for skilled nursing facility visitation is available by clicking here.

The state is requiring the facilities to have visitors provide proof of negative Covid-19 test results within 7 days of visit. This may result in multiple tests to continue to visit your loved ones. To find additional test sites nearest you, click here.

• New York School Districts will be providing the NYS Department of Health with daily data on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19. When the reporting starts to come back, the Covid Report Card will be live. To access, click here.

ALBION – Three people from Orleans County have recently been sentenced to state prison by County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Ronald Riley, 41, of Medina received the longest sentence at four years in prison plus three years of post-release supervision.

He pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. He was on parole when he allegedly had and sold cocaine in Medina. He was charged on Oct. 1, 2019.

He was sentenced in County Court on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, David R. Tower, 41, of Lyndonville was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison for felony driving while intoxicated and for violating his probation. He also will be on post-release supervision for one year.

Last week on Sept. 9, Thomas Edgtion, 35, of Albion was sentenced to 1 ½ years of state prison and one year of post-release supervision for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

He was charged last Dec. 5 for allegedly selling and distributing crack cocaine and powder cocaine in Albion.

In other cases:

• Scott Foley, 52, was presented a new plea offer after charges of attempted second-degree murder were withdrawn. Foley now faces charges of reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and DWI.

He has until Sept. 23 to decide if he will accept a plea deal with a cap of five years in state prison.

He allegedly fired two shots from a rifle on Jan. 2 at Roadies Pizzeria and Sports Bar on Route 98 in Carlton. One of the rounds was recovered inside the pizzeria and sports bar.

Foley was at Roadies and was asked to leave by one of the co-owners after a “disturbance,” DA Joe Cardone said in court on Feb. 20. Foley left and returned, allegedly shooting a rifle from the parking lot.

• Jacob Twardowski, 20, of Albion was sentenced to four months of weekends in the county jail, plus probation. He was charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree for allegedly having 19 ounces of marijuana.

• Kelly Morrison, 45, of Medina was sentenced to five years of probation for third-degree attempted arson for allegedly setting her house on fire on May 11, 2019 on Gwinn Street. She also must pay any “reasonable restitution.”

Press Release, Sheriff Chris Bourke

RIDGEWAY — The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched at approximately 6:40 this morning to 3153 North Gravel Rd. where Shari Payne, 56, and James Payne, 60, were found dead in their home by their son of apparent unnatural causes.

The matter is currently being jointly investigated by the Sheriff’s Office and the State Police.

Further information will be released when it becomes available.

Sheriff’s Office will check car seats Saturday at Public Safety Building

ALBION — There will be three car seat safety checks in Albion this month, with the first one today from noon to 4 p.m. at the Save-A-Lot parking lot, 320 West Ave.

“We will have technicians there to inspect seats and install them correctly,” said Roland Nenni, Albion police chief. “If the seat is out of date or a new one is required we will provide that free of charge.”

There will two other child passenger seat safety checks this month by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office with the first one Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Safety Building in Albion, 13925 Route 31.

There will be another one from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 26 in Albion at the Dollar Tree parking lot, 330 West Ave. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will have certified child passenger safety technicians on site to check car/booster seats.

These check events are sponsored by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, which provided funding for new car seats.

Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent when used correctly, Nenni said.

More than 90 percent of the seats aren’t installed correctly, he said.

Residents can call the Albion PD anytime at (585) 589-5627 to schedule an individual appointment to have a child car seat inspected.

Another enclosure coming for small dogs, with more equipment headed for agility section

MEDINA – After three years of fundraising and planning, a new dog park has opened in Medina. The site is at 260 North Gravel Road, next to the former composting plant.

The dog park is just south of Boxwood Cemetery and across from The Gallagher, a barn used for weddings and special events.

The new Medina Dog Park opened last month and has two fenced in areas, one for large dogs and an agility area.

A separate enclosure for small dogs should be added soon. (In the meantime, small dogs can run and play with the large dogs.)

“It’s a great opportunity to have this in our community,” said Alaina Zapf, president of the Friends of the Medina Dog Park.

Cindy Davis, left, holds Johnny, a French bulldog, while Batman and Bailey greet her. Alaina Zapf, right, is thankful for a park to bring her dogs.

The group has raised $20,000 towards the project. It is trying for $5,000 more that would add the 100-by-100-foot enclosure for small dogs, and also more equipment in the agility area and also a water station near the entrance for dogs to rinse their paws and get a drink.

Zapf brought her two dogs, Batman and Bailey, to the park on Wednesday afternoon. When she lived in North Carolina, she would drive 15 minutes to take the two lab mixes to a dog park. When she moved to Medina, she wanted a place for her dogs to get exercise and socialize with other dogs.

She pitched a dog park to the Village Board, which supported having it next to the former compost facility.

The site is open dawn to dusk. It is already popular, especially from 3 to 6 p.m., said Cindy Davis, owner of The Pet Nanny. She brings several dogs to the site.

Johnny chases after a tennis ball while walking on a bridge in the agility section of the dog park. Cindy Davis is in back.

Davis was there on Wednesday afternoon with Johnny, a French bulldog.

“This is his active time,” she said when she arrived at the dog park with the little bulldog.

When she opened the two gates to get inside, Johnny took off as a blur, running the length of the enclosure.

Johnny also met Zapf’s dogs – Batman and Bailey – for the first time. They quickly became friends and chased each other around the fenced-in area. They also tried the agility area, using some old equipment from Butts Park. A new playground was put in a Butts in 2018. The village saved a tunnel and bridge for the dog park.

The dog park is a first in Orleans County. People have inquired about it from Rochester to Buffalo. Zapf is thrilled to see the response to the park so far.

“So many dogs do not have adequate room to run around,” she said. “Here they can get all that energy out. They are happier and less aggressive.”

Bailey explores the enclosed area at the dog park.

She thanked the community for donating to the project and supporting fundraisers. The Friends of the Medina Dog Park weren’t able to do some fundraisers planned this year due to Covid-19 pandemic. People interested in donating can check the group’s Facebook page.

The sign will also soon be updated to reflect that the park is open. There will be smaller signs on one of the fences listing people who donated at least $500 in money or in-kind services to the park. There will also be plaques on the three benches, listing those benefactors.

Zapf, 30, led the effort for the dog park while working on her doctorate in clinical psychology. She graduates in May.

She reached out to Davis, the Pet Nanny, to walk her dogs while she was away in class. They became friends and Davis became a big proponent of the Dog Park. She is vice president of the Friends.

She has brought several dogs to the park, where they can be leash-free. Their first trip, the dogs spend most of the time sniffing around the park.

The second time back, they take off running and “go crazy” with delight, Davis said.

Their owners or handlers need to pick up after the dogs. There are plastic bags at the site. There is also a bin of toys.

Cindy Davis and Alaina Zapf have the dogs trying out the bridge at the agility section of the park.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Mount Albion Cemetery employees have cut down nine cherry trees near the entrances of Mount Albion Cemetery on Route 31. This is one of the prominent trees near the main entrance of the cemetery, shown on Tuesday evening.

The trees all had significant decay. The stumps will soon be removed and new flowering trees are expected to be planted next week, said Jason Zicari, the cemetery superintendent.

This photo from May 2019 shows the cherry blossoms near the entrance of Mount Albion Cemetery. The trees looked good while in bloom for a few weeks each year, but the rest of the year their cracks and dead spots were becoming more obvious, Zicari said.

Rather than replace the decaying trees one at a time, Zicari and the village opted to take the trees out and plant new ones in a group.

The new trees will have some variety with flowering pink and red, white and purple blossoms.

“There should be some nice color once they get bigger,” Zicari said about the new trees.

The village did a tree inventory of the cemetery and the Davey Resource Group near Ithaca identified the cherry trees as ones that should be removed and replanted.

“I was reluctant to have then removed but they were looking in such poor condition,” Zicari said.

Dave Knapp, left, and Frank Balys, commissioners for the Holley Joint Fire District, sign an agreement on Wednesday following a public hearing to form a new Murray Joint Fire District, which combines the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley fire districts. All seven commissioners from the two districts voted in favor of the merger on Wednesday.

HULBERTON – The fire commissioners the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley joint fire districts voted Wednesday night to form a new Murray Joint Fire District that combines F-H-M and Holley.

The new joint district will take effect on Jan. 1. The commissioners from the two districts need to work together before then for a budget for the new district and also to pick the fire chief and a deputy chief for the Murray Joint Fire District.

F-H-M and Holley will continue to have separate volunteer fire companies that comprise the personnel. Those fire companies will pick a station chief and the line officers at Holley and F-H-M.

The joint district will have elected commissioners who will pick the district fire chief and district deputy chief, and the commissioners will also set the budget and oversee spending and the equipment for the district.

Fire commissioners moved to consolidate the district citing manpower concerns and potential budget efficiencies. The two fire companies already work together on many fire calls and emergency responses in Murray. F-H-M covers about a third of Murray, the western end, while Holley’s district covers the rest of Murray including the Village of Holley.

The consolidated district will have one tax rate for the entire town. In 2020, property owners in the Holley Joint Fire District pay $1.80 per $1,000 of assessed property while F-H-M pays a $1.39-rate. The consolidated district will result in a lower rate for Holley, while F-H-M’s goes up.

About 20 people attended the public hearing inside the F-H-M fire hall. The new district takes effect on Jan. 1. Gradually the number of fire commissioners will be reduced from five each in the two districts or 10 now to seven.

The average Holley property owner will see the fire protection tax go up $10 to $20 in F-H-M, while Holley’s drops $10 to $20, said David Garwood, an attorney with Pinsky Law Group in Syracuse. His firm advised the two districts in the consolidation.

“The net effect for the average taxpayer is fairly small,” Garwood said. “It’s not a huge change.”

Holley’s rate is higher mainly due to the debt service on a new ladder truck. That truck will become property of the new joint fire district, meaning F-H-M will have ownership in that truck, Garwood said.

David Garwood, an attorney with Pinsky Law Group in Syracuse, goes over the consolidation agreement during Wednesday’s public hearing. The new joint district will own the assets and also be responsibilities for the liabilities with each current district. Ed Morgan, a commissioner for the F-H-M Fire District, is at right.

Eventually, F-H-M will have some of its equipment and fire trucks get too old. F-H-M may not have to replace some of them because Holley will already have it, offering F-H-M savings in the future, said Ed Morgan, a F-H-M commissioner.

The agreement was unanimously approved by the fire commissioners at the meeting on Wednesday. Mark Porter of Holley made a motion to approve the agreement, which was seconded by Frank Balys of Holley. They voted in favor of the consolidation, along with Doug Heath and David Knapp of Holley, and the F-H-M commissioners of Bob Miller, Bill Bower and Ed Morgan. Al Buell of F-H-M and Chris Glogowski of Holley weren’t at the meeting. F-H-M also has one vacancy among the commissioners.

Each year, there is a fire commissioner up for election in Holley and F-H-M. In the next three years, only one will be elected annually. That will reduce the group from 10 to seven members.

Holley’s assets total $3,241,059, about twice the value of F-H-M’s at $1,541,391. Holley’s liabilities are at $685,000 for the bond to pay off the new ladder truck. F-H-M’s only liabilities are a $20,000 lease for the fire hall which is paid annually. to the F-H-M Volunteer Fire Company.

David Knapp, one of the fire commissioners form Holley, said the fire trucks and apparatus will be labelled Murray Joint Fire District. That might not happen right away on all the trucks, but the district would like to begin labelling some of the trucks for the new joint fire district in 2021.

Ron Meiers, a former Holley fire chief, asked a question about officer elections. Each fire company will continue to elect their officers for each station, although the fire chief and deputy chief will be appointed by the fire commissioners of the Murray Joint Fire District.

The Holley Fire Department used to provide fire protection for the entire town of Murray. Holley also served the Town of Clarendon. In the 1950s and 1960s, F-H-M and Clarendon each formed their owned volunteer fire companies and secured fire protection contracts from their towns.

Holley continued to work with the neighboring fire companies in the eastern battalion, especially with the declining number of volunteers to respond to fires, car accidents and other emergencies.

The community probably won’t notice the change to the Murray Joint Fire District because the two fire companies already function as a team on many mutual aid calls.

“It will be a seamless transition,” Garwood said. “You work together anyway right now.”

Getting overwhelming support from area school districts, the Section VI Executive Committee today approved moving forward with the start of fall sports practice as scheduled on September 21.

A press released sent out this afternoon by the Executive Committee stated that “the Athletic Council of Section VI today accepted the results of the formal post-card ballot that went out to their membership, and will move forward with fall sports.

“Over 70 districts submitted votes through the ballot process with 67 pledging their support for a September 21 start date.

“The post card ballot is a part of our Constitution and provides us with an avenue to do business”, Section VI President, Brett Banker said. “The procedure allows for consistent messaging and decision making from across our Section and the results speak for themselves.”

“Per the Return to Interscholastic Athletics document circulated by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) on September 4 and revised on September 11, local schools are now allowed to move forward in cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, soccer, girls swimming and girls tennis. Competitive cheerleading, football and volleyball had already been shifted to March 1.

“It remains the right of each district and league to engage in their own decision-making process and commit to all of the allowable sports, some selected sports or even none”, Banker continued. “Each district will make the appropriate decision for their communities. We respect the position each district must take. Now it’s incumbent on all of us; athletic directors, coaches, athletes and families to do all we can to follow protocols and attempt to limit exposure.

The release concluded by stating that “the Section continues to work with their coaching chairs to discuss the issues associated with postseason play for the allowable fall sports.”

There are no new Covid-19 cases to report today in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Orleans has one more recovery for 139 in the community while Genesee has two more for 230 in the community.

Orleans also is reporting 7 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, while Genesee has 20 more, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Click here to see an online map of the confirmed cases in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties. There are currently seven active cases in the three rural counties, with four in Orleans, three in Wyoming and none in Genesee.

Visitors must show negative Covid-19 test within 7 days of visit

MEDINA – Visitors to see any of the 30 residents in the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital will have to follow new state guidelines beginning on Thursday.

The North Wing is a residential care facility on the second floor of the hospital.

The executive order from the state includes a new requirement that any visiors must show a verified negative test for Covid-19 within the past seven days.

Other guidelines for nursing homes that have been Covid-free for at least 14 days include:

• Visitors, including long-term care ombudsman, are screened for signs and symptoms of Covid-19 prior to resident access.

• If a visitor doesn’t show a verified negative Covid-19 test within the last 7 days, the visitation must be refused. Visitors also must be refused if they exhibit any Covid-19 symptoms or do not pass screening questions.

“We understand this is an added step in the efforts to visit your loved ones but we must maintain strict compliance with the state,” Sarah Bateman, North Wing administrator, said in a notice to the community. “We thank you for your continued cooperation, and we remain committed to your loved one’s care and well-being.”

For information on where to be tested, Orleans Community Health recommends reaching out to a primary care physician, Orleans County Department of Health at (585) 589-7000 Ext 9, and WellNow Urgent Care in Batavia: (585) 201-5598.

For Covid-19 testing and locations, click here. Individuals who have questions regarding eligibility or access for testing should call the New York State Covid-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or visit the NYSDOH website.

For additional questions, contact Sarah Hallifax Bateman: (585) 301-1151, Rebecca Mannella: (585) 798-8127 or Niccole Moore: (585) 798-8120.

There are plaques with the initials of the scouts who built the cabin, including Faris Benton.

ALBION – A log cabin built by Boy Scouts nearly a century ago is getting prepped for a move from a backyard to behind a historic cobblestone schoolhouse.

Rick Ebbs, a local carpenter, is volunteering to get the cabin ready for the move. He is put plywood sheets inside the cabin and will put in cross-bracing to help keep the cabin together for the journey, which will be about 4 miles from Linwood Avenue, down Route 98, to Bacon Road and then behind the cobblestone schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road, north of the Erie Canal.

Ebbs said the cabin could be on the move later this month. He is lining up volunteers and equipment for the task. He expects to use two forklifts to get the cabin up on a loader and then to set it behind the schoolhouse in Gaines.

Patricia and Ralph Moorhouse donated the structure to the Orleans County Historical Society. Mrs. Moorhouse’s father, Faris Benton, was one of the scouts who built the cabin with help from his father, Fred Benton. The scouts dragged logs from the nearby woods.

They built a fireplace on the inside and outside. That fireplace has deteriorated but will be reset and repaired in its new location.

Rick Ebbs said the log cabin has deteriorated and has some rot, but has held up remarkably well for nearly a century. He is getting the structure ready to be moved to its new home.

Mrs. Moorhouse said the cabin has provided three generations of fun for her father, when she was a kid and for her children. It is in her backyard.

“There have been many happy times in there,” she said this morning. “I played in it and so did my kids.”

Her father and his friends had bunks in the cabin, which has proven durable. They likely built it in 1930, when her dad was 14.

The only major improvements since then was a new roof about 40 years ago. Moorhouse said she feels sentimental about the cabin but is grateful the Orleans County Historical Society is willing to display it and give it an extended life.

The cabin will be moved to this spot behind the Gaines Basin No. 2 cobblestone school on Gaines Basin Road. That schoolhouse, built in 1832, has been rescued from decline in recent years by the Orleans County Historical Society. Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County historian and director of the Cobblestone Society Museum, and Al Capurso who spearheaded the effort to relocate the cabin with lots of work by Ebbs.

The cabin had an impressive stone chimney, which was knocked down by a fallen limb. The scouts used an oil tank to keep the fire going. The chimney and fire place will be moved to the new location and reset.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Village of Albion DPW workers Charlie Ricci, left, and Ron Ricker install a banner recognizing World War II veteran Karl Kast. They are on South Main Street near the railroad tracks.

The banner is one of 36 new ones that will be added in the next few days on South Main and West Avenue. The DPW needs to add hardware holding the banners on the utility poles.

The DPW in June put on the first group of 33 banners. There was more interest from the community and Mayor Eileen Banker, who is coordinating the effort, was able to order more banners.

She will do another order beginning in February. Family and friends of the veterans are paying the cost for the banners. For more information, send Banker an email at ebanker@villageofalbionny.com.

The banners will go up after the Strawberry Festival in June and remain in place to approximately Veterans’ Day in November.

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department normally presents in awards during a firemen’s ball in October. But that event may be cancelled this year.

Fire Chief Matt Jackson decided to present the awards on Tuesday afternoon.

“These past few months have definitely been something we will talk about in the future,” Jackson said about the Covid-19 pandemic. “They have been challenging times that we will share with our children and our grandchildren. But, through these challenging times, our team has worked together to adapt and overcome. To strengthen through adversity. And to persevere. I want to thank you all for your continued professionalism through this trying time. Through the mixed emotions we have all encountered, we have all continued to work hard with compassion and empathy. Everyone has been doing an outstanding job.”

Medina firefighters nominate members of the Fire Department for an award. Jackson presented the following awards and citations:

Medina firefighter/paramedic Steve Long, left, accepts a Meritorious Service Medal from Fire Chief Matt Jackson.

• Meritorious Service Medal: Firefighter/paramedic Steven Long was off duty on Feb. 10, 2020 when he arrived at an accident scene moments after the vehicle crash. The vehicle was approximately 150 feet off the road in a snow-covered field on its side.

Further complicating the scene were multiple downed powerlines and frigid conditions. While risking his personal safety and without personal protective equipment, Long began his scene and patient assessment.

Long found one conscious female outside the vehicle who was being helped by other bystanders. The female passenger advised Long that her husband was still trapped inside the vehicle and not responding. Seeing multiple child restraint seats, Long also needed to search for any possible children that were accompanying the couple. After finding no children in or around the vehicle, Long turned his attention towards the only other vehicle occupant, Chief Jackson said on Tuesday during the awards presentation.

Long began his assessment of the awake, but non-responsive driver as chief officers from the Wolcottsville and Rapids Fire Departments arrived. Long continued all patient care while fire crews used hydraulic tools to cut and gain more access to the patient. Once extrication was complete, Long gave his report to the Mercy Flight crew and the patient was airlifted to ECMC. Accolades for Long’s actions at this scene were received from not only the Wolcottsville Fire Chief, but also from family members of the patients, Jackson said.

Medina firefighter Joe Simmons, left, receives a Silver Lifesaving Medal from Chief Matt Jackson.

• Silver Lifesaving Medal: In the early evening of June 5, 2020, the Village of Medina Fire Department was dispatched to a reported pool drowning, with updates from Medina Police Officer Jake Reeves advising that CPR was in progress on a 16-month-old child.

Firefighter/paramedic Joe Simmons was the first paramedic on scene and immediately recognized the severity of the incident. Simmons quickly guided Officer Reeves to place the patient in the ambulance and he initiated ALS protocols including intubation while other crew members continued performing CPR.

Although there were six other firefighters directly involved with patient care, Simmons was the lead paramedic and was responsible for coordinating a well-executed effort to revive the child, Jackson said.

After more than seven minutes of CPR and other lifesaving actions, Simmons and his team were able to revive the patient and achieve ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation). With the patient stabilized, the patient was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital where the patient received further lifesaving actions before being transferred by Mercy Flight to Oishei Children’s Hospital.

The patient was able to make a full recovery and was discharged home six days later.

“Simmons’ attitude and skills were of the highest quality throughout the duration of this incident,” Jackson said. “His calm demeanor and ability to coordinate patient care under dire circumstances directly contributed to this young life being saved.”

The following also received a Unit Commendation: Captain Mike Young, Lieutenant Jake Crooks, firefighter/paramedic Adam Fisher, firefighter/paramedic Bob Urtel, firefighter/EMT Tim Miller and firefighter/paramedic Steve Long.

• Longevity ribbon for 10 years of service: Lieutenant Steve Cooley.

• BLS ribbon and Fire Academy completion ribbon: Tyler Harrington.

Chief Jackson praised the firefighters for their dedication to the job.

“Every day, the members of this department make life-or-death decisions and provide outstanding care to residents and visitors to the Village of Medina and entire West Battalion of Orleans County,” Jackson said. “Our awards are nominated by fellow firefighters or officers and the recipients receive these awards for acts performed that involve extreme bravery, teamwork or exceptional lifesaving efforts.”

MEDINA — Visitors can see their loved ones at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center on Bates Road in Medina.

The nursing home welcomed back visitors on Monday. They are limited to 30-minute visits, which must take place in either the main lobby or outdoor patio.

“This brings us great joy as we recognize that everyone misses each other,” Amanda Luckman, the admissions marketer for Orchard, said in a letter to families on Monday.

Orchard is limiting the visits to two people per 30-minute session, and they must wear masks, and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet with no hugging.

Orchard was hit hard by Covid-19, with 24 residents dying among the 58 who contracted the virus.

Orchard has been Covid-free for several weeks and has received permission from the state Department of Health to welcome visitors.

The DOH was requiring facilities to be Covid-free for 28 days before visitors could see nursing home residents. The DOH announced yesterday that beginning on Thursday that timeframe will be reduced to 14 days. The nursing homes also must have a safety plan approved by DOH before visitors are allowed.

At Orchard, the visits all must be scheduled. The visitors need to complete forms about their health and recent travel. They also must have their temperature checked.

The visit areas will be clearly marked and sanitized between each visit.