By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2020 at 2:23 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Julie Horton, left, and Hannah Donley of Iroquois Job Corps in Medina were among the volunteers this morning during a food distribution in Albion at the parking lot of the Main Street Thrift Store.
One of the delivery trucks was later than expected. Normally the distribution starts around 8:15 to 8:30, but didn’t get going until about 9. At that point some people had been waiting since 6 a.m. There was a long line of vehicles down Chamberlain Street, McKinstry Street, East Park Street, and down Main Street past the intersection with Route 31.
There were three boxes of food for each of the more than 300 vehicles. The event ended about 10:30.
Ashtin Fiegel of the Iroquois Job Corps Center sorts out boxes of fruits and vegetables. Most of the people received a box with grapes, strawberries, peppers, Brussels sprouts, apples, blackberries, raspberries, radishes and oranges.
The Job Corps had a team of volunteers and they were instrumental in getting the food sorted and set in the vehicles this morning.
The food distributions are made possible through a state-funded program called Nourish New York. This funding allows Foodlink to purchase local product.
On a federal level, the USDA has implemented a new initiative called CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program). In this program, distributors who would normally serve schools, restaurants, and municipal programs are able to pre-pack boxes of perishable product and deliver to distributions being done all over the country.
Kenneth McNeil, left, and Greg Gilman of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee get the pallets of food ready this morning after it was delivered to Albion.
The next food distribution will be in a week on Sept. 18. The location has been moved from Medina Central School to the Ridgeway Fire Hall, 11392 Ridge Rd.
The entrance will be on Horan Road and the line will be facing north towards Ridge Road, where vehicles will exit.
The events is promoted to start at 9 but could begin earlier if the delivery trucks and volunteers are in place.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2020 at 12:38 pm
Provided photo
MEDINA – Jamie Murphy, the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center activity director, visited the Medina Fire Hall today. She presented firefighter Stephen Miller with brownies to show appreciation to the firefighters for their service, especially today on the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. That day about 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks, including 343 New York City firefighters.
There will be a 9-11 observance today at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse Square in Albion.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 11 September 2020 at 7:54 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Rachel Lockhart of Rochester portrayed a teacher in the Cobblestone School during a Ghost Walk at the museum last October. The museum has had to cancel most in-person events and fundraisers this year due to Covid-19.
CHILDS – After receiving notification the Cobblestone Museum is one of 21 history-related organizations selected to participate in a matching grant program from the Pomeroy Foundation, Museum director Doug Farley has issued a plea for donations to meet the two-for-one goal.
The grant program is geared toward raising funds to support safely reopening under New York state guidelines. Up to $50,000 in matching grants in total will be awarded.
Farley learned about the grant through the Museum Association of New York, a group of about 650 museums and historical societies in New York that work together for the betterment of New York state museums.
“The Cobblestone didn’t qualify to apply for the first grant due to the size of our budget,” Farley said. “The first grant was intended for very small museums only. The second and third rounds opened up to museums with slightly larger budgets, so we were able to apply. I felt we had a compelling grant proposal, but I knew there were more than 1,000 museums and historical societies in the state that could also apply, so the numbers game always troubled me.”
During the application process, Farley asked himself how the museum would handle the matching fund requirement, because they had recently conducted a very successful fundraiser for their 60th anniversary, that they called “Sixty for Sixty,” in which they asked supporters to donate $60 in honor of the museum’s 60th year.
“We had more than 100 individuals lend a hand with that effort which was very gratifying,” Farley added. “So when approached the Pomeroy Challenge Grant, I was a little worried about how the same people would react to a second request so quickly on the heels of the first campaign. In the end, we decided to hem the Pomeroy event around our annual campaign, which we usually conduct in November. We moved the timing of that request up to August/September to coincide with the Pomeroy Fund’s timeline and reminded our donors this will be the final fundraising campaign for 2020.”
The Pomeroy grant is a 2:1 match, meaning they will match $1 for every $2 the museum raises, to a limit of $6,000. Sept. 30 is the deadline to make a donation. Checks can be made payable to Cobblestone Society and mailed to P.O. Box 363, Albion, 14411. Donors may also use the online giving tab at cobblestonemuseum.org. Membership renewals made during this time will also apply to the matching grant.
“I hope the challenge is well accepted, and folks realize their donations can go a lot further to provide us with needed support, because of the Pomeroy Fund’s 2:1 match,” Farley said.
In spite of this being a challenging year, Farley said the Cobblestone Society is continuing to explore the Visitors’ Center concept.
“We feel it would be a win/win for us and for Orleans County tourism in general,” he said. “We would all benefit by having a long-term partnership with Orleans County to provide the traveling public with much needed information about tourism options in the county, including sport fishing, cobblestone architecture, the Medina Railroad Museum and much more. The Cobblestone Museum would be an ideal location to catch the ‘wave’ of travelers moving across the state to reach other tourist destinations, like Niagara Falls or New York City.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2020 at 8:45 pm
MEDINA – The food distribution next Friday morning in Medina will shift from the high school to the Ridgeway Fire Hall, 11392 Ridge Rd.
The entrance will be on Horan Road and the line will be facing north towards Ridge Road, where vehicles will exit.
There will also be a food distribution tomorrow, Sept. 11, in Albion at the same location as previous Albion distributions – the Community Action Main Street Store at 131 Main St.
In the Albion event, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee has partnered with Foodlink and Orleans County Office for the Aging to provide households with boxes of emergency food in response to the Covid-19 public health crisis.
The events are advertised to start at 9 but could begin earlier if the delivery trucks and volunteers are in place.
This is a drive-thru model with no walk-ins. People should have their trunks cleaned out so boxes of emergency food can be put into it.
There is no pre-registration. It is a first-come, first-served basis with boxes for about 300 vehicles.
With the Medina event, the office for the Aging and Foodlink partner with the Calvary Cupboard at Calvary Tabernacle Church to distribute the food.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2020 at 4:18 pm
Orleans County has 2 more confirmed cases of Covid-19. Both are residents of Gaines, with one person in the 30s and another in the 50s, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.
Both of the new positive individuals were not on quarantine prior to testing positive. Orleans has now had 303 people test positive for Covid-19.
Orleans also has 5 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. One resident from Orleans is hospitalized due to Covid, the Health Departments reported this afternoon.
In Genesee County, there aren’t any new Covid cases to report today. The county does have 25 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Two residents in Genesee are hospitalized due to Covid.
• State-wide data: Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced over 9 million diagnostic tests for Covid-19 have been conducted to date in New York State, and that the number of positive cases yesterday — 0.98 percent — was below one percent for the 34th day in a row.
“New Yorkers are the ones who have flattened the curve,” Cuomo said. “Thanks to their hard work, for 34 straight days, our infection rate has remained below one percent. We have conducted over 9 million tests to date – that’s more per capita than any other state in the country and more than most countries on the globe. But we cannot go backwards – we must keep up the hard work and wear our masks, wash our hands and socially distance.”
Of the 76,813 test results reported to New York State yesterday, 757, or 0.98 percent, were positive.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2020 at 11:53 am
Marti’s on Main eyes spring opening in historic building
The former Cornell Cooperative Extension building has been used an outreach center for the Episcopal Church in Albion. The building was originally a house built in the 1830s.
ALBION – For years Kim Martillotta Muscarella drove by the former Cornell Cooperative Extension building on Main Street. She watched the site decline, with little activity inside the doors of one of the prominent buildings in the historic Courthouse Square.
“Any time I see a building going to Hell it makes me crazy,” she said during a tour of the site on Monday.
Muscarella for the past decade ran Marti’s on Main, an art gallery and studio at her home at 229 South Main St. But that site, which was half of her house, was cramped to show case art and accommodate groups of people.
On a whim last December, she decided to look at the old Extension building, which had been for sale for years and was listed by her friend Jim Theodorakos of Morrison Realty. Muscarella and her husband, Neal, were given a tour of the building. (The Extension moved in 2007 to a new building at the 4-H fairgrounds in Knowlesville.)
The walls in the old building were all painted a very pale yellow. The floors covered in green and red carpet or asphalt tiles.
The couple also noted the high ceilings, big rooms and lots of wall space. They decided to take on the building, and give it a new life as an art studio and gallery.
For the past nine months it has been a full-time effort, transforming the interior.
Kim and Neal Muscarella relax in one of the main art gallery rooms. Mrs. Muscarella created the painting above the fire place. She also did most of the painting on the walls, giving them a bold look.
It took three months to remove wires, and pull nails and staples from the walls and hardwood floors that were hiding underneath. They hauled out 5,600 pounds of carpet, plywood and tiles.
Kim Muscarella created this sculpture, using a guitar, her mother’s measuring tape, one of her father’s bowties and other odds and ends.
“In every room we ripped out a Walmart bag full of wires,” Mrs. Muscarella said while giving a tour of the building on Monday. “It took a long time just to get it ready where we could paint.”
Mrs. Muscarella’s son Jeremiah Knight, a cabinet maker, refinished the floors. The Muscarellas tackled painting the rooms, often in bold purple, blue, red, orange and yellow.
She hasn’t posted pictures on social media of the transformation while it was in process. Today, the Orleans Hub gives a sneak peak of the new Marti’s.
Muscarella is eyeing a spring opening for the building to the public. She would like to do three art shows a year, while using the space as her studio to paint and create sculptures. She would also like to offer art and sewing classes. The sewing classes is a tribute to the building when it was the Home Bureau, beginning in the mid-1940s.
First, she wants the Covid-19 pandemic to end before bringing in groups of people for events.
The building is a showcase of work by more than a dozen artists. She hosted many of them at her gallery from her home.
She prefers a European-style gallery in multiple rooms of a home. She doesn’t like the narrow rooms and white walls of many American galleries.
“In the European style, the fill up a house with artwork and open the doors,” she said.
Muscarella also favors artists who push the envelope and shun “normal” – “anything that’s a little bit different.”
Many of her sculptures fit that model. She takes pieces of driftwood, and common objects – yard clippers, her mother’s measuring tape, her father’s bowtie, glasses, shells and feathers – to create a sculpture or assemblage with a personality.
Muscarella looks forward to letting the public stop in and see the site in larger groups. For now, she is willing to show a few people in small groups. She can be reached at (585) 589-6715.
Kim Muscarella likes to showcase art that is out of the norm.
Marti’s has artwork from more than a dozen local artists on display. Muscarella would like to add more art from other community members.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 September 2020 at 10:07 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The courthouse walkway facing Main Street is lined with American flags. This photo was taken this morning when it was foggy outside.
ALBION – Orleans County will observe the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Friday with a service at 6 p.m. at the courthouse lawn by the 9-11 monument.
The service is being put together by Scott Schmidt, the Orleans County chief coroner, and Justin Niederhofer, the Emergency Management Office deputy director for the county. The public is welcome to attend.
Schmidt, a funeral director with Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, also is a member of the U.S. Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team. He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001 to help collect and identify remains, and interview family members searching for loved ones. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero.
Schmidt will be the keynote speaker at Friday’s service, which will include opening comments from Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature. The Honor Guard with local veterans will provide a presence. Three local pastors – Susan Thaine, Aleka Schmidt and Susan Boring – will sing together during the service, which is a time of reflection.
Many local firefighters and law enforcement officers also are expected to attend the service. A large American flag also will be displayed while being held high on Main Street by the ladder trucks from the Albion and Medina fire departments.
Niederhofer is expected to share a timeline from the day. On Sept. 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., the North Tower was struck in New York City. At 9:03, a plane hit the South Tower. At 9:37, the Pentagon was struck. At 9:59 p.m., the South Tower fell. At 10:07 a.m., Flight 93 crashed in rural Shanksville, Pa. At 10:28 a.m., the North Tower collapsed.
About 3,000 people were killed during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks including 343 firefighters, 60 law enforcement officers, and eight EMTs.
Derek Maxfield will celebrate book launch of ‘Hellmira’ on Saturday
Press Release, Genesee Community College
In ‘Hellmira’, Derek Maxfield writes about the excruciating conditions at the POW camp in Elmira during the Civil War.
BATAVIA – Derek D. Maxfield, a GCC Associate Professor of History, will be on C-SPAN Saturday, September 12, at 6 p.m. sharing what his research has uncovered about the excruciating conditions at a POW camp in Elmira.
Maxfield became an expert on the subject while writing his first book, “HELLMIRA: The Union’s Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp – Elmira, NY” which explores this notorious time period in the history of Elmira.
In the book, Maxfield contextualizes the rise of prison camps during the Civil War, explores the failed exchange of prisoners, and tells the tale of the creation and evolution of the prison camp in Elmira. Long called by some the “Andersonville of the North,” the prisoner of war camp in Elmira is remembered as the most notorious of all Union-run POW camps. It existed for only a year—from the summer of 1864 to July 1865—but in that time, and for long after, it became darkly emblematic of man’s inhumanity to man. Confederate prisoners called it “Hellmira.”
In the end, Maxfield suggests that it is time to move on from the blame game and see prisoner of war camps—North and South—as a great humanitarian failure.
“HELLMIRA: The Union’s Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp – Elmira, NY” is available through Amazon, Savas Beatie – and was released in July as an audio book as well.
Always interested in collaboration, Maxfield partnered with GCC’s Associate Professor of English Michael Gosselin who wrote an essay on Mark Twain as an appendix to the book. The essay, called “A Foretaste of Heaven: How Elmira Gave the World Mark Twain” is about Samuel Clemen’s summer home at Quarry Farm where he wrote many of his most famous works. Maxfield’s “Hellmira” also features a variety of photos and images contributed by GCC’s Professor of English, Tracy Ford.
Photo of Derek Maxfield, courtesy of Jessica Scheuerman
Since joining Genesee Community College in 2009, Maxfield has been actively involved in GCC’s campus community and dedicated to providing students with an exceptional learning experience. Described by many as a gifted storyteller, Maxfield has a way of reaching students in the classroom that is memorable. He incorporates applied learning, which gets his students beyond the classroom and experiencing the preservation of history on the ground.
Maxfield has created unique and engaging assignments, created new courses, and coordinates the GCC History Club’s Historical Horizons Lecture Series which brings history to life for students and the College community.
Maxfield was awarded a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2019, holds an M.A. in History from Villanova University and a B.A. in History from SUNY Cortland. He currently resides in Churchville.
A book publication reception is being held at Roman’s restaurant in Batavia on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. where anyone can come, meet Maxfield, purchase a copy of “HELLMIRA: The Union’s Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp – Elmira, NY” (for $14) and even have it signed. Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be enforced.
Press Release, Katie Oakes, horticulture educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County
KNOWLESVILLE – Gardening has always been a therapeutic hobby, and this year saw an increase in new gardeners across the world as the pandemic forced people to seek out new ways to keep themselves busy at home.
As more and more people gain interest and skills in gardening, it’s important to be aware of and on the lookout for an invasive worm that has been found in both Erie and Monroe counties.
The “Asian Jumping Worm” is the common name for three different species of earthworms in the Amynthas and Metaphire genera. As the common name suggests, these worms originated in Asia.
There are actually no native earthworms here in Orleans County. The ones we commonly see on rainy days are actually species from Europe, brought over during colonization. These jumping worms pose a greater threat than the European species, however, because they consume organic matter in the soil at far greater rates than the naturalized European species.
This rapid consumption causes big problems for both plant and animal life that relies on healthy soil. Jumping worms leave behind nutrient stripped castings that make it difficult for plants to thrive.
These castings are pretty distinctive in appearance, often being compared to dried coffee grounds. The worms also disturb the soil to such extent that, in heavy infestation areas, the forest floor has actually been dropping due to the diminishing soil organic matter.
The soil disturbance can also encourage an inhospitable environment for vital soil fauna and those that depend on them for survival like salamanders, birds, and other animals. These earthworms can also reproduce without mating, so they can multiply rapidly creating high densities in the soil.
Jumping worms can be distinguished from European earthworms by their behavior and their “clitellum” (the distinct band near the head of the worm). In the jumping worm, the clitellum is often whitish in color and smooth (the European species tend to have raised clitellum that are pinkish-brown in color). The jumping worms will also often have “crazy” behavior, wriggling and thrashing erratically when exposed.
The good news? There have been no confirmed occurrences here in Orleans County yet. You can do your part to keep it that way! Invasive worms are spread exclusively through human activity, so some easy ways to stop the spread include:
Do not buy or use jumping worms for bait, vermicomposting or gardening.
Only sell, purchase or trade compost that was heated to appropriate temperatures and duration following protocols for reducing pathogens.
Clean compost, soil and debris from vehicles, personal gear, equipment, and gardening tools before moving to and from sites.
Dispose of all live worms in the trash or place them in a bag and leave out in the sun for at least 10 minutes. Then throw bag away.
Be careful when sharing and moving plants. Always check for worms and know where your plantings come from. Buy bare root stock when possible.
Check your property for earthworms using a mustard pour (it won’t harm your plants!) Mix a gallon of water with 1/3 cup of ground yellow mustard seed and pour slowly into the soil. This will drive any worms to the surface. If you have jumping worms, report it and avoid moving plants or soil from your yard.
If you think you might have jumping worms on your property, please report them by clicking here. You can also call Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension at 585-798-4265 ext. 125 or email klo54@cornell.edu with any questions.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 September 2020 at 8:22 pm
It will be springtime high school football and not the traditional fall gridiron campaign in New York State this school year.
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced this evening that the so-called “high risk” fall sports including football, volleyball and competitive cheerleading have been postponed until March 1, 2021,
“We had been hoping for a late fall season but we have to do what is best for the kids and their safety,” said Albion Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach Adam Krenning. “I know it will break a lot of their hearts but we’ll get through it”.
Practice for football, volleyball and cheerleading can now begin on March 1 with the start of the regular spring season (for baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and tennis) now slated to begin on April 19.
“It will be very, very challenging for small schools like ours both for the student/athletes and the coaches who are involved in more than one sport,” said Krenning.
“I know it is very disappointing for athletes and coaches who were really looking forward to getting back on the field.,” said Section VI Football Chairman Ken Stoldt. “At this point we need to focus on the positives. A lot of the uncertainty should be cleared up regarding the pandemic and the protocols we are required to follow. Hopefully we will have fans at our games by then with no restrictions. If all goes well we can now get preseason workouts in, and in general, we will all have time to plan. I’m certain our football community can pull together to make the best of this and get our kids a rewarding experience this spring.”
The remainder of the “low risk” fall sports including boys and girls soccer, field hockey, golf and cross-country can begin practice on September 21 as was previously announced with games to begin after the required number of practices have been completed.
The NYSPHSAA’s press release on the announcement of the postponement of football, volleyball and competitive cheerleading until next March is as follows.
LATHAM – “The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced today that football, volleyball and competitive cheer fall seasons will be postponed until March 1, 2021 to address membership concerns associated with high-risk fall sports. The decision was rendered by the elected NYSPHSAA officers late this afternoon. Low and moderate risk fall sports, meanwhile, are still authorized to begin practices on September 21, 2020 as previously announced.
“We’ve spent two days speaking with nearly 500 athletic directors across the state and it’s clear that administering high-risk fall sports during the COVID-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge for our member schools,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “These are unprecedented times and unfortunately, difficult decisions will have to be made to address this ongoing crisis. We continue to stay committed to providing support to our member schools and quality participation experiences for the students we serve.”
The revised season for football, volleyball and fall competitive cheer will be known as “Fall Sports Season II” and may officially begin practices on March 1, 2021.
As a result of fall high-risk sports being moved, the start date for the spring sports season has been adjusted to April 19, 2021. The first official practice for spring sports will now be April 19, 2021 (the original start date was March 15).
“The NYSPHSAA officers have determined it would be unrealistic to host football, volleyball and competitive cheer seasons this fall,” said Julie Bergman, NYSPHSAA President. “This continues to be the most challenging situation educators have ever addressed. I, along with my fellow officers, believe the participation experiences for football, volleyball and competitive cheer athletes will be more beneficial in the spring than in the fall.”
Low and moderate risk fall sports practices are still scheduled to begin on September 21st for those schools and sections who have determined it feasible to host interscholastic athletics at this time. Regular season games can begin for low and moderate risk fall sports (girls tennis, cross country, girls swimming/diving, boys soccer, girls soccer, field hockey) once student-athletes have participated in the required number of practices as per NYSPHSAA bylaws.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2020 at 4:38 pm
Orleans also has first Covid hospitalization in a month
Orleans County is reporting 1 new Covid-19 case today, a person from Gaines in the 60s. The county has now had 301 people test positive for Covid since March.
The new case is a person from the community who wasn’t on quarantine prior to testing positive.
There are 8 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.
Orleans also is reporting 1 person is hospitalized from Covid-19, the first hospitalization in the county due to Covid in about a month.
Genesee County also received 2 new positive cases of Covid-19 and has now had 289 positive cases.
The two new cases are both Batavia residents, one in the 50s and the other in the 90s. One of the individuals was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also is reporting 3 more recoveries from Covid-19 and those people have been released from mandatory isolation.
Genesee also has added 2 new individuals to precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Genesee also has one person hospitalized due to Covid-19.
• Statewide data: Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the 33rd straight day that New York State’s Covid-19 infection rate has been below 1 percent.
On Tuesday, 0.91 percent of tests reported to the state were positive or 576 out of 63,230.
Other statewide data includes:
Patient Hospitalization – 463 (+18)
Number ICU – 121 (+7)
Number ICU with Intubation – 59 (+7)
Deaths – 3 (Total Deaths – 25,370)
More from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments:
• Schools: 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.
• New York State Agricultural Seasonal Worker Covid-19 Testing Opportunity: The Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Health, and Labor are partnering with county health departments, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York Farm Bureau and community health partners in Clinton, Genesee, Orleans, Ulster and Wayne counties to offer free Covid-19 testing to agricultural workers.
These counties were selected for this opportunity as these counties see the highest number of out-of-state workers during harvest season. For registration, click here.
Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Central School: This group of students settles into a classroom where the desks are spaced at least 6 feet apart.
Press Release, Lyndonville Central School
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School welcomed back a portion of their students to campus today. Students in grades 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12 were greeted with warm welcomes from staff and administration.
Throughout the next two days the remainder of the students who selected in-person learning will return to campus.
Mitzi Fredericks, an aide with the school district, checks the Thermal Scan, which can show students with temperatures at 100 degrees or more. Those students will be then be checked with non-contact thermometers to see if they are at 100 or more degrees. If they are, they will be sent home.
“The district is looking forward to the 2020-21 school year and has worked diligently to ensure the health and well-being of our students,” said Superintendent Jason Smith.
While the school has two body thermal scans stationed at the main entrances and non-contact thermometers to assess student and staff temperature, the district reminds families to check their child’s temperature before coming to school. If a student’s temperature is greater than 100 degrees and/or exhibits Covid-19 symptoms he/she must remain home.
To ensure social distancing, Lyndonville is utilizing the Main Street elementary school for PreK and grades 5 and 6. Classrooms and a lunch area have been set up for these students. To reinforce safety procedures, district administration are hosting classroom meetings to discuss the importance of proper hygiene, masks and social distancing.
“All of us have a role in keeping our schools safe and preventing the spread of Covid-19,” Smith said. “Together we can work to keep our district healthy and open.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2020 at 1:45 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers – Batavia Downs on Park Road in Batavia reopened its gaming floor this morning. The site is owned by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, which shares its profits with 15 counties and the cities of Buffalo and Rochester.
BATAVIA – Batavia Downs reopened its gaming floor this morning at 8 after being shut down for nearly 6 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions form the state.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sept. 3 announced casinos and video gaming centers could reopen today – at 25 percent occupancy limit.
Batavia Downs is partly owned by Orleans County. Orleans is one of 15 counties in WNY as well as the cities of Rochester and Buffalo that make up Western Regional OTB, owner of the race track and gaming center in Batavia.
“We are so looking forward to welcoming back our guests,” Henry Wojtaszek, president and CEO of Batavia Downs, said in a news release. “Our staff is working diligently on providing a safe, secure entertainment environment for everyone to return to and enjoy.”
Ryan Hasenauer, director of marketing for Batavia Downs, said customers need to abide by Covid-19 precautions to enter the gaming floor.
He urged people to stay home if they are not feeling well or Covid-19 have symptoms. Customers will need to wear a face covering or shield if they want to enter the building.
The Downs has installed hand sanitizing stations and floor markings, urging social distancing and also helping to direct people in the 60,000-square-foot building which has 800 video lottery terminals.
Some of the VLT machines have been turned off to allow at least 6 feet of space between customers who are on the gaming floor.
Those customers will need to have temperature checked before going to gaming floor. The Downs will have three restaurants open inside the building, but customers can only eat or drink at the restaurants, not on the gaming floor, Hasenauer advised in a Facebook post.
Smoking also isn’t allowed inside Batavia Downs right now.
Batavia Downs will be increasing the rigor of cleaning and sanitizing procedures throughout the facility. The Downs will also be increasing the number of shifts and hours of their environmental service team to maintain a high level of cleanliness. There are more than 120 hand-sanitizing stations located on the gaming floor, event spaces and in all the restaurants.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 September 2020 at 11:05 am
1,320 staff members, 90 parolees also test positive for virus
The 9 inmates at Albion Correctional Facility are among more than 700 who have tested positive for Covid-19 in state prisons throughout New York, according to the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
The state lists 755 inmates as testing positive for Covid-19 as of Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. That report (click here) doesn’t include the nine inmates at the women’s prison in Albion.
Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans County, confirmed the 9 inmates have tested positive for Covid-19, with two cases reported on Friday and seven more on Tuesday.
The state report says 40 inmates have been tested at Albion Correctional and all the tests came back negative. The state also tested 60 inmates at Orleans Correctional, a medium security men’s prison in Albion, and those tests all came back negative.
DOCCS so far reports it has done 8,592 tests among inmates, with 755 coming back as positive, 7,819 have been negative, and 18 results are pending.
Among those inmates who tested positive, 738 have recovered and 17 have died.
Three persons report more than 100 positive cases: Greenhaven, 129 (3 deaths); Fishkill, 113 (5 deaths); and Shawangunk, 101 (1 death).
Bedford Hills, another women’s prison, reports 45 cases, including 1 death.
The state also reports that 1,320 prison staff have tested positive for Covid-19, with 5 confirmed deaths from Covid.
DOCCS also reports 90 parolees have tested positive for Covid-19, resulting in 4 deaths.
Provided photo
KNOWLESVILLE – Gardening has always been a therapeutic hobby, and this year saw an increase in new gardeners across the world as the pandemic forced people to seek out new ways to keep themselves busy at home.
