By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 September 2020 at 9:17 am
Today is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high of 72 in Orleans County, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. The low will drop to 60 tonight.
On Labor Day there is a chance for showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy with a high of 77.
The highs for later in the week include 73 on Tuesday, 86 on Wednesday, 77 on Thursday and 72 on Friday.
This historic marker recognizes a bridge collapse on Sept. 28, 1859 in Albion. There were 250 people gathered on a wooden bridge with five horses. They were watching a tightrope walker. The bridge collapsed, killing 15 people in one of the worst tragedies ever on the canal.
This boat is used by the NYS Canal Corp. It is next to the Canal Corp’s maintenance facility on Liberty Street. Last evening was another stunning sunset on the canal this summer.
If you clicked into my Mid-Week Photo Perk on my blog site on Aug. 19, you were able to see some evening photos I took at Stokoe Farms in Scottsville.
This trip left me wondering … what are all these buds looking at? If you notice, the vast majority of these blossoms are all facing the same direction, away from the sun.
Puzzled, it left me needing to do some research, since I always believed that sunflower blossoms followed the sun. On this night, it seemed to me that the blossoms were turning their backs on the sun as the sun was setting.
Are they in protest? Maybe it is a silent protest, a peaceful protest. Stand by, folks. I am going to Google for some answers.
Okay, I am back. I truly learned a lot. In a nutshell, sunflowers are human. Well, maybe not truly, but their life cycle behavior mirrors our own! What I am about to share with you is quite fascinating. It is how the sunflower’s life mirrors our own as we age, and with great purpose.
It turns out sunflowers have an internal life clock. The young sunflowers pop out of their soil beds each morning and say hello to the sun. Throughout the day, as the sun moves, the young buds follow the sun in the sky, gaining strength so they may become mature buds – much like young children who need sun to flourish and are eager to greet the day.
An interesting thing happens when sunflowers reach adulthood. They stop following the Sun. They have work to do. In the morning, they react strongly to the sun. As the day rolls on, their movement with the sun slows down.
Yep, I get it, Mr. and Mrs. Sunflower. Sometimes we adults slow down a little as the day wanes on. When you are working hard and the heat is upon you, it can slow you down a bit.
What is their job, you may wonder? Pollination. Those big mature buds create a lot of heat, and the bees just love all that heat and are attracted to the buds for pollination.
Too bad the adult sunflowers didn’t have the ability to take a midday nap. I find that helps keep me moving with the sun. So I am glad to know all of this, because I hate to think of such a beautiful blossom like the sunflower being unhappy and organizing a protest against the sun.
The thing that is magical about the sunflower is that, as it matures, it becomes so beautiful; and as it fades, it leaves behind tiny seeds for rebirth. A legacy and lesson for future generations, just like people. Spiritually, sunflowers represent worship and faithfulness, always seeking truth and light.
Faith is a powerful thing. Faith that the sun will rise each day, and that if we work hard, hopefully it will bring us a life of light and purpose. A lesson to be taken from the sunflower.
So, as your life matures, do not bend. Keep your stalk strong like a sunflower. Greet each day with eager anticipation, and serve a purpose that will bring you and others happiness.
To see the bud saying good night, visit my blog live online at https://www.positiveperksposts.com and catch up on Weekly Photo Perks and past Sunday posts. Like and share your comments.
Businesses seeking to fill job openings totaling 1,000 in Orleans County
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Job Development will have two drive-through job fairs this month at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
The job fairs will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29. Each 10 businesses are expected to be available.
Orleans County currently has 1,009 job openings, said Kelly Kiebala, the Job Development director.
People interested in learning about or applying for local jobs will be directed to drive through a barn where the businesses will be stationed. Potential applicants should have resumes ready to provide to business representatives as they drive through, Kiebala said.
For those wishing to find out more details about a particular job or for those who businesses would like to interview on the spot, an additional barn will be designated for cars to be able to park so that further conversation and exchange of information can take place while remaining in the vehicle.
Masks and sanitizer will be available for any individuals attending who may not have their own, as masks will be required at all times.
Participating businesses will be posted on the Orleans County Job Development Facebook page as soon as they are confirmed. Pride Pak, Imagine Staffing and H.H. Dobbins have committed so far.
The first 10 businesses to request participation will be provided space. There is no cost to participate, but businesses will have to provide their own tables, chairs, etc., as well as enough staffing for both locations (so a minimum of two representatives).
All questions may be directed to Orleans County Job Development by calling 585-589-2772 or emailing ocjda@orleansny.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 September 2020 at 11:16 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Law enforcement officers, including K-9 Otto and his handler Jeff Cole of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, search for a man who bolted from Sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers at about 10 a.m. today while he was being transferred to the Orleans County Jail on Platt Street. The officers in this photo are shown on Platt Street, just north of Chamberlain Street.
Joseph J. Motzer, 27, of Ridgeway was taken into custody at about 10:30 a.m. He was found hiding under a picnic table in the backyard of a residence on South Main Street near the Main Street Thrift Store, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.
He had been driven from a deputy’s patrol car to the jail and was in the process of being turned over to the jail staff when he took off running. Motzer had his hands cuffed behind his back when he escaped.
He was arrested this morning after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, who is 8 months pregnant. He allegedly choked her using an electric cord. She is being treated at a hospital.
Motzer was charged with second-degree assault, aggravated criminal contempt, criminal possession of weapon, obstruction of breathing, criminal mischief and violating an order of protection.
He faces additional charges of escape and resisting arrest.
Motzer will be arraigned this evening. Bourke said the charges are bailable offenses.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in setting up a perimeter and searching for Motzer by the State Police, Albion Police Department and the jail staff.
“All agencies worked together quickly,” Bourke said. “Everybody’s safe. He’s safe and the officers are all safe.”
The following chart shows fatalities from motorcycle-involved crashes reported to ITSMR for 2019 and 2020.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo warned of a spike in motorcycle fatalities as reported by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and urged drivers and motorcyclists to use caution as the busy holiday travel begins.
According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College, preliminary data shows that as of August 15, 2020, deaths from motorcycle crashes are up more than 17 percent compared to the same period in 2019, up from 73 to 86.
“Danger does not take a holiday and with increased traffic on the road this Labor Day weekend, we all have a responsibility to exercise good judgment and caution,” Cuomo said. “New York State will continue to crack down on dangerous driving behavior because the safety of all drivers and passengers will always be a top priority for us.”
To improve safety on the roads this holiday, the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” impaired driving enforcement crackdown will continue through Labor Day. In addition, drivers are encouraged to make sure their vehicles are in good working condition and inspections are up to date before they travel.
Inspection stations are open and must follow health and safety guidelines. Motorists should also check things like fluids, tire pressure, battery life, and windshield wipers. Drivers can also use the DMV website to check if their vehicle has a recall.
“The motorcycle riding season is winding down and with nice weather predicted for this long holiday weekend, we expect more traffic and more riders on the roads, so I am urging everyone to be responsible, pay attention, and slow down,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, DMV Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. “We all play a part in keeping one another safe on our roads and it is up to every driver and rider to stop this alarming trend in motorcycle fatalities from continuing.”
There are more than 800,000 licensed motorcyclists in New York State. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than people in passenger cars. NHTSA also reports that despite representing only 3-percent of all registered motor vehicles, motorcyclists account for 14-percent of all traffic-related fatalities nationwide.
Safety Tips for Motorcyclists:
Drive sober! Never ride impaired by alcohol or drugs and discourage other riders from making a bad choice.
Slow down! Speed is a top cause of traffic crashes.
Use caution. Allow adequate space between you and the vehicle in front of you, stay alert, and look twice before turning left
Protect your melon! Always wear a USDOT-approved helmet. “Novelty Helmets” are not approved and offer little protection in a crash.
Always wear high quality/high visibility riding gear designed to protect you during a fall and boost your visibility to other drivers.
Maintain your motorcycle properly. Make sure your lights and horn are working, both mirrors are adjusted, and your tires are properly inflated and have legal tread depth.
Safety Tips for Drivers:
Drive sober! Never drive impaired by alcohol or drugs and discourage others from doing so.
Look Twice and Save a Life! Check your mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes.
Yield to motorcycles. Don’t make a rash decision and turn quickly in front of an on-coming motorcycle as it may be traveling faster than it appears.
Be a responsible driver. Ensure your vehicle is in safe operating condition and that all of your safety equipment is properly adjusted. Observe and obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals. Never speed.
Stay focused on the road and your surroundings. Never drive distracted. Don’t let cell phones and other activities distract you from your core mission — driving safely!
New York was the first state to mandate wearing a motorcycle helmet, and for more than 20 years, New York has had a rider-funded motorcycle safety training and awareness program known as the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program (NYSMSP).
The program uses a nationally recognized motorcycle training curriculum, developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The courses teach effective turning, braking maneuvers, tips to avoid obstacles, strategies in traffic, how to select appropriate protective apparel and vehicle maintenance.
To find information on which motorcycle safety courses may be available near you, go to the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program website (click here).
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth article in a series about historic Childs in the Town of Gaines. The hamlet of Childs lies just north of Albion at the intersection of Routes 104 and 98. In 2019, Childs was selected to be on the Landmark Society of Western New York’s “Five to Revive” list. In 1993, the federal U.S. Department of the Interior declared the Cobblestone Museum in Childs a National Historic Landmark, the first site in Orleans County with that distinction. The NYS Barge Canal was later declared a National Historic Landmark in 2017.)
By Erin Anheier, President, Cobblestone Society
Nellie Vagg
GAINES – In our last installment we learned about Joseph Vagg, the last practicing blacksmith on the Ridge. This time let’s focus on his wife, Nellie.
You already know that Nellie was civic minded as she donated Joseph’s blacksmith shop to the Cobblestone Museum after his death. She wanted to assure that his legacy was preserved and that future generations learned about the importance of the village blacksmith.
Today we might call Nellie a citizen activist, as she tirelessly worked to improve the lives of her neighbors.
Nellie not only maintained the home, raised two children and frequently assisted Joseph in the blacksmith shop, she was active in the church and community. She was a member of the Home Bureau and Extension Service since its inception.
Nellie Vagg taught many classes for the Home Bureau.
Similar to the Farm Bureau, the Home Bureau sought to bring scientific information to the rural communities in curriculum formulated by Cornell University. Classes for local women which she hosted at her home included Elementary Meal Planning, The Study of Meat, A Place for Everything, General Mending, Nutrition, The Amount of Food Required, Salad Making and Whole Wheat.
She herself conducted classes at other locations including What Makes A Good Day for the Homemaker, Family Fun and Morale in War Time, and Hazards to Our Youth in Our Present World.
Nellie was a long-term member of the Orleans County Women’s Christian Temperance Union rising to the position of delegate to area and state conventions. Her commitment to the Temperance Movement was strong; a local resident recalls that when the corner store across the intersection from her home began to sell beer, she told the proprietor that she would “no longer be able to trade with him.”
The white ribbon of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union
Local residents recall she wore the white ribbon of the WCTU, a symbol of purity, until her death in 1975.
Ironically, she maintained this stance from her home located directly across the road from the tavern that is now Tillman’s Village Inn.
As the Cobblestone Museum uses the story of Joseph and his blacksmith shop to educate visitors about the past, next year they plan to include Nellie’s story.
The Vagg home is being purchased by the museum and will become a new exhibit. The interior of the home maintains the decorative style of the 1920-30’s and will help illustrate rural life in the early 20th century as well as Nellie’s role in the community.
The Cobblestone Museum is acquiring the Vagg home at the southwest intersection of routes 104 and 98.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2020 at 4:35 pm
ALBION – There are two confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the Albion Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison for women, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
One inmate is in the 30s and the other is in the 50s. These are the first reported cases among inmates in Orleans County. Before today, there weren’t any positive cases reported from Albion Correctional, Orleans Correctional Facility (medium-security men’s prison) and the Orleans County Jail.
The two new confirmed cases end a week-long streak with no new Covid-19 case sin the county. Orleans continues to have no active confirmed Covid-19 in the community outside of facilities, the Health Departments reported.
The county has now had 290 people test positive for Covid-19 since March.
The local Health Departments also are reporting 4 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Genesee County received 1 new positive case of Covid-19, and now has had 283 people test positive.
The new positive case resides in Batavia and is in the 40s. The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee has 12 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
These are the number of people who have tested positive at non-county public regulated facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• No report on Monday: Due to the Labor Day holiday, both the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed on Monday. There will be no map, website or media updates over the weekend or on Monday from the local Health Departments. Updates will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
State-wide Data: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the fourth straight week that New York State’s Covid-19 infection rate has remained below 1 percent. Yesterday, 0.92 percent of tests reported to the state were positive, or 864 positive tests out of the 93,395 test results reported to the state.
Other state-wide data includes:
Patient Hospitalization – 428 (-2)
Number ICU – 116 (-1)
Number ICU with Intubation – 61 (+0)
Deaths – 5 (Total Deaths – 25,348)
“Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers across the state, New York has now gone four straight weeks with an infection rate below one percent,” Cuomo said. “Next week, malls in New York City and casinos across the state will be able to open, marking another milestone in our battle against Covid-19. But we cannot become complacent – we must continue to protect our progress. We must all continue to wear masks, social distance, wash our hands and above all, stay New York tough.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2020 at 3:07 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kim Hazel of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County helped with the food distribution on Aug. 21 in Albion at the parking lot of the Main Street Thrift Store.
Two food distributions, with hundreds of boxes of produce, will be return to Orleans County next week.
This week there weren’t any of the distributions, but they will be back. The first one will be on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the 4-H Fairgrounds at 12690 Route 31 in Knowlesville. It starts at 8:45 a.m. and lasts until gone.
There will be 1,200 boxes of produce (20 pounds each) available as well as a limited amount of dairy and meat boxes. People should enter by vehicle at the main entrance on Route 31 and the volunteers will direct from there. ID is not required and you can have multiple households in a vehicle for each to receive a box, according to the Office for the Aging, which is helping to coordinate the events.
There will also be a food distribution on Friday, Sept. 11, beginning at 9 a.m. until gone. It will be at the Main Street Thrift Store, 131 S. Main St., Albion. This distribution will be produce, dairy and meat (300 sets will be available). One set per car will be available while supplies last.
Both locations will be a no-touch distribution and proper social distancing must be maintained at all times.
There will be no pre-registration for these events. It is a first come, first served basis.
The Office for the Aging encourages people to clean out their trunks. The trunks should be open when in line. Once the trunk is closed and tapped, people may drive away.
The Office for the Aging is working to confirm more dates for food distributions later this month.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Students are quick to get off the bus on the first day of school at Albion in this photo from Sept. 7, 2016.
There’s no doubt that school openings this year will look much different from every other year. While we are looking to give our children a sense of normalcy in returning to school, there will be some changes to the daily routine. There are many twists and turns that complicate the roadmap for the reopening of schools but figuring out how to get students to school safely may be the most complex.
AAA’s annual “School’s Open—Drive Carefully” campaign alerts motorists to the special risks to school-age children from motor vehicle crashes—the leading cause of death for children from 5 to 14 years old. More parents will be walking and driving their children to school, due to the uncertainty of school bus services and new Covid-19 protocol. Motorists should continue to be extremely cautious of children darting out between parked cars.
To raise awareness of this important issue, AAA teamed up with State Sen. Timothy Kennedy, chair of the New York Committee on Transportation, along with the New York State Police for a virtual press conference on Thursday.
AAA WCNY President Tony Spada emphasized the need to show extra caution when driving as schools reopen since vacation-minded children are apt to be less careful. Motorists should be particularly alert for children darting out between parked cars on busy streets.
“More parents will be walking and driving their children to school, due to the uncertainty of school bus services and new Covid-19 protocol. Bus patterns will be different,” he said. “And with the virtual model in place at many schools and limited in-person learning, more children will be home throughout the day. That means motorists must be vigilant at all hours and look for children who may be playing near, or even, in the street.”
“In a typical year, there are 55 million students that go back to school across the country. Some are going back in person, some are utilizing a hybrid model, and some are learning virtually at home. We need to treat school zones, in particular, with caution and care, but this year, given the complexities of the pandemic, we need to consider that any community could be a school zone potentially, and we have to be mindful of children outside playing,” said Senator Timothy Kennedy.
“This is an important and successful campaign. Not only do we have cars passing buses on the left, we have cars passing on the right. You’re looking at a 5-point ticket, that is steep, but the real deterrent should be the fact that you can take a life. We want to make sure your children are as safe as they can be when they get on and off that bus every single day,” said Trooper James O’Callaghan, PIO, New York State Police, Troop A.
As part of the campaign, the New York State Thruway Authority will display the “School’s Open” digital message on Thruway TV’s in every service area 24/7 through mid-October and the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation will display “School’s Open” posters in their facilities.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 September 2020 at 9:57 am
Laura Olinger is the new owner following her father’s retirement
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Laura Olinger and her dad David Bentley stand next to a Kubota backhoe on the lot at Bentley Brothers in Albion, the business she has taken over from David after he decided to retire.
ALBION – A family business started in 1925 will continue in Albion under a fourth generation of leadership.
David Bentley of Kendall announced earlier this year he was going to scale back his involvement in Bentley Brothers and turn the reins over to his daughter Laura Olinger.
Bentley Brothers was started in Barre Center by David’s grandfather Allen Bentley selling Cletrac machines for use on the muck. His sons Gerald (David’s father) and Walter (David’s uncle) came back from the war and started working there in the mid 1940s.
David Bentley and his daughter Laura Olinger chat in her office at Bentley Brothers in Albion, where she has taken over the business started by David’s grandfather in 1925.
Allen died in 1951 and the boys continued to run the business through the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were joined by Dave, his brother Doug and sister Donna. After Donna left in the late 1980s, Doug and David took over, with David as manager and Doug as mechanic.
David had graduated from high school in 1974 and then worked part time at the business while attending Alfred State College. After graduating from there, he started full time at Bentley’s.
The business evolved during the years, from selling Cletrac, which was bought out by Oliver, then Oliver was bought by White and White was bought by Agco.
In 1980, David started selling Kubota, a company in Japan which began making farm equipment in 1972. In 1991 he moved the business from Barre Center to Route 31 west of Albion. In 2009, he purchased the Kubota dealership near Brockport.
Doug retired two years ago, and David, who recently turned 64, decided it was time to step back and let Laura run the business.
“I’ve been at this business 45 years,” Dave said.
He will continue for now to spend two and one-half days a week at Bentley’s.
Laura is joined by Brockport’s manager Darrell Morgan, who is buying into the business.
David has a son Kevin, who worked at the business growing up, but after college he wanted to become a state trooper.
David loves boating and hopes to spend more time on his cabin cruiser. He will miss taking care of the people, he said.
“Many customers have become friends,” David said.
Laura said the staff at Bentley Brothers has doubled in the past five years.
“Our goal is to always keep growing and to have what people want,” she said.
Laura has taken over at a challenging time, with the Covid-19 pandemic closing businesses, and having difficulty getting parts and equipment. In spite of that, she said business has been good. She thinks many people who couldn’t spend their money going on vacation are spending it on equipment and things for their homes.
Like her grandfather and uncle, Gerald and Walter, Laura firmly believes in being involved in the community. She recently joined the board of United Way of Orleans County. She also has joined many of her employees, helping at food distributions during the pandemic.
“I’m very fortunate to have a great family, although I work my tail off,” she said.
Three years ago, she married John Olinger, the Ridgeway highway superintendent, and they have bought the Cottages at Oak Orchard and marina at the Bridges in Carlton.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 September 2020 at 9:47 pm
Jim Lustumbo is retiring after owning the site since 1986
Photos by Ginny Kropf: The sale of Lakewood Village Mobile Home Park to a Los Angeles-based investment firm was announced Tuesday.
MEDINA – A change in ownership was announced at Lakewood Village Mobile Home Park this week.
Jim Lustumbo, who has owned the park since 1986, has decided to retire and sold the park to Pinnacle Investment Firm from Los Angeles. The sale was effective Tuesday.
Lisa Villareal, one of three members of Pinnacle Investment Firm, spent several days in Medina, getting familiar with the park and orienting personnel on running the site.
Lois Austin will remain as onsite park manager, while Danny Dunn will continue to do maintenance.
“You are going to see a smooth transition,” Villareal told a handful of residents who attended a meeting Tuesday at the park.
Pinnacle Investment Firm owns mobile home parks in Texas, Missouri and Alabama, but this is their first 55-plus park, Villareal said.
“Things seem to be running smoothly here, and we want to keep it that way,” she said. “We don’t want to change management style.”
In a letter to all park residents, the new company said they were extremely excited to get going and look forward to providing exceptional management, including prompt maintenance service, as well as maintaining a safe and enjoyable place to live.
Jim Lustumbo discusses the sale of Lakewood Village Mobile Home Park in Medina with Lisa Villareal with Pinnacle Investment Firm of Los Angeles, who took over as new owners as of Sept. 1.
Lakewood Village was developed by Barbara Waters and her sister, the late Marcia Tuohey, in 1970. They eventually sold it to Frank Pavia, who was Jim Lustumbo’s uncle. The Lustumbos lived in Rochester, and when Jim inherited the park from his uncle, he and his wife Margaret moved to Medina and have run the park ever since.
Jim Lustumbo poses with Lisa Villareal from Pinnacle Investment Firm after announcing the sale of the park to the Los Angeles-based company.
Jim said he loves the park, but health conditions have convinced him it was time to retire.
“I’ve had two heart attacks, the last one in January,” he said. “What I’ve loved most is the people.”
He and Margaret will continue to live in the park and operate the storage buildings. They have bought a new camper and plan to spend much of their time camping.
“That’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t had the time,” Jim said.
Since taking over the park, the Lustumbos have added nearly 30 new mobile units and developed the area on the north side of the lake.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York school districts will be required to provide the Department of Health with daily data on the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in each school beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The information will be publicly available on a new online dashboard developed by DOH, which be available beginning Wednesday, Sept. 9. DOH Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker today sent a letter to all school districts informing them of the reporting requirements and the new dashboard.
“Many of the school districts have testing protocols that will be in place as part of their plans, but as I’ve said from the beginning, those plans are only as good as their implementation,” Governor Cuomo said. “Parents and teachers are understandably concerned about schools reopening.”
School districts will be required to send their daily testing reports to the Department of Health. The districts must also provide a link to the daily dashboard on their website for other interested parties. That information will be updated daily.
“Dr. Zucker and the State Department of Health will set up a dashboard for teachers and parents, so they know exactly what’s happening in their schools,” Cuomo said. “I hope this will give teachers and parents some confidence that the plans are being implemented and if there’s a positive case, they will know and DOH will know and the locals can respond quickly.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2020 at 4:44 pm
783 tests in past week in Orleans, all negative
Orleans County made it seven straight days today without a new Covid-19 case to report. Since last Thursday, the county has had 783 test results reported and all have been negative.
The county has 2 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
In Genesee, there is one new confirmed Covid-19 case, bringing Genesee’s total to 282. (Orleans has had 288 people test positive for Covid-19 since March.)
The new case in Genesee is a Batavia resident in the 20s. The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also has 14 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
• State-wide Data: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the state has now 27 straight days with an infection rate below 1 percent, although it was very close to breaking that threshold on Wednesday.
There were 88,981 test results reported to the state yesterday, and 889 or 0.99 percent, were positive.
• Western NY SWAT Team Testing Effort: The governor also announced the results of the state’s testing SWAT Team’s focused testing effort in Western New York over the past five days. A total of 6,385 tests were performed at the 8 sites with results delivered in 15 minutes. A total of 266 positive cases were identified, for a positivity rate of 4.1%.
The results include: City of Buffalo, 5.9%; Chautauqua County, 4.5%; Niagara County, 2.8%; and Erie County not including City of Buffalo, 2.3%.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
ALBION – In the month of August, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center processed 2,082 police incidents, including 803 events for Sheriff’s Road Patrol, 258 for the New York State Police and 1,460 calls for the village police agencies of Lyndonville, Medina, Albion and Holley.
There were 519 Fire/EMS-related calls dispatched countywide with 377 of those calls emergency medical in nature and 3 drug overdoses.
Road Patrol Deputies handled 40 automobile accidents, including 16 with injury and 14 car-deer collisions. Road patrol also made 83 service attempts and successfully served 57 subpoenas, civil or court papers.
The Sheriff’s Animal Control Division handled 110 incidents including 31 stray or loose animals, 3 animal bite complaints, 10 neighbor dog problems and several other miscellaneous animal calls. In addition, 7 animals were taken in to shelter on a voluntary surrender.
The Orleans County Jail processed in 33 inmates and handled 9 prisoner transports to court appearances, medical treatments or other correctional facilities.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some of the profits from Batavia Downs are distributed to Orleans County as well as 14 other counties in Western New York, and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced casinos and video lottery terminal facilities, including Batavia Downs, will be allowed to reopen starting Sept. 9 with a 25 percent occupancy limit.
All venues that choose to reopen will be subject to strict safety protocols, including strict enforcement of face coverings except when eating or drinking, social distancing, additional staff to control occupancy, traffic flow and seating to avoid crowding, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols. Casinos must also have enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards in place in order to open.
“New Yorkers have done an extraordinary job – we flattened the curve in a way that no expert thought was possible,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’ve made the determination that we can safely reopen casinos with enhanced air filtration and strict safety protocols including mandatory masks and social distancing. This is good news and the right next step in our data-driven, phased reopening which is working.”
Casinos must leave six feet of distance between operating machines. No table games will be allowed unless and until casinos put in place physical barriers between players and the Gaming Commission approves those barriers.
No beverage or food service will be allowed on the gaming floor. The State Gaming Commission will be deployed to monitor casinos and ensure strict enforcement of these measures.
