By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2020 at 2:30 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Hailee Mitchell (left), the salutatorian, and Katherine Pearson, the class valedictorian, walk past a 2020 sign at the beginning of the Kendall commencement on Friday evening.
The district held the celebration on the Kendall firemen’s grounds, where there is usually the carnival.
The state set a maximum size at 150 people for graduation ceremonies, unless people were in cars. Kendall decided to have an outdoor ceremony and allow families to drive-in and park.
The 51 graduates had seats on chairs that were spaced six feet apart to meet the state’s social distancing guidelines.
Carol D’Agostino, the high school principal, addresses the graduates and the crowd. She is joined on stage by Lisa Levett (left), president of the Board of Education, and Julie Christensen, district superintendent.
The stage was donated for use by Kludt Farms. Christ Farms decorated the stage for the event.
Sarah Delmont, one of the class advisors, hands out masks that she made for all of the seniors. They had the Kendall logo on them.
Isaiah Curtis-Korn heads to the stage for his diploma. He is wearing a mask for Kendall’s Class of 2020.
Kasandra (Cliff) Hopkins, the salutatorian for Kendall’s Class of 2002, delivered the commencement address. She works as administrator of the Northway Surgery & Pain Center near Albany. Her mother is Kendall teacher Renee Cliff.
Hopkins has been an EMT, registered nurse and earned a master’s degree in nursing.
When Hopkins gave her speech in 2002, it was to her classmates whose senior year started with the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This year’s senior class was born not long after the 9-11 attacks.
“The world is constantly changing,” she said. “Each generation has a challenge to rise up to.”
The pandemic has been disruptive, but Hopkins said it has also given students more time with their families. Students have needed to adapt to on-line learning and using more technology.
Hopkins quoted from the lyrics of “Be a Light” by Thomas Rhett.
“In a time full of war, be peace
In a world full of hate, be a light
When you do somebody wrong, make it right
Don’t hide in the dark, you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light.”
Hopkins said it isn’t a coincidence Kendall picked the eagle as a mascot.
“We are proud and we are made to soar,” she said.
David Klafehn takes photos of a memorable graduation ceremony at Kendall.
Elizabeth Sutphen stands on the stage before receiving her diploma.
Amber Salonen is happy after receiving her diploma.
Parents and family members of the graduates watched the ceremony from the back of pickup trucks and from lawn chairs.
Brianna Drennan accepts her diploma from Carol D’Agostino, the high school principal. They each kept an arm’s length away.
Hailee Mitchell delivers the salutatorian speech. She praised the small-school atmosphere at Kendall which nurtures students. She commended her classmates for pushing through the past three months, especially with the disappointments of having the senior trip, spring fling and spring sports all cancelled.
Julie Christensen, the district superintendent, praised the community for its support of the students during their school career, and especially since mid-March when the pandemic hit.
She said the Class of 2020 is high-achieving. Among the 51 students, 56 percent were on the honor roll every marking period of high school.
Mason Kuhn is congratulated by Carol D’Agostino. Mason served as one of the class officers.
Katherine Pearson gives the valedictory address. She said a “silver lining” in the pandemic is students graduate knowing they are loved by the community.
She thanked local residents for adopting seniors and giving them gifts during the quarantine. She also said teachers showed their love and commitment to students with a parade by every students’ home and by being creating in their online lessons.
Pearson said her family suffered the loss of her uncle, Wayne Younglove, on June 9. He lived an adventurous life and enjoyed riding snowmobiles, going boating and racing cars. She urged her classmates to follow his example and be brave in trying new things and exploring the country and world.
“I’m graduating with 50 other amazing people who will do wonderful things in life,” Pearson said.
Chloe Tonas decorated her mortarboard on her graduation cap. She and her classmates gathered outside the Kendall fire hall before the ceremony.
Chloe thanked the school administrators for working out a graduation where the class could be together and many family and friends could attend.
These graduates walk by the large 2020 sign created for the ceremony.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 June 2020 at 8:53 am
District has 3 ceremonies to stay within state threshold of 150 people
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Graduates walk across the turf at Vets Park in front of the scoreboard on Friday afternoon during the first of three outdoor graduation ceremonies. The district split graduation into three services because the maximum size allowed for the programs is 150 people due the Covid-19 pandemic.
Caleb Boyce stands with his classmates after they moved their tassels to symbolize their graduation from Medina. Caleb and his classmates all wore masks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The district held services at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. There are 110 members of the Class of 2020. There were about 37 graduates at each service. They were allowed three tickets for family members. That allowed for about 150 people to be at the service.
Class Valedictorian Nate Sherman leads the first group to their seats at Vets Park. There was a giant American flag held up by the ladder trucks from Medina Fire Department and the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. Tim Petry, president of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, said the fire departments wanted to add to a special day for the graduates.
“We want to show our support for the graduates,” Petry said. “They’ve had a rough year.”
Nate Sherman prerecorded his speech to his classmates. Sherman, who will play baseball and major in biochemistry at Canisius, said his fellow graduates have risen above adversity.
“We’re still here and I think we are stronger than ever,” he said.
Sherman said the senior class missed out on spring sports, the musical, many other activities and seeing their friends and teachers in person since school buildings were closed after March 13. The class adapted to on-line learning. Sherman urged the graduates to be brave in the next chapter of their lives.
“My advice for you is to go try,” he said. “Go see what you’re capable of.”
He ended his speech my jumping into a swimming pool, while wearing his cap and gown.
Banners of all the graduates were displayed on the fence at Vets Park. Many Medina businesses displayed those banners earlier in the week.
Michael Cavanagh
Principal Michael Cavanagh said the banners were another way the district wanted to celebrate the students.
The principal praised the class for its resilience during the pandemic, for seeing the school year to the end.
“Once again you rose up to meet life’s challenge,” he said.
Many of the seniors have been essential workers during the pandemic, working at grocery stores, nursing homes and other businesses that never closed.
Cavanagh said the community has showed its appreciation for health care workers and other frontline staff during the pandemic.
“How awesome would it be if we continued to show appreciation for others instead of finding fault and criticizing,” he said.
Margaret Klotzbach, the class salutatorian, accepts her diploma during commencement. The district superintendent and Board of Education president weren’t able to give handshakes or hugs for the graduates. They were following guidelines from the state in a pandemic.
Klotzbach, who is headed to Niagara University this fall, said the pandemic has showed students and the community “we shouldn’t take things for granted. Every little moment matters.”
Klotzbach said the sudden closure of the school after March 13 didn’t give students a chance to say goodbye to teachers, staff and each other. That has been the hardest part of the pandemic.
The separation since mid-March has made the graduation more special, she said, with the class able to see many of their friends.
She thanked the community for adopting students – showering the graduates with gifts. And she thanked the district administrators for working out the details for an outdoor graduation.
“The wonderful support of the community has not gone unnoticed,” she said.
Chloe Nashwenter listens to one of the speeches during commencement. Chloe is one of Medina’s top 10 graduates. She will be attending Niagara University in the fall.
She said the hardest part of the pandemic has been the time away from her friends. She appreciated the outdoor graduation, even though it was limited to a third of the class for each service.
“I’m glad we got to do something,” she said.
She likes the outdoor service over the school auditorium, where graduation is typically held.
“It was outside and there was a nice breeze,” she said.
The seniors wait in chairs, spaced six feet apart, for the ceremony to start. Once “Pomp and Circumstance” started, the graduates walked to the center of the field in front of their families who were in the bleachers.
Layna Viloria smiles for her portrait with her diploma.
The daisy chain tradition continued. The 16 girls with the highest GPAs in the junior class and two boys with the highest grade averages made the daisy chain and served as escorts for the senior class at commencement.
The graduates and their family members stand for the national anthem at the second service at 5:30 p.m. Only 150 people were allowed for the service.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2020 at 10:21 pm
Orleans County is reporting one additional death from Covid-19, bringing the total to 53 in the county. The latest death is a resident of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, where 22 residents have died from Covid-19.
For the second straight day, there are no new Covid-19 cases in the county, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.
The county has two more recoveries for 108 total in the community.
Genesee County has three new confirmed cases. All three are residents of Darien. One is younger than 20, and the other two are in their 40s.
All of the new positive individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2020 at 3:12 pm
File photos by Tom Rivers: Members of the Buffalo-based Pyromancy blow fire during one of the stunts performed by the group on Aug. 31 during the Steampunk Festival, which was held at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds for the first time.
KNOWLESVILLE – The Steampunk Festival has been cancelled for this year, the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery announced today.
The winery has put on “the festival of bizarre proportions” since 2011. Steampunk is an end-of-summer party that became so popular it was moved from the winery on Route 104 in Medina to the 4-H fairgrounds.
Deja Vu Ballooning in Gasport brought one of their balloons, Amelia AirHeart, to the festival last year. The balloon was tethered and went up about 100 feet.
Leonard Oakes Estate Winery could accommodate 1,000 to 1,200 people annually at recent Steampunk Festivals at the winery. It was maxed out and decided to move the event to the fairgrounds last year.
The winery said on its Facebook page it is planning some smaller event instead this year instead of the large celebration that drew people from 10-15 states and Canada.
Last year’s event included three bands, hot-air balloon rides, five food vendors, a steampunk clothing contest, fire artists, circus freaks, belly dancers, a mad science fair and Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber.
Most of the attendees at Steampunk wear futuristic costumes with a Victorian theme. They wear outlandish costumes, with top hats, goggles and robotic arms as accessories.
The event draws people from 10-15 states and Canada. Moving the event to the Fairgrounds provides an option to camp with tents or RVs.
There are many outrageous costumes at the Steampunk Festival, including the 14-foot-long wings worn by Jane Farrell of Nunda. The wings are 10 feet high. Farrell on Aug. 31 last year was joined by from left: her aunt Tama Webster, her mother Connie Farrell, friend Riley Randall and Kristie Webster, wearing the fairy wings. Farrell runs a business, Jane Does Costumes, and specializes in steampunk, which is often a mix of Victorian meets the future.
Press Release, Steve Goodrich, commander of Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 in Lyndonville
Provided photo: Seated in photo is Miss Anna Stelianou and Houseman-Tanner Post member Carl Boyle. Note: Masks were taken off only for this picture then immediately put back on.
LYNDONVILLE – The Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 American Legion on Sunday took possession of a new ADA-certified trolley to be used in parades.
This is the capstone of a three-year project. The previous trolley was extremely difficult to enter or exit for the older veterans and over time had become unserviceable. Once the decision to replace it was made, the post began fundraising.
July 4th raffle tickets and a Labor Day yard sale as well as generous donations made by individuals made this project possible. The trolley sits much lower than the previous unit. It can seat 9 with room for up to 3 wheelchairs, something impossible with the old trolley. Access is through two wheelchair ramps and there are seatbelts and wheelchair tie downs for all passengers.
The initial payment was sent to the contracted builder Diversified Golf Cars Inc. of Orlando, Fla. one week before the lockdown was announced.
This project would not have been possible without the very generous donation made by Miss Anna Stelianou. To pay our respects to Miss Anna, the Houseman-Tanner Post will be dedicating the trolley in the memory of her brothers – all veterans – Fred, Peter, George, Menel and Ernest, who all served inworld War II or the Korean War.
Commander Steve Goodrich, Adjudant Joseph Hausler and post members John Follman and Carl Boyle stopped by Anna’s home to make sure she was the first to see and set foot on the new trolley on June 24th.
Lastly, the Houseman-Tanner Post wants to specifically thank the businesses and individuals who made generous donations that helped make this possible. Businesses: Canalside Tattoo, Gordon-Fisk, H.H. Dobbins, Hometown Energy, Lake Wine & Spirits, Oak Orchard Canoes, Wildwood Campgrounds, Whipple Realty and Wiley’s Riverside Marina.
Individual Donors: Anna Stelianou, Ethel Valentine, Mike Dagobert and Bob Burtwell.
Due to Covid-19 there haven’t been any meeting and no upcoming meetings are planned for the foreseeable future. Sadly this also applies to parades. The trolley is being stored for now. We hope to see everyone in the not too distant future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2020 at 2:27 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Grace Azzolino, the children’s librarian at Community Free Library in Holley, holds some of the books that were available for free at the library today.
Community Free Library will be doing a free-book Friday twice a month through the summer. Many of the books were donated to the library to be given away during the June Fest. But that festival scheduled for June 6 was cancelled.
The library has been open for pickup only, but that will change on July 6 when the building reopens to the public. Library users will need to do social distancing and will be asked to wear a mask inside.
The library will also be hosting a summer reading program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2020 at 12:34 pm
HOLLEY – The food was gone not long after the food distribution started this morning in Holley. For the first time, Holley hosted one of the Foodlink distributions.
The event was advertised to go from 9:30 to 11:30. But by 7 a.m. there was already a lineup of cars.
The food was all delivered by 8 a.m. and by then the line of vehicles was down Route 31. That line, at its peak, went from the Public Square past Bennetts Corners Road on 31.
Organizers decided to start the distribution at 8, to shorter the line of vehicles stretched put in the village.
A few minutes after 9:30, more than 1,000 boxes of food were gone and the distribution was done.
More than 300 people received three boxes of mixed dairy, cooked meat and produce. Today also included bonus bags of grapes.
The drive-through distribution was at the parking lot for the former Save-A-Lot at 3 Geddes Street Ext.
The next event in late July in Holley will likely be moved to the Holley Business Park, which will less likely cause a lineup of cars in the heart of the village.
Community Action partners with Foodlink and the Orleans County Office for the Aging for the food distributions, which also are in Albion and Medina. Orleans Hub will post the schedule for July when it’s available.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is joining the New York State Department of Transportation in celebrating the re-opening of two local canal bridges that have been closed off to traffic for the better part of a year: the Telegraph Road Bridge in Murray and the Bates Road Bridge in Medina.
While there will still be some work to be done on both bridges, the DOT has assured it will not affect traffic. Both bridges will be open to vehicular traffic by the end of the day on Saturday.
“The coordination and dedication of those workers to restore the bridges for modern traffic is both commendable and admirable,” Hawley said. “I am just as excited as the next person to finally have this construction done and have these roadways open to us again.”
The Telegraph Road Bridge has been closed since Aug. 5, 2019 for steel repairs. The Bates Road Bridge has been closed since Nov. 8, 2019 for the same reason. The Telegraph bridge will have minor final touches being completed by the construction crew but traffic will be able to flow through. The Bates bridge will have open traffic flow, but continue to have a construction crew presence in order to install sidewalk grating.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2020 at 9:14 am
If county continues to face shortfall, funding to towns and villages may be cut
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is delaying sales tax sharing payments with local towns and villages, and warned the municipalities may not receive the full $1,366,671 share they have been getting each year since 2001.
The county’s sales tax revenue was down about $1 million in April and May compared to those months in 2019.
The county receives about $17 million in sales tax. Since 2001, it frozen the amount to towns and villages at $1,366,671.
The county in December approved the following sales tax apportionment for the villages and towns:
Villages – $375,620 total in 2020
Albion, $165,688; Holley, $45,051; Lyndonville, $15,243; and Medina, $149,638.
The county makes quarterly payments to the towns and villages. On April 1, the county treasurer cut a check for $405,053.13 to be shared among the 10 towns and four villages.
The July 1 payment is due soon, but the Legislature on Wednesday said the money will be delayed. The Legislature also advised the towns and villages they could see a reduction for the year. The county will see if the sales tax revenues rebound, and if other state and federal reimbursements are cut.
Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer, said the county would see a $5 million revenue hit if the current shortfalls stay at their pace for the rest of the year.
Lynne Johnson, the Legislature chairwoman, said the impact of Covid-19 on the economy has the county far off its revenue projections for the year. The county has furloughed 34 employees, not filled 10 other positions and postponed some capital projects.
“This will make it most difficult budget process,” she said in a conference call with local officials. “Without state and federal support, I see a big budget gap.”
Johnson said the state and federal governments need to step up for the local municipalities with their unprecedented fiscal challenges.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also has been pressing President Trump and Congressional leaders to approve a stimulus package for state and local governments.
Press Release, Katie Oakes, horticulture educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension office is receiving high volumes of calls from homeowners concerned about the defoliation of trees and shrubs by small hairy caterpillars.
These pests are the larval stage of the Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar, an invasive species that can cause massive defoliation in home landscapes and woodland forests.
Photo by Kathy Brooks – Gypsy Moth caterpillars congregate on an affected tree in Albion.
The Gypsy Moth was accidentally introduced to the US in the late 1800s and has become widespread across North American ever since. Gypsy Moth is one of the most destructive forest pests in the country.
The moth goes through four distinct life stages: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult – usually just one generation per year. The larval stage is the only one that causes damage. The adult moth doesn’t feed at all, its only purpose is to reproduce and lay eggs. But the larvae can cause significant damage while it is active.
Caterpillars of the Gypsy Moth are hairy and can be identified by the pairs of blue and rust colored spots running the length of their bodies. The caterpillars go through 5 or 6 molts (or instars), during which they feed voraciously on shade trees and some shrubs.
The majority of the feeding happens in the last two instars, which usually occurs in late June to early July. The caterpillars prefer tree species such as oak, birch, apple, willow and linden, However they are not host-specific and will feed on a variety of other species of trees and shrubs.
After the caterpillars complete their development, they drop to the ground and seek a place to pupate. After about 10-14 days in the resting pupal stage, the adult moths emerge. Adult moths only have about two weeks to reproduce and lay eggs before dying.
Deciduous trees that suffer a small amount of defoliation will usually not suffer long-term. Trees that suffer complete or near complete defoliation will be stressed, which can lead to secondary problems, but they should be able to send out a second flush of leaves and recuperate a bit before the growing season is over.
Keep defoliated/refoliated trees evenly watered throughout the rest of the growing season and avoid fertilizer until next spring. Evergreen trees such as pine and spruce can die from one single season of defoliation, so if you’re noticing heavy feeding on these trees and they are valuable to you in your landscape, you should consider treating for the caterpillars.
Many homeowners wonder what they can do to manage exploding populations of hungry caterpillars. If the caterpillars are under 1-inch long, the recommended pesticide to use is one that contains a naturally occurring bacteria: Bacillus thuringensis var.kurstaki (Btk).
Once the caterpillars enter later life stages, Btk is less effective. There are other insecticides labelled for use against Gypsy Moth caterpillars as well. However, when the caterpillars are longer than 1 inch and they are found feeding high in the canopy of shade trees, treatment can be difficult and a call to a tree service is often recommended. When using any pesticides, the label is the law and must be followed exactly.
Homeowners can also try banding methods of management – tying a piece of folded burlap around the affected tree trunks. In later life stages, the caterpillars typically move down the trees during the day then climb back up at night to feed. The folded burlap will trap caterpillars between the layers and homeowners can then destroy them.
After the caterpillars finish feeding, the best option for control is destroying egg masses to reduce populations the following year. Look for the tan colored, fuzzy splotches on tree trunks, buildings, fences or other objects anytime from fall until April. Remove the egg masses by scraping them off into a bucket of soapy water and leaving for a few days.
For more information check out the Cornell Insect Diagnostic Lab factsheet or contact Orleans County CCE Horticulture educator Katie Oakes by calling 585-798-4265 ext 125 or emailing klo54@cornell.edu.
Sources: Cornell Insect Diagnostic Lab
UConn Ladybug Blog “Gypsy Moth”
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Factsheet on Gypsy Moth
RIDGEWAY – The urn in these photos was found on Monday on the bank of Glenwood Lake in the Town of Ridgeway.
The urn washed up on shore, said Jeff Gifaldi, chief deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
There doesn’t appear to be anything on the urn that identifies who it may belong to. The Sheriff’s Office would like to do everything possible to get it back to the family it belongs to.
Any with information about the urn can contact Gifaldi at (585) 590-4125.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2020 at 4:32 pm
Orleans County has suffered another death from Covid-19. The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reports today that the latest death was a resident of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.
The county has now had 52 residents die from Covid-19, including 21 residents of Orchard Rehabilitation.
“We are saddened to report the death of one of our county residents,” the Health Departments said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this individual during this very challenging time.”
Orleans doesn’t have any new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report. Ten people remain hospitalized from the county with Covid-19.
In Genesee County, there are two new cases, giving the county 218 total since mid-March.
One of the new positive individuals resides in Batavia and the other is from LeRoy. One of the individuals is less than 20 years old and the other is in the 40s.
The new positive individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also has four more recoveries, bringing that total to 151. The county currently has one resident in the hospital with Covid-19.
Click here to see an online map of cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown shows the positive cases from facilities where there has been a positive case of Covid-19.
More from Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Quarantine for travelers from nine states: New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut announced that as of 12:01 a.m. today travelers from states with high coronavirus rates will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. Click here to see the travel advisory and click here for interim travel guidance.
Currently, states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Texas. Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time.
To file a report of an individual failing to adhere to the quarantine pursuant to the travel advisory, please call 1-833-789-0470 or visit this website.
• New York Forward: Keep checking the New York Forward website for your industry/organization/activity summary guidelines.
• Social gathering size: Groups of 50 or less will be in effect for those regions in phase 4. The Governor announced Wednesday that gathering sizes will be increasing from 25 to 50 for regions in phase 4. Further information is forthcoming. The local Health Departments do not authorize or allow exemptions from the Governor’s orders.
Community Testing: Oak Orchard Health is now able to provide expanded Covid-19 swabbing to the public at their Albion location (future locations may be added later). Anyone needing testing and meeting the criteria (being symptomatic or required for profession) can call Oak Orchard Health at 585-589-5613 for an appointment, no walk-ins.
Oak Orchard Health will do their best to accommodate scheduling demands, but be aware appointments may fill up quickly. The current testing schedule is Monday 3:40 to 4:40 p.m., Tuesday 4 to 5 p.m., Wednesday 2:20 to 3:20 p.m., Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m., and Friday from 3:20 to 4:20 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2020 at 3:36 pm
Rate in May is about triple the unemployed from May 2019
The local and state unemployment rates, while far higher than they were a year ago, have come down from the highs in April.
The state Department of Labor reports the unemployment rate in Orleans was 11.6 percent in May and 14.2 percent state-wide.
In April it was 15.8 percent in Orleans and 15.0 percent state-wide.
In Orleans, the number of people working was 15,000 in May, compared to 16,400 in May 2019. The number of unemployed went from 700 in May 2019 to 2,000 last month.
In Orleans, some businesses were able to reopen in Phase 1 on May 15, with Phase 2 starting on May 29. Phase 3 began on June 12. Orleans County and the rest of the Finger Lakes Region can start in Phase 4 on Friday (June 26).
The 11.6 percent unemployment rate in Orleans County compares to a 4.0 percent rate in May 2019, long before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The unemployment rates in May for other nearby counties include:
Niagara at 16.0 percent, Erie at 13.9 percent; Livingston at 11.0 percent; Monroe at 9.6 percent, Ontario is at 10.1 percent; Genesee at 10.1 percent; and Wyoming at 10.1 percent.
When Orleans County hit 15.8 percent unemployed in April, it was the first time Orleans was above 10 percent in unemployment since February 2013 (10.6 percent) and January 2013 (11.2 percent).
BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health is pleased to announce that Pembroke Family Medicine will be joining them on July 1.
Their common mission, shared values and dedication to patients make this unification easy to understand. Both healthcare organizations provide services to everyone regardless of medical insurance status.
Dr. Mary Obear
All Pembroke locations will remain the same and their patients will retain the same primary care provider. The only change they’ll see are the signs for Oak Orchard Health on the Pembroke locations in Batavia, Alexander and Corfu.
“Oak Orchard Health aligns perfectly with our current model of practicing high-quality, patient centered care,” said Dr. Mary Obear of Pembroke Family Medicine. “Joining Oak Orchard allows us to offer more services to our patients including vision, dental, behavioral health and patient engagement services. We can now truly offer a comprehensive patient experience.”
Mary Ann Pettibon
Both organizations were recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as Patient Centered Medical Homes, which focuses on improvements in quality of the patient experience, growing staff satisfaction and reducing health care costs.
“We’re excited to welcome Pembroke Family Medicine patients and providers into our organization,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO of Oak Orchard Health. “It’s a natural collaboration since we share so much in common. And we are pleased that their patients will now have access to a full spectrum of care. We look forward to working together.”
There will be an outdoor ribbon cutting on Wednesday, July 1, at 9 a.m. at the Pembroke Corfu location. The address is 860 Main Rd., Corfu.
Oak Orchard Health was founded in 1966. It has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone located in the communities we serve. Oak Orchard currently serves over 22,000 patients at locations in Albion, Brockport, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 for the first time since March 18.
Yesterday, there were 996 hospitalized Covid-19 patients in New York State. This is down from a peak of approximately 18,825 hospitalizations on April 12.
“After three months of New Yorkers working hard, doing the right thing and taking this seriously, the state has its lowest Covid-19 hospitalization rate since this started,” Governor Cuomo said. “Facts are facts, even in this crazy political environment, and what we’re saying in New York is we did the right thing. New Yorkers have been locked up and closed their businesses. We have the virus under control finally. We had to flatten the curve. We don’t want to go back.”
Today’s data is summarized briefly below:
Patient Hospitalization, 996 (-75)
Patients Newly Admitted, 68 (-29)
Number ICU, 270 (-20)
Number ICU that are intubated, 167 (-23)
Total Discharges, 70,010 (+110)
Deaths, 17
Total Deaths, 24,800
The governor also confirmed 749 additional coronavirus cases in New York State, bringing the statewide total to 390,415.
Of the 67,642 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, 749, or 1.1 percent, were positive.
Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country and the Southern Tier will enter Phase IV of reopening tomorrow, June 26.
RIDGEWAY – The urn in these photos was found on Monday on the bank of Glenwood Lake in the Town of Ridgeway.
