By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 1:08 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jodi Zeppetella, an insurance agent for Bentley Brothers Inc., carries a box to a trunk during Friday’s food distribution in Albion.
The distribution is coordinated by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and the Orleans County Office for the Aging.
The groups put a call out for volunteers and Bentley Brothers brought four employees on Friday, including owner Laura Olinger.
The Orleans County YMCA and CRFS also had staff help with the distribution for the first time in Albion. The Y has also been helping with the distributions in Medina.
Laura Olinger, owner of Bentley Brothers, joined in the distribution. She was there with some of her employees including Jodi Zeppetella, Lisa Ray and Brianna Carr.
“I feel the need to give back,” Olinger said. “It’s the right thing to do for our community.”
Next week the Friday distribution will be in Holley for the first time from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at parking lot for Holley Pharmacy and the former grocery store. People are getting three boxes: mixed dairy, cooked meat and produce. Each box weighs about 25 pounds.
Volunteers moved more than 900 boxes of food on Friday in Albion.
This round of food distributions introduces a new state-funded program called Nourish New York. This funding allows Foodlink to purchase local product.
Some of the Foodlink product also is from the federal USDA’s 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, said Melissa Blanar, OFA director in Orleans County.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County also is hosting a USDA farmers-to-families food distribution this coming Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the 4-H fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville. Those 1,200 boxes of produce each weigh about 20 pounds.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 12:35 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Medina Lions Club presented a $500 check on Friday to the Community Kitchen in Albion. Faith Smith, left, accepted the funds on behalf of the kitchen. She has been the director the past 11 years.
Billy Roman, center, is president of the Medina Lions Club. He is joined by Lions Club member Mary Hare.
Roman said hunger has no boundaries. The Lions Club wanted to help an organization that is serving many in the community.
The kitchen has been serving more than 200 hot meals on Fridays. The kitchen is at the Christ Episcopal Church on West Park Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 12:06 pm
POINT BREEZE – Law enforcement agencies don’t have a positive identification yet for a body found a week ago on the shore of Point Breeze near the Oak Orchard Harbor.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has reached out to law enforcement agencies along Lake Ontario, including in Canada, to see if they had any recent missing persons’ reports.
Sheriff Chris Bourke this morning said the Sheriff’s Office is working with Canadian officials to try to identify the body, which is a male who appears to be in the 30s.
The body was likely in the water for about two weeks.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office is doing the autopsy to try to determine the cause of death.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 8:07 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The home of the Pate family on West Academy Street was badly damaged by a fire this morning.
The fire started in the cupola of the house, said Ondrea Pate, who lives in the home with her husband Angelo, their three daughters and grandchildren.
Mrs. Pate said she her loud noises and assumed it was her grandchildren. When she outside she saw what she initially thought was fog. But then realized it was smoke and the upstairs was on fire.
Everyone got out of the house safely.
Flames shoot high from the roof of the house at 19 West Academy St.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 7:01 a.m. Albion, Medina, Barre, Clarendon and Shelby firefighters responded to the scene.
Firefighters check the upstairs of the house. The heat from the fire melted some of the siding.
The home is a grand house across from the former grammar school.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2020 at 9:35 pm
‘We can not sit idle as the haphazard application of phase transitions continues to negatively affect our business owners and constituents.’
ALBION — The chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature sent a letter today to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, asking him to authorize all businesses in the county to fully reopen.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Lynne Johnson is chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature.
“The businesses of Orleans County have done an incredible job of persevering during this pandemic,” Lynne Johnson wrote to Cuomo. “They have been adaptive to the new normal, supportive of fellow business owners, and understanding of an ever-changing logistical landscape as it relates to health protocols and reopening guidance.”
Orleans County is currently in phase 3 of a four-phase reopening. Phase 4 could start on Friday, June 26, if the Covid-19 numbers in the Finger Lakes Region don’t spike with hospitalizations, infections and ICU beds.
Johnson said Cuomo and the state have given “mixed messages” in the first three phases, and often given too short of notice to businesses.
The state also initially favored big box businesses over “mom and pop” stores on Main Street, Johnson wrote in her letter.
“Some sectors were in Phase 2, then pushed to Phase 3, and then allowed ultimately to open in Phase 2,” Johnson writes in her letter. “The list goes on and on of the communication challenges. We do realize, as you previously articulated, you are ‘building the plane as you fly it.’”
Johnson also said there is “an issue lately of credibility” with large-scale peaceful gatherings “which we support,” she writes.
However, freedom to assembly for other purposes, even with social distancing or at reduced density, is only allowed with strict guidelines.
‘We will not continue to play middleman for the State’s messaging confusion.’
Johnson tells the governor she understands he has authority with his executive orders.
“We respect your position, your powers and your authority,” she writes. “That being said, we have lost respect for this process, the methodology, and the approach. We can not sit idle as the haphazard application of phase transitions continues to negatively affect our business owners and constituents.”
Johnson said the state should put out the guidelines for Phase 4 soon so those industries and businesses can ramp up for their reopening.
“The less than 24 hours notice provided in the Phase 1 and Phase 2 transitions was simply unfair and impractical,” Johnson writes.
“We have urged the business community to use discretion and caution and have stressed adherence to strict health, safety and sanitation protocols,” she said. “We are here, as we have been through this pandemic, to assist these business owners with PPE needs and questions on best practices, social distancing and mask-wearing.”
Johnson said the county officials aren’t playing politics with public health.
“Nothing about this statement is reckless or cavalier,” she said. “Our decision-making is measured, modest and rational.”
While the governor can open and close elements of the economy through executive orders, “full adherence, cooperation and unequivocal allegiance are not requirements in our job descriptions for Legislators. We will not continue to play middleman for the State’s messaging confusion.”
Johnson said the positive health data in the county and region warrant moving to Phase 4.
“We trust and respect our business community partners and know that they will be considerate and careful in their reopening process,” she concluded.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2020 at 5:14 pm
There is one new confirmed case of Covid-19 in Orleans County, a person under age 20 from Murray, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon. That person was on mandatory quarantine.
Orleans has now had 260 people test positive for Covid-19.
Orleans also had one more person recover from Covid-19, to bring the total recoveries in the community to 104.
There are 13 residents from Orleans County hospitalized with Covid-19.
In Genesee County, two people tested positive with Covid-19. They are both in the federal VA facility in Batavia. One is in the 60s and the other is in the 80s.
Genesee also is reporting one more recovery to bring that total to 144. No one in Genesee is currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Tri-county map of confirmed cases: Click here to see an on-line map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
• State guidelines for sports and recreation: The state has released guidelines for sports and recreation during the Covid-19 public health emergency. Click here for more information.
• Social gatherings limited to 25 people or less: Per Governor Cuomo, gatherings (groups, assembly, meeting, etc.) of 25 or less are permitted with social distancing and sanitization protocols in place through July 15.
The Health Departments do not authorize or allow exemptions from the Governor’s orders. If you have questions about the orders you can go to forward.ny.gov or e-mail the Finger Lakes Regional Control Room at flnyf@esd.ny.gov.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2020 at 3:06 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: State Sen. Rob Ortt speaks during the Orleans County Republican picnic at the Albion Elks last Aug. 18. He was elected leader of the Republicans in the State Senate today.
State Sen. Rob Ortt, who has represented Orleans County in Albion the past 5 ½ years, was elected leader of the Republican conference today.
He will succeed John Flanagan, who is resigning to take a job in the private sector.
Ortt of North Tonawanda said he is focused on growing the Republican conference and seeing the GOP regain the majority. The Senate was a long-time Republican stronghold until the Democrats won the majority in the November 2018 election.
Ortt was elected leader over Patrick Gallivan of Elma and Andrew Lanza of Staten Island.
“I am immeasurably honored and grateful that my colleagues have chosen me to lead our Senate Republican Conference, including my good friends and respected senators Pat Gallivan and Andrew Lanza,” Ortt said in a statement. “I’m eager to unite our remarkable conference and work with Republicans from across our great state to fight for our party and our values. Hard-working taxpayers, small businesses, and families from all walks of life and every region will have a fierce ally in the Senate Republican Conference.”
In a conference call with reporters this afternoon, Ortt said he respects all members of the Senate, and wants to work with them all and move then state forward. That includes the Democrats.
He will lead a conference that will speak up for the need to make the state more affordable for residents and businesses.
His election as minority leader is the second biggest honor of his life, next to leading soldiers in battle, Ortt said.
He enlisted in NY Army National Guard in October 2001 and did a tour in Afghanistan from March 2008 until December 2008.
Ortt said the Republican conference needs to boost voter enrollment and fundraising to defends its current seats and to grow the conference.
“We represent millions of New Yorkers who are looking for someone to stand up for them,” Ortt said.
The Democrats have 40 of the 63 seats in the Senate. Ortt said, “the difference in the two conferences has never been more stark.”
Ortt wants a more diverse Republican conference, with more women and minorities, including in the leadership positions.
“I’m going to be traveling the state bringing that message on behalf of our current members and our challengers,” Ortt said. “This is a team effort. We’re going to need to be our competitive best if we’re going to survive.”
Marc Molinaro, the Duchess County Executive and the Republican candidate for governor in 2018, issued a statement, praising Ortt’s election as minority leader.
“The Senate Republicans have chosen wisely,” Molinaro said. “Senator Rob Ortt will make a fantastic leader as New York looks to rebuild in the wake of a global pandemic. A state government under one-party rule needs leaders like Senator Ortt who will never back down from a fight, be a voice for upstate and forgotten New Yorkers, who will preserve the rights of all citizens and work every day to make this once great state livable again.”
“We need to a light a crush fire in the hearts and minds of New Yorkers and Senate Republicans now have a chance to be that spark with Rob Ortt leading them into battle. Congratulations Leader Ortt, well deserved.”
HOLLEY – The school district, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will offer free breakfast and lunch to all children age 18 and younger from July 6 to Aug. 14.
Children age 18 and younger who live in the district this summer are eligible for this program, regardless of income level. Pre-registration is not required. Transportation will not be provided by the district for this program.
Grab and go meals, which consist of one breakfast and one lunch per child, may be picked up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the Elementary School Back Bus Loop.
Adults may also purchase breakfast and lunch during this program. Breakfast is $2.65 and lunch is $4.45.
Summer Reading Program will be online and meeting rooms aren’t available
Press Release, Hoag Library
ALBION – Hoag Library is open to the public as of Monday, June 15, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Patrons are asked to wear a face covering, sanitize hands upon entering the building, and maintain proper social distance. Special accommodations for those unable to wear a face covering can be made by contacting Betty Sue Miller, Library Director at bmiller@nioga.org or (585) 589-4246.
Patrons who do not want to enter the library can utilize “Library-To-Go” to request Hoag Library materials – we are unable to borrow books from other NIOGA libraries. All returned items are quarantined for 72 hours and checked-in fine-free.
At this time all programming, including this year’s Summer Reading Program “Imagine Your Story,” is moved online and meeting rooms are unavailable to the public. Those wishing to participate in Summer Reading can visit www.hoaglibrary.org/summer-reading or join the Facebook group “HLSRP2020.”
Those interested in filling one of the three open Trustee positions are asked to submit a name and address to hoag_library@yahoo.com by 5 p.m. on June 24. Residents in the Hoag Library service area of central Orleans County is required. A special Trustee meeting will be held via Zoom at 7 p.m. on June 24 to review submitted interested forms.
Library services will be unavailable Tuesday, June 23, during the Primary Elections.
Press Release, Orleans County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch
ALBION – We are pleased to announce that the County Office Building now has three lock boxes near the entrance to assist our residents to conduct business is a safe and healthy manner when the public needs to drop off forms or renewals.
There is one lockbox for the Department of Motor Vehicles, a general lockbox for the County Office Building and one lockbox for the Department of Social Services. Each box is labeled, DMV, COB, DSS.
Our Department of Motor Vehicles is now accepting appointments for in person transactions at DMV. Please call (585) 589-3214 to schedule your appointment.
We have modified our procedures for entering the County Office Building. The procedures include COVID-19 symptoms screening which includes a non-evasive temperature reading, a sign-in log, and passing through a metal detector. Of course, social distancing is important in all of our buildings as you go to the location required to conduct your business.
When entering all of our buildings, we ask that you wear a face mask or cloth face-covering while inside the building. If however, you are unable to wear a face mask or cloth face-covering due to a medical or health reason, we ask that our complete an acknowledgement that you or a member of your party declines to wear a face mask or cloth face-covering due to a medical or health reason. This also would need to be completed if a minor child is not wearing a face mask or cloth face-covering.
The Treasurer’s Office also has a lockbox located outside of Central Hall for your convenience in dropping documents for the Treasurer’s Office.
We are also maintaining the forms resource area for the Department of Social Services. Forms or applications are there near the entrance of the County Office Building for your convenience.
These measures have been put into place to provide services to our residents in a safe and healthy environment as we continue to move forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently we are still open for business, to make an appointment to conduct your business please call:
• Clerk’s Building
County Clerk: (585) 589-5334
Real Property: (585) 589-5400
• County Office Building
DMV: (585) 589-3214
Elections: (585) 589-3274
Job Development: (585) 589-2772
Legislature: (585) 589-7053
Office for the Aging: (585) 589-3191
Personnel and Self Insurance: (585) 589-3186
Planning and Development: (585) 589-3198
Social Services: (585) 589-7000
Tourism: (585) 589-3102
• Emergency Management Office: (585) 589-4414
• Department of Public Works: (585) 589-6145
• Mental Health: (585) 589-7066
• Central Hall
Historian: (585) 589-4174
Treasurer’s Office: (585) 589-5353
• Veteran’s Services: (585) 589-3219
(Editor’s Note: No appointment is needed for early voting at the Board of Elections.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2020 at 8:39 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Hoag Library in Albion has been using its sign to encourage people to fill out the Census.
Orleans County residents continue to have a low response rate to filling out the federal Census. The county, as of Thursday, had a 50.5 percent response rate. That is below the state response rate of 56.8 percent and the national rate of 61.5 percent.
The county’s response rate is among the worst in Western New York. The rates for other WNY counties include:
Erie, 66.4
Monroe, 63.8
Genesee, 61.0
Livingston, 59.9
Chautauqua, 55.0
Wyoming, 54.6
Orleans, 50.5
Cattaraugus, 49.7
Allegany, 45.7
Among Orleans County towns, Yates has the lowest response rate at 37.0 percent while Clarendon has the highest at 63.7 percent.
Clarendon, 63.7
Barre, 61.5
Shelby, 59.3
Ridgeway, 52.6
Gaines, 51.9
Murray, 51.9
Albion, 47.3
Kendall, 45.1
Carlton, 39.7
Yates, 37.0
The Orleans County response rate has increased about 2 percent in the past month. It was 48.8 percent on May 17.
In 2010, Orleans had a 66.8 percent response to the Census, which is required to be filled out by law every 10 years.
Click here to see a map on the Census Bureau showing the response rates of towns, counties and states.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2020 at 11:02 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION –Albion teachers went on a two-hour parade through the school district today, starting at 7 p.m. They wanted students to know they have been missed during the past three months of at-home learning.
Some of the prekindergarten team include from left: Peggy Lemcke (who is retiring as an aide) and teachers Jennifer Waters and Deanna Moore. They are shown on King Street, near the start of the parade. The teachers decorated their vehicles in the parking lot at Save-A-Lot.
Music teachers Karen Conn, left, and Megan Zambito give an enthusiastic greeting to students who were on Main Street.
A group of fifth grade teachers are part of the group of about 25 vehicles that started from the Save-A-Lot parking lot on Route 31.
Casey Flynn, a foreign language teacher, greets students on the route.
Bruce Blanchard, a middle school social studies teachers, drives a vehicle celebrating history. His wife Jennifer is a special education teacher. She is on the back of the truck with Rich Gannon, a high school social studies teacher.
High school math teachers Amber Sidari, front, and Suzanne Newton dressed as “Pi-rates.”
Megan McDonald is a computer teacher for the district.
The teachers head down Main Street in Albion to Barre. The parade route went through Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton.
Some of the Albion Athletics float members include social studies teacher David Skrip and physical education teacher Melody Beecher, who both coach multiple sports for Albion.
Matthew and Crystal Hand and their kids let the teachers know they were missed and appreciated during the past three months of learning at home.
Art teachers Tina Burgett, driving, and Melissa Prince had fun in the parade.
The Seibert family set up in the parking lot at Save-A-Lot to take in the parade and to thank teachers for their work this year. Pictured from left include Tim and Mia Seibert and their son Thailer.
Fifth grade teachers in the parade include from left: Meghan Kania, Dana Martin and Robin Bower. They are shown headed down East Park Street.
The procession of about 25 vehicles moves down East Park Street, and then would turn on McKinstry Street. It concluded at Save-A-Lot parking lot.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2020 at 9:59 pm
District had 3 times as many voters as last year
ALBION – The school district’s $36,841,032 million budget passed overwhelmingly, 1,327 to 321, and district voters elected John Kast, Chris Kinter and Kurt Schmitt to the Board of Education.
The district counted absentee ballots today and announced the results tonight. The 1,648 votes for the budget was about three times as many as the 562 who voted for the budget during the last election on May 21, 2019.
This year’s election was done with absentee ballots due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The $36,841,032 school budget is up 3.62 percent or $1,285,522 from the $35,555,510 in 2019-20. However, the budget keeps the tax levy at $8,449,094 in property taxes, the same as in 2019-20. This is the 12th time in the past 14 years the school district has either kept taxes flat or reduced them.
The district’s state aid includes $250,000 for a Covid response. With students out of in-person school since mid-March, some students are expected to need academic intervention services next school year to help catch up. The district is expecting it will need to hire more staff to help students after this prolonged time out of school.
The budget also includes funding for a superintendent’s search with Bonnewell to retire on June 30, 2021. The Board of Education would like to have an interim superintendent to start the school year with Bonnewell switching to a different administrative role in evaluating teachers.
Albion also is budgeting $85,200 for its share of a grant program to replace school doors and add more security cameras. That expense depends on Albion receiving a COPS grant that covers 75 percent of the cost.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2020 at 4:27 pm
Orleans has 3 more recoveries for 103 total
Orleans and Genesee counties both don’t have any new Covid-19 cases to report today. Orleans has had 259 people test positive for Covid-19, while Genesee has had 206 confirmed cases.
In Orleans, three more people form the community have recovered from the coronavirus, for 103 recoveries, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
There are 12 people from Orleans County hospitalized with Covid-19, while no one from Genesee is currently hospitalized, the Health Departments said.
Click here to see a map of the confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Colleges urged to develop plans for students to return for in-person classes, campus housing in fall
Press Release, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he will issue an Executive Order strengthening state enforcement during the phased reopening to protect New Yorkers and ensure business compliance.
Businesses that violate the reopening rules and guidelines are subject to immediate loss of their liquor license and a shutdown order. The Governor also announced he will issue an Executive Order to expand the enforcement areas of the State Liquor Authority by giving bars responsibility for the area immediately outside their locations.
The Governor also announced the State will issue guidance to colleges and universities to allow some in person instruction and on-campus housing and for the fall semester. Campuses must develop a plan, which attests to meeting the guidance and file plans with the State.
The Governor also announced a final decision on New York City entering Phase Two this Monday is expected to come tomorrow following a review of data by global experts. Business guidance for Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan is available here.
“As we go through these phases of reopening, the compliance and enforcement function of local government gets more difficult. We’re going to take an added step by issuing Executive Orders to increase the State’s enforcement capacity,” Governor Cuomo said. “We have done this now in every region across the state, and it has worked overall, but it works better or worse depending on compliance and enforcement and how people follow the rules. New Yorkers have done an incredible job in fighting this virus, but our success will rely on all of us continuing to be smart.”
The State again reached the lowest percentage of positive COVID-19 tests yesterday since the pandemic began. Out of the 68,541 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, only 618, or less than one percent, were positive.
