COVID-19

Press release:

As of 2 p.m. 

• Genesee County received nine new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Elba, Le Roy and Oakfield.
  • Three of the individuals are between 0-20, two individuals are in their 20s, one individual is in their 40s, and three individuals are in their 50s.
  • Seven individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Four of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been released from isolation.
  • Eight new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. 
  • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
  • One of the new positive cases is a student at Elba High School. This case was identified in the press release Friday evening. If you were not notified you are not considered a close contact.

• Orleans County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • Five of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been released from isolation.
  • Eleven new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Press release:

“The Genesee County Health Department has received an additional positive COVID-19 test from an Elba High School student,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health director for Genesee and Orleans counties. “The individual has been placed under mandatory isolation where they will remain until they are fully recovered.”

The Genesee County Department of Health is conducting contact tracing that is in process. Students and/or staff will be notified and placed under quarantine if they were identified as a close contact.

"As mentioned earlier in the week, individuals identified by the health department as being close contacts will be expected to follow the New York State Department of Health quarantine guidelines," Pettit said.

“Students and staff who are symptomatic will be tested for COVID-19 in collaboration with the Genesee County Health Department,” said Ned Dale, superintendent of Elba Central School District. “The school will be conducting 100-percent remote learning through Monday, Oct. 12. In-person learning through the hybrid model is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

For information on school statistics, please visit the New York State COVID- 19 Report Card.

Press release:

• Genesee County received three new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Elba, and Le Roy.
  • The individuals are in their 20s, 30s, and 70s.
  • The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Six new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
  • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
     
• Orleans County received one new positive case of COVID-19.
• The new positive case resides in Shelby.
• The individual is in their 60s.
• The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
• Three new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Above: "Inspiration -- Miranda the Tempest," a 9-inch by 12-inch painting in soft pastels by Linda Miranda Fix, based on the painting by John William Waterhouse.

From information provided by Holly Gordon:

Attica artist Linda Miranda Fix, 66, is proud to announce that her artwork is among 100 pieces chosen for exhibit by the Islip Arts Council and the Islip Art Museum at Historic Brookwood Hall.

Their virtual statewide art exhibit "Art at 50 Plus: New Beginnings" -- A Virtual Exhibition 2020 opened on Sept. 15 and runs through Nov. 7. It is billed as "a stunning orchestration of hope and inspiration." Click here to watch the virtual exhibit and here for the gallery exhibit.

"I have always loved the art of John William Waterhouse and this particular painting (above) is my favorite," Fix said, adding that his works are now in public domain. "I work with several different mediums; watercolor, acrylics, oil, alcohol ink, and soft pastels."

The exhibit Fix is featured in is sponsored by AARP Long Island and features a poignant and uplifting video, a unique work of art unto itself that captures this historic moment in time.

“It is times like these that organizations can help members of the public cope with social isolation and loneliness,” said Bernard Macias, AARP associate state director for Long Island. “Art and creativity can help improve or maintain our emotional wellness, while dealing with constant change.”

Holly Gordon, Islip Arts curator, has taken this exhibition to new heights to achieve an intimacy beyond expectation. She masterfully wove a cohesive visual story that includes the art and narrations of 100 juried works by New Yorkers.

These were selected from nearly 600 submissions to create a moving exhibition of art and artists' statements that awes and inspires viewers with discovery and renewed hope and a sense of unity for new beginnings.

“They really occur on a daily basis," Gordon said. "Art is a wonder drug and seniors are our country’s greatest asset.”

As Gordon planned the virtual exhibition, within her own COVID-19 isolation, the hundreds artists who planned to submit entries were experiencing similar challenges learning to adapt to new technologies.

“All are to be commended," Gordon said. "By doing so, a community of artists connected. The experience turned this virtual exhibit into an intimate and personal experience."

The inspirational video was produced by Waldo Cabrera, who set the works to music and choreographed an extraordinary show.

The subject of new beginnings took on a new meaning for the artists creating during the COVID-19 lockdown. Created by people age 50 to 94, their work encompasses New York State and all levels of artistry from beginners to lifelong artists.

Mediums used are animation, pencil drawing, painting, pastel, watercolor, mixed media assemblage and collage, fabric and felt, photography, digital painting, gouache on paper.

Overall, the exhibition represents positivity through self-challenge, transformation and renewal.

Many topics are covered by the artists, including:

• Achievement, the gift of time and awareness, optimism;
• Inspiration, keeping the creative process alive, art as a second act, enduring the pandemic and coming out with renewed vigor and determination;
• Collaboration, staying connected amid prolonged isolation;
• Symbolism, emotion, imagination, therapy, meditation and healing;
• Fear, financial insecurity;
• Faith, hope, gratitude;
• Political subject matter;
• George Floyd -- portrait and breath;
• Judaism, religion, equality, fellowship and social change for racial justice, humanity;
• Earth, nature, seasons of change -- spring and autumn landscapes, weather, trees, plants, flowers, pollination, wind, water, fire, sand, tide, light, sun and moon;
• Humor, happiness, joy, love, rhythm, dancing;
• Beauty, youth, age, wisdom, birth and rebirth, reproduction of species, ascension;
• Family, friends, future generations, and the dawn of a new day after lockdown.

This video is the antidote to anger, devastation and negativity that permeates (nearly) every media outlet. Each artists found purpose to create a response to these ills.

"Be prepared to be wowed as you watch and hear the artist's voices," Gordon says. "This production is one for the ages, intended to unite us all, the same way that 2020 connected us all.

A "Sip and See Virtual Reception" via Zoom for artists and guests will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 4. Here's the Zoom link. The meeting ID is: 465 443 2677. The password is: 122583

There will also be a virtual closing reception via Zoom hosted by of AARP Long Island Art from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 7. During that time there will also be a meeting with authors for "Parallel Perspectives: Art of Collaboration."

For more information, contact Holly Gordon at:   Holly.isliparts@gmail.com

Press release:

• Genesee County received two new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Batavia and Elba.
  • The individuals are in their 40s and 50s.
  • The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Four new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
  • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
     
• Orleans County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19.
• Two new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Press release:

Crossroads House will be having an "impromptu sale" in their garage at 11 Liberty St. Although much smaller than our annual garage sale due to restrictions on public gatherings, “the show must go on”!

Volunteers have been busy pricing a wide variety of treasures including glassware, collectibles, household items, and a few pieces of furniture. Garage access will be limited to a few people at a time, social distancing measures will be in place, and masks will be required.

The sale will be held on Friday, Oct. 9^th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 10^th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (No early birds, please.)

This sale is to not only help fill the funding gap left by cancelled fundraisers but also move out merchandise that would have sold at our summer sale.

We want to thank our generous community for donating items so we could have this sale. We hope to see you, at the House!

Press release:

• Genesee County received one new positive case of COVID-19.
  • The new positive case resides in Elba.
  • The individual is in their 40s.
  • The individual was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Fifteen new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
  • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
     
• Orleans County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • One of the previous positive individuals has recovered and has been released from isolation.
  • Six new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Press release:

SYRACUSE -- National Grid today filed a customer assistance proposal with its New York regulator that would provide up to $50 million in financial assistance to support its most economically vulnerable residential customers as well as businesses that are struggling because of the pandemic’sfinancial impact.

The company sought input from the New York State Department of Public Service staff, customer advocates and other stakeholders to design the programs and determine how best to allocate the assistance to those most in need.

“Six months into the pandemic, the economic recovery remains relatively flat and unemployment rates are increasing sharply in the COVID-19 recession," said John Bruckner, National Grid’s New York president. "National Grid’s relief package offers an important opportunity to provide our customers with financial assistance to lessen their hardship beyond what we currently offer through our existing COVID-19 programs and services.”

Bruckner noted that funding for the programs will be targeted to customers who are in arrears and/or unable to pay their energy bills due to financial hardship stemming from the pandemic.

“By redeploying existing customer funds to programs carefully designed to address identified economic hardships, we believe our proposed programs will help with the financial difficulties currently being experienced by our customers,” he said.

• Programs Offer Additional Support for Economically Vulnerable Residential Customers

  National Grid’s proposal includes up to $25 million in funding for two new programs forresidential customers enrolled in the company’s Energy Assistance Program. Participants in the EAP are among the company’s most vulnerable customers, facing financial hardships that could require them to choose between paying their energy bills and other necessities. The company believes that bill credits are the best tool for providing immediate assistance to help these customers manage their energy costs.
  Program Highlights:

  Enhanced Economic Development Programs

  For National Grid’s business customers, the company’s proposal includes up to $25 million for a new arrears forgiveness plan and two enhanced economic development grant programs.
   

• Program Highlights:

  1. Under the proposal, EAP customers would receive an immediate, one-time bill credit on both the gas and electricity portions of their bills.

  2. Customers enrolled in EAP who also have a Deferred Payment Agreement will receive up to 12 monthly arrears incentive payments if they honor that agreement, which requires paying their current bill and a monthly installment toward their past due balance.

  3. If there are any funds remaining in this program after 12 months, the balance will be shared as a final one-time bill credit for all EAP customers.

  4. Upon implementation, distressed business customers who enroll in a Deferred Payment Agreement under the program’s guidelines, will receive a bill credit on a portion of their arrears if they are current on their DPA.

  5. These customers may receive a second bill credit on a portion of their arrears upon completion of their DPA.

  6. A new COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Grant Program that offers grants to large commercial and industrial customers for eligible recovery-related expenses, including personal protective equipment, environmental health and safety measures, interest expenses associated with pandemic-related loans, and machinery and equipment costs.

  7. Further enhancing the existing Manufacturing Productivity Program so that qualifying small- and medium-sized business can apply for funds to support COVID-19 recovery and future resiliency, including business continuity planning, enterprise risk management, and support for employee/environmental health and safety. The funding would remain available through August or until program funding is depleted.

  8. Bruckner noted that while New York State and the federal government have taken measures to assist residents and businesses during this unprecedented time, the duration of the pandemic is unknown, and the impacts are difficult to predict. “We believe that additional assistance is necessary for our customers. Our proposal is a way for us to provide crucial near-term relief,” he said.

     Continuing Customer Commitment

     National Grid remains focused on providing solutions to customers who are suffering from thepandemic’s financial and personal impacts. Some of the immediate actions the company took at the onset of the pandemic to help customers include:

     • Donating nearly $1 million across New York to support hunger relief, human services agencies and others.

     • Pausing residential disconnections and fees, late payment charges and collections-related activities and offering flexible payment plans.

     • Launching extensive customer outreach through emails, letters, traditional and digital media, webinars, and calls to provide information on managing energy bills, offer flexiblepayment and billing options, and provide details on financial assistance and energy savings programs. We encourage customers who are struggling to pay their bills to contactus as soon as possible so that we can help.

     • Offering the expertise of our Consumer Advocates to provide crisis intervention support for customers, working closely with county Social Services and community assistance organizations.

     • Providing enhanced economic development support to New York businesses producing critical pandemic supplies.

       Additional details on National Grid’s pandemic preparedness, associated actions and a customer Q&A can be found at ngrid.com/covid-19.

     • Key Highlights

     • Up to $25 million for low income customers enrolled in the Energy Assistance Program with immediate bill credits and up to 12 monthly arrears incentive payments.

     • Up to $20 million in arrears incentive payments for business customers.

     • Up to $5 million for new COVID-19 recovery assistance grants for commercial, industrial and small business customers.

Press release:

• Genesee County received five new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Elba, and Oakfield.
  • Two of the individuals are between the ages of 0-20, one is in their 20s, one is in their 30s, and one is in their 60s.
  • The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Fourteen new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
  • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
     
• Orleans County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19.
• Nine new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Press release:

As of 2 p.m.

• Genesee County received two new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Bethany.
  • One of the individuals is in their 20s and one is in their 50s.
  • The individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Three of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
  • Six new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
  • One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
     
• Orleans County received three new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Carlton and Gaines.
  • One of the individuals is in their 20s, one is in their 40s, and one is in their 60s.
  • The individuals were not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Four new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Press release:

• Genesee County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • Two of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
  • Nine new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
     
• Orleans County received one new positive case of COVID-19.
  • The new positive case resides in Carlton.
  • The individual is in their 20s.
  • The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • One of the previous positive individuals has recovered and has been released from mandatory isolation
  • Five new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Submitted photos and press release:

As part of the Batavia City School District’s adjustments to pandemic protocols, Jackson Primary’s music teacher, Lisa Gilebarto, is a “traveling musician” this year, bringing her cartful of equipment into preschool and first- and second-grade classrooms, rather than having the students come to the music room. 

Her transition to going into classrooms as well as delivering online instruction was boosted by some very practical help from the community. All Jackson students – whether they are following the remote learning or hybrid learning model – received their very own bagful of instruments to use during music class.

While the District’s music department was able to purchase small maracas and tambourines for each student. The gallon-size storage bags, donated by Walmart, also contain drums made from plastic containers donated by individuals and by Batavia First Presbyterian Church.

They also contained rhythm sticks made from dowel rods that were donated by Home Depot, Valu Home Center, and the church. The dowel rods were crafted to the proper size and smoothness by volunteers Bob Alwardt, Dave Paladino, Jane Haggett, and Joyce and Bob Saxer.

Youth group members and adult volunteers from the church spent an afternoon at a local park unpacking the donations onto picnic tables, then assembling all of the music-making packages.

Press release:

New Cases – As of 2 p.m.

• Genesee County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • Six new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
• Orleans County received two new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • Both of the new positive cases reside in Albion.
  • Both of the individuals are 0-19 years old.
  • Both of the individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Thirteen new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
     

Top photo taken in January.

Submitted photos and press release from the Batavia Cemetery Association:

With heavy hearts and out of an abundance of caution, the Batavia Cemetery Association Board of Directors decided to cancel the annual Halloween Candlelight Ghostwalk for Oct. 24.

After much discussion, the board felt the safety of the reenactors and the public could not be guaranteed during the coronavirus pandemic when people must stand so closely together to hear the presentations. 

This is a financial blow, as the ghost walk is a major yearly fundraiser for the upkeep of the cemetery. 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, and the cemetery has suffered great losses as well.

One of the oldest maple trees in the cemetery, and probably in Batavia, was felled by winds in January. It is reckoned the tree was approximately 200 years old. During the same storm, a large branch came down from another maple in front of the Ellicott Monument and that tree needs to be removed.

Several headstones were damaged and need repairing.

Earlier this month, a large maple along the driveway was split in half by high winds and took down two new maple trees on the other side of the driveway that were planted several years ago. It has cost several thousand dollars so far to remove three large trees.

Three other maples that have reached the end of their lives and three ash trees that have been killed by the Emerald ash borer must be removed to prevent further headstone damage. 

The board hopes to remove the dead trees this fall and begin a project next summer to grind out the stumps and replace the stately maples along the driveway. To accomplish this will require community help.

Any donations would be gratefully accepted, and may be made to Batavia Cemetery Association, 22 Fisher Park, Batavia, NY 14020. 

Please come and have some spooky fun in October, 2021 at the next Halloween Candlelight Ghostwalk!

Below, another photo from January.

Below, photo taken this month.

Below, another photo from taken this month.

Press release:

New Cases – As of 2 p.m. 

• Genesee County received one new positive case of COVID-19.
  • The new positive case resides in Bethany.
  • The positive individual is in their 50s. 
  • The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Two new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

• Orleans County received one new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • One of the new positive cases resides in Albion.
  • One of the individuals is 0-19 years old.
  • The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Albion Central School has one positive student who has been placed on mandatory isolation at home. All close contacts have been notified by the Orleans County Health Department. If you were not notified you are not considered a close contact.

Five new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Press release:

New Cases – As of 2 p.m. 

• Genesee County received five new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Alexander, Batavia, Byron and Oakfield.
  • One of the new positive cases is a resident at the NYS Veterans Home.
  • One of the positive individuals is less than 20 years old, one is in their 30s, two are in their 50s and one is in their 80s.
  • One of the individuals was on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • One of the previous positive individuals has recovered and has been released from mandatory isolation.
  • Twenty-two new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

• Orleans County received two new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • One of the new positive cases resides in Yates and one of the new positive cases resides in Carlton.
  • One of the individuals is in their 30’s and one of the individuals is in their 50’s.
  • Neither of the individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Three of the previous positive individuals have recovered and were released from mandatory isolation.
  • Nine new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
     

Press release:

 Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) is releasing the following statement after the announcement Thursday evening that an additional $14 billion would be committed to the Department of Agriculture’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Rep. Jacobs is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture.

“I applaud the President for his continued commitment to our nation’s farmers. With this additional $14 billion in coronavirus aid, farmers will be better equipped to weather the effects of the coronavirus and to continue to feed American families,” Jacobs said. “While this aid has helped the agriculture industry, more assistance is needed. Regrettably, Senate Democrats blocked legislation last week to provide more funding for farmers, and now Speaker Pelosi is refusing to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation that funded this additional CFAP aid. Farmers have supported our nation throughout the entirety of this pandemic, now is not the time to be playing partisan games with their livelihoods. I urge Congressional leadership to resume negotiations on a new coronavirus package and to provide the critical assistance our farmers in Western New York and across the country need.”

The $14 billion will support the second version of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2). The program was created to support growers and producers of agricultural commodities. More information and a list of eligible commodities can be found here: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap