On Tuesday, Robin Grandin from Music to Remember WNY made a visit to the VA Hospital in Batavia along with her sister-in-law Jackie Volk to perform "Rockin' Robin" for patients at Spruce Lodge.
The performance was shared with a tablet computer so that proper social distancing could be maintained.
Submitted by VA Western NY Healthcare System.
Press release:
The Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA) today announced that farms and co-ops located across Upstate New York have donated more than 34,000 pounds of milk, beef, fruit and vegetables to fellow New Yorkers in need.
In addition to the NY-sourced milk and food, packets of crayons and coloring books for kids have also been donated, and were made available to families today, May 1, at Senator Jessica Ramos’ district office in East Elmhurst, Queens.
The following donations were made possible by a partnership between Senator Ramos and a number of New York State farms:
On Wednesday, a truck left Western New York packed with beef, vegetables, fruit, yogurt, crayons and coloring books. The truck stopped at Dean Foods in Rensselaer County to pick up 1,700 gallons of milk and arrived in Queens yesterday.
Many areas in Senate District 13, including Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona and parts of Woodside and Astoria — are considered food deserts, making it difficult to obtain fresh meals. Additionally, there are few local food pantries that remain open in the area as many residents have fallen ill with COVID-19.
The donations of food, milk, crayons and coloring books were distributed to families in need today. A hot meal distribution will also take place on Saturday, May 2 at Senator Ramos’ office.
“In addition to the unspeakable loss of life caused by the coronavirus pandemic, two additional devastating tragedies are unfolding during this crisis — a spike in hunger as the economic pain takes its toll, and the breakdown of our food supply chain,” Senator Ramos said.
“We cannot have hungry families in New York City, and farmers Upstate dumping their product because they cannot sell it. Together with our farmer partners, we created our own network, and we will convert our district office into a food distribution hub to provide our neighbors with fresh produce and meals.”
Northeast Dairy Producers Association Vice Chair and Owner of La Casa De Leche Farm (Livingston County) Keith Kimball said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all -- our families, our businesses and the greater New York community.
"By pooling resources and working together to adapt to unprecedented market disruption, we’re able to get milk, beef and produce in the hands of those in need. I’m proud to partner with farmers, co-ops and processors across the state to make this donation a reality, and thankful to Senator Ramos for hosting the event for families in Queens.”
"This public health crisis has changed life as we know it, but what we’ve learned is that no matter where you live -- Buffalo, Plattsburgh, New York City and everywhere in between -- we’re all New Yorkers -- and together We are New York Tough.”
(File photo of Maureen Torrey taken in 2013.)
Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA) is an organization of dairy producers and industry partners committed to an economically viable, consumer-conscious dairy industry dedicated to the care and well-being of our communities, environment, employees and cows.
Construction is under way of a new 750,000-gallon water tank in Elba that will serve both the village and the town.
Town Supervisor Donna Hynes said planning for the project began in 2015. In 2016, the Town of Elba received a grant and low-interest loan from USDA Rural Development to fund the project in a single phase. The grant is for $3,854,000 and the loan was for $13,658,000.
Hynes said it then took a year to complete SEQRA and all the necessary permits. Project construction began in mid-2018.
The project also includes approximately 248,000 linear feet of 8-inch and 12-inch water mains serving approximately 500 water users.
Construction should be completed this summer, then painted, and in service by early fall.
Photos: Submitted by a reader last week.
New York State schools are officially closed for the remainder of the academic year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.
Despite the news that students won’t populate school buildings, the educational process and plans for a meaningful commencement experience continue.
“We’ll stay the course and hope that we'll get better guidance from the governor in the coming weeks,” said Anibal Soler Jr., Batavia City School District superintendent, moments after the governor’s announcement.
Distance learning will remain in place, while a decision on summer school is expected to come at the end of May.
Soler said his district will continue to provide meals, remote instruction to those who have internet access and dropping off packets of school work for those who don’t.
“We have to graduate kids and we have to provide grades; we still have those expectations regardless of traditional brick and mortar, coming-to-the-building experiences,” he said. “We will continue to try to keep our kids motivated and excited about school even though it’s such a weird time for everybody.”
Commencement was supposed to be on June 27, and Soler is holding out hope that Batavia’s seniors will “get a ceremony that they deserve.”
“I think time is in our favor here. Hopefully by then we’ll have some guidance on what we’re supposed to do, such as keeping everybody six feet apart,” he said.
He said having the ceremony at Van Detta Stadium, even if it’s late in the summer, would work well.
“We want to do it right and make sure people are protected and healthy as much as possible,” he said.
Earlier this week, Richard Stone, the nation's head physician for the Veterans Administration, said that the VA is facing a shortage of personal protective equipment.
We asked Evangeline Conley, public affairs officer for the VA Western NY Healthcare System, and here is her response:
VA Western New York Healthcare System stopped using crisis capacity guidelines weeks ago and is currently adhering to the same CDC contingency capacity postures the CDC recommends all health care facilities use.
VA Western New York Healthcare System’s PPE practices have helped limit its COVID-19 employee infection rates to .6 percent of the workforce. Other health care systems such as University of Washington Medicine report 4.4 percent of employees have tested positive and 2.1 percent of Henry Ford Health System’s workforce has tested positive.
Supply levels are being monitored every day to make sure facilities have adequate PPE for the number and types of patients they are seeing. If a facility were to fall below stock levels, the facility would be cross-leveled by another VA facility or region.
When a detainee at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center is ordered released on bond by an immigration court judge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement must release the detainee at the time specified by the court, said Tom Feeley, field office director for ICE, overseeing New York State.
Feeley was responding to recent news reports that accused ICE of treating detainees inhumanely.
When detainees are released, if they're able to pay for their own transportation, they are taken to the Trailways/Greyhound bus stop at 48 Deli Express on Park Road in Batavia. There is no bus shelter at that location and busses stop infrequently, but on a daily basis.
"I don't know what people expect us to do," Feeley said. "We don't have the authority to hold them once they're bonded out."
A nonprofit online news site in Buffalo, the Investigative Post, first reported about detainees being released three days ago.
Matt Thompson has seen it happen over and over since he started working at the station four months ago.
“The way they treat them, I don’t agree with,” the 20-year Army veteran told Investigative Post. “They drop them off and they treat them like animals. They kick them out of the van, pretty much, and that’s it.”
Though the reporter said the Post tried to contact ICE for comment, Feeley said he is unaware of any such attempt.
Once the story was out, Feeley issued the following statement through an ICE public information officer:
The suggestion that ICE would abandon people upon their release is unfounded and is a clear fabrication that takes away from the professionalism of the men and women that work at the facility. ICE detainees who are bonded out of custody at Batavia are transported to an area transportation hub at no cost. If they are unable to cover the costs of transportation to their final destination, the agency will cover the costs. Detainees are transported to the transportation hub consistent with existing route times and schedules. The agency routinely coordinates detainee releases with family members and attorneys.
When detention facility staff becomes aware that a detainee will be bonded out, they suggest the detainee contact family or friends to get a wire transfer of funds for transportation to their intended destination. If the detainee doesn't have that resource available, they ask the detainee to contact his or her attorney. If the detainee is truly indigent, ICE staff will transport the detainee to Rochester or Buffalo with enough money for a train ticket to an intended destination.
Feeley noted that ICE is working with taxpayer money and therefore can't responsibly transport detainees who have the funds for their own transportation to Rochester or Buffalo.
He also said that ICE isn't responsible for a shelter at the bus stop, or lack of one. It would be up to one of the bus companies or the gas station to build a bus shelter, not ICE, he said.
The Batavia Teachers’ Association has postponed a vote on a proposal to modify the school day at the four Batavia City School District buildings.
BTA President Mark Warren on Thursday night said that the vote – actually four separate votes by those who work at Batavia High, Batavia Middle, John Kennedy Intermediate and Jackson Primary schools – will not take place today as originally planned.
“We want to work out some of the wrinkles and provide answers to the questions that some of our members have before voting,” Warren said. “We haven’t set a new date yet, but it will not be before the next Board of Education meeting on May 5th.”
School Superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. raised the possibility of changing the school day schedules earlier this week as a cost-cutting measure as the district maneuvers to close what once was a $1.6 million budget gap.
Soler said that $200,000 in transportation costs would be achieved by the following:
-- Putting Batavia High and Batavia Middle on a 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. schedule. Currently, the schedule at those two schools is 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
-- Putting John Kennedy and Jackson on a 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. schedule. Currently, the schedule at those two schools is 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
This would enable the district to use fewer buses across the four schools, a tiered approach that also would give every student in the district the opportunity to ride a bus if they so desired, Soler said.
On Tuesday night, the Board of Education authorized the cutting of 30 positions to slash more than $1.5 million in expenses.
A favorable vote on the school day schedule – in all likelihood all four buildings would have to pass it -- would enable the district to wash away a $47,000 budget shortfall and meet the state-mandated property tax cap, thus avoiding a 60-percent plus one supermajority vote of the public to pass the budget.
Contacted this morning, BOE President Pat Burk said he hadn’t heard about the vote postponement, but didn’t think that would affect the board’s plan to vote on the budget on Tuesday.
“Actually, we have been looking at areas other than personnel to find another $47,000 to cut,” Burk said. “The vote to change the school day schedule, if passed, would provide extra funding that we likely will need down the road not knowing what is going to happen with state aid.”
Burk said he thinks changing the schedules could help attendance, since all students would be able to get a ride to school, and have little impact upon extracurricular afterschool activities such as sports and music.
The Genesee County Department of Social Services is ready, willing and able to meet residents’ needs through a variety of programs despite travel limitations created by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
That was the message conveyed by Carla Mindler, director of financial services, and Peter Antonucci, coordinator of child support enforcement, during Thursday’s “Genesee Connects” video public service announcement.
Genesee County DSS is open during its regular hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and those in need of services are encouraged to call for assistance or utilize a number of helpful websites to get answers to there questions, Mindler and Antonucci said, noting that all department employees are wearing masks as a precautionary measure.
Mindler said employees in her department, which deal with benefits such as SNAP, HEAP, Medicaid and child care, can conduct telephone interviews, even for temporary and emergency assistance.
“The face-to-face interview has been waived by the state … and the eligibility has not changed – income, resources, residences, those remain the same,” she said, adding that if people want to come into the DSS building on East Main Street Road arrangements for in-house phone conversations would be made.
She said New York State has given DSS “flexibility as far as processing the applications that we get … as everyone is having a rough time right now getting documentation.”
“If you’re having a hard time getting this information, please reach out to us because if we have sent a request to you and we hear nothing, potentially your application will be denied,” she said. “If you are having a hard time, please reach out and we will do all we can to get you the information.”
She also advised that DSS will accept fax copies and has set up a drop box for paperwork outside the lobby that is checked several times each day. Additionally, paper applications for all programs (a requirement for temporary or emergency assistance) are available on a table just inside the main entrance.
Mindler highlighted some the programs that she oversees:
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
People can apply online at www.mybenefits.ny.gov or by filling out a paper application.
Mindler said New York State put a COVID-19 emergency allotment in place for those who had an open SNAP case who were paid benefits in March and April, with additional benefits provided up to the maximum amount.
“The state has also extended some cases,” she said. “If someone was due to be recertified in March, April, May, they’ve extended those out a few months, which has helped us greatly with our processing because we had a huge influx of new SNAP applications. This allowed us to work on the new applications and not worry so much on (existing cases).”
HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program)
Mindler said the program was scheduled to end on April 24 but has been extended to June 30, with a third emergency benefit added on.
“Both regular and emergency benefit components are now extended,” she said, again noting that people can apply at www.mybenefits.ny.gov.
Temporary assistance and emergency assistance
“In general, we have to have a face-to-face interview but that is waived right now,” Mindler said. “As long as you have an application we will call you for an interview but you still have to have documentation (paper applications).”
She said applications are online, at the DSS lobby or can be mailed to people who call DSS.
Medicaid
The majority of people for Medicaid, since it is run by New York State, will have to apply through the marketplace, she said, although cases where age, blindness or disability are involved can be handled locally.
“You can call our office to see where you should apply, but we do not have access to case status or application status for cases that apply through the NY State of Health (www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov),” she said.
Mindler reported that for those who had open Medicaid cases on March 18, at the outset of the virus, “most of those cases (per state directives) have been extended (by) 12 months, regardless of the type of coverage you had.”
Child care
Child care is a subsidized program and applications are being taken over the phone, she said.
“We do not have a wait list right now; you can call and just ask for the child care worker and she can explain the program to you, and send an application,” she said.
Mindler said that due to COVID-19, DSS has applied and been approved for a waiver "to waive the family share for child care at this time and also to get an extension on requirements for certification." For more about child care, the phone number is (585) 344-2580, ext. 6423.
As far as child support is concerned, Antonucci said the county office is “committed to ensure the quality of service and response to your needs continue.”
"We are continuing to go through all of our daily reports, correspondence that comes in is being reviewed and answered, and work activity that needs to be done is done in a timely manner so it doesn’t delay any child support payments,” he said.
Antonucci said that child support payments still being applied daily at the processing center in Albany and disbursed out to families, and that all enforcement remedies other than being able to file something with Family Court are being done.
“Income executions are going out to employers, employers are complying with them and sending the payments in and, in turn, they are being released out to the family,” he said.
Antonucci pointed to the following websites:
www.childsupport.ny.gov – Where people can get general information as well as specific info about their account, how to make child support payments through the state processing center, setting up automatic withdrawals from bank accounts, paying by credit card, and submitting a change of address or employer.
www.co.genesee.ny.us – By going to the Social Services page, people can find a credit card payment option – by clicking on a link to www. govpaynow.com. “This has been approved locally and we, locally, submit the payment to the state to be processed, which ends up as a quicker way to get it applied to the account and out to the family,” Antonucci said.
The Genesee County child support email is: csewebgenesee@dfa.state.ny.us
“It’s a great way of getting a hold of us,” he said, “and if you can’t through that way, you can always call the DSS number -- 585-344-2580 -- and you’ll be connected with an operator, and ask to talk to your child support investigator.”
The NYS child support help line is 1-888-208-4485.
The “Genesee Connects” video can be viewed here.
Howard Owens reads "Third Avenue in Sunlight" by Anthony Hecht.
Hecht was a Literature professor at the University of Rochester. Below is a short video of Hect talking about poetry.
This concludes our poetry month readings. I hope you enjoyed them.
Press release:
Are you wondering where you can get locally grown vegetables, maple syrup, honey, fruit, or cheese? How about goat milk soap, wine and flowers? Do you want to fill your freezer with locally raised meats?
Check out our updated “The Bounty of Genesee County” guide. Our brochure will give you a glimpse into the diversity of agriculture in Genesee county.
By supporting your farming neighbors and buying local, you keep your dollars circulating in our community. Buying from a local farm also cuts down on the distance your food travels. Stock up at local farms, farm stands, farm markets and businesses that offer genuine local products.
In its 12th year, the Bounty guide can be found on the Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension website. Printed copies, courtesy of the Genesee County Master Gardeners, will be available at a future date.
If you are a Genesee County farm that sells directly to the public and you would like to add your business to our brochure, please contact Jan Beglinger at: jmb374@cornell.edu
Visit our website for more information, upcoming events, gardening resources and other tips.
Press release:
Empire Access has extended their two months of free internet service through June 30 for families with students who do not currently have Empire internet.
Houesholds with K-12 and/or college students can sign up for two months of free Empire Access internet service with Wi-Fi. There are no contract required for this service and installation is free.
“We are committed to helping our local school districts and communities during these unprecedented times. Internet access plays an extremely vital role in education while schools are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Jim Baase, COO of Empire Access.
To sign up for this free Internet service, families can call (844) 502-7089. The Empire Access call center is open 24/7.
This service includes Empire Access standard Internet speeds and is available only in existing Empire Access service areas. After two months of free service, standard rates will apply.
Empire has also partnered with local school districts to provide Wi-Fi hotspots throughout communities for students to access.
Empire Access is part of a locally/family-owned and operated company; rooted from a telephone company founded in 1896. The organization has long been recognized for their knowledgeable, reliable and responsive service. Live customer support is available at all times.
Press release:
The Batavia Business Improvement District Board of Directors regretfully announces cancellation of Jackson Square Concert Series and Beertavia.
Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, the need for social distancing, and our concern for the health of the community, vendors, volunteers, and attendees we have decided to cancel these two events for 2020.
We are hopeful to see everyone back in Summer of 2021 and look forward to the times we can come out and enjoy the music and festivities again as a community.
For more information on B.I.D. and Downtown events please visit our website.
Genesee County's active case count for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 should go down dramatically on Saturday when all 49 detainees at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center who were placed in mandatory isolation are declared recovered.
Only three detainees have been symptomatic.
"This is a huge win for us," said a source from the facility who spoke on the condition we not use his name because he's not authorized to speak in behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The source previously told The Batavian that staff at the center took an aggressive approach toward the novel coronavirus as soon as the pandemic became an issue. There is an ongoing effort to keep the facility sanitized including wiping down every door handle with bleach every hour.
It's possible three detainees, two from New York City and one from State Corrections, brought the disease into the facility, the source said previously.
If things go as expected, by Saturday there will be no positive COVID-19 cases at the center.
Ten days ago, The Batavian reported that only three of the 45 detainees who tested positive for COVID-19 were symptomatic. The next day, ICE added four more detainees to the positive list. None of the symptomatic detainees required hospitalization according to the source. There have been no more positive tests at the facility over the past week.
Previously: Source: Most detainees in Batavia immigration facility who tested positive for COVID-19 are asymptomatic
As if graduating high school during a global pandemic isn't hard enough, thousands if not millions of high school seniors have another struggle before them. What to do next?
Tomorrow, May 1st, is often referred to as "Decision Day" for college-bound seniors who must decide what college or university they will attend in the fall. On the eve of that all-important day, I would like to ease some of the stress and strain by suggesting a very viable alternative that is affordable, safe and within reach of millions of young Americans -- the community college "Visit Year."
Given these uncertain times, many seniors and their families are considering a "gap year" that typically involves waiting a year before investing the time and resources for full-time college enrollment. During this one-year postponement, some young adults work full-time to build up their bank account, while others may squeeze in a little travel that helps refine their college application essays. Gap years allow personal growth, and for some the exploration of interests and a boost to maturity.
The community college Visit Year offers all that, but also helps young minds focus on collegiate challenges without falling off or down any learning curves. It enriches the gap year with meaningful engagement that applies to and enables the student's long-term goals and aspirations. And it comes packaged with a variety of community colleges benefits that are often ignored until something like a COVID-19 or a tough economy comes along. Here are the major benefits:
Visit Year Benefit #1: Why take an intro course in a large lecture hall with a hundred other students when the same course is taught in GCC's classroom with only a dozen students? Students not only save a lot of money by taking courses such as PSY101, COM101 or HIS101 at GCC, but with the student to instructor ratio being 14:1, students enjoy plenty of one-on-one interaction and support. The State University of New York (SUNY) Pathways program ensures these college credits are SUNY transferrable. It makes sense and "cents" to earn general education course credit during a community college Visit Year.
Visit Year Benefit #2: Enterprising young students take Benefit #1 to the goal line, graduating from GCC with an associate degree allowing them to transfer as juniors, thus saving a full two years of tuition while earning their bachelor's degree.
Visit Year Benefit #3: Transfer students still earn the prestigious degree from the well-known and respected four-year institution they had set their sights on, but they save two full years of costly tuition. We often say, "The smartest young adults earn their pedigree degrees, but they start them here at GCC."
Visit Year Benefit #4: Many young adults aren't sure what occupation they want, and a community college is the perfect place to explore. The low cost of tuition means you can change majors many times without breaking the bank or acquiring huge student loans. You also meet and work directly with faculty who are at the cutting-edge of their field, yet focused on student success rather than academic research. The Visit Year brings this opportunity to your doorstep, or computer screen.
Visit Year Benefit #5: GCC has seven campus locations in four counties and hundreds of online courses. We may be the college closest to home, but our degrees and opportunities will take you anywhere you want to go. In addition, if a college course will be delivered online, why not take it for a lot less money and closer to home?
Postponing the start of the college experience might bring some reassurance during this time of acute uncertainty, but why take this academic intermission when there is the opportunity to forge ahead that brings vast tuition savings, a high quality and high-tech education, and important, beneficial connections with your local community. Turn your gap year into a Visit Year -- visit your local community college to get started!
For high school seniors in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties, you can start this summer through the Genesee Promise Plus scholarship program that offers free tuition for up to two summer courses at Genesee Community College. Go to www.genesee.edu/promise and apply before June 19.
Decision Day just got a lot easier.
(Photo courtesy of GCC.)
From Tim Hens, superintendent, Genesee County Highway Department:
Genesee County Highway Department will be closing a bridge in Darien on Colby Road between Route 33 and Richley Road next week for a deck repair.
The bridge will not be open for any traffic during the repairs, which will last one to two weeks. The bridge is just south of the railroad tracks on Colby Road.
Press release:
At a time when many Americans are facing unprecedented hardships as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, Kirsty Northrop, owner of Lawnel Farms in Piffard, is working to provide nutritious dairy products to those in need.
“With so many members of our community in need of food assistance, I feel passionately that we come together to support our neighbors,” Northrop said. "It is hard for food banks and community organizations to provide dairy in food assistance programs. By bringing together many groups we were able to do just that.”
Currently, some dairy processors have capacity to produce dairy products as a result of surplus milk due to the declines in foodservice. Northrop, through a partnership with her cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America, and her alma mater, Cornell University, was able to secure approximately 5,800 half gallons of fluid milk to be distributed throughout Livingston, Wyoming and Genesee counties.
“As a dairy cooperative owned by family farmers across the country, we are dedicated to helping provide nutritious food for family tables,” said Jennifer Huson, senior director Marketing, Council Affairs and Industry Relations for DFA Northeast.
“We are very excited to partner with DFA to produce fluid milk for donations to foodbanks. We have already worked closely with foodbanks in the Ithaca areas to donate products made at the Cornell dairy plant to them” says Professor Martin Wiedmann from Cornell University, who currently helps coordinate activities at the Cornell Dairy plant.
“There are feeding programs throughout Livingston, Wyoming and Genesee counties distributing food to families in need, but unfortunately many of them do not include any dairy,” Northrop said.
To assist with distribution, Chicago-based Coyote Logistics covered the transportation costs and leveraged their carrier network to move the shipment of packaged milk from Cornell University to various drop-off points throughout Livingston, Wyoming and Genesee counties.
“We are proud to support this cause in order to get dairy products into the hands of those who need them most,” said Jason Knight, sales manager at Coyote Logistics.
Livingston County would like to thank Kirsty Northrop, Dairy Farmers of America, and Cornell University for the wonderful donation of milk to add to our distribution sites.” Angela Ellis, deputy county administrator.
“As a multigenerational farm, our family has always been community conscious and in a time like this, what better time to share a little of what we do with our neighbors and friends.” Northrop said.
Commonly Asked Workers’ Compensation Questions:
Q. What is a Workers’ Compensation claim?
A. A Workers’ Compensation claim is a legal action that occurs when you get hurt during the course of your employment. In New York State you cannot sue your employer. When you get hurt at work, the Workers’ Compensation system provides for lost time financial payments and medical treatment required as a result of your work-related injury.
Q. How do I know if I have a Workers’ Compensation claim?
A. If you sustain an injury during the course of your employment, you should contact our office for a free case evaluation as soon as possible. We can help you determine if you have a Workers’ Compensation claim and assist you in filing the proper paperwork.
Q. How long do I have to file a Workers’ Compensation claim?
A. You are required to report your injury to your employer within 30 days. There is also a two-year time limit to file a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board. Failure to adhere to these time limits can result in a denial of your claim.
Q. Is a Workers’ Compensation claim my only recourse if I am hurt at work?
A. In New York State, you cannot sue your employer. In some circumstances, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed in addition to a Workers’ Compensation claim. This includes, but is not limited to, injuries sustained in a work-related motor vehicle accident, constructions injuries, or injuries sustained at a location not owned by your employer. Our team of attorneys at Dolce Panepinto will assess your claim to ensure that every legal avenue available to you is pursued.
Q. How much does a Workers’ Compensation Attorney cost?
A. Workers’ Compensation fees are generated on a contingent basis. This means that we only receive payment if we generate money in connection with your Workers’ Compensation claim. More information on contingent fees can be found here. Additionally, our attorneys can explain our attorney fees in greater detail.
Q. Do I need an attorney?
A. While an attorney is not required, it is strongly recommended that you retain an attorney. The Workers’ Compensation Law is complex, confusing, and often difficult to navigate. The insurance carrier will have an attorney fighting on their behalf, we recommend that you have an attorney fighting on your behalf. Having an attorney means ensuring your rights are protected, maximizing your benefits, and making sure your questions and concerns are addressed.
Dolce Panepinto works tirelessly to protect the rights of injured workers by making sure that those responsible are held accountable. If you or a family member are injured at work, or in your private life, contact us today for a free case evaluation at 585-815-9003. For further questions regarding Workers' Compensation Law or to contact Dolce Panepinto: click here.
Press release:
Press release:
Today, Nate McMurray, candidate for U.S. Congress in NY-27, called on President Trump’s administration to adopt a national COVID-19 response plan that would test, track and treat across all 50 states.
McMurray also criticized his opponent State Senator Chris Jacobs for his lack of leadership in the midst of the pandemic following a WBEN interview on Sunday, where Jacobs downplayed the need for widely available, comprehensive testing.
“The President must follow-through on his March 6th promise to provide tests for all Americans; to date, only 1 percent of the nation has been tested and national laboratories are citing critical funding and material shortages to produce more tests," McMurray said. "It is un-American to leave states without support in this unprecedented crisis as the death toll continues to rise.
"We need a unified strategy if we’re going to beat this thing together; not 50 different strategies that leave our families unnecessarily vulnerable, and prolong us reopening the economy in a sustainable way. Meanwhile, Chris Jacobs is dangerously laxed over the urgency of the situation and pandering to the President because he’s afraid to put party politics aside to fight for the safety of Western New Yorkers."
According to the COVID Tracking Project, last week the country performed about 860,000 tests but experts say millions of tests per week are needed. While states like California and Oregon have rolled out plans that include widespread testing as a prerequisite for reopening, there is no comprehensive national plan or guidelines in place.
“We failed to implement widespread testing as a country months ago, which only keeps American families from getting back to work," McMurray said. "Jacobs can personally afford to ignore the urgency here and vote against COVID-19 funding like he recently did in the State Senate because, unlike so many living in NY-27, he has access to quality health care and cannot relate to someone who would need paid sick leave.
"We absolutely cannot continue to wing this. We need a national, Marshall plan that summons the mighty power of this nation. Countries with much less affluence and technological advantage are far out-performing the United States in response to this pandemic."
McMurray supports the following:
1) Expanding the capacity to conduct rapid same-day testing for everyone with COVID-19 symptoms. The Center for Disease Control (CDC), in collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be fully engaged to ensure all states have access to testing and required testing materials.
2) Ensuring tests are free. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Labor should oversee this effort and be the point of contact for patients that were charged for a test.
3) Strengthening the testing supply chain to incentivize the production of testing supplies and PPE for our healthcare workers within the United States and require HHS and FEMA to conduct weekly reporting about potential shortages.
4) Implementing surveillance (test & trace) systems nationwide and enabling the CDC to provide COVID-19 surveillance grants, which will allow states flexibility in how they achieve test & trace of samples of the population, and identify small outbreaks early, especially in populations where there is a higher risk of contracting or transmitting the virus.
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