Photos submitted by Jason Smith, taken in his back yard in Batavia.
From Senator Charles E. Schumer:
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that as part of his negotiation priorities for the interim emergency bill that passed the Senate yesterday, he has ensured that agricultural enterprises will be added as an eligible recipient for grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
This assistance can help cover business expenses, including payroll and other operating expenses.
Schumer has relentlessly advocated for New York’s farms during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, securing more than $9.5 billion in emergency funding in last month’s CARES ACT for the agricultural sector suffering massive financial losses due to reduced demands and supply chain disruptions, and calling on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately release aid to hardest-hit agricultural businesses,
“Making our hardworking Upstate farmers eligible for this vital federal emergency grant-and-aid program was a huge priority for me and I am proud to have secured them this much-needed and well-deserved access to a program that could be a lifeline in these very difficult times,” Senator Schumer said. “I fought hard because just like any other small business in New York, access to this funding could be a vital lifeline for our farmers during this time of crisis.
"In good times, New York farmers are some of the best in the world and work long hours on tight margins, but in the midst of a global pandemic, they are losing revenue streams, suffering huge financial losses and being forced to discard their products. They need all the help we can offer – and they need it now.”
About 23 percent of New York State’s land area, or almost 7 million acres, is farmland, and with more than 33,000 farms across the state and nearly 700 farmer’s markets, New York’s agricultural sector is one of the hardest-hit industries in the nation. Additionally, 96 percent of farms in the state are family-owned.
Since the March passage of the CARES Act, there has been demand from the agricultural community for the SBA to include agricultural enterprises to the EIDL program. With this fix to the EIDL program, farms and other agricultural enterprises under 500 employees will be eligible to apply for SBA grant and loan disaster assistance.
Schumer added, “the bill originally pushed by Senate Republicans had absolutely no fix for our farmers, nor did it have any money for the entire Emergency Injury Disaster Grant and Loan Program. But we stopped that bill so we could make vital improvements, like making sure our farmers had full access to all key forms of federal aid to get through the tough times.”
Here are the facts:
o The bill passed in the Senate yesterday adds agricultural enterprises under 500 employees as an eligible recipient for grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.
o There has been a demand from the agricultural community for SBA to change its rules so agricultural enterprises would be eligible for the SBA’s EIDL loans and the new EILD grant program, but no such rule change has happened.
o The interim emergency bill proposed by Democrats called for this key fix to support the nation’s farmers, which would not have happened under the original proposal that would have solely increased in funding for PPP.
Here's a breakdown of the number of farms in each region of New York:
Region
# of Farms (2017)
Western NY
3,814
Finger Lakes
5,945
Southern Tier
7,028
Central NY
7,537
Capital Region
6,240
Hudson Valley
2,246
NYC
36
Long Island
592
Total
33,438
From USDA:
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced emergency benefit increases have reached $2 billion per month for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households across all 50 states and three territories to increase food security during the coronavirus national emergency.
These emergency benefits represent a 40-percent increase in overall monthly SNAP benefits, significantly increasing food purchasing power for American families.
“These are unprecedented times for American families who are facing joblessness and hunger," Secretary Perdue said. "USDA is providing a 40-percent increase in SNAP benefits to ensure that low-income individuals have enough food to feed themselves and their families during this national emergency."
Background:
Currently, a household with two adults, three children, and no income can receive the maximum benefit of $768. However, due to reportable income and other factors, the average five-person household receives significantly less, $528.
These emergency benefits would provide the average five-person household an additional $240 monthly in food purchasing power, bringing the average household up to the same benefit level as households already receiving the maximum.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), signed into law by President Trump, provided for the issuance of emergency allotments in response to COVID-19. Across the United States, emergency allotments total nearly $2 billion per month, which is in addition to approximately $4.5 billion in benefits already provided to SNAP households each month.
All SNAP households that are eligible to receive less than the maximum benefit will receive the emergency allotment supplement to bring them up to the maximum. By law, SNAP households are not permitted to receive more than the maximum allotment.
SNAP emergency allotments allow states to raise benefits to the maximum amount for the household’s size for up to two months, and USDA is providing additional guidance today to states that want to further extend these emergency allotments month by month as prescribed by the law.
Hawaii -- approved last Friday -- was the final state agency authorized to provide the emergency allotments, which are now authorized in all 50 states, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
States could request to provide an emergency allotment for current SNAP households beginning in March. USDA is continuing to work closely with states so that supplements are provided in subsequent months as this public health emergency warrants, as outlined in FFCRA.
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of actions that USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has taken to uphold the USDA’s commitment to “Do Right and Feed Everyone” during this national emergency. Other actions include:
FNS administers 15 nutrition assistance programs that leverage American’s agricultural abundance to ensure children and low-income individuals and families have nutritious food to eat. FNS also co-develops the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide science-based nutrition recommendations and serve as the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy.
The executive director of the New York State Association of Counties has issued an “urgent plea” to federal lawmakers to allocate funds to states and local governments severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at a press videoconference this morning, Stephen J. Acquario said New York and its counties are facing hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue and need Congress and the President to pass legislation immediately.
“We are issuing an urgent plea not to give up,” Acquario said, referring to the adoption of another federal stimulus bill. “We know and we’re confident that (this can happen) with the support of the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (and) the New York delegation.
"And now we’re reporting the President of the United States Donald Trump has signaled support for state and local fiscal relief along with another couple of issues concerning infrastructure and rural broadband to be included.”
Acquario mentioned the Senate’s passage on Tuesday of a fourth wave of legislation to extend the small business payroll protection program as well as funds for health-care-related expenses, including state and local testing capacity, tracing and employer testing.
“All (are) very important, critical pieces of legislation," he said. "What is missing from this latest piece of federal funding is essential funding for lost revenue for the State of New York and the counties of New York. We are unique in the United States – the counties of New York – in what we do and what we provide and how we’re funded. Our reliance on sales tax is essential … (and) we have suffered tremendously.”
Acquario cited reports from Erie County that show a loss of $150 million in economic activity, with sales tax projections dropping, and from Long Island that show $200 million in lost revenue.
He also said that NYSAC seeks funding for rural cellular service improvements in tandem with an infrastructure bill.
Acquario touched on several other topics during his 10-minute presentation:
-- Noting the cooperation among New York and neighboring states, he said that New York’s counties will be “part of and leading the regional Mid-Atlantic northeastern portion … in coordinating with nearly 300 county governments."
“We’re going to be setting up a program – Think Regional and Act Local,” he said. “By bringing the best practices from the epicenter of the United States – New York City, the lower Hudson Valley counties and Long Island and other areas -- and sharing those best practices of what we did during the pandemic, we can further support and supplement Governor Cuomo’s efforts to protect this region of the United States, enabling it a better chance to reopen and re-emerge.”
The new partnership reportedly will be called the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic County Coronavirus Coalition.
-- Reporting that Schumer has secured federal funding at the 100 percent level for Federal Emergency Management Agency-relate expenses.
“This is very important for the State of New York and for the counties that are submitting for FEMA reimbursement for personnel, supplies, equipment – this includes repurposing buildings, temporary medical facilities and temporary shelter facilities – repurpose buildings, shortage, temporary morgues, temporary storage of human remains and disposal costs of medical waste,” he said.
-- Sharing details of the “regional reopening of New York” as announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday.
“The number of cases in the State of New York continue to hover around 63 to 65 percent in the City of New York, 21 percent in the two counties on Long Island – Nassau and Suffolk – about 8 percent in the Lower Hudson Valley counties of Rockland and Westchester. Then if you project out to the 53 other counties, it’s about 7 percent is the rate of infection,” he said. “That is the testing data that we have.”
Acquario said the regional reopening approach hinges upon meeting certain criteria, such as hospital capacities of 25 percent above normal capacity being in place in that hospital's region of the state, and that there has been fewer than 10 new COVID positive hospital admissions within the last 10 days.
“So, elective surgeries can resume in those areas of the state where those protocols are in place,” he said.
-- Recognizing the work of county officials across all departments who are responding to the COVID-19 situation and showed a public service announcement indicating as such.
Photo of DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia taken by Mel Robinson in July 2014.
From the The Batavia Area Jaycees:
The Batavia Area Jaycees have gotten creative to not let the COVID-19 Pandemic ruin all of their plans. To celebrate Earth Day, The Batavia Area Jaycees are asking the community to vote for their favorite nature photo in their online contest album that can be found here.
The photo with the most likes and reactions will win, and the Jaycee member who submitted the winning photo will pick a local charity for the service group to donate money to.
Voting will remain open until Monday April 27th at noon. All photos are taken locally to celebrate Earth’s beauty in our community.
The group was originally supposed to participate in a litter cleanup event to celebrate Earth Day. With the state being on pause, that event was unfortunately canceled. The group brainstormed new ways to act out their mission while practicing social distancing.
The Batavia Area Jaycees is a group of young, active citizens ages 18-41 who work together to provide development opportunities that empower people to create positive change within themselves and our community. They strive to grow personally and professionally so that they can make an impact in our community and beyond.
The Jaycees are always accepting new members. The group will resume monthly meetings after the pandemic, so follow them on Facebook or email them at bataviajaycees@gmail.com to learn more information on how to become a member.
The group currently has members from all over Genesee County as well as Orleans County.
Minor League Baseball appears to be ready to accept a deal with MLB, Baseball America reports, that would eliminate 42 franchises and wipe out short-season Single-A baseball, ending an 81-year history of the New York Penn League that began in Batavia.
With a pandemic threatening the 2020 baseball season, Dwyer Stadium may have hosted its last professional baseball game on Sept. 6, 2019.
We don't know yet, of course. If there is 2020 baseball, the new deal -- which BA indicates isn't final yet -- wouldn't take effect until 2021.
There's no indication in the article how team owners would be compensated for the loss of their properties. The Batavia Muckdogs are owned by the NYPL but the Genesee County Baseball Club, a community group, and the Rochester Red Wings still have a financial stake in the team.
Richard Beatty recites "Highlands" by Bob Dylan.
Statement from UMMC:
Following the Governor’s elective outpatient treatment announcement, United Memorial Medical Center is carefully evaluating regional data and COVID-19 preparedness plans to ensure patients can have elective surgeries as soon as safely possible.
We will, in accordance with the State Department of Health guidelines, make every effort to resume elective surgeries for patients meeting criteria as the COVID-19 curve flattens in our community.
Press release:
- Announces state will take a regional approach to reopening.
- Governor will meet with President Trump at the White House today to discuss testing.
- Confirms 4,178 additional coronavirus cases in New York State -- bringing statewide total to 251,690; new cases in 41 counties.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced elective outpatient treatments can resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term.
Hospitals will be able to resume performing elective outpatient treatments on April 28 if the hospital capacity is over 25 percent for the county and if there have been fewer than 10 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the county over the past 10 days.
If a hospital is located in a county eligible to resume elective outpatient treatments, but that hospital has a capacity under 25 percent or has had more than 10 new hospitalizations in the past 10 days, that hospital is not eligible to resume elective surgeries.
If a county or hospital that has resumed elective surgery experiences a decrease in hospital capacity below the 25 percent threshold or an increase of 10 or more new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries must cease.
Further, patients must test negative for COVID-19 prior to any elective outpatient treatment. The State Department of Health will issue guidance on resuming elective surgeries.
Restrictions on elective surgery will remain in place in Bronx, Queens, Rockland, Nassau, Clinton, Yates, Westchester, Albany, Richmond, Schuyler, Kings, Suffolk, New York, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Erie, Orange and Rensselaer counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region.
Governor Cuomo also announced the state will take a regional approach to reopening and will make decisions on which counties and regions to open and when to open them based on the facts and data specific to that area.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will coordinate Western New York's public health and reopening strategy, and former Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will volunteer as a special advisor to coordinate the Finger Lakes' public health and reopening strategy.
The Governor also announced he will be meeting with President Trump at the White House today to discuss testing.
"As New York continues to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 infections, we are now ready to lift the restrictions on elective surgeries in regions where hospital capacity and the rate of new infections do not present a significant risk of a surge in new positive cases," Governor Cuomo said.
"It is essential that we continue to support hospitals and health care workers in all regions to ensure they have both capacity and supplies to treat COVID patients because this virus is by no means defeated."
Statement from Ed Rath, candidate for the 61st State Senate District:
The New York State economy, and particularly the economy of Upstate, has taken a very big hit as a result of coronavirus. Small businesses, farmers, restaurant owners and many others are encountering some of the hardest times they’ve ever faced.
The infection rates and risk factors of each individual region greatly vary throughout the state.
With this in mind, I have called on the Governor to take a regional perspective to reopening and listen to our local medical professionals and those who know the community best.
I am glad that after his stop in Buffalo today, it appears that a regional reopening approach will be pursued.
In what may be the last snapshot of the employment picture in Genesee County before pandemic shutdowns hit local businesses, the local unemployment rate had already ticked up year-over-year for March from 4.7 percent to 5.2 percent.
The Department of Labor released statewide statistics today with a note indicating the household census of employment was taken at the beginning of March before most "nonessential" businesses were ordered to close or modify operations.
In that survey, 27,500 residents of Genesee County had jobs in a labor force of 29,000 people, with 1,500 residents seeking employment.
Through the rest of March, the Department of Labor reported a record number of jobless claims. It will be another month before we receive revised employment stats. Economists are estimating the national unemployment rate may now be as high as 32 percent.
In response to the high jobless claims, Congress passed legislation that: authorized $1,200 payments to most Americans; increased unemployment payments by $600 a week; and authorized $350 million in loans to small businesses that have suffered losses due to the pandemic primarily for payroll purposes.
The loans, if standards are met, could be converted into grants. The Senate is expected to vote today on a new stimulus package that would add nearly $500 million to the Payroll Protection Program.
Press release:
Consistent with the news last week that Governor Andrew Cuomo extended his New York State on PAUSE executive order through May 15, Regional Transit Service (RTS) announced today that the temporary waiving of fares will also be extended through May 15.
RTS initially waved fares on March 19 to help protect RTS Bus Operators and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. RTS encourages customers to follow the guidance of elected leaders and health experts by staying home whenever possible and limiting travel to essential rides only. This includes trips to destinations such as the grocery store, pharmacy and medical facilities.
When taking these trips, RTS also encourages customers to follow Governor Cuomo’s executive order to wear a mask on the bus and while in public, and to maintain a distance of six feet between each other on the bus, at the RTS Transit Center and at bus stops.
For all other information, visit www.myRTS.com.
There were three new positive tests for COVID-19 reported in Genesee County since yesterday and six people who previously tested positive have been moved out of mandatory isolation, making the current total of active cases 69 and the total recovered cases 59.
There have been 130 positive tests in Genesee County since the pandemic reached our community.
The Veterans Administration also reported today two additional positive cases among staff at the VA Hospital in Batavia but there have been no new positive patients since the first two were reported last week.
There is no change in the count of positive cases, 45, at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center since yesterday.
The Health Department reports administering 710 tests so far, with 580 coming back negative.
Health Department Daily COVID-19 Briefing:
New Cases
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
Press release:
Next Level Fitness, located at 59 Main St. in Batavia, is auctioning off all their equipment from the three-story facility.
Hundreds of items will be auctioned, including gym equipment such as weights, workout machines, treadmills to mats, exercise balls and more.
The auction also features general items including some furniture, shelving and multiple televisions.
For interested entrepreneurs, the building will be available for lease in the upcoming months as well.
What: Next Level Fitness Liquidation
When: now thru April 27
Where: online
How: Interested buyers can bid and register online here
Press release:
St. Paul Lutheran School in the City of Batavia is accepting registrations for the 2020 - 2021 school year.
St. Paul offers a Christ-centered education with small class sizes, individual attention for your child, and a child friendly environment with a committed and dedicated staff.
We offer 3- and 4-year-old preschool through fifth grade.
We are located at 31 Washington Ave. in Batavia. Contact us at (585)-343-0488 or at: stpaulbataviaprincipal@gmail.com
Check us out on Facebook.
Two people were injured in an accident at about 10:30 p.m., Monday, in the area of 5875 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.
One of the people injured was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.
One person was transported to UMMC by ground ambulance.
The names of the drivers, according to an NYSP blotter entry, were Harold P. Gage, 77, of Le Roy, and William W. Berkemeier, 51, of Pavilion.
We don't know the name of the person transported by Mercy Flight. The State Police have not released further information about the accident.
Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.
Press release:
Today, New York U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her endorsement of Nate McMurray for the Special Election in NY-27.
"I'm proud to endorse Nate McMurray for New York's 27th Congressional District," Senator Gillibrand said. "Now more than ever, we need independent leaders in Washington who will fight for everyday Americans over corporate special interests. Nate's extensive domestic and international business experience and record of expanding economic opportunities to create jobs will be critical to rebuilding Upstate New York in the difficult months ahead."
“I’m incredibly honored to have Senator Gillibrand’s support for our campaign,” McMurray said. “She has paved the way in the fight for working families on everything from pay equity to advocating for critical support for rural communities in Western New York. I Iook forward to working with the Senator to improve the lives of all New Yorkers and all Americans once we win the Special Election on June 23rd.”
Press release:
Nominations are being accepted for the 2020 BCSD Foundation Inc. Scholarship.
This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior from Batavia High School.
The nominee has been successful in his/her educational program and has sought out skills to further his/her career. In addition, he or she has exemplified our Batavia school culture and climate of “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be Connected and Be Ambitious.”
Any member of the local community may nominate a Batavia HS senior who meets the above criteria.
Nomination forms are available on the Batavia City School District website here.
You may complete the Google Form or the PDF document to nominate a deserving senior.
All nominations need to be received by May 11.
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