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Press release:

The Community Health Assessment (CHA) is a document required by public health law that identifies the key health needs and issues of the community through systematic, comprehensive data collection; community conversations; and analysis. The current CHA includes Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties (GOW) and covers three years (2019-2021). All three health departments along with our community partners will be starting the process of developing the new CHA that will encompass the years 2022-2024. 

The Community Health Assessment is developed using a collaborative process of many partners throughout the GOW region. Local hospitals including Rochester Regional Health at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), Orleans Community Health (OCH), and Wyoming County Community Health System (WCCHS) along with the Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming (GOW) County Departments of Public Health work collaboratively with county residents and community based organizations of the GOW Counties to develop the assessment. 

“The Community Health Assessment provides us with comprehensive information about the health status, needs and issues that are facing the residents living in our communities,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “The information in this assessment helps us develop our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and helps direct where our resources should be allocated to best meet the needs of our communities.” 

We are seeking feedback on our current Community Health Assessment to help inform the next version of the CHA and welcome any comments and suggestions from community residents and our partners. Here is the link to the current CHA (https://gohealthny.org/go-health-news/) and the feedback survey can be found at the gohealthny.org website or https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GOWCHAFeedbackSurvey.  

A motor vehicle accident is reported at East Main Street and Ross Street, Batavia.

Unknown injuries. 

City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

Aerial photos of yesterday's Labor Day Parade in Oakfield by Timothy Wojkowski.

I took the photo above last night after stopping to buy some sweet corn off Route 33 in Stafford.

Below, sunset in Alabama by Joanne Meiser.

Michael Robbins, 61, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd and grand larceny 4th. Robbins is accused of entering a building and stealing various items in the early morning of Aug. 1.  He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held in jail.

Ray S. Saile, 19, of Judge Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. While on duty at Labor Daze, deputies were asked to assist the Oakfield Fire Department with an incident involving Saile and his girlfriend. Saile allegedly violated an order of protection by being with his girlfriend.  He was arrested and released on an appearance ticket.

Steven Stuart Johnson, 57, of South Lake Avenue, Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, DWI/Drugs, and headlight out. Johnson was stopped at 3:15 a.m., Sept. 2, on South Lake Avenue, by Deputy Jacob Gauthier for an alleged traffic violation.  During a search of Johnson, he was allegedly found in possession of cocaine.  The vehicle was inventoried prior to being towed and deputies reportedly found brass knuckles in the center console. Johnson was issued an appearance ticket.

Adam Altobelli, 40, of East Rochester, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Travon Armstrong, 36, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Armstrong is accused of stealing a bicycle.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Destiny Green, 25, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 2nd. Green allegedly stole an item from a protected party's residence. Green was reportedly found inside the residence. Green was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Amanda Havens, 39, no permanent address, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Havens is accused of leaving two children under age seven unsupervised leading to the children roaming the streets without supervision. The children were found by patrols near a local business at 3:30 a.m., Aug. 17.  Officers could not contact Havens until she turned herself in later that day.  She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Jadeyn Goras, 18, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Goras is accused of throwing a rock through the rear window of a vehicle park in the driveway of a residence in the City of Batavia.  He is also accused of throwing a stone from a garden and throwing it through a window of a door leading into the residence.

David Klotzbach, 41, of Batavia, is charged with dog running at large.  Klotzbach's dog was allegedly running at large at 8:10 a.m., Aug. 27.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Robert Goodwill, 28, of Batavia, is charged with DWAI/alcohol. Goodwill was reportedly found driving erratically from South Main Street Road to UMMC.  Goodwill was issued traffic tickets and released.

Nicholas Kingdollar, 25, and Kayleen Laird, 25, both of Batavia, are charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Kingdollar and Laird allegedly failed to provide adequate supervision of a child at a residence on Jackson Street, Batavia, the evening of Aug. 30.  The child was reportedly able to climb out a second-story window and onto the roof.

An unidentified 18-year-old from Batavia is charged with three counts of petit larceny. The youth was arrested by State Police at 9:25 a.m., Sunday.

Photos by Timothy Wojkowski

The fun continues -- and continues today -- at Labor Daze in Oakfield, including a classic car show at Crazy Cheap Cars.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

Jason Smith shared this picture from yesterday of a deer crossing the Ellicott Trail.

A motor vehicle accident is reported in the area of 1031 Ledge Road, Alabama.

The vehicle is 30-40 feet off the roadway, according to a first responder, and on its roof.

It was occupied by five people. One person has a minor injury.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba started its 2021 season in dominating fashion, beating Cuba-Rushford 64-6.

Gaige Armbrewster had seven carries for 202 yards and four touchdowns. Bodie Hyde, three carries, 68 yards, two TDs and one passing reception for a TD to go along with five tackles on defense.

Kameron Cusmano rushed four times for 80 yards and a TD and caught a 15-yard TD pass.

Aiden Warner, six carries, 52 yards, and a TD.  

Nate Finta lead the team with 13 tackles and Angelo Penna had 10 tackles.

Head coach Tyler winter said, "Our guys did a great job of making sure the focus for this week of practice was to put in the work necessary to put the best product of OAE football on the field.  Without the preseason scrimmage and a lack of scouting, we couldn't really put the focus on the opponent.  They had a great week of practice and the success they achieved today was a total team effort."  

Also on Saturday, Pembroke beat Wellsville, 55-26. Tyson Totten carried the ball 13 times for 291 yards and five touchdowns. Dakota vonKRamer, two carries, 65 yards, and a TD. Alex Lamb scored a rushing TD.  Caleb Felski returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD.  On Defense, Chase Guzdek had six tackles and a sack. Pete Farrington also had six tackles and a fumble recovery. Jacob Dulski had five tackles.  Jyden Mast, four tackles and a sack. Sam Pfeiffer, two tackles and a sack.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

Sunshine, fun, and food marked Day 1 of Labor Daze in Oakfield on Saturday.  The festivities continue today.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

Addie Tonzi, who is 13 years old and from Le Roy, took this photo of her grandparent's dog Molly through a soap bubble.

Submitted by her grandfather John Huenemoerder, of Pavilion.

More than 40 health care organizations along with 40 physicians from throughout Western New York have issued a statement calling on area residents to ignore social media misinformation about COVID-19 treatment and prevention and asking them to follow the recommendations of doctors and scientists. 

Among the organizations: Erie County Medical Center, Veterans Affairs, Kaleida Health, Horizon Health, Lake Plains Community Care, and Independent Health.  

Among the physicians signing the letter is Dr. Michael Merrill, former chief medical officer at UMMC and currently an executive with Independent Health. 

To view the document with the statement and a list of all the supporters of the statement, click here (pdf).

Statement:

These organizations and the individuals signing below say the following message is correct and reliable. Social media posts may be incorrect. Find reliable, science- based information sources, such as the CDC.

We are experiencing a high number of COVID-19 cases in the region. You should wear a mask in indoor public places, even if you are fully vaccinated. Please wear a mask in outdoor settings if it is crowded or you expect close contact with others.

Wearing a mask will protect you. It will protect people around you. And the more people who do it, the more we protect the community. This is similar to littering. If one person litters, no one notices the impact. If many people litter, it creates a problem for everyone.

The risks of the vaccine are far lower than the risks of COVID-19. Please get a vaccine. Even if you are healthy, it is best not to get the COVID-19 infection, because you can spread it to vulnerable people without knowing.

92% of recent COVID-19 deaths in Erie County are in people who are not fully vaccinated.
There is evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are SAFE during pregnancy. Infection with the COVID-19 virus during pregnancy can cause poor outcomes for moms and newborns. One study showed if a mother gives birth while infected with COVID-19, they have a 5 times elevated risk of dying.

There is NO evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility. However, the COVID-19 infection CAN affect future fertility. You are not protected by your racial, ethnic or age group. COVID-19 is not like influenza. It is 10 times more fatal.

Why get a COVID-19 vaccine if we still have to wear masks and practice social distancing? We must use every tool available to control the pandemic. Each tool contributes toward “flattening the curve” and reducing, for example, the number of critically ill patients.

Why should I get the vaccine when people who are vaccinated can still get COVID-19? The COVID-19 vaccines were designed to prevent serious infection, hospitalization, and death. All of the current US vaccines provide very strong protection against all of these outcomes, with protection against hospitalization and death greater than 90%. Most vaccinated people who do get COVID have either no symptoms or very mild symptoms and are much less likely to be hospitalized or die.

How do we know the vaccines are safe in the long term? In the history of vaccine research, most vaccine side effects appear within a few weeks and almost all appear within six months. We now have data for well beyond six months for people who have received the COVID-19 vaccines, and it continues to show they are extremely safe. More than 360 million doses have been given in the US. At no point were shortcuts taken or safety compromised.

A vehicle has reportedly gone over a retaining wall at Crosby's, 47 Alleghany Road, Corfu.

A caller reports one person in the passenger seat. Unknown injuries.

Corfu Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 4:43 a.m.: A first responder reports no injuries.

UPDATE 4:45 a.m.: The person who was in the car has run off.  He's a white male with dark pants, checkered shirt, wearing a hat.  He's heading eastbound on Main Street.

UPDATE 4:51 a.m.: A deputy reports being with a subject. The subject is apparently the person who ran.  Corfu Fire is back in service.

UPDATE 4:54 a.m.: There is a warrant for the subject out of Montgomery County.

Paul Nichiporuk shared this photo he called "Nightwalk" that he took on Batavia Stafford Townline Road in Batavia yesterday evening.  He was on a walk with his dogs Taila and Jackson.