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Press release:

Senator Rath has called for a full, independent investigation into the Cuomo Administration, the Department of Health, and any other government official complicit with covering up information.

“What we are seeing regarding the reporting of deaths in nursing homes is extremely disturbing," Rath said. "Questions surrounding the number of deaths in nursing homes have swirled since March and for almost a year, the Governor and the DOH have ignored the cries for clarity.

"We need all the facts and that is why an investigation is critical. We need to know who knew what and when, and if the information was kept from the Department of Justice.

“In an ironic shift, Senate Majority members are now calling for the Governor’s executive powers to be revoked. After months of my colleagues and I (calling) for the repeal of the powers and being accused, by the Majority, of playing games and being political, now they see the true effects of centralized control.

“Furthermore, after members of the majority dismissed our conference’s calls for transparency as political, it now appears we were correct and that there was a coordinated effort to cover up facts for political gain.

“It is extremely troubling to me if the public cannot trust our top elected officials during a public health crisis."

Press release:

Rochester Regional Health and the University of Rochester Medical Center announced plans to resume restricted hospital visitation. Rochester Regional Health will begin visitation on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at its five hospitals while URMC will start visitation the day before. 

Visiting Hours

• Rochester General Hospital:  Daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 4 to 7 p.m.
• Unity Hospital: Daily from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., and 4 to 7 p.m.
• Clifton Springs Hospital: Daily from 1 to 5 p.m.
• Newark-Wayne Community Hospital: Monday – Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• United Memorial Medical Center: Daily 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 3 to 6 p.m.

Visitation Guidelines

Patients may designate two visitors throughout the patient’s stay;

• Only ONE visitor is allowed at a time at the bedside for no more than four hours daily.
• Visitors must be 19 years of age or older. 
• *No visitors will be permitted for:
  • Emergency Department patients
  • COVID-19 positive patients
  • Patients awaiting COVID-19 test results
  • Cancer patient infusion centers  
  • Inpatient behavioral health (chemical dependency and mental health)
• In addition to a designated visitor, the following groups may designate a support person who is not restricted by visitation hours.  
  • Pediatric patients: One support person may be present on-site at a time in the emergency room or during hospitalization. For pediatric patients, especially with prolonged hospitalizations, the patient or family/caregiver may designate two support people; but only one support person may be present at a time. 
  • Labor & Delivery: May have one support person and a doula to be present at the bedside upon admission, throughout labor, delivery, and the postpartum period including recovery until discharge to home. 
  • Once delivery has occurred, an additional visitor may be designated by the patient and must comply with the visitor policy outlined above.
  • Patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), and cognitive impairments including dementia: One support person may be present on-site at a time in the emergency room or during hospitalization. The patient or family/caregiver may designate two support people, but only one support person may be present at a time.
  • End-of-Life Situations: The patient and/or family/caregiver may designate two visitors at a time at the bedside as long as social distancing is maintained. Minor age visitors must be accompanied by an adult. Clergy members visiting at end of life are counted as one of the two visitors at the bedside. End-of-life determinations are made in coordination with the patient, family/legal guardian, and treatment team. Visitation for end-of-life situations is not restricted by COVID-19 status or hours. All infection control guidelines and instructions must be followed.

Data Update –

Please be advised both Genesee and Orleans County Health departments will be closed on Monday, Feb. 15, for the Presidents’ Day holiday. We will not be reporting out or updating the websites. We will report the long weekend data along with Tuesday’s data Tuesday afternoon.

• Genesee County received 12 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
    • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke)
    • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) 
    • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Pavilion, Stafford)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.  
• Twelve of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
• Fourteen of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• One of the new positive individuals is an inmate at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center.

 

Orleans County received 14 new positive cases of COVID-19.  

• The positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby)
  • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre)
  • East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 40s, 50s, and 80s.
• Nine of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Two of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Correction: Removed a duplicate individual from the West Region on Thursday’s count.

Press release:

As this week comes to a close in Le Roy, folks are still talking about all the fun things that happened during Le Roy’s first celebration of National Jell-O Week.

Plans for the event were a last minute idea of Lynne Belluscio, director of the Le Roy Historical Society and Village Historian, who also serves as the director of the world’s one and only Jell-O Museum.

For those people who aren’t acquainted with Jell-O history, Jell-O was introduced in LeRoy in 1897 by a carpenter, Pearle Bixby Wait. Belluscio is quick to point out, that Jell-O wasn’t really invented in Le Roy.

Dishing Up the Right Name

For hundreds of years, people had been making flavored gelatins, which were called “jellies” but in the 1800s, several gelatin products were developed and sold in stores. The names of these jellies weren’t too appetizing. Who would want to eat "Bromongelon," or "Tryphosa." Wait bought powdered gelatin, sugar, flavoring and coloring. Mixed it together and. according to the Wait family history, his wife, May, came up with the name: J E L L hyphen O – and it has to have the hyphen.

Wait didn’t patent his new product. He trademarked the name. For two years he tried to find interested customers to buy Jell-O but was discouraged.

In 1899, he sold the rights to Jell-O to a businessman in Le Roy, Orator Woodward for $450. By 1907, a year after Woodward died, Jell-O was a million dollar a year industry in Le Roy. And the rest is Jell-O history, which is on display, of course, at the Jell-O Gallery.

The history of National Jell-O Week began in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2001 when the students of Brigham Young University petitioned the state legislature to declare Jell-O the state food. The state legislature agreed and Jell-O became the official Utah State Snack. This is because the people of Utah consume more Jell-O than another other state, and for a curious reason, they also eat more lime Jell-O than any other state. (Iowans give them a run for their money though.*)

Celebration Time -- the Second Week in February

It seems that the students at Brigham Young decided that National Jell-O Week would be the second full week in February (and one declared nationwide was in 2009**). which in 2021 would be from Feb. 14 through the 21.

This year, the second week in Februaryt runs from the 14th to the 21st. As Belluscio explained, that posed a problem in Le Roy, because the plans included Jell-O week at the school, and school would be closed for Presidents’ Holiday, so she decided that Le Roy would jump the gun and start the celebration a week early.

Le Roy’s Jell-O Week included activities in the fourth-grade classes. Virtual tours of the Jell-O Gallery were organized by the Mrs. Bertrand, the technology coach at the school.

These tours were followed up with new Hands-On-History booklets written and printed by the Historical Society and given to each student in the fourth grade. All the teachers sported new Jell-O t-shirts for the week, and students performed several Jell-O science experiments.

Probably the most surprising experiment took place on Monday when student attempted to build structures that would survive an earthquake. The structures were built on a large plate of Jell-O and the “earthquake” would occur when the Jell-O was shaken. Much to their surprise, early the next morning, a 2.2 earthquake occurred just north of Le Roy in Byron!

Students at the high school participated in Jell-O box stacking and a variety of other challenges. 

In the meantime, Jell-O Days were declared at the Le Roy Village Green nursing home.

On Thursday, Ruth Harvie, a former employee at the Jell-O Gallery, and a recent resident at the Village Green, was recognized for her dedication to America’s Most Famous Dessert, and was crowned the “Jell-O Queen” in a special coronation ceremony. Special Jell-O displays were installed at the nursing home and at the Woodward Memorial Library. 

The D & R Depot had a special Jell-O dessert on the menu this week (and today's the last day to get it, according to restaurant co-owner Sean Valdes. It's a dark and delicious Mandarine orange treat***).

Vote for Your Favorite Flavor

Belluscio also initiated a “Vote for Your Favorite Flavor” campaign. Usually, several thousand visitors would come to the Jell-O Gallery and vote for their favorite flavor, but the museum has been closed most of the year because of the pandemic, so the Gallery is accepting votes through a variety of facebook sites.

Hundreds of votes have been cast, and the polls will remain open through Feb. 21, the last day of National Jell-O Week.

At this time, Belluscio reports that lime has a slight lead over cherry, followed by raspberry. The Gallery is also asking that people share their zip code, as if they had visited the Gallery. Each year, until 2020, the Gallery would record votes from almost all of the 50 states. This year, votes have been received from 40 of the 50 states -- including Hawaii.  

The last part of Le Roy’s 2021 celebration has been the construction of the largest paper Jell-O Jigglers barn quilt. A 4 x 4 barn quilt, in a colorful pattern named Jell-O Jigglers, has been on display at the entrance of the Jell-O Gallery since 2011.

This unique pattern, was duplicated on the back page of the Le Roy Pennysaver this past week, and folks are instructed to color in the appropriate pieces and to drop off their quilt squares at the Le Roy House. All of the squares will be assembled into a large quilt and put on display at the Jell-O Gallery this year.

Belluscio also mentioned that a large 8-foot wooden barn quilt was painted last year, and when the weather allows, it will be placed on the Le Roy Town Highway garage on Asbury Road.

Plans for Le Roy’s National Jell-O Week in 2022 are already underway.

* / ** / ***(Editor's notes) (Plus here's a link to 36 old-school Jell-O recipes.)

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley speaks on bombshell New York Post report that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top aide admitted to covering up nursing home deaths:

“It is hard to find the words to express my frustration with the details of this report," Hawley said. "I am incredibly saddened by how families who have already lost their loved ones have been disrespected by this administration after already going through the painful process of grief.

"We now know for certain that the governor put his reputation before the lives of over 15,000 nursing home residents, and we must keep all options on the table to hold him accountable, along with everyone else responsible for this tragedy and the ensuing cover-up.

"At this point, any excuses made to not rescind the governor’s emergency powers and immediately investigate this matter as thoroughly and independently as possible are entirely disingenuous, and we must now all put politics aside to do what’s right for the thousands of families who had their loved ones taken from them.”

Data Update –

• Genesee County received 20 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
    • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke)
    • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) 
    • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Pavilion, Stafford)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.  
• Twenty-four of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
• Fifteen of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• One of the new positive individuals is a resident of Genesee Senior Living.
• We are saddened to report the loss of two individuals who are both over the age of 65. One individual resided at the New York State Veterans' Home and one individual resided at the Batavia VA Medical Center. We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families. Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time.

 

Orleans County received 16 new positive cases of COVID-19.  

• The positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby)
  • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre)
  • East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s. 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
• Twelve of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Two of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Six of the new positive individuals are residents of The Villages of Orleans Health & Rehab.
• Four of the new positive individuals are inmates at the Orleans Correctional Facility.

Press release:

The Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund announced today that it has awarded more than $4.5 million to more than 300 nonprofit organizations in our region, bringing the total grant amount from the Fund to $13.1 million.

This collaborative funding effort was convened in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 health crisis and is now administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, in partnership with The John R. Oishei Foundation, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation.

A collaborative of many local foundations has been meeting regularly and monitoring the needs in our community since the onset of the pandemic. It became clear in early 2021 that, as the pandemic continued longer than initially expected, many nonprofits who are providing basic needs services such as food, housing, healthcare, childcare, mental health, transportation, and other emergency services, were continuing to face critical funding shortfalls. 

Emergency grants were awarded to organizations in all eight counties of Western New York and ranged from $500 to $300,000, based on the need the organizations shared with the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

Grants are supporting efforts directing helping families and individuals with everything from stocking the shelves at small rural food pantries to providing childcare for students in remote and hybrid learning centers to supporting mental health organizations who have a growing waiting list of clients that need to connect virtually. 

“When the philanthropic community first came together to create the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund the group committed to continually monitoring the evolving needs in our community as a result of the pandemic," said Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, president/CEO of Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

"This round of emergency grant funding was the direct result of hearing that nonprofits providing basic needs services needed critical financial support to carry out their missions. In addition to these grants, the Fund is continuing its commitment to addressing long-standing systemic challenges through its Moving Forward Together initiatives that include more than 400 organizations working collaboratively on a number of different innovative solutions.” 

To date, nearly 90 foundations and corporations and more than 1,900 individuals have supported the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo received a grant from national philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in late 2020 and a portion of that funding is supporting this round of emergency grants.

To see a full list of contributors, or to join the effort, please visit www.WNYResponds.org.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) has joined the House Rural Broadband Caucus for the 117th Congress.

“Expanding broadband access is critical to rebuilding and advancing rural Western New York communitie,” Jacobs said. "This need has existed for years, but the pandemic has amplified these needs as schools have moved online, telehealth services are being used more frequently and vaccine appointments are being made online, and Western New Yorkers are working from home."

The House Rural Broadband is cochaired by Reps. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Peter Welch (D-VT-AL), Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16), and Bob Latta (R-OH-05).

The Rural Broadband Caucus works in a bipartisan way to promote broadband deployment. Since its inception, the caucus has successfully secured billions of dollars for expanding internet access to rural areas.

“Students shouldn’t have to sit outside a restaurant to do homework, farmers should not lose revenue because they cannot compete with high-tech competitors, and small businesses should have every available resource to grow and thrive in Western New York,” Jacobs said.

“This has been one of my priorities since taking office, and I worked with my colleagues to successfully secure $635 million in funding for the USDA ReConnect Rural Broadband Program in the most recent appropriations bill.

C'onnecting our region is vital to our future, and I am committed to supporting efforts to improve access for Western New Yorkers. Joining this caucus puts me in an even better position to advocate for the needs of my constituents.”

Press release:

ALBANY -- Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY), a joint program of the New York State Archives and the New York State Library, has secured a five-year contract to continue to deliver supports and services to New York State’s cultural collecting institutions.

With the program’s extension, more than 5,000 organizations that safeguard New York’s historical records are eligible to apply for collections-related assistance and participate in education and training programs, free of cost, through 2025.

“The State Archives and State Library are excited to continue to provide support services, assessment services, and training through our DHPSNY program, ensuring that repositories across the state continue to have access to the tools they need to preserve and make available the essential materials that tell the story of New York and its people,” said State Archivist Tom Ruller.

State Librarian Lauren Moore also emphasized the importance of the program’s extension, adding that it builds on the State’s track record of supporting cultural organizations.

“I am pleased that we can continue to offer valued statewide services to our library and archives communities," Moore said. "New York State has always been a national leader in providing preservation services and grants to our cultural communities and their stewards.”

The new contract includes thoughtful adjustments to DHPSNY services and important COVID-19 safety precautions.

In 2021-25, qualifying New York organizations such as archives, museums, and libraries are invited to apply to receive free virtual Planning & Assessment Services, including Archival Needs Assessments, Preservation Surveys, and Strategic Planning Assistance.

Often a prerequisite for grants and other funding opportunities, these services provide reports and recommendations that are designed to support New York organizations in improving and advancing program efforts while forming strategies for future growth and development.

“In a world where budgets are ever tighter, where demands upon our staffs increase and personnel additions may be impossible, DHPSNY's reports and recommendations can prove the worth of archival and other documentary-related repositories to funding agencies as well as to our patrons, donors, administrations, and ourselves,” said Daniel DiLandro, New York State Historical Records Advisory Board chair and Buffalo State Archivist/Special Collections librarian, stressing the value of DHPSNY services.

Application materials for DHPSNY’s Planning & Assessment Services will continue to be reviewed three times a year and can be submitted year-round on the DHPSNY website dhpsny.org.

Applications to be considered for DHPSNY’s Spring Planning & Assessment Services Round are due Friday, March 26.

In addition to its virtual Planning & Assessment Services, DHPSNY will offer a new service for institutions that need to invest in resource development and capacity-building before they can reasonably embark on implementing the more sophisticated recommendations that come with DHPSNY’s Planning & Assessment Services. Debuting in 2021, this service will have a shorter, less formal application and be offered on a rolling basis.

In 2021-2025, DHPSNY will also continue to offer free education programs, including webinars and mentorship opportunities, as well as regular virtual networking events and online courses in place of in-person workshops. While in-person interaction remains limited due to COVID-19, DHPSNY will host virtual Community Conversations on a regular schedule. 

Additionally, DHPSNY will continue to offer one-on-one technical assistance, provide web-based resources, and maintain the DHPSNY Community Facebook Group (bit.ly/DHPSNY-Community), which provides the stewards of New York’s history a safe space to unite to discuss topics of interest; ask questions, share learnings, and develop a network of peers.

Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York is a collaboration between two long-running New York programs dedicated to service and support for archival and library research collections throughout the state: the New York State Archives Documentary Heritage Program and the New York State Library Conservation/Preservation Program.

DHPSNY is supported by the New York State Archives, New York State Library, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), and New York State Education Department. DHPSNY’s Strategic Planning Assistance curriculum was developed in collaboration with the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON).

For assistance, questions about eligibility, or additional information, contact the DHPSNY team at info@dhpsny.org or (215) 545-0613, ext. 338. Sign up here to receive the DHPSNY newsletter for updates on services, deadlines, educational programs, and more.

Press release:

As part of the efforts to update Genesee County’s Comprehensive Plan – "Genesee 2050" – the Department of Planning recently reached out to superintendents at school districts countywide to get students involved in a contest to create and design a new flag.

“It’s important that we solicit input from the youth of our community as they will be the leaders of government and business in 2050,” said Felipe Oltramari, director of the Genesee County Department of Planning. “We hope their input in creating and designing a new county flag will reflect their vision for Genesee County 30 years from now.”

Competition guidelines for the design of a new county flag are available online here.

Submissions are due by Feb. 28.

The Genesee 2050 Committee will select the top finalists and then have an online vote where county residents will choose one winner.  

“This is an exciting activity to get our youth involved in an important lesson in civic duty and responsibility,” said Genesee County Legislature Chair Shelley Stein. “The youth of our county are our future and I am excited to see that vision reflected in a contest in the creation of a new county flag.”

The Genesee County Department of Planning also is continuing to ask for input from the public through a series of online surveys.  

The surveys seek public comment on various subject matters including recreation, recreation facilities, agriculture, food supply, the coronavirus pandemic and renewable energy siting.

Submitted photos and press release:

From movie nights to crafts, it’s been a fun-filled start to 2021 at La Rosa Villas in Le Roy!

Situated on the site of the former Lapp Lumber Mill on Mill Street across from Oatka Creek in Genesee County, DePaul’s La Rosa Villas feature 60 units for individuals 55 years old and above.

The community includes six studio, 48 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments.

Thirty of the units have on-site supportive services, which promote stability, health and independent living for persons with histories of unstable housing.

There are 20 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act compliant) and three Hearing and Visually Accessible (HVA) units in the building. For more information about La Rosa Villas, click here.

Pictured, Shelley Gillman (inset photo above left) wears a homemade New Year’s Eve hat, and Cindy Barber (inset photo above right) shows off her beaded snowflake craft.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) released the following statement after the House Committee on Agriculture met today to consider the agriculture portion of the proposed COVID-19 budget reconciliation package. 

"This legislation was crafted unilaterally without any input from the Republican members serving on the Agriculture Committee. While there is some good in the bill, it contains many unrelated, partisan provisions that fail to meet the needs of our farmers and my calls for targeted, bipartisan relief.

"In my district alone, there are over 4,400 farms who produce 22 percent of New York State's total agriculture sales. Western New York farmers supply schools around the country with dairy and supply grocery stores throughout the United States with produce, meat and eggs. The impact of NY-27 farmers on our country is significant, yet we have not held one hearing to assess the current needs of farmers, and my Republican colleagues and I were not consulted. 

“Republicans offered several amendments that would improve this legislation by supporting small producers, restarting the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program halted by the President and redirecting money toward high-speed internet in rural communities. Democrats rejected these amendments, once again refusing to work with us to craft a bipartisan package.

"It is my hope this does not become the norm for this committee for the 117th Congress, but rather we work together to support America’s oldest and most substantial industry."

Jacobs has served on the House Committee on Agriculture since his election in June during the 116th Congress. He was reappointed for the 117th Congress in January of this year.

Press release:

On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Section V Athletic Council met and determined the tournament structure for winter high-risk sports.

The team sports of boys basketball, girls basketball, and ice hockey will have a closed sectional tournament in which only the top eight teams in each classification will make their sectional tournament. Wrestling will hold class sectional tournaments starting on March 12.

The Fall II Sports Season (which includes boys volleyball, competitive cheerleading, football, and girls volleyball) will begin on March 1, and the regular season will end on April 23. Sectionals must be completed by May 2.

Indoor Track & Field is now looking to host a sectional tournament starting on Thursday, March 4.

Submitted image and press release:

Now more than ever, it’s important to be able to connect to the internet so the Hollwedel Memorial Library has a Wi-Fi area that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We know that not everyone has access to the internet, and especially during the COVID pandemic, residents have been using our Wi-Fi and computers for all sorts of tasks,” says Josselyn Borowiec, library director. “We want everyone to know that when we are not open, they can still pull into our parking lot Wi-Fi area and connect at any time of the day or night.”

Residents can also use the computer stations inside the library that have popular software and provide access to the internet at no charge.

Information about the many programs and services available at the library can be found on the library’s website at www.HollwedelLibrary.org. Residents with questions can also contact the library by phone at (585) 584-8843 or stop by 5 Woodrow Drive in Pavilion. 

Current hours are: Monday and Wednesday 2 to 7 p.m. / Friday 1 to 5 p.m. / Saturday 10 a.m. to noon / Closed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Photo: Hollwedel Library Director Josselyn Borowiec demonstrates using the library’s Wi-Fi in the Wi-Fi area designated by the signs in front of the building.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley joined his colleagues in the Assembly Minority in a press conference calling on members of the Assembly Oversight, Health and Aging committees to sign a petition that would trigger the delivery of a subpoena to New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard A. Zucker to testify and provide all data on nursing home deaths occurring during the coronavirus pandemic.

The subpoena would also request all communications from the Department of Health (DOH) and other parties that led to the decision to develop, implement and override its March 25 directive, and allow Zucker to provide answers as to why this information was kept from the Legislature and public for such a long period of time.

According to Section 62-A of Legislative Law, if a majority of members on a given committee sign a petition, they then have the authority to issue a subpoena for the individual in question to appear before the committee to answer questions.

Hawley has sought for months to hold legislative hearings in which Dr. Zucker would be compelled to answer questions regarding the thousands of deaths in New York nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and about the attempts that followed to cover up the severity of the tragedy.

“Given the sheer tragedy of this situation, I am hopeful my colleagues in the Majority on this committee will do what’s right as human beings and compel Commissioner Zucker to provide the answers grieving families have waited far too long for,” Hawley said.

“If our governor’s own attorney general was able to put aside their partisanship for the sake of truth and justice, I can only hope those in the Majority on these committees will also put their humanity before their politics.”

Press release:

Today, Tops is proud to announce a major $3.5 million renovation project is complete at its store located at 390 W. Main St., Batavia.

This marks the 13^th renovation for the supermarket chain since 2020 and the first for this year. This renovation is a part of the company’s $40 million capital improvement plan.

Tops Friendly Markets will virtually cut the ribbon on this impressive 78,000-square-foot store at 11 o'clock next Thursday, Feb. 18. To see some of these exciting renovations, visit us in-store, on our Facebook page (@TopsFriendlyMarkets) or at our website. 

Kris Ponzi, store manager for the Batavia Tops, noted that “with all of our new amenities, our expanded signature floral, fresh fried donuts and custom cakes, to our wider selection of specialty and imported cheeses to our Tops Brew Market with plenty of local beers, guests are sure to enjoy all of our enhanced offerings.”

She invites her neighbors to visit this newly remodeled store during the Grand Re-opening celebration and even have the chance to win some great prizes like Tops gift cards for food and fuel, overnight stays at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, and free Grocery Express Delivery memberships.

Almost everything inside and outside of the store has been touched giving it a refreshed and modernized appearance. From updated new exterior paint and enhanced façade, new interior décor, energy efficient equipment, digital menu screens, and LED lighting, to a completely remodeled fuel station in the parking lot.

Customers will also enjoy the added convenience of 10 new state-of-the-art self-check outs added during the renovation which will help to expedite their shopping.

You’ll feel the freshness in the expanded produce area featuring a fresh prep cut fruit and vegetable station. Tops partnership with over 200 local growers, includes several of our neighbor’s right here in Western New York, bringing the freshest local produce straight from the farm to your table. Tops prides itself on carefully selecting, inspecting, and ensuring your produce arrives at the peak of perfection.

Tops is also a proud supporter of product grown by New York State farmers who adhere to the New York State Grown and Certified program’s requirements, which includes verification of safe food-handling practices and participation in environmental sustainability programs. 

The newly remodeled bakery now offers a wider selection of detailed custom cakes and confections for weddings and special occasions as well as an expanded assortment of freshly baked breads, pastries, and signature fresh fried donuts.

Throughout the store, shoppers will also see an increase of antibiotic-free meat, plant-based options, daily fresh chef-prepared sushi,and sustainable seafood selections, along with a wider selection of certified organic and gluten-free offerings including natural bulk dry beans, rice and grains. 

To stay hydrated there is an expanded section of the store dedicated to waters, seltzers, and sparkling waters, including many imported varieties, which are on trend.

Love local beer? Tops took to heart the recent challenges facing local breweries and increased its support by enhancing not only the selection of local favorites, but their overall offerings in the Brew Market.

And when ordering online, shoppers can even get all of their favorite traditional and craft beers, hard ciders, and seltzers delivered right to their homes.

The stores remodel includes the Pharmacy that has a new, safe and convenient waiting area which provides a wide variety of services to the community seven days a week.

Tops is committed to making it easy to get every healthy thing you need in one quick stop and offers a number of immunizations, is an authorized administer of the Department of Motor Vehicles' Vision test, provides low prescription prices along with the GoodRxapp, and accepts more than 3,000 insurance plans.

The Batavia Tops Pharmacy, along with 50 other Tops Pharmacy locations throughout our region, are also the safe and convenient location for COVID-19 vaccinations. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations, click here.

Tops shoppers can also save time by utilizing Tops Grocery Pick-up and Delivery services. With fast, online ordering, get your favorite items and the best deals in town that you love delivered from our store to your door in as little as two hours.

Customers can visit TopsMarkets.com/ShopOnline and enter their zip code to get started. 

Also new in Batavia, an innovative and interactive in-store program called “Flashfood” that allows customers to purchase food nearing its sell-by date to save money and to help reduce food waste. Items like fresh produce, meat, deli, bakery, and dairy, may be listed at up to 50-percent off on the Flashfood app and then are available for easy pick up inside the store.

Because of its tremendous success, Tops now offers this "Flashfood" service at 33 store locations.

“At Tops, social responsibility and sustainability have always been at the core of our mission, upholding standards that ensure we reduce environmental waste and energy consumption while providing customers with sustainably sourced, high-quality products, at a great value,” said Jeff Culhane, senior vice president of sales and merchandising for Tops.

“The Flashfood program fits right into our business model and we’re excited to bring this unique, money saving opportunity to our customers.”

Learn more about Tops sustainability efforts here.

Data Update –

• Genesee County received 13 new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
    • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke)
    • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) 
    • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Pavilion, Stafford)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.  
• Nineteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
• Fifteen of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• We are very sad to report the COVID-related death of three of our county residents. All of the individuals were over the age of 65. We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families. Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time.

 

Orleans County received 10 new positive cases of COVID-19.  

• The positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby)
  • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre)
  • East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 30s, 40s, 60s, 80s and 90s.
• One of the new positive individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
• Thirteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Two of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Three of the new positive individuals are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Genesee County Republican Committee is proud to announce that it has endorsed Melissa L. Cianfrini as its candidate for Genesee County Court judge.

Cianfrini has more than 21 years of combined experience as a civil litigator, assistant district attorney and assistant county attorney. She has been licensed in three states and has handled complex litigation cases in numerous state and federal courts throughout the Eastern United States.

In addition to her vast civil experience, she was known as a tough, but fair prosecutor for nearly a decade and currently is employed as an assistant county attorney, where she prosecutes child abuse and neglect cases, family offenses, and advises the county on civil matters.

She possesses a strong work ethic and honors family values. Cianfrini resides in Genesee County with her husband, Mike Cianfrini, and their two children, Sophia and Jack.

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to welcome on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Michael Broccolo of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center as our next presenter in our Guest Speaker Series. The topic will be "The Underground Railroad in the Niagara Frontier."

The presentation will be conducted virtually via Zoom. To watch the presentation via Zoom please visit the museum's Facebook page or website for login information.

If you would like to witness the virtual presentation on the museum's big screen there will be a limited audience of 12 people. Those in attendance will be required to wear masks and follow social distancing protocols and must preregister by contacting the museum at (585) 343-4727. We are asking anyone in attendance for a small donation.

Press release:

The Pembroke Jr./Sr. High School Girls Basketball Team is currently organizing their 10th annual Shooting For A Cure! game in support of funding research efforts at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

We're extremely excited that we will be able to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research at Roswell Park.

Over the past nine seasons, our small community has raised more than $152,000 for cancer research at Roswell Park and we hope to uphold this benevolent tradition. Shooting For A Cure! has become one of Roswell Park’s largest community-based fundraising events.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions we will not be able to pack the hallways or the gymnasium as we've always done in the past; however we're trying to take a creative approach!

Top and bottom photos: Front -- Karli Houseknecht (25), Allyson DuBois-Rider (30), Serene Calderón (10), Emily Peters (32), Sydney Johnson (11). Back: Ariel Moss (50), Allie Schwerthoffer (14), Nicole Von Kramer (23), Isabel Breeden (2).