Month: January 2022

January 24, 2022

From Steuben Co Public Health: There’s been a combined 475 new COVID positive tests reported since Friday’s update. Due to our website being down, the home test number may be a little lower than it would otherwise.

Sadly, 2 more residents have passed. One individual was a male resident from the Town of Rathbone who died at the age of 66, and the other was a male resident from the Town of Bath who died at the age of 68. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the gentlemen who passed,” said Public Health Director, Darlene Smith. “Sadly, COVID continues to spread in Steuben and is very dangerous for some. If you haven’t already done so, we strongly encourage you to get vaccinated and boosted if able.”

COVID remains dangerous to some. To keep our community members safe, it is extremely important for positives and contacts to quarantine as appropriate. Complete guidelines can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact…

Although one person could have a mild case, another may end up with severe illness. Keep others safe if you are positive (whether you have symptoms or not), have been exposed, or are experiencing symptoms that could be COVID by staying home.

Positives and contacts can get their isolation and quarantine orders at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact…

As a reminder, most positives will only get a text message from the state. Some will get a phone call. All can get their orders at the site above. Most contacts are not expected to be reached out to by the state. They should take the word of the positive who lets them know they were exposed and quarantine at home.

January 24, 2022

ROCHESTER, NY – Channel 13 reports that at least one Rochester hospital, is seeing a large increase in Omicron patients, as well as many hospital employees being out sick with the Omicron too. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is asking for military medical teams to come to Rochester to help out.

Click here for more from WHAM TV.

January 22, 2022

From Alfred-Almond Central Superintendent Tracie Bliven:

We have made progress in addressing transportation issues in our district. Two bus drivers who had left their positions at Alfred-Almond were re-appointed to those roles at today’s Board of Education meeting. In addition, three potential new bus drivers are in the process of completing their training.

As a result of our staff additions, we are close to returning to our original transportation schedule.
The following changes to our current schedule will begin on Monday, January 24:
● All regular routes will return to their original pick-up and drop-off times, including:
o Bus 102
o Bus 103
o Bus 104
o Bus 105
o Bus 107
o Bus 108
o Bus 109, with students from Bus 100 continuing to ride Bus 109.
● Parent drop-off time will return to the normal time of 8:00 a.m. The school will no longer be open at 7:30 a.m.

Thank you to our district families for your partnership as we’ve worked through this challenge. We appreciate the support of the Alfred-Almond community as we have all come together focused on a common goal – doing what is best for our students.

January 22, 2022

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL ON SHOOTING OF NYPD OFFICERS IN HARLEM

I am horrified by the tragedy in Harlem. My thoughts are with the family who answered the phone to receive the news they’ve always dreaded: that their loved one, who had sworn to protect and serve New Yorkers by joining the NYPD, will not be coming home. I am praying for the recovery of his partner, the officer who is fighting for his life, and for his family. I know that all of New York is standing with these officers and their families.

We must urgently confront the plague of gun violence in our state. Too many lives are being lost, and too many New Yorkers are living in fear. This is a crisis. That’s why earlier today, I extended an Executive Order declaring a gun violence State of Emergency. In the Executive Budget I released earlier this week, I put forward a plan to triple resources for our gun interdiction efforts, so that we stop the flow of illegal guns into our state, and also triple resources for violence interrupter programs to address the root causes of violence.

I refuse to allow our cities to be gripped with fear. New Yorkers deserve action from their elected officials — and they will get it. I’ve pledged my full support to Mayor Eric Adams and look forward to working with him and other leaders to continue to take meaningful actions to make New Yorkers safer.

From NYPD News: We mourn the loss of a hero officer — a son, husband, and friend. Only 22 years old, Police Officer Jason Rivera was murdered in the line of duty. We vow to #NeverForget Jason as his fellow Finest vow to honor his tremendous legacy of service & the ultimate sacrifice.

January 21, 2022

New York State United Teachers today endorsed U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, Attorney General Letitia James and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for re-election.

NYSUT’s Board of Directors voted to endorse the five incumbents late Friday afternoon.

Schumer has long been an ardent supporter of the work of NYSUT members across New York.

“We’re proud to call Sen. Schumer a friend of NYSUT members and organized labor across the state and country,” NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said. “From his hard work to secure federal relief funding during the pandemic to his hyper-focused attention on the needs of New Yorkers from Montauk to Buffalo, Sen. Schumer continues to deliver for our state, and we unequivocally endorse him for re-election.”

NYSUT’s endorsement of Hochul is the union’s first endorsement for a gubernatorial candidate since 2006.

“Gov. Hochul has met the challenges we face head-on from Day 1 of her administration, proving she has what it takes to lead New York through the pandemic and to new heights,” Pallotta said. “Her commitment to listening to the needs of our members signals a new day in Albany, and we look forward to working alongside her to ensure we build on our high-quality public education, higher education and health care systems in the next four years.”

Pallotta added that with Benjamin on the ballot, the gubernatorial ticket is all the more formidable.

Pallotta said NYSUT is proud to endorse James for re-election, after endorsing her in her first run for attorney general in 2018.

“Attorney General James isn’t afraid to stand up for New Yorkers, whether it’s in our communities or before the U.S. Supreme Court,” Pallotta said. “A former educator and union member herself, she shares the values of organized labor and working people across our state, and we know she’ll continue to serve as a fierce protector of our values.”

DiNapoli is a longtime supporter of organized labor and NYSUT members and has a deep knowledge of the needs of students, educators and families going back to his days as a trustee on the Mineola Board of Education.

“Tom’s dedication to financial stewardship is unmatched,” Pallotta said. “In particular, Tom has been a stalwart protector of retirement security for public employees his entire career. There is no better champion of the idea that public employees deserve a secure and fair retirement.”

January 21, 2022

Steuben County Public Health is reporting 600 new cases since this past Wednesday, January 19.
Also, a covid positive 70 year old Bath man, has died.

January 21, 2022

ALBANY, NY – On Thursday night the New York State’s Farm Labor Wage Board, held a video Zoom Conference, during which, they heard arguments for and against, farmers having to change their overtime rules from 60 hours a week being overtime, to 40 hours a week being overtime.

Those who were in favor of a 40 hour overtime rule, argued that it is prejudiced to overwork the often-non-white farm employees, depriving them of personal and family time. They also maintain that it puts farmers in danger to work them to the point of exhaustion because when overtired, they make mistakes around heavy farm machinery.

Those in favor of a 60 hour overtime rule say, they are not racist, they treat their workers well and that farm hands often make $45,000 a year or more. They also argue that their farm workers will lose thousands of dollars a year in pay, if the overtime goes to 40 hours a week. We don’t know yet when the final decision will come down from the state’s farm wage board, about the 60 hour a week rule.

Below is audio from most of the Zoom Conference from last night. It begins with State Senator Jessica Ramos (D, Queens), who supports the change to overtime rules. The audio ends with State Senator Tom O’Mara (R, Big Flats), who is opposed to a 40 an hour a week overtime rule. In between the testimony from the two senators, are numerous farmers and activists from both sides, who weigh in with their thoughts.

January 21, 2022

ALFRED, NY – At the Alfred Democrats Caucus Thursday night, Alfred Democrats nominated, for Alfred Village Trustees: Republican Meredith field and Democrat Laurette Guild.

If these names are familiar, that’s because earlier this week at the Alfred Republican Caucus, both Laurette Guild and Meredith Field were nomiated by the Alfred GOP. So as you can tell, there is a lot of cross-nominating going on these days, in Alfred politics.

January 20, 2022

Arkport Democratic Caucus Nominates Amidon and Prete

By Jasmine Willis

ARKPORT NY, — The Arkport Democratic Caucus was held on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Village Community Room.

It was a unanimous vote to nominate Democratic Candidate Patricia Amidon for the village trustee position and Democratic Candidate George Prete for the mayor position. The upcoming Arkport Village Election is March 15.

James and Terry Pullman both nominated the candidates for the positions in the upcoming election.

Amidon said she was the first female democratic candidate to serve on the village board in the late 90s for seven years.

“I won since there was a tie in the election. There was nothing in the record books to decide what to do about a revote. This had never happened before. It all came down to a coin toss, and I won by calling out tails,” she said. “I ran again about four years ago and was trustee again for two years. All together I served nine years on the village board.”

Amidon is also the president of the Arkport Public Library. It was known for years as the Arkport Village Book Center and run by the village board. Since last year it has gotten under the umbrella of the Southern Tier Library System. It is now open 25 hours a week and has a $35,700 budget. Terry Pullman is also part of the Arkport Public Library. Pullman said she thinks highly of what Amidon has accomplished in both the library and the village.

“Terry and I along with our entire board just became a charter library under the Southern Tier Library System,” she said. “We are our own entity now. We are the Arkport Public Library. We are now eligible for grants. We just received a $50,000 construction grant. A resolution has been made and we are in the process of buying the building we are currently in from the village.”

Pullman said when it was a reading center it was owned by the village with a budget of $13,000 and only open 15 hours a week.

“The state told us we could no longer do that. We had to evolve into a charter library or no longer be part of the library system. We were not going to be allowed to get books from anywhere else, and had to survive on our own,” she said. “We had to go up for a vote during the school budget system during the pandemic. It was overwhelmingly supported by everyone involved.”

Pullman said the grant will also be used for lights, handi-cap access, bathrooms, and heating in the building.

Amidon said the main thing she wants to focus on in the upcoming term is to listen to what the community has to say. She wants to see more people get involved in the village meetings and have a voice in the community.

“I was born and raised in this village. I am living in the house I grew up in. This has always been my hometown. I care about what everyone in this community has to say. I want to really listen to people. We all sit on the village board and want to hear what the community has to say. People need to come to the meetings and get involved in what happens here,” she said. “I am proud of what we have done here. We had two big water projects in this village. We all came together for Dollar General and look what happened with that. That is what happens when the entire community gets involved.”

Prete was not available for comment at the meeting