Erie Cattaraugus Chautauqua County Community Source 11/26/21

NOVEMBER

26 2021

WVDP volunteers deliver food to local pantries for 32nd year

BY DEB EVERTS

Photo by Deb Everts Volunteers from the West Valley Demonstration Project and its subcontractors met Nov. 12 at Sander’s Parkview to load and deliver donated food to nine area pantries prior to Thanksgiving.

SALAMANCA — To spread good will for the upcoming holiday season, employees from the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) and its subcontractors gathered Nov. 12

Springville Center for the Arts presents It’s a Wonderful Life SPRINGVILLE, NY – Springville Center for the Arts, in collaboration with Hilbert College presents a stage performance of the beloved Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Performances will be December 3rd - 5th at Hilbert College (5200 South Park Ave, Hamburg, NY) and December 10th and 11th at Springville Center for the Arts (37 North Buffalo Street, Springville, NY).

Show times- Hamburg: December 3rd and 4th at 7:00 pm, December 5th at 2:00 pm.

Springville: December 10th at 7pm, December 11th at 2:00pm and 7:00 pm.

Tickets: General admission $12, Students/Seniors

$10, Groups of 15 or more $8.

It’s a Wonderful Life is an adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film. It is the heart-warming tale of George Bailey, the unselfish everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, NY, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been squashed by family obligations and civic duty. With impending scandal and financial ruin, he believes he is worth more dead than alive. Prayers from friends and family bombard Heaven causing his guardian angel Clarence to be dispatched to earth to help saveGeorge.

Child-like Clarence has been in Heaven for over two

IAWL continued on .................... page 2

Photo provided Pictured aboved is Dorothy Gerbel as Aunt Tillie in The Springvile Center for the Arts’ upcoming production of It’s A Wonderful Life, December 3 - 5.

at Sander’s Parkview to once again distribute food to nine local food pantries.

Led by Lettie Chilson, WVDP facility manager and food drive coordinator, the group loaded the food donations onto one large rental truck and a

few pickup trucks that will help hundreds of families in need during this holiday season.

John Rendall, president and general manager at

WVDP Food Drive continued on . page 2

A 4H Club Needs Your Help So They Can Help Others FORESTVILLE, NY – As the Christmas season of giving and generosity approaches, a 4H Club in Forestville needs your help!

Friday, December 3rd, 2021 and Friday, Dec. 10th, 2021 from 4-6 PM the club members will be outside three businesses in Forestville collecting monetary donations for The Forestville Food Pantry.

Come help them help

others this season by coming to: Evans Bank; Caves or Tavern On the Mall. The 4H members will be wearing Santa hats and ringing bells so you will easily find them!

If you can not come to Forestville but would like to help the 4H help others in the community by donating, please call the club leader Aimee Rogers 9654321.

ERIE CATTARAUGUS CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY COMMUNITY SOURCE

2

WVDP Food Drive continued from 1

IAWL

continued from 1 hundred years waiting for the opportunity to earn his wings. He reveals to George what the world would have been like if he had never been born, and makes him realize that he actually did have a wonderful life.

It’s a Wonderful Life is directed by Edwin F. Heary

and Rick Manzone. The show features Logan Whittall and Alyssa Grace Adams as George and Mary Bailey.

Tickets may be purchased online at https:// app.arts-people.com/index. php?ticketing=sca or by calling the box office at (716) 592-9038 for choice seating and to avoid online fees.

All attendees will be required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. This will be strictly enforced.

Cattaraugus County Board of Elections to hand count contests in 5 towns

BY RICK MILLER incumbent William Spors, LITTLE VALLEY — The a Republican and indepenCattaraugus County Board of Elections completed its count of absentee ballots on Tuesday.

They’ll still need to count ballots by hand in five districts where a candidate won by 20 or fewer votes, however.

Lyndon Supervisor Barbara Montante, on the Democrat and Integrity Party lines, is down one vote to Republican challenger Don Hall after counting the absentee ballots. Hall had led Montante 116-103 on Election Night.

There is an outstanding absentee ballot from Lyndon that has not been counted. If counted, that vote could either throw the supervisor’s race into a tie, or give Hall a two-vote margin.

The election commissioners issued a split decision on whether the ballot should be opened and counted.

The commissioners decided to set the ballot aside for three days to give any interested parties time to go to court to have the ballot counted. The commissioners plan to meet this afternoon to make a final decision.

Under a new state law, the Board of Elections is required to hand count any election districts where there are contests where the top vote-getter wins by 20 votes or less.

Under that metric, Lyndon, East Otto, Little Valley, New Albion and Red House election districts will be hand counted starting as early as Friday.

After East Otto absentees were counted, there is a one-vote margin in a town councilman contest pitting

dent candidate Lisa Musall.

This will be resolved after the hand count. Musall led Spors 176-175 before absentees were counted.

And in the Town of Little Valley the results for two candidates for councilman, Timothy Zimbardi and Jerry Titus II, will also be counted by hand. Zimbardi led Titus 143 to 124 before absentee ballots were counted.

The Board of Elections will issue the results of the elections after the hand recounts are completed next week.

WVDP said approximately 120,000 pounds of food, including 400 turkeys, was delivered at food pantry sites in Ellicottville, Franklinville, Delevan, West Valley, Little Valley, Cattaraugus, Dayton, Springville and Concord.

Rendall said the food drive continued last year in spite of the pandemic. He said they have a long-standing tradition of doing this food drive that started in 1989 and has been held every year since.

According to Rendall, the amount of money collected has grown each year, but the amount of food has been pretty constant. He said they have been going to these nine pantries for the last seven years.

“What has changed is we used one truck this year, instead of two, so we did one long route,” he said. “In the past, we’ve gone out with two trucks, one to the east and one to the west, but otherwise we are pretty consistent.”

Joe Pillitere, communications manager for WVDP, said having one truck keeps everybody together because all the volunteers follow and they get the deliveries done in less time.

“Another nice thing about this is everybody is using their day off to volunteer,” he said. “It’s also a social thing that gives everybody a chance to connect with each other.”

The volunteer group included Bob Chilson, Darren Boone, Joe Pillittere, Herick Nelson, Kevin Murray, John Rendall, Karen Rendall, Dave Schuman, Schuman volunteers, Let-

tie Chilson, Scott McCabe, Larry Myszka, Peggy Loop, Brandon Myszka and Elizabeth Lowes. Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Deputies, Steven Dombeck and Matt Deboy assisted the group on their journey, along with students from Cattaraugus Little Valley Central School.

Rendall said the food donations come from the employees and subcontractors, mostly in money, but some food. They also accept donations from the general public. They take the donated money to Sanders Parkview and order the food. He said Parkview employees package the food and load it onto the truck for them.

“The food pantries are delighted to have us come with the truck,” he said.

“We give them a good charge of food and we fill the pantries right up. It really takes care of the pantries to get them through the holidays.”

Not only does this collected food cover Thanksgiving, but it also carries over toward the Christmas holiday with leftover funds.

Rendall said they apply those extra funds directly to the pantries so, when their food runs down, they can buy additional turkeys and food to restock for the Christmas season.

Rendall said WVDP has a very generous and caring workforce. The employees live in this area and they are helping their extended neighbors. He said they do it out of gratitude and compassion for their fellow neighbors.

“The impact it has is very tangible. We have hungry families out there that need assistance putting food on their table, particularly this past year-and-a half with COVID,” he said. “It’s been very tough on a lot of families in Cattaraugus County and also Erie County.”

“Every year during the holiday season, resourc-

NOVEMBER 26,2021

es get spread thin and the needs of our community increase,” Pillitere said.

“Community support from the WVDP Food Drive helps to meet those needs that may have gone unmet during the holiday season.”

Rendall said the pandemic did not have an impact on people volunteering for last year’s food drive.

They stepped right up and they had a very robust group of volunteers. They were all masked up and worked through the controls that were in place. Even the donations came in as usual, in

spite of the pandemic.

According to Rendall, this annual tradition began as a food drive for the local West Valley food pantry, in 1989, and WVDP has been doing the drive for over 30 years. He said Chilson has been coordinating the volunteers for about 25 of those years.

“Since the drive’s inception, we’ve collected more than 2.1 million pounds of food that has been distributed from this volunteer program through the West Valley Demonstration facility,” he said.

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ROBERT “BOB” MICHAEL VANDERBOSCH Robert “Bob” Michael Vanderbosch went to be with his Heavenly Father on November 17, 2021.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 20 years, Michelle, his daughter, Amanda (Steven) Donnelly and son, Rob C. Vanderbosch, stepdaughter, Beth Watson, and grandson, Connor Donnelly.

Bob cared for and loved his fellow man and was a people pleaser. He left this world a better place for having been in it. He had many distinguished characteristics and “Bob quotes” as he was a man of straight forward talk. He made friends wherever he went. He loved to drive trucks and school bus; really any type of vehicle as long as it had a steering wheel. He and Michelle operated a horse farm and making hay each season gave him great pleasure, as he took pride in every step.

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He was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Ossian and was instrumental in many aspects of caring for the church and the church family.

Bob was born 1-9-53 (“in that order”) to Robert Arthur and Madelyn (Wilson) Vanderbosch in Buffalo, NY. He was raised on a dairy farm in North Otto, NY with three siblings: Laura (James) Land, David (Christina) Vanderbosch and Deborah Vanderbosch. He graduated from Cattaraugus Central School and went to SUNY Cobleskill for AG and Mechanics.

Bob will be missed dearly by all who knew him as he touched many lives with his generosity and kind deeds. A church service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church, 4817 Ossian Hill Road, Dansville, NY 14437. A gathering will follow at the Heath Homestead, 4760 Ossian Hill Road. Memorials in Bob’s name may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Ossian.

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NOVEMBER 26,2021

St Rose Society Cookie sale begins FORESTVILLE, NY - Now that the holidays are beginning, the ladies of the St Rose Society have their plans to bake your favorite Christmas cookies that you can purchase.

Members of both churches of the community of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish come together for a little fun, along with a lot of work to present these festive, edible gifts.

Orders are now being taken for one size cookie tray that will be available on Saturday, Dec 18th. The cookies will be baked earlier that week and will consist of decorated cutouts, press cookies and many more varieties that will be wrapped for gift-giving or for your own pleasure.

The cost for a tray of approx 40 cookies is $22 and a separate tray of freshly made Cucidatti (Italian fig cookies), also wrapped for gift-giving, are available for $17 per pound.

To order cookie trays, call or txt Teresa Edwards at (716) 316-9821 or Aimee Rogers at 716-870-5087 by Dec 11th.

Pick up day is Saturday, Dec 18th from 10 am to noon at the St. Rose of Lima Church Hall, Center St , Forestville.

The St Rose Society is not only well-known for their cookies and their dinners but more importantly theirhelp in the community.

The proceeds of this cookie sale will enable the ladies to continue their work which include donating to the food pantries of Forestville and Silver Creek, the St Gianna Pregnancy Outreach Center and the missions in Latin America along with needy family's in the community.

The ladies of St Rose Society want to thank all who have purchased cookies in the past and will be this year! May your holidays be Blessed!

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Erie County DOH updates Covid-19 quarantine requirements ERIE COUNTY, NY – On October 27, 2021, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) released an informational document that allowed local health departments to reduce the duration of a quarantine under certain conditions.

Based on that document, the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is announcing an adjustment to its COVID-19 quarantine requirements.

Starting this week, Erie County residents who are a close contact to a COVID-19 positive individual and not fully vaccinated can be released from quarantine after seven full days (i.e. day 8) following the last COVID-19 exposure under certain conditions: A diagnostic COVID-19 test– with a specimen collected and tested within 48 hours before the end of the planned quarantine discontinuation (i.e., after five days following last exposure) – is negative; and,

No symptoms are reported during daily monitoring ECDOH contact tracers have begun to inform close contacts of this option as they make notifications about quarantine orders.

Quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after completion of Day 7 (i.e., day 8). Acceptable COVID-19 tests include NAAT (PCR) tests or antigen tests conducted and reported by a licensed laboratory. At-home test results will not be accepted for early release from quarantine. Positive home COVID-19 test results should be reported to ECDOH; call the COVID-19 Information Line at 716-858-2929 or use the online reporting form.

Individuals who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are not subject to quarantine as long as they remain symptom-free.

This change is in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, which allows individuals to end

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ECDOH has also added two documents to its web site for individuals to provide to workplaces, schools or for travel that affirm their own quarantine or isolation periods. These documents can be accessed at www. erie.gov/iq, and Erie County residents do not need to call ECDOH to be released from quarantine or isolation.

They should be prepared to show a negative test result from day 5 of quarantine or after if a workplace or school requests it. quarantine after day 7 (i.e., day 8) after receiving a negative test result, as long as the test occurs on day 5 or later. With this strategy, CDC estimates that the risk of post-quarantine transmission risk is relatively low, between 5-12%. Individuals who are released from quarantine early are strongly encouraged to continue to

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NOVEMBER 26,2021

Shopping locally is now more crucial than ever

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he importance of shopping locally has been emphasized with increasing urgency in recent years. Events like Small Business Saturday and Plaid Friday have brought some much-needed attention to the importance of shopping local, which is even more crucial now as so many small businesses try to survive the pandemic.

A poll from the trade group the National Federation of Independent Business reported that about half of all the businesses in the survey reported a 25 percent drop in sales since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, and roughly one in five businesses have seen sales decline by more than

50 percent. If the economic climate does not radically enced a revenue loss for two months. Some have been improve, 20 percent of small shuttered for much longer. businesses won’t survive.

Individuals looking for According to NBC News, everything from clothing to small businesses employ 60 home improvement services million people in the United to office supplies can look States, almost half of the nato small businesses to fill tion’s private-sector employthose needs. ees. In addition, small busi• Look for small businesses generate tax revenues nesses for any and all of your that help communities by shopping needs. Chances funding schools, maintainare items sold by big box reing parks and contributing tailers also are sold by small to public safety programs.

However, based on research businesses. When the opfrom the Federal Reserve tions are the same or simiBanVk of New York, even lar, purchase from a small before COVID-19 spread business instead of its big across the world, only 20 box competitor.

• Readily provide recompercent of healthy small businesses had sufficient mendations of small busicash reserves to continue nesses with which you have to operate if they experi- done business. Too often

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people are quick to complain about places that have failed them, but those same people don’t think to say kind words about companies that went above and beyond.

Share great experiences on social media or through word of mouth.

professionals and use local setbacks due to COVID-19. suppliers and delivery per- By supporting small busisonnel. nesses, communities can Small businesses have help them regain stable experienced unprecedented footing.

• Talk to small businesses owners first if you have an issue. It’s tempting to go directly to social media to complain about something, but such complaints can have a dire impact. Always take issues to the manager or business owner first to see if a resolution can be reached. A manager may not be aware of an issue at all. Give small businesses a chance to make it right before taking things public.

• If you own a small business, rely on other small businesses to fulfill your needs. Order supplies from fellow small business owners, seek the help of local financial advisors and tax

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The various advantages to shopping locally

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esidents of a given town or city are often encouraged to support local businesses by looking to these firms to fill their needs. Small businesses are not just integral parts of communities, employing millions across the country, they also are operations that fund the very communities they service.

A small business owner may be more inclined to go to great lengths to make customers happy because the long-term success of the business depends on customers becoming repeat customers.

• Personal connection: Knowing the people behind a business facilitates a connection not easily achieved with other companies. Customers may celebrate when a favorite business succeeds and look to spread the word about that business because they feel like they played a positive role in its success.

Efforts to promote shopping local appear to be working. According to the Commonwealth Financial Group, over the last several years there has been a shift in consumer purchasing behavior marked by a Shopping locally has gained momenpreference among consumers to support tum and is fueled by the many advantages locally owned shops and stores over big-box to supporting local businesses. retailers and even online shopping.

The following are some key reasons why shopping locally not only benefits small business owners, but also the communities they call home and the customers they serve.

• More money stays in the community: According to the American Independent Business Alliance, for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 remains in the community. Conversely, only 43 percent of every $100 spent at a chain retailer stays in the community.

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• Job creation: The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies says local businesses create the majority of economic growth. They employ millions of Americans by creating roughly two-thirds of private sector jobs. Local business owners also tend to hire people who represent the demographics of the communities where the business is located, which may include historically underserved populations.

• Diversity of products: Local stores tend to diversify their products and services to meet the needs of the local communities, whereas chain stores often stock their shelves based on national demands.

• Personalized service:

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NOVEMBER 26,2021

W

hen you shop locally this holiday, the gifts you give keep on giving.

That’s because dollars spent here at home can be reinvested by local businesses that support economic activity in our community, pay salaries and contribute to our local tax base. In fact, studies show that spending at independent retailers gener-

ates more than three times the local economic return than spending at chain competitors. What’s more, shopping locally nurtures a sense of community and reduces the impacts of fuel and packaging on our environment.

So go ahead and splurge this season on feel-good local shopping that makes a difference in our community!

3 customer service practices that can make consumers happy Unique ways to support small businesses during the pandemic

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mall businesses have faced unprecedented challenges in 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic wore on throughout the year, small businesses continued to confront the economic fallout wrought by the virus.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the number of active business owners in the United States plummeted by 22 percent in the early stages of the pandemic. Though many businesses managed to hang on as the pandemic continued through spring, summer and fall, such businesses need their communities to continue to help them stay afloat.

Consumers have not been immune to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment figures skyrocketed across the globe, and in April retail sales dropped by 14.3 percent from the previous month according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and Deloitte Insights.

But consumer spending gradually increased in various industries over the summer of 2020. As consumers loosen their purse strings and begin spend-

ing more, they can embrace some unique ways to help small businesses in their community.

• Support struggling industries.

Consumers may not typically give much thought to whether an industry is struggling before spending their money, but doing so can help small businesses that have had an especially difficult time during the pandemic.

Data from the USCB and Deloitte Services indicates that retail sales in certain industries continued to lag even as other industries recovered over the summer months. Sales in the clothing and accessory and food services and drinking places industries were still down nearly 20 percent in July 2020.

Supporting locally owned businesses in these industries can infuse some much-needed cash into their operations.

• Think twice before buying from big box online retailers. Amazon has become such a go-to consumer resource that many shoppers forget they can comparison shop right on Amazon.com. And some consumers may be unaware that they can support

small business when shopping via Amazon. Data from the Association of American Publishers indicates that print revenues have grown by more than 1 percent in 2020 as many people in quarantine are choosing to spend that time with a good book. When shopping for books via a site like Amazon, purchase books from independent sellers, who are often small book stores in local communities across the country.

• Purchase gift cards. Pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted in many places, but that doesn’t necessarily mean consumers are confident enough to visit their favorite stores and restaurants in person. Gift cards can be a great way to support local businesses even if you’re still hesitant to patronize them in person.

Small businesses continue to face an uphill battle as they confront the economic fallout of the pandemic.

Consumers can show their support for locally owned businesses in their communities in various ways.

1. Encourage customer input.

Business owners may not have their boots on the ground every day, so encouraging customer input may be the only way for business owners to get a handle on what it’s like to be their customer. That input can be used as a springboard to making positive changes that make customers happy, and it also can be used to help business owners recognize which staff members are going above and beyond to make sure customers have positive experiences.

2. Respond to reviews.

A 2018 survey from Review Trackers found that 63 percent of reviewers never received a response to their reviews. Engaging with customers is vital for small businesses. Consumers appreciate it when business owners respond to their reviews. Customers who leave negative reviews are more likely to put such experiences behind them if business owners reach out and seek their input while assuring that they’ll work to provide better experiences in the future. Respond-

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ing to customers who sharen c positive experiences takese little or no time at all andw it’s a thoughtful gesture tot thank customers who takeu the time to leave positivei f reviews. a 3. Get personal witha customers. p A personal experiencel drives many consumers toi support local businesses.e Taking time to be cordiala with customers also is ar a great way to learn aboute their needs and wants sof you can better serve them,a potentially turning thems into highly valuable repeatv customers. Repeat businessm is vital to the survival of small businesses. In fact, a 2018 survey from InMoment found that 77 percent of consumers acknowledge having had relationships with specific brands for 10 years or more. Getting personal can lay the foundation for customer-business relationships that can last for years to come.

Customer service is vital for small businesses, which can employ various practices to keep customers happy and coming back.

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NOVEMBER 26,2021

A R O U N D TO W N

Gowanda Recreation Roller Skating Begins December 6 GOWANDA,NY – Gowanda Recreation will sponsor roller skating again this winter on Monday nights at the Academy Place gymnasium beginning December 6 from 6 to 7:30 pm. The program is open to students in grades K-8 and their parents/guardians that reside

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Concord Senior Center News & Menu

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, ate lots, and looking for someone to help in the kitchen. If you want was thankful for what you have. The holidays have offi- some extra money & something to do for 4 hours a week cially started! On November 30, a Univera insurance rep – call 716-592-2764. Thursday’s lunch is Chef’s Special, be will be at the center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. On Wednesday, sure to stop in and grab a bite! Like us on Facebook: The Dec. 1 a Blue Cross insurance representative will be at the Concord Senior Center. For more information, contact the center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you need insurance help, center via email at concord2017sc@gmail.com or call 716in the Gowanda Central stop in! Friday is “Paint with Caroline”. The center is still 592-2764 or 716-592-2768. For lunch, call 716-592-2741.

School District. There is no cost to attend this program.

Gowanda Recreation will also provide skates at no cost to the participants. Call Recreation Director Mark Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Benton at 532-4053 for more 29 30 1 Entrée Salad 2 3 information.

Rotini & Meatballs with Tomato Breaded Chicken Breast with Tuna Salad with Hard-Boiled Roast Pork with Warm Sauce & Mozzarella Cauliflower Seasoned Spinach Fruit Cocktail (701)

Buffalo-Style Sauce on a Bun Fiesta Corn Broccoli Tapioca Pudding with Diced Peaches (736)

Egg on a Bed of Fresh Salad Greens Whole Grain Crackers Fresh Apple Chocolate Milk (711)

Chefs Special

Cinnamon Apples Mashed Butternut Squash Creamy Dill Cabbage Wheat Bread Frosted Spice Cake (737)

Erie County announces mask requirement for indoor public spaces

ERIE COUNTY, NY – With COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-related hospitalizations increasing significantly in Erie County, County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein issued countywide orders requiring that any individual entering indoor public spaces in Erie County must wear a mask over their nose and mouth.

This requirement applies to everyone, patrons and public-facing employees, who are age 2 or older and medically able to tolerate a mask. This requirement takes effect tomorrow, November 23, 2021 at 6 a.m.

“We consulted with business, community and health care leaders, especially with employees who are front-line workers, and they welcome this step,” said County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “This is the busiest time of year for many restaurants, stores and entertainment venues, and having this measure in place will provide another layer of protection against infection in those workplaces. Masks represent a united action to prevent additional restrictions on businesses and individuals. I thank Governor Hochul for her support for Erie County’s action, and also for her pledge of state resources and support to make vaccines and boosters even more widely available as the

holiday season approaches.”

“We can’t wish or hope our way out of this alarming increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “Our community needs to take action, and this measure is one immediate, visible measure that everyone can take to protect themselves and those around them in public. Masks work!”

Locations covered under these orders include, but are not limited to, bars and restaurants (staff and patrons who are not seated); grocery and all other stores; theatres (movie and live); barber shops/beauty parlors; gyms and fitness centers; entertainment venues (e.g., hockey rinks, bowling alleys) for both players and spectators; places of worship, including during prayer; and hotels, banks, all other places open to the public. Masks are strongly recommended for all other non-public work settings if social distancing cannot be maintained.

Venues that have strict vaccine requirements for entrance, such as Highmark Stadium and KeyBank Center, would not have to require masks for vaccinated individuals under these orders A mask requirement would be the first in a series of potential phases designed to reduce the risks of

COVID-19 infection in Erie County. Depending on trends in new COVID-19 cases, case rates and COVID-19 hospitalizations, Erie County may institute additional phases of response, to include vaccine mandates for indoor dining, fitness and entertainment venues; or capacity restrictions in certain industries; and, in the event of a severe

increase in hospitalization and deaths; shutdowns.

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is planning additional COVID-19 vaccine clinics for restaurant employees and other front-line workers, along with a robust calendar of clinics for the general public and the 5-11-year-old age group, which recently

became eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. Visit www.erie.gov/ vax for a complete schedule, which is updated regularly.

Pharmacies, pediatricians, the New York State Department of Health mass vaccination site at University at Buffalo South Campus, and a site at Galleria Mall (second floor near Macy’s, at KSL Diagnostics site) are all other options

Rock City (716)938-6936

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to get vaccinated. Erie County will also send a vaccinator to any Erie County resident at their home for a Vax Visit: call (716) 858-2929 to be scheduled.

Vaccinated residents over the age of 18 are strongly encouraged to receive booster vaccines due the prevalence of the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19.

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ERIE CATTARAUGUS CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY COMMUNITY SOURCE

NOVEMBER 26,2021