HEALTH: Local programs have policies in place to prevent swine flu spread.

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July 2, 2009

By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:joe.olenick@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Joe</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu Jul 02, 2009, 01:25 AM EDT

Warm weather has arrived in Niagara County, and so has swine flu. But day camps and other places kids congregate are taking extra precautions to fight the spread of the disease here this summer.

The H1N1 influenza, the technical name for swine flu, has been reported throughout the county and state. Most of those cases involve children, a potential worry for parents, as summer outdoor programs abound. But local organizations such as the Lockport Family YMCA are addressing those concerns by implementing policies to help limit the spread.

“We’ve added a screening; every camper is given a physical by the regular nurse on staff,” Executive Director Mark Albiez said.

The YMCA runs a summer program at its East Avenue location, but also runs a camp. Camp Kenan in Barker offers family camps, as well as week-long and day camps for children. Its is also the location for Camp Happiness, a one-week day camp for people with developmental disabilities. The screening and physicals are in addition to what the YMCA normally does, part of which is to receive health and safety information from local, state and federal agencies. The YMCA gets information and tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Niagara County Health Department and the state Office of Children and Family Services. The national YMCA also sends recommendations.

Albiez said some of those recommendations include watching for flu-like symptoms in adults and children and keeping equipment regularly cleaned and disinfected.

To date, the New York State Department of Health has confirmed 18 cases of H1N1 in Niagara County.

Because H1N1 is now widespread throughout the state, the Centers for Disease Control and the state department June 16 released new recommendations for testing, treatment and reporting. The new guidelines discourage testing and treatment of mild cases, except in individuals with underlying medical conditions, or in residential settings, such as group homes or nursing homes.

Individuals with mild flu-like illness should contact physicians by phone for evaluation and should not report to physician offices unless instructed to do so by their doctors. They also should not report to hospital emergency departments for testing. The vast majority of people will recover without any treatment, and testing will not influence treatment decisions, the county department said.

The county health department said H1N1 infections are expected to continue throughout the summer, and efforts will continue to address the situation, as well as to prepare for the upcoming fall flu season. Production of a new H1N1 vaccine will begin in July, and it may be available as early as October.

The department said people can take the following steps to reduce the risk of H1N1, as well as any other respiratory infection: Cover coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or disposable tissue, dispose of tissues in a wastebasket and immediately wash the hands. People should wash hands often with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose, before and after eating and after using the bathroom.

Also keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth. Many respiratory infections are picked up by touching the eyes with fingers contaminated by viruses, the county department said. In households, keep family toothbrushes separate and consider individually designated tubes of toothpaste to avoid cross-contamination from one family member to another. Stay home if sick with flu-like symptoms and keep ill children home from school or day care. Avoid unnecessary contact with individuals who show signs of respiratory illness.

The New York State Department of Health has an H1N1 information hot line. Call 1-800-808-1987.

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Communities

NFTA targets Lockport bus routes for closure
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s proposed service reductions would eliminate all bus service from, to and within greater Lockport.

December 20, 2011
Library adds online selections
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December 20, 2011 4 Photos
Mayor Maedl
Julia A. Maedl is stepping away from politics after 19 years of service to the Village of Middleport in 2001.
Maedl, who was a village trustee for nine years and village mayor for 10 years, will not seek re-election. She says she will remain very active, however.
Since the death of her husband, Robert Maedl in 2008, the Middleport mayor has been running Maedl Woodcrafts. She is on the tourist committee, chair of business association and trustee of Middleport United Methodist Church. She sings in the choir and is in charge of Harvest dinner and chicken barbecue. She manages 28 apartments.

February 11, 2011 1 Photo
Memorial tree program off to a good start
The town’s new memorial tree program has been growing quickly.
Councilwoman Cheryl A. Antkowiak said the program is being done with Stedman’s Nursery of Newfane. Residents who wish to have a tree planted will receive an information packet from Stedman’s as well as a map of Day Road Park showing where each of the 85 trees are located. Stedman’s sells the trees along with a plaque if the resident wants one to be put up.

February 3, 2011
New recycling bins available soon
Town residents could have some new bins to go along with its new recycling incentive program.
At Monday’s work session meeting, Town Board members approved the purchase of new recycling bins. The town placed an order of 1,000 of the 18 gallon bins for $8,845 and another order of 200 of the 32 gallon bins for $3,110. The large bins are 31 and a half inches in height and 22 inches in diameter.
Both sets of bins will be blue in color and the 32 gallon bins will come with lids.
The 18 and 32 gallon bins were produced by Otto Environmental Services in Charlotte, N.C., a company Supervisor Marc R. Smith said the town has used before for bins. The company still has a rubber stamp with the town logo on it.

February 1, 2011
Library names new director
Beverly Federspiel, Director of the City of Tonawanda Public Library, has been appointed as the new Director of the Lockport Public Library.
Federspiel, 49, will succeed Marie Binderman, who is retiring, on Feb. 28.
“I’m excited,” said Federspiel, who has been at the Tonawanda Library three years after serving at the Buffalo and Erie County Central Library for 18 years. “I’ve always loved the Lockport building and the community is very supportive. There are lots of opportunities out there.”

February 1, 2011
Winterfest, take two
Winterfest was a big success last year and Winterfest 2011 may even be bigger Saturday at Royalton-Hartland Elementary School and the Hartland Bible Church.
“Last year was the first year and well over 650 people attended, that’s a huge response for an inaugural event,” said Helen Feron, the chairman of the steering committee. “This year we expect more.”
Entertainment and activities are scheduled from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. including a basket auction at the Hartland Bible Church at 3 p.m., where Magician Robert Geckler will also perform at 2:15 p.m.
The event is geared towards school aged children and free to children 10-and-under. Admissiong is $3 for adults and includes Chinese auction tickets.

February 1, 2011
High school project coming along
Construction on Lockport High School is continuing throughout the winter months. Construction crews work on a scaffold on the west side of the building, which is the Locust Street side. The school is undergoing a $23.5 million capital improvement project that includes adding a fitness center, a six classroom addition and completely renovate the auditorium into a brand new fine arts center. The auditorium will also have stage work completed, new music rooms, a renovated foyer and a new entrance on the Locust Street side. There will be improvements made to ventilators and mechanical systems, an art gallery, new windows, as well as new padding and bleachers in the gymnasium. The technology wing also will be updated, and the library renovated to make room for a computer lab. Also, bathrooms will be added nearby. The entire project is expected to be completed in September.

January 28, 2011 2 Photos
Going green
With a symbolic “shot heard ‘round the community,” Lockport’s historic Kenan Center Arena unveiled its new artificial turf indoor soccer field and renovated “annex.”
About a dozen local dignitaries were on hand Thursday night at special dedication ceremony, attended by about 200 parents and soccer players, who wasted little time putting two new soccer fields to work.
The new turf installation was part of a larger arena capital project, which included the renovation of the arena’s adjacent annex room, which was gutted last year to create almost 6,000 square feet of additional space. Parts of the old artificial turf field were used to cover the new, smaller soccer field in the annex.
Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker lauded the Kenan’s effort and others who joined in to make the $106,000 capital improvement project — more than 10 years in the making — a reality. Funders include the Kenan soccer players, who raised about $60,000 selling candy, the Grigg-Lewis Foundation, the Kenan Arts Council, Rotary Club of Lockport and the Lockport Lions Club.

January 28, 2011 4 Photos
Residents: Keep new map simple
As the Niagara County legislative district map is redrawn, it’s understood the three cities are most at risk of seeing reduced representation on the Legislature — and that parts of cities and towns could end up oddly paired in the new, bigger districts.
Residents who spoke to the citizen panel that’s drawing up the new map Thursday urged it to keep natural fits in mind as it’s dividing 3 cities, 12 towns and 5 villages into 15 legislative districts.
The map has to be redrawn every 10 years based on results of the U.S. Census, to keep the population count in each district roughly equal. The task is more complex this time, since voters decided in 2009 that they want the legislature reduced to 15 districts/seats from 19.

January 28, 2011
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