According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA), there are approximately 1.5 million deer-related car accidents annually, leading to 175 to 200 fatalities each year. Of course, this number pales in comparison to the number of human pedestrians killed in traffic accidents each year (4,700), but in certain areas of the country, deer collisions are a real threat.
Rochester is one of those areas. In fact, according to a study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Rochester is the number one location in New York state outside of New York City — and the number five location in the U.S. — for car collisions with deer. The study reveals that between 2014 and 2017, Rochestarians filed 1,929 insurance claims because of vehicle damage caused by animals, and 91% of those animals were deer. And these collisions seem to be growing more common each year; 507 of those insurance claims were filed in 2017 alone. Only New York City recorded more car-animal collision claims than Rochester in the state of New York. Below you’ll find the top 10 list:
San Antonio, TX — 3,945
Austin, TX — 2,452
New York City, NY — 2,442
Pittsburgh, PA — 2,115
Rochester, NY — 1,929
Baltimore, MD — 1,896
Charlotte, NC — 1,816
Kansas City, MO — 1,780
Los Angeles, CA — 1,620
Houston, TX — 1,613
For Rochester residents, this data shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s painfully obvious as we make our daily commutes that deer collisions increase dramatically in October and peak in November, coinciding with the height of the deer mating season. And as the deer populations grow and urban environments encroach upon rural habitats, the animals become increasingly displaced. It’s projected that in the next 50 years, at least 17 million acres of forest land will be lost permanently to urbanization.
So, what can you do to avoid potentially fatal deer collisions? We’ve got a few tips:
Pay close attention during peak deer hours.
Deer are typically found roaming areas near the roads between sunset and midnight and during the hours just before and after sunrise. The low visibility during these times make driving especially dangerous. If possible, keep your high-beams on, and scan the grassy areas around the road for movement. Try to avoid driving during these hours if you suffer from visual impairment of any kind; the global population of people aged 60 and over is expected to double between 2015 and 2050, and driving at night becomes particularly risky as we age.
If you see one, keep an eye out for others.
It’s important to note that deer seldom roam alone. If you see one deer, practice caution in case others are following behind.
Do not swerve.
The leading cause of accidents from deer-related collisions are due to vehicles swerving to avoid hitting a deer. Swerving can drive vehicles into oncoming traffic, trees, and other objects, or could result in your car rolling over. Instead, slow down as much as possible, blow your horn in one long blast to scare the deer away, and if necessary, allow your car to strike the deer.
Deer-vehicle collisions can be highly dangerous and expensive. Even if an animal-car collision is covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance, it’s always better to avoid a collision in the first place.
Clearly, the coronavirus has changed the world. There isn’t a person in the United States that has not been drastically affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Thousands of people have lost their lives, millions of people have lost their jobs, and virtually every single person is riddled with severe anxiety over the last few months.
Hopefully things are starting to return to at least somewhat normal, especially as phases one through four begin opening. But it’s imperative that every Rochester citizen remains vigilant and focusing on preventing the spread of this deadly virus.
Here are some important aspects to pay attention to as we reach the later months of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Rochester Farmers Battling Back
The farming industry is struggling just like every other sector across Rochester and the rest of the country.
The Family Farmer Relief Act was signed into law in August 2019, which helped farmers all across the United States. Since COVID-19, though, additional relief has been requested. Thankfully, New York State Senator Chuck Schumer sent a release in early April pushing for federal emergency dollars to be allocated toward NYS Farmers representing the over 33,000 farms across the state. The bipartisian $2 trillion CARES ACT also included a Schumer-negotiated $9.5 billion in emergency funding for the agricultural sector.
“New York’s farmers and the New York agricultural industry is the lifeblood of the nation,” added Senator Schumer. “n good times, New York farmers work long hours on tight margins but in the midst of a global pandemic, they are losing revenue streams, suffering huge financial losses and being forced to discard their products during a time when we need a reliable food supply. I fought to make $9.5 billion accessible to help them out during this crisis, and it is imperative that we immediately put those dollars to use. I will not rest until New York farmers have the resources they need to help Americans get food on the table.”
New COVID-19-Related Changes to Workers’ Compensation Claims
In the past, if you were granted Temporary Disability (TD) benefits, you would be entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly earnings. During the last few months, however, due to the coronavirus, millions of Americans have been out of work. Many of those workers still relied on TD benefits and other workers’ compensation benefits.
Due to social-distancing requirements, the Workers’ Compensation Board relaxed the mandate that injured workers need to receive ongoing medical treatment every 90 days. Also, the Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board adopted an emergency amendment allowing telemedicine appointments instead of in-person visits for certain workers’ comp cases.
Though many Rochester workers have still been employed throughout the pandemic, a lot of construction jobs have halted. Since between 60% and 90% of prefabricated construction occurs inside of a warehouse or a factory, projects typically can be completed quickly — but not when these factories are deemed “unessential.” However, because many of these warehouses have been shut down over the last few months, there have been far less manufacturing-related injuries in Rochester.
Rochester Entertainment is Almost Back
Although there are plenty of fun activities that have yet to open, including movie theaters, malls, and festivals — there are plenty of entertainment options opening up! One of the most family-fun things to do in Rochester for years has been the Seneca Park Zoo — and it’s reopening this weekend!
“We are excited to announce that the Seneca Park Zoo is reopening just in time for the start of summer, bringing back a special place for so many people and families in our community,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “While we know everyone is excited to come back to see all their favorite animals, my family included, there will be new policies and procedures in place to make sure all guests, employees, volunteers and animals are safe.”
As we head into a COVID-19 summer, hopefully, Rochester — and the rest of the U.S. and world — can start opening up everything and the economy will start bouncing back!
There isn’t an individual in the U.S. that hasn’t been affected by the coronavirus in some way or another. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives, tens of millions of people have lost their jobs. And literally every single person in the country has been dealing with unprecedented levels of anxiety and fear.
Things are scary. That might be the understatement of 2020 — but they can and will get better. It’s just on us to do everything we can to better ourselves, our communities, and our world.
In Rochester and abroad, it starts with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
During quarantine, it’s easy to slip into a funk and waste away your day eating junk food, watching 8 hours of Netflix, and including in some other unhealthy habits. Donuts and Netflix every once in a while is not a bad thing — in fact, it’s downright necessary. But you can’t do that too often because your health will be in serious jeopardy. You have to do everything you can to stay healthy so you can fight off any viruses and so you’re in a good mental state to get back to work and start building your future.
Here are some great tips for staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the days, weeks, and months following:
During Governor Cuomo’s daily briefing at Rochester Regional Health in Irondequoit on Monday May 11, he announced that the Finger Lakes region — which includes Monroe County — is among those that have met the necessary criteria to reopen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo’s “New York on Pause” order, which mandated that all non-essential businesses close their physical locations and all individuals only leave their homes for trips to the grocery store and other essential needs, goes through May 15. Any region that has met certain criteria can start to reopen after that date, while regions that have not met the criteria will see an extension of the stay-at-home orders through June 1.
There is no getting around it: COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on local businesses. A great deal of uncertainty surrounds the virus, leaving many questions unanswered. What does the future look like for essential and non-essential businesses? When will things return to “normal?” Is it possible to fully return to the normal we once knew?
Several businesses are taking action into their own hands, not sitting idly by or waiting around for answers. Here are just a few things businesses are doing in a stirring show of perseverance, strength, and solidarity during these uncertain times.
Just a few short months ago, Wegmans made headlines for its willingness to lead the charge ahead of the statewide plastic bag ban. While annual polyethylene production clocks in at around 80 million tons worldwide, the popular grocery store chain was willing to be the first to tell its customers they’d need to make the switch to reusable or paper bags instead.
But now, Rochester’s hometown supermarket is being subjected to even more pressure to our rapidly changing world. As COVID-19 continues to impact thousands of Flower City residents, Wegmans is evolving almost as quickly as new cases are confirmed.
There is no doubt about it… the world will forever be different after the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted virtually everyone’s life in every part of the world. Families are shattered with grief, entire cities are shut down, and uncertainty and worry are sweeping the globe.
Across the U.S., hundreds of businesses have already filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (liquidation bankruptcy) and owners are doing everything they can to keep their businesses afloat — but they’re running out of options. Unfortunately, small businesses are suffering just as much due to the nationwide quarantine, and Rochester is no exception.
As of Monday, April 20, there are 1,035 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Monroe County alone. Sadly, these wild times have all of Rochester anxious, with the majority of people either out of work or working from home. Also, social distancing with PPE gear and self-quarantine are being encouraged all over Rochester, New York, and the entire country.
Though it’s important to spend time having fun with your family so you’re not all just constantly worrying, you still need to be careful about a few things. Here are a few things that you should watch out for during this year’s national quarantine:
With the rate of COVID-19 infections on the rise in Rochester, everyone is on high alert. Folks have been encouraged to practice social isolation in order to stem the risk of infection. Now that the first death from COVID-19 in Monroe County has been confirmed, it makes sense that people are feeling uneasy.
The rapidly spreading new coronavirus is already taking its toll on Americans — and residents of the Flower City are now being encouraged to wait out the worst from the comfort of their own homes. With major holiday events and public school courses both on the cancelation list, it’s an eerie feeling for a city that normally has no shortage of things to do.
With the last lingering dregs of winter upon us, it can feel like spring will never arrive. The long, dark times of a Rochester winter can have a serious effect on people’s mood and health. Some people even develop SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, due to the low light of winter.
Whether you are suffering from SAD or just longing for the warmer days of spring, here are seven tips to get you through the final days of winter.
There’s no doubt that Rochester, New York is growing. As younger families move to the city and there becomes a greater demand for jobs and entertainment, new companies are discovering the advantages of rooting themselves in Rochester. Rochester has the advantage of being relatively close to big hubs with plenty of financial opportunities while remaining lowkey enough to remain affordable for newer companies. The state wants those companies to move to Rochester and is making efforts to further incentivize them. Long-term economic development plans, with state investments and job creation programs offering specific advantages to not simply businesses in general, but the specific types of businesses that Rochester wants to attract.
As much as Rochester residents have grown used to rough winters, colder weather can nonetheless be rough on all of us. It’s become particularly difficult to prepare for winter snowstorms due to the yearly fluctuations in temperatures, making them harder to predict. In this past season, the wintertime has already been expensive due to regular costs. Usually, you can expect to have about 42% of your utility bill made up through heating, though these costs can of course rise during particularly harsh winters. However, the seasonal costs will only rise due to the recent snowstorm. Many of them will be associated with damage done at home, and will, therefore, be taken care of by individual homeowners by and large. A big concern, according to a consumer survey, will be roofing — 65% of homeowners reported that this was their major concern following weather damage, and a snowstorm can certainly do a good bit of damage to a typical roof.
Most Rochesterians can’t imagine life without Wegmans. But soon, they’ll all need to remember their reusable grocery bags when they make a shopping trip — or else they’ll end up paying the price.
That’s because the chain has finally set the date of their plastic bag ban, ahead of New York State’s own that goes into effect on March 1. Starting on January 27, Wegmans shoppers statewide will no longer have access to the single use plastic bags they’ve grown accustomed to using (and adding to a growing collection in the hall closet).
Rochesterians know all too well that living in the Flower City comes with its caveats. While the city offers a plethora of cultural events, a rich history, and an exploding food scene, the harsh winters can sometimes make some forget why they live here in the first place. When you’re scraping ice off your car or shoveling snow in the driveway — whether it’s six inches of wet snow or 38 inches of dry snow, it’s all the same — you might curse your decision to settle down in the ROC. But you may change your tune when you hear about just how valuable your home might be.
According to the New York Post, Rochester seems to be a “grim and depressing” place to live. But anyone who loves the Flower City will tell you otherwise — even when it’s covered with that ubiquitous lake effect snow. Although people over the age of 55 are at least four times more likely to suffer a heart-related injury when shoveling the white stuff, many Rochesterians feel the harsh winters are well worth staying for.
Ever since Water Street Music Hall lost its entertainment license back in 2016, Rochester hasn’t been the same. The once-top venue in the music scene was the victim of violence and financial insecurity, causing the city of Rochester to question its safety.
The months between the end of summer and the start of the hectic holiday season are ripe with opportunities to create wonderful memories with your friends and family. While the autumn weather gives you plenty of sunny days and the changing leaves create a beautiful backdrop, you can spend your weekends doing all of the things that make fall in upstate New York so special. In 2017, there were approximately 11.6 million youth participants (aged between six and 17 years) in fishing in the United States.
Mayor Lovely Warren recently announced a new effort to promote homeownership in the city of Rochester. She wants to expand the homeownership tax breaks that the city currently offers in downtown Rochester to all city neighborhoods.
The summer festival season in Rochester continues this weekend with the 43rd edition of the Park Ave Summer Art Fest on Saturday, Aug 3 from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Aug 4. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual celebration of arts and culture stretches for a mile and a quarter along Park Avenue from Alexander Street to Culver Road. Every year, this part of the picturesque Park Avenue neighborhood transforms into a mecca of shopping and entertainment. Better yet, admission is completely free.
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After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester
Industrial & Rapid Transit Railway (the “subway”) was built in
its place as a link between the five different railroads and interurban trolley
lines that served the Rochester area. As the industrial landscape of Rochester
changed, and highways replaced the railroads, the Rochester subway gradually
became a relic of a bygone era. In 1956 the subway was abandoned and much of
its route was converted into Interstate 490 — built to connect Rochester
with the New York State Thruway (I-90). Read more about the history of the Rochester Subway.
RochesterSubway.com exists to help spark
public dialogue around how we can better connect the neighborhoods of Rochester
NY, surrounding communities, and their cultural offerings. Rochester’s
future is written in her past. Let's rediscover it.
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