Gallery: Messages of kindness from Cayuga County-area neighbors
Readers have submitted pictures showing how Cayuga County-area neighbors are trying to provide hope and encouragement to each other as we all cope with the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic. We invite you to email photos like these to citizennews@lee.net, or send them to our Facebook page at or via Twitter @the_citizen.
Kindness 34
Sent in May 9 by reader Beth Loomis: "Esther Loomis turns 99 today! Family and friends gather at The Grove to wish her Happy Birthday from a distance."
Kindness 33
From Dawn Perrault: "May 3, 2020, we celebrated my daughter, Jocelyn Perrault's (Auburn) 'Quarantation' from Nazareth College ... with a Masters in Social Work. She finished all classes online, including her thesis,, received all final grades, maintained a 4.0. and had no place to go with her news. Thanks to my fiance, Jim Brunet, we presented her with a diploma, while social distancing and factoring in all safety precautions. All those garage sale years, and hoarding, paid off, as we had attire for everyone This wasn't the 'real deal' - Nazareth is trying to make that happen in July, but no one knows how it's going to look, or who can go. Jocey - we enjoyed celebrating your "Quaranmencement" with you today. We wanted to share this great news!
"We're also proud to say that Jocelyn is a Healthcare Hero - working full time at (Loretto) Commons on St. Anthony in the Rec Therapy Department. She finds it most rewarding, among many other activities, to assist the Residents with Facetime visits to their friends and family. We couldn't be more proud.
"Jim constructed the 'Arm' in his backyard shop. He is a Shop Tech in the Syracuse University School of Design."
Kindness 32
From the Auburn Police Department on May 6: "In recognition of National Nurses Week. Members of the Auburn Police Department appreciate what you do everyday. Thank You!"
Kindness 31
Laura Montross submitted this photo with the following description:
"Isabella Montross, Madelyn Montross, Emma Montross, and their cousin Grace Parker. All the girls are from the Weedsport School District. Their aunt and uncle, both teachers have set up a school for them at their home where they are going above and beyond what the school is asking of the kids. They do gym classes, art projects, and science projects just to name a few. probably the most important lesson they are learning however is that of kindness and positivity!"
Kindness 30
Kindness 29
From Weedsport Central School District: "A message from our transportation folks to our students. We. Miss. You."
Kindness 28
From reader Karen Hindenlang: "Even before Gov. Cuomo mandated that masks be worn in public, non-profit orgs in Aurora started reminding the community that we really need to protect one another. In our tiny village, we all can support our volunteer first responders ... by doing everything possible to stay well and keep each other safe."
Kindness 27
From reader Karen Hindenlang: "Even before Gov. Cuomo mandated that masks be worn in public, non-profit orgs in Aurora started reminding the community that we really need to protect one another. In our tiny village, we all can support our volunteer first responders ... by doing everything possible to stay well and keep each other safe."
Kindness 26
From the King Ferry Fire Department Facebook page: "A very special gift found outside our station on Thursday afternoon: Hand painted stones representing many disciplines helping in the struggle against Covid 19 surrounding a 'Thank You All' stone."
Kindness 25
From the Cayuga County 911 center: "Cayuga County 911 is one team answering the call for:
馃挋馃殦馃殧Auburn PD, Cayuga County Sheriff Dept, New York State Police, Port Byron PD, Weedsport PD, Moravia PD
鉂わ笍馃殥馃殤Auburn, AMR, Aurelius, Aurora, Cato, Cayuga, CIMVAC, Conquest, Fair Haven, Fleming, Fourtown, Genoa, Ira, Jordan, King Ferry, Long Hill, Locke, Lakeshore, Montezuma, Moravia, New Hope, Owasco, Poplar Ridge, Port Byron, Red Creek, Scipio, Sempronius, Sennett, Southern Cayuga, Throop, TLC, Union Springs, Victory, Weedsport, West Niles Fire Departments
We see you and we are here for you
#StayHome #WeAre911 #911Dispatcher #ThinGoldLine"
Kindness 24
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office: "Thank you Junior Deputy Olivia Vitale! We appreciate the awesome picture you sent to us to help us thank our Nurses, Firefighters, Military, Dispatchers, Corrections Officers, First Responders, and Law Enforcement Officers. Thank you for all of the incredible work you have done to support our agency and mission!"
Kindness 23
From reader Candice Bowen: Glenon Thomas, of Westminster Manor, visits with her daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Lon Chase, of Dansville. Donna delivered her handmade teddy bears and face masks for the residents and staff.
Kindness 22
From Tom Ratkowski: "I just thought I鈥檇 share a photo of my grandmother Mary Luzack, who turned 90 on Friday, April 10. We as a family sung her 'Happy Birthday' from the lawn. I made this sign for her."
Kindness 21
Henry Murphy, right, waves to his grandmother, Marty Milliman, with his mother, Tracy, during a pop-up birthday parade for the 6-year-old in Owasco. Birthdays have been a challenge for parents during the coronavirus pandemic because of the need for social distancing so many families have held drive-by parties.
Kindess 20
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office: "Our junior deputies are doing an amazing job! These are incredible! Thank you: Carter, age 6, Megan Laderer, age 12, Drew, age 7, Connor, age 5, Amanda and son Carter, almost 2, Xavier Leonard, age 10, Elie, age 8, for helping us thank our urses, doctors, emergency medical services providers, first responders, health care workers, 911 dispatchers, and others as they are working extra hard these days. You all rock!"
Kindness 19
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office: "Junior Deputy Colton Wahl, age 10, sent us this picture to help us thank our nurses, doctors, emergency medical services providers, first responders, health care workers, 911 dispatchers and others as they are working extra hard these days. Thanks, Colton!"
Kindness 18
Makayla and Maliya Guariglia, 4, of Auburn, stand in awe of the statue of Harriet Tubman outside the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center in this photo submitted by their grandmother Lynette Geisinger: "A light in the midst of these dark days."
Kindness 17
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office: "Thank you to Junior Deputies Thad Wiggins, age 10, for making the flags and to Talon, a fifth grader at Casey Park School for the ambulance picture. Great job! We appreciate you both helping us thank our nurses, doctors, emergency medical services providers, first responders, health care workers, 911 dispatchers, etc. as they are working extra hard these days."
Kindness 16
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office: "Thank you to Junior Deputies Thad Wiggins, age 10, for making the flags and to Talon, a fifth grader at Casey Park School for the ambulance picture. Great job! We appreciate you both helping us thank our nurses, doctors, emergency medical services providers, first responders, health care workers, 911 dispatchers, etc. as they are working extra hard these days."
Kindness 15
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office: "Nine-year-old Junior Deputy Leland Johnson, an A.J. Smith Elementary School student in Union Springs, drew a red cross today to help us thank our nurses, doctors, emergency medical services providers, first responders, health care workers and 911 dispatchers, as they are working extra hard these days. Great job, Leland!"
Kindness 14
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office: "Thank you, Henley Hickman, for the awesome picture! Henley is 7 years old and a second grader at Red Creek Elementary School. You are the best!"
Kindness 13
From the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office to health care workers: "In an effort to express our appreciation and to recognize their incredible work, members of the Onondaga County Sheriff鈥檚 Office have written messages of support and love on two patrol cars, which will be parked outside the Syracuse area hospitals throughout the week."
Kindness 12
From the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District Facebook page: "To say thank you today, Jordan-Elbridge Cub Scout Pack 102 sent cards and cookies to our essential employees who have been busy delivering meals."
Kindness 11
From the of Just Desserts: "Keep our First Responders in your prayers! 鉂わ笍馃挋
We donated sugar cookies to Auburn Police Department, Auburn Fire Department and Auburn Emergency Room to thank them for everything they are doing for us! We are trying to donate to a different place each day. Stay healthy and safe!"
Kindness 10
Submitted by The Commons on St. Anthony: "As the most vulnerable populations are restricted from outside visitors and offsite activities, they are not only demonstrating their own hope and positivity, but they are also spreading that positivity across the community as residents at The Commons on St. Anthony display 'STRENGTH' in their windows."
Kindness 9
Reader submission with following note: "Great sign in front of an Auburn home across the street from Franklin and Prospect intersection."
Kindness 8
From the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office Facebook page: "Ariana and Eliana Harkness made our day with this message and photo they sent us from from home. You two are the best! From all of us at the Sheriff's Office, thank you for brightening our day!!!!!!"
Kindness 7
Cherrelle Smith submitted this photo with the following description: "Fourth grade teacher Mindy DeRosa has volunteered her time, free of charge to take pictures of families on their porches! I am moved by her solicitude to lift so many spirits in this time of chaos ... at a safe distance."
Kindness 4
From 水果派AV reader Amanda Bell: "My 6-year-old daughter, Presley, made bath bombs for our next door neighbor, who is a nurse, and we left them on her porch with a note and then the neighbor left a cute thank-you note in her window where we would see it. ... During this time, while trying to occupy my children, I wanted to teach them the importance of kindness and understanding for others, especially when they鈥檙e scared."
Kindness 3
From 水果派AV reader Amanda Bell: "My 6-year-old daughter, Presley, made bath bombs for our next door neighbor, who is a nurse, and we left them on her porch with a note and then the neighbor left a cute thank-you note in her window where we would see it. ... During this time, while trying to occupy my children, I wanted to teach them the importance of kindness and understanding for others, especially when they鈥檙e scared."
Kindness 2
Juliana Mulvaney, 8, with her message of hope.
Kindness 1
Juliana Mulvaney, 8, uses sidewalk chalk to create an artistic message of hope.
Kindness 6
A Citizen reader sent this picture in describing it as a message a neighbor left on the driveway for a member of the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office.
Kindness 5
From 水果派AV reader Amanda Bell: "My 6-year-old daughter, Presley, made bath bombs for our next door neighbor, who is a nurse, and we left them on her porch with a note and then the neighbor left a cute thank-you note in her window where we would see it. ... During this time, while trying to occupy my children, I wanted to teach them the importance of kindness and understanding for others, especially when they鈥檙e scared."
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The following update has been released by Cayuga County government in connection with the local response to the novel coronavirus:
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