MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel and the COVID-19 Response Team recently announced the sixth week of COVID-19 Hero nominations for March 15-19.

Nominations are recognized in a video posted weekdays on the Chautauqua County Government Facebook page, and each nominee receives a personal note from the County Executive’s Office.

“We have received so many nominations that we have begun to recognize two nominees each day,”said County Executive PJ Wendel. “I want to again personally thank our week six nominees: Sydney Moats, WCA Home Staff, Bobbi Jean, Lutheran Hultquist Place staff, Annette McDonald, Panama Volunteer Fire Department, Danielle McKeown, UPMC Chautauqua Environmental Services staff, Colleen Hart, and the staff at Heritage Green. These individuals have risen to the challenge of helping others during a global pandemic, and are truly our COVID-19 Heroes.”

Moats is being recognized for her efforts to sign individuals up for vaccine appointments during her spare time. She has gotten well more than 350 people appointments, many being seniors having struggled to obtain appointments on their own. Never turning people away, she has spent countless hours taking information, refreshing web pages and entering information to set the appointments up for people in the community who need them. We received a substantial number of submissions from people she helped get a vaccination appointment, showing the true impact of her selfless work.

The WCA Home Assisted Living Staff were nominated because of their all-out team effort to keep the home running during the past year’s trying times. They rearranged their schedules to meet the needs of the residents while juggling their own home lives to make it work. They have adapted to the changing regulations and stresses of facing COVID-19 directly, while ensuring each resident receives the care and attention they need. They have risen to the challenge of being there in many ways for the residents while their families are unable to visit, and for that the residents’ families are truly grateful.

Jean works at Heritage Green and was nominated for the care she showed a patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19.She knew that family couldn’t be there, so she stepped in to do her best. Unfortunately the patient passed away after 12 days, and the family is so grateful for the love and care she gave, not only to their loved one but to others who needed additional care that family members who could no longer visit used to provide. She has been able to remain COVID-free, and while all health-care workers are heroes, people are especially grateful for Bobbi.

The Lutheran staff at Hultquist Place have displayed selfless love and dedication to every resident there since the pandemic began. They have kept residents safe and clean, held events for them like trivia or singing telegrams, made special meals, and worked longer hours to make the residents feel like extended family. They also helped keep family in touch through phone, window, and virtual visits with their loved ones. This care and extra dedication has given family members peace of mind and the Hultquist place staff have truly been angels or heroes to many.

McDonald works in the Brooks Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, and is a very loving person who gives her all to everything she does. She works the night shift at the hospital and during summer also works as a staff member at the Camp Merz Boy Scouts camp. Throughout the pandemic, she has put the needs of others before herself and her own health and for this dedication she deserves to be recognized.

The Panama Volunteer Fire Department has been answering calls throughout the pandemic. It has not mattered whether the call was for fire, EMS, or a service call; the members have stepped up to answer the call when their siren blows.

McKeown works in environmental services at Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where she cleans the residents’ rooms daily. She goes above and beyond to ensure the rooms are clean and keeps resident’s spirits bright by talking with them while she works. She has been working in the COVID wing, risking potential exposure to the virus in order to ensure a clean and sanitary environment for the residents.

The UPMC Chautauqua Environmental Services staff have been working throughout the pandemic, risking exposure to COVID-19 to ensure a safe and sanitary environment at the hospital. They have done a great job to ensure additional guidelines and cleaning have been taking place, helping to protect their patients, and co-workers at the hospital throughout the pandemic.

Hart is the administrator at Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and has done a great job keeping her staff informed throughout the ever-changing world during the pandemic. She helps to manage a great team to provide a clean, safe, and positive environment for their residents. Thank you for the job you and your staff do every day.

Also nominated was the staff at Heritage Green. In January, the facility faced COVID-19 in the eyes. Through teamwork, dedication, and many tears the team battled through working many hours a day to ensure the needs of residents were being met all while maintaining a safe facility and difficult times emotionally as some were lost.They are an amazing group and many staff are glad to be part of the team.

Nominations will remain open through the end of March. To view COVID-19 Heroes videos, visit www.facebook.com/ChautauquaCountyGovernment. To nominate an individual to be recognized, visit the COVID-19 informational page on the county website at chqgov.com, or the form directly athttps://chqgov.com/form/covid-heroes.