The Peru Gazette

Source: Nearly 350 guns collected in buyback held in Syracuse – syracuse.com

Source: Plattsburgh residents ready to visit Canada, but also eager to have Canadians back | NCPR News

Source: Stress, desperation, homelessness | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Source: Trapeze artist prepares for Festival of Fools debut

Source: Lake Champlain Dragonboat Festival to return first weekend of August

Source: Two North Country breweries win big at New York State Craft Beer Competition | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Residents gear up for 166 annual picnic | Sun Community News REDFORD | 166 years ago the Church of the Assumption was dedicated, and a tradition was set.

Source: CVPH main campus conducting COVID-19 testing | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | To better serve the evolving needs of our community, The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, CVPH, will transition all of its COVID-19

“PLATTSBURGH — Breakthrough infections among those vaccinated against COVID-19 were entirely expected, Dr. Keith Collins says. But the infectious disease specialist thinks people should make a distinction between infection and disease. “The vast majority of people that have these breakthrough infections are just that, they’re infected but they’re not sick,” he explained. “A much smaller number actually get sick and, of those, very, very few of them get sick enough to be hospitalized or die.” 

Source: Doctor: COVID cases among vaccinated were expected | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: CVPH, VT nurses push for safe staffing | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Vermont State Colleges System to require COVID-19 vaccine for students

The Peru Gazette has published several close-up photos of Plattsburgh Outside Art’s latest mural. Yesterday, the Gazette went looking for it. It’s on lower Bridge Street adjacent to G&G Auto Supply. The bright and cheery mural gives the corner a much-needed uplift. GREAT JOB!

Source: Contagious Delta COVID is in the North Country, but many still decline vaccines | NCPR News

Plattsburgh, NY July 23, 2021 The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) OB/GYN was officially designated as a New York State Breastfeeding Friendly Practice on May 25th, 2021, making them the seventh designated health care practice in Clinton County. CVPH OB/GYN was supported in this effort by the Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities grant at the Clinton County Health Department. 

According to provider champion, Dr. Kayla Rumack, “I am happy to work in an office environment that is supportive of parents and babies in their breastfeeding journeys.” She adds, “Every breastfeeding journey looks different and CVPH OB/GYN is happy and enthusiastic to help families optimize their experiences by planning prenatally and being supportive post-partum.” 

As part of the process, the practice has implemented policies and procedures such as; ongoing staff training, maintaining a breastfeeding friendly office environment and facilitating internal and external referral opportunities for mothers and infants. The practice also promotes a culture within the office that supports breastfeeding as the natural way to feed one’s baby. 

The Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Friendly Practice include: 

1. Develop and maintain a breastfeeding friendly office policy. 

2. Train all staff to be breastfeeding friendly by promoting, supporting and protecting breastfeeding. 

3. Eliminate infant formula and formula company materials from your office. 

4. Create a breastfeeding friendly office environment. 

5. Discuss breastfeeding benefits, especially exclusive breastfeeding, and the basics of breastfeeding management with women and their families during the prenatal period. 

6. Discuss breastfeeding benefits, especially exclusive breastfeeding, and the basic of breastfeeding management with women and their families during the postpartum period. 

7. Encourage breastfeeding mothers to feed newborns only breast milk. 

8. Teach mother about maintaining lactation when separated from their infants. 

9. Identify your local breastfeeding support network and foster collaborative working relationships and referral systems. 

10. Provide comprehensive breastfeeding support to new mothers. 

-more- “Working Together for a Healthier Community” – 2 – 

Because of the well-documented health benefits of breastfeeding for infants, children and mothers, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Department of Health and Human Services recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, with continued breastfeeding as long as mutually desired by mother and infant. 

For more information about receiving Breastfeeding Friendly Designation: 

https://www.health.ny.gov/community/pregnancy/breastfeeding/ 

Source: Stefanik gets new opponent, encourages people to get Covid vaccine – syracuse.com

Source: Blue Jays bid Buffalo farewell, will return to Toronto for home games – syracuse.com

                Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Plattsburgh) announced that two of his constituents were appointed to the New York State Rural Health Council –former Congressman Bill Owens and Citizen Advocates CEO James Button.                                                                        

                “Efforts to improve public health face unique challenges in the North Country because of its expansive area and limited access to health care facilities,” Jones said. “Since 2017, the Rural Health Council has aimed to address the health concerns of rural communities and find solutions that will increase access to family medicine and emergency services. As local residents, Mr. Owens and Mr. Button have seen firsthand the health care challenges in our region and are welcome additions to the council.”

“I am honored to be selected to serve on the Rural Health Council by Assemblyman Jones,” said Former Congressman Bill Owens. “My close to thirty years of experience as Counsel for Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and Elizabethtown Community Hospital as well as by Board service with the UVM Health Network will allow me to assist my colleagues in strengthening health care in the North Country.”

“I am both honored and humbled to be entrusted with this opportunity,” said James Button, CEO of Citizen Advocates.  “This gives Citizen Advocates and those we support a crucial seat at the table to advocate for the unique and urgent healthcare needs of our rural communities. We’re further grateful to Assemblyman Jones for his leadership on advancing the legislation to establish this council, and the meaningful impact it will have on healthcare providers across the North Country.”

Previously Jones authored and passed a law to establish the Rural Health Council in New York State (Ch. 419 of 2017) to advise the commissioner of health on rural health matters, create a biennial report and advocate for rural communities.

Owens and Button were recently appointed to the council. Owens is a veteran who formerly represented the state’s 21st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and currently is a partner at Stafford-Owens Law Firm and works as a senior advisor in Public Policy and Regulation at Dentons, a business law consulting firm. Button is the CEO at Citizen Advocates, a nonprofit health care network specializing in behavioral health and lifestyle care, where he has served in various leadership roles during his time with the organization.