The Peru Gazette

Source: Time to double mask or upgrade masks as coronavirus variants emerge, experts say – The Washington Post

Source: COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker | COVID-19 Vaccine

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update co-sponsored by Pesetsky & Bookman, PC

Among those findings were that a larger number of nursing home residents died from COVID-19 than the New York State Department of Health’s (DOH) published nursing home data reflected and may have been undercounted by as much as 50 percent.

Source: Attorney General James Releases Report on Nursing Homes’ Response to COVID-19 | New York State Attorney General

Source: Adirondack groups call for more forest preserve funds and rangers | Adirondack Explorer

Source: Multiple cars involved in fiery Colchester crash

Source: Ruling allows religious school students access to vouchers. Now what? – VTDigger

Source: Northern New York’s first case of UK COVID-19 variant identified

Source: Winter weekend in Lake Placid: 10 fun things to do at this Adirondack paradise – syracuse.com

Source: Cuomo says NY ‘basically out of’ vaccine, Biden ramp-up ‘not enough’ – syracuse.com

Source: Around Half of Unvaccinated Americans Indicate They Will “Definitely” Get COVID-19 Vaccine

From the NYS Office of Environmental Conservation

Virtual Public Hearings on April 7; Public Comments Accepted until April 27

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced proposed regulations to implement a new statewide waste reduction initiative that supports food donation to help hungry New Yorkers and food recycling to help prevent the landfilling of food scraps. The proposed regulations would require composting and the donation of edible food by large food scrap generators to promote effective reuse of materials otherwise headed for landfills. DEC will hold two virtual public hearings on the draft regulations on April 7, and is accepting public comments on the proposal until April 27.

“Reducing food waste has significant environmental benefits, including creating useful compost and decreasing the amount of materials that would otherwise be sent to a landfill, eventually creating methane gas that contributes to climate change,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Perhaps even more critical now, when so many New York families are struggling with food insecurity during the pandemic, these proposed regulations support initiatives to connect hungry people with edible food and support organizations like Feeding New York State that are working to reduce hunger in our communities.”

The draft regulations would implement the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Act, which goes into effect in January 2022. The regulations implement the Act’s requirements for all designated food scrap generators to donate excess edible food and send food scraps to an organics recycler if one is available with 25 miles of the generator. The increase in food donations will help New Yorkers in need and result in job creation to assist the not-for-profits that handle food donations. The act also requires generators to recycle food scraps by using organics recyclers (composting facilities, etc.) to reduce the amount of food scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills and ultimately produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting facilities and other organics recyclers produce beneficial organics soil conditioners that are needed to improve the quality of poor soils and reduce erosion.

DEC’s draft regulations define a food scrap generator as an entity that generates an annual average of two tons of food scraps or more per week at a single location. These entities include, but are not limited to, supermarkets, food service businesses such as restaurants, higher education institutions, hotels, food processors, correctional facilities, and sports or entertainment venues. The proposal exempts New York City, hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, and elementary and secondary schools.

The draft regulations also detail requirements to donate excess food and recycle food scraps if an organics facility is available, as well as annual reporting. In addition, the proposal includes a temporary waiver provision for generators that demonstrate a need to be excluded from certain requirements, such as a lack of food scraps transporters nearby. The proposal also outlines requirements that apply to transporters, transfer facilities, landfills, and combustion facilities to ensure that once the food scraps are separated by the generator they are ultimately recycled and not disposed.

Full text of the express terms, hearing information, and related information pertaining to the proposed rulemaking is available on DEC’s website.

DEC will hold virtual public hearings on the proposed Part 350 regulations on Wednesday, April 7, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. via WebEx. The public is invited to submit written comments on the proposed regulations from Jan. 27, through April 27, 2021. Written comments can be submitted by email to FoodScrapsLaw@dec.ny.gov or by mail to: ORRS-Part 350, NYSDEC, Division of Materials Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7253. Please include “Comments on Proposed Part 350” in the subject line of the email.

New York State has taken decisive action to combat food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the launch of the Nourish New York program statewide and a pilot partnership with HelloFresh to provide fresh meals to veterans, military families, and other residents in New York City, among other initiatives. In July, Governor Cuomo announced (leaves DEC’s website) $1.5 million in funding for Feeding New York State to support its network of 10 regional food banks, as well as local farms to help provide milk and produce to food-insecure New Yorkers in response to the increased need for food bank services due to the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant built upon more than $4.3 million announced by the Governor earlier last year (leaves DEC’s website) for projects across the state that will help prevent hunger and reduce the disposal of food waste through food donation and recycling.

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) announced that he helped pass legislation to support small businesses by excluding unemployment charges due to COVID-19 from being used to calculate an employer’s experience rating (A.2001).

“The necessary shutdowns and restrictions put in place to help us battle COVID-19 have had adverse effects on many small businesses in the North Country,” Jones said. “And now, as they begin to reopen, these beloved shops and restaurants fear they will be hit with massive charges due to the rise in unemployment claims. Businesses should never be punished for following guidelines to protect public health. The bill I helped pass will prevent undue costs from further burdening our struggling businesses and help ensure they’re given a fair shot to grow and build back stronger than before.”

Experience ratings are used to assess unemployment charges on employers that reflect their past unemployment claims. Many small businesses typically have low unemployment claims and, in turn, have lower unemployment insurance experience ratings. However, due to the spike in individuals seeking unemployment as a result of COVID-19, businesses are bracing for a sharp increase in employer insurance tax rates.[1] Jones has heard concerns from many North Country business owners about these impending charges and was proud to support this legislation to alleviate this unfair financial strain.

Source: Approximately 860 COVID-19 vaccines spoiled at Vermont hospital

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update co-sponsored by Pesetsky & Bookman, PC

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 7:30 AM.  At this time, the sole purpose of the meeting is to discuss hybrid and fully remote instructional models.  Due to current COVID-19 conditions, the meeting will be held remotely via Google Meet.  The public may view the meeting live at meet.google.com/uuk-dhzq-onp.  The meeting will also be recorded and will be available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.

An agenda will be available on the District’s website.

From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C.  – In 2019, Congresswoman Stefanik co-sponsored and helped pass the TICK Act, which developed the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) framework for a national strategy to approach vector-borne diseases. Due to that legislation, the CDC’s recent report indicates that cases of tick-borne Lyme disease may actually be more than 10 times higher than previous records indicated – an alarming but important new discovery that will help fight the spread of tick-borne illnesses.

“Lyme disease is, unfortunately, an illness that many North Country residents live with,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Throughout my time in Congress, I have met with many constituents and families who are impacted by Lyme disease and advocate for prevention and detection. I am encouraged that the CDC now has a more definitive picture of the impact of Lyme disease in the United States and in the North Country. While tick-borne diseases still pose a serious public health threat, this new data will allow the CDC, lawmakers, and the American people identify new ways to prevent and detect the disease. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate on this issue in Congress.”

A link to the recent CDC report can be found here.

Source: Garry Trudeau on buttons and more | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Source: Lake George neighbors want to protect crystalline waters when nature calls | Adirondack Explorer

Source: Walmart will use robots to turn stores into automated fulfillment centers | Engadget

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Stefanik sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Army John Whitley, requesting a briefing on the threat assessments and all relevant intelligence regarding the U.S. Capitol Complex to clarify the justification of the decision for significant National Guard troop presence through mid-March. Read the letter, also signed by several of Congresswoman Stefanik’s House Republican colleagues, here.

Source: What’s in the state budget for the Adirondacks? – – The Adirondack Almanack