The Peru Gazette

Source: 860 doses of Moderna vaccine stored at Vermont hospital cleared to use

Source: A librarian’s memories of working at ‘The Club’ and Dewey’s legacy – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: GameStop: How Reddit Traders Occupied Wall Street’s Turf : NPR

Source: Here’s why it’s hard to make more vaccines and boost supplies

Earlier today New York Attorney General Letitia James released a searing report that found the state Department of Health underreported nursing home deaths related to the coronavirus by as much as 50 percent.  (Click here to review the report) 

State Senator Dan Stec issued this statement: 

“All New Yorkers, and especially those who suffered the tragic loss of a loved one to COVID, deserve and are entitled to the truth,” said Senator Dan Stec.

“Early on we were promised by the governor that data would drive decisions, with him saying he would share all of the numbers.  Today’s attorney general report suggests that the State Department of Health has instead obscured by as much as 50 percent the number of nursing home-related deaths.  The governor hasn’t kept his promise.

“For months, my colleagues and many others including media outlets have been trying to get accurate figures from this administration.  For months, we have gotten nothing but excuses.  Instead, the task fell to the state attorney general, who has spent a lot time and energy investigating.  What we are learning is alarming to say the least, a case of either gross incompetence or an apparent cover-up by Cuomo and his administration.

“Anyone who has spent time in a nursing home knows the tremendous challenge that goes on there every day.  I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the men and women who work in our nursing homes and try mightily to offer the compassionate and attentive care we all hope for our elderly family members and friends.  Not for a minute can we blame them.  Understanding what happened by knowing the complete truth is the only way we can make things better in the future.  The sooner we get there the better.”

Assemblyman Billy Jones issued this statement: 

“First and foremost, my heart goes out to all the family members whose loved ones succumbed to COVID-19 while residing in nursing homes. Since the start of the public health crisis, I have stood with family members and nursing home residents and advocated on their behalf to ensure their safety and overall well-being and also called for nursing homes to get the proper PPE, testing and other measures to support all staff and residents to battle this crisis. I am outraged at the lack of transparency and accuracy from the Department of Health and the Administration with regard to nursing home protocols and reporting measures. That is why my colleagues and I have been calling for the release of accurate data for months. The release of this report is only the beginning of an investigation that should uncover the truth these families rightfully deserve. As this independent investigation continues, more focus should be on those impacted and the lives lost right here in the North Country.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik issued this statement: 

“This is now more than a nursing home scandal, this is a massive corruption and coverup scandal at the highest level of New York State Government implicating the Governor, the Secretary to the Governor, the New York State Health Commissioner and the Governor’s staff. Every New Yorker deserves transparency, accountability and answers regarding the orchestration of this illegal coverup. I am calling on the New York Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice to issue subpoenas immediately of Governor Cuomo and his entire staff on all documentation and internal and external communications, including with any and all associations and lobbyists who have direct ties to the Governor’s senior team related to this corrupt and illegal coverup. I am committed to doing everything I can in my power to protect the independence of the ongoing federal investigation into Governor Cuomo’s nursing home disaster. President Joe Biden should pledge to do the same. As a fellow New Yorker, I want to publicly thank the effective and tireless advocates who have humbly served as the voice of their lost loved ones and have faced inexcusably cruel treatment from the Governor and his entire team, who we know have orchestrated a criminal coverup and have blood on their hands.”

Whether you’re a snow sport enthusiast or new to winter recreation, there is something for everyone to enjoy outdoors this season. Don’t let the cold and snow keep you indoors until spring. Bundle up, prepare for the weather and conditions, and try one of these fun winter activities:

Seven Things to Do This Winter

1. Fat Tire Biking
2. Cross-Country Skiing
3. Winter Tracking
4. Winter Hiking
5. Ice Fishing
6. Snowshoeing
7. Snowmobiling

State and UB Experts Will Work Together to Create Beneficial Uses for Millions of Waste Tires Disposed of Each Year

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced a partnership with the University at Buffalo (UB) to develop an action plan focused on the proper and cost-effective management of waste tires. Building upon the State’s highly successful waste tire stockpile removal efforts, DEC and UB will work collaboratively to assess waste tire markets and develop environmentally and financially responsible ways to improve the recycling of millions of tires disposed of annually.

“New York residents and businesses generate up to 20 million waste tires each year and to achieve our state’s environmental sustainability goals we must find productive reuses of the materials,” Commissioner Seggos said.”DEC has already taken effective actions to address illegal tire stockpiles that created threats to public health and the environment, but we must do more to strengthen tire recycling markets and infrastructure. We welcome this partnership with UB to help reduce an abundant and challenging waste stream and recycle tires in an economically and environmentally beneficial way.” Read more »

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