The Peru Gazette

Source: Burlington mayor signs two new emergency orders

Source: ‘We Can’t Spend What We Don’t Have’: Virus Strikes N.Y. Budget – The New York Times

Source: Adirondack Experience Goes Virtual-only for 2020 – – The Adirondack Almanack

Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury), who is running to succeed Betty Little as Senator in the State’s 45th Senate District today issued the following statement:

“Yesterday, Governor Cuomo made a decision to deploy the National Guard on a mission to remove many of our ventilators and ship them to downstate hospitals. This comes on the heels of a decision he made weeks ago to direct the National Guard to buy up large amounts of cleaning supplies from North Country stores for use in New York City. All while he’s proceeding with his plan to relocate COVID-19 patients from New York City to the North Country and upstate hospitals.

Source: Vermont Team Invents Emergency Ventilator | UVM Today | The University of Vermont

Source: Finding love in the age of social distancing – CBS News

Source: Important Update: Presidential primary date has changed – Sun Community News & Printing

Source: Couture earns MVP honors in CVAC girls hoops – Sun Community News & Printing

Dear Community Leader,

When we’re dealing with adversity, we want to know how bad things might become, and when it will end. One of the many difficult things about COVID-19 is that those kinds of answers have been hard to come by.

Source: As budget passes, Cuomo says: ‘The state has no money’

Source: Nursing homes forced to accept COVID-19 patients | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

https://www.facebook.com/clintonhealth/videos/585654638690977/?fref=mentions&__xts__[0]=68.ARBVo5bqnLkfoQ_SgwoCbVbAEGSEy_GNjJU5Rn32twg7HjwprU_qZuC-ZMIUcgNy9twUHfKTLl65mn_tjdN7ME18dZ0Ni5p9AU8qYyOiKsFWrusw2xStfIqQMWEnjTA_j1fPiphN6G7QBIJS5X4kYyKR6rWN-4DrFXM3G9wWK47TkpVYOVjtqEs4d9StOOmr5BSdylBH4jDyG8iSICDfoiLuVHztWJ0V8TZkx9tRZtnjcXKABlNS0XRuYeZoTCqyFc_m2I-ZyazC4LZvWs2NGYsJFweUTPNjUD83xcqAvicgH68GoHL25ipshPgdBbF9VaBVYpKFr7qCINYjh5yC5fm3iLMCyBl4HKsHAIgHGyVo7y8hCjjA7ykv-gLP456aqUO2AavMHcw7pcxe-rMpJSvF1co5JS1YvgM2FesAELPH_87UEf3I9C5pze9rs9COtJ4qOsuR7J3k7HAKBtrWqmQ2KkbQgNeF_XLJug3fQcM6NnyC0egcpKv6e6PE8v86ug&__tn__=K-R

Encourages Homeowners to Practice Sustainable Lawn Care to Protect State Waterbodies

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced launch of the state’s annual “Look for the Zero” public awareness campaign that encourages homeowners to go phosphorus-free when using lawn fertilizer. DEC is encouraging consumers to review bag labels for phosphorus content when shopping for fertilizer. Fertilizer labels have three numbers. The number in the middle is the percentage of phosphorus in the product, such as: 22-0-15. More than 100 water bodies in New York State cannot be used or enjoyed due to phosphorus overuse.

“With spring upon us and property owners turning to work on their lawns as a break from COVID-19, DEC encourages New Yorkers to ‘Look for the Zero’ and buy phosphorus-free fertilizer this spring. Excess phosphorus is a threat to many New York waterbodies, rendering these waters un-swimmable and un-fishable. By implementing sustainable lawn care, New Yorkers are helping to eliminate phosphorus and reduce pesticide use on lawns, protecting water quality and public health,” said Commissioner Seggos.

DEC first introduced “Look for the Zero” in 2017, with a public service announcement that shows the after effects of fertilizer runoff on New York’s waterbodies.

New York’s nutrient runoff law prohibits the use of phosphorus lawn fertilizers unless a new lawn is being established or a soil test shows that the lawn does not have enough phosphorus. Read more »

Source: Three Troop B officers test positive for COVID-19 | Public Service News | nny360.com

Saratoga, NY – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the below statement following Governor Cuomo’s announcement that he is signing an executive order to shift ventilators from Upstate to Downstate New York:

“I am very concerned about Governor Cuomo’s announcement today regarding his plan to sign an executive order to shift ventilators from Upstate to Downstate New York,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “The North Country comprises the largest number of seniors of any Congressional District in New York State, the most vulnerable age group to COVID-19. Our critical needs and vulnerabilities must be considered. North Country hospitals reached out to my office with this specific concern earlier this week – our rural hospitals are already very limited in resources and we must ensure Upstate New York’s needs for testing supplies and ventilators are fully met. I am committed to working through these concerns with both Republican and Democrat Upstate officials, our hospitals, and county public health offices.”

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue asking for support for farmers who have lost direct markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan letter requests swift implementation of the CARES Act, which provides significant funding to local farms and agribusinesses who have lost direct markets and income as a result of the outbreak. The letter specifically outlines support for dairy farmers who have seen a decline in milk price, as well as farmers who have lost local and regional market access. Yesterday, Congresswoman Stefanik sent a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting additional support for farms and agribusinesses.

“Our farmers are in serious need of immediate assistance,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I have spoken directly with farmers throughout the North Country and understand the significant role that they play within our communities and local economies. I will continue to urge the USDA to swiftly implement the CARES Act provisions, in order to provide direct funding and support to those who are facing the consequences of COVID-19, and I will call for additional support for our hardworking farmers and agribusinesses.”

Source: Many North Country Center for Indepence’s services still being offered in some form | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

Source: Legendary Vermont sportscaster Tony Adams of WCAX-TV dies at 95

From the office of Assemblyman Billy Jones

          “This year’s budget process faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Now more than ever, the health and safety of North Country families is my top priority. Unfortunately, this budget includes unnecessary agenda items proposed by the Governor. This year’s budget takes what should have been a strictly fiscal document and glues it to an enormous amount of policy. As a legislator, this was extremely frustrating because now more than ever I needed to be sure that our organizations get the funding they need to deal with this statewide crisis, and what we did was strap more burdens on our counties. Further, we should have done more for our small businesses and provided more funding for our schools.

          However, the 2020-21 budget does include critical investments and initiatives that will help our region.  We made some much-needed changes to the bail and discovery laws to help our law enforcement community to protect us, but we need to do much more. I was also able to secure over $1 million in funding for local programs such as the North Country Chamber of Commerce Quebec-New York Corridor Initiative, Older Adults Technology Services, and the Northern New York Agriculture Development Program.

          There are many near-term challenges that we must address as the coronavirus pandemic continues to progress. I have long been an advocate for broadband and cellular access, and with more North Country families working and learning from home, the need is even greater. Further, as we deal with the financial stress of this pandemic, now is the time to implement policies that help, not hinder, small business. North Country residents can rest assure that I will continue doing everything I can to protect their heath and economic security during this uncertain time.”

Source: NYS elaborates on COVID-19 recreation policy – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Adirondack Foundation awards 1st round of COVID-19 response grants – – The Adirondack Almanack