The Peru Gazette

Source: Cuomo says coronavirus cases accelerating, apex could strike in two weeks

Source: Local landlord encourages communication | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

Source: Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic | Sport | The Guardian

Source: Webinar for small businesses impacted by Covid-19 – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Saratoga County officials angry over essential employees getting huge pay bump

Source: Albany County jail nurse tests positive for COVID-19, forcing 35 inmates into isolation

Source: Watervliet, other Capital Region communities shut playgrounds to halt coronavirus spread

Update from the Clinton County Health Department

There are now seven cases of COVID-19 and it is anticipated that, just as in other locales, this number will begin to rise more quickly. For this reason, CCHD will be providing a once-a-day case count along with other relevant information. The count will be updated by the day rather than by each newly confirmed test.

Source: Get Involved: How You Can Help | Department of Health

DEC Releases Draft New York State Forest Action Plan Plan Available for Public Comment through April 3 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the release of the draft New York State Forest Action Plan for public review and comment. The State Forest Action Plan is a 10-year strategic plan for DEC and New York’s forestry community that provides long‐term, comprehensive, and coordinated strategies for addressing the challenges facing New York’s forests today. “Each decade, developing the state’s Forest Action Plan provides an opportunity for DEC to assess our priorities for managing and protecting New York’s forests for the future,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos. “The future of our forests affects every one of us, and I encourage New Yorkers to review the plan and provide feedback to ensure all voices are heard in this process.” The draft Forest Action Plan leverages New York’s forests in the fight against climate change. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (link leaves DEC’s website) sets the state on a path to achieve a carbon-free electricity system by 2040, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050. Forests and forest products are a vital resource for mitigating total greenhouse gas emission levels through carbon sequestration and long-term storage. The draft plan identifies ways that New York’s forests can realize this potential as part of the state’s comprehensive climate change solution. The federal Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act requires each state forestry agency to develop “Statewide Assessment and Strategies for Forest Resources,” collectively referred to as the State Forest Action Plan. A final State Forest Action Plan, which will be an update to New York’s 2010 Plan, is due in June 2020. New York’s State Forest Action Plan addresses the three national priorities identified by the U.S. Forest Service: Conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses; Protect forests from threats; and Enhance public benefits from trees and forests. New York’s plan builds on these priorities and identifies four primary goals for New York’s forests: Keep New York’s forests as forests; Keep New York’s forests healthy; Ensure forests benefit humans and all living creatures; and Ensure support, protection, and appreciation of New York’s forests. The public is encouraged to comment on the 2020 draft State Forest Action Plan through April 3, 2020. DEC will review and address all comments received. The draft plan is posted on the DEC website. Comments can be directed to: Sara Hart, Natural Resources Planner, 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4254, or ForestActionPlan@dec.ny.gov. DEC will hold a public meeting on February 26, from 1 to 3 p.m., at 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, Public Assembly Room 129. All interested parties are invited to attend. Anyone unable to attend may access the meeting online or via phone. To join the online meeting, click here to visit the meeting website. (Link leaves DEC’s website) If asked for a meeting number or password, use the following: Meeting number: 643 896 931, password: Welcome1. Upon joining the meeting, the caller will be prompted to connect to audio using their computer. Those who prefer to connect to audio by phone may do so by calling this toll-free number: 1-844-633-8697, access code: 643 896 931.

Source: DEC Releases Draft New York State Forest Action Plan – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Plattsburgh, NY – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to New York State small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and non-profit organizations suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Source: NY, IRS push tax deadline to July 15

Source: Albany County Executive ‘begging’ feds for more tests, supplies to combat COVID-19

Source: Is Vermont ready? Hospitals scramble to prepare for COVID-19 – VTDigger

Source: 15 coronavirus cases now linked to Burlington care facility

Source: Trump Activates National Guard To 3 States Hit Hardest By Coronavirus | NCPR News

Source: NY hospitals ordered to expand capacity, Army and Navy to help downstate | NCPR News

Source: Stefanik calls for Trump to do more to help NY | NCPR News

The article mentions what the New York National Guard is doing.

Source: Vermont National Guard ready to assist in COVID-19 pandemic – VTDigger

Source: Clinton County reports fourth case of COVID-19

Peru Central campus

Lessons delivered to elementary students

Dr. Thomas Palmer

By John T. Ryan 

On March 15th in response to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis the Peru Central School District and 15 other area districts suspended on-campus education through at least April 17th. Since then Peru administrators, teachers and staff have been striving to continue educating the district’s approximate 1,800 students. Last Friday and in a follow-up communication tonight Superintendent Dr. Thomas Palmer responded to Peru Gazette questions. 

How has everything been going? Dr. Palmer said, “The people and the staff have been phenomenal. They’ve gone above and beyond. The grade 6 -12 staff has been doing a great job providing online instruction and the elementary staff has been very active. Last Wednesday academic packets were delivered to elementary children. Things have been going better than expected. Is it perfect, no. Administrators are communicating with their staff and vice-versa.”

On Thursday student meal deliveries began. Palmer explained, “We delivered 1,310 meals to 655 students daily (lunch and a next day breakfast ).  It went seamlessly. People really pitched in and the kids were excited.” Every student is eligible for the meals. There are no income restrictions. To participate provide your child’s name to the Middle School office at 518-643-6300. The weekend food backpack program should resume this coming weekend. Details will be worked out later this week. 

Earlier this year the district issued Chromebook computers to every grade 6 – 12 student. Tired of waiting for Smart Schools Bond Act monies the school board authorized using reserve funds to purchase the computers. Palmer said, “It’s a different way to provide instruction. Kids seem to be doing OK. A few are struggling a bit. It’s a different mode of learning.” 

About 75 of the high school’s 566 students do not have access to the internet at home. Palmer said they are being provided information on paper adding, “The teacher needs to communicate with them. We’re doing everything we can so they have the work. All the Chromebooks have word processors. We just can’t transmit the work to them electronically.”  

Teachers provide up to five hours of daily instructional time. Palmer said, “Students are not getting all five subjects every day. They’re getting two core academic subjects. Elective courses are outside of that. If we overload them with digital it’s not going to be very successful.” 

Palmer said the school is trying its best to communicate with parents and students through email, videos and podcasts. The school’s webpage and Facebook pages are being utilized. All offices will be open this week but operations may be conducted remotely. Messages will be responded to the same day or no later than the next day. 

Thank you to Rebecca Ploof-Roach for the video

Source: Coronavirus live blog: Sunday, March 22 | NCPR News

Mountain Lake PBS is offering daily television instructional programming for grades K-12. Check out the schedule. https://mountainlake.org/learn

Today stating at 12pm from the High School Parking Lot in Peru then going through the Village first then all the other roads after!! Please Share Peru !!!! A message from Kathleen Roach for all of Peru !!! I will also be Joining the School Staff and Teaches in my own Vehicle ❤️ Remember we are all in this together and will come out better working together and looking out for one another !! ❤️ Sunday at 12pm.

Hello families and students of Peru Central School District. We, the entire staff, miss you. 💙 We will be participating in what is called the “teacher parade challenge” which includes all school staff who want to join us. Also the Town Supervisor. Peru CSD is a team! Starting at noon, Today we will visit the entire district to the best our our ability. Dead end streets can be tricky for a parade. We will start in the village and branch out five different ways. You are constantly in our thoughts. ((( No one will be getting out of their Cars at all))) Only a couple of people will be in the parking lot only to get all the cars to line up behind who they will follow on their route!!! There will be no contact as we will all be in our our own vehicles waving and beeping from the roadway.