The Peru Gazette

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.

To Our Customers,

Across the country these past several days, you have come to our stores to buy the technology and household necessities that are so valuable at a time like this. We remain determined to continue to serve you and are announcing today a new way of making our stores accessible while even further enhancing customer and employee safety.

In our stores

Beginning Sunday, March 22, we will offer contactless curbside service at all locations across the country where state or local laws allow. Rather than ask you to come into our stores, any items you order on BestBuy.com or the Best Buy app will be delivered to your car curbside. If, for any reason, you didn’t order the product in advance and the product is in stock in the store, one of our employees will be more than happy to go get it in the store and sell it to you while you remain in your car. This service also extends to returns and exchanges, the period for which has been extended on most products so that you have more time. Only employees will be allowed in the store, but we are determined to serve you as fully as we can. Unfortunately, we are temporarily unable to continue our product trade-in and recycling services.

For those who want to continue shopping with us online or on the app, we will, of course, still get you what you want.

In your home

As you know, Best Buy works in millions of customer homes each year, and we have long been proud of the services we provide. Because of the increased concern for you, your families and our employees, we have made the decision to suspend currently scheduled installations, haul-aways or repairs for large items like refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers and TVs.

Beginning Monday, March 23, we will no longer deliver these large products into your home and will, instead, offer free doorstep delivery. This means we will take the item as close as we possibly can to the front door of your home without bringing it inside. We know that this change will be inconvenient, and we are truly sorry. It was made with our employees’ and your best interests at heart. If you have an order scheduled for installation in the next 30 days, please expect an email or text from Best Buy about your delivery options.

Employees

Speaking of our employees, everyone working right now is doing so on a voluntary basis, and all hourly employees who volunteer are receiving a temporary pay increase. Additionally, anyone feeling sick is told to stay home, and they will be paid for that time. Finally, anyone exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 is also told to stay home, with pay, and we are paying employees who may need to stay home to care for their children.

All of us at Best Buy are grateful that so many states and localities believe we are an essential business, allowing us to continue to serve you when you need it most. We thank you for your patience and loyalty and look forward to continuing to provide you with the technology and home essentials you require to stay connected and work and learn from home. Thank you.

Source: State reports total of 49 COVID-19 cases, including 7 more at Burlington Health & Rehab – VTDigger

Folks, passing along the link below which takes you to a Governor’s page for complete Guidance of Essential Serivces Under the “New York State on Pause” Executive Order issues on the 20^th indicating that all non-essential businesses statewide must close in-office personnel functions effective at 8pm on Sunday, March 22^nd. Common sense must prevail and will on the street. If you are a business that provided a critcal raw material or supply needed to keep one of the business on the essential list then you are likely to be considered essential as well. That said staff reduction, limiting exposure and social distancing must continue as best as can be accomplished.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-issues-guidance-essential-services-under-new-york-state-pause-executive-order

For purposes of Executive Order 202.6, “Essential Business,” means:

1. Essential Health Care Operations, Including:

• research and laboratory services
• hospitals
• walk-in-care health facilities
• emergency veterinary and livestock services
• elder care
• medical wholesale and distribution
• home health care workers or aides for the elderly
• doctor and emergency dental
• nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities
• medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers

2. Essential Infrastructure, Including:

• utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission
• public water and wastewater
• telecommunications and data centers
• airports/airlines
• transportation infrastructure such as bus, rail, or for-hire vehicles, garages
• hotels, and places of accommodation

3. Essential Manufacturing, Including:

• food processing, manufacturing agents, including all foods and beverages
• chemicals
• medical equipment/instruments
• pharmaceuticals
• sanitary products
• telecommunications
• microelectronics/semi-conductor
• agriculture/farms
• household paper products

4. Essential Retail, Including:

• grocery stores including all food and beverage stores
• pharmacies
• convenience stores
• farmer’s markets
• gas stations
• restaurants/bars (but only for take-out/delivery)
• hardware and building material stores

5. Essential Services, Including:

• trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal
• mail and shipping services
• laundromats
• building cleaning and maintenance
• child care services
• auto repair
• warehouse/distribution and fulfillment
• funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
• storage for essential businesses
• animal shelters

6. News Media
7. Financial Institutions, Including:

• banks
• insurance
• payroll
• accounting
• services related to financial markets

8. Providers of Basic Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations, Including:

• homeless shelters and congregate care facilities
• food banks
• human services providers whose function includes the direct care of patients in state-licensed or funded voluntary programs; the care, protection, custody and oversight of individuals both in the community and in state-licensed residential facilities; those operating community shelters and other critical human services agencies providing direct care or support

9. Construction, Including:

• skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers
• other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes

10. Defense

• defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government

11. Essential Services Necessary to Maintain the Safety, Sanitation and Essential Operations of Residences or Other Essential Businesses, Including:

• law enforcement
• fire prevention and response
• building code enforcement
• security
• emergency management and response
• building cleaners or janitors
• general maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor
• automotive repair
• disinfection

12. Vendors that Provide Essential Services or Products, Including Logistics and Technology Support, Child Care and Services:

• logistics
• technology support for online services
• child care programs and services
• government owned or leased buildings
• essential government services

Eric R. Day, Director
Clinton County Office of

Emergency Services

www.clintonoes.org

eric.day@clintoncountygov.com
Admin – (518) 565-4791

Direct – (518) 565-4792

PLATTSBURGH, NY – Clinton County Government Officials can’t stress strongly enough for ALL residents, especially those that are most susceptible to the impacts of the COVID-19 virus, to stay home. Practicing, what has overnight become a common household term, social distancing is crucial to combating the virus by limiting the spread and ultimately protecting the greater public health. 

New York State has enacted a law referred to a “Matilda’s Law” which includes provisions for the most vulnerable population, those over 70 years of age and/or those with compromised immune systems. Matilda’s Law includes clauses regarding remaining indoors, pre-screening for any visitors and social distancing. 

For all including both vulnerable and non-vulnerable populations, all public gatherings have been canceled and public gathering facilities should be closed. As of 8pm tomorrow, Sunday March 22nd New York State has mandated that ALL NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, STATEWIDE, must close in-office function. 

Essential Services listed below and defined with specific examples are listed in the “NYS On Pause” Executive Order and can be found on the internet at the following link: 

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-issues-guidance-essential-services-under-new-york-state-pause-executive-order 

1. Essential Health Care Operations 

2. Essential Infrastructure 

3. Essential Manufacturing 

4. Essential Retail 

5. Essential Services 

6. News Media 

7. Financial Institutions 

8. Providers of Basic Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations 

9. Construction 

10. Defense 

11. Essential Services Necessary to Maintain the Safety, Sanitation and Essential Operations of Residences or Other Essential Businesses 

12. Vendors that Provide Essential Services or Products, Including Logistics and Technology Support including Child Care and Services 

Slowing the spread of COVID-19 will save lives. This is the message from all levels including the White House, State, County and Local government. Social distancing specifically limiting close proximal contact between strangers, friends and even family members is critical to battling this pandemic. 

What does that mean? As best you are able please; 

 Stay home!!! 

 Don’t gather at neighbors or friends’ homes 

 Don’t gather at family members’ homes 

 Don’t go to work unless your business/job is considered essential 

 If you need to purchase necessary goods or services plan ahead. Make purchases of enough goods or services to last a longer period of time than you normally might to limit the number of times you must go out to make purchases 

 If you go to purchase goods or services don’t take the whole family 

 If you are out and about for work or necessary services or goods, Give People their Space (maintain 6’ spacing between yourself and others) 

 Stay home!!! 

Limiting daily contact between citizens of the County and Country will help bring the spread of this virus under control. Unfortunately the closure of many places of employment is not a vacation and we must follow the guidance of our Public Health Official and the Orders of our Federal, State and Local governments. 

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Source: Husband, wife make 3 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Essex County | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Source: Behavioral health services still available | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com