If you are a resident at BHA and are in need of Masks and Hand Sanitizer please contact the ROSS Coordinator. BHA has Masks and Hand Sanitizer and will distribute them while supplies lasts. If you need either please call the ROSS Coordinator at 845-831-1289 ext 307 for further information.

PLEASE BE AWARE THE THIS IS A TELPHONE CONFERENCE CALL AND NOT A VIDEO BRIEFING. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR THE TELECONFERENCE CALL AND COVID 19 UPDATE.

0:51 / 25:16#nyc#coronavirus#cuomohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R24xi6tXkyw

66,103 views•Streamed live on Oct 2, 202061265SHARESAVEEyewitness News ABC7NY219K subscribersSUBSCRIBENY Gov Andrew Cuomo holds a teleconference after news that President Trump has tested positive for COVID-19. More: https://7ny.tv/2GuzzkW

Dutchess County, NY sent this bulletin at 09/30/2020 04:59 PM EDT

Molinaro’s Latest Virtual Town Hall Forum Highlights
2021 Budget Preparation, Provides Latest COVID-19 Updates

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro yesterday hosted his latest in a series of virtual Town Hall Forums to inform residents about the latest updates regarding the County and answer their questions. Today’s forum included discussion of his 2021 Executive Budget proposal as well as the latest updates relating to COVID-19.

County Executive Molinaro shared a preview of what can be expected in his 2021 Executive Budget proposal when it is presented later this month on October 28th:

• Reduced county spending
• Smaller county workforce with no layoffs
• No property tax increases for residents.

Molinaro noted the County’s 2019 Year End Audited Financials were completed and released today and the County’s audited general fund balance was $56.9 million, reflecting the County’s conservative fiscal approach. The County’s fund balance reserves are crucial to the County being able to weather the rising pandemic and emergency response costs as well as dramatic revenue losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The County Executive noted, “We worked diligently over the past nine years to rebuild a solid fund balance reserve to be able to withstand emergencies and changing economic circumstances. The County could not have gone into this prolonged economic crisis, this pandemic public emergency, any stronger than we did. Our fund balance reserves, coupled with spending cuts, tough decisions and shared sacrifice will enable us to withstand this emergency and the uncertain economic situation.”

Among the other highlights of yesterday’s virtual town hall conversation:

• County Executive Molinaro updated residents on the most current data posted on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:

o 169,950 Tests completed
o 5,130 Confirmed cases
o 145 Active cases
o 6 Hospitalizations
o 156 Deaths 4,829 Recovered
o 2% Positivity rate

• The Hudson Valley region has experienced an overall increase in the regional infection rate in the last week. The New York State Department of Health and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have reported COVID-19 clusters related to religious communities in Rockland and Orange counties driving corresponding spikes in those counties’ positivity rate. However, Dutchess County’s infection rate, reported today at 0.8 percent, is the lowest of the six counties in the region. Additionally, Dutchess is the only county in the region to realize a decline in new COVID-19 cases over the past week.

• The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health continues to work with the NYS Department of Health to address the cluster of positive COVID-19 cases related to Hedgewood Home for Adults in Beacon. There has been a total of 71 cases related to the Hedgewood facility this month. Of the 145 active cases currently listed on Dutchess County’s COVID-19 data dashboard, 40 are current, active cases related to Hedgewood. As it has since these cases were first reported, the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH) continues to monitor the cluster at Hedgewood and remains in constant communication with the facility’s leadership.

• In October, the Dutchess County Office for the Aging (OFA) will host three free drive-in Bingo games for seniors – Oct. 14th at Bowdoin Park in Poughkeepsie, Oct. 20th at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck and Oct. 22nd at Boyce Park in Wingdale. These physically distant events will continue to provide seniors with socialization and engagement in a safe way. For 2021, OFA will continue to reimagine events and activities for seniors to ensure opportunities for socialization and engagement that is critical to mental well-being. As older adults are increasingly using technology to connect to news and information, health and wellness resources and social supports, OFA provides information regarding programs and services remotely through technology and will use Stimulus dollars to purchase tablets, laptops and other technology to interact with seniors remotely, as well as provide technology resources to those seniors who lack these resources.

• County Executive Molinaro reminded residents about the importance of vaccinating themselves against the flu, particularly in light of the current Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Residents can receive their flu vaccinations at their doctor’s office, pharmacy, retailers such as Target or Walmart and on Mondays, by appointment, at the DBCH Adult Clinics. More information is available on the County’s flu webpage.

• The County Executive also included his weekly reminder for residents to complete the Census survey if they have not already. Dutchess County has surpassed the 2010 self-response rate of 65.7%, with a current census completion rate of 66.5%, but the County Executive implored all residents to fill out their census survey at 2020census.gov now.

County Executive Molinaro’s next virtual discussion will take place on Friday, October 9th at 2pm and will be broadcast live on the County’s Facebook page. As with the County Executive’s previous 30+ virtual forums, American Sign Language interpreters will translate the conversation on Facebook.

This is Mayor Lee Kyriacou with a message about voting.  

Tuesday, November 3rd brings national, state, and judicial elections. We all want to vote safely.

If you’re registered, there are three ways to vote (1) by mail (2) early in person or (3) on Election Day. To vote by mail, complete and mail an absentee ballot request form to the Dutchess County Board of Elections by October 27th. Once you receive the absentee ballot, complete it and mail it back promptly.

To vote early in person, there is early voting starting Saturday, October 24th through Sunday, November 1st.  The nearest location is the Fishkill Town Hall on Route 52 near Beacon. Check the Dutchess County Board of Elections website for hours.

To vote on Election Day, as always, you can vote on Tuesday, November 3rd at your usual voting place. They will be set up to vote safely.

If you’re not registered to vote or need to change your registration, fill out and mail a voter registration form postmarked by October 9th to the Dutchess County Board of Elections.

The Dutchess County Board of Elections phone number is 845 486 2473 their website is https://www.elections.dutchessny.gov/. They have forms in English and Spanish as well as information on your registration, early voting, times, and voting places. Forms are also available at the Beacon City Hall and the Howland Public Library.

Thank you, stay safe, and exercise your right to vote

KEY POINTS

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a news conference on Tuesday.
• Cuomo told reporters on Monday that the state has reported a slight uptick in its Covid-19 infection rate, which has remained below 1% for over a month. 

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a news conference on Tuesday as the state reports a slight uptick in its Covid-19 infection rate, which has remained below 1% for over a month. 

On Monday, Cuomo told reporters on a press call that health officials are trying to pinpoint where the growing number of cases are coming from by investigating specific zip codes in the New York City area.

“Brooklyn is a major contributor in the number of cases,” Cuomo told reporters on the call, saying the borough had a local positivity rate of 2.6%. New York’s Orange and Rockland counties also contributed to the state’s overall increased rate, he said. 

The increase in cases is a troubling sign for the state as it prepares to reopen restaurants for indoor dining and schools for in-person learning in its most populous city. Earlier on Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the city reported a local positivity rate over 3% — the highest that figure has been in months. 

CORONAVIRUS

Cuomo also said that while numbers for the region are better than some days, it is still not great. He stated that the region still has a caution flag.

Volume 90%LIVEMore VideosAuthor: WGRZ StaffPublished: 11:52 AM EDT September 29, 2020Updated: 11:54 AM EDT September 29, 2020

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo provided an updated into the state’s progress on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic late Tuesday morning.

Governor Cuomo stated that the COVID-19 positive rate for the Western New York region on September 28 was 1.3%. The region was tied with New York City for the highest positive rate in the state.

Cuomo also said that while numbers for the region are better than some days, it is still not great. He stated that the region still has a caution flag. 

Below are the positive rates for the regions across the state for Monday:

• Capital Region: 0.9%
• Finger Lakes: 0.9%
• Long Island: 1.2%
• New York City: 1.3%
• North Country: 0.2%
• Western New York: 1.3%

Cuomo mentioned that clusters in communities across the state are creating an increase in COVID-19 cases and said that competent government must do compliance

“A cluster today is community spread tomorrow,” said Cuomo. He also reminded New Yorkers that wearing a mask is a law.

The Western New York region, which includes Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

Dutchess County, NY sent this bulletin at 09/28/2020 11:00 AM EDT

Office for the Aging to Host Three Drive-In
Bingo Events Throughout Dutchess County

2021 County Budget will expand new events
and connect seniors with new technology

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the County’s Office for the Aging (OFA) will host a trio of free drive-in Bingo events throughout the county in October, offering safely distanced social interaction in a fun environment for seniors. These events are part of OFA’s strategy of re-imagining gatherings and adapt to current COVID-19 guidelines and protocols, an effort that will continue into next year with new resources planned for the 2021 County Budget.

Seniors will receive a complimentary Bingo card when they arrive at the venue of their choice. Numbers will be announced over a short-distance FM radio frequency that seniors can listen to through their car radios, and participants will honk their horn when they have a Bingo. Seniors can play for fun and have the opportunity to win prizes supplied by the OFA. Space is limited, and registration is required by calling (845) 486-2555.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Though the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives these past six months, our Office for the Aging’s mission to enhance the lives of our seniors have never wavered. While we can’t host traditional, in-person OFA events, such as our Summer Picnic Series, Celebration of Aging and Senior Prom, activities like our upcoming drive-in Bingo games provide seniors with safe alternatives to interact and enjoy an afternoon of fun.”

The drive-in Bingo games will each take place from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the following dates:

Wednesday, October 14th (rain date October 15th)
Bowdoin Park
85 Sheafe Road
Poughkeepsie

Tuesday, October 20th (rain date October 21st)
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
6636 Route 9
Rhinebeck

Thursday, October 22nd (rain date October 23rd)
Thomas J. Boyce Park
6420 Route 55
Wingdale

With physical distancing guidelines and the prohibition of large gatherings in place to protect residents health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, OFA has provided alternative programming for seniors including drive-through summer picnics, enjoyed by more than 4,000 seniors in lieu of its traditional, sit-down picnics and new online resources, including Tai Chai instruction. The popular and informative “Medicare 101” classes will be held online this autumn and other exercise programs will also be added to a virtual platform.

For 2021, OFA will continue to reimagine events and activities for seniors to ensure opportunities for socialization and engagement that is critical to mental well-being. As older adults are increasingly using technology to connect to news and information, health and wellness resources and social supports, OFA provide information regarding programs and services remotely through technology and will use Stimulus dollars to purchase tablets, laptops and other technology to interact with seniors remotely, as well as provide technology resources to those seniors who lack these resources.

OFA Director Todd Tancredi said, “We have seen how modifying traditionally in-person events such as our Summer Picnic Series has been overwhelmingly received by our seniors, and we look forward to continuing to similarly adapting more of our offerings in the coming weeks and months to ensure we continue to serve Dutchess County’s seniors.”