Scheduled for Jul 28, 202010SHARESAVE

Governor Andrew Cuomo provides the latest updates on the response to the coronavirus pandemic in the state of New York.

BEACON, NY: Mayor Lee Kyriacou and Beacon PBA Vice President Michael Confield jointly announced their commitment for the City and police union to communicate regularly and productively on issues affecting police, the City and the community.

Late Friday afternoon and on Sunday, representatives of the Beacon Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association met with City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero and Mayor Lee Kyriacou for lengthy open and productive conversations – involving listening, information sharing, assurances of respect and agreement on communication going forward.

Mayor Kyriacou and PBA Vice President Confield together stated, “We’re both appreciative of the open dialogue and are committed to making sure that city and police leadership are listening and sharing viewpoints.”
Separately, Mayor Kyriacou said, “I truly appreciate and applaud the PBA for reaching out, and working together to close the communication gap. All of us agreed that we should have reached out sooner, and that going forward, the communication will be frequent and open.”

PBA VP Confield also added, “Our conversations were very productive. We appreciate the Mayor’s and Administrator’s willingness to hear our concerns, and look forward to ensuring that everyone is heard
in the ongoing process of improving police-community relations.”
The Mayor added, “Each time I greet an officer, my first words are ‘thank you’ and more recently, ‘I appreciate the difficult situation you are in.’ That support continues unabated.”

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged New Yorkers statewide to take proper safety precautions as potentially dangerous heat conditions are expected Monday as heat index values will range from the mid-90s to low-100 degrees. This period of hot weather will result in an increased risk of heat stress and heat-related illness. People who are susceptible to heat related illnesses – including young children, the elderly, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work, and those who have respiratory diseases such as asthma – should take necessary steps to stay cool as temperatures rise. New Yorkers should monitor local weather forecasts for the most up-to-date information.

“With a new wave of extreme heat set to impact New York I am urging everyone to take all precautions necessary for keeping you and your families safe,” Governor Cuomo said. “This type of heat is especially dangerous for young children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions – but I am encouraging everyone to limit outdoor activity, and if you’re looking to stay cool at beaches and pools, please remember to wear your mask and practice social distancing.”

On Monday, partly cloudy skies are forecast for much of the state with temperatures ranging from the mid-80s to mid-90s and heat index values ranging from the mid-90s to low 100s. Rain showers and thunderstorms are also a possibility north of New York City, with the Capital, Central New York and North Country Regions potentially seeing storms which could produce heavy rains and gusty winds. 

The National Weather Service has already issued a number of different heat advisories for areas across the state. For a complete listing of weather watches, warnings, advisories and latest forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website. 

The New York State Department of Public Service will be monitoring electric system conditions and overseeing utility response to any situations that may arise.

If necessary, DPS will activate the Peak Load Reduction Program for all New York State agencies. In addition, the New York Independent System Operator will activate their voluntary Emergency Response Demand Program to curtail load as necessary. 

State Parks beaches and pools also remain open. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, density reductions of 50 percent of total capacity are in place. Prior to making a trip, potential visitors should check https://parks.ny.gov/ for capacity alerts and closure announcements. 

Heat TipsExcessive heat is the leading cause of preventable, weather-related deaths each year, particularly among the elderly. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat causes more than 600 preventable deaths in the United States yearly. To help New Yorkers stay safe during excessive heat the Governor offered the following tips: 

The following people are most at risk:

• Elderly persons and small children are mostly affected
• Persons who are overweight/obese
• Persons on certain medications or drugs 

Be Prepared:

• Avoid strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun’s peak hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Exercise and activity should be done in the early morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
• Drink plenty of water and non-caffeinated beverages.
• Stay out of the sun and try to cool off in an air conditioned building for a few hours during the hottest part of the day. The sun heats the inner core of your body, resulting in dehydration. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine, or go to a public building with air conditioning
• If you must go outdoors, wear sunscreen with a high sun protector factor rating (at least SPF 15) and a hat to protect your face and head. When outdoors, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Cover as much skin as possible to avoid sunburn and over-warming effects of sunlight on your body.
• Do not leave children, pets or those who require special care in a parked car or vehicle during periods of intense summer heat. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees Fahrenheit quickly. Exposure to such high temperatures can kill within a matter of minute.
• Make an effort to check on your neighbors during a heat wave, especially if they are elderly, have young children or have special needs. Make sure there is enough food and water for pets

Know the Signs of Heat Related IllnessProlonged exposure to the heat can be harmful and potentially fatal. Call 911 if you or someone you know shows signs or symptoms of heat illness, including:

• Headache
• Light headedness
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting

For more information on how to stay safe during periods of excessive heat, click here.

Dutchess County Seeks Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer

Dutchess County, NY sent this bulletin at 07/24/2020 12:15 PM EDT

Dutchess County Seeks
Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro has announced recruitment is underway for the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer position. The position, as highlighted in the County Executive’s 2020 State of the County Address, is responsible for increasing the diversity of Dutchess County Government’s workforce as well as the 73 municipal workforces the County oversees.

“Our goal is to foster an open and diverse work environment, at all levels of public employment, where inclusion and equity are valued. We are looking for an individual who shares those values and will seek to remove barriers that impede civil service employment for underrepresented populations,” said County Executive Molinaro. “Our Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer will need to be out in the community, finding ways to make government employment more accessible to all individuals it serves.”

The Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer is a senior level administrative position responsible for development, coordination and implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives to further the County’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, education, and outreach. This position is responsible for investigating complaints of alleged job discrimination and will provide recommendations for addressing issues. The individual will lead the County Diversity Committee and will coordinate the County’s 55-a program as well as coordinate requests for accommodations related to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Individuals interested in the Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer position should have thorough knowledge of federal, state and local Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) legislation as well as NYS Civil Service Rules. Candidates must be able to clearly communicate the need for, and benefits of, equity, inclusion and diversity to enhance Dutchess County Government’s mission of providing quality, responsive services to residents, businesses and visitors.

Applicants should have broad knowledge of the various community, school, faith-based and other organizations in the region who serve diverse populations including race, ancestry, religion, country of origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, and physical abilities. The County’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer will establish relationships within the community to help identify and eliminate barriers to civil service employment, develop strategies to recruit a diverse pool of applicants and ensure resources are available to help individuals navigate the civil service process toward successful employment. A Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of professional paid work involving diversity and inclusion, harassment/discrimination investigations and reporting, training and outreach is required.

Dutchess County’s Equal Employment Officer role has been most recently served by Jody Miller, who also serves as Chair of Dutchess County’s Human Rights Commission. As County Executive Molinaro announced in his 2020 State of the County Address, the work of the Human Rights Commission will be further amplified with Ms. Miller solely focusing on the Commission’s work, allowing the Commission to take on new tasks and contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen community resiliency and improve cultural competencies.

The complete career opportunity and position description can be reviewed on the Human Resources webpage of dutchessny.gov.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and a resume by August 7th to the Dutchess County Department of Human Resources, 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY or by email to dcpersonnel@dutchessny.gov.

“At this critical moment, we are proud the County’s Commission on Human Rights has fostered important conversations for years. We have sought to make real change – and the EEO and Inclusion Officer will be at the table directing necessary institutional and sustainable change,” County Executive Molinaro concluded. “Dutchess County Government has long valued diversity in our workforce, but we have work to do. The addition of an Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer will amplify our efforts to attract a broad range of candidates – providing our County with the best and most diverse employees possible.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday there has been an increase in coronavirus infections among young people compared with other age groups, posing a threat to the state’s reopening plans. 

At a press briefing, Cuomo said infection rates in every age group in New York have either remained flat or declined — except for people between 21 and 30 years old. That age group makes up an increasingly larger share of new cases over the last two weeks, according to a chart displayed at the press conference. 

“It has ticked up 4 points; that is a significant increase in a short period of time,” Cuomo said. Groups of young people socializing while not complying with recommended health protocols, such as social distancing and wearing a face mask, have been driving the increase, he said. 

Dutchess County, NY sent this bulletin at 07/23/2020 06:40 PM EDT

Public Health Advisory

County Health Officials Advise Anyone Who Visited Ashley HomeStore in Poughkeepsie from July 11^th to July 15^th to Seek COVID-19 Testing

Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH) Commissioner Dr. Anil Vaidian announced today an employee at Ashley Home Store at 1895 South Road in Poughkeepsie tested positive for COVID-19.    Anyone who shopped at Ashley HomeStore from July 11^th to July 15^th is advised to monitor for symptoms and seek testing as a precautionary measure.  Individuals can also contact the Dutchess County Coronavirus Hotline at (845) 486-3555. 

DBCH’s Rapid Response Team has been working with Ashley HomeStore to ensure they are following all recommended health and safety guidelines and protocols, and Ashley HomeStore has already conducted a thorough cleaning and disinfection of it’s facility. Contact tracing is underway with those confirmed to have had direct contact with the individual. 

 “We strongly urge anyone who recently shopped at Ashley HomeStore to be aware and alert for possible symptoms,” said DBCH Commissioner Dr. Vaidian.   “If you shopped at the store between July 11^th and July 15^th, we encourage you to be tested as a precaution.  This is an important reminder that the virus is still present in our community and we must continue to take necessary mitigation steps to keep our community safe – including wearing a face covering, social distancing and frequent hand washing.”

Symptoms of Coronavirus, which may appear 2-14 days after exposure, include:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath/trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Dr. Vaidian continued, “We are working closely with Ashley HomeStore staff to educate them on best practices and helping to ensure a safe environment going forward for staff, as well as the public.   We appreciate their cooperation and commitment to health and safety moving forward.”

Testing is widely available and information about the nearest testing locations is available at https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/Collection-Sites-for-Testing-in-Dutchess-County.htm.

Residents can protect themselves from COVID-19/coronavirus, with basic actions including:

• Wear face covering when in public.
• Wash their hands regularly with soap and water; spend 20 seconds thoroughly scrubbing hands
• Practice social distancing –maintaining 6 feet between themselves and others
• Stay home when they are sick – rest, recover, and help prevent the spread of virus and disease

For additional information about COVID-19, please visit:

• www.dutchessny.gov/coronavirus
• Dutchess County’s Coronavirus Hotline: 845-486-3555
• New York State Coronavirus Information Hotline:  888-364-3065

Thousands Take Part in Molinaro’s Latest
COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Forum

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro Wednesday evening continued his months-long series of virtual discussions with the community about Coronavirus/COVID-19, informing residents about the pandemic, its local impact and the County’s efforts at “Restarting Dutchess,” as well as answering their questions.

Several thousand residents took part in the telephone town hall component of this latest conversation, while hundreds more watched the dialogue on Dutchess County Government’s Facebook page. County Executive Molinaro has hosted more than two dozen such online forums since mid-March, all of which are archived and can be viewed on the County’s YouTube page.

Among the highlights from Wednesday evening’s discussion:

• County Executive Molinaro reviewed Dutchess County’s most recent COVID-19 data posted on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:

o 4,380 total confirmed cases
o 80,236 tests completed
o 222 current active cases
o 5 hospitalizations
o 153 deaths
o 4,005 recoveries
o 1% infection rate*

* The County today added “Infection Rate,” or the percentage of positive test results for the Mid-Hudson region, to the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard. New York State will use this metric to determine whether school districts in each region may re-open with in-person instruction.

• While the Mid-Hudson region, including Dutchess County, began Phase 4 of the “NY Forward” re-opening process on July 7th, the New York State Liquor Authority has updated its guidance, effective July 17th, for establishments with a liquor license, decreeing such establishments (restaurants, bars, taverns, tastings rooms and the like) shall not serve alcoholic beverages unless such beverages are accompanied by the purchase of a food item, which is consistent with the food availability requirement of the license under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced late last week that all restaurants and bars statewide will be subject to new requirements that they must only serve alcohol to people who are ordering and eating food and that all service at bar tops must only be for seated patrons who are socially distanced by 6 feet or separated by physical barriers.

• Following Dutchess County Public Transit’s return to full service on June 6th, fare collection will resume for all services on Monday, August 3rd. Multi- and single-ride passes and tickets are available online. Cleaning and sanitizing protocols remain in place on all buses, and riders are reminded that masks or face coverings, as well as adherence to social-distancing guidelines, are required. The Beacon Free Loop remains free of charge to all riders through a contract with the City of Beacon.

• County Executive announced he has appointed Adam Roche to become the new Division of Veterans’ Services Director, following the departure of Director Marc Coviello at the end of July. Mr. Roche, a United States Marine Corp Veteran, enters his new role having most recently worked at Mental Health America of Dutchess County, leading the PFC Joseph Dwyer PTSD Veterans Support Program, known as Vet2Vet, which brings veterans together in a safe, anonymous environment where they can work jointly to help each other manage the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury. The program has served local veterans by providing advocacy, housing and mental health services to local veterans and has become a trusted resource.

• July 19-25th is recognized nationwide as Pretrial, Probation & Parole Supervision Week, and County Executive Molinaro thanked the dedicated men and women of the County’s Office of Probation and Community Corrections. In 2019, the Office of Probation and Community Connections supervised approximately 2,800 individuals placed on probation, utilizing a variety of evidence-based interventions to reduce recidivism and promote positive outcomes and community safety, while collecting more than $278,800 in restitution for crime victims.

County Executive Marc Molinaro’s next COVID-19 Town Hall will take place on Wednesday, July 29th at 3 p.m. The July 29th event will broadcast live on the Dutchess County Government Facebook page, and as with all of County Executive Molinaro’s virtual discussions, American Sign Language interpreters will translate the conversation on Facebook. For information on how to participate and view past online COVID-19 community conversations, view the County’s Coronavirus webpage.

Missing the mall, Hudson Valley?

Due to New York State’s shutdown of malls during the COVID-19 crisis, local shopping centers were all but off the grid for months while each region worked its way through all four phases of the state’s reopening plan. It wasn’t until Governor Cuomo’s announcement on July 8 that malls were finally given the go-ahead to reopen their doors beginning July 10. Prior to this update, only stores with standalone entrances were allowed to operate.

Even though Hudson Valley malls can technically reopen to the community, this allowance does come with a few sticking points. First, malls must have COVID-19 safety measures in place to ensure the safety of both customers and employees. Second, malls must have enhanced HVAC filtration systems to minimize the potential spread of the coronavirus within the contained space.

Curious about where your local mall stands? Here’s what to know before you indulge in a little retail therapy – the in-person kind, that is.

Poughkeepsie Galleria

Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie’s main mall reopens its doors with the same safety protocol as its sister Pyramid shopping centers in Albany and West Nyack. All visitors and employees must wear masks, adhere to social distancing guidelines, and perform self-health wellness checks prior to arriving onsite. The mall uses CDC-recommended disinfectants to sanitize touch points, restrooms, and common areas, with electrostatic sprayers on hand for high-tech cleansing. Hand sanitizer stations can be found at digital directories, food court areas, elevators and escalators, and common areas. Any shoppers who would prefer to use curbside pickup can do so using the designated parking spaces outside various entrances.

Newburgh Mall

Newburgh

Newburgh Mall maintains an up-to-date directory with notifications about which stores are opening and when. Call ahead to confirm individual store hours, since they may differ from the mall’s regular business hours. For visitors and employees, masks and social distancing are required.

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

Central Valley

As one of the most highly trafficked shopping destinations in the Hudson Valley, Woodbury Common leaves nary a detail to chance when it comes to safety and social distancing. Signage is everywhere, one-way traffic is standard in many locations, play areas are closed, and plexiglass is in place. Snack machines and drinking fountains are closed for the time being, so guests should bring their own snacks or stop by one of the eateries onsite to dine. Occupancy limits are in place at a number of stores, and curbside pickup remains available at select locations. Find everything you need to know about a visit to Woodbury during the COVID-19 crisis here.