DEP announces 1,581 new acres open for hunting

With New York’s regular hunting season starting this weekend, new or expanded access in four counties provides additional opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts

 

 

            The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that it has opened access this year to 1,581 additional acres of water supply land where outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy recreation, including hunting. The expanded access includes 111 acres on three new parcels of recreation land, and 1,470 acres that were added to existing recreation areas throughout the Catskills. With the state’s regular hunting season starting this weekend, watershed residents and visitors are encouraged to utilize the nearly 100,000 acres of water supply land managed by DEP that are open for hunting. That includes more than 72,000 acres known as “public access areas” that are open for hiking, hunting, fishing, and trapping without the need for a DEP Access Permit. Parcels open for hunting are spread across more than 400 recreation areas in Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.

 

            “DEP has long understood that many types of recreation are compatible with our core mission to protect the water supply for millions of New Yorkers,” DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said. “Our neighbors who participate in hunting season are important to the ecological health of our watershed, and we welcome them to make safe and productive use of the water supply lands that we’ve opened for hunting in the Catskills and Hudson Valley.”

 

            The new recreation units that allow hunting include three parcels of land located in Delaware and Greene counties: 

 

Recreation Unit	Recreational uses allowed	Acres	County
Hubbell Hill Hollow	PAA	38	Delaware
Huntersfield Headwaters	PAA	28	Greene
Huntley Hollow	PAA	45	Delaware

Note: PAA denotes properties that are open for use without the need for a DEP Access Permit. All others require a free permit.

 

            DEP has also added new lands open for hunting in 14 existing recreational units located in Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties. They include the following:

 

 

Recreation Unit	Recreational uses allowed	Acres	County
Alpaca Ridge	PAA	200	Delaware
Bagley Brook Headwaters	PAA	234	Delaware
Birch Creek	PAA	52	Ulster
Cape Horn	PAA	200	Delaware
Chestnut Creek	PAA	43	Sullivan
Gladstone Hollow	PAA	331	Delaware
Ladleton	PAA	97	Ulster
Little Delaware	PAA	75	Delaware
Marvin Hollow	PAA	118	Delaware
North Walton	PAA	23	Delaware
Roaring Kill	PAA	5	Greene
State Road Hollow	PAA	48	Delaware
Sutherland Road	PAA	19	Delaware
West Settlement	PAA	25	Delaware

 

Note: PAA denotes properties that are open for use without the need for a DEP Access Permit. All others require a free permit. 

 

            More information about each of these recreation units – including directions, printable maps and more – can be found by using DEP’s RecMapper utility. The RecMapper is an interactive tool that allows users to zoom in and click on highlighted parcels to learn about their location, size, and the recreational uses that are allowed on them. The RecMapper can be used on any computer or mobile device by visiting www.nyc.gov/dep/recmap. Addition information about recreation on water supper lands can be found at www.nyc.gov/dep/recreation. Hunters who are unclear about what activities are allowed in each unit may also call (800) 575-LAND during regular business hours.

 

All state hunting regulations – including antler restrictions throughout most of the watershed region in the Catskills – apply on water supply lands. Also, those using water supply lands for recreation and hunting should pay careful attention to posted signs that outline what uses are allowed.  Some parcels that allow hunting are only open for bow hunting. Access to some areas may be restricted due to ongoing forestry projects, and entering areas marked as closed will be considered trespassing. Hunters should also pay careful attention to recreation unit boundaries to avoid venturing onto private properties. In addition, some parcels open for recreation, including those not listed as PAA above, require a free DEP access permit that can obtained through an online permitting system found by clicking here.

 

Deer management is an important aspect of protecting and maintaining water quality in New York City’s reservoir system. Dense populations of deer can stunt the natural regeneration of forest lands that serve as an important natural filter for water as it passes over the land and enters the streams, creeks and rivers that feed the City’s reservoirs. Hunting on these water supply lands, especially where forestry projects have recently been completed, provides a check on the deer population and gives young trees a better chance to grow. In turn, this improves the vigor and stability of our local forests by diversifying their age and range of species.

           

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality water each day to more than 9.3 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties who consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and other professionals in the watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $168.9 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with $20.1 billion in investments planned over the next decade that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/nycwater.

 

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SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tiger Weekly Recap

SUNY COBLESKILL FIGHTING TIGER WEEKLY RECAP 11/23/20 

The SUNY Cobleskill ESports Team closed their 2020 SUNY ESports League Fall Season in impressive fashion on Wednesday evening by capturing the Fortnite Championship in the league’s Fall Season Championship Tournament. The Fighting Tiger team of senior Brycen Franek, Cobleskill, N.Y., and Jesse Hodge, Syracuse, N.Y., East Minoa High School, became the first players in team history to win a SUNY ESports League Championship in program history. 

 

In the semifinals, the third ranked Fighting Tigers defeated the second ranked SUNY Oneonta A Team rallying from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 victory over the Red Dragons. Then in the Championship game, Cobleskill would defeat the number 17 ranked SUNY Oneonta B Team coming back from a 2-0 deficit in an elimination game to post a 3-2 victory to claim the tournament title.  

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Congressman Delgado Statement: Delgado Votes to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Apprenticeship Programs

U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) joined colleagues in voting to advance the bipartisan National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which expands training opportunities for skilled jobs. Specifically, this legislation authorizes a grant program to grow Registered Apprenticeships, encourages employer participation and recruitment of individuals with barriers to employment, and expands educational alignment with national apprenticeship programs. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 would provide for nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system.

“Workforce development and apprenticeship programs are essential to our local economy and help ensure that folks have the skills needed to find good-paying jobs here in upstate. I am proud to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle in voting to pass the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which would expand the number of Registered Apprenticeships to help both employers and those seeking employment,” said Rep. Delgado. “Throughout my first term, I’ve visited workforce development and BOCES programs all across the district, and introduced legislation to create training opportunities and jobs in high-demand industry sectors. I urge the Senate to take up this legislation as soon as possible to help more Americans get back to work and support job growth throughout our region.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Delgado introduced the Gateway to Careers Act to create a career pathway grant program that would fund partnerships between community or technical colleges and workforce development partners such as state workforce development boards, industry associations, and community-based organizations. 

Rep. Delgado also introduced the Green Jobs and Opportunity Act, which would make a significant investment—$260 million per year for fiscal years 2020 through 2022—for workforce development for displaced workers. This funding would be distributed as grants to educational institutions and labor organizations, among other entities, to establish flexible training programs to reduce any shortages and skill gaps identified in reports created by the Departments of Labor and Energy. The bill the House passed today helps to achieve Delgado’s goals of developing the workforce to prepare for the jobs necessary to create a sustainable and green economy.

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 is endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Jobs for the Future (JFF), Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), National Skills Coalition (NSC), National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues (TWTF), North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), and Third Way.

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Sen Metzger Statement: After Fighting Proposed NYSEG Rate Plan, Sen. Metzger Welcomes PSC Changes

The NYS Public Service Commission (PSC) yesterday released an Order in the rate case of New York State Electric & Gas Company (NYSEG), which significantly reduces the proposed rate increase from nearly 25 percent over three years to less than six percent (two percent in the first year, 1.95 percent in the second year, and 1.99 percent in the third year). The decision to modify the Joint Proposal agreed to by the rate case parties this summer came after significant criticism by Senator Metzger in comments to the Commission and in the press about raising rates amidst a pandemic and severe economic downturn that have left many of her constituents struggling to pay their bills. The PSC Order further requires that NYSEG provide emergency relief in the form of $100 in bill credits to vulnerable residential and small business customers. 

In addition to fighting the enormous rate hike alongside the Public Utility Law Project and AARP, Senator Metzger has also been advocating for increased investment to improve grid reliability, especially in Sullivan County, where power outages are frequent. Over the summer, Senator Metzger organized a meeting with NYSEG's CEO and staff that included local and county government officials from Sullivan County to impress on NYSEG the need to accelerate investments to replace antiquated circuits and beef up vegetation management along the power lines. Senator Metzger also pressed the PSC for changes to the Joint Proposal to better take into account these needs. Yesterday's PSC Order nearly doubles spending by NYSEG on vegetation management (increasing this budget item from $30 million to $57 million), which will reduce the incidence of power outages from downed trees and limbs. Moreover, the rate plan includes $1.6 billion for grid upgrades, including replacing the notorious Yulan circuit in Sullivan County that is responsible for hundreds of power disruptions a year, according to local officials.

"I've been fighting this proposed rate increase since last year, and while I do not feel any rate increase is justified during this challenging time, the PSC has reduced the increase to a fraction of what the parties to this rate case agreed to, and this is a much-welcomed improvement," said Senator Metzger (SD-42). "Moreover, the additional emergency bill credit for hard-hit residential and business customers will provide further relief. I am also pleased to see investments in new circuits and a near doubling of the required investment in vegetation management, which is absolutely essential to improving electricity reliability in the heavily wooded areas I represent, where downed trees and limbs cause the lion's share of outages. Another welcome development in the rate plan is the addition of 150 linemen and women and 55 apprentice linemen and women. The company has been severely understaffed when it comes to boots on the ground, which among other things has slowed recovery from power outages."

On the environmental front, Senator Metzger expressed strong support for a provision of the new plan to achieve net-zero growth in gas sales and end promotion of gas services, focusing instead on incentivizing expanded use of heat pumps for heating and cooling, which are much more climate-friendly. Metzger was disappointed, however, that the PSC approved an increase in customer fixed charges from $15.11 to $17.00 per month, which disproportionately burdens customers who use less energy.  

Senator Jen Metzger serves on the Senate Energy & Telecommunications Committee. Prior to entering the State Senate in 2019 she served as Director of Citizens for Local Power, a nonprofit organization that fights unfair utility rates and practices and helps communities shift to a clean energy economy. 

Jen Metzger represents the 42nd Senate District, which includes all of Sullivan County and parts of Delaware, Orange, and Ulster Counties. Senator Metzger serves as Chair of the Agriculture Committee and sits on the Environmental Conservation, Education, Health, Energy and Telecommunications, Local Government, Women’s Issues, Domestic Animal Welfare, and Legislative Commission on Rural Resources Committees. 

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CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ARRIVAL OF GRAF PIANO WITH VIRTUAL LECTURE RECITAL ON NOVEMBER 28

The Catskill Mountain Foundation will celebrate the arrival of an original 1826 Conrad Graf Fortepiano at the Piano Performance Museum in Hunter with a virtual lecture-recital by Academy of Fortepiano Performance founders and faculty members Yi-heng Yang and Maria Rose with live Q&A on November 28. The performance will be interspersed with a recorded lecture to be delivered by renowned musicologist Edward Swenson of Ithaca, NY, from whom the piano was acquired.
According to Pam Weisberg, Director of Performing Arts at CMF, the new arrival of the Graf piano is a welcome boost to the piano performance museum’s collection. She is pleased that the Foundation will be able to present such a performance and lecture by Swenson, noted musicologist and one of the foremost piano restorers in the world.   “This special presentation represents the continuation in our series of virtual offerings and will feature performances and a live Q&A with Yi-heng and Maria. It is our hope that we can add more programs of this kind which showcase our amazing collection at the Piano Performance Museum in Hunter,” notes Weisberg.
The arrival of the Graf fortepiano signals a significant step forward in the Museum’s collection, curated by Steven E. Greenstein. Conrad Graf ’s importance as a pianomaker in the history of the instrument cannot be overstated, and neither can the stellar reputation of his fortepianos amongst many of the most celebrated composers and musicians not just of the 19th century, but of the 20th and 21st centuries as well.   For the recital at the piano museum, Yang will play late Beethoven Bagatelles, Opus 126, which fit well with the composer’s late style. While not written specifically for the Graf piano, the Bagatelles make use of the contrast, unpredictability and the color of the Graf. She will also play some Vorisek impromptus, which bring out the charm and delicacy of the Graf.  The Graf now in the piano museum was featured in a recently released recording by Yang with violinist Abigail Karr entitled Felix Mendelssohn: Sonatas from Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood on the Olde Focus Recordings label.
Rose will play a Schubert sonata to highlight the unique sounds of the Graf. Schubert was a contemporary of Conrad Graf. In 1808, the 11-year-old Schubert already practiced on Graf ’s pianos at the latter’s workshop in a suburb of Vienna. Although he didn’t own a Graf piano, due to the fact that he was very poor, the Graf pianos remain to this day inextricably linked with Schubert’s piano music as they match each other so well in warmth, clarity and colorfulness. Rose will also play two Romances by Clara Schumann, who received a Graf piano from her husband, Robert Schumann.
Above: Academy of Fortepiano Performance founders and faculty members Yi-heng Yang (left) and Maria Rose (right)
The performance will be available online on the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s YouTube and Facebook pages starting on November 28 at 7:30 pm, followed by a live Q & A session. To register for this free event, visit www.catskillmtn.org.
About Catskill Mountain Foundation The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s (CMF) aim is to provide educational opportunities in the arts for youth and lifelong learners, to bring the experience of the arts to the Catskill community, and to support artists and art organizations in the development of their work through residencies. Since its founding in 1998, CMF has presented hundreds of music, dance, and theater performances; screened over 1,000 films to tens of thousands of audience members; provided studio arts classes to thousands of students of all ages; and served thousands of art-loving patrons in its gallery and bookstore. Since 1998, CMF has raised, generated, and invested close to $15 million in facility development and an excess of $30 million in programming operations, for a total investment in the Catskill community of over $45 million. CMF believes that the arts can transform the lives of those touched by it and can transform the community. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.

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23RD ANNUAL MAKING HEALTHFUL DECISIONS CONFERENCE Tools for Growing Resilience

DECEMBER 8 & 9, 2020

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

1:00 - 2:30 PM

Keynote: Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse lewis choose love foundation

 

Conference Purpose

Presenters will explain current research regarding fostering social and emotional development, building resilience in individuals, families and communities throughout the lifespan with strengths-based and protective factor-building approaches

 

There is no cost to attend this conference, however, registration is required.

You must register for each workshop separately.

You will receive the link to join each session following your registration.

The conference will be recorded.

Register at: http://cceorangecounty.org/events

Questions? Call 845-344-1234 or email jv426@cornell.edu

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CREATE: Annual Artist Members Small Works Show

Drop-Off Dates - Thursday & Friday, Nov. 12, 13,19, 20 Times: 12:00 - 4:00 pm Final Submission & Drop-Off Deadline: Nov.24 In Gallery and Via Email CREATE Council on the Arts announces a call for art works for its Annual Artist Members Small Works Exhibition. This exhibition invites all member artists to submit compelling small-scale artwork of all media- including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawings, sculptures in an medium, collage, printmaking, photography. Works must be no larger than 16" x 20" in any direction, including framing or mounting. The size given for mounting must be the framed size. Height must be given before width regardless of whether the work is a vertical or horizonal piece. The artworks may represent any subject matter. Works must be framed and wall ready to hang. The exhibition will be online as well as installed at CREATE- 398 Main Street, Catskill, NY for limited capacity viewing. Works must be no larger than 16" x 20" in any direction, including framing or mounting. REQUIREMENTS FOR DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS: Number of Art Works: 2 works per artist member Works must be no larger than 16" x 20" in any direction, including framing or mounting. (If you have larger work than size requirement, you can submit 1 large work) Dimensions: Images should be 800 x 800 pixels minimum, maximum of 1200 x1200 pixels File Type: Images must be saved as JPG, JPEG or PNG File Name: Please name your files - Last Name-Title-Medium-Size Example:martin-brooklynwoman-collage-16x20.jpg Additional information: ARTIST BIO OR STATEMENT An Artist Agreement Form will available to complete and/or signed when the work is delivered. Email Submission images to marline@createcouncil.org

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Greene County History Notes: Amos Eaton

Amos Eaton (1776 - 1842).  Courtesy of Wikipedia. 

Submitted by David Dorpfeld, Greene County Historian

Amos Eaton was fairly famous in the early part of the 19th century; however, his reputation in Greene County could be termed infamous for a period of his life.  More about that later.

Eaton was a lawyer, natural scientist, educator and co-founder of the Rensselaer School, now known as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy.   He was born on May 17, 1776 in New Concord parish (now Chatham, Columbia County, New York).   In 1799 Eaton graduated from Williamstown College in Williamstown, Massachusetts and was admitted to the bar in 1802.  From then until 1811 he practiced law and worked as a land agent and surveyor in Catskill.  

Facts about circumstances surrounding the next phase of Eaton’s life seemed to be sketchy, but here is what several sources agree on.  During his time in Catskill he was accused by a client of having forged a property release: some articles suggested that it was somehow a political frame up (although there’s little other evidence of any political activity on his part) and that he received less than a fair trial.  After his trail Eaton served more than four years at Newgate state prison in Greenwich Village, New York City.  He received a conditional pardon from Governor Tompkins in 1815 before being fully pardoned by DeWitt Clinton in 1816 or 1817.  As part of the conditional pardon he was exiled from New York State.  

Unable to ply his old professions, he studied botany and mineralogy at Yale College in Connecticut starting in 1815.  He then returned to Williams College as a lecturer and published “A Botanical Dictionary and Manual of Botany for the Northern States” in 1817.  In 1818 Eaton returned to the Troy-Albany area where for the next six years he worked as an itinerant lecturer, ranging from West Point to the Castleton Medical Academy in Vermont.  He also wrote textbooks in chemistry, zoology and geology -- a true Renaissance man.

During this period he became friends with wealthy Stephen Van Rensselaer.  Under Van Rensselaer’s patronage he did geological and agricultural surveys of Albany and Rensselaer counties and along the route the soon to open Erie Canal.  His work was widely recognized and in American geology the 1820’s have been designated as the “Eatonian era.”

To implement his novel teaching techniques Eaton enlisted the support of Van Rensselaer in founding the Rensselaer School in 1824.  They are credited as the founders of RPI.  Eaton served as Senior Professor at Rensselaer for the rest of his life and is credited with training a number of influential scientists.  

A document in the RPI archives says the following: “Eaton’s most significant and lasting contribution was to scientific education.  He developed a teaching theory and methods that focused on ‘the application of science to the common purposes of life.’ In contrast to the then current method of rote, students were to learn by doing.  Field trips were used to gather specimens, experiments were performed in laboratories, and students prepared and delivered lectures with the instructor and fellow students serving as critics.”

Eaton died on May 10, 1842 at age 66.  What an unusual life.  After serving over four years in prison and being discharged at almost 40, Eaton went on to make significant contributions in the field of science and co-founded one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States.  Interestingly, Eaton also had 12 children with four wives.  The first three preceded him in death and in each case he remarried quickly thereafter.  Four of the children were born in Catskill.

.

To reach columnist David Dorpfeld, e-mail gchistorian@gmail.com or visit him on Facebook at “Greene County Historian.”

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Capital Region BOCES, SUNY Cobleskill and business partners team up to bolster the school to workforce pipeline

ALBANY – Capital Region BOCES, SUNY Cobleskill and area businesses Nortrax Inc., a John Deere Company, and Anderson Equipment joined forces on Thursday to once again boost the education of area high school students.

Representatives of the college and business partners met with dozens of students in the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School Diesel Tech and Automotive Trades programs on the Albany Campus. In doing so, they showcased some of equipment students could work with, repair and operate should they pursue careers in the industry. A Peterbilt service truck, a Takeuchi mini excavator, a John Deere excavator simulator, John Deere Forestry simulator, hydraulic cylinders and components were all on display and available for students to use and try to operate during the Thursday event.

Ed Wallace, SUNY Cobleskill with Harley Butler (right)

Capital Region BOCES Business Liaison Nancy Liddle said the event was designed to give students real life experiences and allow them to gain knowledge from, and network work with, employers in their programs of study.

SUNY Cobleskill Outreach Instructor Ed Wallace said the college is focused on strengthening its partnership with BOCES and the school to college to workforce pipeline. An example of that, is just recently, SUNY Cobleskill officials helped BOCES earn an Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AEDF) 5 year Certificate of Excellence certification, recognizing the its commitment to its students and the development of the industry’s workforce.

“Several students in recent years have come out of the BOCES program and entered the workforce as technicians and equipment operators, several others have gone on to secondary institutions like SUNY Cobleskill. What we want to do is shine a spotlight on the pipeline of school to college or workforce and show there is a way of having a good paying job right in your home community,” Wallace said.

“We are trying to grow this relationship – we want to connect those three groups into one pipeline. Student starts at CTE, they can then graduate and to contractor or go to SUNY Cobleskill,” he added.

Business officials said outreach events with high school students are crucial to keeping the industry alive.

“They are a good way to plant the seeds for students, to let them know what’s available to them, to get them interested in the industry and create the connections for them early on and is a way we can keep them in the pipeline as workers in our industry down the road,” said Jerry Skiff, director of service for Anderson Equipment Co.

 

Students taking part in the event said they thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on experience with the equipment.

 

“It’s cool to be able to see some of the tools that are out there and to get to try them out. I really enjoy this kind of learning and enjoy the feeling of working on a piece of equipment and getting it running again,” said Dan Jones, a Diesel Tech junior from Guilderland.

“I’m a motor head—this kind of stuff is what is going on in my head most of the time. I am interested, literally, in all of this,” added classmate Harley Butler from Schoharie.

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Davenport Man Arrested for Contempt of Court, Endangering the Welfare of a Child

Today, Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced that the violation of an order of protection in the Town of Davenport has resulted in a Davenport man being charged with criminal contempt of court and endangering the welfare of a child.  

On Sunday, November 8, 2020, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Town of Davenport where it was reported that 65-year-old Jack Burgess, of Davenport, NY, had been engaging in on-going communications and the exchange of images with a child victim in violation of the terms of an order of protection issued by the court for the protection of that child.  That order of protection was issued as a part of the disposition of an endangering the welfare of a child charge filed against the Burgess in April of this year.

Upon the conclusion of their investigation, on Tuesday afternoon, November 10, 2020, Sheriff’s Deputies located, arrested and charged Burgess with criminal contempt of court and endangering the welfare of a child.

Speaking on the arrest, Sheriff Craig DuMond remarked, “Due to New York State Bail Reform legislation, Deputies were once again mandated to release Burgess on appearance tickets…another bail reform success story.  Something tells me this 2nd appearance ticket will not change his behavior…it will probably only get worse and just create further victim(s)”.  Burgess is directed to appear in the Town of Davenport Court on a later date to answer these charges. 

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DelCo Chamber Urges Lawmakers to Prevent Unemployment Insurance Premium Hikes

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce joined nearly 30 other organizations on Nov. 16, in urging state lawmakers to take measures to avoid increases in unemployment insurance premiums that will have a negative impact on already over-burdened small businesses.

Under the leadership of  NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses), the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce asked lawmakers to allocate any remaining federal CARES Act funding to New York’s depleted unemployment insurance trust fund and to provide future federal funding to bolster the trust balance to reduce large increases in state unemployment insurance taxes. 

Lawmakers are also being urged to prevent unemployment insurance claims arising from COVID 19 to be included in business experience rating charges and delay any automatic unemployment insurance tax increase or stagger increases over time.

Economic recovery is a long way off with hundreds of Delaware County businesses desperately trying to survive, said Ray Pucci, president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Unemployment insurance premium increases will further negatively impact small businesses which are the backbone of Delaware County’s local economy, Pucci said.

Between March and September, the New York State Department of Labor has provided almost $40 billion in unemployment benefits to more than 3.3 million New Yorkers, which, according to the Department of Labor, is over 18 years worth of benefits in just over five months. New York has also borrowed $7.9 billion from the federal government to pay unemployment insurance benefits, which will need to be repaid unless it is forgiven. 

With a long road to recovery, New York must make every effort to limit and mitigate damaging cost increases for businesses, Pucci said. 

 

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is a broad-based, member-funded business organization that actively represents the business interests of Delaware County to county, state and federal government.

For more information about how the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, its programs and benefits, visit delawarecounty.org or call 607.746.2281

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Student Charged in Vandalism Case

FRANKLIN - Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced that a vandalism incident at the Franklin Central School athletic field last week has resulted in a Franklin youth being arrested and charged with menacing.

On Thursday morning, November 12, 2020, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Franklin Central School to investigate an incident involving vulgar words being sprayed on the athletic field with shaving cream.  

During the course of the investigation by Deputies and School officials, it was learned that one of the students involved in the vandalism complaint had threatened another student by displaying what appeared to be a firearm and verbally threatening to use it on that student if he were to cooperate with the police investigation.  Investigation by Deputies led to the seizure of the involved weapon which was determined it to be a BB gun.

On Friday evening, November 13, 2020, Sheriff’s Deputies located, arrested and charged a 15-year-old male with one count of menacing in the second degree. The juvenile was issued a juvenile appearance ticket directing him to appear before Delaware County Probation Department with his parent/guardian at a later date to answer for the charge.

Franklin Central School administration is handling the vandalism to the athletic field by the involved youths as an internal disciplinary matter. 

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WIC Foods Can Supplement Your Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving is traditionally a time when families gather together to celebrate. This year, the holiday celebrations will look very different for many of us. Many of us are staying home. Because we are staying home, this may be your first time cooking the Thanksgiving meal. Many of the foods offered by the WIC program can help supplement the traditional Thanksgiving meal. WIC offers so much more than formula and milk.

WIC offers a variety of foods in their food packages to help with the meal preparation. The fruit and vegetable benefit can be used to purchase squash, potatoes and cranberries. The bread can be used for stuffing or the rice for a side dish. The milk, cheese and eggs can be used in many ways. And the juice can be a beverage.

If you’re cooking a turkey for the first time and have questions, the Turkey Talk Line has been available for many years to help. Open in November and December, you can call 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372). Or you can text 844-877-3456. The Talk Line answers over 100,000 questions each year.

The WIC program of Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties will be closed on Thanksgiving and the day after. WIC is currently doing appointments by phone. WIC offers nutritious food benefits to women who are either pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age. If you are interested in finding out more about WIC and whether you qualify, please call us at either 518-828-9668 or 518-943-9082, or visit www.wicstrong.com.

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COVID Update from Middleburgh Central School

Dear MCS families,

The district learned of a single positive COVID-19 case in the Jr. Sr. High School on the evening of Wednesday, November 11. Because of this, both the elementary school and the high school will be closed on Thursday, November 12 to allow time for the Schoharie Health Department to perform a situation review and thorough contact tracing.

Please note that out of district students will have school and transportation will continue as scheduled. 

Middleburgh Central School District continues to thoroughly clean and disinfect all buildings on campus, in accordance with requirements from the New York State Department of Health and the CDC. This instance reminds us of how crucial it is for all of us to do our part by wearing a mask, social distancing, washing our hands, and avoiding group gatherings.

It is important to understand that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any identifiable information about a person who has tested positive.

District officials are working closely with the Schoharie Health Department. As we get more information, we will contact all parents with updates and next steps. Thank you for your patience as we navigate these challenging times together.

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New York Creates New COVID Travel Rules

The Governor has released Executive Order 205.2. Read Here! The Executive Order directs the Commissioner of the Department of Health to modify the travel advisory to state that:

All travelers entering New York from a state which is not a contiguous state shall quarantine for a period of 14 days consistent with Department of Health regulations for quarantine unless:

For travelers who travel outside of New York for less than 24 hours, the traveler does not need to test prior to departure from the state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival back in New York. However, such travelers must continue to fill out the traveler form upon entry; and shall take a diagnostic test upon the fourth day after arrival in New York.

For any traveler who has traveled outside of New York for more than 24 hours, such traveler must seek testing prior to departure from that state, within 72 hours of departure, prior to arrival in New York. The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine according to Department of Health guidelines for a minimum of three days, measured from time of arrival, and on day four may seek a diagnostic test to exit quarantine. The traveler may exit quarantine upon receipt of the second negative test result.

The Commissioner may issue additional protocols for essential workers, or for other extraordinary circumstances, when a quarantine is not possible, provided such measures continue to safeguard the public health. Any violation of a quarantine or isolation order issued to an individual pursuant may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000.

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Arrest in Catalytic Converter Thefts

Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced that a Delhi man is facing felony charges following the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles at a Delhi auto repair shop in early September. 

On Wednesday morning, November 3, 2020, Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 40 year-old David J. Alleyne, of Delhi, NY, on arrest warrants issued by the Town of Delhi Court charging him with two felony counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, one felony count of criminal mischief in the third degree and the misdemeanor crime of petit larceny.

It is alleged that on two separate occasions during early September, Alleyne damaged the exhaust systems and stole catalytic converters from two different vehicles parked at a Delhi auto repair shop.

Alleyne was later released after being issued an appearance ticket directing him to appear in the Delhi Town Court on a later date to answer the charges. 

The Delhi Town Court has also issued an arrest warrant for 21-year-old former Bovina resident Sean R. Gillespie in relation to these incidents.  Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies are currently attempting to locate Gillespie and are asking the public to contact the Delaware County Sheriff's Office at (607) 832-5555, Extension “0”, and report any information that may lead to his apprehension and arrest. 

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