The Berkshire Eagle is reporting WinterFest is coming back to the city of North Adams, Mass., after a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2021. The downtown festival, with ice skating, wagon rides and ice sculpture, will take place on February 19. The event will include a farmers market, a craft fair, a campfire, ice sculpture carving and, weather permitting, playing in the snow at Colegrove Park, said Suzy Helme, the event's coordinator. Plus horse-drawn wagon rides up and down Main Street and the city's skating rink will offer free admission and rentals. Because of the continuing pandemic, there will not be the usual chowder cook-off. "Unfortunately that's one of the more popular events," Helme said. "We will have to have fun without it this year." More information will be available on the North Adams Tourism Facebook page, Helme said. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media parents from the Germantown Central School District January 28, protested outside the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in response to the reassignment of school resource officers. The deputy changes will take place January 31. An online petition against the sheriff's actions has been signed by nearly 1,200 people. Columbia County Sheriff Donald J. Krapf and Undersheriff Jaqueline Salvatore met with about two dozen parents and community members in the parking lot, who were there to voice concerns about the changes. Deputy Ted Blank has been the school resource officer assigned to Germantown since the spring of 2020. “For us, we want our children’s safety. And part of that safety is having a trusting adult that works to earn their trust and make them feel safe in the school...," said Cheryl Werner, the protest organizer and mother of two. Suzette Haas, also the mother of two Germantown students, said, “There is no one better equipped right now to deal with safety issues at Germantown than our current SRD. He knows the building like the back of his hand. ...If there is an emergency, he has the best ability to deal with it.” Krapf, who took office on January 1, said his department has been reevaluating many programs and reviewing data. “The resident deputy program was never meant to be a permanent program, having a resident deputy in one school for an unlimited amount of time,” he said. “I think it’s important that they see other schools, that they see how other districts work.” The protesters questioned the wisdom of making a change in the middle of the school year and several asked the sheriff to hold off until the end of the year. Krapf said there were certain things the parents did not understand, and he would not speak to them about personnel. "...This is something we feel is necessary at this time. And unfortunately, Monday this is going to happen. I can’t tell you for how long, it may be a very short duration,” he said. Salvatore added, “We’re not saying it’s going to be permanent. We don’t know how long it’s going to be, that’s what we’re saying...” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Brendan J. Lyons is reporting for the Times Union the Legal Aid Society has taken legal action against the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in an effort to secure a court order compelling the agency to release an expert's report on the high rate of suicides in the state's prisons. The petition was filed this week in state Supreme Court in Albany. "Over the past several years, the suicide rate inside DOCCS prisons has soared, far exceeding national averages," the petition alleges. "In 2019 alone, the suicide rate inside DOCCS prisons was 88 percent higher than the national average." The petition also notes that at least 30 percent of the suicides that occurred in state prisons in 2019, "occurred in solitary confinement, and the rate of suicides in solitary in New York’s prisons was 10 times the national prison suicide rate." People of color made up 65 percent of the deaths by suicide in solitary confinement. When Legal Aid requested the DOCCS commissioned report by Lindsay Hays, a national expert on suicide prevention, the agency issued a blanket denial of the request, contending the report contains Hayes' "opinion, advice and recommendations," making it exempt from disclosure. The department also asserted the report constitutes "inter/intra-agency materials which are not final agency policy or decisions, statistical or factual tabulations, external audits, or instructions to staff that affect the public." But the society argues that "given the staggering number of suicides in DOCCS’ prisons, and given Hayes’ unquestioned expertise in this field, the public interest in Hayes’ report is substantial." The Legal Aid Society is the nation's oldest legal services organization, providing free assistance to low-income individuals and families. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Columbia Memorial Health on Fri., Jan. 28, announced that Stephanie A. Hisgen is the hospital's new Chief Nursing Officer, effective January 1, according to a press release from CMH spokesperson Bill Van Slyke. Hisgen holds numerous degrees, including a doctorate in nursing practice and a master's in public health. She has served for decades in nursing leadership and senior management at health care organizations in the region, including as Corporate Director of Nursing for Prospect Medical Holdings, a 17-hospital health system, operating in five states. Hisgen is also the former Chief Operating Officer of Visiting Nurse Service Northeastern New York and Director of Nursing Recruitment at SUNY Upstate Medical University. During her career, Hisgen has focused on supporting and advancing the development of frontline nurses, ensuring those nurses have a voice in decision making, and building cultures of reliability, accountability and excellence. Dorothy Urschel, Chief Operating Officer at CMH said in a statement, “ ...Throughout her career [Stephanie Hisgen] has demonstrated a strong commitment to high-quality patient care by supporting nurses and generating opportunities for nurses to advance their expertise. We enthusiastically welcome her to the CMH leadership team.” Hisgen succeeds former CNO MaryEllen Plass.

Nick Reisman reports at New York State of Politics that New York's indoor mask mandate continues through Feb. 10, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Jan. 28. The maks mandate was set to expire Feb. 1. "We're just not there yet," Hochul said during an event on Long Island. "We're going to continue to keep people safe." COVID-19 numbers are dropping rapidly now, though there are still many deaths announced locally from coronavirus recently. An Appellate Court judge this week placed a stay on the mandate, after a state Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional. So courts could still stop the mandate before it expires in two weeks. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Noah Eckstein reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the City of Hudson received 11 proposals to partner with the city to construct affordable housing. The entire Hudson Valley is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, with large numbers of people moving into the area and raising rental rates and housing prices. In addition, there is a shortage of hotel rooms, which has incentivized many to rent out homes or rooms on a short-term basis, and taking those spaces away from residents. And while housing spaces are being used for other purposes, little affordable housing has been built in the area for years. “Too many of our residents are struggling with housing in Hudson,” says Mayor Kamal Johnson. Now Common Council President Thomas DePietro, Housing Justice Director Michelle Tullo, Mayor Kamal Johnson, Commissioner of Public Works Peter Bujanow, Alderperson Art Frick and Mayoral Aide Michael Hofmann will choose the best of the proposals to build affordable housing in Hudson on five possible locations later this year. Read more about this story

Larry Rulison reports for the Times Union that part of National Grid's recently approved rate increase came as the company agreed to abandon its plan to build a controversial $79.8 million natural gas pipeline across the Hudson River. The Public Service Commission allowed National Grid to charge consumers $329 million over the next three years and, in exchange, National Grid withdrew its application to build a 7.3-mile natural gas pipeline across the Hudson from Bethlehem to Troy, a project known as the Albany Loop because it closes an existing horseshoe-shaped gas line that serves the area. "What Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline has learned is that the best way to defeat fossil fuel infrastructure proposals like the Albany Loop pipeline is to attack them early in rate case requests to governmental agencies," said Robert Connors, a founder of Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline. "The PSC listened to us and others and responded appropriately." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

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Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media mask mandates will stay in place at Greene County schools as the regulation imposed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul makes its way through the courts. Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Thomas Rademaker on January 24, ruled the governor’s mask mandate to be unconstitutional, but after an appeal by the New York State Department of Health, Appellate Court Judge Robert J. Miller on the next day issued a stay to keep the mask mandate in place while the case is on appeal. The New York State Education Department this week issued guidance to school districts regarding the mask mandate. “...[I]t is NYSED’s position that schools should continue to follow the mask rule.” Catskill Central School District Superintendent Ronel Cook, said in a statement to district parents that the mask mandate would remain in place. “Please know that at this time, all students and staff must continue to wear masks in school,” Cook said. The next hearing in Miller’s courtroom pertaining to the stay will be held on January 28. “I would expect an immediate decision because they know everybody is hanging in the balance,” Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said. Officials with the Greenville Central School have confirmed that their district will continue to comply with the mask mandate and the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District released a statement drafted by its attorneys regarding the stay. “In light of this ruling, public school districts in New York State remain subject to the Department of Health masking regulation at least through January 28, 2022,” according to the statement. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup an emergency meeting of the Cairo Town Board held to appoint a building and code enforcement clerk on January 27, degenerated into an argumentative back-and-forth when the members disagreed over whether the matter warranted a special meeting and how the hiring process was handled. Board member Tim Powers said that he and fellow board member Stephen Kralovich did not receive copies of the applications until they arrived for the meeting and that they were not involved in the interview process. Powers said that when he questioned Supervisor Jason Watts, he was told: “Well we already have our three votes so basically we don’t need you.” Powers said, “When I made the comment that we need to do things the right way I was told by Supervisor Watts that we did not have time to do things the right way." Watts said, “No, I said we don’t have time to keep wasting. We must go forward with the town.” After about 10 minutes of back-and-forth, the board went into an executive session for approximately 20 minutes to discuss the applicants. When the board members emerged they voted 3 to 2 to hire Kyrie Fielder as the town's new building and code enforcement clerk at the hourly rate of $15, for no more than 30 hours per week. Watts, Cords and Michael Flaherty voted in favor; Powers voted no, and Kralovich abstained. The former building and code clerk, Donna Chewins resigned as of December 7. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Melanie Lekocevic reports for Capital Region Independent Media that on Jan. 24 Republicans in Ravena abandoned their own incumbent Mayor Bill Misuraca, picking Dominic Ruggeri instead as their nominee for village elections in March. The next day, Democrats in Ravena chose Misuraca, the Republican incumbent, as their nominee. “If you had asked me seven-and-a-half years ago where I would be tonight, I would have had a radically different answer,” Misuraca said after getting the nomination to a crowd at the Ravena firehouse for the caucus. “But you almost made me cry — you are too kind and I really feel like this outpouring of support tells me that I am doing my job the way I am supposed to do my job. I appreciate it so much.” Democrats in Ravena also backed Republican Caitlyn Appleby, who will be on both lines for a town board seat. Read more about this story at TheUpstater.com.

The MidHudson News Network is reporting the state is asking the public to comment on a proposal to add a new area code in the 845 region in the Mid-Hudson Valley. By the third quarter of 2023, all phone numbers in the 845 area code are expected to be used up due to an increase in demand. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator has applied to the State Public Service Commission to add a second area code, the commission said in an announcement. A specific, new three-digit code has not been proposed yet. The 845 area code is used in all or part of Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties. Existing 845 numbers will remain intact. According to the commission, by the time the new area code becomes effective, customers will already have transitioned to mandatory 10-digit dialing as a result of the national implementation of the ‘988’ three-digit hotline to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline which is occurring now. The PSC wants input from the public about the proposal. People may comment by going online to the Department of Public Service website or by calling (800) 335-2120. Comments should refer to case 21-C-0600. Read the full story the Daily Freeman.

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Ted Remsnyder reports for Columbia-Greene Media that on Jan. 25 Greene County announced another COVID-19 death, an unidentified inmate at Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie. The prison currently has the highest number of positive cases in the state incarceration system, though this is the first coronavirus death there. The Coxsackie Correctional Facility has had four confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Currently there are 85 active cases with the Greene Correctional Facility, and 19 active COVID cases in the Coxsackie Correctional Facility. Jose Saldana, director of the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, continued to call for clemency and early releases for many prisoners in the face of the deadly pandemic. “Two different families across the state are receiving the terrible news that their loved ones died cold and alone in the dungeons of mass incarceration, for no reason other than a lack of political will on the part of our elected officials,” Saldana said in a statement. “Their pain is unimaginable. People were dying in New York State prisons every three days before the pandemic, so it’s important to recognize that these COVID deaths are happening on top of a crisis that’s been with us for more than a decade. We call on Gov. Hochul to use her clemency pen to save lives. We also call on New York’s legislative leaders, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Carl Heastie, to pass the Elder Parole and Fair & Timely Parole bills to provide meaningful pathways to release consideration for incarcerated New Yorkers – and to do it quickly, before more lives are extinguished by their inaction.” Only 53.2 percent of prisoners in state prisons have been partially vaccinated, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Albany County, meanwhile, reported Jan. 27 that a man in his 80s died from coronavirus, the 500th Albany County death. “It saddens me to have to report another Albany County resident losing their life to COVID-19,” Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said. “This is now the 500th death in the county since the pandemic started, and it unfortunately won’t be the last. While we see progress in our fight in some areas, we need to continue doing what we can to protect our most vulnerable from the virus, which is still spreading.” Read more about that story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that Democrats controlling New York's legislature plan to vote on new redistricting maps this coming week. New York's redistricting commission of Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a bipartisan agreement on district boundaries for the state Senate, Assembly, and U.S. House of Representatives. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie released a statement together on Jan. 26. "The statutory deadline for the Independent Redistricting Commission to submit congressional and state legislative maps has passed," the lawmakers said in the statement. "As per the New York State Constitution, it becomes the Legislature’s responsibility to consider fair maps that ensure all New Yorkers have equitable representation in their government. That is a duty we take very seriously. Given the expedited nature of the political calendar, we fully expect the Senate and Assembly to consider new fair maps in a timely manner. The plan is to vote on these maps next week." Democrats are deciding because they hold the majority in the state legislature. The election commission was set up so legislators would not be drawing their own district lines, but, obviously failed to do that. Locally, candidates such as Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro have already announced an effort to unseat Rep. Antonio Delgado, but neither of them know what district exactly they are running to represent until the lines are drawn. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Shannon Coan reports for the Times Union that Rensselaer County native Edmonia Lewis is being honored with her face on a U.S. Postal Service stamp, with a ceremony Jan. 26 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Lewis was "the first Black and Native American sculptor to earn international recognition" according to the story. “Lewis’s achievements cannot possibly fit on a postage stamp, but I think it’s so fitting to honor her legacy in this way,” said Karen Lemmey, the Lucy S. Rhame curator of sculpture at the museum. “It is collectible and some may wish to collect and preserve it just as we do our sculptures here, but I think Lewis would be equally pleased to know these stamps will be zipping around the country just as she did,” Lemmey added. Lewis was born in 1844 and died in 1907, and spent much of her life in Rome making neoclassical-style sculptures incorporating themes relating to Black people and indigenous peoples of the Americas, according to Wikipedia. At the ceremony this week, the Smithsonian unveiled “The Death of Cleopatra,” one of Lewis’ most well-known works, which had been lost since the 1980s. “It was so thoroughly lost that I, along with most people who were at all interested in finding out about it, feared, for good reason, that it had been destroyed,” said Marilyn Richardson, an art consultant and the person who found the work in an abandoned storeroom at a suburban Chicago shopping mall roughly three decades ago. “It was just an extraordinary thing to find it not only intact but intact and in such condition that it could be beautifully, beautifully restored,” she said. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

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Noah Eckstein is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a two-year audit by the Office of the New York State Comptroller has found the Hudson City School District failed to properly secure and protect its information technology systems against unauthorized use, access and loss. In response to the state's findings, the district has now issued a Corrective Action Plan. The audit was released January 14 and covered the period between 2018 and 2020. Auditors found the Board of Education and school district officials did not adopt adequate IT policies, thereby leaving the system's data susceptible to fraud and cyber-attacks. Officials did not implement a satisfactory disaster recovery plan against potential risk factors and attacks and did not provide sufficient IT security awareness training to students and staff or adopt an acceptable use policy. The audit also found questionable internet use on four of six computers tested. The district has implemented remedies to these issues, said Jesse Boehme, Hudson City School District business administrator. “Our interface looks different. Students get in-class training and we have IT safety professional development for staff,” said Boehme. The auditors recommended adopting comprehensive IT policies that addressed recovery plans and cyber security, implementing student and staff IT training, developing written codes and protocols for administering systems access, and disabling more than 100 network user accounts that included generic and former employee information. “Since the audit, we have totally revamped the IT department and are working to move it completely in-house,” said former Superintendent Maria Suttmeier. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.