Sarah Trafton and Natasha Vaughn are reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett and Greene County Sheriff Pete Kusminsky have added their names to the list of New York sheriffs to declare their departments will not enforce Governor Andrew Cuomo's 10-person limit on private gatherings. The restrictions went into effect November 13, along with regulations for gyms and establishments licensed by the state Liquor Authority to close by 10 p.m. “The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is not going to be actively enforcing executive orders regarding gatherings in people’s homes,” Kusminsky said in a statement. “We do not have the resources or inclination to peep into everyone’s home to see how many people are at the dinner table.” Entering a private residence would require a search warrant, Kusminsky said. He said enforcement raises several constitutional questions. The sheriff’s office is not encouraging residents to have large gatherings, Kusminsky added. Barlett said his office will not be enforcing the mandate either. “Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will not be participating in the enforcement of New York State’s Thanksgiving gathering restrictions,” Bartlett said in a statement. “We hope that everyone will be mindful of the current health pandemic as we enter the holiday season. Enjoy this time with your families.” New York State Sheriffs’ Association has taken a similar stance on the new restrictions. “We do not know if the Governor’s limit on home gatherings to ten individuals is the right number or not,” said association deputy executive director Charles J. Gallo, in a statement. “That is a decision for science, not us, to make. ...” Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Rachel Silberstein is reporting for the Times Union the Niskayuna Board of Education has banned the Confederate flag in district schools. The board last week approved prohibitions on displays of Confederate flags and other hate symbols as part of a new policy designed to address opportunity gaps and increase anti-racist programming in school. The policy was first proposed in July in response to a letter signed by nearly 75 Niskayuna teachers and staff who called on the board to ban Confederate symbols from school grounds. They argued the images were disruptive to the learning environment. "I don't think there was a single event; it has been brewing over time," Niskayuna board president Howard Schlossberg said November 23. "The students and faculty had been talking and I think it just reached a critical mass, and they said it's time to put this out and start talking about this." Board members unanimously approved the policy which commits the district to anti-racist programs and training, correcting practices that perpetuate opportunity gaps, and encourages “every decision-making group in the district to recommend additional anti-racist practices within the school district to the board policy committee.” The district will implement anti-racist programs for students at all levels, provide opportunities for bias awareness and anti-racist training districtwide, identify and address barriers that prevent the district from increasing diversity in employment and programs, and review curriculum, instructional materials and resources to ensure the inclusion of racially and culturally relevant content. Read the full story in the Times Union.

William J. Kemble is reporting for the Daily Freeman the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency is considering a proposal to charge fees for documents requested under the state Freedom of Information Law. Agency Chief Executive Officer Rose Woodworth said recent requests for nearly 3,000 documents at a time about the proposed mix-use development known as The Kingstonian have been costly and time-consuming. Woodworth said processing the requests cost the agency thousands of dollars "and that’s not fair.” She said fulfilling the request cost the agency about $1,000 in legal time. Under the proposed policy change, requests of up 10 pages would remain free of charge. Requests that result in more than 10 pages, would cost 25 cents per page and up to $100 per hour for preparing the copies. The hourly rate could be reduced if the work is done by agency staff or attorneys. Woodworth said the work is not done by agency employees; it is done through the agency law firm, which impacts the cost. Research requests and production of records in digital form would till be done at no charge. However, more complex searches for digital materials could trigger exceptions that require a fee. The agency board is expected to vote on the new fee policy next month. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

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The Times Union reports a new record for Capital Region coronavirus cases with 345 announced Nov. 23. Bethany Bump wrote in the Times Union that, "Local health officials have said the increases are coming from social gatherings in which people are not following basic safety precautions, such as mask wearing and maintaining a distance of six feet from others. Other cases are stemming from schools, health care settings, and residential settings such as nursing homes and adult care facilities." Albany County reported 46 of those cases Nov. 23, but health officials there could only trace five of those back to a likely exposure. Albany County officials say many people are intentionally withholding their exposure sources, not wanting to snitch on their friends and family. All those new cases locally mean that Capital Region hospitals are busier, with 148 coronavirus patients Nov. 22, up roughly 150 percent from a month ago. The spring was the last time local hospitals were as full of COVID-19 patients, and many of those six months ago were transfers from overwhelmed New York City hospitals. Now they are your friends and neighbors. Columbia County reported six new cases on Nov. 23. Greene County officials did not reveal a daily COVID-19 total Nov. 23, but at least 14 people in Greene County have contracted the disease since Nov. 20. The Rensselaer County Health Department reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 on Nov. 23. Ulster County reported 75 new cases of COVID Nov. 23. That included 15 SUNY New Paltz students. Those 75 new COVID cases in Ulster County brought its number of active cases to 580, the highest total since May 21. Dutchess County reported three more deaths from COVID, bringing the county total to 183. Dutchess County has reported eight fatalities over the last eight days and 17 this month, and 65 new confirmed cases, on Nov. 23.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the former Catskill Game Farm sold last week for just under $2 million. Information on the new owners was not immediately available. Sellers Ben and Cathy Ballone's long-term plans for the property included a campground and RV park. Without identifying the new owners, Cathy Ballone said they have the same interests and goals for the site she and Ben did. “They intend on continuing with the same type of projects we were — camping, the inn, other accommodation type of things,” she said November 23. The 150-acre site, a Catskill landmark, was once home to more than 2,000 animals, including the celebrated April the giraffe, whose pregnancy and childbirth was viewed online by people all over the world. The Game Farm was a local favorite from 1933 until the business closed permanently in October 2006, after 73 years of operation. The Ballones purchased the property in 2012. They offered self-guided tours, camping and transformed the former giraffe house into an inn. The Greene County Economic Development and Planning and Tourism departments will meet with the new owners this week. “We really appreciate the support of the community in the last nine years,” Cathy Ballone said. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting Debbie Wright, the Dutchess County Deputy Democratic Elections Commissioner, has submitted her resignation at the same time accusing her predecessor of corruption. The resignation is effective December 31. Wright is also giving up her post as chair of the town of Washington Democratic Committee. “It is with sadness that I am announcing I will be leaving my post as chair of the Washington Committee and Deputy Commissioner at the BOE at the end of the year no matter the outcome of the vote for Elections Commissioner [on November 23]. I can no longer be associated with the corruption and lies from our party leadership. I’ve seen a lot of good people leave over the years and it never made sense to me, but now I realize that being on the wrong side of lies and attacks from your own party is exhausting,” she said. Wright is alleging that Elisa Sumner, her predecessor and current chair of the county Democratic Committee, has failed Democrats countywide. “The failure of the county leadership speaks volumes," she said. "... The only Democratic candidates that will win in the county this year are the campaigns that were not run by the county committee.” Sumner tendered her resignation earlier this year, saying she would be retiring to Florida. Sumner said the entire controversy is “internal ugliness of the party and is not news.” She accused Wright and Democratic Elections Commissioner Beth Soto of “running to the press to undermine the party.” Wright has worked at the Board of Elections since 2015. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Natasha Vaughn is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the New Lebanon school district's $11.8 million capital project is nearing completion. The district recently announced construction is expected to be finished by mid-December. “This work was needed in our buildings, as it was the largest renovation our schools had seen in more than 50 years. These updates, enhancements and additions will allow us to continue to offer the robust academic program New Lebanon is known for,” Superintendent Andrew Kourt said in a statement. The project was approved by district voters in May 2017. It included upgrades and improvements to Walter B. Howard Elementary School and at the junior-senior high school, including a new facilities storage area, renovated bathrooms, locker rooms, repairs and improvements to classrooms and nurse’s office, upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and the school kitchen. “I am very excited to show off our new facilities to our community once we get through the pandemic. The new gym in our elementary school will be a highlight of our community,” Kourt said. The project has been funded in part with $3 million the district retained in anticipation of construction, from the capital reserve and budgeted funds. The district also used $288,000 of Smart Schools Funding from the state to reduce costs, as well. The remainder of the funding was bonded for a 15-year term. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

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A staff member at Cairo-Durham Middle/High School tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the school district announced Nov. 23. Grades 6-12 will shift to a remote learning schedule on Nov. 24. The individual was last in school on November 20. Students in grades Pre-K-through Grade 5 will continue in-person learning. The district is working with the the Greene County Department of Health. "Once the contact tracing is complete, the District will be able to make a decision on when in-person classes will resume for Grades 6-12," a message on the Cairo-Durham schools website read.

MidHudson News is reporting attorneys for neighbors of the Cricket Valley Energy Center in Dutchess County have filed an amended complaint renewing their call for the facility to be shut down. Attorneys Josh Douglass and Michael Sussman have updated their case, requesting a New York court issue an injunction to stop operations at the controversial power plant in Dover Plains until an environmental impact study can be completed. They filed the papers in March, but Cricket Valley owners never responded. Then COVID-19 hit, causing the court system to shut down. Douglass said new evidence has surfaced prompting the updated suit. "... By seeking to enjoin the unneeded Cricket Valley Energy Center...from emitting highly toxic chemicals, including known carcinogens, we hope to protect our clients and others who are similarly situated. That some have invested in harmful technology and now seek to justify continued operation through their need to recoup investment, we respond, the gig is up and your fraudulent misrepresentations should come back to haunt each of you,” Sussman said. According to Food and Water Watch, the $1.5 billion, 1,110 megawatt Cricket Valley facility would be a major new source of air pollution in the Harlem Valley, where hundreds of tons of nitrogen oxides and sulfuric acid would stay trapped. The environmental watchdog says the plant will emit six million tons of greenhouse gases every year. Read more at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a November 22 letter to top Washington lawmakers, Congress must act to extend and expand support for people who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. He urged them to take up a package of measures meant to extend the pandemic-related unemployment programs set to expire at the end of the year. "Congress moved decisively this spring to address the economic impacts of the pandemic and should once again take action before the calendar year ends to bring badly needed support to millions of struggling Americans," Cuomo wrote. He is calling for action on supplemental benefits for individuals, as well as support for state and local governments and more. New York's unemployment rate has recovered since a double-digit percentage rate in April, but has slowed in recent weeks. The Department of Labor announced last week the state's unemployment rate hovered just under 10 percent in both September and October. The state has paid out $55 billion in unemployment benefits to 3.8 million New Yorkers since the start of the pandemic. It is not clear when or if Congress will act on any relief package before the end of the year. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

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Anyone who heard any of the local COVID-19 headlines over the weekend should be concerned. The City of Hudson issued a stay-at-home order on Nov. 19 after 15 residents contracted COVID-19 between October 30 and November 13. That's about 20 percent of all cases in Hudson since the beginning of the pandemic. The city of Hudson “strongly advises residents to stay inside their homes and avoid interaction with people outside their household,” and to avoid traveling except for work, school, or essential needs. Two students and two teachers tested positive for COVID-19 in the Taconic Hills School District last week, and the Germantown Central School District is going all remote this week. Also, the Bank of Greene County branches in Hudson and Greenport have closed because of a positive COVID-19 case. And Greene County health officials reported that two people who ate at the Barnwood Restaurant in Catskill between 12:30 and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, have tested positive for coronavirus. There were three more COVID-19 cases announced Nov. 22 in Columbia County. There were 97 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Albany County Nov. 22. Now, the coronavirus rate in the Capital Region is above three percent, which is when the state moves an area into the 'yellow zone' range with additional restrictions. If the rate stays above three percent for nine straight days, the state will push the region into the so-called "yellow zone" where schools would have to randomly test 20 percent of all people on campus weekly, limit restaurant dining to four people per table, cut religious services to 50 percent of capacity, and limit mass gathering to 25 people. As the holidays approach, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is worried. “You could see our whole scale change by the time this is over," Cuomo said. "I would not be shocked if they said on Jan. 10, Jan. 15, we’re up at 7, 8, 9, 10 percent. That could very easily happen if we are irresponsible. It could even be higher if we are irresponsible. It’s purely a function of what we do.”

Aliya Schneider is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the union representing police officers in the city of Hudson has agreed to a request from Mayor Kamal Johnson to waive raises in the coming year, among other requests in a cost-saving gesture. The union signed the memorandum of agreement on November 20, Johnson said. The union agreed to three requests: forgoing a1.5 percent raise, forgoing uniform allowances for the year and discontinuing take-home cars for off-duty officers. The Civil Service Employees Association early last week declined a similar request, refusing to skip its scheduled 2.5 percent raises for 2021, Johnson said. “Right off the bat, with the raises, we’re looking at $40,000 (savings for 2021),” Johnson said. “It’s also a good message to the city to say the police union is willing to work with the city given the finances. They have been extremely helpful in this process.” Ed. note: Johnson is a WGXC volunteer on-air programmer. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Jill Konopka is reporting for WNYT-TV as a line of cars pulled up to the Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School in Hudson, early November 21, volunteers and teachers worked to fill each car with donated desks, earbuds, books and more, all provided by the Hudson Literacy Fund. The items were provided to students learning remotely, who are without a desk at home. Ann Israel, a Hudson Literacy Fund Board member, said Staples was a great partner to help pull the project off. "The gratitude was incredible because this will change things for children because it's so hard to do remote teaching/learning to begin with and this really will change things," said Israel. The Hudson Literacy Fund's all-volunteer board is made up of teachers, community members, authors and literacy specialists. The Fund supports a variety of initiatives, including the Thumbs Up reading program, the Hudson School Libraries Enrichment Program, The Young Writers Competition and more. [Read more at wnyt dot} com.

Peter Flierl is reporting for The Columbia Paper New Lebanon Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling recently shared with the town's Business and Economic Development Committee that sales tax revenues for the third quarter of 2020 were up $144,000, way ahead of the same period in 2019 and 2018. Michael Tucker, president of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, and Jeff Hunt, former president and CEO of the county Chamber of Commerce, were credited for success countywide and Columbia County doing better than most other counties statewide. It was reported that 80 homes were for sale in New Lebanon in early 2020 and 50 were sold, which is driving up business in construction and remodeling, boosting businesses offering excavating, landscaping, fuel, heating and cooling systems. At the meeting Chairman Monte Wasch and committee members received copies of the New Lebanon Business Directory, a comprehensive listing of businesses in New Lebanon now available to the general public. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

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