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NY Times Spotlights A Westchester Hamlet That’s ‘Not Cookie-Cutter' NY Times Spotlights A Westchester Hamlet That’s ‘Not Cookie-Cutter'
NY Times Spotlights A Westchester Hamlet That’s ‘Not Cookie-Cutter' A new in-depth feature from The New York Times has highlighted a Westchester County hamlet that is "not cookie-cutter." The news outlet published the story about Chappaqua on Wednesday, June 15, sharing information about the hamlet's real estate, history, schools, and more.  “What’s beautiful about Chappaqua is that it’s not cookie-cutter. We have antiques, Capes, old estates and McMansions -- we have it all," Deena Bouchier, a resident of Chappaqua for 23 years, told The Times. New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz also discussed the sense of community in Chappaqua. Read th…
COVID-19: Hochul Gives Update On Status Of Remaining Mask Mandates COVID-19: Hochul Gives Update On Status Of Remaining Mask Mandates
Covid-19: Hochul Gives Update On Status Of Remaining Mask Mandates COVID-19-related mandates are slowly but surely being lifted in New York, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has provided an update on some of the remaining mask requirements. While mask mandates have been lifted statewide in most locales - most notably schools as of Wednesday, March 2 - they are still required on public transportation, inside transportation hubs, and inside certain congregate settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons until further data says it's safe to ditch them. Earlier story - COVID-19: Wearing Masks Still Recommended In These NY Counties On Monday, Feb. 28, Hoch…
COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts With NY Mandate About To End COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts With NY Mandate About To End
Covid-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts With NY Mandate About To End With the statewide mask mandate set to expire for students and staff in New York schools, the decision about whether or not to send children to class with a facial covering will now fall on parents and local school districts. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that beginning on Wednesday, March 2, the mask mandate in schools would expire, citing recent improvement in COVID-19 numbers. Earlier story - COVID-19: New York Sets Date Mask Mandate For Schools Will End According to Hochul, she and her administration made the decision “based on the analysis of several key COVID-19 data trends an…
COVID-19: Mask Off - Hochul Drops Mandate For Businesses, Schools Could Follow Soon COVID-19: Mask Off - Hochul Drops Mandate For Businesses, Schools Could Follow Soon
Covid-19: Mask Off - Hochul Drops Mandate For Businesses, Schools Could Follow Soon The indoor mask mandate is being largely lifted in New York as the state continues to recover from the January surge of new infections. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday, Feb. 9 that she is lifting the mandate requiring a mask or proof of vaccination to enter indoor places, including restaurants and bars. The move is effective as of Thursday, Feb. 10, though local counties, cities, and businesses can still opt to enforce mask-wearing at their discretion. “We are not where we were in early December,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers did the right thing to get through the winter su…
COVID-19: Hochul Extends NY Indoor Mask Mandate COVID-19: Hochul Extends NY Indoor Mask Mandate
Covid-19: Hochul Extends NY Indoor Mask Mandate New York’s COVID-19 mask mandate has been extended, even as the state is in court to determine its legality in certain settings. The mandate, which had been set to expire on Tuesday, Feb. 1, has been extended through Thursday, Feb. 10, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. Related story - COVID-19: Mask Mandate Back In Effect In NY After Appeals Court Judge's Ruling An appeals court issued a stay on Tuesday, Jan. 25 that kept the mandate in place for businesses and schools during the appeals process, and court proceedings are scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28.  
“We are g…
NY Styrofoam Ban Takes Effect Jan. 1: Here's What To Know NY Styrofoam Ban Takes Effect Jan. 1: Here's What To Know
NY Styrofoam Ban Takes Effect Jan. 1: Here's What To Know New York State's ban on single-use Styrofoam food and beverage containers and packing peanuts will soon take effect. According to the state Department of Environmental Conservatism, the ban on packing peanuts and food and beverage containers made of polystyrene foam, often known by the brand name Styrofoam, will go into effect on Saturday, Jan. 1. The goal of the ban is to help protect the environment, as foam packaging is a major contributor to environmental litter, harming waterways, wildlife and more. Officials said under the new ban, no food service provider or store covered in the lis…
COVID-19: True Delta Wave Has Not Yet Hit Northeast, Former FDA Commissioner Says COVID-19: True Delta Wave Has Not Yet Hit Northeast, Former FDA Commissioner Says
Covid-19: True Delta Wave Has Not Yet Hit Northeast, Former FDA Commissioner Says The "true delta wave" has not hit the Northeast yet, and it will arrive sometime after Labor Day weekend, former United States Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said. Gottlieb said in an interview with CNBC on Friday, Sept. 3, that he thinks the jump in delta variant cases in the Northeast that has since decreased was a warning for another spike in cases that will hit the region. He predicted that gatherings during Labor Day weekend and children returning to school will lead to cases increasing once again. Gottlieb recommended that schools increase the frequency …
COVID-19: Weekly Testing Requirement For Unvaccinated School Staff To Start In NY COVID-19: Weekly Testing Requirement For Unvaccinated School Staff To Start In NY
Covid-19: Weekly Testing Requirement For Unvaccinated School Staff To Start In NY Children in New York will be wearing masks - at least at the beginning of the school year - in the classroom until regions get the Delta COVID-19 variant under control, and school staffers who aren't vaccinated will now have to be tested weekly. During a COVID-19 briefing in Buffalo on Tuesday, Aug. 31, Gov. Kathy Hochul, calling children “resilient,” said that all students will be masked up to start the school year, though circumstances could change depending on the spread of the virus. “It’s been a brutal year and a half for children who have been denied that normal support system and man…
Tyson Recalls Millions Of Pounds Of Chicken Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination Tyson Recalls Millions Of Pounds Of Chicken Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination
Tyson Recalls Millions Of Pounds Of Chicken Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination Tyson Foods has issued a recall for about 8.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat, frozen chicken products because they may be contaminated with Listeria. The brands were produced between Dec. 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021, according to an announcement by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection.  The items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools, and Department of Defense locat…
COVID-19: New York Loosening Mask Restrictions On Schools COVID-19: New York Loosening Mask Restrictions On Schools
Covid-19: New York Loosening Mask Restrictions On Schools New York is loosening its mask-wearing restrictions for students and staff next week as the state continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning on Monday, June 7, masks will no longer be required indoors or outdoors in New York schools after seeing nearly two straight months of the COVID-19 positivity rate dropping. As of Monday, masks will be “strongly encouraged” for unvaccinated people, but not required. They will also not be needed outdoors, though people not fully vaccinated will be encouraged to wear them in high-risk circumstances. Anyone who is fully vaccinated will …
COVID-19: Date Announced When Mask Mandate Will Be Dropped For Vaccinated People In NY COVID-19: Date Announced When Mask Mandate Will Be Dropped For Vaccinated People In NY
Covid-19: Date Announced When Mask Mandate Will Be Dropped For Vaccinated People In NY New York will be loosening its mask and social distance guidance as it follows the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During a COVID-19 briefing at Radio City Music Hall on Monday, May 17, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that as of Wednesday, May 19, the state will be adopting new guidelines for those who are vaccinated. The new guidance from the federal government calls for continued mask-wearing in more crowded indoor spaces such as on mass transportation, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters, but eases restrictions on workplaces, school…
COVID-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors COVID-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors
Covid-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is easing indoor mask-wearing guidance for Americans who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. On Thursday afternoon, May 13, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced the new guidance at a White House briefing, saying that anyone who has received both shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot can safely stop wearing masks indoors, except under some circumstances. The new guidance calls for continued mask-wearing in more crowded indoor spaces such as on mass transportation, hospitals, prisons, or …
COVID-19: Vaccine Eligibility Expanded To NYers Age 60 And Over, New Group Of Employees COVID-19: Vaccine Eligibility Expanded To NYers Age 60 And Over, New Group Of Employees
Covid-19: Vaccine Eligibility Expanded To NYers Age 60 And Over, New Group Of Employees More New Yorkers will now be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10, the vaccine distribution eligibility would be expanding to include any New Yorker age 60 and over. Appointments can start being made immediately for those qualifying at mass vaccination sites and pharmacies. It had previously been restricted to those over the age of 65. The eligibility expansion will continue on Wednesday, March 17 to include:  Public-facing government and public employees Not-for-profit workers who provide public-facing…
COVID-19: Staffer Sent Home After Testing Positive At New Rochelle School COVID-19: Staffer Sent Home After Testing Positive At New Rochelle School
Covid-19: Staffer Sent Home After Testing Positive At New Rochelle School A staff member in a Westchester school district was sent home this week after learning of a positive COVID-19 test. Interim New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero issued an alert to the community late on Monday, Jan. 4 advising that two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 -- one at Daniel Webster Magnet School and one who works for the Facilities Department. Marrero said that the staff member at Webster was last in the building on Monday, but went home upon learning of the test results. The school is currently in the process of identifying and notifying anyone who came in…
COVID-19: New York's Winter Plan To Combat Virus Unveiled COVID-19: New York's Winter Plan To Combat Virus Unveiled
Covid-19: New York's Winter Plan To Combat Virus Unveiled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out the state’s plan to combat the spread of COVID-19 during the apparent second wave of the virus surging across the country. During his latest COVID-19 briefing, Cuomo said that with the holidays here, New York needs to pivot its strategy in battling the virus over the winter. "While the holiday season often brings joy to many, the increase in social activity and mobility will also bring an increase of viral transmission. We understand the cause and effect, and the effect is dramatic," Cuomo said. The plan includes five different strategies the state…
COVID-19: Westchester Cluster Focus Area Upgraded To Orange Warning Zone COVID-19: Westchester Cluster Focus Area Upgraded To Orange Warning Zone
Covid-19: Westchester Cluster Focus Area Upgraded To Orange Warning Zone A COVID-19 micro-cluster focus area in the Hudson Valley has just been upgraded to an Orange Warning Zone. The zone is located in Westchester County. Based on data metrics, Port Chester's yellow zone will make the transition, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The seven-day average positivity rate in Port Chester has been above 3 percent for 10 days, meeting the metrics for an orange warning zone declaration. The Hudson Valley's two other micro-cluster focus areas are an orange zone in Rockland County and a yellow zone in Orange County. Orange zones move schools…
COVID-19: New Guidelines On 'Close Contact,' Time It Takes To Get Infected, Issued By CDC COVID-19: New Guidelines On 'Close Contact,' Time It Takes To Get Infected, Issued By CDC
Covid-19: New Guidelines On 'Close Contact,' Time It Takes To Get Infected, Issued By CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new info on just how little time it takes for a person to get infected by COVID-19. A study has found that even brief exposures within 6 feet in a 24-hour period may increase the risk of COVID transmission, which could change the way businesses and schools are operating amid the pandemic. The new guidance, released by the CDC on Wednesday, Oct. 21, is expected to have the biggest impact on workplaces, schools, and other group settings, including family gatherings, where people are in contact with others. Under previous CDC adv…
COVID-19: Westchester Adds School Mask Mandate, Evaluates Youth Sports Amid Case Increase COVID-19: Westchester Adds School Mask Mandate, Evaluates Youth Sports Amid Case Increase
Covid-19: Westchester Adds School Mask Mandate, Evaluates Youth Sports Amid Case Increase With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Westchester, County Executive George Latimer is making some changes in schools to help curtail the spread of the virus. During a COVID-19 briefing on Monday, Oct. 19, Latimer said that there is now a mandatory mask mandate in all schools for students and staffers, and the county will be reevaluating the safety of continuing certain youth sports. Earlier story - COVID-19: Westchester Infection Increase Causes Concern; Here Are New Cases By Municipality Westchester has seen hundreds of new active COVID-19 cases reported in recent weeks, as the death toll co…
COVID-19: NY Starts Direct Enforcement In 20 Hotspots; Cuomo Threatens To Close Some Schools COVID-19: NY Starts Direct Enforcement In 20 Hotspots; Cuomo Threatens To Close Some Schools
Covid-19: NY Starts Direct Enforcement In 20 Hotspots; Cuomo Threatens To Close Some Schools New York State will launch direct enforcement of businesses in "hotspot" cluster areas and Gov. Andrew Cuomo said some schools may be ordered to close in-person learning due to insufficient COVID-19 testing. Within the top 20 ZIP codes in counties with recent outbreaks - Brooklyn (Kings), Queens and Rockland and Orange counties - the average rate of positive tests is 4.8 percent.  The rate of positive tests for the remainder of New York State, not counting these 20 ZIP codes, is 0.91 percent. These 20 ZIP codes contained 21 percent of all positive cases in New York State on Saturday, O…