eedition The Daily Mail February 5-6 2022 by Columbia-Greene Media

The Daily Mail WEEKEND

Serving Greene County since 1792

Price $2.50

Saturday-Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

Group: ‘All in’ for pot lounges By Ted Remsnyder Columbia-Greene Media

Fire wipes out recycling company building BILL WILLIAMS/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Multiple fire companies fought a stubborn blaze at County Waste in Cairo on Thursday night.

By Bill Williams Columbia-Greene Media

CAIRO — A large building at a Greene County waste and recycling company was destroyed by fire Thursday night. The vehicle maintenance building at County Waste and Recycling is being called a complete loss, Cairo Fire Chief Ray Feml said Friday. Two garbage trucks and a service truck were also lost in the blaze, Feml said. At about 6:40 p.m., Greene County 911 sent Cairo Fire Company to 465 Ross Ruland Road Extension after a caller reported there was heavy black smoke coming from the building. When the first firefighters arrived on the scene, they encountered heavy smoke and reported there was a fire in the building, Feml said. Fire officials requested mutual-aid assistance from

neighboring fire departments and several dozen firefighters from three departments responded. Crews began fighting the stubborn blaze from inside and outside the structure. Catskill Fire Company was requested to the scene with their ladder truck. A site to fill tankers was established at a nearby pond on Porto Road. Central Hudson Gas and Electric responded to disconnect power to the building. Temperatures at the scene began slowly falling below 32 degrees, which started to cause some icy conditions for firefighters. Chemicals stored in the garage presented additional challenges for firefighters. The chemicals were those normally found stored in a See FIRE A8

BILL WILLIAMS/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

CATSKILL — After the Catskill Town Board decided in December to opt out of allowing cannabis lounges, a group of residents decided to pursue a public referendum vote on the issue. The group is now collecting signatures with the aim of getting a referendum on the ballot in November that would permit on-site cannabis lounges to be established in the town going forward. On Dec. 29, the town board voted 3-1 to opt out of allowing lounges in the town. Under the state Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act, which last March legalized cannabis in New York for residents ages 21 and over, municipalities had until the end of 2021 to opt out of allowing cannabis dispensaries or lounges in their towns. While taking no action would permit both types of establishments permanently, municipalities are allowed to opt back in at a later date if they chose to block lounges or dispensaries. The board passed a resolution backing dispensaries in December but moved to opt out of lounges, with only Town Councilman Jared Giordiano opposing the local law. Catskill resident Sara Pickens Verdon, who is organizing the effort to get a public referendum on allowing lounges, says there is public sentiment in favor of the cafes. “There were a lot of people from the town at the meeting who were in favor of both dispensaries and cannabis use facilities,” Verdon said. “But the town board still decided to opt out of cannabis use facilities. So we simply want a referendum in November so that the whole community can vote on it.” Verdon is the operator of Social Sara, a company that helps small businesses in the region expand their social media presence. She said that allowing cannabis lounges

A large building at County Waste in Cairo was destroyed by fire on Thursday night.

See POT A8

Greene retail, online sales top $1B in 2021 By Ted Remsnyder Columbia-Greene Media

TED REMSNYDER/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA/FILE

The Christmas shopping season in Catskill helped fuel $1 billion in yearly sales for Greene County.

n WEATHER page A2

CATSKILL — Online shopping and retail sales surpassed $1 billion in Greene County in 2021, with online sales fueling the county’s 12th consecutive year of growth in sales tax revenue. According to the Greene County Economic Development Corporation, the county surpassed its sales tax payments from the state by $6.5 million last year over the level recorded in 2020. The impact of online shopping on sales tax revenue grew

n SPORTS

FORECAST FOR HUDSON/CA

TODAY TONIGHT SUN

Partly sunny and cold

HIGH 24

Clear and Partly sunny bitterly cold

LOW -1

29 18

n INDEX

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Empire State Winter Games The 2022 Empire State Winter Games officially began Thursday night PAGE B1

emic winter, In the middle of a pand

joy 7 films to bring you

Everyone is talking about ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ ‘Encanto’s’ hit is the highest-charting track in from a Disney movie 25 years By ADAM GRAHAM The Detroit News

Kurt Russell in “Miracle.”

Buena Vista/Chris Large/Album/Zuma

Press/TNS

gets you Capra or Wes Andersonparticular a cozy? Or it might be you in your performer who puts hen a reader wrote to happy place. Tom Hanks? Jennifer me, looking for a list Lopez? ended up of sunny movies to None of her movies give to a friend fac- making this list of seven, but just to me: Gerwig’s diing tough times, it occurred thinking about Greta (“Lady Bird”) and acting We all need that list. as a joyful recting Plan,” “Frances Ha”) But what qualiﬁes one? That’s (“Maggie’s movie? A really good puts me in a good mood.

By CHRIS HEWITT Star Tribune

in importance in 2018 when the Supreme Court decision in the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. allowed taxes to be collected on the receiving end of online sales instead of where the products were shipped from. “It’s a game-changer,” Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said on Friday. “The sales tax now is applied to the receiving address, not the shipping address. Previously, when you went online and you ordered your sneakers and it came from someplace like Philadelphia, there was no

about Everyone is talking “Bruno.” Bru“We Don’t Talk About earworm no,” the Latin pop to “Enfrom the soundtrack smash on canto,” is a surprise it was the pop charts, where Billboard No. 4 on last week’s it the Hot 100 tally. That makes from highest-charting track movie in a Disney animated topping more than 25 years, even “Frozen’s” inescapable at “Let It Go,” which peaked No. 5 in 2014. the “Bruno” has now tied John’s chart position of Elton ToLove “Can You Feel the King”) night” (from “The Lion less and Vanessa Williams’ the of memorable “Colors Wind” (from “Pocahontas”), song has and only one Disney the Hot climbed higher on Regina 100: Peabo Bryson and World,” Belle’s “A Whole New 1 back in which reached No. “Easy on 1993. And if Adele’s off for Me” would just back nine a second — it has spentat No. non-consecutive weeks “Bruno” 1, which is plenty — No. 1, o

INSIDE TODAY!

Region A3 Opinion A4 Local A5 State/Nation A6 ObituariesA6 Sports B1 Classified B3-B4 Comics/Advice B7-B8

On the web www.HudsonValley360.com

sales tax. But if you went to the mall or Walmart, there would be sales tax. But with Wayfair, one argument is that it evened the playing field because the internet shopping experience was previously cheaper than the store because of the sales tax. Now it’s evened up.” The court decision plus the sales tax collection on internet shopping helped fuel the county’s growth over the past two years, according to Groden. “When you throw in the See SALES A8

Twitter Follow: @CatskillDailyMail Facebook www.facebook.com/ CatskillDailyMail/

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A2 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

Weather FORECAST FOR HUDSON/CATSKILL

TODAY TONIGHT SUN

MON

TUE

WED

A boy fell 100 feet down a well, and the days-long rescue has transfixed Morocco Siobhán O’Grady The Washington Post

Partly sunny and cold

Clear and Sun through Partly sunny bitterly cold high clouds

Clouds and sunshine

Times of clouds and sun

29 18

41 16

42 22

HIGH 24

LOW -1

38 27 Ottawa 8/-7

Montreal 10/-5

Massena 9/-13

Bancroft 11/-8

Ogdensburg 12/-9

Peterborough 11/-4

Plattsburgh 13/-7

Malone Potsdam 7/-8 9/-11

Kingston 13/-1

Watertown 12/-8

Rochester 16/2

Utica 15/-5

Batavia 16/3

Buffalo 17/8

Albany 20/-4

Syracuse 17/-1

Catskill 24/-1

Binghamton 14/-3

Hornell 16/0

Burlington 14/-6

Lake Placid 7/-12

Hudson 24/-2

Temperature

Precipitation 1.44”

Low

Today 7:05 a.m. 5:15 p.m. 9:40 a.m. 10:26 p.m.

Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

Yesterday as of 1 p.m. 24 hrs. through 1 p.m. yest.

High

The Washington Post

SUN AND MOON

Statistics through 1 p.m. yesterday

Sun. 7:03 a.m. 5:16 p.m. 10:02 a.m. 11:31 p.m.

Moon Phases 26

First

Full

Last

New

Feb 8

Feb 16

Feb 23

Mar 2

16 YEAR TO DATE NORMAL

2.86 2.9

CONDITIONS TODAY AccuWeather.com UV Index™ & AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature®

8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme. The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature is an exclusive index of effective temperature based on eight weather factors.

NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Winnipeg 6/-10 Seattle 48/35

Montreal 10/-5

Billings 45/27

San Francisco 60/43

Toronto 16/10 Detroit Chicago 21/11 20/17

Los Angeles 74/50

New York 28/15

Atlanta 47/31

El Paso 44/25 Houston 50/29 Chihuahua 57/30

Miami 80/67

Monterrey 53/33

ALASKA HAWAII

Anchorage 28/24

-10s

-0s

10s rain

Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

Hilo 80/66

Juneau 42/38

showers t-storms

Honolulu 82/69

Fairbanks 8/-3

20s flurries

30s

40s

snow

50s ice

60s

70s

cold front

80s

90s 100s 110s

warm front stationary front

NATIONAL CITIES City Albuquerque Anchorage Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Charlotte Cheyenne Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus, OH Dallas Denver Des Moines Detroit Hartford Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Knoxville Las Vegas

Today Hi/Lo W 38/20 s 28/24 c 47/31 s 31/21 pc 32/17 s 45/27 c 46/28 s 37/23 pc 23/9 pc 52/35 pc 29/12 c 45/25 s 39/20 pc 20/17 s 25/12 pc 22/14 c 22/8 pc 45/24 s 45/19 pc 38/19 s 21/11 c 26/7 pc 82/69 pc 50/29 s 22/12 s 41/24 s 38/23 s 62/41 s

Sun. Hi/Lo W 40/22 s 30/18 c 51/39 s 34/34 s 37/27 s 43/31 pc 57/34 s 37/21 s 26/21 pc 53/43 pc 46/24 s 49/32 pc 32/20 c 31/17 c 38/18 s 35/21 pc 34/14 s 49/27 s 35/19 c 31/12 pc 28/16 c 30/20 s 82/68 pc 57/37 s 33/20 pc 46/22 s 50/28 s 64/40 s

City Little Rock Los Angeles Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Norfolk Oklahoma City Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland Portland Providence Raleigh Richmond Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Francisco Savannah Seattle Tampa Washington, DC

woman - Justice Sandra Day O’Connor - joined the bench, Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice, had been on the bench since 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated the former solicitor general to fill an open seat. Marshall served until 1991 and died two years later. According to a spokesman for Schumer, the lawmaker meant to say the court “was almost all White men.” The spokesman said Schumer corrected his remarks in the Congressional Record. Schumer’s initial remarks went viral on social media, with Republicans gleefully pointing out his error. “The Senate Majority Leader (and his speechwriter) erasing

Today Hi/Lo W 42/22 s 74/50 s 80/67 pc 25/19 s 25/14 pc 37/22 s 48/36 pc 28/15 s 35/25 pc 43/18 s 49/23 s 64/58 c 30/17 s 67/44 s 22/9 c 23/-2 pc 49/34 pc 28/8 pc 44/23 pc 39/21 pc 63/34 s 30/20 s 42/23 pc 60/43 s 56/36 pc 48/35 pc 67/57 c 35/22 s

Sun. Hi/Lo W 51/27 s 79/51 s 80/67 pc 37/16 c 15/0 pc 52/25 s 55/38 s 31/28 s 40/34 pc 39/21 s 41/18 s 70/59 sh 36/27 s 72/49 s 38/20 s 22/13 pc 52/35 pc 27/22 pc 46/29 pc 44/28 s 65/34 s 40/18 pc 39/24 s 63/44 s 53/44 pc 49/36 c 70/59 sh 39/27 s

Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

Thurgood Marshall from the history books is not something I had on my bingo card for today,” tweeted Chris Hartline, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Multiple Black Americans responded to the odd timing of Schumer’s comments. Michael Arceneaux, a bestselling author who often writes about race and power, questioned how these comments made it to the Senate floor. “How do you forget Thurgood Marshall during Black history month,” he asked. “Especially if you are not just a Democrat, but Senate Majority Leader.” “And who wrote this speech,” Arceneaux wondered.

Gorsuch to headline GOP lineup of speakers at Federalist Society; media barred from his speech The Washington Post

Washington 35/22

Kansas City 41/24

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday that he misspoke when he incorrectly stated that the Supreme Court had been “all White men” until 1981, a statement that overlooked the tenure of Justice Thurgood Marshall. “Sorry that I misspoke earlier today. Of course, I remember the dedication and legal excellence that Thurgood Marshall brought to the Supreme Court,” Schumer tweeted at 2:11 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Hours earlier, in remarks on the Senate floor, Schumer incorrectly said that the Supreme Court had lacked diversity far longer than it actually did.

“Never, never has there been an African American woman, who still make up barely 6% of the federal judiciary,” he said. “Amazing, until 1981, this powerful body, the Supreme Court, was all White men. Imagine. America wasn’t all White men in 1981, or ever.” Schumer’s comments came as he was speaking of the historic nature of President Joe Biden’s vow to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court for the first time. Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring at the end of the court term this summer, and Biden is using the vacancy to follow through on a campaign pledge to further diversify the court. While 1981 was significant because it was the first time a

Mariana Alfaro

Minneapolis 25/14

Denver 45/19

around 82 feet in the hole parallel to the well. By Friday morning, the same news channel said workers had dug another 13 feet toward him. “We will do the impossible to bring little Rayan back to his family safe and sound,” Tamarani said. Accidents involving children and wells have often transfixed audiences around the world. One of the more famous rescues happened in Midland, Texas, in 1987 when 18-month-old “baby Jessica” was rescued from a well after a parallel shaft was dug much like what is being attempted in the Morocco. The cases don’t always end happily, however. In 2019, 2-year-old Julen Rosello fell into a similar well in Spain. The complicated rescue efforts included digging multiple tunnels to try to recover the boy. Hundreds of experts contributed to the operation, which included moving more than 17,000 tons of rocks. But they could not reach him in time, and his body was finally recovered after 13 days.

Schumer corrects Senate remarks overlooking Thurgood Marshall’s tenure on Supreme Court Eugene Scott

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

ALMANAC

CAIRO - The 5-year-old boy in the blue shirt is curled up and caked in dirt, taking deep breaths over and over. For around three days, he has been stuck more than 100 feet underground in a village in northern Morocco, after he fell into a dry well and became stuck between its narrow walls. The dramatic race to save him has gripped Morocco and neighboring countries, as rescuers work around-the-clock to pull him to safety and broadcasters livestream their efforts. Attempts to pull him out have been complicated by the depth and diameter of the location where he is lodged. The well is too narrow to send someone down to rescue him directly but aggressive digging around the area could cause the walls to collapse, forcing workers to move carefully and deliberately to avoid injuring him further. Officials dispatched heavy machinery to the scene earlier this week to dig a parallel hole in a bid to pull him to safety.

Workers have managed to deliver him water and oxygen. They also lowered a camera into the well to help monitor his condition. Footage has tugged at the heartstrings of the many people following his ordeal, who are resharing his image on social media, calling for prayers and assistance. The hashtag #SaveRayan is trending in Morocco, and crowds of people have gathered around the scene, in the village of Ighran in Chefchaouen province. Some children interviewed on local news channels have offered to be lowered down themselves to assist him. Mustapha Baitas, a government spokesman, said Thursday that Morocco has the resources needed to oversee his rescue, but “we can ask for help if the need arises when it comes to saving the lives of citizens.” A helicopter and fully equipped ambulance are on the scene waiting to assist, Moroccan media outlets have reported. Abdelhadi Tamarani, who is part of the team working to rescue him, told Moroccan TV channel 2M on Thursday evening that they had managed to dig to a depth of

Justice Neil Gorsuch is speaking to the conservative Federalist Society as part of a political lineup of former vice president Mike Pence, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump’s onetime press secretary, an appearance that comes as his fellow justices repeatedly dismiss criticism that the Supreme Court is partisan. What Gorsuch says Friday night will only be known to the organization’s guests. The media is barred from listening to his remarks. Gorsuch’s participation in the weekend-long event comes in the midst of a monumental time for the court as it could roll back or overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that guarantees a woman’s right to abortion, in the coming months. The court also could be asked to rule on issues related to the House committee investigation of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob - with Pence a potential witness. It is unclear whether Gorsuch will be paid by the group for his appearance. Neither the Federalist Society nor the Supreme Court responded to requests for comment. The Federalist Society is an influential nonprofit organization for conservative and libertarian lawyers that served as a pipeline for former president Donald Trump’s judicial choices, including Gorsuch. The justice will be addressing the Florida chapter at Disney’s

WASHINGTON POST PHOTO BY JABIN BOTSFORD

Justice Neil Gorsuch will be addressing the Florida chapter of the Federalist Society at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Yacht and Beach Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The conference, to be held Friday and Saturday, will feature a keynote speech from Pence, who is a possible 2024 presidential candidate; and a conversation between DeSantis, who is seeking reelection and also mentioned as a White House hopeful, and Trump’s White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. One panel during the conference is titled “The end of Roe v. Wade?” Gorsuch will speak with Ethan Davis, his former law clerk, Friday at 8 p.m., during the banquet. While Gorsuch will not participate on the Roe panel, or share a stage with the GOP leaders, his attendance with major figures close to Trump has stirred questions about the court’s impartiality and the insistence of the justices that it remains nonpartisan. “I think we’re facing a real

ALL PROPANE IS THE SAME

OURS CHEAPER!! OURS ISIS CHEAPER!! WE BEAT ANY COMPETITOR’S PRICE!! Call M-F 8 am to 4 pm • Rte. 20, West Lebanon, NY • www.hlfuel.com

crisis of public confidence with respect to the Supreme Court,” said Alicia Bannon, director of the judiciary program at the Brennan Center for Justice, noting that this crisis stems partially from the fact that “we currently have a court where the ideological divides among the justices correspond perfectly to the party of the president that nominated them, which didn’t used to be the case.” But Mike Davis, one of Gorsuch’s former law clerks and the founder of the Article III Project, an organization that worked to confirm conservative judges during the Trump years, dismissed the criticisms and defended his former boss. Davis argued that Gorsuch and other justices often participate in events similar to the Federalist Society’s conference. “They are discussing overcriminalization, access to justice, separation of powers, and serving as a law clerk,” Davis

said of Gorsuch’s banquet conversation. “The only politicians Justice Gorsuch plans to meet in Florida are the robotic presidents at Magic Kingdom.” While it is not unusual for justices to participate in speaking engagements hosted by partisan organizations - liberal justices, for example, are often guests of progressive organizations such as the American Constitution Society - the public perception of the court’s impartiality has eroded in recent years. A September Gallup poll found that 37% of Americans believe the court is too conservative, while 20% believe it is too liberal. The Register-Star/The Daily Mail are published Tuesday through Saturday mornings by Columbia-Greene Media (USPS253620), 364 Warren St., Unit 1, Hudson, N.Y. 12534, a subsidiary of Johnson Newspaper Corp. Periodicals postage paid at Hudson, N.Y., and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Register-Star, 364 Warren St., Unit 1, Hudson, N.Y. 12534.

HL Propane Co. Inc. 518-794-9066 518-794-9066 • 877-794-9066

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - A3

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

CALENDAR EDITOR’S NOTE: Most events and meetings are cancelled due to the virus outbreak. Please call ahead to confirm.

Monday, Feb. 7 n Athens Town Board 7 p.m. Ath-

ens Volunteer Firehouse, 39 Third St., Athens 518-945-1052 Changes will be on the Town of Athens web page n Cairo Town Board 7 p.m. Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo n Greene County Board of Electrical Examiners 1 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., 4th Floor, Room 469, Catskill

Tuesday, Feb. 8 n Catskill Town Planning Board

6:30 p.m. Robert C. Antonelli Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill 518943-2141 n Coxsackie Village Historic Preservation Committee 6 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie 518731-2718

Wednesday, Feb. 9 n Athens Village Board 6:30 p.m.

Athens Fire Department, 39 Third St., Athens Consult the village website for updates the day of the meeting n Catskill Central School District Board of Education budget workshop 6:30 p.m. CHS Library, CHS Library, 341 West Main St., Catskill 518-9432300 n Catskill Village Board of Trustees 6:30 p.m. Robert C. Antonelli Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill n Greene County Legislature workshop 6 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill n Jewett Town Board 7 p.m. Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 County Route 23C, Jewett

Thursday, Feb. 10 n Coxsackie Village Workshop 6

p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie 518-731-2718 n Greene County Legislature finance audit 4 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 14 n Ashland Town Board 7:30 p.m.

Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland n Catskill Village Planning Board 7 p.m. Robert C. Antonelli Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill n Coxsackie Village Board 7 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie 518-731-2718 n Greene County Legislature county services; public works; economic development and tourism; gov. ops.; finance; Rep. and Dem caucus 6 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill

Tuesday, Feb. 15 n Athens Village Planning Board

6:30 p.m. Village Hall, Meeting Room, 2 First St., Athens 518-945-1551 n Durham Town Board 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 7309 Route 81, East Durham n Hunter Town Board 7 p.m. Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville

Wednesday, Feb. 16 n Catskill Central School Board of Education District Public HearingSmart School Bond Act 6:30 p.m. followed by the board meeting High School Library, 341 Main St., Catskill 518-943-2300 n Catskill Library Board 6:45 p.m. at either the Catskill Library, 1 Franklin St., Catskill or Palenville Library, 3303 Route 23A, Palenville n Catskill Town Board Committee 6:30 p.m. Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill 518-943-2141 n Greene County Legislature meeting No. 2 6:30 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill

Thursday, Feb. 17 n Coxsackie Village Planning

Board 6 p.m. February 17 Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie 518-7312718

Monday, Feb. 21 n Athens Town Board 7 p.m. Ath-

ens Volunteer Firehouse, 39 Third St., Athens 518-945-1052 Changes will be on the Town of Athens web page n Catskill Town Offices closed in observance of President’s Day n Catskill Village Hall will be closed in observance of President’s Day n Coxsackie Villages Offices closed in observance of President’s Day n Greene County Office Building closed in observance of President’s Day

JACKIE REESE/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

The village is under a snow emergency until further notice.

Thousands without power from icy storm By Bill Williams Columbia-Greene Media

The latest winter storm to make its way across Greene and Columbia counties Friday, shuttered businesses, coated roads, streets and driveways with ice and left thousands of residents in eastern Columbia County in the dark. Hundreds of snow plows and sanders treated area highways throughout the day on Friday. New York State Electric and Gas listed on its website nearly 7,000 Columbia County customers without power Friday afternoon. The largest outages listed are Copake with 2,650, Hillsdale with 1,469, Claverack with 841, and Philmont with 791. Other affected towns included Austerlitz, Canaan, Chatham, Ghent and Taghkanic. Central Hudson Gas and Electric reported about 20 customers without power in Greene County and about 400 in the dark in Ancram, Columbia County. National Grid listed fewer than 10 customers without power in Columbia County. All three utilities predicted that power would be restored by late Friday afternoon or early Friday evening. The area remained under a Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service until 5 p.m. on Friday. Residents of Columbia and Greene counties did not receive much snow from this storm, but the ice from a buildup of freezing rain and sleet made walking and driving nearly impossible. The storm began moving into the area early Thursday morning as rain, with temperatures in the lower 40s at the time. Temperatures began falling slowly throughout the day as a cold front moved southward across the area, where the rain changed to freezing rain after 9 p.m. Thursday night, said local meteorologist Allan Porreca. The freezing rain coated almost everything through the night before it changed over to sleet early Friday morning, Porreca said. Freezing rain and sleet changed over to snow in some parts of Columbia and Greene counties before tapering off

JACKIE REESE/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Victoria Reese enjoys a day off from school playing in the snow.

JACKIE REESE/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Icicles form on a tree in Catskill.

MARY DEMPSEY/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Signs like this were displayed at Tanzy’s on Warren Street in Hudson, and many other locations in the area, due to the latest winter storm.

Friday afternoon. Snow accumulations were 1 inch or less in areas that saw the changeover. About 2 inches of snow was measured Friday in the HunterTannersville area, according to the National Weather Service. The Village of Catskill remains under a Snow Emergency until further notice. All vehicles need to be parked on the odd side of the street from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. Vehicles then need to be moved and parked on the even side of the street from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Vehicles will continue to alternate sides of the street every 12 hours until the snow emergency has been canceled. A Snow Emergency in the Town of Greenport remains in effect until 8 a.m. on Sunday. Parking is not allowed on any

streets or roads within the town during that period. Vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense, according to town officials.

JACKIE REESE/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Dave Zelasko, of Catskill, uses his snowblower after Friday mornings storm.

ATTENTION JOURNALISM STUDENTS

Opportunity is Knockin’!

Tuesday, Feb. 22 n Catskill Town Planning Board 6:30 p.m. Robert C. Antonelli Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill 518943-2141

ARE YOU A COLLEGE STUDENT ? DO YOU KNOW A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO WANTS TO EARN $2,600 THIS SUMMER?

Paid Summer Internship Positions Available

Wednesday, Feb. 23

The New York Press Association Foundation is sponsoring a paid summer internship at this newspaper for a qualified journalism student.

n Athens Village Board 6:30 p.m.

Athens Fire Department, 39 Third St., Athens Consult the village website for updates the day of the meeting n Catskill Town Zoning Board of Appeals 6 p.m. Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill 518-943-2141 n Catskill Village Board of Trustees 6:30 p.m. Robert C. Antonelli Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill

JACKIE REESE/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A snowplow circles through the roads of Catskill on Friday.

Personal & Commercial Lines of Insurance Over 100 Years of customer service!

332 Main Street ~ Catskill, NY 12414 www.catskillinsurance.com

Any student currently enrolled in a recognized journalism program is eligible to compete for an internship with a net $2,600 stipend provided by NYPA. Applicants must attend college during the 2022-2023 academic year. New York Press Association

F O U N DAT I O N

Don’t delay! Application deadline is March 1, 2022. Application forms available online at:

www.nynewspapers.com click on NYPA

click on Internships

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

A4 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

THE DAILY MAIL Established 1792 Published Tuesday through Saturday by Columbia-Greene Media

ALEC E. JOHNSON

JOHN B. JOHNSON JR.

HAROLD B. JOHNSON II

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

CHAIRMAN

VICE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

HAROLD B. JOHNSON EDITOR AND PUBLISHER 1919-1949 MARY DEMPSEY LOCAL PUBLISHER

JOHN B. JOHNSON EDITOR AND PUBLISHER 1949-2001

JOHN B. JOHNSON JR. CO-PUBLISHER 2001-2013

364 Warren St., Unit 1, Hudson, N.Y. 12534 Phone (518) 828-1616 Fax (518) 671-6043

JOHN B. JOHNSON CEO AND CO-PUBLISHER 2013-2019 MARY DEMPSEY EXECUTIVE EDITOR

OUR VIEW

Scenic Hudson’s investment good for Athens and river Seth McKee, executive director of the Scenic Hudson Land Trust and Land Programs, said Thursday the environmental watchdog group has been interested in acquiring six acres of land along the Athens waterfront for the last 18 months. To that, we say congratulations Scenic Hudson, best of luck and thank you for taking it off the market for any further attempts to convert the waterfront land into a construction and demolition debris transfer facility. The land is located on Murderers Creek, a Hudson River tributary. Already spoken for, the area was targeted for improvement as part of the state’s Hudson Eagles Recreation Area, which aims to increase access to public waterfronts and create new destinations for visitors by expanding river access at six state boat launches between the cities of Rensselaer and

Hudson. Athens village Mayor Amy Serrago was 100% correct when she said having one of the river’s primary environmental advocacy groups acquire the land was a better outcome than the proposed sale to a construction-anddemolition disposal company, which was opposed by many in the community. Two years ago, a month before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a company called Athens Stevedoring and Environmental Development proposed building a transfer station to import and export 8,400 tons of construction-anddemolition debris each week in the very spot now under Scenic Hudson ownership. The proposal set the community on edge and the village government responded by making changes to zoning that would not al-

low that kind of industrial enterprise to locate there in the future. Meanwhile, Stephan Bradicich, who was mayor at the time, reached out to Scenic Hudson and the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation because the land is directly adjacent to the Athens Boat Launch. Scenic Hudson came aboard and village officials worked with the group to find someone to partner that would take the industrial building on the site. That didn’t happen, but fortunately Scenic Hudson saw something in the site that made them want to purchase it. We’re pleased Scenic Hudson chose to make an investment in the land. We wish them success in making fine use of the river so visitors can enjoy the Hudson’s natural beauty.

ANOTHER VIEW

A pick-me-up for President Biden Bloomberg

As talks continue on what might be salvaged from President Joe Biden’s stalled tax-andspending plan, one of its smaller pieces is worth singling out - a proposal to cut the prices Americans pay for prescription drugs. As it stands, it’s a good first stab, but Biden should press to go further. Doing so would serve the public and strengthen the president’s popular support. The existing system must strike any outside observer as absurd. U.S. pharmaceutical companies charge their domestic customers vastly more than they demand of buyers in the rest of the world. And Medicare is expressly barred from doing what foreign equivalents take for granted: using its bargaining power to get better prices. In short, producers are granted governmentenforced monopolies for new drugs and are generously assisted by research carried out at taxpayers’ expense - yet the U.S. suspends this public-private partnership at the point of sale. This leaves manufacturers free to maximize their profits, with their most powerful customer’s hands tied, rendering treatments unaffordable for many of the people

who need them. That’s some deal. To sustain it, the industry invests heavily in Washington, securing the support of Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike. Earlier plans for pricing reform were sharply scaled back in the version of Build Back Better passed by the House in November. The current proposal calls for Medicare to negotiate, in the first instance, the price of just 10 drugs, with the stipulation that new drugs won’t be included. (An earlier version had up to 250 in its sights.) The plan has other drawbacks too in particular, it indicates a standard negotiated discount, rather than seeking to weigh price against value. Still, it’s a start. It would save $80 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. More important, it would establish the principle that Medicare can press down on drug prices without causing the industry to collapse. Critics say the changes would reduce the companies’ revenue and profits. True: That’s the idea. And they say this would affect future innovation. So it might. The CBO reckons that one fewer drug would come to market in the first decade after the bill’s pas-

sage, and nine fewer over the following 20 years. But the goal can’t be to maximize innovation regardless of cost. Granting patents in perpetuity would boost profits and might summon more innovation, by gouging the public more deeply and making drugs even less affordable. The challenge is to get the balance right. As things stand - just look at what America is paying - the balance is far too skewed in the companies’ favor. Lawmakers have been induced to look away, but Biden could use this cause to rally voters regardless of party to his side. At a minimum, he should campaign for the current proposal, but it would be better to go further. Broaden the list of drugs whose prices can be negotiated - aiming in due course to make drugs not on the list the exception rather than the rule. Adopt value for money as an explicit factor guiding those negotiations. Counter the effect on innovation by using some of the savings to boost research, especially in the institutes and labs that seed the real breakthroughs. Make the case and dare the industry’s pals in Congress to disagree.

Profligate Democrats, delusional Republicans and the $30 trillion sprint toward deficit disaster WASHINGTON — There is an exception to the federal government’s general inability to accomplish anything briskly. It drove the national debt past $30 trillion this past week, which only two years ago it had not been expected to accomplish until 2026. Defenders of the government’s fiscal performance say: Who could have predicted the pandemic? But that is the point — prudent people expect the unexpected and plan risk management accordingly. Instead, today’s deficit doves are doubling down on their hubris, asserting (in the skeptical words of the Manhattan Institute’s Brian Riedl) “that (BEG ITAL)this time(END ITAL) they can predict interest rates decades in advance.” The average interest rate on government borrowing has fallen from 8.4% to 1.4% since 1990, a decline economists did not forecast but which many now forecast far into the future. The soaring nominal interest rates of the 1970s were largely unanticipated by economic forecasters and Wall Street, as was the collapse of the housing bubble that triggered the 2008 recession. Nevertheless, such supremely confident experts foresee low yields on 10-year Treasury bonds until 2050. However, a rate of even just 5% — which Washington was paying in 2008 — combined with merely modest new federal spending, would push the debt toward 300% of gross domestic product in three decades. Riedl’s “How Higher Interest Rates Could Push Washington Toward a Federal Debt Crisis” requires only a one-word edit: replace “could” with “will.” Today’s government debt is more than 100% of GDP (161%, if state and local debt is included), and the Congressional Budget Office sees more than 200%, anticipating $112 trillion in deficits under current law — no new tax cuts, no new spending programs — over the next three decades. Even

WASHINGTON POST

GEORGE F.

WILL on these unreasonable assumptions, by 2051 interest on the debt will be the largest federal expenditure, consuming almost half of federal tax revenue. Demography — the aging and longer-lived U.S. population — is the predictable destiny for Social Security and Medicare, the principal drivers of deficits. Riedl: “Over the next three decades, the costs of these programs will exceed their dedicated revenues (such as payroll taxes and senior premiums) by approximately $20 trillion for Social Security and $47 trillion for Medicare.” This means huge infusions of general revenues, and $45 trillion in increased interest costs. Unlike homeowners, who can lock in fixedrate 30-year mortgages, “Washington,” Riedl says, “overwhelmingly relies on short-term borrowing, with an average maturity of 69 months. Consequently, if interest rates rise at any point in the future, nearly the entire national debt will roll over into those higher rates within a decade.” High rates mean higher borrowing costs, which mean higher annual deficits, which mean more borrowing: a vicious circle. And even an interest rate of just 3% on debt at 250% of GDP would siphon up approximately 40% of tax revenue. Inflation amounts to repudiation, paying debts in devalued dollars, and as debt increases, so does the government’s incentive to choose inflation. Just one year before the pandemic became progressives’ excuse for spending

sums they think justice demands, Republicans ran a nearly $1 trillion deficit with the economy growing and at full employment. Although congressional Democrats are by conviction even more profligate than Republicans are for political convenience, Republicans are more delusional, or pretend to be, about the possibility of restraint. The Brookings Institution’s Robert P. Beschel Jr., writing in National Affairs, notes that nine months ago the House Republican Study Committee — supposedly the most conservative House members — proposed a budget. It called, Beschel says, for “deficit reductions of nearly $12.5 trillion over the next decade without raising taxes -- in fact, the RSC proposes another $1.9 trillion in tax cuts,” reaching a balanced budget by 2026 and reducing the national debt to 75% of GDP. How? By a slew of politically inconceivable deep cuts to discretionary domestic spending, and cutting eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and repealing significant parts of the Affordable Care Act. While the RSC was perpetrating this performative gesture, why didn’t it also propose requiring lobsters to grow on trees? This past week, as Washington passed the $30 trillion mark, Washington’s National Football League team, formerly the Redskins, renamed itself the Commanders. It disregarded this column’s suggestion that the team should be called the Continuing Resolutions. This would have proudly embraced the durable bipartisanship that — never mind the surface rancor — defines today’s national government: a bipartisan aversion to budgeting and a plucky refusal to be inhibited by any scarcity of revenues relative to political appetites. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ‘After equal suffrage in 1920, I just added voting to cooking and sewing and other household duties.’ HATTIE WYATT CARAWAY

The Daily Mail welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must contain a full name, full address and a daytime telephone number. Names will be published, but phone numbers will not be divulged. Letters of less than 400 words are more likely to be published quickly. The newspaper reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and content. Letters should be exclusive to this publication, not duplicates of those sent to other persons, agencies

or publications. Writers are ordinarily limited to one letter every 30 days.

SEND LETTERS: n Mail: Letters to the editor

The Daily Mail 364 Warren St., Suite 1 Hudson, NY 12534 n E-mail: editorial@thedailymail.net

MEDIA

Columbia-Greene

Columbia-Greene Media

The Daily Mail

MAIN NUMBER To place an ad, report news or contact us, call 518-828-1616 For contact by mail: 364 Warren St., Unit 1, Hudson, NY 12534

DIRECTORY Mary Dempsey Publisher & General Manager Executive Editor - ext. 2533

NEWS EXECUTIVES Ray Pignone Managing Editor - ext. 2469

Sue Chasney Editorial Representative ext. 2490 Tim Martin Sports Editor - ext. 2306 Leigh Bogle Editorial Art - ext. 2470

BUSINESS EXECUTIVES Peter Dedrick Circulation Manager - ext. 2411 Tammi Ullrich HR/ Business Manager ext. 2402

COMMUNITY RELATIONS CGM Cares For information about Columbia-Greene Media’s role in the community, including charitable donations, sponsorships, and matching grants:

Contact Tammi Ullrich at tullrich@ registerstar.com. Tammi Ullrich Promotions Manager - ext. 2402

ONLINE www.hudsonvalley360.com

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - A5

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

FORTNIGHTLY CLUB PRESENTS CHECK TO CATSKILL MUSIC PARENT-STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Feed the birds...and the deer...and the squirrels By Dick Brooks

WHITTLING AWAY

For Columbia-Greene Media

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Fortnightly Club member Bonnie Caro presents a check to Karen VanWie of the Catskill Music Parent-Student Association. Looking forward to seeing the outstanding Catskill talent at this year’s Cabaret Night on March 11.

Of avocados and football By Bob Beyfuss For Columbia-Greene Media

As we enter the shortest month by calendar, yet seemingly the longest by weather, winter weary northerners look for distractions to help pass the time. February needs all the holidays we award it, in order to preserve the sanity of those who suffer seriously from cabin fever. One of our most important modern day holidays in America is the Super Bowl. We may not get a day off from work, but far more people will celebrate, or party, during next weekend’s football game than remember the birthdays of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. I can suggest a few possible remedies for cabin fever, aka seasonal affected disorder. Real sunshine tops the list, although that is not always possible during February. Visit a garden center, nursery or anyplace else that has a greenhouse you can walk around in. Inhale some freshly liberated oxygen from the greenhouse plants and marvel at the chemical reaction that makes this possible. Visit the Mountain top Arboretum in Tannersville, or some other outdoor collection of trees and shrubs to see how beautiful certain deciduous plants look naked. If you cannot get real sunlight take some vitamin D to replace the stuff your body makes by itself in the presence of sunlight. The evidence that this vitamin offers many health benefits, perhaps even in averting COVID infection, is becoming more and more plausible as we learn more about the nature of viral infections. Even artificial lights used for houseplants may offer some relief and an indoor “grow room” specifically designed for growing certain herbs is as bright as a summer day. Many actively growing plants also provide scents that may trigger pleasant memories.

GARDENING TIPS

BOB

BEYFUSS Start some seeds near a really sunny window or under fluorescent lights. The satisfaction of seeing something alive and growing in the dead of winter will lift your spirits. It does not matter if the seedlings survive until spring to transplant outdoors or croak by the end of March. The point now is to get through February. Anything in the cabbage family such as Bok Choy, broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage will sprout in a few days whereas tomatoes, peppers and eggplant will take twice as long. Most lettuce seeds also sprout quickly and may even reward you with a winter salad in a few weeks. You can also pot up some supermarket bought scallions and watch them grow new tops as you cut off the old ones. Cut some terminal twigs of spring flowering shrubs, such as forsythia or pussy willow and put them in a vase with warm water. In two weeks, or so, they will bloom indoors and they need no supplemental light. Just don’t butcher the shrub by making too many cuttings. You can also host, or attend an aforementioned Super Bowl party if you are vaccinated, or well masked and willing to take appropriate precautions. When I was a kid, there was no Super Bowl and there also were no avocados sold at the grocery store. These days about 13.2 million pounds of avocado, or approximately 26 million individual avocados,

give or take, are sold in preparation just for this game. “Holy Guacamole!” Avocados are the main ingredient in Guacamole, of course, and this is one of the most popular snacks that will be served. It is also good for you, especially when compared to other popular snacks such as nachos loaded with cheese or salty potato chips. The health benefits of guacamole primarily come from the avocado. Avocados are loaded with healthy monounsaturated fat, which boosts brain function and health. It is one of the good plant-based fats that can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Their high fiber content also makes you feel full and may reduce food cravings for some time. There are two main types of avocados. The most common ones are the variety “Hass,” which are smaller, darker skinned and stronger flavored than Florida avocados, which are much larger, with a lighter green skin color and a much milder flavor. I like them both, but I was able to get some really fresh Florida avocados from a friend who lives near me here in Florida. Sadly, his magnificent, 64 year old avocado tree died last year. Avocados are always harvested green (unripe) and allowed to ripen in storage. Their green skin needs to turn brown and the fruit needs to soften before they can be eaten. Here’s a tip on how to get a green avocado to ripen almost overnight. Simply place the avocado in a paper bag with a ripe apple or banana. Fold the top of the bag to close and seal it. The bag will trap ethylene gas that the fruit will produce as they ripen, thus speeding up the process for the avocado. I hope you enjoy making guacamole and eating it on Super Bowl Sunday. Reach Bob Beyfuss at rlb14@cornell.edu.

Looking For Free Recycled Papers? Useful for Pets, Packing, Crafts, etc. Call 518-828-1616 Ext 2413 We will arrange a time to meet. We are typically available Mon - Fri 8:30am - 3:30pm 364 Warren St.Unit 1, Hudson, NY

It’s time to feed the birds. I personally blame Walt Disney for this daily duty. As a small child, I was exposed to “Mary Poppins.” It was a delightful story with great music which unfortunately contained one of those sticky songs, you know the ones I mean. If I even think of “Fiddler on the Rooftop,” I wander around aimlessly for days humming, “If I were a Rich Man.” The sticky song in “Mary Poppins” for me was “Feed the Birds.” This has become one of the theme songs for my life. Chez Pinfeather opens early in the fall, I go dig the feeders out of wherever I put them in the late spring so I’d know right where they were, this doesn’t usually take more than an hour or so. I then have to go find the crow bar to make a new hole for the cute little barn feeder that sits on a pole since I can never find the hole I pulled the pole out of when I put it away. I usually find the old hole when the lawn mower disappears into it on the first mow in the spring. The little platform feeder then gets hung on the plant hanger. There are then two tube feeders that get hung in the locust tree. One of them is supposed to be squirrel proof, which reminds me to sue the company when I get the chance for deluding me into believing that there is such a thing. Actually, the squirrels don’t usually bother it too much since it’s frequently empty. The deer herd that winters under my kitchen window so their

DICK

BROOKS grazing ground (our shrubs and periennals) are within easy traveling distance, are responsible for emptying the squirrel proof feeder. To be fair, the company did not advertise the feeder as being deer proof. It seems that Bambi and his band of brigands have learned to French kiss the feeder dry by standing on their hind legs, sticking their tongues into the bottom holes and licking all the seeds out. I recently hung the feeders higher where the deer can no longer reach them, this has made the squirrels happy. I then filled the little suet feeder with the cake of fat and seed that I bought at the store when I was picking up a bag of bird seed. Picking up a bag of bird seed isn’t as simple a project as it may sound. I buy black oil sunflower seeds, nothing fancy, just heavy. The bag weighs 40 pounds and requires a rest break or two when loading it into and taking it out of the car. The breaks aren’t long ones, just long enough for the wheezing to stop and the heart palpitations to slow. I then have to empty the large and squishy bag into the barrel near the

garage. This is tough but I do enjoy the chorus of bird chirps as background noise as the flocks start to gather. Feeding time. I fill the little barn first, it’s cute but the fill hole, part of the little cupola on the top, is small and requires the use of a funnel and considerable shaking to fill it. I move on to the tube feeders as the barn disappears under a mound of moving feathers. I shovel them full, hang them and then I stand back and watch the riot, squirrels, deer and birds are everywhere. I worry momentarily if I’m contributing to the obesity problem in America as I watch one of my regular customers, a five pound chickadee try to hang onto the feeder perch as he shovels seeds into his pudgy beak. I’d say something about his weight to him but he gets grumpy and you just don’t mess with a bird who has a Harley tattoo. I close the barrel of seeds, watch the feeding frenzy for a few more moments and head for the kitchen where I will sit at the table, have another cup of coffee, look out the window at my very active back yard and hum a few choruses of “Feed the Birds” and softly curse Uncle Walty. Thought for the week — One great thing about getting old is that you can get out of all kinds of social obligations simply by saying you’re too tired. — George Carlin Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well. Reach Dick Brooks at Whittle12124@yahoo.com.

DEC advises backcountry downhill skiers, snowboarders and outdoor adventurers of avalanche risk in Adirondack High Peaks region ALBANY — Backcountry downhill skiers, snowboarders, and all outdoor adventurers who may traverse slides or steep, open terrain in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks should be aware of and prepared for avalanche conditions, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos advised. “After a cold January, bluebird days and big snowfalls are attracting more recreational enthusiasts to the northern mountains to snowshoe, cross country ski, or simply enjoy the pristine surroundings,” Commissioner Seggos said. “We encourage anyone planning to ski, board, or traverse backcountry slides and other avalanche-prone terrain in the Adirondack High Peaks to exercise caution and be prepared for avalanche conditions.” Avalanche danger increases during and immediately after major snowfalls and during thaws. Approximately three to four feet of snow has accumulated at high elevations in the High Peaks. Due to high winds, snow depths are deeper on leeward slopes or areas of snow deposits,

such as gullies. As snow accumulates over time it develops distinct layers formed by rain and melt/freeze cycles. When new snow falls onto previous snowpack, it adds weight and downward pressure. Lower snow layers may be reactive to the added stresses of recent snows, creating conditions conducive to avalanches. Avalanches can occur in any situation where snow, slope, and weather conditions combine to create the proper conditions. While the majority of steep, open terrain is found in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, avalanche-prone terrain is found on mountains throughout the Adirondacks, including Snowy Mountain in Hamilton County. DEC reminds backcountry winter recreationists to take the following precautions when traveling in avalancheprone terrain: Cross-country skiers and snowshoers should stay on trails and away from steep slopes on summit; Know the terrain, weather and snow conditions; Dig multiple snow pits to conduct stability tests. Do not rely on other people’s data; Practice safe route finding and safe travel

THE PUBLIC NEEDS THE TRUTH; NOT SOCIAL MEDIA HEADLINES & FAKE NEWS. #SupportRealNews

techniques; Never ski, board, or climb with someone above or below you - only one person on the slope at a time; Ski and ride near trees, not in the center of slides or other open areas; Always carry a shovel, probes and transceiver with fresh batteries; Ensure all members of the group know avalanche rescue techniques; Never travel alone; and Always inform someone about where you are going and when you expect to return home. If you are planning a trip to avalanche-prone territory, research the route ahead of time and contact a local DEC Forest Ranger for specific safety and conditions information, or contact a local guide (https://www.dec. ny.gov/about/667.html). Skiers and snowboarders should assess their own experience level before going into the backcountry and should be equipped with avalanche safety tools and knowledge, such as participation in an avalanche safety course. Additional information on avalanche danger, preparedness, and safety precautions is available on the DEC website at https://www.dec. ny.gov/outdoor/950.html.

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A6 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

How to submit obituaries and death notices Obituaries: Are paid notices. We reserve the right to edit all copy. Funeral directors may email us the information at obits@columbiagreenemedia.com anytime. Include life background information on the deceased, a full list of immediate survivors, services and the name of the funeral home. Any questions or for rate information, call 315-661-2446. Funeral notices: Are paid follow-ups to obituaries. We reserve the right to edit all copy. Funeral directors may email us the information at obits@columbiagreenemedia.com anytime. Any questions or for rate information, call 315-661-2446. Death Notices: Are free notices that don’t exceed 20 words. For more information, funeral directors may call 315-661-2446. In memorium ads: Are paid ads that are guaranteed to run. Call the Classified department at 315-661-2446 or send to Obits@wdt.net

Virginia T. Betke Virginia T. Betke, 92, died February 1, 2022 at Albany Medical Center. She was born in Catskill, NY in 1930 and graduated from Catskill High School. She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Henry Betke of Coxsackie, as well as her children, Henry (Irene) of Paris, Texas, Alexander of St. Augustine, Florida, Louis (Gayle) of Coxsackie, NY and Christopher of Boston, MA; her sister Theresa (David) Watson of Coxsackie, NY as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Michael, as well as her sisters Carol Garrett and Marie Crandall and brother John Conarpe. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Mansion Street, Coxsackie on Tuesday, February 8, at 10:00 am. The family will receive friends at the WC Brady Funeral Home, 97 Mansion Street, Coxsackie on Monday February 7 from 4 to 7 pm . In lieu of flowers friends who wish to remember Virginia may donate to the Heermance Memorial Library in Coxsackie or to the Coxsackie Community Food Pantry. For condolences, visit https://www.richardsfuneralhomeinc. net/

Sarkis Leon ‘Lee’ Gazoorian August 10, 1940 - January 24, 2022 Sarkis Leon “Lee” Gazoorian, age, 81, of Haines Falls, NY passed away peacefully on January 24, 2022, surrounded by his children, following a brief illness at Albany Medical Center. Lee was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on August 10, 1940. He was the son of Sarkis Gazoorian of Malatya, Turkey and Maritza (Babolian) Gazoorian of Haverhill, MA. He cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren and it was obvious they were the light of his life. Lee is survived by his children Carli Gazoorian of Elka Park, NY and Christopher Gazoorian, daughter-in-law Sara Eisenberg Gazoorian of Poestenkill, NY, as well as his sisters Natalie Barmakian of Belmont, MA and Marcia Gazoorian of Worcester, MA. He is also survived by his three grandchildren Sasha, Lila, and Ruby Gazoorian. He is predeceased by his parents as well as his sister Rosalie Chorbajian of Bowie, MD. A memorial will be held at a future date for family and friends. Those wishing to honor his life can make a donation in his name to the Armenian Students’ Association of America, Inc., 333 Atlantic Ave. Warwick, RI. 02888, American Heart Association, and/or the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center. For full obituary visit: Wynantskillfh.com

Kayla Green February 12, 1993 — January 9, 2022 Kayla Green, 28 years old, passed away suddenly on January 9th, 2022, at her home at 88 Gulf School House Rd in Cornwallville NY. She was born on February 12th in Rhinebeck NY and was the daughter of Rose Ates. Kayla is survived by her son, Cylus Ronsani, her mother Rose Ates and her brothers Brian Ates, Gregory Ates and Paul Oakes of Germantown. In addition, Kayla is survived by several aunts, uncles, cousins and nephews: Aunt Barbara and Uncle Jimmy Mureness, Aunt April and Brenda Briggs, Aunt Loretta Green, Aunt Tammie Green and Uncle Ted Raux. Cousins: Teddy, Kevin and Marcus Raux, Kari and Joshua Green, Nicole and Sara Mureness. Nephews: Brayden and Jaxon Ates. Kayla is predeceased by her brother William Ates of Germantown. In addition, she is predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Betty and Bill Green of Canajoharie and her uncle Billy of Canajoharie. At this time, Kayla’s services will be private and take place at the Richards Funeral Home in Cairo NY. All are welcome to attend a public burial that will take place in the spring (date to be announced) to join in the celebration of her life. The burial will take place at the Germantown Reformed Church Cemetery in Germantown NY. Condolences may be made at www.richardsfuneralhomeinc. net.

Dole salad listeria outbreak tied to 2 deaths, 13 hospitalizations Jacob Bogage The Washington Post

Two people have died and 13 hospitalized in connection with a multistate listeria outbreak involving Dole packaged lettuce products, federal health officials said this week. Illnesses have been recorded in 13 states, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dole last month announced a recall of packaged lettuce and salad

from production facilities in Springfield, Ohio, and Soledad, Calif. Affected products include shredded lettuce, mixed greens, garden salads, Caesar salad kits, among others. Dole has recalled more than 70 products made at the Ohio and California facilities. Packages tied to the outbreak include “best if used by” dates from Nov. 30, 2021, through Jan. 9, 2022.

Redistricting lawsuit unlikely to conclude before primaries By Kate Lisa Johnson Newspaper Corp.

The outcome of a redistricting challenge lawsuit filed by 14 New York residents will set new precedent, but is unlikely to conclude before this year’s spring primary and general election, officials said Friday. A group of citizens across the state filed the New York’s first legal redistricting challenge for the 2022 maps hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the new congressional, Senate and Assembly election lines drawn by the Legislature, with a supermajority of Democrats. Lawmakers did not have the power to draw the lines because of the 2014 amendment voters approved to the state Constitution that created the Independent Redistricting Commission that included language to ban partisan gerrymandering in creating new legislative election districts. “The maps just signed into law are unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders that attempt to rig New York elections for the next decade in defiance of the will of the voters and with blatant disregard for New York’s Constitution,” said suit plaintiffs Misha Tseytlin and George Winner, who are both attorneys. “These new maps must be struck down. “Last November, the voters spoke again by rejecting Proposition 1 — a last-ditch effort by Albany politicians to reverse New York’s redistricting reforms — and restating their support for banning partisan gerrymandering in the Empire State.”

COURTESY OF NY SENATE

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, center; and Senate Presiding Officer Sen. Jamaal Bailey, D-Bronx, left; and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, before session Thursday to discuss legislation.

The Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment drew the maps over the last two weeks after the Independent Redistricting Commission failed to submit one set of plans or reach political compromise. Winner, a former Republican appointee of the commission who resigned last year over required financial disclosures, said the gerrymander that occurred in the congressional maps egregiously violated the 2014 constitutional provision. “A lawsuit had to be entertained,” Winner said Friday. “I wasn’t the only one to think that way.” The New York League of Women Voters, Common Cause and other good-government groups have blasted the Legislature for redrawing new election lines without maintaining the neutrality voters demanded in the process.

“The provision in the state Constitution has never been tested yet, so it’s time to bring a lawsuit and see if it means what it says,” Winner said. In the 1960s, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Legislature must go beyond a reasonable doubt and act in bad faith to draw politically gerrymandered maps. The courts have not rejected a New York redistricting plan in more than five decades, New York University professor and redistricting expert Jeff Wice said. Republicans argue the former legal precedent will not hold since the Constitution was amended in 2014. “We have a different court and we have a different law, but we also have 50 years of state Court of Appeals precedent to look at,” Wice said Friday. “It’s not impossible, but the chances are going to be uphill.” Separately, New York

Republican leaders have said the party will likely sue to try to overturn the maps. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, RSchuylerville, supports the suit and blasted Democrats for drawing partisan lines in an attempt to keep their current legislative majority. “This map is by definition a gerrymandered map and it’s unconstitutional,” Stefanik said Friday. “According to New York state’s constitution, map districts are supposed to be compact, contiguous and not benefiting incumbents, and the reality is these maps were drawn by a single party by Democrats in a back-room deal to protect their vulnerable incumbents to draw districts just for them.” The 2014 constitutional amendments could become the basis of multiple lawsuits over the new district maps, as the amendments require each district shall consist of contiguous territory; each district shall be as compact in form as practicable; and districts shall not be drawn to discourage competition or for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or other particular candidates or political parties. The constitution also requires the commission “consider the maintenance of cores of existing districts, of pre-existing political subdivisions, including counties, cities, and towns and of communities of interest.” For more on this story, visit HudsonValley360.com. Tribune News Service contributed to this report.

Health experts turn focus to long COVID effects By Kate Lisa Johnson Newspaper Corp.

Researchers in the state Health Department will focus on studying COVID-19’s lasting effects on a person’s health after recovery to assist medical experts across the globe as the virus emerges with potential to impact multiple organ systems. People infected with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of physical or psychological effects, including potential neurological issues, depressive or other mental health disorders, chronic exhaustion or fatigue, muscle inflammation and permanent damage to the lungs, vocal cords and other organs, among many others waiting to be specified. Dozens of physicians, clinicians and scientists spoke at a public Health Department forum on long COVID for several hours Thursday to define the condition, causes, who is most vulnerable and potential therapies. “It [long COVID] targets obviously multiple organs and multiple physiologic systems on the body that makes it so hard,” Dr. Michael Roehrl, director of the Precision Pathology Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “... [With] multiple target organs involved, that makes it so hard for us, and in medicine, to get a good grasp on such diseases.” Many experts Thursday noted long COVID is in its infant stages, and that they need significantly more time to understand the breadth of the international problem. A variety of evolving factors, such as underlying conditions and comorbidities, contributes to the severity of a person’s post-COVID symptoms. “As the COVID winter surge recedes, we can start to focus on looking towards what a future of living with this virus looks like,” state Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in opening remarks Thursday. “When the pandemic phase of COVID finally ends, we will still have much to do to negotiate our relationship with this virus and ensure we provide necessary support to those still recovering. “The problem of long

COVID warrants a significant New York state response,” she added. Health Department officials Thursday would not say at which facilities the department is studying long COVID, how much the state has spent to date to study the issue and what resources were used or for how long. “The department has a variety of team members and experts spending time on this issue to deepen their understanding and analysis and to support formulating the state’s response, as was done today,” according to the Health Department on Thursday. “This is the latest information currently available.” Gov. Kathy Hochul did not include funding to study longterm COVID symptoms or illnesses in the 2022-23 executive budget. Representatives with the state Budget Division did not return requests for comment Thursday. Scientists and medical researchers across the world continue to conduct patientcentered long COVID studies about the signs, causes and available treatments. People who develop longterm medical issues after recovering from a coronavirus infection are most often elderly, diabetic with several comorbidities. A recent study by New York University Grossman School of Medicine neurology professor Dr. Jennifer Frontera showed people hospitalized with COVID complications had greater neurological decline than some patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Long COVID has presented more frequently in younger women with different comorbidities, including autoimmune disorders. “We have to appreciate that when we look at this and a lot of what may be driving disability in the hospitalized patients could be a static insult like hypoxic brain injury, or a stroke,” Frontera said. “Though, you’ll receive these deficits even in patients who had no acute neurological injuries during the acute phase and infection.” Patients can experience one

of the ongoing symptoms or several concurrently — making long COVID difficult to diagnose. “Just because you have a blue mood doesn’t mean you have a mental health issue that isn’t an inflammatory disorder,” said Dr. Mady Hornig, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. “That may be all part of a part of this, and saying ‘It’s just depression,’ is another issue.” Several panelists discussed treatments in the investigative or experimental stages, including nerve blockers and other medication to help curb COVID’s lasting impacts on a variety of organ systems. The state is working to increase its 26 post-COVID care centers to study patients’ progression with long COVID and explore potential therapies. All clinicians and medical experts on Thursday’s panel agreed an approved vaccine is the best way to build up your immune system to fight back against severe COVID infections and lasting impacts. How your body responds to stressors — like viral infections, toxins, etc. — depends on age, health, genetics and prior exposure, said Hornig. “That’s why vaccines can help, because we have an immune response induced by vaccines,” she said. Experts Thursday stressed the need for greater long COVID research focused in Black, Latino and minority populations. About 8% of white New Yorkers were infected with COVID in April 2020 according to a Health Department study shortly after the state was the global epicenter of the coronavirus. The 8% infection rate in Caucasians compared to 20% of Black residents who were infected with COVID — or nearly 2.5 times more, attributed to disparities in education, health care and more in minority neighborhoods. Panelists discussed legislative priorities and actions for the state to take to support health workers, providers and other New Yorkers suffering with long COVID.

Health Department officials compiled the data and information gathered during Thursday’s event to determine the next steps of action, Bassett said.

FUNERAL DIRECTORS Copake, N.Y. (518) 329-2121 Pine Plains, N.Y. (518) 398-7777

VITO LAWRENCE SACCO Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home 700 Town Hall Drive Hudson, New York 12534 • 518-828-5000 e-mail: smvfh700@gmail.com

M. GRIMALDI FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES 25 Railroad Ave., Chatham, N.Y. (518) 822-8332 Mario A. Grimaldi, Manager

ATTENTION FUNERAL DIRECTORS Obituaries, Death Notices or Funeral Accounts Should Be Submitted Before 2PM Daily For The Next Day’s Paper. Notices should be emailed to:

obits@columbiagreene media.com

Call Patti to advertise your funeral home: (518) 828-1616 x2413

For

CURRENT OBITUARY LISTINGS be SURE to CHECK our WEBSITE: hudsonvalley360.com

Religion

www.HudsonValley360.com

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - A7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Church Briefs Please send all Church news to editorial@thedailymail.net; or mail to Attention Church News, Register-Star/The Daily Mail, 364 Warren St.., Unit 1, Hudson, NY 12534. For information, call 315-661-2940.

TGIF BROOKS’ CHICKEN BARBECUE LEXINGTON — The annual TGIF (Thank Goodness It’s Friday) Brooks’ Chicken Barbecue will be held 3-6 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Lexington/West Kill UMC in Lexington. This is take out only and dinners are $12; children 5-10 years are $5; chicken halves are $7. Dinners include half a chicken, baked potato, green beans, coleslaw, roll and cupcake. Purchasing your tickets in advance is greatly appreciated. Most parishioners will have tickets for your convenience. Tickets will be available at the door until sold out. You may call JoEllen at 518-989-6568 until noon the day of the BBQ, Feb. 11, to preorder

CRAFT FESTIVAL SEEKING APPLICANTS RICHMOND SPRINGS — Applications are currently being accepted for the 41st Annual Friendship Craft Festival sponsored by the Church Of Christ Uniting in Richfield Springs. It will take place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 11 in Spring Park on Scenic US Route 20. For information and an application, go to www.rschurchofchristuniting.com, email friendshipcraftfestival@ yahoo.com or call Carla at 315858-1451.

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF COXSACKIE COXSACKIE — The First Reformed Church of Coxsackie, 285 Mansion St., Coxsackie, worships at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. All are welcome. Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of each month. Sunday School is available during the worship service time. Free Food Fridays provide a meal for anyone at 6 p.m. on the third Friday of each month.

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF ATHENS ATHENS —The First Reformed Church of Athens, 16 North Church St., Athens, worships at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. All are welcome to join us. Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of each month. Senior

Choir rehearsal is at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesdays. We ask that singers are vaccinated. Hudson River Bells rehearsal is at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Masks are worn during rehearsal. For information, call the church at 518-945-1801.

LIVING FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH MAPLECREST — Living Faith Community Church, 54 Route 56, Maplecrest, welcomes locals and visitors to worship together at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Adult Bible Study meets before service at 9:30 a.m. Fellowship meal follows service on the second Sunday of each month. For information, call 518-734-4275.

SOUP KITCHEN OPEN CATSKILL — The Camp Grace Inc. Soup Kitchen, located at the First Reformed Church of Catskill, 310 Main St., Catskill, is open noon-1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For information, call Director Lamont Taylor at 518-2497009.

ST. MARK’S SECOND EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH HUDSON — St. Mark’s Second Evangelical Lutheran Church, 8 Storm Ave., Hudson, worships 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month with Pastor Stan Webster. Child care is offered during the service and Sunday school after the service ends. For information, call the Church office at 518-828-9514.

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH STUYVESANT — St. John’s Lutheran Church, 159 Route 26A, Stuyvesant, has in-person and live online worship services at 10:15 a.m. Sunday. Sunday School is at 9 a.m. for children 3 and older. Face masks and social distancing is required at this time. The live broadcasts are on www.facebook.com/St-Johns-Lutheran.

CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL HUDSON — Christ Church Episcopal, 431 Union St., Hudson, worships at 9 a.m. Sundays in person and live online. Social distancing and face masks required. Live broadcast at 9 a.m. on facebook.com/ChristChurchEpiscopalHudson or at christchurchepiscopalhudson.org.

Midweek Eucharist is held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays in the church. For information, call 518-828-1329 or email christchurch1802@gmail.com.

SAINT PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH KINDERHOOK — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sylvester St., Kinderhook, Holy Communion in person at 8 and 10 a.m. Sundays. Face masks and distancing required regardless of vaccination status. For information and news, www. saintpaulskinderhook.org/ or follow us on Facebook. Subscribe to our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cG4YSv; 518-758-6271 or saintpaulskinderhook@gmail.com. Office open 1:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and by appointment.

KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH KINDERHOOK — The Kinderhook Reformed Church, 21 Broad St., Kinderhook, will have in person and live online Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m. Face masks and social distancing required. Live broadcasts at 9:30 a.m. on https:// www.facebook.com/KinderhookReformed Church or https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCCTUNikeMHshkf_mqhMNxCw. For information, call 518-758-6401 or kinderhookreformedchuch.com.

Columbia County: Emanual Lutheran Church, 506 County Road 46, Stuyvesant Falls, worships at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1010 Kinderhook St., Valatie, worships at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with Sunday School also at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Emanuel/St. John’s Lutheran Church, 20 South Sixth St., Hudson, worships at 11 a.m. Sunday. Greene County: Zion Lutheran Church, 102 North Washington St., Athens, worships at 9 a.m. Sunday. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, State Route 81, Oak Hill, worships at 11 a.m. Sunday. Rensselaer County: Trinity Lutheran Church, 68 Green Ave., Castleton, worships at 9 a.m. Sunday. St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 751 County Route 7, East Schodack, worships at 11 a.m. Sunday.

GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH RHINEBECK — Grace Bible Fellowship Church, 6959 Route 9, Rhinebeck, worships at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Sunday School for all ages meets at 9:30 a.m. Women’s bible study and Grace Bible Institute meets at 7 p.m. Mondays. Mid-week prayer meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. For information, call 845-8766923 or cdfcirone@aol.com.

CLAVERACK REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH

LUTHERAN PARISH OF SOUTHERN COLUMBIA COUNTY

CLAVERACK — The Reformed Dutch Church, 88 Route 9H, Claverack, worships at 9:30 a.m. Sundays in the sanctuary. For information, call 518-851-3811.

GERMANTOWN — Lutheran Parish of Southern Columbia County is planning, for now, to continue in person worship. If the COVID situation changes, plans will be posted on Facebook, the blog, by phone message and the communication tree within each church. In Person Worship at St. Thomas’s Church will be suspended due to high COVID case numbers in the county. We hope to resume on Ash Wednesday, March 2 and continue 11 a.m. services on March 6, with Communion. Christ Church folks will join folks at St. John’s Church in Manorton (Elizaville) at 9 a.m. this month. This is the worship schedule. St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Churchtown at 11 a.m.; Christ Lutheran Church, Germantown (Viewmont) at 9 a.m.; St. John Lutheran Church, Elizaville (Manorton) at Christ Church at 9 a.m.

GHENT REFORMED CHURCH WEST GHENT — The Ghent Reformed Church, 1039 County Route 22, West Ghent, worships at 9 a.m. Sundays. Sunday School begins at 10:15 a.m. Sunday for pre-school to middle school aged children. In accordance with the New York state mandate, masks will be required. Cleaning is as diligent as always. At present, we feel safe enough to have reinstituted coffee time after service.

TRI COUNTY LUTHERAN PARISH VALATIE — The following is the worship schedule for the Tri County Lutheran Parish. Visit TCLParish.org website for weekly Zoom worship schedule and link.

THE PUBLIC NEEDS THE TRUTH; NOT SOCIAL MEDIA HEADLINES & FAKE NEWS.

St. Catherine’s Center for Children receives $350,000 Mother Cabrini Health Foundation grant ALBANY — The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation announced St. Catherine’s Center for Children’s inclusion in its 2022 list of awardees on Jan. 20. This is the third year St. Catherine’s has been a Mother Cabrini grant recipient. The grant supports the continuation and expansion of St. Catherine’s homeless outreach Pathways to Health program. With the $350,000 award, the combined Cabrini funds to St. Catherine’s Pathways to Health totals nearly $1 million in support, connecting vulnerable populations to primary and behavioral healthcare services in the Capital Region. “After nearly two years of recovery from a pandemic that has hit vulnerable populations the hardest, we must continue to address the challenges communities across New York State are facing: food and housing insecurity, lack of access to basic healthcare including vaccines, lack of equity within the healthcare professions, and racial and economic healthcare disparities made worse during COVID-19. We must continue to support the full range of services that make for healthy people and communities,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, Chief Executive Officer of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. While still navigating the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2021, Pathways to Health linked nearly 200 individuals of all ages, races, and genders in the socioeconomically disadvantaged and under-served communities in Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia counties to critical healthcare services through street outreach. Now

entering its third year of operation, Pathways to Health had expanded to include Ulster County, and enhanced wrap-around services addressing food insecurities, providing telehealth through a mobile Care-A-Van unit, transporting people to appointments, and making on-the-spot assessments for emergency hotel stays to overcome a sudden loss of shelter. “Our program team is dedicated, not only to meeting our clients where they are, but also providing the food, hygiene kits, and cleaning products; anything an individual requested we meet that need,” said Pathways to Health’s Supervisor Dave Healy. “The Cabrini funds will allow us to further enhance our services and expand our reach. We’ve already made tremendous strides under the strain of a global pandemic and it’s wonderful news that we’ll be able to keep serving those who rely on us.” Pathways to Health identifies and serves at-risk people in who typically do not seek primary and behavioral healthcare services. The services are designed to not only to mitigate client’s immediate circumstances, but help improve their overall quality of life. “We are so grateful to once again have the backing of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation support our Pathways to Health program, said Frank Pindiak, Executive Director of St. Catherine’s Center for Children. “Pathways connect society’s most vulnerable to vital services they greatly need and might, otherwise, not have access to.”

#SupportRealNews

House of Worship

News & Services Catholic Community of Saint Patrick

New Baltimore Reformed Church

Church of Saint Patrick 21 Main Street, Ravena, NY 12143 • (518) 756-3145 https://churchofsaintpatrick.wixsite.com/church-ravena

24 North Washington Street, Athens 12015 · 943-3150 66 William Street, Catskill 12414 · 943-3150

518 756 8764 • Rt. 144 and Church St. NBRChurch@aol.com • www.nbrchurch.org

Rev. Rick L. Behan, Pastor

Fr. Joseph O’Brien, Parochial Vicar

Sunday Worship - 9:30 AM Communion First Sunday every month Fellowship before and after worship Thursday - Choir Rehearsal 4:45 PM Tuesday - Bible Study 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday - Helping Hands 10:30 AM

Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil 4:30 p.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m. (also St. Patrick’s YouTube channel or Mid-Hudson 901) Weekday Mass: Tuesday 8:30 a.m. Also Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 8:30-9 a.m. Wed, Thurs Food Pantry Hours: Tues & Fri 10–11 a.m. and Wed 6–7 p.m. Thrift Shop Hours: Thurs 1 – 3 p.m. Sat from 9 a.m. – Noon

Come to the Church in the Hamlet! Working together since 1833

You Are Welcome Here!

Janine O’Leary, Parish Life Coordinator Fr. Michael Melanson, Parochial Vicar Saturday* 4:00 p.m. *1st / 3rd Athens and 2nd / 4th Catskill Sunday 8:45 a.m. Catskill / 10:45 a.m. Athens

All Are Welcome!

St. Mary’s Church 80 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, NY 12051 (518) 731-8800 • stmaryscoxsackie.com

Fr. Joseph O’Brien, Parochial Vicar Weekend Masses: Sunday 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Mass is livestreamed at St. Mary’s YouTube Channel Weekday Mass: Wednesday 8 a.m. Also Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 8-8:30 a.m. Mon & Tues

You Are Welcome Here!

To list your Church Services please call Patricia Bulich at (518) 828-1616 x2413

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

A8 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

Fire From A1

maintenance garage, Feml said. The fire was declared out a little after 10:30 p.m. Firefighters were called back to the garage twice, at 11:27 p.m., and 7:45 a.m., when the fire rekindled. There were no reported injuries at any of the three fire calls. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Greene County Fire investigation Team, but it is believed to have started in one of the vehicles that was destroyed in the blaze. Fire companies assisting Cairo at the scene included: Round Top, Leeds and Catskill. Athens Fire Department was placed on stand-by. Also assisting at the scene were: Cairo Ambulance, Catskill Ambulance, Greene County Paramedics, state police and the Greene County Fire Coordinator’s Office.

Sales From A1

pandemic, for many months the malls closed,” he said. “But the federal stimulus money was being pushed out to stimulate the economy. So people still bought their sneakers; they just went online to do it. They did more

BILL WILLIAMS/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

The Catskill ladder truck was pressed into service, during a fire at County Waste in Cairo on Thursday night.

shopping and they did it online. So you had the two factors with the stimulus money and the Wayfair decision, which changed the collection mechanism. So those are two huge changes that went into effect in 2019 and 2020.” Groden said with the federal stimulus money no longer pumped into the economy that he expects the sales tax revenue to decrease.

“But it’s still too close to understand what the final impact will be,” he said. Groden noted that sales tax is the county’s singlelargest revenue stream, with the county’s 2022 budget estimating $36 million in sales tax revenue. In comparison, the county’s tax levy is at $27 million. “So we’re very much reliant on sales tax,” he said. “That’s why we’ve created

Pot From A1

in the town would help the Catskill economy. “It’s really about bringing people to our downtown and to our small businesses,” she said. “If someone goes to a dispensary, what would they do? They’d purchase something and go home. We’d like people to come into town and go somewhere for dinner and maybe somewhere else for dessert. They could do a little window shopping and really help the small businesses that have been struggling.” Town Supervisor Dale Finch stressed that the cannabis lounges would allow for on-site use of marijuana if they are approved in the town. “I think it’s important to note that if the referendum does get on the ballot, this would be for on-site consumption,” he said on Friday. “I still feel that the lion’s share of the revenue is going to come from dispensaries. Massachusetts doesn’t currently have lounges. I’d just like to get more information before I feel comfortable approving on-site consumption.

TED REMSNYDER/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Town Supervisor Dale Finch, Councilman Jared Giordano and Councilman Patrick McCulloch, pictured from left, discuss the possibility of a public referendum on allowing marijuana lounges in the town of Catskill.

If they’re successful in getting it on the ballot, the biggest issue is making sure that we have informed voters who know what they’re actually voting for.” The campaign is attempting to collect 400 signatures by Feb. 8, which would give the group time to ensure everyone who signs the petition is from the Town or Village of Catskill or the hamlets of Leeds, Palenville and Smith’s Landing. To get a permissive referendum on the ballot, the

group has 45 days since the local law opting out passed to collect the needed signatures. “We have a group of people from different political parties working together to try to get cannabis use facilities approved so that it can add to the revenue coming into our community,” Verdon said. “If we’re in for dispensaries, we want to be all in. We want to attract the best and most professional companies to come and invest in our community.”

BILL WILLIAMS/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Tankers line up to unload their water at the scene of a fire in Cairo on Thursday night.

a sales tax reserve fund. Because economies go in cycles. So when we have the next turndown in the economy and our sales tax begins to suffer, we’re going to have a rainy day fund to turn to in order to shore that up and not send a huge property tax increase to the community.” The reserve fund is designed to guard against a potential sales tax revenue bubble bursting in the years

to come. “If you go back to the 2008-2009 economic crash, Greene County lost 10% of its sales tax collection in one year,” Groden said. “The bottom fell out in one year. If I was to lose 10% right now, that’s $3.6 million. So we have to have a reserve fund to go to because economies always go in cycles.” Groden said Greene was uniquely positioned to

benefit from an increase in online shopping, as the county does not have a destination shopping center to draw consumers to. “We don’t have a mall,” he said. “We don’t have that big shopping center that is a magnet like Crossgates. So I think our residents continued to shop, but they just changed the medium by which they did it.”

She credited the town board with allowing dispensaries in the municipality. “We’re very happy that they saw the light in that direction,” she said. “This is purely about getting the cafes on the ballot so the community can vote.” Verdon said Athens, Coxsackie and Hudson will all have dispensaries and cafes. The village of Catskill has also approved both options. Verdon said she had no plans to personally open a cannabis lounge if the town opts back in. When the town chose to opt out of lounges, Finch said the state had not given

the town enough guidance to make an educated decision on the lounges, a stance he still holds. “The MRTA hadn’t given us enough information to make a decision at that given time,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of research on it since and all villages and cities in the state had the ability to put it out for a public referendum. The village of Red Hook actually put it out for a public vote and it failed in their village. That wasn’t an option on the town level through the MRTA.” The residents have placed petitions in local Catskill businesses like Magpie Bookshop and Spike’s Record Rack, and

Verdon held a drive-by petition signing event on Thursday at a local shopping plaza. As she waited in her car to collect signatures for any registered voter who might show up for the event, she said she was willing to travel to reach anyone who wanted to sign the petition. “If someone is interested in signing, they should definitely reach out to us via our Facebook posts and we will come to them,” she said. “We need all the signatures we can to make this work.” Finch said the town will abide by the referendum if it qualifies for the November ballot.

Let your loved ones know just how much you care this Valentine’s Day!

2x2

I hope your day is ﬁlled with reminders of how much you are loved.

– Love, GaGa

2x2 message: $25 2x3 message w/ photo: $30 The page will publish on 2/12/2022 in the Register-Star and The Daily Mail Deadline for messages is 2/8/2022 at Noon Mail in the form below or email your information to events@ columbiagreenemedia.com

To my sweet Roland,

2x3

To my sweet Rebecca & Roland, We hope your day is ﬁlled with reminders of how much you are loved.

– Love, Mom and GaGa

Pick Your Size: 2x2 message 2x3 message with picture Message: ___________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ With Love From: ____________________________________________________ Name:______________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________ Town: _________________________State: ___________________Zip_________ Daytime Phone: _____________________________________________________ Credit Card: ________________________ Exp Date: _________ CVC: _______

Send copy and payment to: COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA, Attn. Patti, 364 Warren Street, Unit 1, Hudson NY 12534 or via email to events@columbiagreenemedia.com with subject line “Valentine’s Page Message” Submissions must be received by Noon, Feb. 8, 2022

Sports

Cheerleader speaks out

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

& Classifieds

Ex-Washington NFL employees levy new harassment claims against Snyder.Sports, B2

SECTION

B Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - B1

Tim Martin, Sports Editor: 1-518-828-1616 ext. 2538 / sports@registerstar.com or sports@thedailymail.net

NBA’s All-Star Game reserves include two firsttime selections Ben Golliver The Washington Post

While Andrew Wiggins earned a surprise selection to the pool of starters for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, the reserve selections unfolded by the book. The NBA announced 14 additional All-Stars on Thursday - seven from each conference as determined by a vote of the league’s coaches. In the East, Jimmy Butler, Darius Garland, James Harden, Zach LaVine, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum and Fred VanVleet earned nods. In the West, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul and Karl-Anthony Towns were selected. Garland, 22, and VanVleet, 27, were both first-time selections, filling East backcourt spots that were held last year by Kyrie Irving, who missed more than two months to start the season because of a dispute over his unvaccinated status, and Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played for the Philadelphia 76ers this season following an unfulfilled trade request last summer. Garland has averaged 19.8 points and 8.2 assists to help lead the Cleveland Cavaliers into the East’s playoff picture, while VanVleet has posted averages of 21.5 points and 7 assists while leading the Toronto Raptors to a winning record following Kyle Lowry’s offseason departure. This year’s most prominent snubs included Jarrett Allen, LaMelo Ball, Jaylen Brown, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, Evan Mobley, Dejounte Murray, Domantas Sabonis and Pascal Siakam. Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, a three-time selection who started in last year’s game, was not selected. In addition to Beal, 12

other 2021 All-Stars didn’t return this year: Jaylen Brown, Mike Conley, Davis, Paul George, Irving, Damian Lillard, Kawhi Leonard, Julius Randle, Sabonis, Simmons, Nikola Vucevic and Zion Williamson. Green, appearing on TNT during the reserves announcement, said that he will be unable to compete in the All-Star Game on Feb. 20 due to a back injury. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will name an injury replacement for Green, who suggested that Murray take his place. The 25-year-old Murray, who is seeking his first All-Star nod, has averaged 19.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 9.1 assists for the San Antonio Spurs. Last week, the NBA named five players from each conference as AllStar starters through a voting process that included fans, media members and players. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, the overall leading vote-getter, and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant will serve as captains. The other starters included Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Joel Embiid and Trae Young from the East and Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Ja Morant and Wiggins from the West. Rather than using an “East vs. West” format for this year’s All-Star Game, James and Durant will select 12-man rosters for the game, drafting four players each from the pool of starters and seven players each from the pool of reserves. James’s team will be coached by Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns, while Durant’s team will be led by the coach of the East’s top seed on Feb. 6. Durant is sidelined with a knee sprain and could also miss the showcase.

EMPIRE STATE GAMES

Opening Ceremony of the 2022 games.

2022 Empire State Winter Games opens with cauldron lighting, snowstorm and dogsled team LAKE PLACID — The 2022 Empire State Winter Games officially began Thursday night in a return for the event after a year’s absence due to the worldwide pandemic. About 1,000 athletes and as many spectators attended the spirited ceremony held on frozen Mirror Lake in the middle of a snowstorm predicted to drop as many as five to seven inches by the next morning. The 42nd Games, sponsored by Community Bank N.A., have drawn close to 1,800 participants to compete in 30 sports from Friday through Feb. 6. The Games represent the biggest event hosted by Lake Placid and the surrounding area since 2020’s Games, held just before the pandemic shutdown. The Opening Ceremony, fittingly for a winter Games, was held outdoors under floodlights in driving snow and involved figure skaters, a dogsled team and EMPIRE STATE GAMES

See GAMES B5 Opening Ceremony of the 2022 games.

Sixteen Penn swimmers say transgender teammate Lia Thomas should not be allowed to compete Matt Bonesteel The Washington Post

Sixteen members of the University of Pennsylvania women’s swimming team sent a letter to school and Ivy League officials Thursday asking that they not take legal action challenging the NCAA’s recently updated transgender policy. That updated directive has the potential to prevent Penn swimmer Lia Thomas from competing at next month’s NCAA championships, and the letter indicates the 16 other swimmers believe their teammate should be sidelined.

JOSH REYNOLDS / AP FILE

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas at a meet with Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Jan. 22.

Thomas, a transgender woman who swims for the

Quakers women’s team, competed for the Penn men’s team

for three seasons. After undergoing more than two years of hormone replacement therapy as part of her transition, she has posted the fastest times of any female college swimmer in two events this season. The letter from Thomas’s teammates raised the question of fairness and said she was taking “competitive opportunities” away from them - namely spots in the Ivy League championship meet, where schools can only send about half of their rosters to compete. “We fully support Lia See THOMAS B5

WNBA gets $75 million from high-profile investors Kareem Copeland The Washington Post

The WNBA added $75 million to its coffers through a capital raise that brought in new investments from some of the biggest names in business, athletics and entertainment. The list of investors, announced Thursday, included former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, Carnival Corporation and Miami Heat owners Micky and Nick Arison, Dell founder Michael and Susan Dell, former WNBA star Swin Cash, former NBA players Baron Davis and Pau Gasol, Wizards and Mystics owner Ted Leonsis, and Nike. The funds will be used in a variety of ways to increase league revenue and growth through investment. “I can’t find another word for it, and I know I use it a lot, but another historic moment for the WNBA,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “To build or grow a business, you have to WASHINGTON POST PHOTO BY KATHERINE FREY have access to capital and you have to have the The WNBA says it will use $75 million to invest in a long-term transformation of the league. right human capital and resources to then deploy it and execute on your strategy.” operations. The goal also is to reach new audienc- strategy.” Engelbert believes there should be a Part of the plan is to put more resources into es with promotion of players and games in areas return on the investments within a three-to-fiveplayer and league marketing, growing the fan base with more opportunities to interact with outside of the WNBA’s traditional markets. The year span. “That’s what a transformation is all about,” she the league, globalization and investments in league labeled it a “multifaceted financial growth

said. The commissioner mentioned research on how to make it easier for current and future fans to see or attend games and have access to merchandise, which has been an issue. Technology will be a significant focus, from in-game broadcast innovation to additional digital options to watch games. Funds will continue to go toward the league’s social justice platform and investment in minority-owned businesses. The globalization aspect will look at a variety of ways to market around the world and growing a “global footprint.” “Women’s sport is one of the best investments, with great potential to impact and grow the next era of basketball,” Sonja Henning, Nike vice president of North America league partnerships, said in a statement. “Nike has always been more than a sponsor with the WNBA - we’re a strategic partner. And we’re proud to be part of a movement to redefine the future of sport for a new generation - for WNBA players, fans and girls.” The league celebrated its 25th anniversary last season with a variety of efforts, including the creation of the WNBA Changemaker program, which brought additional equity investments from partners such as Google, Amazon Prime Video and AT&T.

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B2 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

MLB requests federal mediation to help resolve lockout Scott Lauber The Philadelphia Inquirer

As Major League Baseball’s lockout enters its third month, and with minimal progress in negotiations with the MLB Players Association, the league is requesting a federal mediator to assist in reaching an agreement, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation said Thursday, confirming an ESPN report. Because mediation is a voluntary process, the players association must agree to participate. The union declined to comment on its intentions, though it has not found mediation to be a successful solution in the past. MLB has been in contact with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent government agency that specializes in helping to resolve labor disputes. The FMCS, led by mediator Scot Beckenbaugh, intervened in the 2012 NHL lockout and played a central role in getting a deal. But former FMCS director William Usery couldn’t bring MLB players and owners together during the 1994-95 strike, with then-union leader Tom Glavine describing his proposals as “outrageous.” “We were willing to compromise, and we have shown that. But Mr. Usery’s proposal was outrageous in many instances,” Glavine said at the time. “We’d be giving away things we’ve gone on strike for previously. Mr. Usery couldn’t answer any questions about what a lot of his proposal meant.”

In the latest bargaining session on core economics, a 90-minute meeting Tuesday that was characterized as “heated,” the players made two proposals that did little to advance the talks. MLB hasn’t scheduled a meeting to make counterproposals, and it’s unclear if it intends to do so before receiving the players’ answer on mediation. Regardless, with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to most camps on Feb. 15, it’s all but certain that spring training won’t open on time. If an agreement isn’t reached by the end of the month, it likely will result in a delayed start to the season and perhaps even an abbreviation of the 162-game schedule. The owners voted to direct commissioner Rob Manfred to enact a lockout on Dec. 2 after the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. The sides didn’t meet on economic issues for the next 42 days. Four meetings over the last few weeks have paved virtually no ground toward an agreement. In particular, the sides are far apart on issues related to minimum salary, arbitration eligibility, draft-pick compensation that is tied to free agency, and the competitive-balance tax. The players, whose average salary has declined in each of the last four years, are seeking major changes to the economic system. The league/owners mostly want the status quo, in addition to an expanded playoff format.

UCLA’s Mac Etienne arrested for allegedly spitting on Arizona fans Field Level Media

The aftermath of No. 3 UCLA’s loss to No. 7 Arizona on Thursday in Tucson, Ariz., took an ugly turn that led to the arrest of a Bruins player. Redshirt freshman forward Mac Etienne appeared to spit in the direction of Arizona fans as the Bruins were walking off the court following their 76-66 defeat, and he was subsequently arrested and cited for assault by University of Arizona police. Etienne, who was not in uniform, has been sidelined all season because of a knee injury. University Police Sgt. Sean Shields told ESPN, “We allowed him to go with the team back to the locker room, and he was arrested for assault.” Etienne will face a court date, but he potentially could resolve the citation

without needing to travel back to Arizona, Shields told ESPN. According to the Los Angeles Times, Etienne later was allowed to leave Tucson with the Bruins as they headed northwest for a game at Arizona State on Saturday. The UCLA athletic department issued a statement that read, “UCLA Athletics is committed to and expects the highest level of sportsmanship. We are aware of the incident involving a student-athlete at tonight’s men’s basketball game, and the matter is under review.” Etienne appeared in 13 games last season for the Bruins, who reached the Final Four, but he still has four years of eligibility remaining. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 2020-21, but he sustained a knee injury in October that still has him sidelined.

www.HudsonValley 360.com

On Capitol Hill, ex-Washington NFL employees levy new harassment claims against Daniel Snyder Liz Clarke The Washington Post

WASHINGTON - A former employee of Washington’s NFL team told members of Congress on Thursday that owner Daniel Snyder harassed her at a team dinner, putting his hand on her thigh and pressing her toward his limo, to throw the team’s workplace culture back into the public eye a day after the franchise unveiled its new brand. Tiffani Johnston, a former cheerleader and marketing manager, was among six former employees who appeared on Capitol Hill to tell lawmakers about their experience working for the team, now named the Commanders, as the panel investigates the team’s workplace culture and the NFL’s handling of allegations of pervasive sexual misconduct at the franchise. While much of what the former employees said has been previously reported, Johnston and another employee made new allegations involving Snyder, including that prostitutes were hired by team executives during a business trip for select employees at Snyder’s Aspen, Colo., home. Johnston’s allegation, which had not previously been shared with league investigators, led the NFL to say Thursday that it would consider further disciplinary measures. The roundtable was part of an effort by Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform to pressure the NFL to make public details of its investigation, led by attorney Beth Wilkinson, that the league has kept hidden. Wilkinson’s probe was launched in 2020, after dozens of former employees detailed harassment to The Washington Post, and ended last year with a fine for the team and with Snyder’s wife, Tanya, purportedly taking over day-to-day operations for an undetermined period of time. But unlike in previous investigations, the league said it received no written report, and it made none of Wilkinson’s findings public. The former employees who spoke Thursday took direct aim at the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell, putting pressure on him to release Wilkinson’s findings as the league prepares for the Super Bowl later this month. “When the investigation of the air pressure of Tom Brady’s football concludes with a 200-plus-page report but the investigation into two decades of sexual harassment concludes with nothing, it shows the NFL’s complete lack of respect toward women, their employees and our culture as a country,” said Emily Applegate, a former marketing coordinator and ticket sales representative. Johnston described years of sexual harassment by multiple team executives. Then she turned to Snyder, describing how she fended off the owner’s sexual advances during a work dinner. She did not say where or when the dinner was held. But during dinner, she said, she had to remove Snyder’s hand from her thigh under the table while trying to sustain business banter “to avoid a scene.” After dinner, Johnston said, Snyder insisted she join him in his limousine for a ride to her car as he placed a hand on her back and pushed her toward the vehicle’s door. She declined but was able to break free of Snyder’s “grip,” she said, only because his attorney intervened and said, “Dan, Dan, this is a bad idea . . . a very bad idea, Dan.” Johnston called her invitation to the dinner an “orchestration by [her boss] and Daniel Snyder to put me in a compromising, sexual situation.” She said she was later told to keep quiet about Snyder’s “advance,” adding that there was no one in HR to complain to. Melanie Coburn, a former team cheerleader and marketing director for the squad, also levied a new claim involving Snyder, describing an employee “awards trip” to Snyder’s Aspen home. At a dinner featuring heavy drinking, she said, a colleague was “hazed to drink despite being a recovering addict.” After returning to Snyder’s house, she said, she was told to go to her room in the basement and stay there. “I later learned from a colleague, who was there, that it was because the men had invited prostitutes back,” Coburn said.

JONATHAN NEWTON/THE WASHINGTON POST

Washington Football Team owner Daniel Snyder.

In a statement Thursday, Snyder apologized for the culture at his team but called the claims made directly against him “outright lies.” “I apologize again today for this conduct, and fully support the people who have been victimized and have come forward to tell their stories,” he said before touting the “real change” that has been made in the team’s workplace. But, he added, “While past conduct at the Team was unacceptable, the allegations leveled against me personally in today’s roundtable - many of which are well over 13 years old - are outright lies. I unequivocally deny having participated in any such conduct, at any time and with respect to any person.” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, in a statement, said the league was “grateful” to the witnesses for coming forward. “The NFL is reviewing and will consider Ms. Johnston’s allegations as we would any other new allegations regarding workplace misconduct at the Washington Commanders,” McCarthy’s statement continued. “We will determine any further action as appropriate.” Thursday’s proceedings were riven along party lines, with Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., saying at the outset that the committee’s time and resources were more appropriately spent on the range of problems foisted upon Americans by the Biden administration, such as inflation, border control issues and a failure to hold China accountable “for covering up and unleashing covid-19 on the world.” During questioning, each Republican echoed Comer’s talking points. While most expressed regret over the harassment the women said they suffered, some asked why the former employees hadn’t sought available remedies at the time, such as filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, hiring a lawyer or, in the case of criminal allegations, going to the police. “Did you not know there is an EEOC? That there are federal laws that bar sexual harassment?” Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., asked Coburn. Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., said “nobody is more disgusted than I am” over the treatment the women described. But, she said, “This hearing is a farce.” At one point, the discussion grew so acrimonious that Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, DIll., who took over the chair’s role midway through the two-hour roundtable, banged his gavel several times. The meeting was the first phase of the panel’s investigation: collecting firsthand accounts of former team employees. Its next step is to evaluate the NFL’s handling of the team’s workplace. Krishnamoorthi said afterward that while the NFL has provided the committee with numerous documents in conjunction with the probe, it has not provided documents related to Wilkinson’s findings. The NFL’s refusal to disclose a detailed report, Krishnamoorthi noted, stands in sharp contrast to the league’s public reports summarizing investigations of the Ray Rice domestic violence case, the New England Patriots’ Deflategate controversy and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson’s misconduct toward female employees. “Why is the NFL holding back on this report?” Krishnamoorthi said. Asked about the panel’s next steps,

Krishnamoorthi said “everything is on the table.” That could include subpoenas to compel the production of documents and formal hearings, such as those the committee held on steroid use in Major League Baseball in 2005, when under Republican leadership. Some who spoke Thursday were among the 42 women who in 2020 told The Post about being sexually harassed or verbally abused in the workplace. Others told their stories for the first time publicly. Each spoke of feeling betrayed by the NFL’s refusal to make public the findings of Wilkinson’s investigation, particularly given the personal risk and fear of retribution involved in speaking to Wilkinson’s team. Brad Baker, who worked in the team’s video department, said he was interviewed by Wilkinson’s team for more than an hour and that many former co-workers spoke at greater length. “We all participated because we thought the NFL wanted to know the truth,” Baker said. “We believed that the toxic workplace culture and the serious harm it caused would finally become public and that the investigation would end with some kind of report.” Goodell has said Wilkinson provided only an oral report and cited former employees’ privacy rights as a reason for not disclosing the findings - a rationale the employees reject. They called on Congress to compel the NFL to make the report public and hold Snyder and the league accountable. Rachel Engleson, a former marketing department employee, described fulfilling her dream of working for the team. “I experienced many work ‘firsts’ there,” she said. “First bonus. First promotion. First office potluck. First employee hire. First threat of physical violence by a supervisor. First hostile work environment. First public humiliation. First sexual assault.” She told Wilkinson’s team about her experience, Engleson said, calling sexual harassment “a pervasive part of the culture, an unavoidable rite of passage of being a woman who worked there,” which left her feeling “worthless.” “NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell used us and the investigation to make it seem like he cared about this issue but then blamed us for not receiving or releasing a report,” Engleson said. Among the five women and one man who spoke, several recounted ongoing trauma of their tenures - and fears of retribution from Snyder, who deployed private investigators to visit those he suspected of speaking to The Post or being part of what he believed was an orchestrated campaign to defame him. Coburn described emotional damage suffered by members of the team’s cheerleading squad after learning that lewd outtakes from annual calendar shoots had been spliced together, rather than deleted, for a video montage of exposed nipples and pubic areas for team executives’ entertainment. “I’ve cried with the women in the videos as they explained the horror of seeing themselves in what is essentially a soft-porn video, sound-tracked to Daniel Snyder’s favorite bands,” Coburn said. “These women remain traumatized.” The Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala and Mark Maske contributed to this report.

Spurs’ Collins could debut in matchup with Rockets Field Level Media

The San Antonio Spurs will look to end a three-game losing streak and could see the debut of Zach Collins when they host the Houston Rockets on Friday. The Spurs will be playing their third game in four days and the second of a home back-to-back. Playing Thursday without three regular starters, they lost to the Miami Heat 112-95. Derrick White led the Spurs with 22 points in just three quarters against Miami, and Tre Jones added 16. San Antonio shot just 37.5 percent from the floor and hit only 8 of 33 shots from beyond the arc, just two of the 3-pointers coming in the second half. “Every game win or lose is a learning experience,” San Antonio coach Gregg

Popovich said after the defeat. “(It’s) a wonderful experience for all our young guys. They gave it all they had, but Miami is sharp.” The Spurs played without Dejounte Murray (left wrist sprain), Doug McDermott (right ankle sprain) and Jakob Poeltl (concussion). “I was just trying to be aggressive,” White said. “I knew DJ, Doug and Jak were out. Miami executes really well on both sides. They’re going to make you work. They’re good for a reason.” The Spurs’ short-handed roster will be helped Friday by the likely return of Collins. Signed as a free agent in the offseason, he heads back to the court after missing all of last season and the beginning of this year with a left-ankle stress fracture. The Rockets head west to San Antonio

after a 115-104 home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Christian Wood and Jalen Green led the Rockets with 21 points each, Green’s first 20-point game since Jan. 5. Houston led by just three points with 2:44 to play before reeling off 10 straight points to cement the victory, its first at home in 12 tries. The Rockets also got 16 points each from Garrison Mathews and Kevin Porter Jr., 11 from Eric Gordon and 10 from Kenyon Martin Jr. The two teams played on Jan. 25, with the Spurs dominating the game and cruising to a 134-104 win in Houston. The Rockets allowed San Antonio to score 82 points in the paint and distribute 38 assists, both season highs for a Houston opponent.

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - B3

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA Register-Star

•

The Daily Mail

•

Shop & Find

R e a c h o u r r e a d e r s o n l i n e , o n s o c i a l m e d i a , a n d i n p r i n t – R U N I T U N T I L I T S E L L S F O R O N LY $ 2 5 !

Classiﬁeds

Place your classiﬁed ad onllne at: www.hudsonva1ley360.com

(518) 828-1616 Please select option 5 Fax 315.661.2520 email: classiﬁeds@registerstar.com legals@columbiagreenemedia.com

NOTICE TO ALL ADVERTISERS

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

5HSRUW HUURUV LPPHGLDWHO\ 7R HQVXUH WKH EHVW UHVSRQVH WR \RXU DG SOHDVH WDNH WLPH WR FKHFN WKDW \RXU DG LV FRUUHFW WKH ӾUVW WLPH LW DSSHDUV ,I \RX VHH DQ HUURU SOHDVH FDOO LPPHGLDWHO\ WR KDYH LW FKDQJHG :H FDQ FRUUHFW DQ\ HUURUV LQ WKH QH[W GD\·V SDSHU H[FHSW 6XQGD\ DQG 0RQGD\ ,I &ROXPELD *UHHQH 0HGLD LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH HUURU ZH ZLOO FUHGLW \RX IRU WKH FRVW RI WKH VSDFH RFFXSLHG E\ WKH HUURU RQ WKH ӾUVW GD\ RI SXEOLFDWLRQ +RZHYHU WKH SXEOLVKHUV DUH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU RQH LQFRUUHFW GD\ RQO\ DQG OLDELOLW\ VKDOO QRW H[FHHG WKH SRUWLRQ RI WKH VSDFH RFFXSLHG E\ WKH HUURU DQG LV OLPLWHG WR WKH DFWXDO FRVW RI WKH ӾUVW DG 7KH SXEOLVKHUV VKDOO QRW EH OLDEOH IRU DQ\ DGYHUWLVHPHQW RPLWWHG IRU DQ\ UHDVRQ

PUBLIC NOTICES 1VHUUL 6SSTHU *VUZ\S[PUN 33* (Y[Z VM 6YN MPSLK ^P[O :LJ VM :[H[L VM 5@ ::5@ *[`! *VS\TIPH ::5@ KLZPN HZ HNLU[ \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ZOHSS THPS WYVJLZZ [V 1VHUUL 6SSTHU :U`KLY 9K .OLU[ 5@ .LULYHS 7\YWVZL 5V[PJL VM -VYTH[PVU VM +LS[H 9VVMPUN 33* (Y[PJSLZ VM 6YNHUPaH[PVU MPSLK ^P[O :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[L VM 5@ ::5@ VU 6MMPJL SVJH[PVU! *VS\TIPH *V\U[` ::5@ KLZPNUH[LK HZ HNLU[ VM 3PTP[LK 3PHIPSP[` *VTWHU` 33* \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ P[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ::5@ ZOV\SK THPS WYVJLZZ [V ;LZZ 4LLUHNO! <UKLYOPSS 9K /PSSZKHSL 5@ 7\YWVZL! (U` SH^M\S W\YWVZL 5V[PJL VM -VYTH[PVU VM 3 6 = , + @V\UN >VTLU Z ,TWV^LYTLU[ (Y[PJSLZ VM 6YNHUPaH[PVU MPSLK ^P[O :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[L VM 5@ ::5@ VU 6MMPJL SVJH[PVU! .YLLUL *V\U[` ::5@ KLZPNUH[LK HZ HNLU[ VM 3PTP[LK 3PHIPSP[` *VTWHU` 33* \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ P[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ::5@ ZOV\SK THPS WYVJLZZ [V @VSHPUU` 4PUH`H! /PNOSHUK (]L *H[ZRPSS 5@ 5@ 7\YWVZL! (U` SH^M\S W\YWVZL 3,.(3 56;0*, +PZ[YPJ[ :WLJPHS 9\U ;OL *H[ZRPSS *LU[YHS :JOVVS +PZ[YPJ[ YLX\LZ[Z ZLHSLK IPKZ MVY H +PZ[YPJ[ :WLJPHS 9\U :LHSLK IPKZ ZOV\SK IL Z\ITP[[LK [V [OL ;YHUZWVY[H[PVU *VVYKPUH[VY >PSSPHT 4\PYOLHK *H[ZRPSS *LU[YHS :JOVVS +PZ[YPJ[ >LZ[ 4HPU :[YLL[ *H[ZRPSS 5@ \U[PS ! H T VU 4VUKH` -LIY\HY` H[ ÔPJO [PTL HUK WSHJL [OL` ^PSS IL W\ISPJS` VWLULK HUK YLHK :WLJPMPJH[PVUZ ^PSS IL H]HPSHISL VU -LIY\HY` HUK TH` IL VI[HPULK MYVT [OL )\ZPULZZ 6MMPJL I` JHSSPUN L_[ VY ;OL )VHYK YLZLY]LZ [OL YPNO[ [V YLQLJ[ HU` HUK HSS WYVWVZHSZ )` VYKLY VM [OL )VHYK VM ,K\JH[PVU *H[ZRPSS *LU[YHS :JOVVS +PZ[YPJ[ >PSSPHT 4\PYOLHK ;YHUZWVY[H[PVU +PYLJ[VY (SPJLHUU ;OVYWL +PZ[YPJ[ ;YLHZ\YLY

45:/)+ 5,

'*56:/54 5, 25)'2 2'=

9;(0+): :5 6+83/99/<+

8+,+8+4*;3 45:/)+ /9 .+8+(?

-/<+4 [OH[ [OL )VHYK VM ;Y\Z[LLZ VM ;OL =PSSHNL VM /\U[LY H[ H ZWLJPHS TLL[PUN OLSK +LJLTILY K\S` HKVW[LK 3VJHS 3H^ 5V VM ^OPJO PZ Z\IQLJ[ [V H YLMLYLUK\T VU WL[P[PVU PU HJJVYKHUJL ^P[O *HUUHIPZ 3H^ HUK [OL WYVJLK\YL V\[SPULK PU 4\UPJPWHS /VTL 9\SL 3H^ :LJ[PVU '(9:8'): ;OPZ 3VJHS 3H^ PZ HKVW[LK W\YZ\HU[ [V *HUUHIPZ 3H^ :LJ[PVU ;OL )VHYK VM ;Y\Z[LLZ VM ;OL =PSSHNL VM /\U[LY VW[Z V\[ VM HSSV^PUN JHUUHIPZ YL[HPS KPZWLUZHYPLZ HUK VU ZP[L JHUUHIPZ JVUZ\TW[PVU ZP[LZ MYVT ILPUN LZ[HISPZOLK HUK VWLYH[LK ^P[OPU ;OL =PSSHNL VM /\U[LY‫ڝ‬Z Q\YPZKPJ[PVU 2H[OSLLU 4 /PSILY[ =PSSHNL *SLYR

Want to place and ad? email class@wdt.net or call 315-782-0400.

:5=4 5, -.+4: @54/4- (5'8* 5, '66+'29 45:/)+ 5, 6;(2/) .+'8/473,(:, ;(2, 56;0*, [OH[ [OLYL ^PSS IL H W\ISPJ OLHYPUN ILMVYL [OL ;VÛ VM .OLU[ AVUPUN )VHYK VM (WWLHSZ VU -LIY\HY` ILNPUUPUN H[ ! W T MVY [OL W\YWVZL VM JVUZPKLYPUN H ]HYPHUJL MVY [OL L_WHUZPVU VM H UVU JVUMVYTPUN \ZL HWWSPJHISL [V [OL SHUKZ VM 4HJ /H`KU ;OLH[YL 0UJ :[H[L 9V\[L .OLU[ 5L^ @VYR ;H_ 4HW 5V (SS PU[LYLZ[LK WHY[PLZ ^PSS OH]L HU VWWVY[\UP[` H[ Z\JO [PTL [V IL OLHYK PU JVUULJ[PVU ^P[O ZHPK HWWSPJH[PVU ;OL W\ISPJ OLHYPUN ^PSS IL JVUK\J[LK HUK VWLU [V [OL W\ISPJ ]PH [OL AVVT VUSPUL TLL[PUN WSH[MVYT ( SPUR HUK PUZ[Y\J[PVUZ [V QVPU [OL W\ISPJ OLHYPUN ^PSS IL WVZ[LK [V [OL ;VÛ VM .OLU[ ^LIZP[L ^^^ [VÛVMNOLU[ VYN ILNPUUPUN OV\YZ WYPVY [V [OL W\ISPJ OLHYPUN ( SPUR [V [OL HWWSPJH[PVU TH[LYPHSZ TH` HSZV IL MV\UK VU [OL ;VÛ VM .OLU[ ^LIZP[L ^^^ [VÛVMNOLU[ VYN HWWSPJH[PVUZ +H[LK! -LIY\HY` 2H[PL >HSRLY AVUPUN )VHYK VM (WWLHSZ :LJYL[HY`

5V[PJL VM -VYTH[PVU VM 963305. )9662 7(:;<9,: 33* (Y[Z VM 6YN MPSLK ^P[O ::5@ VU 6MMPJL SVJH[PVU! *VS\TIPH ::5@ KLZN HZ HNLU[ VM 733* \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ P[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ::5@ THPS WYVJLZZ [V 6]LYZOV[[ 4PSS 9K *YHY`]PSSL 5@ (U` SH^M\S W\YWVZL 5V[PJL VM -VYTH[PVU VM 4VU[NVTLY` :[YLL[ 7YVQLJ[Z 33* (Y[PJSLZ VM 6YNHUPaH[PVU MPSLK ^P[O :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[L VM 5@ ::5@ VU 6MMPJL SVJH[PVU! *VS\TIPH *V\U[` ::5@ KLZPNUH[LK HZ HNLU[ VM 3PTP[LK 3PHIPSP[` *VTWHU` 33* \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ P[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ::5@ ZOV\SK THPS WYVJLZZ [V 4VU[NVTLY` :[YLL[ 7YVQLJ[Z 33*! )PS[TVYL >H` :\P[L *VYHS .HISLZ -3 7\YWVZL! (U` SH^M\S W\YWVZL 5V[PJL VM -VYTH[PVU VM 5LSZVU (]L /VSKPUNZ 33* (Y[PJSLZ VM 6YNHUPaH[PVU MPSLK ^P[O :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[L VM 5@ ::5@ VU 6MMPJL SVJH[PVU! *VS\TIPH *V\U[` ::5@ KLZPNUH[LK HZ HNLU[ VM 3PTP[LK 3PHIPSP[` *VTWHU` 33* \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ P[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ::5@ ZOV\SK THPS WYVJLZZ [V 5LSZVU (]L /VSKPUNZ 33*! >LZ[ UK :[YLL[ :\P[L 5L^ @VYR 5@ 7\YWVZL! (U` SH^M\S W\YWVZL 5V[PJL VM MVYTH[PVU VM 9 * .LULYHS *VU[YHJ[PUN 33* (Y[PJSLZ VM 6YNHUPaH[PVU MPSLK ^P[O :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[L VM 5@ ::5@ VU 6MMPJL SVJH[PVU! *VS\TIPH *V\U[` ::5@ KLZPNUH[LK HZ HNLU[ VM 3PTP[LK 3PHIPSP[` *VTWHU` 33* \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ P[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ::5@ ZOV\SK THPS WYVJLZZ [V! *V\U[` 9V\[L .OLU[ 5@ 7\YWVZL! (U` SH^M\S W\YWVZL 5V[PJL VM -VYTH[PVU VM 9/<: 03,? 33* (Y[PJSLZ VM 6YNHUPaH[PVU MPSLK ^P[O :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[L VM 5@ ::5@ VU 6MMPJL SVJH[PVU! *VS\TIPH *V\U[` ::5@ KLZPNUH[LK HZ HNLU[ VM 3PTP[LK 3PHIPSP[` *VTWHU` 33* \WVU ÔVT WYVJLZZ HNHPUZ[ P[ TH` IL ZLY]LK ::5@ ZOV\SK THPS WYVJLZZ [V 9O\Z 0SL_ 33*! 4PKKSL 9VHK /\KZVU 5@ 7\YWVZL! (U` SH^M\S W\YWVZL

Rentals 332

Roommates/ Home Sharing

HOUSEMATE WANTEDSenior Citizen request person to share expenses of 3700 sq ft modern home, 1 mile from Hudson. Private bed. Requesting $1,100 / mo. Incls. heat, elec. direct tv, trash, one time cleaning, treadmill, W/D. Full use of residence. Must be clean, non-smoker, credit score of 650 plus. Proof of income References. No pets. Call or text (518)965-3563.

Employment 415

General Help

COOK WANTED- must be able to work weekends, Call 518-943-6451

We are hiring Line Cooks, Stewards, and Baristas for our NEW Alltown Fresh location! We are paying up to $18/hr, and looking to hire ASAP. Please stop by our sister location (XtraMart located at Route 9H and 82 in Hudson NY 12534) to apply or call the store (518) 851-2220.

435

Professional & Technical Help Wanted/Town of Greenport

The Town of Greenport Town Board is seeking a full-time Code Enforcement/Building Inspector. Experience in field is required. Applicant will be hired as a Provisional Employee subject to Civil Service Examination seating.

The Town of Greenport is the commercial hub of Columbia County, New York and borders the City of Hudson. We are a fast-growing community with both large and small scale ongoing and upcoming construction. Please email letter of interest and resume` to supervisor@ townofgreenport.com. or mail to Supervisor Kathleen Eldridge, 600 Town Hall Drive, Hudson, New York 12534 no later than February 15, 2022

ECLC of Greene County is hiring all positions. Our career opportunities include a variety of positions that contribute to the education of preschoolers. We offer competitive wages, a Monday-Friday work Schedule (no weekends required). We also offer 14 paid holidays, paid winter and spring breaks, paid personal days, paid sick days, and paid inclement weather days. We offer professional development opportunities, along with a competitive health, dental and vision package. If you have a love of learning, a compassionate heart and a desire to make a difference, then ECLC is the place for you.

ECLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome all to apply. Please contact us at kfederico@eclcgreenecounty.org or emoore@eclcgreenecounty.org Or mail your interest letter/resume to the following:

Early Childhood Learning Center of Greene County Attention: HR Department PO Box 399, South Cairo, NY 12482

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B4 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid PURPOSE: THE FILING OF REVISED RATES TO P.S.C. NO. 220 ELECTRICITY, P.S.C. NO. 214 STREETLIGHTING, and P.S.C. NO. 219 GAS TARIFFS TO COMPLY WITH THE COMMISSION’S ORDER DATED JANUARY 20, 2022 IN P.S.C. CASES 20-E-0380 AND 20-G-0381.

TEXT:

Notice is hereby given that Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid KDV ÀOHG UHYLVHG UDWHV ZLWK WKH 3XEOLF 6HUYLFH &RPPLVVLRQ WR FRPSO\ ZLWK WKH &RPPLVVLRQ·V RUGHU GDWHG -DQXDU\ 7KHVH UHYLVHG UDWHV EHFRPH HIIHFWLYH )HEUXDU\ 7KH WDEOHV OLVWHG EHORZ VKRZ D FRPSDULVRQ EHWZHHQ WKH &RPSDQ\·V FXUUHQW UDWHV DQG UDWHV HIIHFWLYH )HEUXDU\ Other changes effective February 1, 2022: 6HUYLFH 5H HVWDEOLVKPHQW DQG 'LVFRQQHFWLRQ &KDUJHV KDYH EHHQ XSGDWHG SHU 5XOH RI 3 6 & 1R DQG SHU 5XOH RI 3 6 & 1R

Announcements 610

Announcements

CLASSIFIEDS GET THE JOB DONE!

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF COLUMBIA SUMMONS JAMES WERKOWSKI AND PAUL GENEGA, Index No.: E012020015681 Plaintiff, -againstMARY GRACE VISSMAN, STEVEN WHITEHEAD, DEBORAH A. HARRY, MARTHA DAVEIRO, GORDON ALEXANDER, JOHN ALEXANDER, CHRISTINE ALEXANDER, RUSSELL MEYER, STEVEN MEYER, RUSSEL CONDAS, IAN CONDAS, TORRANCE MEYER, MICHAEL PERRY, JARED MEYER, and DANA MARSHALL, as well as JOHN DOE and JANE DOE, being the unidentified heirs and assigns of ABEL S. PETERS, d. May 14, 1853, Defendants. To the Above-Named Defendants: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorneys a verified answer to the verified complaint in this action within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty days after service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. In case of your failure to answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. Columbia County is designated as the place of trial. The basis of the venue designated is that the property that is the basis of this action is situated in Columbia County Dated: May 28, 2020 William J. Better, P.C. Joseph D. Clyne, Esq. 1 Albany Avenue Kinderhook, New York 12106 (518)758-1511 (Telephone) (518)758-1227 (Facsimile) The following named Defendants: 1. John Alexander 2. Christine Alexander 3. George Alexander 4. Dana Marshall 5. Jared Meyer 6. Russel Meyer 7. Steven Meyer 8. Michael Perry 9. Mary Grace Vissman The aforesaid Summons served on you pursuant to the Amended Order of the Honorable John D. Nicholas, dated December 27, 2021, with authorized service of process upon you. Your failure to answer this Summons or otherwise appear will result in a default judgment taken against you for the relief sought in the Summons and Complaint. The purpose of the object to this proceeding is to Quiet Title and to determine claims, if any, of the Defendants above named, in title to certain real property located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County, New York more particularly described in Schedule A. SCHEDULE A ALL THAT certain plot, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the Town of Stuyvesant, County of Columbia, and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point along the eastern boundary of the lands now or formerly of CSX Transportation, Inc. (upon which is situated the water level route of the former Hudson River Railroad), such point being the southwest corner of the lands now or formerly of Werkowski; thence along the southern boundary of the said lands now or formerly of Werkowski S75°18’34”E 60.95’ to a point in the center line of the public highway known as Riverview Street, such point being the southeast corner of the said lands now or formerly of Werkowski; thence along the said center line of the public highway known as Riverview Street S47°08’13”W53.75’ to a point; thence further along the said center line of the public highway known as Riverview Street S32°10’14”W 99.52’ to a point, such point being the point of intersection between the said centerline of the public highway known as Riverview Street and the said eastern boundary of the lands now or formerly of CSX Transportation, Inc.; thence along the said eastern boundary of the lands now or formerly of CSX Transportation, Inc. N 13°47’08”E140.31’ to the point or place of beginning and containing .08 acres of land more or less.

Merchandise 730

Miscellaneous for Sale

Reduce FUN, EXPRESSIVE & MOOD related Lapel Pins & Keychain's Shop at: www. PinnyforyourMOOD.com

736

Pets & Supplies

Reuse

NEWFOUNDLANDS: AKC purebreds. 2 girls, 4 boys. first shots, vet check, wormed. $1,400. 21 year of breading. Call 680-8005668 or 315-655-3743.

795

Wanted to Buy

EXERCISE BIKE needed w/large seat. Must be in good working condition. Call with price. (518)3920221.

Recycle

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - B5

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Broncos’ John Elway, Dolphins’ Stephen Ross call Brian Flores’s claims ‘false’ and ‘defamatory’ Mark Maske The Washington Post

The leaders of several NFL teams, including Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and Denver Broncos executive John Elway, turned more aggressive in defending themselves publicly against allegations made by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores in his discrimination lawsuit filed this week against the league and teams. Elway issued a statement Thursday calling Flores’s accusations “false and defamatory.” That came after the Dolphins released a statement from Ross on Wednesday night that termed the allegations “false, malicious and defamatory.” Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II said in a statement that the league has made “marked improvement” in minority hiring in some areas while acknowledging that “we have not seen progress in the ranks of Head Coaches.” Flores, fired last month by the Dolphins after a second straight winning season, filed his lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. It accuses the NFL and three teams - the Dolphins, Broncos and New York Giants - of racial discrimination. It lists the other 29 teams as potential defendants. “While I was not planning to respond publicly to the false and defamatory claims by Brian Flores, I could not be silent any longer with my character, integrity and professionalism being attacked,” Elway said in Thursday’s statement. “I took Coach Flores very seriously as a candidate for our head coaching position in 2019 and enjoyed our threeand-a-half hour interview with him. Along with the rest of our group, I was prepared, ready and fully engaged during the entire interview as Brian shared his experience and vision for our team. It’s unfortunate and shocking to learn for the first time this week that Brian felt differently about our interview with him.” Flores’s lawsuit says his 2019 meeting with the Broncos - like his recent interview with the Giants - was a “sham interview that was held only in an effort to comply with the Rooney Rule,” the NFL directive compelling teams to interview minority candidates. The lawsuit alleges that Elway and fellow Broncos executive Joe Ellis “showed up an hour late” and “looked completely disheveled, and it was obvious that they had been drinking heavily the night before.” The Broncos

Thomas From B1

Thomas in her decision to affirm her gender identity and to transition from a man to a woman. Lia has every right to live her life authentically,” the letter read. “However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someone’s gender identity. Biologically, Lia holds an unfair advantage over competition in the women’s category, as evidenced by her rankings that have bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female. If she were to be eligible to compete against us, she could now break Penn, Ivy, and NCAA Women’s Swimming records; feats she could never have done as a male athlete.” Thomas’s teammates did not identify themselves in the letter. It was sent by Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a 1984 Olympic swimming gold medalist, lawyer and chief executive of Champion Women, a women’s sports advocacy

Games From B1

a toboggan chute. The event was highlighted by the lighting of the Games’ cauldron by Athlete of the Year Amanda Demmerle, 18, a figure skater from Camillus, who has overcome four significant injuries to her knees and ankles to continue in the sport. She also spreads her love for the sport by coaching and teaching skaters at her local club in Cortland. Saranac Lake’s Chris Mazdzer, a former Empire State Winter Games competitor recently named to his fourth Olympic team in luge, sent a message via the big screen

JACK DEMPSEY/AP

Broncos executives John Elway, left, and Joe Ellis were cited in Brian Flores’s discrimination lawsuit.

hired Vic Fangio, who is White, as their coach that year. “For Brian to make an assumption about my appearance and state of mind early that morning was subjective, hurtful and just plain wrong,” Elway said. “If I appeared ‘disheveled,’ as he claimed, it was because we had flown in during the middle of the night - immediately following another interview in Denver - and were going on a few hours of sleep to meet the only window provided to us. “I interviewed Brian in good faith, giving him the same consideration and opportunity as every other candidate for our head coaching position in 2019.” The NFL, according to a person familiar with the matter, plans to investigate the allegations made by Flores in the lawsuit that Ross offered him $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season in a tanking effort to secure the top pick in the draft and violated league tampering rules by arranging for Flores to meet with a prominent quarterback from another team. Flores said he refused to comply, and that, he contends, led to his firing. “With regards to the allegations being made by Brian Flores, I am a man of honor and integrity and cannot let them stand without responding,” Ross said in Wednesday night’s statement. “I take great personal

exception to these malicious attacks, and the truth must be known. His allegations are false, malicious and defamatory. “We understand there are media reports stating that the NFL intends to investigate his claims, and we will cooperate fully. I welcome that investigation and I am eager to defend my personal integrity, and the integrity and values of the entire Miami Dolphins organization, from these baseless, unfair and disparaging claims.” The league and the teams named in Flores’s lawsuit previously had denied the claims. But the statements by Elway and Ross struck a more forceful, combative tone. The Giants released a lengthy statement Thursday in which they said: “Our hiring process and, most certainly, our consideration of Mr. Flores was serious and genuine. We are disappointed to learn that Mr. Flores was under the mistaken impression the job had already been awarded.” In his lawsuit, Flores alleged that the Giants already had decided to hire Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who is White, as their coach by the time they interviewed Flores late last month. The lawsuit disclosed that Flores had received a text message from New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick three days before Flores’s interview informing him that Daboll was

the Giants’ choice. Flores said he believes Belichick mistakenly thought he was texting congratulations to Daboll. The Giants responded in their statement that Belichick “does not speak for and has no affiliation with the Giants” and the texts provide “no insight into what actually transpired during our head coaching search.” The Giants said they made their decision and offered Daboll the job “a full day after” Flores’s interview. They released an itinerary of Flores’s interview schedule, beginning with an 8:45 a.m. arrival and concluding with a 3:30 p.m. meeting with new general manager Joe Schoen. Flores was one of three Black head coaches in the NFL this season. Two of them were fired after the season, Flores by the Dolphins and David Culley by the Houston Texans. That left the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin as the league’s only Black head coach. No minority coaches have been hired thus far as five of the nine teams with coaching vacancies have made their hiring choices. Rooney, in his statement, mentioned the NFL’s measures aimed to improve minority hiring in senior leadership positions of teams and in the league office. “While I acknowledge that we have not seen progress in the ranks of Head Coaches, we have seen marked improvement in the hiring of women and minorities in other key leadership roles such as Coordinator positions, General Manager positions, and front office positions both in and out of football operations,” Rooney said. “I believe this progress has been made as a result of the implementation of many of the enhanced policies that were recently adopted.” Rooney and his family have been key figures in the league’s diversity efforts. The Rooney Rule is named for his late father, Dan. “The Commissioner and League Executives, as well as the Diversity Committee, remain committed to working with all clubs, the Fritz Pollard Alliance, and others in making these efforts as effective as possible and building upon them to promote the desired impacts on hiring decisions in the League at all levels, including Head Coach positions,” Art Rooney said.

organization. She said in a telephone interview that she sent the letter on the swimmers’ behalf so they could avoid retaliation; in the letter, the swimmers claim they were told “we would be removed from the team or that we would never get a job offer” if they spoke out against Thomas’s inclusion in women’s competition. Penn officials did not respond to a request for comment on either the claims raised in the letter or whether the school planned to mount a legal challenge should Thomas be ruled ineligible for the NCAA championships. On Tuesday, another group of Penn swimmers released a statement supporting Thomas after an unidentified Quakers swimmer spoke to Fox News about her, claiming she had a “monumental” advantage over her teammates after going through male puberty. “We want to express our full support for Lia in her transition,” the athletes said in Tuesday’s statement, per ESPN. “We value her as a person, teammate, and friend. The sentiments put forward by an anonymous member of our

team are not representative of the feelings, values, and opinions of the entire Penn team, composed of 39 women with diverse backgrounds.” A Penn spokesman told ESPN that Tuesday’s statement was sent on behalf of “several” Quakers swimmers. On Thursday, the parent of a Penn swimmer, who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation against their daughter, said in a telephone interview that they estimated the letter supporting Thomas was sent on behalf of only “two or three” swimmers. Last month, the NCAA established a new sport-bysport policy in which transgender athletes’ participation will be determined by the policy set by each sport’s governing body. On Tuesday, USA Swimming issued a new policy that establishes eligibility criteria for transgender athletes in elite events. To determine a transgender swimmer’s eligibility at the elite level, a three-person panel of independent medical experts will determine whether the swimmer’s prior physical development as a man gives the athlete a competitive

advantage over her cisgender female competitors. The swimmer also must show the concentration of testosterone in her blood has been less than 5 nanomoles per liter continuously for at least 36 months. The NCAA swimming championships are scheduled for March 16-19, and Thomas has qualified for multiple events. She seemingly will be allowed by the NCAA to compete because it is phasing in its new transgender policy in three stages, the first of which covers this year’s championships in winter and spring sports. To compete during this first stage, Thomas will not have to meet the standards set this week by USA Swimming. Instead, she will have to submit documentation to the NCAA’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports that shows she has undergone at least one year of testosterone-suppression treatment and provide proof of a one-time serum testosterone level that falls below the maximum allowable level for the sport. The one-year requirement was part of the NCAA’s

previous transgender policy, which was established in 2010. Hogshead-Makar said the NCAA was wise to update its rules. “It turns out that it was only based on a hypothesis and that it was just not true,” Hogshead-Makar said of the previous NCAA policy that is being phased out. “So now there’s been a lot more science on it, more research on it, and it shows that in many cases that ... you cannot roll back [male puberty]; you can’t take any medication to overcome what male puberty gives you. “When it became clear, all this new science was coming through, transgender advocates were saying: ‘Oh, but it’s never going to happen. Nobody’s ever going to come and break women’s records. ... You’re not going to see that at the Olympics or at nationals.’ And then Lia came along. It just shows the need to update the NCAA rule.” The second phase of the NCAA’s new transgender policy begins with the 202223 academic year and will require athletes to have their testosterone tested at the start of their competition season

and again six months later. The third phase, in which the NCAA will use the rules established by USA Swimming, will go into effect in the 2023-24 academic year. The Penn swimming parent, whose daughter is one of the 16 behind Thursday’s letter, described the athletes as conflicted over Thomas’s presence on the team, with some supporting her, others bothered by the fact that Thomas was taking away their opportunities to compete because of a perceived biological advantage and still others who simply are weary of the distraction the issue is causing. “There’s a swimmer who is a senior. She approached the coach about this. She was, in so many words, told to ‘get over it,’ “ the parent said. “In a subsequent conversation with my daughter, she expressed how she’s really unhappy with the situation, she thinks it’s wrong, and so on, but she thinks that since we’re at this point of the season already, she thinks at this point Lia should just be able to finish out the season. That’s another perspective.”

from the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. “I really wish I was here with you this weekend to share all of the experiences you’re about to have,” he said. “I’m currently getting ready for the upcoming Olympics. Have fun, compete hard and be proud about everything you’ve already accomplished.” He was joined from Beijing by former Lake Placid resident Katie Million, general manager of the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team, which opened defense of its gold medal with a 5-2 win over Finland earlier in the day. The Beijing Olympics was set to open the same day. Said Million: “The Empire State Winter Games is an awesome, awesome competition and congratulations

for making it to this event. I wanted to wish you the best of luck. Enjoy Lake Placid, it holds a very special place in my heart, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.” Ashley Walden, Adirondack Sports Council executive director, 2002 Olympian in luge, is also an ESWG alum. “I know first-hand the impact that the Empire State Winter Games has had on athletes of all levels,” she told the crowd from the stage at the Lake Placid Public Beach. “It has been a part of each of their athletic journeys just as it will be a part of your own. Less than one year from now Lake Placid will host the FISU World University Games and solidify its place in history as not only an Olympic city but a University Games city.”

The ceremony included athletes and officials’ oaths, New York State Troop B color guard and the national anthem, and concluded with athletes – mostly teenagers and younger - participating in a TikTok dance and light party hosted by DJ Mr. Viva. Games competitors did not have to go far for inspiration on Mirror Lake, steps away from the site of medal ceremonies for the 1980 Winter Olympics, where athletes including speedskater Eric Heiden received his five gold medals. Demmerle lit the cauldron that represented the culmination of a six-day, 700-mile torch relay that began in Buffalo and New York City Jan. 29 and included some 50 stops in communities along the way. On Thursday afternoon, the

torch arrived in Lake Placid, where it stopped for a presentation at Community Bank on Saranac Ave. and was carried by a team of hockey players to the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort. It was then skated on the lake by a figure skater, handed off for a ride down the toboggan slide, then taken via dogsled before Demmerle’s final leg of the trip, weaving through the throngs of athletes grouped by sport, before she climbed the steps and lit the cauldron. This final leg of the journey was photographed live by drone and shown on the ceremony’s big screen. The Games, with competitions in Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake and Paul Smiths, include competitions ranging from adaptive sports (including sled hockey, Nordic

sking and biathlon) to Alpine skiing, figure skating, sliding sports (bobsled, luge, skeleton), ski jumping snowshoe races, winter biking, ski orienteering, hockey and figure skating. Medals were handed out in adaptive bobsled and skeleton events held Wednesday in advance of the storm. The Games will also feature an Athletes Village in Mid’s Park off Main Street in downtown Lake Placid, with a big screen showing athlete interviews and action from the Beijing Winter Olympics, where ESWG alumni are competing; hot chocolate; music; a photo booth and Stewart Shop’s mascot Flavor the Cow.

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B6 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

2022 NFL mock draft: Two-round projections Eddie Brown The San Diego Union-Tribune

And then there were two. The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals will face off at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 13 in Super Bowl LVI. Good thing for the Rams, considering they currently don’t have a pick in the first two days of April’s draft. We’re also in the midst of Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala., with the game set for Saturday. The practices are much more important for these prospects than the game. Some of the players will receive a legit boost in their draft stock following this weekend and it could go a long ways in sorting out the quarterback group, since most of them are participating. Part of my weekly mock preamble explains it is an attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season’s draft class, and which teams they’d match up well with considering the draft order courtesy of NFL.com. The closer we get to draft day, the more I attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe they should do. Last season, I was the fourth most accurate NFL draft prognosticator in print according to The Huddle Report. I’m tied for seventh overall (out of 133) over the past five years. The NFL draft has become a nice appetizer before our main course in September. A mock version of said draft is meant to educate, and even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time. Follow me on Twitter UTEddieBrown so we can continue the conversation. Here’s my updated 2022 NFL mock draft, now through two rounds: FIRST ROUND 1. Jacksonville (3-14) — Evan Neal, T, Alabama, Jr. Before drafting Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars selected an edge rusher in back-to-back drafts — K’Lavon Chaisson and Josh Allen — so auctioning the first pick off would make sense considering all of the holes on this roster. Until we have more clarity, the Jags get Neal. He is a physical specimen (6-foot-7, 350 pounds) who has improved every season in Tuscaloosa and thrived at both left and right tackle. Top needs: Edge, WR, DB 2. Detroit (3-13-1) — Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan, Sr. The Lions have been near the bottom of the league in sacks and QB pressure rate the last three seasons, so I’m advocating for them to select either Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux. Especially since there isn’t a quarterback available worthy of this pick. Top needs: QB, WR, DB 3. Houston (4-13) — Ikem Ekwonu, T, NC State, So. NFL teams usually can’t help themselves when it comes to the quarterback position, but this is too high for a signal-caller in this draft class. Thankfully for the Texans, every position is one of need. Ekwonu was the most dominant run-blocking tackle in the country this season -- it really wasn’t close. I envision him thriving at tackle or guard in the NFL. Top needs: QB, WR, OL 4. N.Y. Jets (4-13) — Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon, So. The success of Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme is predicated on creating pressure on the quarterback without blitzing. Thibodeaux is a top-tier athlete who wins with speed and has shown surprising coverage versatility. His ceiling is massively high, but it might take a few years for his technique and toolbox to catch up to his talent. Top needs: Edge, DB, LB 5. N.Y. Giants (4-13) — George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue, Jr. Passing on Micah Parsons could haunt the G-Men for years. Karlaftis has been one of the most consistent pass rushers in the nation during his three seasons in West Lafayette. His inside-outside versatility, overwhelming power and special athleticism could make him a star at the next level. Top needs: OL, Edge, LB 6. Carolina (5-12) — Charles Cross, T, Mississippi St., So.

This pick could very well be packaged with others to land Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Otherwise, the Panthers need to consider moving down to target a quarterback or offensive lineman. Cross is a powerful blocker who can do damage at the second level in the run game with premium athleticism and his target-lock awareness. He developed into a dominant pass protector this season and could end up cracking the top-10 in April, but this might be a bit early for him. Top needs: QB, OL, LB 7. N.Y. Giants from Chicago (611) — Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah, Jr. The Giants need to add toughness and athleticism to their offensive line, but the top offensive tackles are off the board and this may be too early for Tyler Linderbaum. I know the G-Men haven’t drafted a linebacker in the first round since 1984 (Carl Banks), but Lloyd deserves serious consideration here. Lloyd can rush the passer (he had eight sacks), impact the run game and make plays in coverage — he had four interceptions this season. Top needs: OL, Edge, LB 8. Atlanta (7-10) — Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame, Jr. There’s been only one safety chosen with a top-five pick since 1992 (Sean Taylor in 2004), but I don’t expect Hamilton to last very long if he isn’t drafted in that range come April. He exceeded high expectations before suffering a minor knee injury. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, the hybrid playmaker combines the versatility of Isaiah Simmons with instincts that are reminiscent of Hall of Famer Ed Reed. Hamilton would pair nicely with shutdown corner A.J. Terrell to create a very dynamic secondary. Top needs: WR, Edge, DB 9. Denver (7-10) — David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan, Jr. I expect the Broncos to make a significant push for Aaron Rodgers. If quarterback gets checked off their lists of needs, the pass rush becomes the top priority. After playing only 26 snaps for the Wolverines before his junior year, Ojabo was a revelation this season with 11 sacks and five forced fumbles. A successful showing at the combine could help him crack the top 10. Top needs: QB, Edge, LB 10. N.Y. Jets from Seattle (7-10) — Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati, Jr. The Jets haven’t had a cornerback in the Pro Bowl since Darrelle Revis in 2015. Gardner made it through the playoff loss to Alabama unscathed. He finished his collegiate career with 1,100-plus snaps with nine interceptions and zero touchdowns allowed. Top needs: Edge, DB, LB 11. Washington (7-10) — Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi, Jr. The Commanders (that felt weird to type) could lose some significant contributors to its offensive line in free agency, but there’s no bigger need than who will be handling the snaps. Corral is slightly undersized, but he’s a NFL-caliber playmaker with genuine arm talent. His X-rays were negative after he injured his ankle in a loss to Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. Top needs: QB, WR, DB 12. Minnesota (8-9) — Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU, Jr. Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland were only signed to oneyear deals and neither played well enough to be asked back — Breeland was released in-season. Stingley features rare ball-tracking skills that make him a threat to take the ball away anytime it’s in his vicinity. As an 18-year-old, he produced one of the most impressive true freshman seasons in college football history in 2019. Durability has been a concern ever since. He’s a top-five talent, but there are a lot of questions. Top needs: CB, G, Edge 13. Cleveland (8-9) — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St., Jr. Linebacker will be a priority once again if the Browns lose Anthony Walker and Malcolm Smith in free agency, but they’re also in desperate need of some firepower at wide receiver after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. Wilson’s ability to threaten

a defense at every level would pair nicely with Jarvis Landry, who is also a free agent in 2023. Top needs: WR, DL, Edge 14. Baltimore (8-9) — Tyler Linderbaum, OL, Iowa, Jr. You might want to constantly replenish the talent on your offensive line if running the football is your team’s identity. Starting center Bradley Bozeman is an unrestricted free agent and may have priced his way out of Baltimore. Drafting the Rimington Trophy winner and unanimous All-American would be a prudent move. Linderbaum was a multisport athlete in high school who earned multiple letters in wrestling, track, baseball and football. Top needs: OL, CB, LB 15. Philadelphia from Miami (98) — Drake London, WR, USC, Jr. Drafting Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson remains a mystery to me. London led the nation in contested catches with 19 and he only played eight games after his season ended with a broken ankle. His size, athleticism, route-running and flair for the spectacular catch will make him a problem for defensive coordinators in the NFL. He’d pair nicely with DeVonta Smith and go a long way in correcting the Reagor mistake. Top needs: WR, S, LB 16. Philadelphia from Indianapolis (9-8) — Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia, Jr. It wasn’t long ago that the Eagles had three of the top 14 picks. They executed quite the turnaround, but no thanks to the front-seven. The Butkus Award winner is a dynamic blitzer who is capable of making plays all over the field. Top needs: WR, S, LB 17. L.A. Chargers (9-8) — Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida St., Sr. Only the Texans and Steelers allowed more rushing yards per game this season. Johnson is capable of being three-down player as a potentially elite run defender and an underrated pass rusher. Top needs: DL, WR, CB 18. New Orleans (9-8) — Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama, Jr. The Saints are either drafting a quarterback or wide receiver in the first round. Williams is a home run hitter with game-breaking speed. He’s also a weapon on special teams, as a returner — he returned two kicks for touchdowns in 2021 — and in coverage. The dynamic receiver injured his left knee against Georgia, but still grades out as a first-rounder if his rehabilitation is on schedule come April. Top needs: QB, WR, S 19. Philadelphia (9-8) — Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia, Jr. The Eagles former first-rounder Derek Barnett will test free agency, while veterans Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham could be on the chopping block. Walker brings inside-outside versatility and combines prototypical athleticism with a high motor (a rare combo). Top needs: WR, S, LB 20. Pittsburgh (9-7-1) — Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, Jr. Ben Roethlisberger has opted for the gold watch (and likely gold jacket in five years). Howell possesses impressive arm talent and proved he is a legitimate threat as a runner this season despite failing to meet big expectations. His performance in Mobile will impact his draft stock significantly. Top needs: QB, CB, T 21. New England (10-7) — Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida, Jr. J.C. Jackson will be an unrestricted free agent and has likely priced himself out of the Patriots’ offseason plans. Elam is a 6-foot-2 corner with elite ball skills who fine-tuned his technique after an underwhelming sophomore season. His game is built on speed and physicality, which you normally don’t see in the same toolkit. Top needs: DB, T, WR 22. Las Vegas (10-7) — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas, Jr. The loss of Henry Ruggs will loom large this offseason. Hunter Renfrow has enjoyed a breakout season, but he’s not a true No. 1 wide receiver. You’re not going to find a better combination of size (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and speed

at wide receiver in this class. Burks is a vertical threat, but also features immense YAC ability — he broke 15 tackles on 66 receptions this season. Top needs: WR, DL, OL 23. Arizona (11-6) — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio St., Sr. A.J. Green and Christian Kirk are both free agents following this season. It’s rare you find a route technician with reliable hands who can also run this fast. Olave might have slid into the first round had he left school last year and it wouldn’t surprise me if he cracks the top 20. Top needs: WR, OL, DB 24. Dallas (12-5) — Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn St., Sr. The three players who played the most snaps at safety for the Cowboys this season are set to become free agents. Brisker is a polished, physical playmaker with few holes in his game. Top needs: LB, S, TE 25. Buffalo (11-6) — Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia, Sr. The Bills will look to reinforce both lines this offseason. At 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, the Outland and Bednarik trophy winner is an immovable object who could anchor the Bills’ run defense for years to come. Top needs: OL, LB, DL 26. Tennessee (12-5) -- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington, Jr. The Titans will likely address wide receiver and the tight end position this offseason, but their leaky secondary has to be a priority as well. McDuffie plays bigger than his 5-11 frame. He’s one of the surest tacklers at the position in this draft class and his instincts are elite. Top needs: CB, DL, WR 27. Tampa Bay (13-4) — Cameron Thomas, Edge, San Diego St., Jr. Obviously, quarterback is an issue after Tom Brady’s retirement, but Jason Pierre-Paul, William Gholston and Ndamukong Suh are all free agents. Thomas was the most dominant pass rusher in college football this side of Ann Arbor. He racked up an FBS-leading 77 pressures this season and finished sixth with 29 run stops, according to Pro Football Focus. Top needs: QB, DL, OL 28. Green Bay (13-4) — David Bell, WR, Purdue, Jr. It’s very likely Davante Adams doesn’t stick around if Aaron Rodgers is elsewhere. Bell has gotten lost in the shuffle with the top available wide receivers, but his routerunning is advanced and his YAC ability should make him an impact player early in his career. He definitely deserves first-round consideration. Top needs: WR, DL, G 29. Miami from San Francisco (10-7) — Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M, Jr. Offensive line has been a disaster for the Dolphins this season and I expect them to address it in the draft and free agency, where they will have a projected NFL-high $77.1 million. The former five-star recruit can play either guard or tackle at a high level — Green made starts at every single offensive line position except center this season. Top needs: RB, OL, LB 30. Kansas City (12-5) — Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn St., Sr. Both Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson will be free agents after this season, with Mecole Hardman’s contract set to expire in 2023. Dotson features the game-breaking speed to beat defenses at all three levels and is good against press coverage despite his size (5-11, 185). He has very good hands and is a very capable blocker. Top needs: WR, Edge, DL 31. Cincinnati (10-7) — Daxton Hill, S, Michigan, Jr. The Bengals’ offensive line has improved with a healthy Jonah Williams at left tackle, but the interior still needs to be addressed. Safety is the next pressing priority with Jessie Bates’ pending free agency. Hill is a premium athlete with rare speed and explosiveness for the position. He will almost certainly also be utilized as a nickel in the pros. Top needs: OL, DB, LB 32. Detroit from L.A. Rams (12-5) — Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn, Sr. — there’s a quarterback the Lions fall in love with, he’ll likely

THE PUBLIC NEEDS THE TRUTH; NOT SOCIAL MEDIA HEADLINES & FAKE NEWS.

be selected here if he’s available. Otherwise, they miss out on the top wide receiver talent in this exercise so I address another dire need. McCreary simply doesn’t allow much separation and he’s battle-tested out of the SEC. He’s capable of thriving in man and zone. Top needs: QB, WR, DB SECOND ROUND 33. Jacksonville — Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson, Jr. 34. Detroit — Carson Strong, QB, Nevada, Jr. 35. N.Y. Jets — Christian Harris, LB, Alabama, Jr. 36. N.Y. Giants — Darian Kinnard, T, Kentucky, Sr. 37. Houston — Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan St., Jr. 38. N.Y. Jets from Carolina — George Pickens, WR, Georgia, Jr. 39. Chicago — Trevor Penning, T, Northern Iowa, Jr. Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair are locked in, but the other three offensive line spots are up for grabs. Penning finished tied for 10th in the Walter Payton Award voting, an award given to the most outstanding offensive player in Division I FCS. Top needs: OL, WR, CB 40. Denver — Brandon Smith, LB, Penn St., Jr. 41. Seattle — Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington, Jr. The Seahawks allowed 1,341 yards to the slot in 2021, the second-most in the NFL. Gordon is an aggressive, uber-athlete who showed significant development in his technique this season. Top needs: Edge, CB, OL 42. Washington — John Metchie III, WR, Alabama, Jr. 43. Atlanta — Breece Hall, RB, Iowa St., Jr. 44. Cleveland — DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M, Jr. 45. Baltimore — Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi St., Jr. 46. Minnesota — Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College, Sr. 47. Indianapolis — Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia, Sr. There are some questions about Kendrick’s speed, but his wide receiver-like ball skills would shine in the Colts zone scheme. Top needs: WR, DB, OL 48. L.A. Chargers — Jalen Pitre, DB, Baylor, Sr. Both Michael Davis and Chris Harris Jr. — who is slated for free agency — struggled mightily in 2021. Pitre is a hybrid slot defensive back who is a physical run supporter with on-ball coverage skills. Top needs: DL, WR, CB 49. New Orleans — Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh, Sr. 50. Miami — Drake Jackson, Edge, USC, Jr. 51. Philadelphia — Lewis Cine, S, Georgia, Jr. 52. Pittsburgh — Nicholas PetitFrere, T, Ohio St., Jr. 53. Las Vegas — Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma, Sr. 54. New England — Nik Bonitto, Edge, Oklahoma, Jr. 55. Arizona — Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama, Sr. 56. Dallas — Trey McBride, TE, Colorado St., Sr. 57. Buffalo — Daniel Faalele, T, Minnesota, Sr. 58. Atlanta from Tennessee — Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn St., Sr. 59. Green Bay — Thayer Munford, OL, Ohio St., Sr. 60. Tampa Bay — Bernhard Raimann, OL, Central Michigan, Sr. 61. San Francisco — Myjai Sanders, Edge, Cincinnati, Jr. Sanders features great speed and explosiveness off the edge to enter the league as a designated pass rusher. He’ll need to add some muscle and fine tune his focus to become an impact run defender. Top needs: CB, G, Edge 62. Kansas City — Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia, Sr. 63. Cincinnati — Alec Lindstrom, C, Boston College, Sr. 64. Denver from L.A. Rams — Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati, Jr.

#SupportRealNews

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - B7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Former spouses ready to try again after 16 years Dear Abby, I reconnected with my ex-husband, “Liam,” a year ago, 16 years after our divorce. (We hadn’t seen or talked to each other during that time.) He’s remarried with four kids; I am single with two kids. We got married when we DEAR ABBY were young, but we’re now in our early 40s. We know what we want or don’t want in a partner, and know what we will/won’t put up with, etc. Liam is still legally married, and I have been single for a year. He and his wife have been separated almost two years. We have been intimate, which I feel has brought us closer together. We are very compatible. We get along well, have the same religious beliefs and we’re both vegetarians. We had a long talk about our future a few days ago and whether we should try to get back together. Both of us feel the same way. We’re still very much in love with each other after all these years. Should we try to get back together when the time is right, or should we leave the past behind us and let it go? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Second Chance In Georgia

JEANNE PHILLIPS

No one can decide FOR you whether you and Liam should try to reconcile “when the time is right” — which I assume means when he is divorced from his current wife. I can offer this advice: As appealing as the idea may seem right now, do not do it until you have had joint counseling with a licensed marriage and family therapist to resolve any lingering issues that “might” crop up. Also, if Liam is really contemplating offloading his current missus, he needs to consult an attorney who specializes in family law so he will be fully prepared for the battle that’s sure to lie ahead. Dear Abby, I had substance abuse problems in the past. I have been in a rehabilitation program for a while now, and have been sober for more than a year. I would like to continue

my sobriety and feel I could stay sober from drugs and still drink socially. My family is against me drinking at all, even though alcohol is plentiful at their holiday get-togethers. They also don’t want me socializing with friends who drink at all, even if these friends don’t use other substances. I should mention I am of legal drinking age. How can I convince my family that I will stay off drugs while drinking socially? I know they want what’s best for me, but I don’t want to feel left out of family events or have to end friendships, which feels extreme. Responsible Social Drinker While your family is well-intentioned, I agree their thinking they can maintain your sobriety “for” you by deciding what you may and may not drink on their premises is extreme. And the decision of who you can safely socialize with should be made by you. This is an important subject you should discuss with your sponsor or the administrators of your substance abuse rehabilitation program. Please don’t wait to do it. Not knowing you personally, I cannot — and should not — advise you further than this. Dear Abby, When my wife of nine months makes a dental or medical appointment, she gives her last name as her late husband’s last name. He died 10 years ago. Should I be disappointed with my bride since, before we were married, she said she would adopt my last name? Newlywed In Florida Why your bride would be hesitant to do this, I can’t guess, but because it bothers you, discuss it with her before it festers. Informing health care professionals about a name change is fairly simple. All one has to do is inform the receptionist that a new name should be entered into the computer. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Pickles

Pearls Before Swine

Classic Peanuts

Garfield

Zits Dark Side of the Horse

Horoscope By Stella Wilder Born today, you are known for your ability to “come from behind” and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat — and you do it time and again, in situations both trivial and important. What you have going for you, more than anything else, is your ability to see past your own shortcomings or any difficult circumstances by which you may be pounded at any given time; you are able to see beyond the troubles that might be too much for someone else and see the results that wait for you. You cannot do everything on your own; you require a team of supporters to enable you to be your best when things are at their worst. Also born on this date are: Henry “Hank” Aaron, baseball player; Jeremy Sumpter, actor; Bobby Brown, singer; Sara Evans, singer; Michael Sheen, actor; Roger Staubach, football player; Jennifer Jason Leigh, actress; Laura Linney, actress. To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You may have to follow someone’s plan today, but you are certainly free to implement new elements if you are inspired to do so. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Your “attack” today will make all the difference. Do you want to be aggressive or more subtle than that? Each sends a different message. ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You’ll be able to say much today simply by keeping yourself busy and letting your actions speak for you. Others

appreciate this approach. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You don’t need to “announce yourself” as you get started today — just start! Indeed, the more you can remain in the background, the better. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may have to do a thing or two today that you would normally not do, but this is not a normal day! Never fear, this phase won’t last long. CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You will have more insight into other people’s motives than usual today, and this should give you a marked advantage over a close competitor. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — What you avoid today is likely to come back to haunt you tomorrow, so you are better off dealing with it head-on right now. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Seek a way out for yourself and you’re likely to find the way out for someone else — but you may be stuck where you are for a while longer. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You may be restricted by a rule that no one pays any attention to anymore. It may be up to you, then, to begin the process of repealing it! SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You’re in no mood to get your hands dirty, yet that may be unavoidable if you stay where you are. Your hands-on assistance will be required! SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — It may be time, finally, for you to update your approach to a certain routine problem. You’ve “made do” for long enough! CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You may be tempted to reveal a sensitive piece of information that you merely stumbled upon recently, but it’s best to keep mum today.

Daily Maze

Goren bridge WITH BOB JONES

♠ 7 6 ♥ Q 8 ♦ K 10 8 7 3 ♣ A K 6 4

WEEKLY BRIDGE QUIZ Q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

Right-hand opponent opens 1H. What call would you make?

♠K985♥AQ2♦Q985♣QJ

Q 5 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

SOUTH 1♦ ?

WEST Pass

NORTH 2♣

EAST Pass

What call would you make?

♠ Q 10 8 2 ♥ 9 ♦ A K 8 ♣ A K J 9 2 SOUTH 1♣ ?

WEST Pass

NORTH 1♥

EAST Pass

Q 2 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

What call would you make?

♠ 10 9 8 6 3 ♥ K 9 8 5 3 ♦ 2 ♣ Q 6

Q 6 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

Q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠K63♥KJ4♦Q5♣AKQJ6

As dealer, what call would you make?

♠ J 10 8 6 5 4 ♥ 5 ♦ A 10 7 ♣ J 7 4

Look for answers on Tuesday.

As dealer, what call would you make?

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail: tcaeditors@tribpub.com)

Q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

Columbia-Greene

MEDIA

Right-hand opponent opens 1D. What call would you make?

Sponsor Comics 518-828-1616

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B8 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 Close to Home

Free Range THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

Level 1

SIPEO THHCA DERNOV RPNIAS Solution to Friday’s puzzle

2/5/22 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit

Get Fuzzyy

Yesterday’s

sudoku.org.uk

Heart of the City

Dilbert

B.C.

For Better or For Worse

Wizard of Id

Crossword Puzzle

DOWN 1 Crossword definition 2 Remove from power 3 Keeping for the future 4 Word of agreement

Andy Capp

Bound & Gagged

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

5 Tolerating no nonsense 6 Take __; nap 7 Poland’s Walesa 8 __ Paulo 9 B of A machine 10 Breathtaking 11 __ ago; way back 12 Bettor’s concern 13 Adam or Mae 19 Endings for Wal and K 21 Victories 24 Cheney or Pence, for short 25 In a dead heat 26 Actor Gregory 27 TV’s “Kate & __” 28 Seeks damages from 29 Hyper 30 Ore seeker 32 Personal web page 33 Permit 35 Has to 37 Gooey lump 38 Three wise men 40 Make catty remarks

2/5/22

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

Non Sequitur

41 Cherry pie à la __ 43 Orchards 44 Much improved 46 Bread from heaven 47 Skin marking 48 “Rio __”; John Wayne film

2/5/22

49 Exclusively 50 Wahine accessories 52 Words of understanding 53 Fires 55 “The Voice” network 56 Wrath 57 Building site

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

Answers Monday) Tuesday (Answers

ACROSS 1 Imitate 5 Chip dip 10 Sluggish 14 Tempt 15 Actor Williams 16 Morse __ 17 Takes advantage of 18 Puts in a good word for 20 Martians, for short 21 __ for; desire 22 Uneasy feeling 23 Throw tenants out 25 Numerical prefix 26 Ma or pa 28 “Cheers” or “Frasier” 31 Holiday toymakers 32 Bessie Smith’s music 34 Energy 36 __-on; earring type 37 Lose vital fluid 38 Waiter’s offering 39 Aunts, uncles, etc. 40 Job openings 41 Stable mothers 42 Holiday drink 44 Bacall’s love 45 Curved bone 46 Battlefield cry 47 Single-masted boat 50 Past due 51 Little twitch 54 Easy to get to 57 One of Bart’s sisters 58 Up to the task 59 Seawater 60 Kiln 61 Orbison’s namesakes 62 Actor Romero 63 Souvenir shirts

Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

Rubes

Jumbles: HITCH SAUTE PRIMER SPIRAL Answer: They raised money to repair their church because they didn’t want to see their — PARISH PERISH

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - C1

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

In the middle of a pandemic winter,

7 films to bring you joy

Everyone is talking about ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ ‘Encanto’s’ hit is the highest-charting track from a Disney movie in 25 years By ADAM GRAHAM The Detroit News

Kurt Russell in “Miracle.” Buena Vista/Chris Large/Album/Zuma Press/TNS

By CHRIS HEWITT Star Tribune

hen a reader wrote to me, looking for a list of sunny movies to give to a friend facing tough times, it occurred to me: We all need that list. But what qualifies as a joyful movie? A really good one? That’s a great place to start, but there are plenty of movies I love that I would not recommend to someone going through a divorce or recovering from back surgery. Obviously, we all find joy in different ways, but a joyful movie not only needs a happy ending, it also has to make you feel good about humanity, has to make kindness a priority. While films that thrive on conflict and drama are not incompatible with making us feel good, the things that movies do best — thrill us, scare us, make us tense — don’t add up to “joyful.” Alfred Hitchcock’s films are endlessly entertaining but, give or take the fizzy fun of “To Catch a Thief,” they’re not going on the list for my friend. The easiest way to come up with your own list is to think in terms of groupings. If musicals are your jam, you can’t miss with “Singin’ in the Rain.” If animation does it for you, head toward a Pixar love bomb such as “Toy Story 3” or the gentle silliness of “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Wererabbit.” Maybe a director such as Frank

Capra or Wes Anderson gets you cozy? Or it might be a particular performer who puts you in your happy place. Tom Hanks? Jennifer Lopez? None of her movies ended up making this list of seven, but just thinking about Greta Gerwig’s directing (“Lady Bird”) and acting (“Maggie’s Plan,” “Frances Ha”) puts me in a good mood. To get you thinking in that direction, here are some sunny suggestions.

‘THE PALM BEACH STORY’ (1942) Screwball comedies of the 1930s and ‘40s are an excellent dose of cinematic cheer, and most are available on-demand. Look for directors such as Mitchell Leisen (“Midnight”), George Cukor (“Holiday”), Howard Hawks (“Bringing Up Baby”) or Preston Sturges. He wrote many of the wittiest screwballs, including my favorite, in which Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea marry, divorce, find other lovers, then (of course) end up together again. The farce is packed with great supporting performers, including Mary Astor and Rudy Vallee, and a madcap scene that features a shooting party on a moving train is a stone-cold classic.

‘MIRACLE’ (2004) There are lots of triumph-ofthe-underdog sports movies, both nonfiction (“Heart of the Game,”

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is a force for good in writer/director Amy Heckerling’s update of Jane Austen’s “Emma.” Paramount Pictures

about a girl who played high school basketball, is incredible) and fictionalized. “The Rookie,” with Dennis Quaid as a pitcher who becomes a star well past the age of most phenoms, would also be a sweet choice, as would “Hoosiers.” But let’s go with this basedon-true story of Herb Brooks assembling and inspiring a team of hockey players to Olympic gold.

(Paul Le Mat) offers a lift to a decrepit old man who turns out to be Howard Hughes (Jason Robards). Then, it takes those characters, plus Melvin’s quirky wife (Mary Steenburgen, who won a supporting actress Oscar), on an unexpected journey that teaches them to appreciate the steps along the way.

‘MELVIN AND HOWARD’ (1980)

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is a force for good in writer/director Amy Heckerling’s update of Jane Austen’s “Emma” (the 19th-century-set version starring Gwyneth Paltrow is great, too). But the feel-goodness of “Clueless” is goosed up because, good intentions aside, Cher has a tendency to get in her own way. As a result, a decent person becomes even more decent over the course of this comedy about a young woman who thinks she knows what’s best for everyone and is almost right about that.

Things went south for both the title characters in this tender, fact-based comedy from Jonathan Demme, but that doesn’t matter because the tiny, human details are so perfect. It begins with an act of kindness: Melvin Dummar

‘CLUELESS’ (1995)

‘SENSE AND SENSIBILITY’ (1995)

Screwball comedies of the 1930s and ‘40s — such as “The Palm Beach Story” — are an excellent dose of cinematic cheer. Parmount Pictures

Apparently, Austen is my security blanket because, yes, I’m choosing two adaptations of her classics. Filled with love and benevolence and buoyed by Patrick Doyle’s lush musical score, it’s one of those books/movies where everyone ends up in a romance that’s perfect for them. Emma Thompson, who won an Oscar for her screenplay, also should have won for enacting the remarkable scene in which Elinor Dashwood, a poor, supposedly unmarriageable woman, discovers happiness with a sudden rush of wild See MOVIES C2

Everyone is talking about “Bruno.” “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” the Latin pop earworm from the soundtrack to “Encanto,” is a surprise smash on the pop charts, where it was No. 4 on last week’s Billboard Hot 100 tally. That makes it the highest-charting track from a Disney animated movie in more than 25 years, topping even “Frozen’s” inescapable “Let It Go,” which peaked at No. 5 in 2014. “Bruno” has now tied the chart position of Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (from “The Lion King”) and Vanessa Williams’ less memorable “Colors of the Wind” (from “Pocahontas”), and only one Disney song has climbed higher on the Hot 100: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s “A Whole New World,” which reached No. 1 back in 1993. And if Adele’s “Easy on Me” would just back off for a second — it has spent nine non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, which is plenty — “Bruno” might climb its way to No. 1, ensuring even more people will talk about him. Who is this Bruno guy? You have to watch “Encanto” to know, and a lot of people are watching “Encanto.” The film was a modest success in theaters, earning $93 million after opening over the Thanksgiving holiday and spending two weeks at No. 1 at the North American box office. But it has exploded since its Dec. 24 arrival on Disney+, yet another indicator of where and how people watch movies these days. The “Encanto” soundtrack topped Billboard’s albums chart in early January, knocking Adele’s “30” from its No. 1 perch, and “Bruno” has been climbing steadily ever since. It has racked up more than 66 million streams on Spotify, more than 20 million more than the next most popular “Encanto” offering (“Surface Pressure,” which is currently No. 14 on the Hot 100), and it’s topping the list of Spotify’s most-streamed songs in the USA, a chart which is usually dominated by hip-hop tracks, not songs from kids movies. On YouTube, the “Bruno” video — an excerpted scene from “Encanto” — has 125 million views, and earlier this month Disney posted a video that shows how the song has been translated into 21 different languages. What makes “Bruno” so popular? It’s a phenomenally catchy track, blending hiphop, dance-pop, Broadway and Cuban music elements, and it’s penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda (it’s credited to six members of the “Encanto” voice cast), the “Hamilton” superstar who also wrote songs for Disney’s 2016 hit “Moana.” “Bruno” is very much of See BRUNO C2

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

C2 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

Pandemic spurs products designed to

make your home smarter These inventions are designed to boost your health and efficiency By WENDY A. JORDAN Washington Post

Spending so much time working remotely over the past 22 months, we’ve had plenty of opportunity to note what’s unsatisfactory about systems and products around the home and to dream about technology that would make life better. Manufacturers got the message with a range of new or soon-to-be-introduced products. Among them: Devices that not only monitor air quality in the home, but also alert you when your blood pressure or other vitals are offkilter. A doorbell that plays a recorded greeting and instructions for delivery people and allows visitors to leave their own message. An in-oven camera that lets homeowners live-stream cooking so that they won’t have to constantly open the door to see whether the food is done. “In the past year we’ve seen homeowners prioritize indoor air quality and energy efficiency in their HVAC system more than ever before, and we know this will only become increasingly important to the comfort and health of homeowners,” says Kim McGill, Lennox Residential’s vice president of marketing. The pandemic, says Kelly Safis, general manager of builder sales at Whirlpool, “created an increased consumer demand for health-conscious cooking options.” Dirk Sappok, director of product development at Miele, says consumers increasingly are embracing smart products that “make life a little easier.” Note that when bringing smart technology home, it’s prudent to stick with name brands and companies that update security features rather than off-brand smart home devices that are more susceptible to hacking. Here’s a look at a range of new smart products aimed at boosting comfort, convenience and energy efficiency in the home:

Movies From C1

emotion.

‘PADDINGTON 2’ (2018) You can’t go wrong with either “Paddington” movie, both of which lead with kindness and generosity. They follow the adventures of the British stuffed toy (voiced to perfection by Ben Whishaw) as he becomes part of a wacky London family. I’m slightly fonder of the sequel because it features Hugh Grant’s careerbest performance as a show tune-singing villain whose nastiness crumbles under the relentless niceness of a title character who “looks for the good in all of us and somehow he finds it.”

With the Ring Video Doorbell, Alexa can greet visitors when they ring the bell, ask how she can help, and either take a message or provide directions for package deliveries. Ring.com

CLIMATE AND HEALTH Rheem’s EcoNet Zoning System: Manufacturers have developed HVAC systems that manage or monitor heating, cooling and even air quality automatically. Most of them can be controlled via user-friendly phone apps. In 2020, Rheem introduced the EcoNet Zoning System, which allows homeowners to customize and schedule temperature settings throughout the house, eliminate hot or cold spots, and modify heating and cooling in unoccupied rooms to trim energy consumption. A $299 WiFi-enabled smart thermostat controls the equipment in this optional add-on to the company’s EcoNet heating, cooling and water heating system. Employing new control capabilities and ductwork dampers, the system regulates heating, cooling and humidity in up to six areas of the home. It can be set to switch automatically to an energy-saving away mode when nobody is home. Homeowners can manage the system via voice command or smartphone app. Cost of the zoning system is based on the layout of the home and number of dampers needed. Mitsubishi Electric artificial intelligence: This year, Mitsubishi Electric will unveil artificial intelligence (AI) that will detect and adopt HVAC scheduling patterns around the house. Suppose, for instance, you lower the first-floor temperature and raise the temperature in second-floor bedrooms on most winter nights. The AI will spot this and recommend setting up a schedule to make the nightly adjustment automatic. Mitsubishi Electric plans to

In 2020, GE Appliances began offering CookCam, a WiFienabled in-oven camera that lets homeowners live-stream the cooking on their smart devices. No need to keep opening the oven door and letting heat escape. GE.com

introduce sensors in 2024 that will help homeowners monitor indoor air quality. The terahertz radiation-based system will detect and analyze air components, display the data on a desktop dashboard, and activate a warning as needed. The company also is developing sensors that monitor health vital statistics, including body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate. If a person needs frequent checks, the narrow-band near-infrared video recordings can make it easier for a caregiver to note changes. Eventually the sensors will be able to detect blood oxygenation and even situations such as choking, falls, signs of distress and elder abuse. Called HealthCam, a prototype of the wall-mounted sensors was exhibited in the company’s CES electronics show virtual booth early this month. HealthCam will launch first in hospitals in 2023. A price has not been set yet.

HOME SECURITY Ring Video Doorbells: New smart security features give homeowners more ways to protect their property. This year, Ring introduced doorbell features that let the doorbell do the talking. Ring doorbell customers can activate a prerecorded audio message, have Amazon’s Alexa take a message or, through Quick Replies, play a preset response such as, “We can’t answer the door right now, but if you’d like to leave a message, you can do it now,” when someone rings the doorbell or the Ring camera detects motion. (Ring is owned by Amazon. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns

the Washington Post.) Alexa can greet visitors when they ring the bell, ask how she can help, and either take a message or provide directions for package deliveries. Quick Replies are free to all Ring customers. Alexa greetings are available to Ring Video Doorbell Pro ($170) and Pro 2 ($250) customers who have a Ring Protect Plan. Plans are $3 to $10 a month.

APPLIANCES Whirlpool Yummly: Appliance manufacturers are introducing a wide range of products and functions that add convenience and customization opportunities. In 2020, Whirlpool introduced the Yummly wireless smart thermometer which, with the Yummly cooking app, can monitor the cooking and grilling of meat, poultry and fish. Users select what they’re cooking and set a level of doneness. With the $130 thermometer, the app tracks the cooking and alerts the user — up to 150 feet away — when the food is done. Now users can watch up to four thermometers on a single smart device, so that foods can be cooked the way each family member prefers. GE Appliances CookCam: In 2020, GE Appliances began offering CookCam, a WiFi-enabled in-oven camera that lets homeowners live-stream the cooking on their smart devices. No need to keep opening the oven door and letting heat escape. The camera is available in numerous GE Profile smart appliances, including a slide-in range and built-in wall ovens. The company says GE Profile appliances with WiFi connections can receive free updates as innovations become available. In 2021, for example, the company introduced a no-preheat air fry option for wall ovens and pushed the upgrade into previously sold appliances via an over-the-air software download. And in November GE Profile released a software upgrade designed to take some stress out of the holidays. Turkey Mode provides instructions on how to use the meat probe, tells where to position the oven rack and calculates how long to cook a turkey of any weight — no need to preheat, prep, coat, cover or

When installed on the roof or on the ground near a house, Source Hydropanels “harness heat and energy from the sun to draw pure water vapor out of the air and convert it to fresh, mineralized drinking water. It feeds via flexible pipes into the home’s taps, faucets, refrigerator or counter dispenser,” says brand president Neil Grimmer. Source.com

baste the bird. The app announces “gobble, gobble” when the turkey is ready to serve. Miele FoodView, TasteControl and CM7 Countertop Coffee system: Miele will debut an oven camera, FoodView, in select convection ovens in a new line called Generation 7000 that’s coming out in May. Aiming down from the top of the oven cavity, the camera will send photos once a minute to a smart device. The cook will be able change the cooking time or oven temperature remotely based on what the photos show. TasteControl also will be offered in some Generation 7000 appliances. This app feature will open the oven door slightly once the cooking is done to prevent overcooking. Prices have not yet been released. In fall 2021, Miele launched a luxury CM7 Countertop Coffee system that makes brewing and system care easier. It offers push-button selection from three coffee bean containers, automatically adjusts the spout height to fit the cup or mug, and removes mineral buildup. An app can start the coffee maker, check its maintenance status, and place an order for beans and cleaning supplies when they run low. The $5,499 machine makes more than 10 preprogrammed coffee drinks and can be set to brew personal favorites.

POWER Source Hydropanels: Forget those trunk loads of plastic water bottles, unwieldy water service jugs and water filters that need frequent replacement. Homeowners can produce their own drinking water. When installed on the roof or on the ground near a house, Source Hydropanels “harness heat and energy from the sun to draw pure water vapor out of the air and convert it to fresh, mineralized drinking water. It feeds via flexible pipes into the home’s taps, faucets, refrigerator or counter dispenser,” says brand president Neil Grimmer.

The system converts the vapor to liquid water that is collected in a reservoir in the panel. A cartridge in the reservoir adds magnesium and calcium. The standard Source Home system creates the equivalent of three to four 24-pack cases of bottled water every week, at an average cost of 15 cents a liter. Setting up a residential system typically costs $5,500 to $6,500. An air filter and polishing cartridge inside the panel need to be changed once a year, and the mineral cartridge every five years. New panels that will be available nationwide this year offer increased water production, more storage capacity, and the ability to customize the taste and alkalinity of the water. EV charging stations: The electric vehicle (EV) industry is driving innovations in residential design. Todd Usher, president of Addison Homes, a green home builder in the Greenville, S.C., area, is incorporating EV charging ports as a standard feature of his new homes. “I predict that many home builders will be doing this within the next five years or sooner,” Usher says. The wiring Addison installs is about $500 to $750. Homeowners can buy and install a Level 2 charger — which charges a vehicle in a few hours — for $400 and up. Ford all-electric F-150 Lightning truck residential generator: Usher points to Ford’s 2022 all-electric F-150 Lightning truck as “an incredible jump” in technology. The Ford Intelligent Backup Power system links home and vehicle power and can take the place of a residential generator. Through this system, the truck charges up from the grid; when the grid goes down, the homeowner can set the system to provide electricity to the home itself, delivering “fullhome power for up to three days on a fully charged battery, or as long as 10 days if rationing power,” according to Ford. The truck price will start at $40,000.

‘HAPPY-GO-LUCKY’ (2008) During the pandemic, I’ve read a couple of self-help books that emphasize owning one’s emotions — not thinking, “He made me feel guilty” but recognizing that I am responsible for how I feel. Poppy, played by Sally Hawkins in this Mike Leigh drama, must have read those books, too, because no character in movie history is better at it (put Hawkins high on your feel-good playlist — she’s also in the “Paddington” films). Poppy faces heartbreak in the movie, which notes that happiness needs sorrow to exist, but Hawkins’ complex, lovable characterization embodies the idea of choosing joy whenever you can.

“Encanto” introduces the Madrigal family, who have each been granted extraordinary gifts, except one, our heroine, Mirabel (Stefanie Beatriz), who has yet to discover her own personal magic. Disney/TNS

Bruno From C1

On the set of the film “Sense and Sensibility” in Great Britain in 1995. Liaison Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images/TNS

its soundtrack, meaning that its subject matter does not cleanly translate to a world outside of what happens on screen in “Encanto,” which renders its current chart success that much more impressive. It’s like if upon its release, the “Cats” number “Mr. Mistoffelees” would have bumped up alongside Air Supply and Toto on the radio. “Encanto” tells the story of the Madrigals, a family of not-quite-superheroes who reside in a small village in the

mountains of Colombia. They all have magical powers, but they use them to keep their community together, not fight crime. They’re the steadfastly domestic, working-class Incredibles. Bruno, who is voiced by John Leguizamo, is the black sheep of the family, and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is about why the rest of the Madrigals don’t talk about Bruno. He’s a clairvoyant but he supposedly brings bad luck, like ra-i-i-n on your wedding day, and he’s seen as a malevolent force, ugly and covered in rats, etc. Other than singing about how they don’t talk about him, they don’t talk about

him. He’s bad news. Except he’s not really bad news, but that’s not covered until later in “Encanto,” and his redemption arc is not a part of the song. But there is a part of the song that says “time for dinner!” which makes sense in the movie, but is kind of like a “tin roof, rusted!” nonsequitur outside the context of the scene in which it plays. All of which makes “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” an oddball pop hit, but it’s an odd time in the world, so it fits. Also odd: “Bruno” will not be competing for Best Original Song honors at the upcoming Academy Awards, as it did not make the shortlist of 15 songs

that will eventually be whittled down to five nominees. Rather, “Encanto’s” “Dos Orugitas” will go for the gold, which if it wins would give Miranda the last piece of the puzzle he needs to complete his EGOT. If Miranda gets it, the award could be considered a consolation prize for “Bruno,” which is a bigger hit than all the other songs that will be competing, Billie Eilish’s James Bond theme “No Time to Die” included. In a sense, it would be fitting, and in keeping with its theme: like the song says, we don’t talk about Bruno. Even though we can’t stop talking about him.

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - C3

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Food & drink Cocktail pioneer Derek Brown has new message

Adults, eat your veggies too! Most don’t consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables By LINDA SEARING Washington Post

Derek Brown mixes the Getaway nonalcoholic cocktail at his bar the Columbia Room. Scott Suchman/ Washington Post

Sophisticated drinks don’t require alcohol By M. CARRIE ALLAN Washington Post

met Derek Brown as many have, when he was holding court behind the bar — specifically, the old iteration of the Columbia Room, back when it was just a room, a temple of mixology hidden away inside the rowdier Passenger bar in Washington. That evening, he took our little entourage through a roster of diverse cocktails, teaching us about the drinks, including one of his signature cocktails, the Getaway, a daiquiri enhanced with the bitter liqueur Cynar. As I got more into cocktails, I enjoyed Brown’s pieces for the Atlantic, which were smart and un-snooty, providing an education on spirits and cocktails along with the occasional contrarian hot take, such as 2012’s “Confessions of a Binge Drinker,” in which he gently mocked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s finger-wagging about the dangers of having more than five alcoholic drinks in “a short period of time.” He noted that he had done so multiple times in the

Derek Brown’s book “Mindful Mixology” and the Columbia Room’s ingredients and tools for making nonalcoholic and low-alcohol cocktails. Scott Suchman/Washington Post

past month, and that the end result was not any dangerous, promiscuous, suicidal or violent behavior: “I just had a great time and then went to sleep.” Over the years, I’d see Brown out and about — pouring drinks, drinking drinks, educating people on drinks, always at the center of the action. Between his work running his bars and writing and organizing a National Archives lecture series on the history of the American

cocktail, I’m not sure when he slept. I might have envied him a little, as someone who had found a career that mixed his rowdy side with his ambition and intellect, who had truly found his element. This was not, perhaps, a wholly incorrect impression. But, as I discovered in reading Brown’s new book, “Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails,” and speaking to him

about the work he has done over the past several years on the book and on himself, it was an incomplete one. “I drank too much,” he says bluntly. Though he doesn’t consider himself an alcoholic, a few years ago, he found he had gotten to a place where the external reality of his life didn’t match the internal one. “Outwardly, everybody was like, ‘Hey man, you’re doing great! Congratulations on this thing or that thing,’ and inwardly I’m just crumbling,” he says. “I was standing in a mess of my own making. So many aspects of my life were out of my control or not what I wanted them to be. ... I had to address it.” I caught Brown while he was wrestling with one of the stresses for so many parents right now, trying to send proof of his son’s negative coronavirus test to his school. His new book is dedicated to his son, and he writes movingly about the influence of that responsibility and his growing sense that all was not well: “I’m not averse to alcohol, I’m immersed in it. See DRINKS C6

Although fruits and vegetables are considered a key part of healthy eating, most U.S. adults are not consuming enough of them, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It found that only 12% of adults consume 1½ to 2 cups of fruit daily, the amount recommended by the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Even fewer — just 10% — eat the suggested 2 to 3 cups of vegetables daily. People 50 and older are more likely than younger people to consume vegetables regularly, and men are less likely than women to eat either fruits or vegetables. The report also found that fruit and vegetable consumption is less common among low- and middleincome people than among those with higher incomes. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables — generally packed with vitamins and minerals, low in calories and high in fiber — offer a range of benefits. These include supporting immune function and preventing chronic disease, including some conditions that raise the risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19, according to the CDC. Research has found that including adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables in your diet can help lower blood pressure, aid digestion, keep weight under control, reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and may protect against certain cancers, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

The CDC says diets rich in fruits and vegetables help in supporting immune function and preventing chronic disease, including some conditions that raise the risk for severe illness. Pexels

Considering sobriety? How to take a pause from drinking into its third year, more people are considering a reset — whether it’s due to exhaustion from heavy drinking spurred by COVID, an emerging sober curiosity or interest in the popular new year tradition, Dry January. If you want to take a pause from alcohol this month or explore a short-term abstinence from drinking, experts have tips on how to start.

By JANAY KINGSBERRY Washington Post

Few things permeate social life in the United States as much as alcohol. Bottomless mimosas are a fixture of brunch outings. Scores of celebrities have launched their own wine, vodka, gin and tequila ventures. And almost every holiday — from St. Patrick’s Day to Halloween — prompts excessive drinking, including earlier this month as revelers raised and clinked their champagne glasses to ring in 2022. The onset of COVID didn’t curb this habit, even as it effectively shut down the country, hitting bars and restaurants the hardest. Retail alcohol sales spiked 20% during the first six months of the pandemic. And according to a 2020 study, Americans drank 14% more often in response to pandemic-related stress — especially women, who increased their drinking by 41% compared to before the pandemic.

A month off and then some can do so much good for your overall well-being, your memory, your sleep, your digestion.” SABRINA SPOTORNO Clinical social worker and credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor

Some people switched to wine nights and “quarantinis” at home. Others learned to brew their own beer. And friends and colleagues pivoted to Zoom happy hours. But lockdown has also fueled another trend. Away from the pressure of social settings and nightlife, many people have taken a hard look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. And the growing popularity of “mocktails,” nonalcoholic

EXPLORE WHAT DREW YOU TO THE DECISION

Illustrations by Sol Cotti for The Lily

beverages and sober bars have made it easier for them to abstain from drinking. A break from booze doesn’t just serve those who have found their drinking problematic, experts say. Many people are simply curious about

sobriety and the health benefits associated with it. “A month off and then some can do so much good for your overall well-being, your memory, your sleep, your digestion,” said Sabrina Spotorno, a clinical social worker and

credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor at Monument, an online platform for alcohol treatment and recovery. “The sky’s the limit, really, as you phase out from that relationship with alcohol.” As the pandemic barrels

Before you set out on a sobriety journey, Spotorno recommends asking yourself initial questions about what drew you to the decision. Those could include: What triggers my drinking? What do I want to change? How often do I drink? What’s making me tied to it? Is it codependency? “So these are some pretty intense initial questions,” See SOBER C6

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

C4 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

Books & authors

How a young Carl Bernstein fell in love with local journalism The news veteran recalls his years before Watergate By KATHY KIELY Washington Post

Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom By Carl Bernstein Holt. 370 pp. $29.99 Carl Bernstein’s name will forever be linked with The Washington Post as half the byline on what a study for the Columbia School of Journalism described as arguably “the most famous story in American investigative journalism history.” But in his new book about his reporting career, Bernstein doesn’t go anywhere near there. “Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom” doesn’t mention Watergate. The occasional references to Richard Nixon have nothing to do with the scandal that Bernstein would help uncover about the nation’s 37th president. And the newspaper that the work of Bernstein and Bob Woodward vaulted into the journalistic pantheon rates only relatively glancing mentions. Inveterate newshound that he is, Bernstein has no interest in retelling an already wellknown tale. Instead of the staccato just-the-facts brag you might expect from an investigative reporter whose work brought down a president, “Chasing History” is a lovingly detailed memoir composed in a humble register. A recounting of Bernstein’s first five years in the journalism business, it opens in 1960 at the Washington Star with a vivid description of Bernstein’s first job interview at the paper he once delivered to Silver Spring, Md., homes from a red wagon. Bernstein was 16 years old, selfconscious about his freckles and trying to hide his status as a high school junior behind a spiffy suit from the same discount haberdasher who outfitted then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson. Overcoming the initial skepticism of the Star’s editors required a combination of precocious pertinacity (“I telephoned every two or three days,” Bernstein recalls) and a lightning-fast typing speed (nearly 90 words per minute). It was an early sign of Bernstein’s rebel streak paying off. He decided to become the only boy to study typing, “part of the Home Economics curriculum at Montgomery Blair High School,” he notes, because “I’d come to hate shop classes by then.” Bernstein’s coming-of-age in the newsroom coincided with a tumultuous time in American history. His preference for the newsroom over the classroom (he barely finished high school and never graduated from the University of Maryland) put him in position to help cover the space race, the Cold War and the Supreme Court decision to end prayer in public schools. At one point, Bernstein was so angry about being denied a plum assignment to cover civil rights leaders’ response to the beatings of protesters (including future congressman John Lewis)

Carl Bernstein at a reception after former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee’s funeral in Washington in 2014. With Bradlee and Bob Woodward, Bernstein was instrumental in covering the Watergate scandal, but his new memoir instead recalls his earliest years in journalism. Sarah L. Voisin/Washington Post

in Selma, Ala., that he took vacation time to flack for them. While it’s hard to imagine a more laudable cause to support than civil rights, Bernstein’s brief experience as a public relations agent only cemented his desire to become a full-fledged reporter. He was eager to have his hand in shaping the daily news report. As a lowly courier for the Star’s busy police reporters, he learned enough about D.C. law enforcement officials’ efforts to hunt down homosexuals — including a top aide to then-President Johnson — to wonder whether an abuse of police power wasn’t the real story. And, as a draft-eligible young man, he spent a good deal of energy trying to avoid a government-paid trip to Vietnam. So, “Chasing History” can be read as an origin story of many of the debates we’re still having today — about race, about culture, and about the appropriate role and reach of American power across the globe. But it can also be read as a call for a debate that we should be having but aren’t — about how to support the kind of public-service-minded, labor-intensive journalism that inspired Bernstein to get into the business. As much as it is about Bernstein, this book is about the vibrant life and inexorable death of the Star and, by extension, all too many other major metropolitan dailies. It is, however, hardly sentimental. Take, for instance, Bernstein’s descriptions of the Star’s police reporters: One “looked like a warthog and he sounded like a warthog too,” he writes, describing the “snuffling, rooting noise” that accompanied “almost every clause he uttered.” Yet for all the quirky and at times downright repellent characters at newspapers like the Star, these institutions managed to incubate talent and serve their communities in ways that we are sorely missing today. Particularly in rural America, the loss of local papers, combined with a lack of adequate

Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, Jan. 15, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers and independent distributors nationwide, powered by NPD BookScan

HARDCOVER FICTION 1. To Paradise. Hanya Yanagihara. Doubleday 2. The Horsewoman. Patterson/Lupica. Little, Brown 3. The Maid. Nita Prose. Ballantine 4. Something to Hide. Elizabeth George. Viking 5. Invisible. Danielle Steel. Delacorte 6. The Judge’s List. John Grisham. Doubleday 7. The Last Thing He Told Me. Laura Dave. Simon & Schuster

broadband, has left people relying on what they can get on their cellphones for news. That would be social media, such as Facebook. And you wonder why lies about the 2020 election and coronavirus vaccinations took hold? This news desertification has been minutely chronicled by Penny Abernathy, a reporter turned scholar, and recently lamented by The Washington Post Magazine. And lest anyone think I’m wallowing in inkstained nostalgia by focusing on news outlets best known for the products they produce on paper, read the statistics from the Pew Research Center and weep: Your phone and computer may make you think you can’t get away from the news, but the number of people who actually report and cover it dropped by more than 25% between 2008 and 2020. And, as Poynter has documented, the pandemic has only made things worse, hollowing out local newsrooms at a time when people need trusted news sources more than ever. As disheartening as they are, these figures don’t even begin to accurately measure the extent of the damage, since by 2008, newspaper employment already was down dramatically from the 1970s, when daily circulation peaked. More than any numbers could, Bernstein’s book gives a vivid sense of what has been lost. In most towns these days, it’s impossible to imagine a scene like the one that so entranced Bernstein the first time he walked into the newsroom of his hometown paper. The “glorious chaos” and “purposeful commotion,” he writes, were generated by a room full of reporters, dictationists, editors, photographers and copy boys (gender-specific terms used advisedly, as that’s the way it was back in the day). In an era when data is transmitted wirelessly, the work that kept Bernstein so busy is obsolete: Copy boys crisscrossed the newsroom ferrying first drafts of the day’s news from the typewriters of reporters still

writing it to the desks of editors waiting to ready it for publication. A floor or two below, another room full of linotypists and pressmen was preparing to create the rumble of the presses that Bernstein would feel under his feet. Bernstein describes it as a kind of word factory. In fact, he uses the word “factory” repeatedly in referring to the Star, and it is telling. Newspapers of the era — especially afternoon papers, where presses rolled during the day while reporters and writers were at work upstairs — were intriguing cultural crossroads. Writerly intellectuals, recruited straight out of the Ivy League — such as Lance Morrow, later a celebrated essayist for Time magazine and the Wall Street Journal, and Warren Hoge, later the foreign editor of the New York Times — regularly crossed paths with less loftyminded members of the trade (the aforementioned cop shop reporters) as well as members of blue-collar craft unions who worked with ink and hot lead. A “media elite” it was not. Oh, it’s true that the Star was an incubator of many journalists who would become leading figures in the profession, including three trailblazing women: the celebrated columnist Mary McGrory, author Myra MacPherson and investigative reporter Miriam Ottenberg. Bernstein drops their boldfaced names liberally throughout his text and pays them generous credit for mentoring him. But he reserves his best writing for the characters to whom he seems to owe a bigger debt, characters like Eddie, the legless pencil vendor who steered him to where he could get his first grown-up suit at a discount, and Annie the newspaper vendor, who sold him papers when he was a kid. This “little guy” mentality was part of the DNA of many community newspapers, which gave their audiences a window onto the wider world while also drawing them in with stories about themselves. Annie’s obit was lovingly reported and written by Bernstein and edited by Haynes Johnson, who already

was gaining a reputation for his meticulously reported, nearbook-length studies of American social and political challenges such as civil rights and McCarthyism. Her obit ran on Page 1 of the Star, meaning that a humble newsstand operator was laid to rest by two future Pulitzer Prize winners. How many local news organizations have the time and the talent to do the same today? Based on Bernstein’s description of the schedules he had to juggle once he was promoted to city desk clerk, which put him in charge of scheduling all the reporters and support staff, there may have been more copy boys (and, eventually, girls) in the Star newsroom than there are reporters at some major metropolitan dailies now. It’s also impossible to imagine many local news organizations today being able to deploy the kind of resources that Bernstein recounts the Star mobilizing to cover the 1963 March on Washington: dedicated phone lines placed at strategic locations around the Mall so that reporters, in those pre-cellphone days, could quickly phone their reports to a waiting rewrite desk; a fleet of cars and drivers equipped with two-way radios, food and, in case of violence, helmets for reporters; motorcycle couriers to rush photographers’ film to a temporary helipad on the Mall so the undeveloped rolls could be choppered to the Star’s roof. Bernstein began thinking deeply about racial inequity after being assigned to cover neighborhood association meetings and noticing they were segregated. He had his consciousness raised about the lack of Black reporters in the Star newsroom after a difficult conversation with Stokely Carmichael at one of those meetings. His reflections on the impact that covering raw injustice had on reporters echo in the current debates over how to cover Black Lives Matter or Donald Trump. “The old fifty-fifty, downthe-middle, half-on-one-sidehalf-on-the-other approach was giving way to real reporting

Publisher’s Weekly best-sellers 8. The Lincoln Highway. Amor Towles. Viking 9. The Wish. Nicholas Sparks. Grand Central 10. Wish You Were Here. Jodi Picoult. Ballantine

HARDCOVER NONFICTION 1. Baby Steps Millionaires. Dave Ramsey. Ramsey Press 2. The Great Reset. Glenn Beck. Forefront 3. The Real Anthony Fauci. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Skyhorse 4. Atlas of the Heart. Brene Brown. Random House 5. Unthinkable. Jamie Raskin. Harper

6. American Marxism. Mark R. Levin. Threshold 7. A Little Closer to Home. Ginger Zee. Hyperion Avenue 8. The 1619 Project. Nikole Hannah-Jones. One World 9. Hero on a Mission. Donald Miller. HarperCollins Leadership 10. Jesus Listens. Sarah Young. Thomas Nelson

MASS MARKET 1. The Affair. Danielle Steel. Dell 2. Forgotten in Death. J.D. Robb. St. Martin’s

3. 19 Yellow Moon Road. Fern Michaels. Zebra 4. Reacher: Killing Floor (TV tie-in). Lee Child. Berkley 5. Annihilation Road. Christine Feehan. Berkley 6. Preacher’s Inferno. Johnstone/Johnstone. Pinnacle 7. Biscuits and Gravy. Johnstone/Johnstone. Pinnacle 8. Tough Customer. Sandra Brown. Pocket 9. Till Murder Do Us Part. Patterson/Born. Grand Central 10. Last Stage to El Paso. Johnstone/Johnstone. Pinnacle

There’s plenty in this book for history buffs: Bernstein was on the parade route for John Kennedy’s inauguration, and — while still a high school student — at the news conference where Kennedy answered questions about the Bay of Pigs fiasco. ... Bernstein was at the White House when Kennedy’s coffin was returned in the earlymorning hours after his assassination. that was closer to the truth,” Bernstein writes about the coverage of the murders of civil rights advocates in the Deep South. “Because, for all the right reasons, the truth is not neutral.” There’s plenty in this book for history buffs: Bernstein was on the parade route for John Kennedy’s inauguration, and — while still a high school student — at the news conference where Kennedy answered questions about the Bay of Pigs fiasco. As a young legman, whose job was to file notes to senior reporters, Bernstein was at the White House when Kennedy’s coffin was returned in the early-morning hours after his assassination. “At about four thirty in the morning the gray ambulancehearse, followed by several black limousines, arrived outside the Northwest Gate,” he writes. “An honor guard lifted the casket and carried it inside. Behind it, the president’s widow and his brother, who had been in the hearse, followed. I got back to the newsroom about an hour later, drained.” The book also is a lyrical reminiscence of the Washington that nurtured Bernstein, “a city,” he writes, “that was both a great world capital and a smallish town that was home.” At one point, Bernstein told a girlfriend about his ambition to write “a wholly different kind of volume about the capital of the United States,” modeled after Jan Morris’s “Venice.” In many ways, he’s realized that ambition. That afternoon, on his date, Bernstein noticed the National Gallery turning “a shade of pink, which is what always happened to the marble when it rained.” This is a book that acknowledges the power and beauty of Washington while giving plenty of love and even respect to the Damon Runyonesque characters who inhabited it back in the day. But I think “Chasing History” is more interesting for the questions it raises about the history we have yet to write. Even though he never mentions Watergate, Bernstein’s memoir has to leave you wondering: Who is going to expose the next one? Who is covering the neighborhood association meetings today? Who is interviewing the next Stokely Carmichael? Who is mentoring the next Carl Bernstein? Who is paying for all that? And without it, where are we headed? Kathy Kiely is the Lee Hills chair in free press studies at the Missouri School of Journalism.

TRADE PAPERBACK 1. Verity. Colleen Hoover. Grand Central 2. The Love Hypothesis. Ali Hazelwood. Berkley 3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba: Stories of.... Ryoji Hirano. Viz 4. Where the Crawdads Sing. Delia Owens. Putnam 5. People We Meet on Vacation. Emily Henry. Berkley 6. HWPO. Mat Fraser. Rodale 7. The Paris Detective. Patterson/DiLallo. Grand Central 8. The Silent Patient. Alex Michaelides. Celadon 9. The Coast-to-Coast Murders. Patterson/Barker. Grand Central 10. Night Road. Kristin Hannah. Griffin

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022 - C5

Puzzles

Last week’s puzzle answers

Horoscope By Stella Wilder Born Sunday, you are destined to be at the top of the heap, either personally or professionally — or, at least in your own mind, both! Like so many Aquarius natives, you have been endowed with many native abilities, though only one or two may be truly useful to you as you pursue professional success. Others, however, are enough to make you interested in all kinds of things. You may have several rivalries in your lifetime, and while others may not enjoy the kind of competitive life that is required of you, the fact is that you enjoy having someone to “test” you again and again, to ensure that you are doing all you can to be your best. Also born on this date are: Bob Marley, reggae singer and musician; Babe Ruth, baseball player; Ronald Reagan, actor, California governor and president; Axl Rose, singer; Rick Astley, singer; Natalie Cole, singer; Kathy Najimy, actress. To see what is in store for you Monday, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — What you find today in the unexplored recesses of your room, office or car may be just the thing you need to brighten your spirits. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may have to interpret certain signs very carefully today before you will know what to do in response to them. You learn something new. ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Just when you think it’s safe to go back to your old ways, you’ll be reminded today that a recent change requires you to be cautious still. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You’ll be excited to complete an important part of a long-term project, but you mustn’t think it’s time for a rest just yet. Keep going! GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may not be able to find the time to head off on a restorative journey on your own today, but you know how to relax and stay focused on work. CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Something sneaks up on you that requires an immediate response — and you’ll surely have one,

though it may not be altogether intended! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You may have to shop around today before you find exactly what you’re looking for — and it’s more than a matter of taste or finances at work. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Cast your mind back to another time and place; you’ll appreciate all over again the things that happened to make you who you are today. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You may not enjoy all that happens to you today, but you’ll certainly appreciate the fact that you are still “in the game” — and doing well! SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You can enjoy a relaxed and even contemplative day, but there is a certain issue you must deal with directly before your time is your own. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — You have a sense that something big is just beginning, so what do you have to do today to put yourself in the right place at the right time? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Some things simply cannot be done as planned today, but you’re quite adept at adjusting to the unforeseen — and you’ll do so today.

Answers on C6

Answers Next Week

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

C6 - Saturday - Sunday, February 5-6, 2022

NYC gallery displays works of autistic and special needs artists

Sober From C3

Spotorno said, but it’s also important to ask yourself exciting ones too, such as: What are you learning to appreciate off alcohol? What are some things you look forward to each day? Dawn Sugarman, a licensed clinical psychologist and research psychologist at McLean Hospital’s Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, suggests people also think about their journey with alcohol rather than just the destination of trying to make it to a finish line. “It’s helpful for people to often make a pros and cons list,” she said, to document the things they like and don’t like about drinking. “[It] really helps people figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are and where to focus their strategies if they want to make a change.”

CONSULT A MEDICAL PROVIDER Spotorno strongly recommends seeking a medical assessment before starting a sobriety journey, too. “We do encourage just having that conversation with a medical provider,” Spotorno said. Doctors at Monument, for instance, offer 20-minute consultations to help people determine the best way to wean off alcohol. For people who were drinking heavily, experts warn that going cold turkey can be harmful. “They need to be aware of withdrawal symptoms like sweating, nausea, shaking, vomiting,” said Sugarman. “Anything like that would indicate alcohol withdrawal and that can be dangerous and fatal.” If people notice these symptoms, they need to seek medical care immediately, she said.

BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM Identifying sources of support is crucial to setting yourself up for success, said Spotorno. One approach to building a support system among friends and family is to offer it in return, she said. It’s as simple as asking a loved one, “What are you doing to look out for yourself?” or “Is there anything that you need support from me with?” This buddy system approach will “make it more of a collaboration as opposed to feeling like this is something that they’re going to keep their eye on you with,” said Spotorno.

Drinks From C3

That immersion has brought me some joy and recognition for my craft, but it’s also brought a fair amount of pain and suffering. Especially when I had to wake up and take care of both my son and hung-over self. I’d heat up a bottle and grab the Pedialyte (the Pedialyte was for me, bottle for him), pray that my son would nap. ... But baby duty wasn’t the only thing that contributed to my pain and suffering. The lifestyle of a young bartender and bar owner, awash with all the trappings of rock stars except worldwide fame, had led past late nights into early mornings and — too many drinks in — to make decisions I would come to regret.” Brown got to a better spot via some time at an outpatient program and therapy. He stopped drinking completely for a while and now drinks very rarely. But once he had gotten to a better place, he says, he had to figure

By ELLEN MOYNIHAN New York Daily News

The best way to turn down drinks or explain your sobriety is to be really clear. Right up front, just say, ‘No, I’m not drinking right now.’ Pexels

Support outside of your inner circle is important too, she said, adding that some alcohol treatment centers offer free group sessions focused on navigating sobriety or moderation. Sugarman points to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as additional support, which offers resources and step-by-step guidance on how to rethink drinking. She also recommends apps that help nondrinkers stay on track. “With COVID, one of the positives was there was a lot more technology-based resources available to people,” she said, including online AA support groups, which were initially focused on people who were hesitant about attending an in-person meeting, but have come to help others who are exploring sobriety in quarantine.

FIND COPING TOOLS OR REPLACEMENT STRATEGIES The first few weeks of a sobriety challenge can be grueling, said Spotorno. To tackle cravings and urges that may arise, she said it’s important to find ways to delay, distract or replace alcohol. “This way, you start to reattribute other connections to what’s soothing you, what’s comforting you, what just feels good in general,” she said. “So it gets to be more of a natural pleasure response to life.” These coping tools can come in a lot of forms. For some, it may be incorporating an educational component to learn more about their relationship with alcohol. Or if you drink to relieve stress, mediation or exercise could be better alternatives, Sugarman said. For others, it could be anything that’s really stimulating or enjoyable, said Spotorno: “The sky’s the limit.” One technique Monument uses to help identify the cause of cravings is H.A.L.T., a question

out what this change would mean. “I was scared as hell — how am I going to tell people, especially the people that rely on me, that I can’t do this anymore?” Happily, he discovered that his fears were largely unfounded: The people in his life, friends, family and business associates, were overwhelmingly supportive of his new direction. Brown sees his shift and his new book — which is chockfull of balanced, bright drinks that bear little resemblance to the too-sweet concoctions that have tainted the rep of “mocktails” — as part of a continuum. (He and many others avoid the “m” word; where others have tried to find a substitute term, Brown says he’s not looking for one. “I want to normalize drinking sophisticated adult drinks without alcohol and that means avoiding ridiculous or confusing names. So, to me, they’re cocktails,” he writes in the book.) His central message in his drink education efforts, he points out, has always been about drinking better. “At

that correlates to four common sources of cravings: Have I addressed being hungry, angry, lonely or tired? As an emotional component, Spotorno recommends T.H.I.N.K. to address any negative thoughts seeping in by asking: Are they true? Are they helpful? Are they insightful? Do I need them? Are they kind?

PRACTICE SAYING NO If you are re-entering social scenes and worried about how you’ll turn down drinks or explain your sobriety, Sugarman says it’s actually easier than you think — the best way is to be really clear. “Right up front, just say, ‘No, I’m not drinking right now,” she said. “You don’t have to give people reasons.” Her big “don’t” when it comes to refusal strategies: Don’t hesitate. “That leaves the door open for someone to convince you [to drink],” she said. You should also avoid making a long excuse or a one-time excuse, such as “I’m taking this medication and can’t drink right now,” Sugarman said, because the next time you see that person, they might extend another drink offer, which means you’ll need another excuse.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Experts recommend starting a journal to track your moods, stress levels and cravings throughout the day. Sugarman said many people notice that they are sleeping better, have more energy and feel more clearheaded off alcohol. “Those are things it’s helpful to kind of jot down and notice,” she said. “It’s something you can look back on and say, ‘Well, these are all the reasons this was good for me.’” Spotorno echoes this. “Being able to have at least one day a week ... to set time out for this reflection is just going to give you that material for the end of the month when you’re

one point, that meant having a better-made cocktail, but there’s nothing exclusive about alcohol in that process. I can make great cocktails without alcohol and I can continue to encourage people to enjoy their lives and have great drinks and be together and that has really nothing to do with alcohol,” he says. “I realized that I didn’t have to let anyone down — in fact, I have the opportunity to speak for a whole group of people who weren’t getting served. Literally.” When I asked Brown about his old essay, he easily admits that the article is just the tip of the artisanal ice when it comes to things he would approach differently now. “You look at something like ‘Confessions of a Binge Drinker,’ I think I was a little bit in denial. I think that’s pretty easy to see in retrospect,” he says. But he stands fast on his overall premise then, which was that someone can drink more than five drinks over several hours and be fine overall in terms of how alcohol is impacting their life. It comes down to the individual and why they’re doing it, how often they’re doing it, what kind of role alcohol is playing for them, what’s driving their drinking.

trying to figure out ‘now what?’ or ‘what’s next?’” She also encourages connecting with a therapist who can help you tailor what a tracking system should like for you.

CONSIDER NEXT STEPS For people who decide they want to continue abstaining from alcohol, Sugarman suggests people continue to use and build upon the strategies, coping tools and support circles established during their journey. “The other thing would be to anticipate situations that are going to be triggers,” she said, such as an upcoming wedding or a stressful deadline that could tempt you to drink again. “The more you can prepare for that, the better you’re going to be.” Additionally, Spotorno recommends creating a vision of freedom, by reflecting on moments in the past where you felt you needed to lean on alcohol to deal with stresses or trauma. “It’s kind of trusting that whatever alcohol helped you cope with once, you get to relearn a new way to face that,” she said, “And, if nothing else, you regained freedom to know that your needs are valid, that you’re allowed to take care of yourself, that you have permission to love this body.” If you decide to reintroduce alcohol into your life after a short-term abstinence, Sugarman warns against bingedrinking. “Going from a month of no drinking to just heavy drinking is not a good idea,” she said. Spotorno suggests people slowly ease back into drinking, and consider what contexts and what environments feel most enjoyable to do so. “In the end, we all benefit from limits, guidance and nurturance,” she said, adding that this framework can help people find an approach that best resonates with their particular needs.

“The problem,” he says, “is not what I argued for. The problem was me.” While drinking alcohol is never truly healthy and shouldn’t be presented as though it is, I think it’s possible to drink responsibly — or “mindfully,” as Brown puts it, a term that I like for its removal of the slight air of scolding “responsible” can carry. As someone who often goes weeks without drinking, but on a few social occasions a year has more than the CDC would recommend at one sitting, I find that Brown’s argument rings true. Others will choose a different approach — less or more — that feels right to them. Still others (trust me, I know from my hate mail) regard any drinking of alcohol as physically harmful and anyone who drinks it as simply an addict who hasn’t yet seen the light. And arguing is usually fruitless. After all, anyone who declares “I am not an alcoholic” often makes their case as effectively as those who tell everyone not to think of an elephant. Be that as it may, this honest, nonjudgmental, non-absolutist approach to considering the role alcohol is playing in your life is one of the many elements I like about “Mindful Mixology,” which is being released during Dry January but includes nonalcoholic and low-alcohol drinks — an intentional choice, Brown says, but one that may make the book not the right choice for someone in recovery. His takes on the Aperol Spritz, the Americano and the StGermain Cocktail, for example, include not only the

NEW YORK — A Manhattan gallery known for displaying works by world-famous names is hosting a rare exhibit by a unique group of relative unknowns: autistic and special needs artists. ArtABILITY: An Inclusive Exhibition Celebrating Artists with Special Needs, at the Agora Gallery on W. 25 St. in Chelsea, features 40 artists and students at RISE in Spirit, a nonprofit that partners with Spirit of Huntington Art Center to provide art education and art therapy for veterans and people with physical and cognitive impairments. “Even though we have some Salvador Dalis in the front, the most special art in the gallery is from them,” said Rairis Martins, exhibition coordinator at the Agora Gallery. “It’s a true honor for me, it’s a big deal,” said Michael Baumann, 23, of Center Moriches, whose depiction of the Empire State Building is exhibited. “I’m very proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished.” “The art center has made me want to do a lot of art because there’s no mistakes in art,” said Baumann, who has been taking the classes for a year and counts Jackson Pollock among his favorite artists. “It makes me feel good that I’m welcome there.” “I think it’s amazing,” said Michael’s mother, Michelle. “Just the fact that their artwork is being recognized, it validates them. He’s very excited. “We’ve seen with Michael that’s it’s an outlet for him to express his emotions. Whether it be joy or frustration, he turns to art,” she said. The 250 works in the show

range from drawings and watercolors to mixed media pieces and digital art. Many of them are in bright colors, some are exuberant abstracts and others are quieter figurative works. Art history is also taught at the cultural center, which shows in the work. Some are done in the styles of Georgia O’Keeffe and Keith Haring, featuring large, ornate flowers and dancing figures. “People with developmental disabilities, autism, they’re just like you and I, they want to make decisions and express themselves,” said Charles Evdos, executive director of RISE Life Services. “This gives them therapy, basically. Some of them, they’ve come out of their shell, they’re talking to people, smiling.” Huntington, artist Danny Sgarglio, 22, has been taking the classes at the art center since they began. His father, Artie Sgarglio, says he sees a difference in his son now, a selfawareness. “It just gets him in a flow, or in the know of something that is really happening,” he said. “I am seeing him have self-sense in positive ways. “If I didn’t know any better I would say my boy is one of the stars here tonight. It’s a big, proud night,” said Sgaraglio. “I hope in my heart of hearts that it’s registering for him, I hope that his heart is filling up with a sense of pride or fitting in.” As delighted as the artists and their families are, they aren’t the only ones. “Each of them has their story,” said Martins. “They are, quite frankly, amazing. One of the kids even cried seeing his work in the gallery. It’s such a special event.

The opening reception for “ArtABILITY: an Inclusive Exhibition Celebrating Artists with Special Needs” is held at Agora Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City on Thursday, Jan. 13. Gardiner Anderson/New York Daily News

While drinking alcohol is never truly healthy and shouldn’t be presented as though it is, it’s possible to drink responsibly — or “mindfully,” as Brown puts it, a term that I like for its removal of the slight air of scolding “responsible” can carry. Pexels

traditional low-alcohol versions but delicious alcoholfree doppelgangers. And, of course, there are plenty of new nonalcoholic drinks, including a version of his own muchloved Getaway. The book should be a go-to for those who may want to cut out alcohol for a while, drink less, or simply be equipped to

host and serve sophisticated, delicious drinks to others who are doing so — for whatever reason. And there are so many, Brown points out. For him it was mental health; for others it may be addiction issues, or pregnancy, or “that they’re running a marathon the next morning. The important thing is that they have choices.”