eedition The Daily Mail March 25 2020

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The Daily Mail Copyright 2020, Columbia-Greene Media Volume 228, No.60

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Election woes Coronavirus could upend Democratic primaries. , A3

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020

Hospitals brace for virus surge

nFORECAST WEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT THU

By Nora Mishanec Columbia-Greene Media

Showers of rain and snow

Mostly cloudy

Cloudy

HIGH 46

LOW 31

53 37

Complete weather, A2

nSPORTS

A dynastic interruption Ichabod Crane softball coach Tracy Nytransky speaks to her team between innings.

PAGE B1

ALBANY — Anticipating a surge in COVID-19 cases, Columbia Memorial Health and other area hospitals outlined their plans to increase hospital bed capacity in the coming months.

Hospital officials also addressed the safety of health care workers and community testing at a press conference at Albany Medical Center Tuesday afternoon.

Albany Medical Center has tested 1,642 people for COVID-19 so far, with 79 people testing positive for COVID-19.

Of the 79 positive cases, 11 have required hospitalization at Albany Medical Center.

CMH has not had any patients hospitalized with COVID-19, said CMH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Clifford Belden.

The majority of hospitalized patients have been from vulnerable populations, including those with pre-existing conditions, officials said.

A team of fifteen CMH administrators and health care providers are finalizing a surge plan that will be sent to state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker Tuesday evening,

Nora Mishanec/ColumbiaGreene Media

Representatives from hospitals across New York state gathered at Albany Medical Center on Tuesday to hear plans for coping with an anticipated surge in coronavirus cases in the next two to three weeks.

See HOSPITALS A2

Cuomo pleads for ventilators before COVID-19 spikes

n WORLD

India lockdown for 21 days Prime Minister Modi shuts down country as coronavirus infections spike PAGE A5

n LOCAL

Courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

Gov. Andrew Cuomo tours construction of temporary FEMA hospital at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan on Tuesday.

Communities pull together

By Kate Lisa Johnson Newspaper Corporation

implored the federal government to send New York ventilators as the virus peak could hit the state within the next two weeks.

The state’s COVID-19’s apex

could hit within the next 14 to 21 days, or sooner than anticipated. Officials said on March 17 the peak was 45 days away.

“We’re doing everything we can on every level to slow the

spread, flatten the curve,” Cuomo said during a briefing late Tuesday morning. “We have increased testing to the highest level in the United States, and the highest per capita level

on the globe. No one is testing more than we are testing. So, in many ways we have exhausted every option available to us.”

Places from Greenville to Germantown are coming together to support others during outbreak PAGE A3

NEW YORK — The state started using experimental drugs Tuesday to combat the coronavirus as Gov. Andrew Cuomo

n INDEX

Students, teacher use technology to achieve distance learning

Region Opinion State/Nation Obituaries Sports Classified Comics/Advice

A3 A4 A5 A5 B1 B4-B5 B7-B8

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By Abby Hoover Columbia-Greene Media

New York schools started closing early last week in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, but that did not stop teachers from reaching students.

While districts initially planned to reopen later this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the closure through at least April 1. Now, school districts in Columbia and Greene counties are making plans in case the closures are extended.

Germantown Central School District has 518 students, 260 of those in elementary school, and like many districts, has implemented distance learning measures. Elementary school principal Beverly Meagher said transitioning the older students

Contributed Photo

Students from Germantown Elementary School connect with their teacher via Zoom as part of the district’s new distance learning model.

to learning at home came naturally because they already use a lot of the technology in the

classroom.

“They’re using things like Nearpod, where kids can all join

together as a class and even read together, do experiments together and come together every

See CUOMO A2

day for short snippets in our fifth and sixth grade,” Meagher said.

Meagher said the younger grades struggled at first, but teachers, students and parents have been learning fast. The elementary school teachers have been meeting via Zoom, a cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat and webinars. The platform, which has been widely utilized across employees working from home in other industries, is now being used by teachers to hold classes and connecting with students.

“They’re reading stories to their kids online, or just even checking in online, on Zoom, with them so they can see each other and talk with each other,” Meagher said.

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CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

A2 Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Weather

Hospitals From A1

FORECAST FOR HUDSON/CATSKILL

TODAY TONIGHT THU

Showers of rain and snow

Mostly cloudy

Cloudy

HIGH 46

LOW 31

53 37

FRI

SAT

SUN

Cloudy, A touch of cooler; p.m. morning rain rain

57 33

Milder with rain

46 38

57 39

Ottawa 46/35

Montreal 46/33

Massena 49/35

Bancroft 46/33

Ogdensburg 47/34

Peterborough 48/36

Plattsburgh 46/30

Malone Potsdam 49/33 49/35

Kingston 44/36

Watertown 49/36

Rochester 52/39

Cuomo From A1

Utica 45/30

Batavia Buffalo 52/38 54/41

Albany 46/30

Syracuse 49/33

Catskill 46/31

Binghamton 43/32

Hornell 48/35

Burlington 48/33

Lake Placid 43/27

Hudson 47/30

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

SUN AND MOON

ALMANAC Statistics through 3 p.m. yesterday

Temperature

Precipitation

High

0.52”

Low

Today 6:50 a.m.

7:14 p.m.

7:45 a.m.

8:31 p.m.

Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

Yesterday as of 3 p.m. 24 hrs. through 3 p.m. yest.

Thu. 6:48 a.m.

7:15 p.m.

8:08 a.m.

9:31 p.m.

Moon Phases 41

First

Full

Last

New

Apr 1

Apr 7

Apr 14

Apr 22

33 YEAR TO DATE NORMAL

6.66 7.34

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

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

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

32

37

39

42

45

44

48

47

45

46

44

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 28/13

Seattle 51/39

Montreal 46/33

Minneapolis 45/32

Billings 44/28

Detroit 58/41

San Francisco 58/44

Toronto 48/39 New York 46/39 Washington 51/41

Chicago 57/46

Denver 64/35

Belden said.

The hospital has rented extra beds to be placed in patient care rooms and available operating waiting rooms, he said. “We have a surge plan that very rapidly can get to over 50% as early as next week, 65% is our first phase surge plan.”

With help from the state, CMH “can go well beyond that as well,” he noted.

Belden also addressed the hospital’s efforts to increase ICU beds, which come equipped with the ventilators that are critical in treating COVID-19 patients.

“We currently we have 6 to 7 ICU beds staffed, and we will be able to likely more than double

Kansas City 70/49

Originally detected in Wuhan, China, in December, the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has symptoms of cough, fever and shortness of breath.

The state had 25,665 positive cases of COVID-19 as of press time Tuesday afternoon, with 210 deaths and 3,234 requiring hospitalization, or about 13%.

Of those in the hospital Tuesday, about 23%, or 756 patients are in the intensive care unit.

As the apex approaches, Cuomo said the state is scrambling to fill hospitals with thousands more beds, staff, equipment and ventilators.

The state has 53,000 hospital beds and 3,000 Intensive Care Unit beds. The state will need 140,000 total beds and 40,000 ICU beds to not fall short of expert health projections, Cuomo said, adding hospitals must increase their existing capacity by 100%.

All regulations on space have been waived to enable hospitals to meet the goal.

The state is constructing emergency hospitals at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, in Westbury, Stony Brook and the Westchester Convention Center, which will help, Cuomo said, but the state’s biggest need is ventilators.

New York procured 7,000 ventilators as of Tuesday, but needs 30,000 total, Cuomo said. The governor requested

El Paso 85/61

Learning

Houston 88/67 Chihuahua 94/57

Monterrey 92/64

Miami 90/70

From A1

ALASKA HAWAII

-10s

-0s

0s

showers t-storms

Honolulu 79/70

Fairbanks 37/18

Hilo 77/66

Juneau 41/31

10s rain

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

20s flurries

30s

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snow

50s ice

60s

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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

operationally,” Belden said.

“All of us have had positives or exposures of workers,” said St. Peter’s Health Partners Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Steven Hanks, who noted that the hospitals have a protocol for closely monitoring quarantined workers and putting them back to work after the end of their quarantine period.

“Obviously if they are symptomatic it’s a different track for getting them back to work,” he said.

All COVID-19 testing is now reserved for symptomatic health care workers and first responders, officials said.

The hospitals are not withholding tests from the public, officials said. Testing is not necessary unless a person is ill enough to require hospitalization.

“Testing itself does not impact the patient whose symptoms are

mild enough to be managed at home,” said Dr. David Liebers, Ellis Hospital vice president and infectious disease specialist.

The policy of reserving tests for health care providers and in-patients will continue, even if more testing supplies are made available, officials said.

“Even if we had the tests, our philosophy would be the same,” said Dr. Dennis McKenna, incoming president and CEO of Albany Medical Center.

Belden said that everyone at CMH is working around the clock to prepare for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases and he urged Columbia and Greene County residents to follow all regulations to prevent the virus’s spread.

“We are doing our part as your health care provider. It is important that our community do their part,“ he said.

Trump invoke the Defense Production Act, which would force companies to produce medical equipment and oversee a fair distribution of supplies.

“The people who will have acute needs, these are people who are under respiratory distress.... They need a ventilator,” Cuomo explained. “The ventilators will make the difference between life and death for these people. We have been working around the clock scouring the globe.”

Officials are experimenting ways to stop the spread of and treat COVID-19, including splitting ventilators so two patients could use one machine.

Cuomo called on the federal government to fill in the ventilator and hospital equipment gap to save as many lives as possible before the peak hits.

FEMA is set to give the state 400 additional ventilators, Cuomo said, but that number is not enough.

“The only way we can obtain these ventilators is from the federal government, period,” the governor said. “If we don’t have the ventilators in 14 days it does us no good. I do not for the life of me understand the reluctance to use the federal Defense Production Act... We need the federal help, and we need the federal help now.”

The federal government must prioritize resources to New York, Cuomo said, which has the nation’s largest number of positive COVID-19 cases — about 10 times the

infection rate of Washington, New Jersey and California — and the highest number of virus-related deaths to date at 210.

After the apex subsides and the curve flattens, Cuomo said the state will send the ventilators to the state that needs them next.

“Let’s learn from each other and help each other,” Cuomo said. “We get past the apex, we get over that curve, that curve starts to come down... I’ll send ventilators. I’ll send health care workers. I’ll send out professionals who’ve dealt with it and who know, all around the country.”

State hospitals started drug therapy Tuesday to treat the virus. The state Department of Health received the antimalaria drug hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic zithromax accelerated from the federal government, Cuomo said, adding patients will receive the experimental drug therapy immediately.

“The president speaks about and is optimistic about it,” the governor said. “We hope for optimistic results, also.”

The state department of health is also experimenting with taking plasma from previously infected people who have antibodies and injecting it into currently infected patients, and developing a new test to detect COVID-19 antibodies, or to identify people who have had the virus and recovered.

The state will distribute

additional medical supplies and equipment to hospitals across New York City, Long Island and Westchester to help front-line health care workers combat COVID-19, according to a statement from Cuomo’s office. The disbursement is in addition to the 1.5 million N-95 masks the state purchased and sent to New York City and Long Island last week.

New York City will receive 169,000 N-95 masks, 430,850 surgical masks, 176,750 gloves, 72,561 gowns and 39,364 face shields. Westchester County will receive 16,988 N-95 masks, 301,595 surgical masks, 17,675 gloves, 72,561 gowns and 3,926 face shields.

Long Island will receive 33,976 N-95 masks, 86,170 surgical masks, 35,350 gloves, 14,512 gowns and 7,853 face shields.

The rest of the state will receive 118,916 N-95 masks, 301,595 surgical masks, 123,735 gloves, 50,793 gowns and 27,485 face shields, according to Cuomo’s office.

Greene County had six positive cases of COVID-19, as of Tuesday afternoon. None of the infected people have required hospitalization, according to a statement from Greene County Public Health.

As of Tuesday, Columbia County reported 18 positive cases, according to the Columbia County health department’s website, with 82 under mandatory quarantine and 76 under precautionary isolation. Five residents have suspected, but not tested cases of the virus.

Meagher said. “They’re going through a lot of anxiety, some of their parents have lost jobs, some of them have a stress for food, some of them are isolated, and our biggest concern right now is: how do we make children feel safe and connected and comfortable at home?”

Meagher always reads stories on Tuesday nights to students on Facebook Live, and she said she will continue to do so. In addition, the district is starting weekly challenges so students can help the community from home. The first is to support residents of Palatine Manor, an assisted living community in Germantown, by sending a card or hand-drawn picture, as well as “adopting” elderly community members.

Coxsackie-Athens Central School District Superintendent Randall Squier said teachers and counselors at the high school are doing what they can to alleviate student worries about everything from missing end of the year experiences, like prom, to being prepared for college. Squier said he hopes colleges work with students on things like getting transcripts.

Students are keeping up on school work, using Google Meet and Google Classroom to ask questions, attend classes and turn in assignments. Students were surveyed on internet access, and they are being set up over the next few days.

“Any kid who needed it will have some type of internet access probably by tomorrow, Thursday at the latest,” Squier said.

Computer science teacher Rocco Pietrofesa recorded YouTube videos to help students prepare for advanced

placement tests and final exams. Special education teachers in the district have been reaching out to students for one-onone video communication.

“Our counselors have been doing the same thing, video chat, to check in on kids who might need a little support in that regard,” Squier said. Counselors are working to nurture existing connections, as well as reaching out to students who teachers have not heard from.

Tim Farley, co-principal of Ichabod Crane Middle School, said the Ichabod Crane Central School District is purchasing MiFi devices, which can be connected to a cellular network to provide internet access, for students who do not have internet at home.

Farley said the devices allow students in grades four through eight the ability to connect, whether they are financially disadvantaged or live in an area where regular internet access is impossible.

“No one knows for sure, but at Ichabod we like to be prepared,” Farley said of planning for a potential extended closure. “We’re actually preparing ahead... The digital learning seems to be working fairly well.”

Each grade level is approached in a different way.

While high school teachers have been preparing to make sure classes could be taught at home, especially credit-bearing classes, kindergarten through third grade students received packets with enough materials to help them review what they learned.

“We’re very concerned about a learning gap being created, so we didn’t want to see any academic regression,” Farley said.

“By giving them this work they

can keep up on their math facts and reading comprehension skills.”

Middle school teachers have been using Google Classrooms for the past few years, which Farley said is better than work packets alone, but it’s not the same as an in-person class.

“The biggest challenge [for students] is waiting too long and having too much to do at one time,” Farley said. “We’re really trying to stagger it. Just do two to three hours a day with your child and not to stress about it either. We don’t want kids stressed out.”

Farley said one bright light in this situation has been students and their families participating in virtual physical education, going for a hike or working out while social distancing.

Atlanta 76/54

Los Angeles 63/45

Anchorage 39/26

that with our surge plan,” he said.

Belden is optimistic the hospital will be able to reach Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s goal of doubling hospital capacity.

“CMH is well positioned because we have a large outpatient footprint and a smaller inpatient footprint. We have space in the building and we are able to add beds to existing spaces,” he said.

Health care workers throughout the region have been exposed to COVID-19 and some have tested positive for the disease, including those at CMH, but officials did not provide numbers of how many health care workers have been affected.

“Just like every employer we have had employees that have tested positive or been quarantined because of exposure, but it hasn’t affected us

Today Hi/Lo W 71/51 pc 39/26 pc 76/54 pc 48/40 r 50/37 r 44/28 c 77/54 pc 48/28 pc 44/36 c 81/51 c 61/43 c 70/44 pc 54/29 c 57/46 pc 63/47 pc 58/45 pc 61/44 c 84/64 pc 64/35 pc 63/38 c 58/41 pc 47/32 r 79/70 sh 88/67 s 62/46 pc 70/49 s 67/47 pc 67/45 c

Thu. Hi/Lo W 70/43 c 37/23 pc 74/60 pc 53/46 pc 61/46 s 48/26 s 83/64 s 49/30 s 47/37 c 72/57 pc 73/59 pc 67/55 pc 52/29 c 52/40 r 69/59 pc 63/41 c 66/51 pc 85/67 pc 63/34 pc 53/40 c 61/37 c 54/38 c 79/68 pc 88/70 s 63/51 pc 65/50 c 73/59 pc 58/43 pc

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

Today Hi/Lo W 64/53 pc 63/45 pc 90/70 s 55/43 pc 45/32 r 66/49 pc 86/67 pc 46/39 r 56/46 r 78/58 pc 66/38 pc 88/67 pc 49/37 r 79/56 pc 54/38 r 45/31 c 53/37 sh 48/36 r 59/43 pc 53/42 sh 59/38 sh 64/50 pc 48/34 sh 58/44 sh 86/58 pc 51/39 c 82/72 pc 51/41 r

Thu. Hi/Lo W 82/65 s 60/43 sh 87/72 s 45/38 c 45/36 c 78/65 pc 88/71 pc 55/45 pc 57/48 s 88/66 pc 51/42 c 88/68 pc 59/43 s 70/49 pc 66/47 pc 47/32 c 53/42 c 51/36 c 64/53 s 63/52 s 62/37 s 72/55 c 45/29 c 59/47 s 76/61 pc 49/43 c 85/70 s 62/50 s

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

Another resource, Edmodo, allows students to participate together as a class. Meagher said it’s amazing what has been “born out of necessity” in just a few days.

But the district, like others in Columbia and Greene counties, has many families without internet connection, and while companies like Spectrum are offering free services, they might not be available in remote areas.

“We’re struggling with not only how to get instruction to them, but how do we reach out to them?” Meagher said. “How do we put our face in front of their face and make that connection?”

Germantown is a one-to-one technology district and was able to send an iPad or laptop home with students third grade and up, and is working to provide them to younger students as the potential for schools staying closed through the end of the academic year looms.

“There’s so many natural ways to learn that aren’t paper and pencil,” Meagher said, suggesting anything from making a bird feeder to talking about the stars. “We’re trying to get our minds around that, what activities can a family do together.

This is tough on parents.”

Meagher said parents should be kind to themselves and remove the pressure of prescribed learning. She spoke to one student last week who had learned canning with her mom.

“I think our first thing is to make sure that connections are there, that our kids feel safe,”

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Wednesday, March 25, 2020 A3

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

CALENDAR Wednesday, March 25 n Athens Village Board 6:30 p.m.

Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens 518945-1551 n Catskill Village Board meeting cancelled

Thursday, March 26 n Coxsackie Village Budget Work

Session cancelled

Thursday, April 2 n Coxsackie Village Budget Work

Session 6:30 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie

Monday, April 6 n Athens Town Board 6:45 p.m.

Town Hall, 2 First St., Athens 518945-1052 n Cairo Town Board 7 p.m. Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo n Greene County Board of Electrical Examiners 1 p.m. at the Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., 4th Floor, Room 469, Catskill n Greenville CSD BOE/Budget 4 Meeting 6:30 p.m. MS/HS Library, 4976 SR 81, Greenville

Wednesday, April 8 n Athens Village Board 6:30 p.m.

Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens 518945-1551 n Catskill Village Board 7 p.m. Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill 518-943-3830

Thursday, April 9 n Coxsackie 2020-2021 Proposed

Tentative Budget Public Hearing 6:30 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie n Coxsackie Village Workshop Meeting 6 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie

Monday, April 13 n Coxsackie Village Board 7 p.m.

Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie

Wednesday, April 15 n Cairo Town Board workshop

meeting 7 p.m. Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo

Monday, April 20 n Athens Town Board 6:45 p.m.

Town Hall, 2 First St., Athens 518945-1052 n Catskill Village Planning Board Stewart’s Public Hearing 7 p.m. Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill

Tuesday, April 21 n Athens Village Planning Board

6:30 p.m. Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens 518-945-1551

Wednesday, April 22 n Athens Village Board 6:30 p.m.

Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens 518945-1551 n Catskill Village Board 7 p.m. Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill 518-943-3830

Monday, April 27 n Catskill Village Planning Board

7 p.m. Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill

Elections chiefs call for primary postponement

By Melanie Lekocevic Columbia-Greene Media

The organization that oversees state election commissioners is calling for the postponement of the Democratic presidential primary, and for absentee ballots to be more widely available in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The state Election Commissioners Association on Tuesday asked the governor and the state Legislature to postpone the upcoming Democratic presidential primary from April 28 to June 23, which is the same date other federal, state and local primaries are scheduled, according to Vicky Olin, third vice president for the organization.

Two candidates remain in the Democratic presidential primary — former vice president Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt. “The other thing we are asking for is to amend

election law to allow absentee ballots at a time like this,” Olin said in an interview. “Normally in New York state you have to be out of the country or you are permanently disabled. We are asking for them to allow, because of an emergency due to an infectious disease or pandemic, all voters who are at risk but are not sick yet, be allowed to receive an absentee ballot.”

Another concern is that the voting machines need to be tested to ensure they are correctly tallying all ballots, but the elections offices — which are considered essential services, according to the governor’s executive order — are being asked to reduce staffing by 50%, making fewer employees available to make sure the machines are in proper working order, Olin said.

“Early voting begins in New York state on April 18, which is not that far away,”

commissioner for Columbia County, agreed postponing the presidential primary would be the best course of action in light of the public health emergency.

“I think it is a safe decision,” Miller-Simmons said.

“A lot of our poll workers are at that critical age and I don’t feel comfortable asking them to work at the polls. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for asking anyone to work and then they end up sick.”

In Greene County, Democratic election commissioner Marie Metzler expressed similar concerns.

“It is just common sense [to delay]. How many people would actually come out and vote, and how many would work the polls,” Metzler said.

“It also includes early voting — the election is at the end of April but there is a 10-day period prior to that for early voting. We haven’t even hit the peak yet. Everything is

closed, so I don’t see taking the risk, especially for older people.”

Roughly 80% to 90% of poll workers are elderly, Metzler said, and that is the group at highest risk for serious cases of coronavirus.

“We don’t want to expose them, and they probably wouldn’t want to work anyway,” Metzler said.

Republican Election Commissioner Brent Bogardus also wants to see a postponement of the primary.

“At this point in time, delaying certainly makes a lot of sense to me,” Bogardus said.

“I think we would have a very difficult time getting inspectors to man the polling sites.”

There are polling sites, particularly downstate in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, areas hardest hit by the virus, that could have difficulty finding appropriate polling sites should the election go ahead as planned, Bogardus added.

Community pulls together to fight pandemic

By Melanie Lekocevic Columbia-Greene Media

With people facing both health and financial repercussions from the coronavirus outbreak, local volunteers and officials are fighting back by helping their neighbors in need.

Several groups are working to provide food to people who need it, whether those in the most vulnerable categories who cannot go shopping — such as the elderly, the immuno-compromised or those with underlying health conditions — or people who have fallen on difficult financial times.

COLUMBIA COUNTY In Hudson, several organizations have pooled their resources to provide meals to people who need help during the pandemic, Nick Zachos, director of the City of Hudson Department of Youth, said.

“We are doing a pretty significant food distribution program at the youth center,” Zachos said. “We are getting food donated from restaurants, farms and food distributors, we are boxing them up and delivering them free to people in the community.”

The food packages are available to anyone who needs help, Zachos said.

“During our normal services as a youth center, we provide a lot of meals to the youth, but while the schools are closed there are a lot of families that are not getting the meals they usually do,” Zachos said. “We decided to switch over to doing this for the community at large.”

Deliveries are made by staff members to four distribution points — Bliss Towers, Providence Hall, Hudson Terraces and Schuyler Court. For

those who are unable to get to the drop-off areas, special arrangements can be made, Zachos said.

The youth department is working with Friends of Hudson Youth, Kite’s Nest and the Hudson school district to pull the program together.

Anyone who needs a food package should text 518-4099863.

“We have had a huge outpouring of food and donations from restaurants and farms, and donors. It has been amazing to see people shift over into another form of helping the community,” Zachos said.

“We did our first order Friday, and another is going out Tuesday, and we already doubled the number of people. For the next few orders, we expect demand to continue to grow. As long as families need meals, we are going to find a way to provide them.”

The pandemic is temporarily changing how food is provided by the Zion Community Food Pantry, 41 N. Second St., Hudson.

The food pantry postponed its usual delivery to Providence Hall last Tuesday because of concerns over seniors congregating in the hallway as they pick up their food delivery. Deliveries to the apartment building are temporarily on hold because of concerns about the virus, but food pantry users are encouraged to pick up their food at the pantry, if they can.

“We did not deliver to Providence Hall last week during our usual delivery time until we could put a protocol in place as to how we are going to serve them,” Brenda Blanks, director of the Zion Community Food Pantry, said. “Those who can, can come to the pantry on Tuesday, March 24. We

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Ken Dow, the Democratic elections commissioner for Columbia County, said he is in favor of postponing the presidential primary to June.

“The added time would be very important for the dissemination of information and the logistics of carrying it out,” Dow said.

“Right now, it seems it would be very difficult to staff all of the polling places with elections inspectors, who would be needed if we were to go ahead in a normal way,” Dow said.

To date, no directives have been handed down by the governor’s office, which would have to make the final decision, Dow said Tuesday afternoon.

The association’s request does not address village elections, which were postponed from the original March 18 date to April 28.

Kelly Miller-Simmons, the Republican elections

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don’t want people congregating in one place, so we are asking them to come here and pick up a bag. The bags will be sitting on tables outside.”

The pick-up location will also be available for other food pantry customers as well, Blanks said.

The new procedure will be in place until further notice, she added.

GREENE COUNTY The town and village of Coxsackie are ready to put food into the hands of those most vulnerable to the coronavirus, Coxsackie Town Supervisor Rick Hanse said.

Food is provided by the Coxsackie Food Pantry, and volunteers with the Coxsackie-Athens Rotary will make the deliveries. Local churches are also helping out, Hanse said.

“This is not income based, it is needs based — this is for people who can’t get out due to their health circumstances or their susceptibility to this disease, such as frail people,” Hanse said.

As of Monday, no requests for food have come in yet, but the program is ready to go when needed, Coxsackie Mayor Mark Evans said.

“We haven’t implemented it yet, but we have it all in place and can activate it at a moment’s notice,” Evans said.

Anyone needing assistance with obtaining food should contact Coxsackie Village

Hall at 518-731-2718 or email nbereznak@villageofcoxsackie.com.

In Catskill, a group of local restaurants and cafes are offering free soup to those who need it. The initiative, which was launched by Michelle Williams, owner of The Mermaid Cafe on Main Street, began making deliveries Tuesday using ingredients and soup donated by local restaurants and cafes that have closed their doors in light of the pandemic. The Mermaid Cafe remains open, but is organizing the effort.

“We are offering this to people in need,” Williams said. “We are staying open but in the morning I make a list

of people that need it. I don’t know how long we can sustain it, but so far I have 20 people on the list.”

Volunteers — equipped with masks and gloves — will leave soup deliveries outside the recipient’s door.

It is unclear how long the program can continue, but Williams said they will do it for as long as they can.

“It’s first come, first serve.

Whoever reaches out and wants help, as long as we have food and volunteers to deliver, we will do our best,” she said.

To get on the list for free soup delivery, call or text 518238-8123.

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OUR VIEW

Retired health care workers deserve our support Amid the chaos and panic buying of the coronavirus pandemic, there are the odd gleams of gold, individuals and groups that stand out by showing what Greene and Columbia counties are really made of.

We’re talking about the Cooper’s Daughter Distillery switching its production from liquors to desperately needed hand sanitizer.

We’re talking about our area schools stepping up to feed hungry students. We’re talking about the hundreds, thousands of anonymous contributors making important donations to keep our first responders healthy and to working parents who need child care.

We’re also talking about the retired health care workers to whom Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a plea Monday to join the fight against

the coronavirus. Cuomo wants to boost the number of health care workers available to treat coronavirus patients. He sent letters last Friday to all registered health workers in the state asking them to volunteer in an emergency medical corps.

This is war, the governor said last week, against an enemy the likes of which New York state has never faced.

“I received an email asking me to submit paperwork and a questionnaire,” Catskill Elementary School Nurse Diane Ashley said Monday. The questionnaire asked respondents to reply within 36 hours with their work history, specialty and availability.

Ashley said she hadn’t heard back yet and was unsure if she would be called to work downstate at the field

hospitals being constructed in Westchester, Long Island and Manhattan. Naturally, she expressed concern over the working conditions.

“You hear about all these mask shortages, N95 shortages. I don’t know what I’m walking into. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable,” she said Monday.

It’s certain that Ashley will be joined by tens of thousands of others with the same thoughts in mind.

They will try to balance their desire to remain healthy with their inherent sense of duty. Cuomo announced Monday that more than 30,000 retired medical personnel have already responded.

Local health care workers have answered the call. We will support them no matter what they choose to do.

ANOTHER VIEW

I survived solitary confinement.

You can survive self-isolating.

Jason Rezaian The Washington Post

Over the past several days, as many people began confronting the reality that they’d have to stay holed up at home for the foreseeable future, friends around the world reached out to me for advice. They wanted tips on how to deal with prolonged social isolation.

Suddenly my own experience of being held for 544 days, including in solitary confinement, in Iran’s Evin Prison has become more relevant than I ever imagined possible.

While the self-imposed isolation we’re going through is vastly different from the harsh conditions of prison, prolonged captivity did teach me a few useful lessons about how to make the best of it. So here are a few pieces of advice: 1. Don’t spend all your time online.

You thought you spent a lot of time on the Internet before? That was nothing.

And if you’re active on social media, as many of us are, it’s going to be hard to step off that merry-go-round.

Let’s not fool ourselves: We aren’t going to completely unplug. But I strongly suggest spending as much time away from the Internet

and television as possible, especially when you’re not working.

During the 544 days I spent in prison, I never had a chance to go online, not even for a moment.

Throughout my long ordeal, the inability to access information felt like the greatest deprivation of all.

In retrospect, though, it wasn’t all bad. For the first time in my adult life, I felt as though I was really able to focus on a single task for an extended period of time.

2. Read books After I was released from solitary confinement after 49 days, I was allowed some small privileges. The one that I quickly realized was the most indispensable was access to books. Reading was a wonderful mental escape from my grim surroundings. It also connected me to the outside world.

I found myself gravitating toward books about hardship. They demonstrated for me that my experience, no matter how difficult, was one that I could survive.

If you want to read about surviving really tough times while maintaining a sense of perspective and wit, there’s no book better than Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s “The Gulag Archipelago,” his own

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

memoir of imprisonment in Soviet prison camps. I read it while in Tehran’s Evin Prison. Suddenly I didn’t feel so sorry for myself. Understanding that my own predicament was just a tiny blip on the continuum of injustice turned out to be surprisingly soothing.

3. Exercise You might not think it’s possible because you don’t have a Peloton at home.

No matter how small your living space is, though, you probably have enough room to walk. If possible, take the stairs. That’s what I’m doing. All three flights of them, many times a day.

4. Plan for the future There were many days in prison that I thought it would never end. You may feel something similar in the weeks ahead, or you might have that feeling already. But this will pass. Maybe it won’t happen as quickly and as smoothly as President Donald Trump likes to insist — but relatively soon we’ll be able to return to our normal routines.

5. Laugh My last (but by far most important) piece of advice is to find as much as you can to laugh about each day. I promise you there are opportunities all around you.

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

Communication in a time of crisis Traveling through the five counties that encompass the 46th State Senate District and listening to people express the issues that are most important to them has been an incredible experience. But with the outbreak of COVID-19, regular life and the work we were doing to connect with voters has come to a screeching halt.

Like all of us, I’m eager to get back to my daily routine.

I’m eager to get back to talking with you and meeting our neighbors, discussing how we can make life better for those of us who live in Upstate NY. But in these uncertain times, we are fortunate to live in New York State. Our leadership, from the Governor to County Executives and local governments, have been doing an amazing job of managing this crisis, making hard decisions and acting swiftly to halt the spread of this virus. Vital State resources are quickly and appropriately being applied to urgent, life-saving medical services and businesses are changing models to fill in the gaps where possible. And the New Yorkers fighting on the front lines - our healthcare workers, first responders, corrections officers, retail and restaurant workers, truck drivers and delivery personnel - have been going above and beyond.

However, this moment in our history has, more clearly than ever, shown the cracks in our fraying system and exposed how a crisis will exacerbate our fundamental problems.

With shelter in place initiatives, we’re seeing in real time just how broken our system is for rural New Yorkers. In our modern world, access to the internet is nearly universal,

MICHELLE

HINCHEY and yet, here in Upstate NY, many of our communities still don’t have it. How do New York State residents not have access to something that is otherwise considered a global utility?

It’s no wonder our rural communities feel like they are falling behind.

That is why New York State must put forth an immediate plan to accelerate efforts already in place to close the digital divide and ensure that upstate rural residents gain access to broadband during this crisis and permanently thereafter. As all residents are told to stay home, the lack of reliable internet negatively affects our most vulnerable populations, specifically our children home from school and our seniors, many now shut off from the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated an urgent need for major investment in broadband for the expansion of vital services like telemedicine. Our seniors, many living alone in highly rural areas without internet connections, are left to fend for themselves as healthcare providers advise people to communicate medical issues via online forums and video conferences. When our medical facilities and personnel are all hands on deck for COVID-19 patients, our

seniors can’t access the care they need when they need it.

We’ve effectively abandoned them at their most vulnerable.

Additionally, the unprecedented school and library closures have put a serious burden on our working families. Even while school districts hand out laptops and teachers and parents continue their best efforts to creatively educate students, the fact remains that success is dependent upon a broadband connection for research, homework, and student-toteacher collaboration. And that fact means that rural students will quickly fall behind classmates who are fortunate enough to have a broadband connection.

If we don’t take the necessary steps to protect and nurture our children’s education during this extraordinary time, we will be left with long term consequences for their future and the future of Upstate New York.

And while elected officials like Federal Representatives Antonio Delgado (NY-19) and Paul Tonko (NY-20) and State Legislators Jen Metzger and Angelo Santabarbara, among others, continue to advance the fight, there are still thousands of families who remain shut out of the information network and are living without the safety of digital communication.

Access to the internet in 2020 needs to be considered a public utility, not a luxury.

New York State must lead this effort and work with Washington, D.C. and all providers to make this a reality for all residents.

Michelle Hinchey is the Democratic Candidate for New York’s 46th State Senate District.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Climate change is of the utmost urgency To the editor: I’d like to remind you the climate change is, in fact, of the utmost urgency.

In your editorial, “Don’t shut local governments out,” March 2, you are “in favor of renewable energy,” but opposed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s siting reform because it “needs to slow down.”

The point of the reform is to speed up the existing siting process, in which is takes 8 to 10 years for any large-scale renewables to win approval and get built. This process was created in an earlier era, but we can’t afford that timeline now. The warning from

scientists is clear: we have only another ten years, perhaps, in which to drastically curtail the use of fossil fuels.

This means quickly building renewable energy generation at scale.

Gov. Cuomo’s proposal recognizes local concerns and offers benefits. It will empower the state to pre-select sites with little to no local opposition, prioritizing sites such as abandoned industrial areas. Local jurisdictions will have a mechanism through which to provide evidence of conflict with local laws, and if necessary, a hearing process.

Towns hosting large scale

renewables will receive benefits such as reduced electric rates and workforce training for the new, local jobs that will be created.

Like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change is a worldwide crisis that requires urgent, collective action. The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act is a necessary reform that all New Yorkers - including Assembly member Kevin A. Cahill and Senator George A. Amedore Jr. should embrace.

SUSAN FARKAS HIGH FALLS

State Bridge Authority needs everyone’s help To the editor: I am writing you with a loud and urgent plea.

Unlike ever before, the entire Hudson Valley is united against the Governor’s proposal to abolish the Bridge Authority and give our Hudson Valley bridges to the out-of-the-area and notoriously mismanaged Thruway Authority.

The Bridge Authority is local, employs local people,

SEND LETTERS:

and immediately responds to our local needs on our local bridges.

They have kept our tolls affordable and kept our bridges in perfect and safe condition.

These low tolls and dependable crossings are the backbone to our Hudson Valley economy and we are completely dependent upon them.

I fear changes to, or mismanagement of our local

bridges, will jeopardize the stability of our local economy.

This includes our community colleges, our healthcare and hospitals, and the entire local business community across eight counties.

Please fight for all of us in the Hudson Valley and please, don’t allow this to happen.

OLIVE CADET HIGHLAND

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

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Philomena (Bucci) Scalley Our beloved “Nanny”, Philo- grandchildren Louis (Deidre) mena (Bucci) Scalley age 90, Rolon and Angela (Jodie) Roof Hudson, NY passed away lon and her great-grandchildren peacefully on Sunday March 22, Hailey, Louis Jr. and Attley. She 2020. She was born February leaves behind nieces, nephews, 4, 1930 and was the daughter of additional family and friends Fredrick and Theresa (Molinksi) who will sadly miss her. She was Bucci. predeceased by her loving husA life-long resident band John Scalley, her of Hudson, Philomena daughter Linda, husloved being outdoors, band Louie Rolon and gardening, ice fishing sister Marion (Charles) and spending summers Leggett. on Saratoga Lake with In light of current her husband, family and events the family is friends. She enjoyed holding a private mepuzzles and could almorial. In lieu of flowways been found in the ers, the family suggests early evening workthat memorial donaScalley ing through the daily tions may be made jumble and word searches, but to The Community Hospice of most of all enjoyed spending Columbia and Greene Countime with her family and watch- ties, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill, ing the Yankees.

New York 12414. To leave a Philomena is survived by her message of condolence for the twin sister Joan (Floyd “Lully”) family please visit www.batesTurek of Florida, her beloved anderson.com

Modi announces 21-day national lockdown as India battles virus Archana Chaudhary and Bibhudatta Pradhan Bloomberg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has imposed a three-week long nationwide lockdown and allocated an extra $1.97 billion for health care to contain the spread of coronavirus infections which are now spiking in the South Asian nation.

“If we listen to the health experts we know that 21 days are crucial to break the cycle of transmission,” Modi said in his televised address to the nation on Tuesday. “For a few days forget what it means to go out. Today’s decision of a nationwide lockdown draws a line outside your home.”

India is struggling to contain the economic and health fallout of the spreading coronavirus outbreak that has so far infected 519 in India and killed 10 people.

BLOOMBERG PHOTO BY PRASHANTH VISHWANATHAN Ashish Chauhan, CEO at Bombay Stock A traveller stands outside a nearly empty Delhi Junction Railway Station in Delhi on Exchange, said the bourse will remain re- March 22, 2020. main open through the lockdown.

“It’s a war of survival between us and the than a decade. But experts say the counIndia’s rupee weakened offshore durvirus,” said Suresh Kumar Rathi, associate try could be on the same trajectory as Itaing Modi’s address, which was after local markets had shut. The one-month non- professor at the Public Health Foundation ly, where the outbreak quickly escalated, deliverable forward was trading at 77.63 of India and an epidemiologist. “Three causing hospitals to overflow.

In his speech which lasted half-an-hour, a dollar, versus 77.32 before the speech. weeks of complete lockdown is critical for Modi said the amount set aside to fight India because it has a high density of popThe SGX Nifty Futures for March delivery ulation and limited resources.” coronavirus will be used for adding testslumped more than 3%.

The biggest challenge for Modi will be ing facilities, purchasing personal protecIn the last week, the government implemented a near complete lockdown of its to curb the spread of the virus in a country tive equipment for health workers and major cities and suspended train, flight of 1.3 billion and shield an economy that’s expanding isolation beds, ventilators and set to expand at the slowest pace in more other important equipment. and long distance bus services.

Texas Lt. Gov. comes under fire for saying seniors should ‘take a chance’ on their own lives for sake of grandchildren during coronavirus crisis Felicia Sonmez The Washington Post

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick faced a sharp backlash Tuesday for suggesting that older Americans should sacrifice their lives for the sake of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic, with Democrats arguing that public health should remain the country’s top priority.

In an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” Monday, Patrick had defended President Donald Trump’s call for the country’s businesses to reopen their doors in a matter of weeks, despite the guidance of public health officials to the contrary.

“Let’s get back to living,” Patrick, a Republican, said. “Let’s be smart about

it. And those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves, but don’t sacrifice the country.”

While older people and those with pre-existing health conditions face potentially life-threatening risk if infected with the coronavirus, the pandemic has affected people of all ages. And experts have warned that loosening federal guidelines for social distancing would likely accelerate the spread of the virus and put many more Americans at risk.

Among the Democrats taking aim at Patrick’s remarks was New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose state is among those hardest hit by the pandemic.

“My mother is not expendable,” Cuomo tweeted Tuesday morning, without naming Patrick. “Your mother

is not expendable. We will not put a dollar figure on human life. We can have a public health strategy that is consistent with an economic one. No one should be talking about social darwinism for the sake of the stock market.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DCalif., also weighed in on the issue, although she, like Cuomo, did not mention Patrick specifically.

“You can’t go to that place,” Pelosi told MSNBC in an interview from the Capitol when asked about Trump’s suggestion that if public health experts had their way, they would “shut down the entire world.” “The cost to the economy of many people getting infected and sick is an even bigger cost than what we’re seeing now.”

U.S. retailers plan to stop paying rent to offset virus closures Lauren Coleman-Lochner, Natalie Wong and Ed Ludlow Bloomberg

Major U.S. retail and restaurant chains, including Mattress Firm and Subway, are telling landlords they will withhold or slash rent in the coming months after closing stores to slow the coronavirus, according to people familiar with the situation.

In a brewing fight, chains are calling for rent reductions through lease amendments and other measures starting in April, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private.

These moves mark the next phase in virus fallout: What happens to billions in rent owed for businesses that have been closed? The stakes are high. Retail has a slew of big chains in turnaround mode. And if they do withhold payments, there would be a ripple effect.

Landlords can’t afford to stop collecting rent for long, with many property owners sitting on loads of debt.

The situation is likely to get messier. The U.S. relief packages being considered don’t directly address rents.

But the Federal Reserve’s actions may give banks the leeway to defer mortgage payments, allowing property owners to delay rent. It’s also unclear if retailers can declare a so-called “force majeure,” a contract clause that covers highly unusual events, and if landlords

could then make the same case to insurers.

“The court system is just going to get flooded with a million of these disputes between tenants and landlords,” said Vince Tibone, an analyst at Green Street Advisors. “If the government doesn’t step in in any form or fashion, it could get ugly. They need to respond quickly.”

Mattress Firm, with about 2,400 stores, sent landlords a letter last week saying it would cut rent in exchange for longer leases and offering two options to do so.

This week, it sent a more urgent note revoking its earlier offer.

“The decline in revenue and forced store closures across the nation are more drastic, compressed and immediate than we originally anticipated,” the company wrote in a letter reviewed

by Bloomberg. “Our need is now more severe,” the firm said, invoking the virus as a force majeure event that “will prevent or prohibit us” from paying rent.

After being contacted by Bloomberg, Mattress Firm confirmed that it has requested a temporary suspension of rent.

“We appreciate our landlord partners, and the responses have been encouraging so far,” Randy Carlin, chief real estate officer for Mattress Firm, said in a statement. “We will continue to do everything we can to maintain business continuity and to ensure there

are jobs available for our people to return to when this crisis ends.”

Subway Restaurants, which has more than 20,000 U.S. locations, sent out a letter to landlords last week saying that it might cut or postpone rental payments due to the virus, according a person with knowledge of the situation. The Real Deal, a real estate trade publication, reported on the communication earlier.

In a statement, Subway said it was looking at ways to help franchises mitigate the virus fallout.

Some landlords have recognized they need to help smaller tenants. Irvine Company Retail Properties, based in Irvine, California, is allowing rent to be deferred for 90 days and then paid back with no interest over a year starting in January, according to a document reviewed by Bloomberg. The firm confirmed the practice without further comment.

Bedrock, a Detroit developer, said it will waive rent and other fees for three months for its smaller retail and restaurant tenants.

Retail real estate investment trusts may need to provide leeway on rent, Bank of America said this week after downgrading several REITs. The bank sees store closings lasting through May and the possibility of some locations going away as more fragile retailers are forced into bankruptcy.

During Monday’s interview on Fox News, Patrick, who turns 70 next week, had made the case for restarting the country’s businesses, telling Carlson, “I’m not living in fear of covid-19. What I’m living in fear of is what’s happening to this country.”

“And you know, Tucker, no one reached out to me and said, ‘As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?’ “ Patrick said. “And if that’s the exchange, I’m all in.”

He added that “that doesn’t make me noble or brave or anything like that.

I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me

Greta Thunberg is concerned that she contracted coronavirus Niclas Rolander Bloomberg

Climate activist Greta Thunberg says she’s been ill and suspects she caught the coronavirus after a trip to central Europe.

In an Instagram post, the Swedish teenager said she’s isolated herself in a borrowed apartment after returning to her home country.

“I was feeling tired, had shivers, a sore throat and coughed,” Thunberg said.

“My dad experienced the same symptoms, but much more intense and with a fever.”

In Sweden, testing for the virus is mostly reserved for people in need of medical

treatment or health-care workers. Thunberg hasn’t been tested, but said “it’s extremely likely that I’ve had it.”

Sweden has shunned many of the tougher restrictions imposed elsewhere. It has 2,272 confirmed cases of the virus, with 36 deaths. Thunberg said her symptoms were so mild that she would hardly notice them under normal circumstances.

“Many (especially young people) might not notice any symptoms at all, or very mild symptoms,” she said.

“Please keep that in mind, follow the advice from experts and your local authorities and #StayAtHome to slow the spread of the virus.”

Every Option.

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A funeral is not only about caring for your loved one; it is also caring for you and your needs! When you call us to make funeral prearrangement plans or require at-need services as they arise, you may have ideas of what you want or need, or you may just need to talk to a caring professional and find out the different options that are available.

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Whether it is cremation or burial, public or private, religious service or family sharing ... the options are many! At Millspaugh Camerato Funeral Home, we are qualified and stand ready to help and support you; to offer you the best advice; and at the most reasonable cost.

Call us today at 518- 943-3240 for a free consultation – at your home or ours.

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... what we all care about and what we love more than anything are those children.”

Patrick said that he will “do everything I can to live” and that if he gets sick, he will seek medical help. He also echoed Trump’s argument that the coronavirus mortality rate in the United States - so far - is not as alarming as it is in other countries.

“Let’s get back to living,” Patrick said.

“Let’s be smart about it. And those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves, but don’t sacrifice the country. ... Our biggest gift we give to our country and our children and our grandchildren is the legacy of our country, and right now, that is at risk. ... I think we can get back to work.”

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A6 Wednesday, March 25, 2020

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

The Fighting Chaplain, Part II

By David Dorpfeld, Greene County Historian For Columbia-Greene Media

Last week I wrote about the Rev. Francis A. Kelly, also known as the “Fighting Chaplain” of the New York 27th Division during WWI. Upon his return from the war he served as rector of St. Mary’s Church in Cairo until his death in 1931. He was often in demand as a public speaker on special occasions, such as Memorial Day. The Rev. Kelly gained the moniker the “Fighting Chaplain” not because he fought, but because of his bravery… “constantly at the front caring for the wounded and supervising burial of the dead, often under heavy shell and machine-gun fire.” The Rev. Kelly was gassed three times during the war. Resulting lung damage led to his premature death at age 43.

The Rev. Kelly’s fame preceded his return to the United States in early 1919. Town of Malta Historian Paul Perreault has done research on the pastor’s arrival home.

“On February 19, he was met at the D&H Depot by a crowd that escorted him to

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Rev. Francis A. Kelly

City Hall to be greeted by the City Fathers. The next day an

even larger group filled the Armory to hear Mgr. Keveny

Catskill Stewards greeted more than 50,000 Catskill Park visitors in 2019 season ARKVILLE — Created in 2018 by the Catskill Center (in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) to assist in managing high use at the Peekamoose Blue Hole, the Catskill Stewards Program’s 2019 season expanded to station Stewards at three popular Catskill destinations — the Peekamoose Blue Hole, Kaaterskill Falls and the Platte Clove Preserve.

Trained by Catskill Center, on-site Catskill Stewards answer questions from the public about the Park, its natural resources and communities.

The Stewards help re-direct visitors from these very popular areas into the rest of the Park and offer advice on everything from where to go swimming to where to find lunch.

The growth of the Catskill Stewards Program in 2019 created a tremendous increase in the number of Catskill Park visitors the Stewards were able to interact with. At the three locations, the Catskill Center employed four full-time stewards, one part-time steward, and a program coordinator. The expanded program allowed Stewards to reach more than 50,000 visitors to the Catskill Park.

Increasingly, outdoor recreation on Catskill Park public lands is an important economic driver for the region. In the Economic Valuation Study for Public Lands in the Central Catskills (Brian Zweig, December 2019), researchers found that annually more than 1.7 million people visit public lands in the Catskills, spend more than $75 million and generate more than 840 jobs for the region. In addition, visitorship overall to the Catskills has been increasing, reaching more than 12 million according to New York State tourism data. The Catskill Stewards Program was designed to ensure the natural resources of the Catskill Park are protected, while engaging with and educating visitors to the Park about ways to responsibly enjoy the region and ensure that the natural beauty they came to see exists for future generations.

“When we created the

Catskill Stewards Program, the goal was to engage with and educate an ever-increasing number of Park visitors in a friendly, non-confrontational way,” says Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “The Catskill Park isn’t a traditional park and we see our Catskill Stewards as a key piece of Park infrastructure to educate visitors about Leave No Trace principles, the responsible use of our outdoor resources and about the Park and its communities in general.”

For the 2020 season, the Catskill Center is planning for the future, by taking into consideration the expected increase in visitors and the unique challenges and opportunities of the Catskill Park. This is why, the 2020 Catskill Steward season will focus on additional public educational programs, alongside additional staff at a new location. The Catskill Stewards Program will now host a weekend steward at the Mountain Top Historical Society in Haines Falls, as well as the previous locations at the Blue Hole, Kaaterskill Falls, and Platte Clove Preserve.

“We’re thrilled to be expanding our Catskill Stewards Program with a new partnership with the Mountain Top Historical Society,” says Senterman. “At the Mountain Top Historical Society our Steward will be able to assist their volunteers, while educating hundreds of visitors a day who utilize the Kaaterskill Rail Trail to visit Kaaterskill Falls. This will be a win, win, win situation for the Historical Society, the Catskill Center and our Catskill Park!”

In 2018, the deliberate and coordinated efforts between the NYSDEC staff, NYSDEC Forest Rangers, volunteers, outside organizations, towns and the Catskill Stewards, kept the three locations within the Catskill Park cleaner, greener, and more welcoming than ever before. In 2019: Visitor engagement reach of over 53,187 people; more than 230 bags of litter collected (~ 4,600 lbs.); fire rings deconstructed - 25 - sites rehabilitated; rock dams deconstructed - 11; rock stacks removed - 302; total days at each location - 158; dogs greeted - 1,326; visitor

parking citations avoided 596 (minimum).

While each stewarding location has its own specific needs, similar natural resources are common. Water bodies, riparian areas, trail systems, flora, and fauna are consistently in danger of being trampled or harmfully impacted by a growing visitor population. The Catskill Stewards have become such a vital link to the visitation experience. Without their onsite presence, litter increases, rock dams and stacks are built in the streams, and usercreated trails begin to wander through pristine forest.

In addition to protecting the natural resources of each location and the greater Catskill Park, the Catskill Stewards are trained to assist NYSDEC Forest Rangers when accidents and incidents occur. The Stewards receive Wilderness First Aid and CPR training and certification, travel to the Adirondacks to train with the Adirondack Summit Stewards, and receive training by the NYSDEC and the Catskill Center “We’re proud of our Catskill Stewards and all that they have accomplished in the last two seasons,” says Andy Mossey, Catskill Center Advocacy & Stewardship Coordinator, “I am looking forward to managing our expanded program in 2020 and reaching even more visitors to the Catskill Park. Our engagement with the public makes a real difference in terms of natural resource protection, public safety and moving visitors deeper into the Park from just the very busy areas.”

The Catskills Stewardship Program is made possible by the generous support of the Rondout Neversink Stream Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, REI Co-op, Bruderhof, Hunter Foundation, Catskill Mountain Club, Catskill 3500 Club and the generous supporters of the Catskill Center.

For more information about the Catskill Stewards Program and to read the program’s 2019 Annual report, visit catskillcenter.org/ catskillstewardsprogram.

Visit us at www.HudsonValley 360.com

welcome home ‘our honored brother.’ After addressing the throng, Kelly was off to Albany, where he was met by newly elected Gov. Al Smith and addressed a joint session of the Legislature. He then went to New York City to welcome the rest of the Division, but not before promising to return to Cohoes (his hometown) to recount the exploits of the 27th, specifically of those from Cohoes.”

Perreault continues his narrative as follows: “As promised, Fr. Kelly returned to Cohoes on March 9 and addressed a crowd of over 1,200 at the Cohoes Opera House while hundreds more were unable to be admitted. He commented extensively on the deeds of the ‘wonderful lads….the boys of the 105th Infantry and particularly those of Company B, who have covered themselves and their kin with glory.’ He told of those who would not be coming home and tears came to his eyes when he recounted the deaths of Sgt. Edward Ruane and Pvt. Thomas Keefe. The Cohoes Dispatch described the lecture as ‘Generally Conceded as One of

Greatest Masterpieces of War Narrative’ and said that he ‘held his audience enthralled throughout the course of his extensive remarks’”.

The American Legion was founded after World War I. In November 1919, as a delegate from New York, Father Kelly attended the legion’s first National Convention held in Minneapolis. In honor of his bravery, he was elected the Legion’s first National Chaplain.

Two years later, on Armistice Day, Kelly attended the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He was selected to perform the ritual of the Catholic Church at the ceremony’s burial of the body of the Unknown Soldier.

Perreault also tells us a bit about the Rev. Kelly’s funeral and burial in 1931: “His body lay in state in Cairo on Sunday and then was escorted to Cohoes by the men of the parish.

From 5 p.m. until 11 a.m. on Monday, thousands, including, Lt. Governor Lehman, paid their respects, while a guard of honor composed of members of the Ruane

American Legion Post stood guard.

At the conclusion of the service, the church was opened to those who had been unable to pay their respects earlier and when the church was again cleared, his mother, who had been too ill to attend the funeral, said her goodbyes. As the body was placed in the hearse the band played ‘Nearer My God to Thee.’ The funeral cortege was escorted by members of Company B to a simple grave in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Troy. Taps were played and a firing squad gave a final salute. There he rests with his parents and younger brother George, who had died from pneumonia while serving in France.”

It is sad how our memories of people grow dim as time goes by. It has been my pleasure today to bring the Rev. Francis A. Kelly back to people’s minds and introduce him to others, if only for a few minutes. He was one of our most prominent WWI heroes.

Reach columnist David Dorpfeld at gchistorian@gmail.com or visit him on Facebook at “Greene County Historian.”

AMERICAN ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Catskill Elks Lodge 1341 recently concluded this year’s Americanism Essay contest for students grade 5 through 8 throughout Greene County. This year’s topic, “What Does Freedom of Speech Mean to Me?” resulted in many essays submitted, but only six placed as lodge winners and were advanced to the North Hudson district level. Pictured are the Division I 8th grade winners Echo Roe, Brendan Feeney and Chloe Cunningham, with SVP Tim Reed, and school personnel Steve Brandow, Greta Metzler and Mike Watherbee.

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Pizza Party

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Senior Living

www.HudsonValley360.com

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 A7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Using IRA instead of claiming SS: Disability appeal Dear Rusty: I am currently unemployed and drawing funds from my IRA. I am 62 years old. My financial adviser instructed me to not take Social Security because once I do that the percentage of increase would stop. He said to wait until the benefits increased to the point where I could then take Social Security and leave my IRA alone. Does that seem right? Also, I have applied for SS Disability benefits and have been rejected, but I am currently appealing that decision. Is my next step a lawyer? If so do you have any recommendations? Signed: Befuddled

SOCIAL SECURITY MATTERS

RUSSELL

GLOOR Dear Befuddled: If you take your Social Security (SS) benefits at age 62, your payment will be cut by about 27.5% from what it would be at your full retirement age of 66 and a half. If you wait, your SS payment

when you claim it will have grown for each month you delay. You only get 100% of the SS benefit you have earned from a lifetime of working when you reach your full retirement age (FRA). The rate of benefit growth before you reach your FRA is a bit more than 6% for each year you wait, so I expect that your financial advisor compared that guaranteed growth to the interest you are receiving on your IRA and concluded that waiting to claim a higher SS benefit for the rest of your life is a better deal. Provided you are in good health, that seems like a prudent suggestion.

And just so you are aware, if

you delay claiming SS beyond your FRA, you’ll earn an additional 8% for each year you further delay, up to age 70 when your SS benefit would be about 75% more than it will be if you take it now.

Regarding your disability appeal, I cannot recommend a specific attorney, but I suggest you seek one who specializes in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims. SSDI attorneys must adhere to Federal law and they are limited in what they can charge you. Usually that limit is 25% of whatever back SSDI benefits they can secure for you (paid from those back benefits) to a maximum

of $6000. There should be no charge for an initial consultation, and you shouldn’t be required to pay anything unless they win your case for you. The easiest way to find someone to assist you is to do a search for “SSDI attorneys near me” and then do some initial research on your search results before selecting. You’ll be able to judge the strength of your SSDI appeal by whether the SSDI attorney accepts your case – they’ll only accept your case if they believe they can win and be compensated for their efforts.

Only you can judge if engaging an attorney is a wise idea at this point. You still have

multiple SSDI appeal levels available to you, and an SSDI attorney can be engaged at any point you choose.

WAJPL GOLDEN AGERS

groups provide many benefits to those who are grieving. Those who are experiencing grief early on can connect with others in the group who have successfully managed their grief and are further along on their road to feeling happy once again. More information can be found at the face book page at Coxsackie Grief Support Group and also by contacting Jeffrey Haas at 518-478-5414 or jhaasrph@ aol.com.

200.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/socialsecurity-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Senior Briefs All Senior Citizen groups have cancelled their meetings for the foreseeable future, including the meetings below.

We want to hear from you.

To send information to be included in Senior Briefs, email to editorial@thedailymail.net; mail to The Daily Mail, Atten: Senior Briefs, One Hudson City Centre, Suite 202, Hudson, NY 12534. For information and questions, please call 518-8281616 ext. 2490. We would like to have information at least two weeks in advance.

ATHENS SENIOR CITIZENS ATHENS — The Athens Senior Citizens meet at 1:15 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of the month at the Rivertown Senior Center, 39

Second St., Athens.

Village, West Coxsackie.

CAIRO GOLDEN AGERS

SENIOR CITIZENS OF COXSACKIE

CAIRO — The Cairo Golden Agers meet at 1:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Acra Community Center, Route 23, Acra.

COXSACKIE — The Senior Citizens of Coxsackie meet at 1:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at the Coxsackie Senior Center, 127 Mansion St., Coxsackie.

CATSKILL SILVER LININGS SENIORS

GREENVILLE GOLDEN YEARS CLUB

CATSKILL — The Catskill Silver Linings Seniors meet at 1 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Robert C. Antonelli Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill.

GREENVILLE — The Greenville Golden Club meet at 1:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at the American Legion Hall, 54 Maple Ave., Greenville.

COXSACKIE AREA SENIORS

MOUNTAIN TOP GOLDEN AGERS

COXSACKIE — The Coxsackie Area Seniors meet at 1:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in Van Heest Hall, Bethany Village, 800 Bethany

TANNERSVILLE — The Mountain Top Golden Agers meet at 1:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at Tannersville Village Hall, 1 Park Lane, Tannersville.

HENSONVILLE — The WAJPL Golden Agers meet at 1:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at Hensonville Town Building, 371 Route 296, Hensonville.

SUPPORT GROUPS COXSACKIE — A grief support group will start meeting at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Bethany Village in Coxsackie.

While the loss of a loved one is a common source of grief other reasons include the loss of a job, the death of a beloved pet, experiencing a major health challenge such as cancer and the ending of a relationship.

Grief is a very personal and individual emotion. Support

CATSKILL — The Alzheimer’s Association holds support group meetings at 3 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at The Pines, 154 Jefferson Heights, Catskill. For information, call 518-867-4999 ext.

COXSACKIE — The Alzheimer’s Association holds support group meetings at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at Heermance Memorial Library, 1 Ely St., Coxsackie. For information, call 518867-4999 ext. 224.

CATSKILL — The Pines at Catskill and Columbia Memorial Health will host a Stroke Survivor and Caregiver monthly support group at 3 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at The Pines at Catskill Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, 154 Jefferson Heights, Catskill. For information, call 518-943-5151.

Senior Menu CATSKILL — For the foreseeable future, there will be no congregate meals at any of the Greene County Nutrition Centers, including Jewett.

Home delivered meals will still be delivered, and if you want a meal, you can order the day ahead and pick it up at the center to take out.

The following is the weekly nutrition menu offered by the Greene County Department of Human Services’ Senior Nutrition Program.

Served daily with each meal are bread or alternative with Promise Spread; low fat milk, coffee or tea.

All persons 60 and older and their spouses are invited.

The suggested donation for each meal is $4.

The menu will be the meal that is delivered to all Greene County home bound meal clients. Those wishing to receive lunch at a center are asked to

call the respective location at least a day in advance.

Rivertown Senior Center, 39 Second St., Athens; 518945-2700.

Acra Community Center, Old Route 23B, Cairo; 518622-9898.

Jewett Municipal Building, Route 23C, Jewett; 518-2634392.

Washington Irving Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill; 518-943-1343.

Town of Coxsackie Senior Center, Mansion Street, Coxsackie; 518-731-8901.

MARCH 25 THROUGH APRIL 1 WEDNESDAY: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, Parisian mixed vegetables, birthday cupcake.

THURSDAY: Chicken cacciatore with Linguini, fresh salad, spinach, fresh fruit.

FRIDAY: Macaroni and cheese, three bean salad, stewed tomatoes, orange

fruited gelatin.

MONDAY: Chicken chow mein, brown rice, Oriental vegetables, pineapple chunks and mandarin oranges.

TUESDAY: Cook’s choice, cauliflower, fruit cocktail.

WEDNESDAY: Beef and peppers, Harvard beets, sweet potato, apple cake.

APRIL 1 THROUGH APRIL 8 WEDNESDAY: Beef and peppers, Harvard beets, sweet potato, apple cake.

THURSDAY: Pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw, collard greens, fresh fruit.

FRIDAY: Crab topped cod, green beans, fresh salad, roasted red potatoes, chocolate mousse.

MONDAY: Italian sausage tortellini, Italian mixed vegetables, peaches.

TUESDAY: Baked chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, pear crisp.

WEDNESDAY: Spinach

Honest Weight Food Co-op offering early bird store hours to elderly and vulnerable ALBANY – In an effort to help our most vulnerable community members safely access groceries, Honest Weight Food Co-op is opening their doors two hours early on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the foreseeable future. Shopping from 6-8 a.m. on those days will be restricted to elderly shoppers and those at a higher risk of contracting severe cases of the novel coronavirus. The Co-op is open to the public from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Early Bird Hours will be largely staffed by Honest

Weight’s administrative staff.

Limited staff and limited shoppers should allow everyone in the store to maintain safe social distancing, which is recommended at 6 feet or more.

We ask that everyone who enters the store at any time practice social distancing, frequent handwashing, hand sanitizing and general consideration for others.

Honest Weight will continue to close early, at 8 p.m., every night to allow for deep cleaning, restocking, and to account for reduced staff hours as we

encourage any staff member feeling unsafe or unwell to utilize paid sick leave and stay home.

Honest Weight has made other precautionary changes to their operations over the last two weeks, including cancellation of all classes and events and closure of their hot bar, made-to-order sandwich station, and cafe seating area.

Housemade prepared foods are available in the store or online for delivery through Grubhub. Learn more online at www.honestweight.coop.

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- Daniel Patrick Moynihan

quiche, bean salad, cauliflower au gratin, fruit cocktail.

APRIL 8 THROUGH APRIL 15 WEDNESDAY: Spinach quiche, bean salad, cauliflower au gratin, fruit cocktail.

THURSDAY: Sweet and sour chicken, brown rice, broccoli, Chinese almond cookie.

FRIDAY: Battered fish, fresh salad with chickpeas and carrots.

MONDAY: Chicken Dijon, mashed potatoes, pineapple chunks with mandarin oranges.

TUESDAY: Beef stew, broccoli, roasted winter squash cubes, rice pudding with raisins.

WEDNESDAY: Meatloaf with gravy, green beans almandine, scalloped potatoes, apple crisp.

APRIL 15 THROUGH APRIL 22 WEDNESDAY: Meatloaf

with gravy, green beans almandine, scalloped potatoes, apple crisp.

THURSDAY: Low sodium baked ham with pineapple sauce, baked potato, carrots, fruited gelatin.

FRIDAY: Eggplant Parmesan, pasta, Italian green beans, fresh salad with chickpeas, fresh fruit.

MONDAY: Beef strips and broccoli, brown rice, mixed vegetables, pears.

TUESDAY: Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, carrots, peach crisp.

WEDNESDAY: Salisbury steak with gravy, beet salad, broccoli, baked potato, tropical mixed fruit.

Monaco mixed vegetables, cherry cheesecake.

FRIDAY: Whole wheat lasagna, fresh salad with carrots and chickpeas, Italian mixed vegetables, fresh fruit.

MONDAY: Quiche Lorraine, quinoa, hash browns, California mixed vegetables, fruit cocktail.

TUESDAY: Baked chicken quarters with gravy, mashed potatoes, Monaco mixed vegetables, pumpkin pudding with granola topping.

WEDNESDAY: Shrimp scampi, brown rice, broccoli, pineapple delight.

APRIL 22 THROUGH APRIL 29

WEDNESDAY: Shrimp scampi, brown rice, broccoli, pineapple delight.

THURSDAY: American goulash, fresh salad with chickpeas, wax beans, oatmeal raisin cookie.

WEDNESDAY: Salisbury steak with gravy, beet salad, broccoli, baked potato, tropical mixed fruit.

THURSDAY: Roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes,

APRIL 29 AND APRIL 30

Vignettes reveal how tough people can be WASHINGTON, D.C. - The worldwide COVID crisis is disrupting lives and wreaking havoc but the human spirit is resilient and irrepressible.

Without diminishing the pain and suffering that the pandemic is causing, we offer these vignettes that reveal just how tough people can be when faced with adversity and hardship, says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].

Italy has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus; the death rate is second only to China where it originated. NPR reports that more than 1,800 deaths have been reported there to date and the country is in an unprecedented, draconian lockdown. The streets of cities big and small are empty; people have been confined to their homes. Yet, reports are

emerging of how strong the human spirit can be.

A resident of Siena tweeted this message: “People of my hometown Siena sing a popular song from their houses along an empty street to warm their hearts during the Italian Covid_19 lockdown.” A citizen of Naples posted a video on Facebook showing her neighbors shouting positive slogans from their windows such as “there is no virus that can beat us.” Her message for her countrymen: “There is trust and optimism in the air… it could not be otherwise, we are Neapolitan, we are optimistic by nature.”

But perhaps the Italian air force provided the country with a special lift in the midst of the crisis when a squadron of jets, spewing red, white and green exhausts [the colors of Italy] performed a flyby. It was

accompanied by a recording of Luciano Pavarotti’s rousing version of Puccini’s classic aria, Nessun Dorma, which ends with the repetition of the word, Vincero-- I win!

Meanwhile, good old fashioned American grit is showing itself as the reality of the COVID curse is revealed. Take the plucky seniors at the Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts. They weren’t going to let the crisis get the better of them. Faced with the likelihood that traditional graduation ceremonies would be cancelled later this Spring, they put together an impromptu “fauxmencement” observance, UPI reports. The news service says “Seniors attended the ceremony in graduation gowns made from trash bags, caps fashioned from paper and tassels made of yarn.”

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

A8 Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Legislators warn against short-term rentals

By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media

CATSKILL — In their latest attempt to thwart visitors from traveling to Greene County, lawmakers requested that all property owners remove any short-term rental listings.

With no hospital, six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Windham, Hunter and Cairo and 26 individuals self-monitoring for possible exposure, the county’s resources will be strained by a sudden influx of travelers, according to

lawmakers Monday.

“With a full-time residency of under 50,000 people, Greene County simply does not have the adequate services in place to meet the needs of a sudden influx of travelers from outside the county,” according to the statement.

Short-term rentals are a significant lodging option in Greene County.

A study by the county’s Economic Development and Planning Department found that there are more than

9,000 second homeowners in the county, Greene County Economic Development and Planning Director Karl Heck said in January.

Greene County had 45,300 Airbnb guest arrivals in the summer of 2019 and ranked third in the Capital Region for guest arrivals, Deputy Administrator Warren Hart said.

Greene County and Columbia County have more than 1,000 Airbnb units each, according to the state Hospitality & Tourism Association.

Capital Region Heart Ball honors retired pediatric cardiologist

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On Feb. 29, retired pediatric cardiologist Dr. Eric Spooner, left, celebrated with former patient Eliana Clem, second from right, and her parents, Leah and Chad Clem, at the Capital Region Heart Ball. Dr. Spooner received the Donald Led Duke Heart Hero Award at the gala, which raised money for the American Heart Association.

ALBANY — Aidan and Colton are both 8. They both also were born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means the left sides of their hearts aren’t formed correctly. Or, as Aidan’s mother Jennifer said, “My child essentially lives with half a heart.”

But advances in science and technology mean both boys live full and happy lives.

They ski, golf, and are good in school.

On Feb. 29, at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs, they were two of the 16 “Cardiac Kids” who helped raise funds at the Capital Region Heart Ball to benefit the American Heart Association.

The American Heart Association has committed to funding $22.5 million in research about congenital heart defects by 2021, in conjunction with the Children’s

Heart Foundation. That’s in addition to the $58.7 million the Heart Association has invested in research about children’s hearts since 2009.

Dr. Eric Spooner, a retired pediatric cardiologist who lives in Delmar, received the Donald Led Duke Heart Hero Award at the Heart Ball. He practiced for 40 years and saw some 20,000 children.

“It’s an honor to receive this award,” Dr. Spooner said.

“But I’m not the hero. The children and their families are the heroes. The best part of the Heart Ball was seeing some of my patients and being with the families of the Cardiac Kids. We’re all working to build better futures for them.”

Peter Connolly, general manager of The Mercedes Benz Center at Keeler Motor Car Company, co-chaired

the Heart Ball along with Paul McCullough, co-owner of 15 Church in Saratoga Springs.

“I was lucky to work alongside some great volunteers to help make this Heart Ball a wonderful evening,” Connolly said. “I’m also a heartdisease survivor, and the procedure I had a few years ago wasn’t available a few decades ago. Seeing the children born with heart defects is both sobering and inspiring. It’s critical that we keep funding the research of the American Heart Association, so we can all lead longer, healthier lives.”

“The Capital Region Heart Ball is an inspiring and elegant evening,” said Theresa Petrone Butts, Leader IT Vendor Management at MVP Health Care and chair of the board of directors of the American Heart Association.

Greene County Chamber of Commerce encourages support of local small businesses and their employees CATSKILL - These are challenging and unprecedented times as we collectively face the task of containing and reducing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Greene County Chamber of Commerce encourages our businesses and our community members to come together with compassion and support for each other. We must not allow fear to stop us from supporting our neighbors or our local businesses. It has never been more important for each of us to support our local businesses, especially our small businesses and business sectors most impacted by this global pandemic threat.

If you would normally dine out on any particular day, we encourage you to order from our local restaurants for takeout or delivery. We encourage you to order on line or

purchase gift cards from our local businesses and retailers to help tide them over until they can return to normal operations. Support for your local businesses today will be vital in making certain that they will survive and be there for you when life returns to normal, providing the services, products and jobs that are so important to our communities and way of life. Support for your local business is support for your friend or neighbor who is employed there.

Please be sure to follow our local small businesses on social media to learn about special offerings they may be providing during this time.

The Greene County Chamber of Commerce is committed to assisting our members in planning for the disruptions to their normal business operations. We are working with government officials

at the federal, state and local levels to ensure that programs and safety nets are in place for our businesses and our workforce.

The Chamber provides updates and information to help businesses navigate the challenges they are facing and to hopefully offer possible solutions in the face of economic hardship. The landscape for this situation is constantly changing and plans and solutions that we enact today may be inadequate or different tomorrow. We will continue to work to update our answers and the resources we are providing as these changes take place.

Be healthy and be safe.

Be sure to take care of your neighbors in need. The Chamber is here to support our Greene County community. We are all in this together.

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A 2018 study by I Love New York estimated that Airbnb represents 50% of the county’s lodging income.

Monday’s message from lawmakers expands on the release that was issued on Friday, which discouraged travel to the county due to lack of resources.

“Travel into Greene County from any area at this time is inadvisable and is highly discouraged,” according to the statement. “Should large numbers of individuals move

up to Greene County while COVID-19 community transmission is occurring, it will quickly overwhelm health care, public health, public safety and government. Help may not be available to you if you become in need of medical attention.”

In addition to medical supplies and personnel, groceries are also in short supply, according to the release.

“Please don’t have an expectation that resources will be available to you here that

are not available to you in your hometown,” according to the release. “Greene County has a limited number of health care resources and testing capacity is also very limited.”

Sullivan and Delaware counties have issued similar statements.

For information regarding the coronavirus contact: Greene County Call Center at 518-635-5165. Columbia Memorial Hotline 518-828-8249.

State Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

State Historic Preservation Board recommends 12 nominations for State and National Registers of Historic Places ALBANY - The New York State Board for Historic Preservation has recommended adding 12 properties, including one large historic district of more than 1,800 buildings, to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The nominations reflect the striking diversity of New York State’s history, including the nationally significant Hudson Valley studio of modern artist Al Held and the Buffalo factory that produced the world famous Barca Lounger.

“I applaud the owners and caretakers of these properties for working to preserve New York’s heritage,” said Erik Kulleseid, Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “Securing this distinction for these properties will help us to protect and appreciate New York’s fascinating history.”

State and National Registers listing can assist property owners in revitalizing buildings, making them eligible for various public preservation programs and services, such as matching state grants and state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits. Since the Governor signed legislation to bolster the state’s use of rehabilitation tax credits in 2013, the state and federal program has spurred investment of billions of dollars in completed rehabilitations of historic commercial properties and tens of millions invested in owner-occupied historic homes.

The State and National Registers are the official lists of buildings, structures, districts, landscapes, objects, and sites significant in the history, architecture, archaeology and culture of New York State and the nation. There are more than 120,000 historic properties throughout the state listed on the National Register of Historic Places, individually or as components of historic districts. Property owners, municipalities and organizations from communities throughout the state sponsored the nominations.

Once the recommendations are approved by the Commissioner, who serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer, the properties are listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places and then nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, where they are reviewed and, once approved, entered on the National Register. More information, with photos of the nominations, is available on the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website.

LONG ISLAND Cerny’s Bakery, Bohemia – The bakery built in 1932 by

Czech immigrant Josef Cerny and operated by his descendants through the late 1990s is significant for its role as an important business and social and cultural center in the predominantly Czech community of Bohemia during the 20th century.

MID-HUDSON Al Held Home and Studio, Boiceville – The studio is nationally significant for its long and central association with modern artist Al Held (1928–2005), who owned and used this property from 1965 until his death. Best known as a pioneer of hard edge abstraction, Held was one of the most ambitious American painters of the mid-20th century. The large studio spaces in Boiceville allowed him to pursue the kind of large-scale work he found so compelling.

De Meyer-Burhans-Felten Farm, Ulster – The intact Hudson Valley farm includes an 1836 stone house with a later frame addition and a New World Dutch barn dating to the late 18th century that are clustered in a natural landscape setting with the Catskill Mountains as a backdrop.

Deyo-DuBois House, Highland – Built about 1778, the home is a distinctive example of a stone dwelling constructed in the 18th-century regional tradition associated with Ulster County’s Huguenot-American heritage.

Hardenbergh-Jenkins Farm – The property represents the full evolution of a Hudson Valley farm from its initial settlement in the mid-18th century with the construction a ca. 1750 New World Dutch barn and an 1831 residence designed in the Federal and Greek Revival styles, to its preservation as a historic artifact in the late 20th century.

Hopewell Junction Depot, Hopewell Junction – The Dutchess and Columbia Railroad (D&CRR) constructed the depot in 1873 at a site where three railroad lines came together, a place that soon became the focal point of the small but thriving hamlet of Hopewell Junction.

South Bay Mill, Hudson – Built as a soap and candle factory in approximately 1860 near the city’s thriving Hudson River harbor trade, the mill saw a variety of industrial uses in the ensuing decades, lastly as a large-scale electronic goods manufactory.

MOHAWK VALLEY Uptown Theatre, Utica – Built in 1927, the neighborhood theater continued to show movies until 2012, making it Utica’s longest running movie theater. Two commercial storefronts in the building, which continue

in operation today, accommodated a variety of small business operations over a long period of time, including a soda shop, bank, bakery, antiques store, and jewelry store.

NEW YORK CITY Bay Ridge Reformed Church, Brooklyn – Built in 1896 by a congregation made up of the neighborhood’s older, Dutch families, the church is an impressive example of ecclesiastical design with elements influenced by the Arts and Crafts, Medieval revival, and Romanesque styles.

Rugby Congregational Church, Brooklyn – In 1907, as urbanization was spreading southward and eastward from downtown Brooklyn, Rugby Congregational Church was formed by a group of Anglo-American, German, and Scandinavian families. In response to its own growth and that of the neighborhood, the congregation purchased a parsonage and constructed the present church building between 1926-28.

WESTERN NEW YORK University Heights-Summit Park-Berkshire Terrace Historic District, Buffalo – The intact residential suburban-style subdivision in Buffalo was built during a period of intense development between 1893 and 1939.

The announcement in 1909 that the University at Buffalo would occupy the former Erie County Almshouse immediately north of the district helped spark a massive wave of development in an area that had been primarily farmland.

Barcalo Manufacturing Company Factory, Buffalo – Internationally recognized for its BarcaLoafer and BarcaLounger furniture, popular reclining chairs that became part of American pop culture, this company used the factory as its main production facility and corporate headquarters for 64 (1899-1963).

In addition to furniture, the company also produced hand tools and forged metal goods.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual parks, historic sites, recreational trails and boat launches, which are visited by 77 million people annually. A recent university study found that spending by State Parks and its visitors support $5 billion in output and sales, 54,000 private-sector jobs and more than $2.8 billion in additional state GDP. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit parks. ny.gov, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

“Journalism keeps you planted in the earth.” - Ray Bradbury

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Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis (33) rushes against New Orleans Saints defensive back Patrick Robinson (21) during their Dec. 22 game at Nissan Stadium.

Giants close facility but business continues with Lewis, Coleman on board Pat Leonard New York Daily News

The Giants are no different from you during this coronavirus crisis: They’re working from home.

The NFL franchise closed its Quest Diagnostics Training Center headquarters at the end of business Friday until further notice, the Daily News learned Monday afternoon.

They had already suspended all business travel and sent most staff home nearly two weeks ago. But now every Giants employee from Joe Judge on down is working remotely for the foreseeable future, following New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s order of all nonessential businesses closed over the weekend.

Authorities have had preliminary discussions about using the Meadowlands Complex in East Rutherford, N.J., (parking lots, arena, MetLife Stadium, racetrack, etc.) as a staging area during the

COVID-19 pandemic, if necessary, the News also learned. But there have been no official decisions or determinations. These are early and precautionary conversations.

“We’ll continue to work remotely, as most of the organization has done for the past 10 days,’ the Giants said in a statement.

“Again, our concern is for the well-being of those in our organization, our staff and players, our fans. and the communities in which we all live.”

In the meantime, business continued Monday for the Giants with the signing of free agent running back Dion Lewis and the re-signing of wideout Corey Coleman.

Lewis, 29, who comes in on a one-year contract, was released earlier this month by Tennessee as a cap casualty. He appeared in all 16 games but was an underutilized complement to an historically See GIANTS B3

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Holding NFL draft under current conditions could lead to major mistakes. Sports, B2

TIM MARTIN/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Ichabod Crane softball coach Tracy Nytransky speaks to her team between innings of a 2019 Colonial Council game.

Ichabod Crane softball — A dynastic interruption

By Matt Fortunato Columbia-Greene Media

VALATIE — The softball team from Ichabod Crane has been to the NYS Final Four in four of the past five seasons.

They’ve won two state championships out of the last five.

Though the season is delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it only gives the Riders more time to strategize and

make decisions about position battles.

Mackenzie Wendelken will be moving to catcher this season, leaving an opening See SOFTBALL B3

Olympics officially postponed, 2021 targeted Field Level Media

Japan and the International Olympic Committee postponed the 2020 Summer Olympics, scheduled to begin July 24 in Tokyo.

Reacting to growing resistance during the coronavirus pandemic and the call from individuals and nations for the Games to be suspended, officials announced Tuesday all events would be postponed to a date “no later than” summer 2021.

“The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present,” the IOC said in a statement. “Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan.”

Professional sports in Asia have been See OLYMPICS B3

RODRIGO REYES MARIN/ZUMA PRESS

Logos of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) on display outside Tokyo Sports Square building on Monday.

Why Rasheed Wallace and a local high school basketball team needed each other Jonas Pope IV The News & Observer

DURHAM, N.C. — In North Carolina, some are holding out hope that play will eventually resume after this coronavirus lockdown, and that several teams will reach their goal of winning a NCHSAA basketball championship.

If that happens, the C.E. Jordan boys won’t be one of those teams. The Falcons weren’t even in the field, bowing out in the opening round of their conference tournament, ending their season at 11-13 overall, an even 7-7 in Triangle 8 Conference play.

It was the second straight season the Falcons have been on the outside looking in when the postseason rolled around, but there was an improvement.

After the 2018-19 season, Jordan was 7-17 overall and 1-9 in league play. Despite the disappointment of not making the playoffs, on paper there was a vast improvement. So what happened?

About one year ago, the returning Falcons’ players gathered in the media center on campus to meet their new leader. After a speech from members of the Durham Board of Education, in walked their 6-10 first-year head coach, a local legend who over time would realize he needed this group of teenagers as much as they needed him.

At the time of his hiring last March, former UNC forward and 16-year NBA veteran

ROBERT DUYOS/SUN SENTINEL

The New York Knicks’ Rasheed Wallace questions official Joey Crawford during the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fla. on Dec. 6, 2012.

Rasheed Wallace could have been on a bench in the league as an assistant coach. Those close to the game — coaches, former players/ teammates — said Wallace had one of the best

basketball minds they’d been around.

He tutored big men in the G-League and made stops at several college campuses across the country passing along his wisdom to the

next generation of stars. The four-time NBA All-Star briefly had a spot as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons, a team he helped win a championship in 2004. A return to the sidelines in the NBA would not have come as a surprise, but here Wallace was, as far away from an NBA bench as you can get, in the media center at Jordan, smiling from ear-to-ear, wearing a Jordan baseball cap.

At the time he was asked why here, and why now?

“I did have some offers from a few NBA teams to be on their staff,” Wallace said. “The money was good, but it’s not about the money to me, it’s about that knowledge. Knowledge should be free and it doesn’t cost anything to pass that knowledge to these young men.”

A few feet away several of Wallace’s future players hung on his every word. The team had endured a 7-win season and felt like a fresh start was needed by all.

Tyler Cox would be heading into his senior year and didn’t know what to expect with the transition to a new coach, and not just any coach. This was a coach who had been an AllAmerican at nearby North Carolina and one of the most respected forwards in the NBA the last decade. But Cox wanted, maybe even needed a change his final year at Jordan. But as quickly as his excitement rose, he also had a moment of See GIANTS B3

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Auto racing NASCAR CUP SERIES POINTS LEADERS Through March 13 1. Kevin Harvick, 164 points 2. Joey Logano, 163 3. Chase Elliott, 144 4. Alex Bowman, 138 5. Jimmie Johnson, 131 6. Ryan Blaney, 123 7. Kyle Larson, 121 8. Aric Almirola, 121 9. Matt DiBenedetto, 118 10. Brad Keselowski, 118 11. Denny Hamlin, 111 12. Kyle Busch, 111 13. Clint Bowyer, 105 14. Chris Buescher, 102 15. Martin Truex Jr., 96 16. Kurt Busch, 90 17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 88 18. Darrell Wallace Jr., 87 19. William Byron, 87 20. Austin Dillon, 77 21. Erik Jones, 77 22. Cole Custer, 73 23. Corey LaJoie, 68 24. Ty Dillon, 68 25. Tyler Reddick, 68 26. John Hunter Nemechek, 63 27. Michael McDowell, 60 28. Brennan Poole, 40 29. Ryan Newman, 36 30. David Ragan, 33 31. Daniel Suarez, 32 32. Christopher Bell, 26 33. Ryan Preece, 25 34. Reed Sorenson, 17 35. Quin Houff, 11 36. Garrett Smithley, 7

XFINITY SERIES POINTS LEADERS Through March 13 1. Harrison Burton, 176 points 2. Chase Briscoe, 173 3. Austin Cindric, 155 4. Brandon Jones, 148 5. Ross Chastain, 146 6. Noah Gragson, 143 7. Ryan Sieg, 143 8. Justin Haley, 140 9. Justin Allgaier, 138 10. Michael Annett, 119 11. Riley Herbst, 109 12. Brandon Brown, 91 13. Alex Labbe, 87 14. Josh Williams, 83 15. Myatt Snider, 79 16. Ray Black II, 76 17. Jesse Little, 66 18. Vinnie Miller, 64 19. Chad Finchum, 63 20. David Starr, 59 21. BJ McLeod, 58 22. Daniel Hemric, 54 23. JJ Yeley, 52 24. Robby Lyons, 48 25. Jeremy Clements, 44 26. Tommy Joe Martins, 33 27. Jeb Burton, 32 28. Anthony Alfredo, 31 29. Joe Graf Jr, 30 30. Matt Mills, 28

GANDER OUTDOOR TRUCK SERIES POINTS LEADERS Through March 13 1. Austin Hill, 82 points 2. Johnny Sauter, 73 3. Ben Rhodes, 60 4. Brett Moffitt, 59 5. Sheldon Creed, 58 6. Zane Smith, 57 7. Grant Enfinger, 56 8. Christian Eckes, 55 9. Todd Gilliland, 54 10. Codie Rohrbaugh, 53 11. Stewart Friesen, 53 12. Jordan Anderson, 52 13. Matt Crafton, 51 14. Tyler Ankrum, 50 15. Derek Kraus, 48 16. Natalie Decker, 48 17. Tanner Gray, 44 18. Raphael Lessard, 39 19. Cory Roper, 34 20. Spencer Boyd, 30 21. Ty Majeski, 29 22. Jason White, 27 23. Austin Wayne Self, 26 24. Spencer Davis, 25

Transactions BASEBALL AMERICAN LEAGUE Boston Red Sox - Acquired C Jhonny Pereda from the Chicago Cubs.

FOOTBALL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Carolina Panthers - Signed LB Tahir Whitehead to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Signed G John Miller to a one-year, $4 million contract.

Signed DE Stephen Weatherly to a two-year, $12.5 million contract.

Cincinnati Bengals - Signed DB Torry McTyer to a one-year contract.

Dallas Cowboys - Announced C Travis Frederick has retired.

Denver Broncos - Signed G Graham Glasgow to a four-year, $44 million contract.

Kansas City Chiefs - Signed DB Antonio Hamilton to a one-year, $1.047 million contract.

Signed T Mike Remmers to a one-year contract.

Minnesota Vikings - Signed K Dan Bailey to a three-year, $10 million contract.

New England Patriots - Cut K Stephen Gostkowski. Signed DB Cody Davis. Signed WR Damiere Byrd to a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

New Orleans Saints - Re-signed LS Zach Wood to a four-year, $4.78 million contract. Re-signed DB Justin Hardee to a one-year contract. Signed DB Malcolm Jenkins to a four-year, $32 million contract. Signed RB Michael Burton to a oneyear contract. Signed T Andrus Peat to a fiveyear, $57.5 million contract. Signed DE Noah Spence.

San Francisco 49ers - Signed DE Ronald Blair III to a one-year contract.

Seattle Seahawks - Signed T Cedric Ogbuehi to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. Signed C B.J. Finney to a two-year, $8 million contract.

Washington Redskins - Cut DB Coty Sensabaugh. Cut DB Kayvon Webster. Re-signed DE Caleb Brantley. Signed DB Kendall Fuller to a four-year, $40 million contract. Signed DB Sean Davis to a one-year, $5 million contract. Signed TE Logan Thomas. Waived DB CB Breon Borders and S Montae Nicholson. Waived DB Dee Delaney.

NCAA FOOTBALL Baylor - Named Aman Anand to the special teams staff.

Baylor - Named Landrie Walsh director of oncampus recruiting.

Baylor - Named Mike Caputo defensive quality control analyst.

Baylor - Named Quintin Jordan director of football operations.

Baylor - Named Zachary Crabtree offensive quality control analyst.

BASKETBALL NCAA BASKETBALL Florida State - Announced G Devin Vassell will enter the NBA draft.

HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Buffalo Sabres - Signed LW Dawson Dipietro to an entry-level contract.

Minnesota Wild - Signed LW Adam Beckman and C Damien Giroux to a three-year, entrylevel contract.

Nashville Predators - Signed G Connor Ingram to a three-year, $2.2 million contract extension.

Philadelphia Flyers - Signed C Tanner Laczynski to an entry-level contract.

Golf PGA TOUR FedEx Cup Points Leaders Through March 9 Trn Points 1. Justin Thomas 8 1,403 2. Sung-jae Im 14 1,390 3. Brendon Todd 14 1,116 4. Webb Simpson 5 1,083 5. Marc Leishman 9 1,059 6. Lanto Griffin 16 1,042 7. Sebastian Munoz 15 1,006 8. Patrick Reed 8 996 9. Kevin Na 12 842 10. Hideki Matsuyama 11 807 11. Cameron Smith 10 782 12. Cameron Champ 11 728 13. Bryson DeChambeau 7 721 14. Joaquin Niemann 12 705 15. Nick Taylor 12 699 16. Scottie Scheffler 13 693 17. Tyrrell Hatton 4 691 18. Tom Hoge 13 656 19. Harris English 11 630 20. Rory McIlroy 6 630 21. Adam Scott 7 617 22. Carlos Ortiz 13 598

Holding NFL draft under current conditions could cause teams to make major mistakes Sam Farmer Los Angeles Times

In this weird coronavirus reality, the sport at center stage is the one that’s not in season.

The NFL provided a distraction last week by staying the course with free agency. Although initially the decision seemed tone deaf, it actually gave millions of fans something to fixate on and discuss that didn’t have life-ordeath gravitas.

But the league’s insistence to stick with the April 23-25 dates for the draft could be problematic, giving some teams an unfair advantage and leaving some lesser-known players out in the cold.

Over the weekend, speaking with multiple NFL general managers and player personnel directors from both conferences — each of whom was working from home — they comDEVIN AARON/RR PARTNERS mented on the condition of anonym- An artist rendering of the 2020 NFL Draft stage in Las Vegas on the lake in front of the Bellagio Hotel with boats ferrying players ity so they could be candid. and VIPs. The league announced Monday the draft would go on, but without events open to the public.

This is sports. These people aren’t Under normal circumstances, a at maybe an ACL repair or a back inon the front lines saving lives the way was going to be a stage in front of the doctors and nurses are. Hardships Bellagio hotel, and players would team can bring in 30 prospects for in- jury, or any other general issue. It’s rethat general managers might encoun- ride through the famous fountains terviews before the draft. Those are ally unfair to those kids because a lot ter are mere inconveniences. But they in a boat when selected. That was now banned. That’s a problem. of teams may not take those players “A lot of these players, maybe you without a firm medical on them.” could cause the NFL to reassess the scrubbed amid the COVID-19 panscheduling of the draft, which has be- demic, and the league won’t be go- didn’t talk to them at the combine Then again, there’s a distinct suring to Las Vegas at all. As it stands, because they went from 60 to 45 play- vival-of-the-fittest element to the come a made-for-TV event.

“If everything goes the way it’s go- the NFL is planning a scaled-down ers,” a personnel director said. “May- NFL. As one GM put it, there is an ing now, and virus could be peak- version of the draft in a studio, using be your coach had a chance to meet upside to keeping the draft dates in ing around the time of the draft, you technology to check in with players with them in another part of the sta- place. dium. But a lot of these players, you could easily see a suspension of the and the various team headquarters.

“Football is always challenging, and Problem is, those headquarters thought, ‘OK, great, we haven’t spent draft,” one GM said. “I have no inside ultimately those who can adjust the information, but if we have areas of aren’t currently open. Virtually ev- enough time with this guy. So we want best have a chance to make the most the country that look like what North- eryone is working from home, and to fly him in to our facility and really of the moment,” he said. “You’ve got ern Italy’s going through, I don’t think certainly the executives from the get to know him.’ to think, ‘How do we make this a com“You don’t know how the guy we’ll be drafting ... But we have to pre- three California teams — Los Angeles’ petitive advantage for us?’ “ Rams and Chargers, and San Francis- learns, how he interacts with people pare like we’re drafting.”

One GM said he’s working at home, on your staff. You learn a lot about Tex Schramm, legendary GM of the co 49ers.

As convincing as the NFL has been guys having them in your building. A on his cellphone, with his kids runDallas Cowboys, once warned that the NFL cannot become a studio game. about pressing forward, there’s a lot of times when a coach is interview- ning around and no ability to get into But putting the broadcast spectacle of feeling among many that the current ing a guy, you’re trying to teach them. his team headquarters. He doesn’t You’ll get them on the board, then you have the 30-foot-long draft board that the draft ahead of the intended pur- dates aren’t set in stone.

The Rams and Chargers are in dis- wipe it off, and you throw up another takes up an entire wall of the facility, pose — helping teams restock their talent supply — seems the epitome of tinctly different positions. Whereas play. You see how they retain; that’s and joked you can’t buy those on Amthe Rams don’t have their first selec- what we really want to know. It’s hard azon. He doesn’t have multiple landa studio game.

The perspectives of the team execu- tion until No. 52, the Chargers have to re-create that over Skype or any- lines at home, the kind that teams retives varied slightly, but each said the the sixth pick and could well be choos- thing else.” quire during a draft. That would make The players who could really lose a trade particularly tricky. inconvenience of working at home ing a quarterback. What if Alabama’s — without the opportunity to bring Tua Tagovailova is available, and the out are the ones who weren’t invited “In those situations, I’ll have one prospects into the facility for a visit, in Chargers don’t have the chance to to the combine. They have neither of our scouts calling the player, one some cases without complete medi- have their doctors examine his surgi- met with coaches nor have they had scout manning the phone that sends cal reports, and without the ability to cally repaired hip? In that case, they NFL medical exams. Among the NFL the pick in and is connected to New bring scouts together for face-to-face would have to make a monumental, players who weren’t invited to the discussions — makes the job signifi- multimillion-dollar decision, one combine: Julian Edelman, Doug Bald- York the whole time,” the GM said. that could change the trajectory of win, Antonio Gates, Tyreek Hill and “One guy is on the trade phone with cantly more challenging. the league. I might be on the phone As one GM put it, it’s more convinc- the franchise for years to come, based Adam Thielen.

“How do you draft a guy that you with the other team. Plus you’ve got ing if a scout is pounding the draft- on the recommendation of someone have no medical on?” a personnel di- the countdown clock.” room table on behalf of a prospect they don’t employ.

In short, that would be next to imA lot of players who have medical rector said. “Even if a school allows than pounding the kitchen table on a Zoom connection. exams at the combine have to come you to access a player’s medical re- possible for a homebound GM. “If my Wi-Fi goes out,” he said, The NFL planned to hold the draft back to Indianapolis for a follow-up cords, with the player’s approval, you in Las Vegas for the first time. There exam. Now, those won’t take place. still don’t have your doctors looking “then I’m really in trouble.”

Take 5: XFL stars who could impact NFL David DeChant Field Level Media

With the first season of the XFL’s second edition officially over, players were permitted to sign with NFL teams beginning Monday.

Most won’t make NFL rosters, but a select few have a chance to stick and even make an impact with their new teams.

Leading the way, of course, is the man who was the clear MVP frontrunner before the season ended due to the coronavirus pandemic, a quarterback who signed with the Carolina Panthers.

1. P.J. Walker, QB, Houston Roughnecks Clearly the XFL’s most sought after player, Walker reportedly joined the Panthers on a two-year deal Monday, so he’ll sit behind Teddy Bridgewater while getting to know new offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s offense.

TROY TAORMINA/USA TODAY What makes Walker special Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker (11) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Wildcats is how quickly and efficiently during their XFL game at TDECU Stadium. he can deliver the ball. Not only does he have a powerful timing during his five-game Walker’s presence, he showed perhaps as a third receiver. arm, but his release is snappy stint with the Roughnecks, plenty of ability on his own.

3. Donald Parham, TE, Daland sharp from a variety of creating optimism about his Not known for his explosive- las Renegades platforms. Even with his feet future. After signing Walker, ness coming out of Virginia Parham forced his way onto disrupted by a muddy pocket, the Panthers shipped Kyle Al- Tech, Phillips showed terrific the NFL’s radar despite playWalker can flick throws from a len to Washington. Walker is quickness and enough speed ing college at Stetson, getvariety of arm angles with ad- more talented than 2019 third- with Houston to threaten ver- ting invited to the 2019 Senior equate zip or touch. round pick Will Grier, making tically and after the catch. He Bowl, but he went undrafted The former Indianapolis for a fun backup QB battle in ran routes with good pacing and failed to make rosters in Colt and 2017 undrafted free Carolina. and feel, knowing how to set up Detroit and Washington. He agent out of Temple stands 2. Cam Phillips, WR, Hous- defenders or settle into zones. should get another shot now, under six feet but doesn’t play ton Roughnecks Phillips also was surprising- as the 6-foot-8, 240-pounder Walker’s favorite target was ly impressive in tight quarters, has been a receiving weapon. that way. He stands tall in the Parham’s length stands out pocket and moves efficiently also a lock for this list, with pro- using his 6-foot frame to box against the rush, looking to duction (31 catches, 455 yards, out and make contested catch- immediately – he looks like a nine touchdowns) that’s im- es in traffic. He has enough basketball center, with a trethrow rather than run.

Walker also read the field possible to ignore. While Phil- tools and savvy to fit in an mendous catch radius. He’s well and played with precise lips certainly benefited from NFL team’s wideout rotation, not particularly agile, but he

can really run, eating up yards with long strides in the open field.

Being so tall and lanky, Parham struggles to gain leverage as a blocker, and he doesn’t have ideal lower-body strength. Even so, his receiving tools should intrigue teams looking for a red zone threat.

4. Cavon Walker, DE/DT, New York Guardians The most productive pass rusher in the XFL, Walker led the league comfortably in sacks (4.5) and quarterback hits (nine) while finishing second in tackles for loss (five).

He won using quickness and hands but also power, where he exploits his shorter stature (6-foot-2) to get under blockers and create leverage.

Walker’s challenge will be position fit. He played both end and tackle for the Guardians and probably won’t hold up inside as a run defender, but he could fit as a 3-4 defensive end.

5. Steven Johnson, LB, Seattle Dragons Johnson, the XFL leader in tackles (48) and tackles for loss (six), is easy to project to the NFL because he spent six seasons there from 2012-2017.

While never a regular starter, Johnson was a core special teamer for the Denver Broncos (2012-14) and a productive injury fill-in in 2014 before bouncing around to Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Soon to turn 32, Johnson should have at least another year or two in him as a useful special teamer and fourth linebacker.

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No one knows how much baseball will be played this year, but any would be better than none Dave Sheinin The Washington Post

Baseball, like all sports in North America, has already lost the rest of March to the global coronavirus pandemic, with spring training camps effectively shuttered, Opening Day delayed indefinitely and players either back home with their families or, in declining numbers, working out on their own in Arizona or Florida in skeleton-crew configurations. Sixty feet six inches, thankfully, represents an acceptable barrier for social distancing.

Baseball has already lost April, too, with the sport following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that recommend an eightweek ban on gatherings of 50 or more people, introduced on March 15. And May is already looking bleak, based on that CDC timeline - which now, given the virus’s continued spread, appears hopelessly optimistic - and the necessity of a two- to four-week ramp-up before arms and legs can be ready to play ball.

So maybe June? July? August? Perhaps not again until 2021?

Nobody can say for certain. Baseball ultimately has little say on when, or if, its 2020 season will begin. Given everything else we are confronting, it seems trivial to even ponder.

So far, MLB has said only that league officials “remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins,” according to a

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at first base. It looks like this will be the most sought after position, as upperclassmen Cameron Phippen, Rachel Walsh, and Clare Knapp who is looking to make an impact as she moves up to the varsity roster.

Coach Tracy Nytransky is confident that her team will continue to push each other to play even better once the

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productive Derrick Henry, especially down the stretch as the Titans made a run to the AFC Championship Game.

Lewis played three seasons in New England (201517) while Judge was coaching

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on hold for weeks, and North American sports went on pause in the past two weeks as the international health crisis continues to spread.

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uncertainty that comes along with a change.

“As a player I was like dang, I might not even be a part of the team next year,” Cox told the N&O. “People thought he was going to bring in other guys with him.”

If the self doubt wasn’t enough, the whispers around the halls at Jordan also didn’t go unheard. Luring in Wallace went from a moment of excitement from the players, to people around the school wondering why a former NBA player would want to coach there, especially a team that went 1-9 in league play the year before. Those weren’t just whispers, it was full blown conversations students were having with the players.

“In school that’s where the main talk was,” junior forward Joshua Sampson said. “Everyone was talking about how the coach is going to be disappointed, coming into a new

statement released March 16.

But the truth remains, with each day that passes - and as the impact of coronavirus grows larger across all segments of American life, with the scientific community warning it will get worse before it gets better - the baseball season shrinks. Or rather, it shrinks on the front end. And the question for a sport hoping to salvage its 2020 season may eventually pivot from “How soon can baseball start up again?” to “How deep into the calendar can it be played?”

“I believe this season is going to be played,” Los Angeles Angels Manager Joe Maddon said on a conference call with reporters earlier this month. “I believe it may not incorporate a full 162 [games], but I believe we’ll play a pretty full major league season.”

There are far bigger things to worry about during these times than baseball, of course, and like most companies and industries across the country, Major League Baseball has focused largely on protecting the health of its workforce and girding itself against the dire economics of the nationwide shutdown. All week, MLB and its union have been negotiating issues ranging from player compensation to roster rules to service-time accrual during this indefinite hiatus.

There will be vast sums of money lost, all around. Again, not the most important thing right now, but not nothing.

On Thursday, MLB announced the

cancellation of the April 18-19 series that would have been staged in Mexico City between the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, and the April 28-30 series in San Juan, Puerto Rico between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. Still on the calendar, for now, is the series in London in June between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. July, of course, brings the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. And August 13 is supposed to feature the inaugural Field of Dreams Game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox near Dyersville, Iowa.

Those, too, could be threatened if the national emergency gets worse.

“I don’t know. You know what’s funny, there has been all kinds of speculation of the length of play, All-Star Game, this, this and this,” Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton said.

“This point, in my thought process, you know, tell me when we are going back to work and tell me where we are going next. I try not to overthink and get too much into it, because I will think myself sick if that’s the case.”

The Seattle Mariners, according to General Manager Jerry DiPoto, have closed their Peoria, Arizona, spring training headquarters completely, telling remaining players to go home and go into “offseason mode.”

“Our primary concern isn’t preparing for a baseball season,” DiPoto told reporters via conference call Thursday.

“It’s making sure we stay as healthy as we can and that we’re doing our part in

a public health crisis to not spread this thing any further than it already has or will.”

However, when it comes to the status and structure of the 2020 baseball season, as eventually will need to be addressed, the decision-makers may find that the needs of baseball as an industry cannot easily be reconciled with the needs of baseball as a sport.

Baseball, in normal times, is a daily game spread across a six-month regular season and a month-long postseason. That structure, with its long, grueling slog through the calendar, is fundamental to its essence. Over a full season, the old baseball adage goes, water always finds its level. Those 162 games reveal all.

But occasionally, circumstances have dictated a shorter season. In 1918, the season shortened from the standard (at the time) 154 down to an average of 127 per team, and the 1919 season to 140. Strikes shortened the 1981 season from 162 to 107, the 1994 season to 114 and the 1995 season to 144.

But in the entire modern era of baseball, the sport has never witnessed a season of fewer than 107 games which, as it happens, would be roughly the number of games that could fit comfortably into the 2020 schedule, given the current best-case start date of around June 1.

“In 1981, the strike cost us about 50 to 55 games per team,” John Thorn, MLB’s official historian said in a recent telephone interview. “So that season

came in at around 107-110 games. If we went down to that same number this year, it would still be a season.”

But would it still be a season at, say, 81 games - half its regular size? Fifty games? Thirty? The question, should it even come to that, would go beyond logistics and into the realm of the existential: What is the number of games below which you can no longer stage a representative baseball season?

Thorn, like many others in the sport, was not willing to go there.

“As an historian, my crystal ball works very well in reverse,” he said, “and not so well in the future.”

Other baseball executives contacted

by The Post likewise declined to discuss hypotheticals related to the season.

“It’s just not the time,” one of them replied.

When (or if) the time comes to squeeze as many games as possible into a 2020 schedule, baseball will have options to optimize its calendar.

Among them might be regularly scheduled doubleheaders or a reduction in the number of scheduled off-days.

Canceling the All-Star Game - and presumably awarding a future midsummer classic to Dodger Stadium - could gain perhaps another four days. It is also possible conditions might allow for games to begin without fans at first, permitting an earlier start than would otherwise be possible.

season is underway.

“It’s a great thing for us to have put together a program where the girls want to put in the work, and know what it takes to be successful,” Nytransky said.

She also did not seem to have much concern with these number of weeks the season will be pushed back, and was confident in her team’s work ethic to stay ready.

“This year I think we should have a lot of depth and we should hit the ball pretty well. Most of these girls that

are playing, are practicing all year. So basically, preparation never ends for them, and they are immediately ready to go once the season starts.”

The Riders look to bounce back, if this season actually begins, after a tough loss in the semifinals of the Final Four last year, with, now senior, Bella Milazzo on the mound.

Another key returning player will be Marissa Wheeler, who will look to stay dominant on the mound alongside Milazzo this year.

“We have a lot of high hopes

for this season,” Nytransky stated, “with nine returning players and I fully expect to get back to the state tournament. At this point, obviously all of that is up in the air depending on what the state decides with spring sports.”

Originally, the spring season would have only been about a week away from now, with team rosters taking on a shape at this point in practices. But it gets to be tough when teams cannot even gather together outside to refine their skills and build team chemistry, when it becomes a

public health risk.

Nytransky remains dedicated to checking on her girls though, and maintains the relationships she has built with these players the last few seasons, any way that she can.

“It was tough for us to start the season, and then be shut down after the first week. I have been staying in touch with my players in a few ways.

I’ve started a varsity softball Google Classroom to send motivational quotes, different workouts, and drills that they can do at home to keep themselves sharp.

“And really, I’ve just been texting them to see how they are doing, and making sure they will be polished and ready once we do get the call to hopefully come back.”

As of right now, the schedule was pushed back for Section II spring sports until at least April 19. And we will hear of any changes in the coming days and weeks, as the committees continue to meet and have conference calls to decide the immediate future of these student-athletes.

special teams for the Patriots.

And he is a smart player and good receiver who could replace Saquon Barkley at times on passing downs, given Barkley’s severe pass protection problems in year two.

Lewis joins Barkley, Wayne Gallman, Eli Penny and Jon Hilliman as the running backs on the Giants’ active roster at the moment. Buck Allen is a free agent.

Coleman, 25, meanwhile, returns on a one-year contract, per ESPN, after tearing his ACL on the first day of training camp last summer.

Coleman, the Cleveland Browns’ 15th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, joined the Giants in the middle of the 2018 season, made some big plays as a kick returner, and last offseason had worked his way up to the No. 3 receiver

spot before going down in late July.

So the setback hurt, but Coleman said on breakup day on Dec. 30 that he had already been running on his ACL for a while. And he seems to have found an organization that embraces him after struggling to settle in early in his career in Cleveland — and in Buffalo and New England early in the 2018 NFL season.

“I’m eager to play,” Coleman said in December. “During this time off, I had to reflect on a lot of things in my life. I got to learn more. I finally got to sit back and watch. I haven’t watched a full season since I can’t even remember to be honest. So it makes me hungry. I’m ready to be back and prove to myself that my body’s good. I’m good.”

The Giants’ free agent

acquisitions, by the way, will be able to sign contracts in the coming days and be announced as official Giants despite not having completed physical examinations in most cases. They will still be official pending those physicals, though, due to current restrictions imposed by the league and NFLPA on player-team visits and contact during the coronavirus pandemic.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Tuesday that he and IOC president Thomas Bach reached an agreement to delay the Tokyo Games.

“I proposed to Mr. Bach to postpone the event for a year.

He 100 percent agrees with me, and the latest by summer 2021, the Olympics will be

held. Symbolize victory over the virus. We will like to fulfill our responsibility,” Abe said.

“We have to think about the current outbreak of the coronavirus. Holding the Olympics in 2020 is difficult. We talked about a one-year postponed, and we agreed on the holding of the event in 2021.

We are looking to coordinate

venues. IOC meeting will be held soon.”

The Olympic torch run scheduled to begin this month had been altered to be carried by car instead of on foot. The flame will remain in Tokyo while planning and logistics for rescheduling the Games takes place.

Bach wrote a letter on

Sunday in which he stated the desire to have the timing of the Olympics finalized within four weeks.

That position drew backlash, with Canada announcing it would withdraw from the Games if they were held before next summer. Team USA Swimming and Track & Field earlier had requested to

postpone the Olympics.

The Olympics never had been postponed previously.

They were canceled during World War I (1916) and World War II (1940, 1944), but the IOC was clear that is not a consideration at this time.

situation and watching our team from last year and seeing where we were. Nobody was understanding how even an NBA player would be able to turn the program around the way that he did.”

So that’s the canvas Wallace had to work with from the start. A team that had an unsuccessful season the previous year, getting knocked by their peers before they even had a chance to start fresh with a new coach. Building confidence was a priority before they even touched a basketball.

“Everyone else was doubting them and putting them down,” Wallace told the N&O one day in February before an afternoon practice. “Well, let’s change that. Once you start caring about yourself, then you’re going to start caring about your brothers, then you’ll care about the unit.

Then it becomes ignore everything you hear from outside.”

The outside wasn’t limited to just fellow students. Before Wallace started the season he was already hearing from staff members about guys on his

team.

“We let them know when we first got here it was some school staff members saying ‘you got your hands full’ or ‘this kid is a problem child,’” Wallace recalled. “So we shared that with them, we didn’t give the individual teacher, but we let them know your teacher here in the school doubting you, so what’s the best way to kill all the noise?

Go out there and do better than what you did last year, do better than what you did last week and keep improving each game, over and over.”

It didn’t start out exactly as planned. After an off-season filled with sprints, individual drills and reshaping the mindset of the team, the Falcons went 1-5 in the first six games.

You could almost smell the ‘here we go ahead’ oozing from lockers at the school.

There were still some guys who hadn’t fully brought in, players who were putting themselves before the team, trying to get their stats up.

It took a few games, but one day Wallace remembers it all clicking. His guys had finally

gotten out of the finger pointing stage.

“One thing they have to remember, as great as he was, even Superman needs friends,” Wallace said. “It’s not (about) you, it’s bigger than you. That means you are caring about what your brothers do. It’s just a whole positive nature.”

Jordan went on a four-game win streak spanning December and January, allowing them to match their win total from the previous season.

Late in the season Wallace strolls in for an afternoon practice. The guys are already on the floor warming up, stretching before jumping in a fast paced layup line under the watchful eye of assistant coach Pat Cole, the 2016-17 MEAC Player of the Year at NC Central.

Wallace walks in a few minutes into the drill. He chats with the players about their day, checking with one to make sure he got a pre practice sandwich. A few moments later Wallace takes off his Kansas City Chiefs hat (he’s a diehard fan), jacket and heads to the

top of the key to watch a drill.

After a few sequences he stops everyone to make a suggestion. Known for his outbursts in the NBA, mainly towards officials, this is a calmer Wallace, far from the guy who still holds the record for technical fouls in an NBA season at 41.

He speaks so low that if you’re not inside the threepoint range you can barely make out what he’s saying.

Whatever it is, the guys are all listening, locked in. One thing Sampson liked when Wallace took over was how simple he made the game. He didn’t overcomplicate things with detailed sets and plays, with a counter to every defense and a counter to that counter.

Wallace says there’s an acronym in basketball K.I.S.S. which means keep it simple stupid, that he learned from a coach a long time ago, and he didn’t what to overwhelm the kids.

Keeping it simple is one way to describe Wallace’s life these days. He retired in 2013, with plenty of life ahead of him to do whatever he wanted. At

45 years old, Wallace doesn’t strike you as the type of retiree who would rather spend his time on a golf course.

But he did need something to feel a void, and he knew that was coaching at some level.

What he was also missing, in his own words, was some sort of structure. Coaching at Jordan has provided just that.

When Jordan needed a new coach, the NBA veteran filled that void, but what nobody realized at the time of the hiring, maybe not even Wallace himself, was he needed them just as much. It’s safe to say that Wallace and his new team crossed paths at the right time.

“Yes, for sure. That’s the way I like to think about it as well,” Wallace said. “It helped me with stability. Working with them, plus with my daughter going here as well, being on that set schedule, to be responsible for more children than my own. It sets you on a different path, different direction.”

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APN ENVIRONMENTAL L.L.C., Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/31/2020.

Office loc: Greene County.

SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 54 Maple Street, Cementon, NY 12414. Reg Agent: U.S. Corp. Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave., Ste 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

FAIRVIEW Avenue Development, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on March 18, 2020.

Office in Columbia Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to is Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC, 43 British American Blvd., Latham, New York 12110. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

HARUKI CONSULTANTS LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 03/09/2020. Office in Columbia Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 20 Hill N Dale Rd., Germantown, NY 12526, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at a meeting held on the 16th day of March, 2020, the Village Board of the Village of Tannersville, Greene County, New York, duly adopted a bond resolution, an abstract of which follows, which resolution is subject to a permissive referendum pursuant to Section 36 of the Local Finance Law and Article 9 of the Village Law of the State of New York.

Said resolution authorizes the acquisition of a Western Star 4700 SF heavy duty truck with dump body, plow and wing at an estimated maximum cost of $195,952, and authorizes the issuance of serial bonds of the Village of Tannersville, Greene County, New York, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $195,952 pursuant to the Local Finance Law to finance the cost thereof.

Said resolution shall take effect thirty days after adoption, unless there shall be filed with the Village Clerk a petition signed and acknowledged by the electors of the Village in number equal to at least twenty percentum of such electors in the Village, as shown on the register of elections for the previous general village election, protesting against this resolution and requesting that the matter be submitted to the electors of the Village for their approval or disapproval in the manner provided by Village Law. A copy of the resolution is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Office of the Village Clerk, located at the Village Hall, One Park Lane, Tannersville, New York.

Dated: March 16, 2020 Robin Dumont Village Clerk Village of Tannersville

Hubbell Inc. is currently accepting proposals for materials and subcontractors for work pertaining to the Big Pond Road Culvert Replacement Project in the Town of Hardenburgh, Ulster County, NY. MBE, WBE, and Section 3 firms are encouraged to respond and will be given first priority. Please call Laurissa Vanoni at 845-586-2707 or email LAURISSA.VANONI@HUBBELLS.COM Notice of Formation of Leam Mountain Propfor details. erties 2, LLC. Arts. of PUBLIC NOTICE – Org. filed with SSNY CITY OF HUDSON, NY on 12/23/19. Office loThe Mayor’s public cation: Greene. SSNY hearing requirement desg. as agent of LLC prior to signing pro- upon whom process posed local laws has against it may be been suspended due served. SSNY mail to 1129 to the public health process emergency occa- Northern Blvd., Mansioned by the Co- hasset, NY, 11030. vid-19 Pandemic. Any lawful purpose.

Mayor Kamal Johnson is considering signing Notice of Formation of the following proposed Leam Mountain Properties 1, LLC. Arts. of local law: Local Law Introductory Org. filed with SSNY No. B of 2020 – on 12/23/19. Office loAmending the Lodging cation: Greene. SSNY Tax to provide for the desg. as agent of LLC revenues from the upon whom process short-term lodging tax against it may be be deposited in the served. SSNY mail to 1129 City’s General Fund process and be allocated dur- Northern Blvd., Maning the regular budget hasset, NY, 11030. process to support the Any lawful purpose. efforts of the Tourism Notice of Formation of Board as the City SDWT, LLC. Arts. of deems appropriate Org. filed with SSNY and necessary. on 12/23/19. Office loComplete text of the cation: Greene. SSNY above proposed law is desg. as agent of LLC posted on the front upon whom process door of City Hall, 520 against it may be Warren Street OR may served. SSNY mail also be viewed on the process to 1129 city website www.city- Northern Blvd., Manofhudson.org hasset, NY, 11030.

Mayor Johnson is in- Any lawful purpose. terested in accepting public comment virtu- Three Black Rabbits ally or via the tele- LLC, a domestic LLC, phone for the next filed with the SSNY on couple of days. If inter- 2/24/2020. Office loColumbia ested in commenting cation: on this proposed law, County. SSNY is desplease submit your ignated as agent upon comments to the whom process against LLC may be Mayor’s Office the SSNY shall (518) 828-7217 or served. email mayor@cityof- mail process to 2681 hudson.org by Friday, Route 23, Hillsdale, NY 12529. Purpose: real March 27, 2020. estate and general Tracy Delaney business purposes.

City Clerk Public Sale LLC a doNotice of Formation of mestic LLC, filed with Bellamy Wood Studio the SSNY on 2/27/20.

LLC. Arts of Org. filed Office location: Columwith New York Secy of bia County, NY. SSNY State (SSNY) on is designated as agent 2/10/20. Office loca- upon whom process tion: Columbia County. against the LLC may SSNY is designated as be served. SSNY shall agent of LLC upon mail process to 90 whom process against Green St., Hudson, NY it may be served. 12534. Purpose: AucSSNY shall mail pro- tion; General business cess to: POB 77, N. purposes.

Chatham, NY 12132.

Purpose: any lawful NOTICE OF ORGANactivity.

IZATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY NOTICE OF ADOP- COMPANY FIRST: The TION OF BOND RES- name of the Limited LiO L U T I O N ability Company is

Grange Upstate, LLC (hereinafter referred to as the “Company�)

SECOND: The Articles of Organization of the Company were filed with the Secretary of State on February 5, 2020.

THIRD: The County within the State of New York in which the office of the Company is located is Greene. FOURTH: The Secretary of State has been designated as agent upon whom process against the Company may be served.

The post office address to which the Secretary of State shall mail process is P.O. Box 1328, Hudson, NY 12534.

FIFTH: The Company is organized for all lawful purposes, and to do any and all things necessary, convenient, or incidental to that purpose. Dated: February 28, 2020 FREEMAN HOWARD, P.C. 441 East Allen Street P.O. Box 1328 Hudson, New York 12534 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC) The name of the LLC is 648 RTE 203, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on October 3, 2019. New York office location: 238 Schoolhouse Road, Town of Ghent, County of Columbia and the State of New York. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is: c/o 648 RTE 203, LLC, 238 Schoolhouse Road, Ghent, NY 12075. Purpose/Character of business: Any lawful business purpose permitted under the New York Limited Liability Company Law. This notification is made pursuant to Section 206 of the Limited Liability Company Law. Sealed bids will be received as set forth in instructions to bidders until 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at the NYSDOT, Contract Management Bureau, 50 Wolf Rd, 1st Floor, Suite 1CM, Albany, NY 12232 and will be publicly opened and read. Bids may also be submitted via the internet using www.bidx.com. A certified cashier's check payable to the NYSDOT for the sum specified in the proposal or a bid bond, form CONR 391, representing 5% of the bid total, must accompany each bid. NYSDOT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Electronic documents and Amendments are posted to w w w. d o t . n y. g o v / d o ing-business/opportu-

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The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all Amendments are incorporated into its bid. To receive notification of Amendments via e-mail you must submit a request to be placed on the Planholders List at w w w. d o t . n y. g o v / d o ing-business/opportunities/const-planholder. Amendments may have been issued prior to your placement on the Planholders list.

NYS Finance Law restricts communication with NYSDOT on procurements and contact can only be made with designated persons.

Contact with non-designated persons or other involved Agencies will be considered a serious matter and may result in disqualification. Contact Robert K i t c h e n (518)457-2124.

Contracts with 0% Goals are generally single operation contracts, where subcontracting is not expected, and may present direct bidding opportunities for Small Business Firms, including, but not limited to D/W/MBEs. The New York State Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Title IV Program and Related Statutes, as amended, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all who respond to a written Department solicitation, request for proposal or invitation for bid that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability/handicap and income status in consideration for an award.

BIDDERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT AWARD OF THESE CONTRACTS MAY BE CONTINGENT UPON THE PASSAGE OF A BUDGET APPROPRIATION BILL BY THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Please call (518)457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the letting.

Region 08: New York State Department of Transportation 4 Burnett Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603 D264245, PIN 804811, Columbia Co., HWP Route 203 Pavement Resurfacing in Columbia County, Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $75,000.00), Goals: MBE: 12.00%, WBE: 18.00% SECTION 00020 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids for the furnishing of all labor and material necessary for the 2020 Columbia County Multi-Bridge Element-Specific Bridge Work: Hickory Hill Road over Agawamuck Creek, Shufelt Road over Kline Kill (BIN 3222560), CR 34 over Hollow Brook (CB#125) (BIN 3342420), CR 34 over Hollow Brook (CB#126) (BIN 3342430), CR 9 over Wyomanock Creek (BIN 3342210), CR 9 over Punsit Creek (BIN 3221940), Church Road over Mud Creek (BIN 3222600), Shaker Museum Road over Tributary to Kinderhook Creek (BIN 3222100), CR 34 over Hollow Brook (CB#150) (BIN 3342560), High Bridge Road over Stony Kill (BIN 3222070) will be received by the Office of the Columbia County Department of Public Works – Highway Division, 178 Route 23B, Hudson, New York 12534 until 1:00 pm local time on Thursday, April 16th, 2020 at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Bids will be received for the following Contract: Contract No. 1 (Base Bid) – Hickory Hill Road over Agawamuck Creek, Shufelt Road over Kline Kill, CR 34 over Hollow Brook (CB#125), CR 34 over Hollow Brook (CB#126), CR 9 over Wyomanock Creek, CR 9 over Punsit Creek, Church Road over Mud Creek, Shaker Museum Road over Tributary to Kinderhook Creek –perform element specific bridge repairs to include implementation of a short term lane or shoulder closure, installation of new bridge and approach railings, milling and placement of new asphalt bridge deck overlay, concrete repair, joint repair, clearing and grubbing, installation of temporary waterway diversion structures, gravel bar removal and excavation, placement of stone fill along stream banks, stream bank restoration and stabilization, and site restoration.

Alternate Bid No. 1 – CR 34 over Hollow Brook (CB#150) – placement of stone fill

along stream banks, stream bank restoration and stabilization, and site restoration.

Alternate Bid No. 2 – High Bridge Road over Stony Kill – installation of stone fill keyway and placement of stone fill along the stream banks, and site restoration.

Contract Documents, including Advertisement For Bids, Information For Bidders, Labor and Employment, Additional Instructions, Bid Documents, Agreement, General Conditions, General Requirements, Specifications, Contract Drawings and any Addenda are available in digital format and may be obtained from Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C.. Digital copies can be obtained by providing a valid email address to tsavino@bartonandloguidice.com.

Download instructions will be provided upon notification.

Each bid must be accompanied by security in an amount not less than five percentum (5%) of the amount of the bid in the form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bidders. No Bidder may withdraw his bid within forty-five (45) days after the actual date of opening thereof.

This is an exempt public works capital improvement project, and Bidders shall not include in their bid sales and compensating use taxes on the cost of materials which are to be incorporated into the work and which are to be separately sold by the Contractor to Columbia County prior to incorporation into the work of the Contract.

The attention of Bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to conditions of employment to be observed and prevail-

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ing wage rates to be paid under the Contract.

The right is reserved to waive any informalities in the Bid and to reject any or all Bids.

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David Murphy: Writing about sports in the time of COVID-19

By David Murphy The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Does it feel strange to be writing about sports right now? Yes, it does. I’m sure it feels strange to be doing a lot of the things that people get paid to do. Selling software, photoshopping graphics, filing expense reports — is there anything that feels normal to do in the midst of a pandemic?

The biggest challenge of our time is not maintaining social distance. It is maintaining psychological fortitude. Existential malaise is a virus, a droplet of doubt that infiltrates a host and commandeers its problem-solving systems until the organism is engaged in a life-or-death battle against itself. The rational faculties that evolved to propel us forward are now ping-pong paddles passing impossible if-thens back and forth in interminable loops.

Three members in Sixers organization test positive for coronavirus Two weeks ago, life was scheduled and itemized, a series of tasks and objectives and boxes to check off without any thought of the line they combined to form. Point-by-point, you followed a preordained path into the future the way a hiker follows a trail that has already been blazed, hopping from rock to rock across a swollen stream, your effort and energy focused entirely on the achievement of the next way station, on the next leg of the journey, without any reason to question where it ultimately leads.

Now? You are in the middle of a stream, and you cannot see the opposite side. Each step that you take that does not reveal dry land is another reason to question if it even exists. Each calendar entry comes with an asterisk. The utility that you would normally derive from the completion of a task is now contingent on the world reverting back to where it was when our professional

DAVID SANTIAGO/MIAMI HERALD

A view of the empty AmericanAirlines Arena before the start of an NBA basketball regular season game in Miami.

frameworks were established. How does one continue to play his role in an economy when the economy no longer exists?

This was supposed to be a column about a basketball team. Perhaps, at some point, that is what it will be. The NBA season might be suspended, but at some point, finality will arrive, which means the questions that the Sixers must at that point consider are ones that already exist in some preliminary form. If the season does not resume, do they have all of the information they need to chart their next step? Since October, we’ve been saying that the playoffs will hold the answer, that

the regular season is little more than an 82-game test run for a coach and a roster whose legitimacy can only be determined by a do-or-die series. If there is no series, what does that mean for Brett Brown? For Al Horford? For the front office responsible for constructing a contender?

They are legitimate questions, but at this point, they are impossible to answer. I mean that in an abstract sense. The concrete material is there: 65 regular-season games, thousands of shot attempts, hundreds of lineup combinations. I have a large enough sample to work toward the necessary conclusions. What I do not have is the

energy to consider these questions, given the effort it took just to write them.

This is where we are, perhaps some of us more than others. A job that requires you to write about sports in the midst of existential uncertainty is a more fortuitous lot than a job that requires you to tend bars or wait tables. The check cleared on Friday. The rent will be paid.

Whenever this is over, and some brand of normalcy returns, there will be plenty to process. I can envision a time when I look back at these ... days? weeks? months? ... and reflect on all of the lessons they imparted. Consider the difference between the mundane and the simple pleasure.

The line that separates the two is one that exists solely in our minds. What once was the former now feels like the latter. It could be helpful to remember that whenever the mundane returns.

If you spend enough time around professional sports and you do not periodically encounter these bouts, there is a decent chance that your eyes are not open. History might well look back on our games the same way it looks back on the Colosseum: as silly, little distractions that paint an illusory veneer over the societal fault lines with which we might otherwise reckon.

And, yet, what is anything in life except a diversion? The arbitrary construct of a species that is both blessed and cursed to comprehend the realities of its survival?

This is bigger than sports. That’s what they say in times like these. But maybe it is times like these that reveal the reality of the role that sports actually fill. I have long suspected that part of our attraction to our games lies in the sense of certainty imparted by a field of play in which the rules and boundaries and objectives are clearly defined.

Does it feel strange to write about sports? Sure.

But it does not feel strange at all to wish they’d return soon.

Here’s what the sports networks are doing without live games and what viewers can expect Barry Jackson Miami Herald

How do sports networks fill air time without live programming, a scenario none of them ever anticipated confronting?

With the sports world (aside from NFL free agency) shut down by the coronavirus, that’s the challenge facing ESPN, Fox’s cable networks and the Sinclair-owned regional sports networks, which are all suddenly left with endless hours to fill but no live competition.

The solution, so far, has been a mix of studio shows, classic games, quirky sports and in the case of the regional networks, replays of their home team’s games.

For ESPN, the strategy now is two-fold: “One is the immediate future in terms of how we can be as relevant as possible through news and live studio programming,” ESPN vice president Burke Magnus said, noting an emphasis on NFL news during free agency. “The second goal is aimed at looking ahead to entertain fans through fun, compelling archival content and/or themed and stunt event programming that will provide a diversion at a time that there are virtually no other live sports

to watch.

“The challenge is that now we need to replicate that dynamic 24 hours a day, seven days a week across multiple networks.

That’s what is in front of us in terms of long-range planning.”

The creative approach was on display on Sunday, when ESPN2 aired taped world championships for ax throwing, cornhole, spikeball, putt-putt golf, stone-skipping, sport-stacking, sign-spinning, hamburgereating, brat-eating, cherry-pit spitting, arm wresting, dodgeball and stupid robot fighting.

That was part of The Ocho, the round-the-clock programming lineup of quirky sports that ESPN has strung together on three occasions in recent years.

But quirky sports are best served as an occasional change of pace, instead of a regular diet. So ESPN will need to rely primarily on expanded editions of “SportsCenter,” “NFL Live,” “The Jump” its two morning shows (“Get Up” and “First Take”) and past 30 for 30 documentaries, plus UCF programming and boxing encore presentations.

Beyond the loss of live games, two issues are limiting ESPN: — Questionable” and Around the Horn, because

KIRBY LEE/USA TODAY

Rich Eisen of the of the NFL Network prior to the Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium.

those two shows are handled by the D.C.-based Rydholm Projects production team.

Early morning editions of “SportsCenter” also are on hiatus.

— The network isn’t permitted to simply re-air NBA, MLB, NFL or NCAA Tournament games. The pro leagues own rights to their archives, and game replays typically air on the league-owned networks. ESPN received NFL permission to reair some of Tom Brady’s greatest games this past weekend.

CBS has permission to air old NCAA Tournament games and

plans to do it next weekend, a second weekend in a row.

“Re-airing full-game presentations is not a right that we or other media companies typically have at our disposal at all times,” ESPN’s Magnus said.

“Each one of these circumstances requires individual conversations with the specific league or property to determine what’s possible.

“We are working with the leagues themselves to free up the possibility to show encore presentations and discussing how we can present them. In some instances, we aren’t even

the original rightsholder, which is the case for the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, for example.”

“I know some have asked about “The Last Dance” and the reality is that the production of that film has not yet been completed, so we are limited there at the moment,” Magnus said.

“Obviously, you can’t air it until it’s done. Overall, any original content project that we can conceivably move up, we are obviously considering that, including films.”

In prime time on Tuesday through Thursday this week, ESPN is airing an encore presentation of the AcademyAward winning 30 for 30 documentary “O.J.: Made in America.” Meanwhile, ESPN2 on Tuesday will celebrate Peyton Manning’s 44th birthday with five hours of special primetime programming, including his college, NFL and Super Bowl highlights.

ESPN also will air encore presentations of Wrestlemania shows on March 29 and April 5.

Some other programming notes: — After airing six classic NCAA Tournament games during the weekend, CBS will air three classic championship

REPORTERS, EDITORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS CREATE REAL NEWS. JOURNALISM YOU CAN TRUST.

games next Sunday: the 1985 VIllanova-Georgetown game at 1 p.m., the 1997 ArizonaKentucky game at 2:30 p.m. and the 2010 Duke-Butler game at 4 p.m.

— NFL Network, whose studios are based in Los Angeles, suspended studio programming, at least temporarily, on Monday because of the particularly devastating impact of coronavirus in California.

— The NFL is making every game since 2009 available for free streaming on NFL Game Pass, which can be accessed free of charge, anywhere in the United States, until May 31.

— The NBA and Turner are offering the League Pass subscription service for free until April 22, offering all games played this season, plus classic games dating to the 1970s and every NBA Finals since 2002.

— NBC-SN is airing live horse racing on weekends that ordinarily would not have aired.

— The NHL will soon release curated content on the league’s website and YouTube channel giving viewers access to more than 100 classic games dating back to the ‘50s and behindthe-scenes programs such as “Road to the NHL Winter Classic.”

#SupportRealNews

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B6 Wednesday, March 25, 2020

NFL free agency takeaways: Tom Brady’s move is bad for the NFC and good for the Bills John Clayton The Washington Post

The first wave of NFL free agency was more like a tsunami, with more than 80 percent of players on most top-100 lists having been resigned, franchise-tagged or signed by new teams less than a week into the new league year.

If the free agency movement wasn’t enough, there were plenty of trades, too, including blockbusters involving stars DeAndre Hopkins, DeForest Buckner and Stefon Diggs.

Oh, and in case you didn’t notice, perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, left the New England Patriots after 20 seasons to restart his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That’s where we’ll start our list of early takeaways from the first few days of free agency: - Brady’s arrival makes the NFC even more competitive.

The Patriots’ phenomenal success over the past two decades - nine AFC championships, six Super Bowl victories - was of course thanks to the brilliance of Brady and Coach Bill Belichick, and it will be fascinating to see how each fares without the other.

But it’s fair to say Brady will face a tougher path now that he’s out of the AFC East and playing in an NFC that is loaded with highly paid quarterbacks. Not counting Cam Newton and Alex Smith, whose careers are in varying levels of uncertainty because of injuries, Brady will become the 12th NFC quarterback making $21 million per year or more. Of those, six - Russell Wilson, Jared Goff, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz - are making $30 million or more.

Quarterback salary is certainly not the only metric to judge a team by - just look at the AFC, which has two MVPs (Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes) and another rising star (Deshaun Watson) on their rookie deals - but it does speak to how competitive the fight for playoff spots in the NFC should be this season.

In the Bucs’ division, the NFC South, alone, the Matt Ryan-led Atlanta Falcons and Drew Brees-led New Orleans Saints should provide a rude awakening for Brady, who has grown accustomed to six games per year against the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

Even with the new format that includes seven playoff teams per conference, the Bucs will have to be sharp to make the postseason. Some sportsbooks are projecting 10 NFC teams at 8½ wins or better, including six at 9½ (the San Francisco 49ers, Saints, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys). Contrast that with the AFC, which only has two teams - the Baltimore Ravens and

JOHN DAVID MERCER/USA TODAY

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) makes a catch against New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) during their NFC Wild Card playoff football game on Jan. 5 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Kansas City Chiefs - projected to win more than nine games.

That’s where Brady will feel the impact. His presence should make the Bucs a nine-win team, but they may have a hard time overtaking the Saints for the division title and will be fighting off the Falcons for a wild-card spot.

- Brady’s departure came at the right time for the Bills.

It would be foolish to count out Belichick and the Patriots, but not knowing how they’re going to fill their post-Brady quarterback void (Jarrett Stidham?), it certainly seems as though Buffalo has caught up to them after all these years.

The Bills added Diggs in a trade with the Vikings, addressing perhaps their biggest need (for a deep-threat wide receiver), and signed seven unrestricted free agents. And that follows a rebuilding effort that resulted in a playoff berth last season.

The Patriots, meanwhile, have lost Brady and six other free agents, in addition to trading away safety Duron Harmon.

Vegas has started out by putting the Bills and the Patriots even at nine wins. Clearly Belichick has a plan, but the Bills would be right to finally sense some vulnerability in their division rival.

- Even more teams are in win-now mode.

With Brady set to turn 43 in August, clearly the Bucs will feel a sense of urgency to win the Super Bowl over the next couple of years. But

they’re not the only ones. Brees is back for a final shot (or two) with the Saints, and the Indianapolis Colts signed 38-year-old Philip Rivers to a one-year contract. (Don’t be surprised if Indy selects a passer in the second or third round of April’s draft, possibly Washington’s Jacob Eason, to develop behind him.)

New Orleans has been in win-now mode for several seasons, and its additions of veterans such as safety Malcolm Jenkins and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders last week served as reminders that it will be making another run at the Super Bowl this year. The Colts also made bold moves beyond the Rivers signing, dealing their first-round draft pick to San Francisco for Buckner before signing the defensive lineman to a contract extension worth $21 million per year, and convincing left tackle Anthony Castonzo to return on a two-year deal.

- The wide receiver and cornerback draft classes affected the market.

This draft class is considered a great one for wide receivers and cornerbacks, and that has appeared to affect the decision-making of teams in free agency.

As expected, the top two free agent cornerbacks received big paydays, with Byron Jones agreeing to a $16.5 million-per-year deal with Miami and James Bradberry getting $14.5 million per from the New York Giants. Trae Waynes got $14 million per year from Cincinnati, and

Kendall Fuller got $10 million per from the Redskins.

But Chris Harris and Logan Ryan figured to get $10 million per year or more, and that didn’t happen. Harris accepted a two-year, $17 million deal from the Los Angeles Chargers. Ryan is still available. So are Bashaud Breeland and Ronald Darby.

The situation is worse for the wide receivers. The draft has 25 to 27 wideouts with thirdround grades or better. Excluding Amari Cooper, who re-signed with Dallas, not one free agent receiver claimed a $10 million-plus-peryear contract. Sanders had to take a two-year, $16 million deal when many expected him to get $11 million per. Randall Cobb came in at three years for $27 million. Robby Anderson and Breshad Perriman thought they could get to the $10 million-per-year mark, but they remain unsigned.

- The new CBA had free agents signing shorter deals.

The new collective bargaining agreement has agents accepting shorter-team deals. I don’t think I’ve seen a recent offseason with so many lucrative three-year deals. Among the free agents moving to different teams, only three had five-year deals. Only four agreed to four-year contracts.

In the new CBA, players will see their percentage of league revenue increase, and a big spike is expected to come to the salary cap once the next round of television contracts is complete, although you have to wonder how the novel coronavirus and the resulting economic uncertainty will affect those discussions. The shorter-term deals give players a chance to hit free agency again soon, when contracts figure to be more lucrative.

- Coronavirus-related travel restrictions had an impact.

The rules restricting players from flying to teams for visits - put in place by the league in response to the coronavirus pandemic - has affected those with injuries. This is true for Newton, who is a trade candidate but still needs time to heal from his foot injury. The Panthers may end up having to release him.

Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, considered one of the top free agents on the market, thought he could get more than $22 million per year. But his injury history - he is most recently recovering from core surgery - could mean his deal is closer to $15 million per.

The inability to travel for physicals could also negatively affect draft prospects, most notably former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is coming off a serious hip injury.

Why NABC isn’t giving its crystal national championship trophy to KU (or anyone else)

By Jesse Newell The Kansas City Star (TNS)

JEREMY BREVARD-USA TODAY SPORTS

Sep 12, 2019; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) walks off the field during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium.

Report: Panthers to release QB Newton Field Level Media

Cam Newton will be released by the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

The move will create $19 million in salary cap space.

Newton, who turns 31 in May, is coming off of Lisfranc surgery and had a shoulder operation prior to the 2019 season. He received permission from the Panthers to seek a trade, and the team earlier signaled it was moving on with multiple moves at the quarterback position and what read like a farewell from ownership.

“Cam is one of the all-time greats in Panthers history,” owner David Tepper said in a statement. “If you ask any of our fans of their most memorable moments, I’m willing to

be that most of them would include Cam – electrifying plays, giving away footballs after touchdowns, fun celebrations and big wins. His competitiveness and drive are rare. Off the field, you can’t measure Cam’s contributions. He has touched the lives of youth throughout the Carolinas and in Atlanta. He’s unique and I wish him all the best.”

The No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft, Newton was NFL MVP in 2015 when the Panthers lost in the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos. He was a three-time Pro Bowl pick.

Several teams have uncertain situations at quarterback one week into free agency.

The New England Patriots signed Brian Hoyer after Tom Brady bolted for Tampa Bay,

and the Los Angeles Chargers haven’t made a move since losing Philip Rivers to the Indianapolis Colts.

Newton and former Buccaneers No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston are among the options available for teams looking to upgrade at the position.

Newton had a salary cap figure of $21.1 million in 2020, including a base salary of $18.6 million. He signed a five-year, $103.8 million contract extension in 2015 that took effect with the 2016 season.

The Panthers signed free agent Teddy Bridgewater as the likely starter in 2020.

Bridgewater was the backup to Drew Brees last season in New Orleans and went 5-0 as the Saints’ starter when Brees was injured.

Kansas men’s basketball will not be taking home a national trophy following the shortened 2019-20 season.

The National Association of Basketball Coaches — a membership of nearly 5,000 coaches with its office stationed in Kansas City, Missouri — announced Monday that it would not be presenting its Waterford Crystal basketball trophy to any team this season.

The Star reported last week that the NABC’s Board of Directors had set a conference call for Monday to discuss the topic.

“The cancellation of the college basketball postseason is an unprecedented situation,” the NABC said in a statement released Monday. “The NABC National Championship Trophy has historically been awarded to the winner of the national championship game as the No. 1 team in the season’s final coaches poll. Consistent with the history of the trophy and with no on-court champion being determined this season, the NABC will not award a trophy.”

If the NABC had awarded its trophy to KU, that potentially could have been an easy solution that would have allowed the Jayhawks to celebrate a national honor. The NCAA also will not be handing out its plaque with no NCAA Tournament being played.

KU coach Bill Self, whose team finished 28-3 while No. 1 in both major polls, has spoken often lately about looking for a way to “memorialize”

CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES

The NCAA-NABC National Championship Trophy is seen on a table after the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium.

this year’s Jayhawks while still embracing the reality that the NCAA Tournament did not take place because of concerns related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Self was asked last week if he thought the team that topped postseason polls should be declared the 2020 national champion.

“This would be the one particular year I’m all for it, without question, but I don’t even put any wishful thinking into that because that is not the way this is all intended to be,” Self said. The coach later noted that if KU was declared a national champion because of polls that there’d be a “huge asterisk.”

CMYK

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 B7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Husband carried on an affair as wife cared for his mother Dear Abby, My husband of 30-plus years cheated on me several years ago with one of his young private students. I had just finished six months of nursing his mom to heaven. She had Alzheimer’s, DEAR ABBY and he did very little to help.

We had one of the few fights in our marriage about his affair, but nothing was ever resolved. I suspect he’s still in contact with her, but I can’t prove it. He has never apologized for his behavior. Otherwise, he has been a good husband. He is sick himself now, and I don’t feel right about leaving him.

Any thoughts?

Not Right In North Carolina

JEANNE PHILLIPS

Under the circumstances, you are a nicer woman than he deserves. If you feel you should stay with him until death — or recovery — I respect you for it. However, if you are one of those caring individuals who expends so much time and energy that doing it could hurt your own health, I think you’re entitled to spend as much time as you need taking care of YOURSELF. Dear Abby,

A friend blew me off after a 35-year friendship. I’ve no idea why — just a very hurtful, nasty message. Over the years, we had many ups and downs, but we always made up. Now it has been almost two years since I heard from her.

Last week, for my birthday, she tried to contact me, but I have her blocked. She contacted my sister and said she wants to bury the hatchet. I said, “WHERE? IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD?” I haven’t contacted her yet and am not sure I want to. She hurt me badly. She was my best friend. I knew she wasn’t perfect. She is the original Drama Queen, but we were still closer than most sisters.

I would at least like to know what made her blow us apart. Should I contact her? My pastor gave a sermon on forgive and forget, but I don’t know if I can do either.

Foe Or Friend In Illinois

A carcinoid tumor is a type of neuroendocrine tumor of the digestive tract or lungs. In the TO YOUR gastrointestinal tract, these tuGOOD HEALTH mors are now referred to just as neuroendocrine tumors. They can produce substances that in some situations can cause carcinoid syndrome. This usually presents with flushing and diarrhea.

Symptoms are most common with carcinoid tumors of the lung or when the neuroendocrine tumor has spread. The liver normally inactivates these substances, so it is when the disease has spread to the liver that people become symptomatic. The blood from lung carcinoid tumors does not go directly to the liver, which is why lung carcinoid tumors may cause carcinoid syndrome without liver involvement. Still, more than 90% of people with carcinoid syndrome have metastatic disease — cancer that has spread to distant locations.

The diagnosis can be made by a combination of urine tests looking for the commonly produced substances, such as 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and by anatomic tests such as scans or endoscopy.

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DR. KEITH ROACH

During a hospital stay in which I was admitted for a urinary tract infection and possible sepsis, a CT scan without contrast noted an abdominal nodule that the radiologist said “may represent a reactive prominent lymph node.” In numerous tests — including two upper GI series, an MRI and two additional CT scans with contrast — nothing abnormal appeared. Now my gastroenterologist wants to order an EGD/EUS even though I am hesitant because he is not sure what we are looking for. I have no symptoms and am concerned that this is just another test to waste my money.

Incidental findings in modern advanced scanning are routine, and enlarged lymph nodes — a place where immune and inflammatory cells gather — are among the most common of these. Many or most of these will be what the radiologist suspected. The term “reactive” is used to mean the lymph node becomes enlarged, often due to infection. Any serious infection may cause enlargement of the lymph nodes. A very few of these will turn out to be more serious, and we worry most about cancer.

The size, position and, above all, progression of the lymph node help determine whether it is benign (such as a reactive node) or malignant (due to cancer). Given that your gastroenterologist has ordered several tests to further evaluate this with no abnormal findings provides almost complete reassurance that this is nothing to worry about.

A tiny doubt may remain, but further testing may cause more harm than good. EGD, which is an upper endoscopy, has few risks but rarely can cause a perforation in the stomach or intestine. EUS is an endoscopic ultrasound, done at the same time as the EGD. I doubt he is trying to waste money, but you can certainly tell him you are willing to live with the near-certainty that the finding was benign.

Horoscope

By Stella Wilder Born today, you may enjoy a meteoric rise from humble beginnings and end your days at the top of your chosen profession — but this doesn’t mean you’ll always be happy, surely.

Professional success is not a guarantee of personal contentment, and you may seek that left and right when the path forward is sure to bring you accolades and career advancement. There may be times in your life when you mistake one for the other and choose to follow a path of hard work in place of the kinds of things you really need.

You are who you are, no questions asked.

You refuse to change just because someone thinks you would be better off being someone else instead — and besides, how is being someone other than yourself supposed to bring you happiness? Indeed, despite your love of roleplaying, it’s the very thing that can keep you from true contentment.

Also born on this date are: Elton John, singer and musician; Sarah Jessica Parker, actress and producer; Aretha Franklin, singer; Danica Patrick, auto racer; Marcia Cross, actress; Gloria Steinem, journalist and publisher.

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.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You’re growing tired of having others tell you they have things all figured out. Today, you are likely to come up with some answers of your own.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — You must keep yourself keenly aware of what is going on all around you today, lest you be the unwitting cause of some-

Classic Peanuts

Contact the woman and get your questions answered. After that, you can decide whether the estrangement is healthier for you than her drama.

As to your pastor’s sermon, I believe that while people should forgive, they should never forget.

Carcinoid syndrome should be treated by a gastro specialist Can you please give more insight into carcinoid syndrome? In particular, I’d like to know its symptoms and how it gets diagnosed and treated? What kind of a doctor would one see with that diagnosis?

Family Circus

Garfield

Blondie

Hagar the Horrible

Zits

Baby Blues thing you can’t control.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You may not know where you’re going today, but the journey itself provides you with much food for thought. Others may want to take part.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You may not be able to decipher all the messages that come your way today, but only one really matters right now — and it will be clear.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You’ll witness the start of something big today, very likely — and if you play your cards right, you can become an active participant, too.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — The difference between fact and fiction may not be as clear to others today as it is to you. You’ll be able to call someone on a bold deception.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You mustn’t let yourself be misunderstood today simply because what you do is not fully appreciated by those around you. You can explain yourself!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Once or twice today you’ll be faced with an “either/or” situation that requires you to make a quick decision. Experience serves you well.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — What you do today is likely to be based almost entirely on a personal system of checks and balances to which only you subscribe.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Something you’ve never heard of in your life may exert a strong influence over you today. You must learn all you can about it!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You have reason to remember an old friend today and to appreciate all over again his or her earnest attempts to transform you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — It’s a good day to stand up and be counted after doing much to help another earn recognition and material gains. You’ll get your share.

COPYRIGHT 2020 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

Beetle Bailey

Pearls Before Swine

Dennis the Menace

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B8 Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Close to Home

SUPER QUIZ

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

MAFYO EEZSI TOONNI MIGATB ©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

“

Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the Graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

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

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

Initials R.R. Level 1

2

3

4

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

” (Answers tomorrow)

Yesterday’s

Jumbles: RIGOR ROBOT STEREO MASCOT Answer: They bought the run-down corner market and planned to — RESTORE IT

3/25/20

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

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

Heart of the City

sudoku.org.uk © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Name the person with the initials R.R. (e.g., He starred as Wade Wilson in the 2016 film “Deadpool.” Answer: Ryan Reynolds.)

Freshman level 1. The 40th U.S. president.

2. “King of the Cowboys.”

3. He played Michael Stivic on “All in the Family.”

Graduate level 4. Which actor is most associated with founding the Sundance Film Festival?

5. He was known for his “Believe It or Not” series.

6. Noted as the “first black action hero” for his title role in the film “Shaft.”

PH.D. level 7. American composer known for his partnership with lyricist Lorenz Hart.

8. He portrayed a villain in “Bad Day at Black Rock” and “Odds Against Tomorrow.”

9. She portrayed Emma in the 1949 film “Champion.”

SUPER QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Ronald Reagan. 2. Roy Rogers. 3. Rob Reiner. 4. Robert Redford. 5. Robert Ripley. 6. Richard Roundtree. 7. Richard Rodgers. 8. Robert Ryan. 9. Ruth Roman.

18 points — congratulations, doctor; 15 to 17 points — honors graduate; 10 to 14 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 4 to 9 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 3 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Mutts

Dilbert

Pickles For Better or For Worse

Get Fuzzy

Hi & Lois

Crossword Puzzle Mother Goose & Grimm ACROSS 1 Injure 5 __ machines; casino draws 9 View from Lake Geneva 13 Proprietor 15 Rain hard 16 Fly alone 17 Tureen utensil 18 Blackmail 20 Hair coloring 21 Formal promise 23 Coconut candy bar 24 Mertz & Flintstone 26 Cave creature 27 Protective plate 29 Nativity set figurine 32 Glass rectangles 33 Meager 35 Singer Stewart 37 Rarin’ to go 38 See eye __; agree 39 Neighbor of Ecuador 40 Tightrope walker’s safeguard 41 Soupy of old TV 42 Ivory __; African nation 43 Cancel out; invalidate 45 Horse-drawn carriage 46 In a __; mired by routine 47 Early __; morning person 48 Intertwine 51 Letter on Superman’s shirt 52 “Pledge of Allegiance” ender 55 Act as a team 58 Orange Muppet 60 Enormous 61 Warren or Holliman 62 Religious doctrine 63 Cash register compartment 64 TV’s “__ of Our Lives” 65 Moccasin adornment DOWN 1 Buildup on old cheese

Bound & Gagged

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

2 “Ladybug, ladybug, fly __ home…”

3 Not precise 4 Singer Tormé 5 Expels, as lava 6 Bagel topper, for some 7 Umpire’s cry 8 Tommy Dorsey’s instrument 9 Sharp as a tack 10 Source of tender cuts of beef 11 Walk like a Clydesdale 12 James & John, to Zebedee 14 __ in; enjoys 19 Cook a turkey 22 Bizarre 25 Tall grass stalk 27 Reach from end to end 28 Refuge 29 Noisy birds 30 Set up beforehand 31 Steed 33 Part of the foot 34 So-so mark 36 Off __; not on the clock

3/25/20

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

Non Sequitur

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

38 Ragged 39 __ over; examine carefully 41 Ragu or Prego 42 Used foul language 44 Vineyard fruits 45 Meg, to Jo, Beth & Amy 47 Film holders 48 Resound

3/25/20

49 Person, place or thing 50 Opera house section 53 South American capital city 54 Pencil’s core 56 Battery size 57 Attempt 59 Steal from

Rubes