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NYS on PAUSE, Ferry closes, Social media facilitates action, Hikers urged caution and more. Published By Denton Publications Inc.
March 28, 2020
Burgh/North Countryman
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• EDITION •
NEW CLOSURES AT MALLS, AMUSEMENT PARKS AND BOWLING ALLEYS
By Keith Lobdell
highest priority,” said a statement on their website. “We will continue to closely monitor these evolving conditions, and will follow the most current guidance from federal, state, and local officials.”
STAFF WRITER
BOWLING ALLEYS
The new directive also includes bowling alleys, as North Bowl Lanes in Plattsburgh announce their closure earlier in the week. “Hopefully, this will run its course and we will be back serving the bowlers of the North Country,” said a statement on the North Bowl Facebook Page. “Leagues are postponed and hope to be finished at a later date. The governor has not set a timetable so we will reassess as this ever changing situation moves forward. This comes with great sadness for our family and we hope to weather the storm as we move towards our 55th year in business. Stay safe and stay in bowling shape. We will be back!” ■ Champlain Centre Mall in Plattsburgh will close Thursday at 8 p.m. under order from New York State. File photo Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy and others have dedicated exterior entrances and will have the capability to remain open following the required protocols.”
AMUSEMENT PARKS
All amusement parks are also asked to close down by Thursday evening. The Great Escape had already announced a closure of facilities on Monday. “While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at our property, the safety of our guests and team members is always our
City offers guidance to services Mayor: How to proceed with daily operations amid minimized staffing By Andrea VanValkenburg STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | After temporarily shutting the doors of city hall this week, Plattsburgh City Mayor Colin Read is offering guidance to city residents and encouraging everyone to remain vigilant. While thanking residents for their patience in the uncertain times, Read said the quick measures to send non-essential staff home and change daily operations was a necessary step to help protect the public “from Coronavirus
Fire, police and municipallighting departments are available 24 hours a day. Other city departments will be monitored by phone and email. Callers are asked to leave a message. Building Inspector: 518-563-7707 or mcmahonj@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov City Clerk: 518-563-7702 or parrottes@ cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov Community Development Office: 518563-7642 or cdo@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov Department of Public Works: 518-5631120 or duellk@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov Environmental/Water Resource Facility/ Water Filtration Plant: Contact police dispatch at 518-563-3411 and a message will be sent to environmental staff. Finance: 518-563-7704 or financecustomerservice@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov ■
catching hold in our community.” “With the rate of infection doubling every couple of days elsewhere in this state with the largest incidence rate in the country, I am determined to not have that happen here in the city. With a quarter of the county’s population and more than six hundred times the population density of the rest of the county, the city is where we can stop the pandemic from killing people in our region,” Read wrote to residents March 18 after he significantly reduced the physical staffing of city agencies. “We do so by minimizing in-person social contact and maximizing the delivery of first response and medical treatment by our professional crews.” While fire, police and municipal-lighting departments remain open 24 hours a day, city officials have also put a second ambulance into service to focus on the south-end of the city and its high-rises and elderly-care facilities. New procedures have also been put in place to ensure that city water and the water-distribution network remains safe and operational and all high-voltage wires are still being maintained in the event of any natural disasters, Read said. “We will continue to provide for our other services as well. Some highly discretionary services such as brush pickup may be delayed because of staff shortages. But, most of our services will continue or will be delivered online.” Officials have lowered the fee for online credit-card payments for billing and created a no-fee auto-debit banking feature to help residents when paying city bills amid the changes. Residents are being strongly encouraged to practice maximum social distancing to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and asked to conduct as much city business as possible online until the safety measures are lifted. “All the other business, from council and board meetings, to permits and inspections, can still be performed, but always with your safety in mind,” he said. ■
na Try o oday! pair t
285 Tom Miller Rd, Plattsburgh 518-324-7400 • Open 7 Days
Plattsburgh business react to restrictions Some temporarily shutter, while others get innovative with service By Andrea VanValkenburg STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | Within hours, businesses across the region raced to respond to new operating mandates amid the statewide Coronavirus containment efforts. Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo handed down sweeping occupancy and operating restrictions on businesses across the state, including the closure of movie theaters and bars. As those businesses shut their doors until further notice, many reached out to the community to thank them for their understanding and support amid the uncertainty. “We have been doing everything in our power to stay open during the COVID-19 crisis, however as of Monday, March 16th at 8 p.m. we must close our doors to the public until further notice,” Cumberland 12 Cinema managers Craig and Leah Cathers told patrons. “This is obviously a struggle for our small, locally owned business, but the health and safety of our customers and our staff is the first priority. We hope we will have the support of this wonderful community as we move forward into this uncertainty. We know many people are unsure and scared, and we hope to be able to provide you with the escape of cinema as soon as it is safe again.” At North Bowl Lanes next door, management geared up for a temporary closure as well, hoping to reopen as soon as allowed as they look to celebrate the bowling alley’s 55th year in business. As some restaurants in Plattsburgh vowed to stay open and shift to takeout and delivery, others have temporarily
closed, hoping to weather the storm and eventually reopen. Small cafes and diners were most affected by the new occupancy and operating procedures, many opting to temporarily close, sending employees home and apologizing to patrons. Aleka’s and Gus’s Red Hots in Plattsburgh are two that hope to reopen when the mandate is lifted. Others, are shifting to strictly takeout and delivery service, encouraging residents to enjoy hot restaurant meals from the comforts of home. Sip on Margaret Street has created special takeout and delivery menus, promising to bring fresh restaurant meals to the comforts of home. After a few days, they too were forced to make a difficult decision about temporary closure and cooked and donated their remaining food for CVPH Medical Center employees. Others, like Guma’s in West Chazy, have gotten creative with their takeout menus, offering crock-pot meals for families. Tentative new liquor laws are allowing businesses innovative new ways to serve alcohol to those over 21-permitting carryout alcohol purchases, something some restaurants were incorporating into their new menus and service to help keep their doors open, even at reduced capacity and hours. Some stores are also considering special hours for the elderly to better accommodate the community as it moves forward. Route 3 pet store Tails of the Adirondacks remained open following the initial shutdown order, offering to open early by appointment only to more safely serve the elderly and immune-compromised. Officials are continuing to encourage residents to shop local when possible and support area businesses as they adjust to the circumstances. Essential businesses, such as pharmacies and grocery stores, remain open. Calling ahead for current business hours and operations is suggested. ■
LONGEVITY • SUPPORT • COMFORT
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PLATTSBURGH | Champlain Centre Mall and Aviation Mall are the newest names on the list of closures due to COVID-19. The coalition of states which includes Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania announced earlier today all places of public amusement and all indoor common portions of retail shopping malls in excess of 100,000 square feet of retail space available for lease shall close and cease access to the public as of 8 p.m. Thursday, March 19. There are exceptions, as any stores located within shopping malls which have their own external entrances, separate from the general mall entrance, may remain open. The directive also states it shall not apply to public parks and open recreation areas. “We are in unprecedented times and understand the direction from New York State is the result of the presence of the coronavirus in the communities we serve,” said Stephen Congel, CEO of Pyramid Management Group, which runs Champlain Centre along with 10 other malls in New York State, including Aviation Mall in Glens Falls. They also operate three in Massachusetts. “We respect the decision to further enhance community mitigation and reduce density for the greater good of our community, tenants, guests and employees.” In the same press release, Pyramid added some stores may remain open. “In many of its centers, tenants including