RyeCity REVIEW THE
April 2, 2021 | Vol. 9, Number 12 | www.ryecityreview.com
State expands vaccine to al 50 and older
Oh, WOW On Thursday, March 25 Wetchester County revealed its seven nominations for the first-ever WOW Awards honoring women and their work during the pandemic. For story, see page 6.
Arts groups seek $1M rescue fund State lawmakers joined arts leaders on March 26 in support of setting aside $1 million in COVID-19 recovery funds for local artists and arts organizations devastated by the pandemic. “ReStart the Arts” in Westchester and Rockland counties is an effort led by the Affiliate Committee of ArtsWestchester, a group of arts leaders who serve as ArtsWestchester board members. “Our arts programs, which are vital economic stimulators, have been dormant for more than a
year, operating virtually, and now require an enormous effort to restore, revive, and reopen,” said Laura deBuys, CEO of The Picture House Regional Film Center in Pelham. Any funds allocated by state lawmakers would be distributed by ArtsWestchester through a call for proposals focused on an organization’s needs to restart their in-person arts programs. “The arts in Westchester preCOVID produced a $172 million economic impact, in which 5,200
jobs were actualized,” said ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam, citing the 2017 “Arts & Economic Prosperity 5” report by Americans for the Arts. “Far from being a handout, the arts in Westchester return $25 million in taxes to state and local governments annually.” Waddell Stillman, president and CEO of Historic Hudson Valley said, “In addition to the economic impact, the arts also have the power to educate and to heal. The pandemic has tak-
en a toll on our residents’ mental health, particularly our children, seniors, and those living in isolated circumstances. Through the wealth of virtual programming created in the past year, cultural groups and teaching artists have kept populations engaged and provided an outlet during challenging times.” A 2020 survey completed by ArtsWestchester found that 87% of responding arts groups FUNDING continued on page 14
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on March 22 that starting march 23 at 8 a.m., New Yorkers 50 years of age and older would be eligible to receive the vaccine. 103,425 doses have been administered across New York’s vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1 million doses have been administered over the past seven days. More than 1.65 million doses have been administered through New York mass vaccination sites and FEMA sites to date. Delivery of the week 15 allocation begins mid-week. “We continue to kick vaccinations into overdrive throughout the state by expanding eligibility, establishing new vaccination sites and allowing providers to reach new populations,” Cuomo said. “More New Yorkers are getting vaccinated every single day, but we still have a long way to go before defeating the COVID beast and reaching safety. New York’s distribution network is at the
ready to handle an expected increase in supply, and we’re excited to expand eligibility even further to New Yorkers over the age of 50 as we move to get through the COVID-19 pandemic.” New York’s vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment. The ‘Am I Eligible’ screening tool has been updated for individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions with new appointments released on a rolling basis over the next weeks. New Yorkers can use the following to show they are eligible: • Doctor’s letter, or • Medical information evidencing comorbidity, or Signed certification. (Submitted)