WCDO Radio News

P.M. NEWS Monday 12-21-20

Governor Cuomo held a COVID briefing this morning, as phase 1 of COVID Vaccines are being administered around the state for health care workers, the Governor discussed the prioritizing of the vaccine distribution earlier today:

(Cuomo 12-21-20)

Over the weekend, 38,000 vaccines were administered, there were 350 Bassett Hospital employees received the COVID vaccines, more information about the vaccine program is available at ny.gov/vaccine.

The Greene Central School District announced that their Primary and Intermediate schools had to go to remote learning today, due to a water main break. Students from Pre-K to 5th grade students were affected. Also, Due to the poor road conditions, all students in the Harpursville Schools will be fully remote Tuesday & Wednesday.

There were many who did not or could not pick up their gifts at the "Operation Merry Christmas" Giveaway day over the weekend at the AO Fox Hospital Tri Town Hospital in Sidney. Those who could not make it to an extended giveaway earlier today are asked to call Dorene Ireland at 643-6334 to make arrangements for pick up prior to Christmas day.

Delaware County Sheriff's office reported that a disabled vehicle blocking the I-88 exit ramp in the Town of Sidney Wednesday evening resulted in a Norwich man being ticketed. 23-year-old Richard Finnegan is accused of operating the vehicle while his driving privileges were suspended for failure to answer a summons in the Town of Norwich Court. Finnegan was ticketed for aggravated unlicensed operation and for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and will appear in the Town of Sidney Court on a later date.

Dan Butterman of Oneonta has emerged as the winner of the Democratic Primary over Corey Mosher of Hamilton, to run for the 121st Assembly District.  Butterman will run against Republican Incumbent John Salka of Brookfield, who defeated longtime democratic assemblyman Bill Magee in 2018.

Ascension Lourdes Hospital of Binghamton has teamed up with Chase Memorial Nursing Home & Rehab, to open the Lourdes Medical Group at 12 School Street in New Berlin, Lourdes Hospital CEO Kathy Connerton explains:

(Kathy Connerton 7-7-20)

New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter told WCDO News that the project was about 3 years in the making, & it is especially important to have it opening during the current situation:

(Terry Potter 7-7-20)

The Primary Care facility will open on in New Berlin on July 13th.

Sidney Town Supervisor Gene Pigford announced that the next Sidney Town Board Meeting will be held live at 7:00 pm this Thursday, July 9th at 44 Grand Street in Sidney.  Social distancing and masks will be required for entrance. Public attendance is limited to 30% of the meeting room capacity and seats are available until that capacity is reached.  Arrangements will also be in place to view the Meeting via Zoom. A link will be provided on the Town website.

Sidney Center residents are advised that a follow up Re-Zoning meeting with Town Supervisor Gene Pigford will be held Thursday, July 16th, @ 6:30PM @ the firemen's field in downtown Sidney Center. The meeting was arranged following a meeting last week on July 1st, where Sidney Center residents wanted more information regarding the potential for rezoning a sizable portion of the hamlet.

All area school districts passed their budgets yesterday.  Capital projects were passed in Afton, Charlotte Valley, Delaware Academy, Oneonta & Greene.  Bus & vehicles propositions passed in Franklin, Deposit, Delaware Academy, Afton, Bainbridge Guilford, Norwich, Unadilla Valley, Oxford, Edmeston, Laurens, Oneonta,  Library budgets were passed in Sidney, Deposit, Norwich, Oxford & a Capital reserve fund vote was passed in Sidney.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing for the inclusion of the Child Care Is Essential Act in the next coronavirus relief package, as that industry took a major hit from the Pandemic:

(Gillibrand 6-17-20)

The Act would establish a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund to provide grants to stabilize child care providers who were still open during the pandemic and would help child care providers that were forced to close, to safely reopen.

4 people are running to get the Republican Party Nomination on Primary day on June 23rd, in the 122nd Assembly District.  The seat is being vacated this year by the retiring Cliff Crouch, Area landowner’s rights activist Vic Furman is running, he told WCDO News about his experiences & agenda:

(Vic Furman 6-17-20)

Furman faces opposition from James Powers, Joe Angelino & Nick Libous.

New York State Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan announced that he would not seek re-election to the Senate this fall, he announced Tuesday that effective June 28th, and he will be ending his State Senate career and pursuing a private sector opportunity.

Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County will hold an online "Service of Remembrance" at 7:00 PM tonight on YouTube. More information about the service is available at hospicechenango.org or by calling 334-3556.

Attorney General Letitia James announced that the state has renewed an order to halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the State that has been referred to their Office, for an additional 30-day period, starting tomorrow through Thursday, July 16th. After this 30-day period, the Attorney General will reassess the needs of state residents for another possible extension.

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive in Sidney today.  The drive will be held from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the Sidney Elks Lodge, at 104 River Street, appointments can be made by downloading the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

4 people are running for the Republican Party Nomination to run for the 122nd Assembly District, to replace the retiring Cliff Crouch.  James Powers of South New Berlin are the only candidate of the 4 Republicans who has held a political office in Otsego County Government, he told WCDO News of that experience & his agenda:

(James Powers 6-16-20)

Powers faces competition from Joe Angelino, Nick Libous & Vic Furman in the Republican Primary.

The Otsego County Department of Health has learned of a potential exposure to coronavirus at a public venue & they are now seeking to identify and notify individuals who attended a livestock auction at Unadilla Livestock 38 Maple Avenue in Unadilla on Saturday May 16th.   Otsego County Assistant Public Health Director Kim Schlosser told WCDO News that the auction was agricultural and was allowed to be open in Phase 1 of the Reopening:

(Kim Schlosser 5-22-20)

Schlosser said that an individual who lives in another county attended the auction from 1:30-9:30pm has since been confirmed to have COVID 19 & that individual was not wearing a mask.  Anyone who attended the auction, who develops symptoms, should contact their primary care provider, or the COVID Hotline at 547-5555 or the Otsego County Health Department at 547-4316 to get tested, also, if attendees know someone who attended the auction in the Amish community, to inform them of positive test & self-monitor for symptoms of the illness.

The Sidney, Afton, Bainbridge & Unadilla Chambers of Commerce, 4 towns forward & My Home Gym are co-sponsoring the fundraising Wipe Out Covid-19 Virtual 5K Walk/Run, Starting tomorrow through May 31st. So far, about 400 people have signed up & Anna Banks of My Home Gym told WCDO how much money has been raised, and where it goes:

(Anna Banks 5-22-20)

Mike Banks of My Home Gym reminded participants to be careful & maintain Social Distancing during this event:

(Mike Banks 5-22-20)

The virtual 5K can be run or walked from any location; People can donate or get more information at runsignup.com/MyHomeGym2020 or call 320-4024.

Congressman Antonio Delgado announced the award of nearly $100,000 in federal funding through U.S. Department of Transportation & the Federal Aviation Administration. Delgado announced $69,000 for Columbia County Airport in Hudson and $30,000 for Sidney Municipal Airport in Delaware County.

Governor Cuomo signed an executive order delaying village
elections statewide until the April 28th presidential primary.  The Governor said that Public health
officials have been clear that reducing density is one of the most effective
ways to stop the spread, and delaying village elections will help ensure poll
workers and voters are not potentially exposed to the virus and at the same
time maintain integrity in our election system.

Bassett Healthcare announced that for the health and safety
of patients, employees, and the communities that they serve, they are
implementing new visitation restrictions across all network facilities.  Access to clinic buildings and outpatient
service areas at all Bassett Healthcare Network facilities will be limited to
only those patients with scheduled appointments or required business, such as a
prescription pick up.  FoxCare Fitness in
Oneonta is also closed until further notice.
Bassett has set up a central phone number; 607-547-5555, for those who
are concerned they may have symptoms of upper respiratory illness, patients
determined to need an in-person visit will be given an appointment and directed
to next steps.  Also Telemedicine
capabilities are being expanded to be able to screen more patients remotely;
Visitation has been suspended to all inpatient units at the 5 hospitals across
the network and the network’s long-term care facilities.  More information is available at bassett.org.

The State-run Department of
Motor Vehicles locations are moving to an appointment only system to help stop
spread of the coronavirus.   The DMV is
encouraging all New Yorkers to complete routine transactions on its website.

Governor Cuomo signed an executive order directing all
schools in New York to close by Wednesday, for 2 weeks ending April 1, at that
time, the state will reassess whether to extend the school closures further and
continue to suspend the 180-day instructional requirement.   Schools that exceed the closure period
without state authorization will not be exempted from the 180-day rule.  School districts are required to develop a
plan for alternative instructional options, including distance learning;
distribution and availability of meals; and daycare, with an emphasis on
children of parents of first responders and healthcare workers.

An American Red Cross blood drive will be hosted today by
the Sidney Elks Lodge 104 River St. Sidney.
The drive will run from 2:00 to 6:00 pm, appointments are requested at
Register online at redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-redcross, walk ins welcome.

A.O. Fox
Hospital’s Tri-Town Campus in Sidney will transition to a daytime schedule
starting May 1st; the facility’s emergency services will operate from 7:00 AM
to 11:00 PM daily.  Sidney Village Mayor
Andy Matviak commented about the change in Emergency room hours:

(Andy
Matviak 3-3-20)

Officials
with Fox Hospital reported that the Tri-Town’s Emergency Department receives an
average of 2.76 per night, with declining visitations over time, they are also
exploring extending primary care hours in the Sidney region to accommodate
same-day appointment needs.”