CoCoCurrent

Columbia Comeback: Governor Announces Schools Will Open in Fall

New York schools have been given the go ahead to open in the fall.

Columbia Comeback: Governor Announces New York Schools Will Open in Fall

(WRGB) – New York schools have been given the go ahead to open in the fall.

“They are all authorized to open,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a conference call today.

Districts are planning how to adapt to new safety guidelines. That includes classroom learning, virtual learning as well as transportation on school buses.

“If any state can do it, this state can do it because we’ve been smart since day one,” Cuomo said. “We can bring the same level of intelligence that we brought to the economic reopening.”

Of the 800+ school districts in New York state, 127 districts have not submitted reopening plans to the New York State Department of Education. Fifty districts’ plans are incomplete. The department will continue to review plans over the weekend and notify districts if they need to resubmit their plans with more detail.

Cuomo said districts will be asked to more specifically address three elements of their plans: remote learning, COVID-19 testing for both students and teachers, and contact tracing. Those expanded plans will be submitted to the state and posted on the district websites.

“Different school districts have different theories,” Cuomo said. “But that question of testing for students an teachers is a high level of concerns.”

Cuomo stressed districts need to have discussions with the parents in their districts, a continuing theme in his conference calls and news conferences this week when talking about school reopening plans for the fall.

The governor is also asking each district to hold three online discussions with parents to answer questions that they have about the plans to return to learning in the fall. Those discussions need to be completed by August 21. For the big districts in New York – New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, Albany, Mount Vernon, and Utica – five online discussions with parents will be held.

School districts will also be required to set up at least one discussion with teachers only to review plans and bring up any questions they want to have.

MORE:
www.columbiaedc.com
columbiacountytourism.org
columbiachamber-ny.com

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Tour the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, Aug 8

The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society (HALPS) is hosting the 2nd of 4 tours, of the 2020 season, at the lighthouse.

The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society (HALPS) is hosting the 2nd of 4 tours, of the 2020 season, at the lighthouse. Come walk through this historic gem of the Hudson River, and view videos and artifacts displayed, detailing how life was like for a lighthouse keeper and his family. A glimpse in time when the lighthouse was occupied and operated by people, including the family actually living in the lighthouse. Come learn the history of the lighthouse and the role it played and remains playing, to the community and river vessel traffic.

Masks will be required to enter, and visitors are required to take proper social distancing precautions while on the boat and inside the lighthouse. Visitors will be required to take a covid symptom survey as well. Staff will regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces throughout the day.

Tours are approximately an hour, with the option of staying longer, when transportation permits.

Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to tour time with confirmation of ticket purchase

DATE/TIME: August 8, September 12, October 10th
Tours will depart from Henry Hudson Riverfront Park in Hudson at 11, 12, 1 and 2. Tours depart Athens Village Riverfront Park at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30.

LOCATION:
Henry Hudson Riverfront Park
Hudson, NY (Behind the Amtrak station)

Village of Athens Waterfront Park
4 Water Street
Athens, NY

ADMISSION: Adults $25. 12 & under $10. Discount Rates for Society members.

Advanced ticket purchase recommended. Cash at the launch sites.
By phone- 888-764-1844
Online at –https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/hudsoncruises/items/

MORE:
www.hudsonathenslighthouse.org
facebook.com/hudsonathenslight

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Hudson Hall Exhibition, Rodney Greenblat: ‘Something to Look Forward to’

Hudson Hall presents Rodney Greenblat: ‘Something to Look Forward to’ Exhibition now to August 23.

WEB-2019-12-20_Chromocyclotron_2250-3-946x631 — Photo by Alon Koppel

Hudson Hall presents Rodney Greenblat: ‘Something to Look Forward to’ Exhibition now to August 23. Rodney Alan Greenblat’s aptly-titled, Something to Look Forward to, is an enjoyable, whimsical and engaging collection of new and archival works bursting with color and underpinned with wit and charm.

In Something to Look Forward to, the artist presents us with a vision of his own wonderland future; a land of brightly colored modernist forms populated with ladybugs, friendly robots and giant emblematic cats watched over by “Lemon Eye”- a mystical and beneficial Zen deity who’s image is in almost every work. Greenblat offers us an antidote to the pessimism, division, and dangers of today: the possibility of optimism, wholeness and safety. Familiar and wildly imaginative at the same time, the paintings and constructions celebrate the ability we all have to re-imagine our world.

DATE/TIME: Until August 23, 2020
Friday, 1 – 5pm, Saturday & Sunday, 1 – 4pm
(Timed entry on the hour. 10 reservations max/hour).
Socially-Distanced Guided Tours (maximum of 6 per tour): Saturdays & Sundays, 4pm

COST: Free and Open to public
Socially-Distanced Guided Tours – $10 (free for members)
Reservations required. Visit hudsonhall.org for tickets

LOCATION: Hudson Hall
Center Hall Gallery & Common Council Room
327 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534

MORE: In keeping with New York State guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, visitors to Hudson Hall must comply with safety protocols, such as social distancing and wearing a mask. Hudson Hall reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone who does not comply with these guidelines or make reservations in advance.
HudsonHall.org
facebook.com/HudsonHallNY
instagram.com/hudsonhallny

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Art Omi Open Figure Drawing for Adults returns to the Sculpture & Architecture Park, Aug 5

Art Omi’s Open Figure Drawing for Adults gathers Wednesday evenings either outdoors in the Sculpture & Architecture Park or via Zoom sessions to sketch, draw, and render from a live model.

Open to artists of all skill levels ages 16+, each two-hour sessions is self-guided and intended to provide time and space for members of our local community to share in the exploration of this traditional art practice. Participants must supply their own materials. Click the session links below to register for the session. Please note that registration will be capped for live sessions in order to uphold social distancing protocols.

DATES: Every Wednesday / 5 – 7:30pm

ADMISSION: $8 per class

Learn more & Register Here

LOCATION: Omi International Arts Center Sculpture Park
1405 County Route 22
Ghent, NY 12075

MORE:
ArtOmi.org
FaceBook/Art-Omi
instagram.com/art_omi

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COVID-19 Update from Columbia County Health Department, Jul 27

The latest update from the Columbia County Department of Health.

Following is the latest update from the Columbia County Department of Health.

Although our numbers are low, it is IMPORTANT to remember to stay home if you feel symptoms. Recent positives were feeling ill and continued to go to work and/or socialized and potentially exposed many more people, putting them on Mandatory Quarantine for 14 days. Please continue to practice social distancing and wear your mask!

As of 12:00 PM on August 2, 2020:

– Columbia County has had 37 residents that have passed away from COVID-19.

-Columbia County has 497 confirmed positive cases, which is 20 more than last week.

-There are 15 active cases of COVID-19 in Columbia County, up from last week’s 9. We are monitoring 78 county residents on mandatory quarantine, and there are 13 on precautionary quarantine. Last week there were 44 ad 8 (respectively).

– 445 of the 497 cases are recovering from COVID-19

– 3 of the positive cases are hospitalized, none of those hospitalized are in the ICU

-We have received 18,537 PCR reports. Please note this number may represent duplicate reports, out of county reports, and multiple nursing home testings.

https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com/home/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-resources-info/