GREENPORT—Columbia-Greene Community College’s Nursing Department recently donated several cases of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Columbia Memorial Health.

The gowns and masks were given to the hospital as part of a national effort to supply front-line medical staff with these items, which have fallen into short supply as the Covid-19 pandemic reaches a fever pitch world-wide.

“We packed up everything we could in our lab and filled a trunk with boxes. CMH has been an extraordinary supporter of C-GCC’s Nursing program, and we will do anything we can to help them,” Dawn Wrigley, C-GCC professor of nursing and department chairperson, said in a press release. Read more…

Social distancing does not mean social isolation

POUGHKEEPSIE—All libraries in the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) have closed the doors to their facilities in response to the public health crisis of the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Nevertheless, all MHLS libraries are still serving their communities with digital collections and innovative approaches to delivering programs and services online and in nontraditional ways.

More than 300,000 residents in the MHLS region hold library cards and rely on libraries for access to information, education and cultural experiences, according to a press release, and libraries pride themselves on being available during critical times in their communities. Read more…

THIS CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A TUMULTUOUS week adjusting to changes resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. I am of an age that places me in the higher risk category. Fortunately, I don’t smoke and have a good heart and lungs, which may help offset the advance of age. My siblings are in the same boat, so we all have agreed to stay home and visit by email and telephone. This includes all friends and family.

None of us older folks have used Skype and we agreed we really don’t have to look at each other or need to figure out how to use it. Having grown up in the country on a local dairy farm, I always revert to our get-ready-for-winter plan. I already have a 3-month stockpile of toilet paper and paper towels. Lots of canned goods, flour, sugar and dry goods, Staron Farm potatoes, and Love Apple Farm apples. Tierra Farm near Chatham sells wonderful coffee, nuts, dried fruit, and a definite necessity for me, chocolate. Chatham Real Food Store, Hawthorne Valley Farm Store, The Berry Farm, and Kinderhook Farm along with many others have valuable offerings.

Farmers Markets and restaurants may be closed, but things can be purchased at the farms, and restaurants have takeout and deliveries. We live in an area of abundant resources of almost any food from meat to cheese to fruit. How lucky we are to also have volunteers for meal deliveries and organizations and government to check on us. Read more…