New hotline established by sheriff, virus numbers updated

by STAFF

HUDSON—A new hotline for “the elderly and vulnerable in our county, including those with medical conditions or are disabled,” who would welcome a deputy checking on their well-being on a daily basis was established by Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett, Friday, April 3.

The number for the hotline is 518-828-0601 X 1400.

“Leave a message and someone will return your call. A time frame, morning or afternoon, will be established for when you would like the deputy to come to your residence. When the deputy comes by, he or she will knock on the door, then retreat to a safe distance and wait for someone to signal that all is well inside,” Sheriff Bartlett said in the coronavirus update press release issued by Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell, April 3. Read more…

School vote postponed until June 1 at earliest

by EMILIA TEASDALE

GHENT–Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order released March 30 saying that school board elections will be postponed until no earlier than June 1.

The order says in part “any school board, library board, or village election scheduled to take place in April or May of 2020 is hereby postponed until at least June 1, 2020, and subject to further directive as to the timing, location or manner of voting for such elections.”

County school districts were scheduled to hold their budget votes and school board elections on May 19. All six school districts in the county are currently closed until April 15 and students and staff are working remotely. Read more…

Two dead of virus, $10K donation made for test kits

by STAFF

HUDSON—Columbia County has received a donation of $10,000 for the purchase of coronavirus test kits, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said in his April 2 coronavirus update press release.

As of 3:45 pm, April 2, 2020, Columbia County  has confirmed 51 positive cases of COVID-19. Two of the positive cases have passed away. Five of the positive cases are hospitalized, two of those are in the ICU. The department has received 401 test results completed for Columbia County residents. There are 61 under mandatory quarantine and 25 under precautionary quarantine. There are 10 residents with suspected, not tested cases. Twenty-two Columbia County residents have recovered from COVID-19, according to an April 2 update from the Columbia County Department of Health. https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com/…/coronavirus-covid…/

The donation, made by Jack Shear of Spencertown, is to be dedicated to the purchase of test kits for use by the county Department of Health. Read more…

Closings, cancellations, postponements as of April 2

by STAFF

We will post local cancellations and postponements as we receive them.

ANCRAM–Ancram Town Hall, Town Court and Town Garage will be closed to the public until further notice. Town employees will continue to be working normal hours at the Town Hall or from home, so can you reach them by email, phone or mail. The Highway Department is working a regular schedule. If you have something to drop off with a town official, just put it in the mail box on the far edge of the parking lot. Call the Town number at 518-329-6512 and leave a message if no one is available to talk when you call. Find a directory of contact information on the town website: www.ancramny.org

ANCRAM–The town’s April 4 Easter Egg Hunt has been postponed due to state mandated recommendations mandated  If for any reason the regulations change by the end of April, the town may schedule the event for another Saturday after Easter.

Ancram Kids’ Camp sign-up postponed. Camp applications will not be available until sometime in May. Town officials will alert everyone when the applications are ready and they will be posted on the website.

ANNANDALE—The May 3 gala celebrating the 70th anniversary season of the Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle has been postponed to the fall. At this time, the HVCMC still plans to hold its June concert series in Olin Hall at Bard College.

AUSTERLITZ–Town Hall closed through March 31. Scheduled to reopen April 1. All monthly meetings canceled for the duration of March. www.austerlitzny.com. Reach Town Supervisor Lagonia at 518-755-0996 or Read more…

County extends building closures

by STAFF

HUDSON–Columbia County has extended the closure of its buildings to the public through Friday, April 17 in an effort to protect the public and its employees, according to an order issued by county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt B. Murell, April 1.

“This may well wind up going through till the end of April, but at this time we are proceeding in two-week increments. This is also coinciding with the current school district closures,” Mr. Murell said in his April 1 update on the coronavirus situation in Columbia County.

The following Essential Departments still must report to the respective offices: 911, Communications, Sheriff, Corrections, Public Health, Office for the Aging, Highway, Solid Waste, MIS, Board of Elections, District Attorney and Facilities. All other staff will be working from home as assigned by their department heads. Read more…