106th AD race has Barrett facing Michael

by DIANE VALDEN

GHENT—The 106th Assembly District seat is up for grabs November 3, as it is every two years.

Incumbent Democrat Didi Barrett seeks the seat she has held for the past eight years and is challenged by Republican Dean Michael.

In Columbia County, the district includes the towns of Ghent, Claverack, Germantown, Livingston, Clermont, Taghkanic, Copake, Ancram and Greenport and the City of Hudson. In Dutchess County, the district encompasses the towns of Milan, Pine Plains, North East, Stanford, Clinton, Hyde Park, Pleasant Valley, Amenia and Poughkeepsie. Read more…

Stay, sit, cuddle!

by DAVID LEE

The Philmont Public Library hosted an adoption event with the Everlasting Hope Animal Rescue, Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Several puppies from two different litters were available for adoption. Everlasting’s President and Founder Wendy Guntert said she had hoped to also bring cats, kittens and guinea pigs but the air was chilly and she felt that it would be too stressful for them. The library is also collecting donations of pet food, toys and cat litter for the entire month of October to benefit the rescue. Pictured, Jaida Krein of Philmont, was with her grandmother, Ruth Bruns. Her heart was set on one of the puppies, but she must fill out an application form that assures that she will be able to take care of the dog. Photo by David Lee

Awaiting some test results, ICC tells older kids to learn at home

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK—Ichabod Crane 4th through 12th graders will continue taking classes online on Thursday, October 29 while the district waits for results from Covid-19 tests on middle and high school students. On Sunday, the district was told by the County Department of Health (DOH) that a primary school student had tested positive for Covid-19. The district closed the primary school—K-3rd grades—and moved all students in the middle and high school to online classes.

On Tuesday, the primary school opened to all classes but the one with the positive case. The district sent out an email saying that students in that class will work online with their teacher and “will need to quarantine for the required 14-day period.”

The district announced that they were waiting for testing on middle and high school students that had come in close contact with the primary school student. On Wednesday, an email was sent to parents saying, “While we had hoped to have these results back today, the Department of Health has indicated it may not be until tomorrow or later this evening. At this time we have decided to err on the side of caution and continue with the current plan for Thursday, October 29.” Read more…

ICC revises school closings; some primary students will return

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK—the Ichabod Crane School District announced Monday afternoon, October 26 that some primary school students will attend school Tuesday, October 27, while the grades 4-12 will continue working remotely.

The decision comes after the district closed the primary school and had students in the middle and high schools work online Monday due to a student who tested positive for Covid-19.

According to an email to parents at around 3 p.m. Monday, one classroom in the primary school (which houses kindergarten through 3rd grade) “will need to quarantine for the required 14-day period, which will end on Thursday, November 5 with students and staff returning to school on Friday, November 6.” Those students who must quarantine will have a remote class with their teacher.

The rest of the school will have in-person classes on Tuesday, October 27. Read more…

ICC closes primary school, other grades go online after student tests positive for virus

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK—The Ichabod Crane School District announced Sunday night that it was closing the primary school and moving to online learning for middle and high school students on Monday, October 26 due to a student testing positive for Covid-19. An email to parents read, in part, that the district is in regular communication with the Columbia County Department of Health (DOH) “to assist them as needed with their contact tracing investigation and to determine how we will proceed on Tuesday, October 27.”

The email, sent out Sunday night along with a phone call, said the district was notified by DOH on Sunday evening that a student in the primary school has tested positive for Covid-19.

“We are currently working closely with the DOH who will be taking the lead role in a complete contact tracing investigation to determine any potential contacts the student may have had both in and outside of school. The DOH or a district administrator will directly contact those who may have been exposed within 24 hours. In the event you are contacted by a representative of the DOH, please offer your complete cooperation so we can isolate any potential ongoing exposure,” said the email.

The email went on to say that “to err on the side of extreme caution” all students would stay home Monday, October 26. Read more…