The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

COVID

Northern Westchester Hospital ‘One Year Anniversary’ Remembrance Ceremony Honors Healthcare Team

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On the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 patient admission, approximately 50 to 100 people, including the Mount Kisco Fire Department, patient families and visitors, gathered on walkways lined with luminaries around Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) to remember those who were lost to the pandemic and honor the hospital’s dedicated health care professionals at the change of shift.

 Mount Kisco Firefighters, patient families and visitors applaud Northern Westchester Hospital’s healthcare heroes as they change shifts on the year anniversary of first COVID-19 positive patient admission              

“This was a significant week at Northern Westchester Hospital as we recognized the day that we admitted our first COVID-19 positive patient on March 11, 2020, and reflected on what the past year has meant for our entire organization,” says NWH executive director Derek Anderson. “We are incredibly proud of the resiliency and dedication of our team members and so grateful to the community, which rallied around us with their continued support.  Over the past few days, we have had several opportunities to recognize our team members for the outstanding care they have provided over the past year and for the sacrifices, they made in their personal lives so that they could be here for our patients and community.  We also paid tribute to the lives lost during the pandemic.”     

One particularly moving moment was the change of shift recognition held on Thursday.  Hospital leadership came together to greet team members as they arrived or departed from their shifts.  Each team member was invited to create a luminary bag on which they shared a memory or word of inspiration. 

Each bag contained a prayer card that included the verse read by hospital chaplain Reverend Angela Maddalone during a moment of silence earlier this week. The luminary bags also included a tea light, which staff lit before placing their bag in a growing lineup of tributes throughout the entryways.  On Thursday evening, the luminaries were brought outside to ‘spread the light’ across the campus at the end of the day.  Visitors were invited to join team members as the Mount Kisco Fire Department rang a bell at 7 pm to honor those who were lost during the pandemic. Large spotlights illuminated the campus, spreading light through the community.

Northern Westchester healthcare heroes receive applause during shift change on year-anniversary of first COVID-19 positive patient admission.

News courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital. 

Mount Kisco Firefighters cheer Northern Westchester Healthcare heroes on year anniversary of first COVID-19 positive patient admission
Northern Westchester Hospital doctors, nurses, staff, patient families and visitors wrote messages on luminary bags that lined the walkways to remember those lost in the pandemic and honor the hospital’s dedicated healthcare professionals .

60 and Up, New Yorker? Come Get Your Shot Too

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New Yorkers 60 Years of Age and Older Can Be Vaccinated Beginning March 10

Government Employees, Nonprofit Workers, and Essential Building Service Workers Are Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Beginning March 17

Vaccine Distribution Eligibility Expanded; All Providers Except Pharmacies Can Now Vaccinate Any Eligible New Yorker Starting March 17; Pharmacies Can Vaccinate 60-plus and Teachers Per Federal Guidance Starting March 10

New Yorkers Can Make Appointments at State-Run Vaccination Sites by Utilizing New York’s ‘Am I Eligible’ Tool or Calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in New York. Beginning March 10, all New Yorkers 60 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine, while public facing essential workers from governmental and nonprofit entities will be eligible beginning March 17. This expansion also includes public-facing essential building services workers.

Additionally, the Governor announced that with increased supply of the vaccine, restrictions concerning which segments of the eligible population specific providers can vaccinate will be relaxed to align with the expanded eligibility on March 17. Previously, certain types of providers were directed to focus their vaccination efforts on specific populations to ensure equitable vaccine distribution. For example, hospitals vaccinated health care workers, local health departments vaccinated essential workers and pharmacies vaccinated New Yorkers 65 years of age and older. Now, providers will be able to vaccinate any eligible New Yorker, with the exception of pharmacies, which will focus on individuals over the age of 60 and teachers, in line with federal policy. Pharmacies may begin vaccinating individuals over the age of 60 and teachers on March 10. As part of this effort, providers are being encouraged to vaccinate those New Yorkers most at risk, such as individuals 60 years of age and older and people with comorbidities and underlying health conditions.

“New York is marching forward expanding access to the COVID-19 vaccine, addressing underserved communities and getting shots in arms as we turn the tide in the fight against this virus,” Governor Cuomo said. “Supply is steadily increasing and we’re opening new vaccination sites and expanding eligibility to match it. New Yorkers over 60 years old and those who serve their fellow New Yorkers in the public sector are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and we’re addressing that vulnerability by providing access to the vaccine. The fight against the COVID beast continues on all fronts, and we’re pushing the infection rate down while getting our vaccinations up.”

Under this new expansion of eligibility, the following essential workers will now be eligible to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on March 17:

  • Public-facing government and public employees
  • Not-for-profit workers who provide public-facing services to New Yorkers in need
  • Essential in-person public-facing building service workers

This includes workers such as public works employees, social service and child service caseworkers, government inspectors, sanitation workers, DMV workers, County Clerks, building service workers and election workers – the everyday heroes who have been showing up day in and day out throughout this pandemic.

New York’s vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to this limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.   

CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said, “Since the start of this pandemic, essential front line public workers have risked their own safety and the safety of their families to make sure our state and local governments keep providing needed services to all New Yorkers. We are gratified to hear all these workers will now be eligible for the vaccine. They deserve to be protected so that New York can fully and safely reopen.”

NY AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “Our essential workers have been on the front lines since the start of this pandemic to ensure our communities can continue to function in the midst of this crisis. While many essential workers have already been vaccinated, it is now time to ensure the rest of the individuals who are going to work every day and interacting with the public are protected against this virus and can keep themselves and their families safe. I thank Governor Cuomo for expanding vaccine eligibility to even more public-facing essential workers and for the state’s ongoing efforts to vaccinate every single New Yorker.”

32BJ SEIU President Kyle Bragg said, “We applaud Governor Cuomo for adding building service workers to the vaccine eligibility list. Building service workers have protected the city during the pandemic and will now get the protection they need to stay safe. Building service workers like door staff, supers, cleaners, security officers, resident managers, porters helped New Yorkers to get through the pandemic and are vital to the city’s recovery. Their health and safety is tied to the city’s health and safety.”

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido said, “District Council 37 members have put their lives on the line every day to provide essential services New Yorkers rely on. Prioritizing our workers for vaccine eligibility is the right thing to do. It keeps them, their families and their communities safe. I applaud this expansion.”

Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association Local 831 IBT President Harry Nespoli said, “We have been in constant communication with the governor’s office on this issue and are very happy that our members will be eligible to receive vaccinations. Upwards of 25% of our members have been infected by COVID-19 and, tragically, four died. We greatly appreciate the governor’s actions.

Eligible New Yorkers will be able to schedule appointments at state vaccination sites by utilizing New York’s ‘Am I Eligible’ website or by calling the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

New York is maintaining and expanding a vast vaccine distribution network. On March 8, Governor Cuomo announced that as the federal vaccine supply continues to increase, New York will establish 10 additional state-run mass vaccination sites in the New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Capital, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and Western New York regions to further grow New York’s vast distribution network. The sites remain in development and are expected to launch in the coming weeks. Final details, including appointment scheduling information and hours of operation will be released in the coming days. 

Not only has New York already established 13 other state-run mass vaccination sites, but in order to meet the Governor’s mandate to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of the vaccine, numerous other sites have been established to ensure those New Yorkers living in underserved communities have direct access to the vaccine. This includes six joint state-FEMA community-based vaccination sites, the Yankee Stadium mass vaccination site, and more than 120 community-based pop-up sites in public housing developments, churches and community centers.

All of the above News is via the Office of the New York Governor.

Plans for County’s March 3 Covid Commemoration: “One Year Later”

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 In the lobby of the Michaelian Office Building where the County’s “Ribbons of Remembrance” memorial now stands, County Executive George Latimer will host a commemoration of the County’s first confirmed COVID-19 case. To date, Westchester County has lost over 2,000 lives to the virus. The commemoration will take place on Wednesday, March 3 beginning at 11 a.m. To watch live, tune into www.facebook.com/WestchesterGov.

Latimer said: “What today is about is remembering those we have lost not as merely an integer or statistic, but as human beings and the valued members of our community that they were. While in this last year we have rallied together in so many ways,, it is imperative we also take time to grieve and heal together.”

The solemn event will begin at 11a.m. with an interfaith prayer service lead be Father Luke Hoyt from Holy Innocents Catholic Church, Rabbi Annie Tucker from Temple Israel Center and Imam Shaffieq Chace from Islamic Center of New Rochelle.

Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Westchester residents are strong, resilient and also compassionate people.  One year later, we commemorate those we have lost and honor those who worked so hard to keep us safe.”

 

Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said: “One year ago, all of our lives changed forever. I am proud of the work of my department, and health care workers county-wide, as we faced this crisis of unprecedented proportions.”

The prayers will be followed by remarks from Latimer and other invited guests, poems read by the County’s Poet Laureate B.K. Fischer and the County’s Youth Poet Laureate Danielle Kohn and a musical interlude from a string quartet made up of students and faculty from White Plains High School. 

Following the program at 12p.m., Latimer will lead the County in a moment of silence remembering those we have lost.

This commemoration will continue again later in the evening when Latimer will lead a County-wide applause for health care workers in recognition of the life-saving, stress-filled work they have done during these tumultuous times.

On Wednesday, March 3, Latimer will also direct flags at all County facilities to be flown at half-staff in honor of the over 2,000 Westchester residents who have died from COVID-19.

News courtesy of the Office of the Westchester County Executive

Byram Hills Administration Shares How the District Achieved In-Person Classes Despite the Pandemic

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And the keys to success meeting unprecedented challenges…

PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

Bravo Byram Hills! Facing unprecedented challenges due to Covid-19, the Byram Hills School District has risen to the occasion successfully implementing a well-laid plan for the safe education of our children. Despite an abrupt shutdown of schools in mid-March with no handbook on how to remotely educate an entire district, things are now running smoothly with a mixture of in-person (K-6), hybrid (7-12), and remote instruction (K-12 option). The magnitude of this accomplishment cannot be overstated when many of the nation’s schools were unable to reopen and remained completely remote this school year.

“The Eye of the Storm”- The First Few Weeks

In mid-March, when Covid-19 forced a historic shutdown of our schools, Byram Hills administrators and faculty kicked into high gear to try and provide a semblance of normalcy and continuity of education for students.

“It felt like we were in the middle of a storm,” recalls Dr. Jen Lamia, Superintendent of Schools. “We were trying to support teachers who were out remotely for the first time, trying to deploy Chromebooks to support parents, trying to get curriculum and technology up and running, and it was incredibly difficult.”

Initially, no one knew how long schools would be closed because school districts were awaiting instructions from the governor. “We made decisions based on temporary status,” says Dr. Tim Kaltenecker, Deputy Superintendent. “We would’ve made different decisions, such as having a schedule, if we knew it was going to be long term. So, we took those lessons learned from the spring, we surveyed the community, the students, and faculty, and used much of that information to start planning for September.”

“We had no idea we were in that lull and things were going to continue to get worse,” says Lamia. “However, once we realized this will be somewhat permanent, we moved our minds to preparations for the fall.”

“Pots on a Stove” – Preparing for the Fall

“We watched our K-6 learners struggle in a remote setting, so our number one goal was to get K-6 back in school, socially-distanced, and then to identify curriculum, so Tim, Gina Cunningham (Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources), Kelly Seibert (Assistant Superintendent for Business and Management Services) and I started this work,” explains Lamia.

To bring students back, the administration had to tackle a myriad of details related to building operations, curriculum, instruction, personnel, technology, and safety. Every building and every grade level had its own challenges to address. “We had a lot of pots on the stove, we had different urgent items that we needed to tend to for things to run well,” says Lamia.

Communication was key. The process involved talking with teachers and staff to ascertain what they needed to feel safe to return, talking to parents about what worked for their children in remote learning in the Spring, talking to students about how instruction could be enhanced, and conversations with the Byram Hills Education Foundation (“BHEF”) about how they can support the District with the technology needed. 

Separate task forces and sub-committees of faculty and administrators for K-5 and 6-12 were convened to make curriculum decisions. A Strategic Planning Committee was formed to keep everyone on schedule and ensure they were meeting benchmarks.

“Our students are at the center of our decision-making,” says Kaltenecker “our teachers were consulted every step of the way.”

Administrators worked around the clock to prepare for all scenarios. “While awaiting guidelines from the state, we planned three different models including a plan for all students in school with safety precautions, a hybrid plan, and an all remote plan,” explains Kaltenecker. “We needed to be ready because we wanted to bring in as many kids as possible for as much time as possible.”

The work paid off because Byram opened its doors on September 1, 2020 with K-6 students attending daily and grades 7-12 attending in a hybrid model. School was able to proceed because schedules were adjusted to cohort students as much as possible to de-densify classrooms, custodians prepared the buildings to meet public health guidelines, the BHEF supplied classrooms with cutting edge technology for synchronous hybrid learning, and all staff were determined to make this work.

The Importance of a Well-Prepared Team

This herculean effort could not have been undertaken without the strong foundation that had been built by the administrative team. Lamia and Kaltenecker have been working together and refining their organizational plans since 2003. “We’ve had a lot of practice in doing this sort of planning and thinking work, just never of this magnitude,” says Lamia.

“Because of our relationship, I trust Jen with my life so when we’re making these decisions…I know they’re with good intent for the district,” says Kaltenecker. “Fifty percent of our administrative team has been here a long time, we’ve studied leadership texts together, and we have a good language built in our system that helped us as we were designing this.”

“The message from Jen that was consistent whenever people were wavering, was ‘Our children need to be in school. We have to bring them back day one. How do we make that happen?’ 

And that was our mission,” says Kaltenecker.

“We worked very hard on this, but it’s our faculty, staff, and administration that made this happen because of their care for our children. They built it,” emphasizes Lamia.

Throughout the planning and execution of this effort, leadership consulted with a stakeholder group comprised of physicians, hospital administrators, a military veteran trained in strategic planning, nurses, principals, town supervisors, members of the board, members of the teacher’s union, and PTSA. “This group was incredible,” says Lamia. “It occurred to me that if I’m going 

to move forward with opening schools, I need experts to weigh in, I need studies, I need organizational plans, and I need input from all stakeholders.”

Moving Forward with Lessons Learned

Much has been learned both about the ever-evolving science on Covid-19 and on a smaller scale, about educating the students. This past fall, in accordance with Department of Health guidelines, any child that had been in a classroom or on a bus with a Covid-positive person was instructed to quarantine for fourteen days. In December, the NYS Department of Health reduced the quarantine to ten days for exposed individuals. Also, since there have been no known cases of quarantined individuals becoming symptomatic, purportedly due to the vigilant adherence to social distancing practices, the district is not casting as wide a net when identifying exposed individuals. Only “close contacts” are directed to quarantine.

Looking ahead, the administration is discussing lessons they have learned, practices they may want to continue in a post-Covid life, things they may want to tweak, accessing vaccines for the district and arranging testing for everyone. For now, the district has facilitated weekly surveillance testing of twenty percent of students and staff using the Mirimus saliva-based PCR tests.

“If I had a gift,” says Lamia, “it would be to receive enough rapid PCR tests for every adult and student in the schools to take every Monday morning at home, so I knew with assurance that at that snapshot in time everybody was coming in Covid-free. That would be the most beautiful gift to take us from now forward.”

In the meantime, students and parents are grateful to have school in session. In a recent board meeting, Wampus Elementary Principal Peggy McInerney remarked on how appreciative the kids are to be in school. That is what makes it all worthwhile.

CANTORS COAST TO COAST Presents Songs of Sustenance

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A Virtual Benefit Concert to Fight Hunger from the Worsening COVID Crisis will be held Sunday, January 31, 2021 • 18 Shevat 5781

Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester

Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, and spurred by the worsening COVID crisis, TBE’s Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb is collaborating with an exciting cast of fellow cantors and notable Jewish singer-songwriters across the country to present a virtual benefit concert on Sunday, January 31. Don’t miss this historic event as leading voices representing all five branches of Judaism perform together to fight hunger! Ticket link: www.bethelnw.org/concert

Hosted by Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, Chappaqua, NY

Honoring Cantor Meir Finkelstein, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Houston, TX

Featuring
Rabbi Joe Black, Temple Emanuel, Denver, CO
Cantor Magda Fishman, B’nai Torah Congregation, Boca Raton, FL
Cantor Chayim Frenkel, Kehilat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation, Los Angeles, CA
Cantor Netanel Hershtik, Hampton Synagogue, Westhampton Beach, NY
Cantor Robin Joseph, Temple Beth Shalom, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Lisa Jane Lipkin, Singer, Composer, Producer
Beth Schafer, Spiritual Leader, URJ and Cantorial Chair, Temple Sinai, Atlanta, GA
Hazzan Basya Schechter, Music Director, Romemu, New York, NY
Cantor Rosalie Will, Director of Worship and Music, URJ

Admission to the concert will be by ticket only, and funds raised will benefit MAZON, the national advocacy organization working to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the US and Israel. The program will feature original music composed by the cantors and singer-songwriters. General admission is $18.00. Premium admission, including “backstage pass” to a special roundtable with the cast following the concert is $180. www.bethelnw.org/concert