With schools slated to reopen after Christmas vacation on Monday, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy urged on Saturday that they use remote-only learning. Individual school superintendents will make the decision.

“We’ll be setting up a POD next week,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy of a Point of Dispensing for COVID-19 vaccines. “Anyone over the age of 65 with underlying health issues, get identified by your personal doctor …. Get on that list to get the vaccine.”

“We’ve been getting complaints people are being hostile with them — screaming at them,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy at his New Year’s Day press conference. “They’re not there for that,” he said. “They’re there to help you.”

So far, about 18,000 residents in the eight-county Capital Region have been vaccinated, said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen on Thursday.

“We have 6,500 residents over the age of 65 in Albany County,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy. “We need to identify these places …. so we’re there to protect everyone going forward.”

Kevin Coffey, American Red Cross, Eastern New York Region, Albany

A new grant program was announced on Wednesday morning — funded for $500,000 — that will give up to $5,000 to businesses that qualify.

“We have paid out more than $59 billion in benefits to over 3.9 million unemployed New Yorkers during this crisis — nearly 28 typical years’ worth of benefits paid in 10 months — and we will continue to move heaven and earth to serve our neighbors,” said Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. 

County officials throughout the week warned that the surge from Christmas gatherings had not yet run its course and urged residents not to party for New Year’s celebrations.

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

James Herbert “Jim” Chmielinski, formerly of Berne, died on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. He was 73.