05-27-20 Northern Dutchess News

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NORTHERN

Volume 12, Issue 22 • May 27-June 2, 2020 • 50¢

DUTCHESS NEWS

& Creative Living

A division of The Southern Dutchess News ~ Entirely produced and printed in Dutchess County since 1959 ~ www.sdutchessnews.com

Dutchess expected to be approved for Phase One reopening Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced on May 22 that Gov. Andrew Cuomo was expected to give the green light to the Mid-Hudson Region to begin Phase One reopening starting this week. Cuomo was scheduled to announce the specific reopening date over the weekend, after the Northern Dutchess News went to press. It is anticipated that the MidHudson region would meet all seven of the metrics necessary to beging reopening under Cuomo’s “NY Forward” plan. The seven indicators cover four core areas: rate of infection; capacity of the healthcare system to absorb a potential resurgence in new cases; diagnostic testing capacity; and robust contact-tracing capacity. The Governor is expected to announce the specific reopening date over the weekend. The following business industries will be able to reopen next week under the NY Forward phased reopening plan: Construction; manufacturing; retail, limited to curbside or in-store pick up or drop off; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; and wholesale trade. Molinaro said, “This is good news for Dutchess County, a cautious beginning to restarting our local economy. We have worked tirelessly in the battle against COVID-19 and all of the metrics prove we have moved in the right direction. Our local businesses have also been working hard to put plans in place to ensure the health and safety of their employees and their customers. It is critical we all continue to work together to protect our community’s health as we begin the process of ‘Restarting Dutchess.’” Construction staging – including moving materials and equipment onto job sites and setting up safety precautions – may begin now to allow full construction activities to be able to begin next week once the Governor has determined the specific date. All eligible businesses who plan to reopen during Phase One must have a COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan to protect employees and consumers, make the physical work space safer

COUNTY COVID-19 UPDATES

Millbrook Diner staff, volunteers serving 150 meals per day for needy by Mary Keelan It is not easy to wrap your head around the fact that 4,000 free hot dinners have been distributed by the Millbrook Diner staff and a cadre of local volunteers to needy families and homebound seniors in the Village of Millbrook in less than a one month during this siege of the COVID-19 pandemic. Owning and managing a popular diner in the heart of the Village of Millbrook for almost 30 years, Thanasi and Debbie Theodoropoulos know their customers and the community like family. After weeks of shuttered shops and a bleak economic prognosis for many, Debbie sensed a need and wanted to do something about it. She discussed her idea with Thanasi, who agreed. Thanasi then brought the plan to Kevin McGrane, a Village trustee and president of the Millbrook Business Association, who “knew that there was a need in our community between seniors who were afraid to come out of their homes and a number of residents who are unable to collect any type of government assistance for various reasons.” Thinking those needing meals would just come to the Diner to pick up curbside

The Millbrook Diner family is helping out during the pandemic by serving more than 150 meals per day to needy families and home-bound seniors in the Millbrook area. From left are Kenny Tibodeau, Konstantin Theodoropoulos, Ray Rhodes, Isabella Tibodeau and Thanasi and Debbie Theodoropoulos. Photo by Curtis Schmidt didn’t work initially. McGrane then suggested, “Let’s bring it to the streets.” Almost immediately, the estimated 40 meals for a day’s distribution increased to 80. Presently, about 150 meals a day are

by Rich Thomaselli

INDEX 8 10-14 10 12 14 14 14 17 17 18-19

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Bistros, contractors, lawn & garden area small businesses look to rebound

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Dispatches from the VFW Creative Living Get Growing! Love to Cook Binox Crossword Puzzle Sudoku Obituaries Public Notices Classifieds

quickly transferred from the Diner’s kitchen to tables under a white canopy tent on Church Street. Three days a week the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club adds 25

Plexiglass partitions have been installed on booths at Coppola's Italian & American Bistro in Hyde Park. Courtesy photo

Luigi Coppola is ready. Owner of the eponymous Coppola’s Italian & American Bistro in Hyde Park, one of the oldest and most popular Italian eateries in the Hudson Valley, Coppola and his family are like hundreds, if not thousands, of small businesses in the state waiting for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to lift restrictions. Local small businesses have been among the hardest-hit economically by the coronavirus pandemic, and they all – from restaurants to nail salons to barbershops and more – are eagerly awaiting that day. That still may be two or three weeks away, but Coppola is adjusting accordingly. “I have installed plexiglass parti-

tions on our booths, installed Purel stations and we’re putting together a very detailed safety plan for the servers and kitchen staff,” he said. “We also removed half of our tables and distanced the remaining tables six feet apart.” He said he is also working on a limited menu in order to make things to easier, at least in the beginning of the state’s reopening. These adjustments are being made all over in a variety of businesses. Dave Stewart, owner of DS Electric in Hyde Park, said he’s learned a few things along the way due to the impact of the virus. For one, after several workers decided not to continue on due to fear of the effects of the pandemic, Stewart realized even working remotely that his office could gain continued on page 8

• OPEN FOR BUSINESS • Bank of Millbrook Hyde Park Businesses Ianelli Law

p5 p 20 p 15

Keil Equipment of Red Hook p 11 Premier Medical Group p 11 Restore/Habitat for Humanity p 10

Salt Point Businesses pp 6-7 INSIDE: Healthy Lifestyles Adams Fairacre Farms


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05-27-20 Northern Dutchess News by richardlw47 - Issuu