I am writing this column at 9 a.m., Mon., Mar. 16. By the time it is published (Wed., Mar. 18) this situation may evolve dramatically.
At this point, the Village of Greenwood Lake has suspended all Senior Center activities and closed the building. In addition, we have cancelled all activities at our community center, including the teen and pre-teen centers and all other public activities and meetings there. Village Hall will remain open but we are urging members of the public to call rather than come in person for issues and complaints. All signups and forms will be on our website at www.villageofgreenwoodlake.org. I suspect Village Hall and the building office will soon close to the public entirely. We are in the process of reviewing the best practice to allow our residents and contractors to continue obtaining building permits. I understand this may be a difficult time for many – especially those who cannot work and make a living. Please do your best to keep them in your thoughts and prayers and support them as best you can. The best place to check for more information is the Orange County Health Department website. For more local information, please check either the Village Facebook page or our website.
As for the virus itself, the symptoms include difficulty breathing, fever, sore throat and coughing. If you develop these symptoms, immediately contact your physician before calling 911. You have to keep in mind that, to most, this virus is not fatal, but it is highly contagious. By calling 911 for non-emergencies, you risk exposing this virus to our first responders. If your physician feels you should go to a facility and you must call 911, please be very clear on your symptoms and please immediately indicate to first responders that you may have contracted the virus. The best thing for us all to do at this point is to limit exposure with others. Stay home if possible. If you have any questions or wish to speak with me on any issues at all, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at mayor@villageofgreenwoodlake.org or by cell: 845-283-7993.
The above column, written by Village of Greenwood Lake Mayor Jesse Dwyer, has been published in the Mar. 18 issue of the Warwick Valley Dispatch.
