As Broome County continues to fight the spread of coronavirus in our community, it is critical to keep our seniors safe and healthy.
As of Tuesday, March 17, the Broome County Senior Centers will be closed for all activities until April 14. The centers will be offering take-out lunches by reservation only. Please call your senior center for meals and questions.
Seniors who need any type of assistance are encouraged to call 2-1-1.
(TOWN OF DICKINSON, NY) Broome County Executive Jason Garnar was joined today by Allen Buyck, District Superintendent and CEO of Broome Tioga BOCES and Mark Bordeau, Senior Food Service Director for Broome Tioga BOCES, to provide details on meal distribution for students during the school closure.
All students can receive two meals everyday throughout the week while schools are closed. Every child 18 and under is eligible to receive meals at whichever pick-up location is closest to them. In an effort to encourage social distancing, meals are grab-and-go only. There are 39 total pick-up sites.
For any special dietary needs, please call 607-763-3403. For the most up-to-date and detailed information, check your district website.
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar today declared a local state of emergency for Broome County. This decision was not made to instill fear or panic. Rather, it will authorize emergency spending and free up additional resources to limit the spread of the disease in our community.
Starting Monday, March 16, all K-12 schools will be closed at least through Monday, April 13. This includes all extracurricular activities.
The decision to close schools is a proactive measure to prevent the spread of the virus to students, their families, and the community. This does not indicate a quarantine of Broome County. Businesses remain open and social distancing guidance should be followed.
School districts are identifying food plans, social supports, and instruction plans for students through the closing, including Easter break. More details will be released Sunday, March 15.
Daycares in Broome County are not currently closed, as they are under the regulatory control of New York State.
Another press conference with school officials will be scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, March 15 to provide additional information for families in our community.
For more information on COVID-19, see broomecountyny.gov/hd/coronavirus
(BINGHAMTON) An Expansion of Child Care Assistance Program grant has been awarded to the Broome County Department of Social Services to expand the availably of subsidized childcare in Broome County.
This is a one-time grant which is targeted to expand availability of childcare subsidies to more residents in Broome County. Broome County was one of several counties awarded an Expansion of Child Care Assistance Program grant for 2020-2021.
Changes that Broome County DSS will be implementing include:
Additionally, the Broome County Day Care Unit has moved to the DSS building at 36-42 Main St. Binghamton. Their hours of availability have not changed and are also attached.
(BINGHAMTON NY) The Broome County Arts Council (BCAC) in partnership with the Broome County Department of Planning and Economic Development is seeking applications from professional artists for consideration in mural design and implementation in one of three Innovation Districts (iDistricts) in Broome County: Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott.
“The iDistrict Murals & Mosaics project offers an exciting opportunity for muralists from all corners of the world to enliven our three local Innovation Districts with their unique skills and vision,” said BCAC Executive Director Nancy Barno Reynolds. “These murals aim to foster imagination, inspire creativity, and engage visitors and our local community. Broome County Arts Council is proud to join with Broome County Planning to launch this transformative initiative with this call for artists.”
The project is funded by a grant from the NYS Department of State and aims to create 28 mural and mosaic pieces within the iDistricts in a three-year time frame.
“Public art makes a community more vibrant,” said Broome County Director of Planning and Economic Development Frank Evangelisti. “We’re excited to bring more murals and mosaics to the iDistricts.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing what these artists have to offer Broome County,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “This is another step in transforming Broome County and working to make our community a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Individual artists or a collaboration of artists are welcome to apply. The theme of each mural or mosaic is open and should evoke innovation and creativity. BCAC is seeking artists with experience and creativity, a commitment to diversity, inclusivity, positivity, and whose work is original, vibrant, creative, contemporary, uplifting, and interactive.
Specific locations for the artwork will be identified in collaboration with selected artists and property owners.
The deadline to apply is April 1, 2020 at 6 p.m. For more information visit https://broomearts.org/in-the-community/idistricts-murals-mosaics/.
(BINGHAMTON, NY) Truth Pharm and Broome County Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) will be co-hosting a Narcan Training on Friday March 6th from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at the Broome County Public Library in honor of Black Balloon Day.
Black Balloon Day is a national and international event to bring awareness to overdose deaths and show support for families who have been affected by substance use disorders. Black Balloons will be handed out at the Broome County Public Library and community members are encouraged to hang them up outside their homes, workplace or anywhere they can bring awareness, encourage a conversation and educate others about substance use disorders and fatal overdoses.
Marissa Knapp, Broome County’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator, said, “A big part of my job is to not only decrease stigma surrounding substance use disorders but also start conversations and help community members understand that it’s never too soon or too late to get help. Being trained in Narcan is one small step that can ultimately save someone’s life.”
Narcan is a simple to use nasal spray medication used to reverse an overdose of opioids including heroin and prescription pain pills like morphine, codeine, methadone and Vicodin. Participants at Friday’s event will learn about overdose prevention and how to correctly administer Narcan. Community members can also visit their local pharmacy and use the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP). No prior prescription from a medical provider is needed. Call your pharmacy ahead to ensure availability.
Walk in hours are also available at the Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC) Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP), Truth Pharm and United Health Services on Mitchell Ave for a Narcan kit and education.
Alexis Pleus the Executive Director of Truth Pharm said, “Our entire community has suffered so much loss due to substance use disorders. We feel it is our duty to comfort our community, raise awareness and provide tools to reduce further impacts. We’re so glad to be coordinating with BOAC and the Broome County Public Library for this important endeavor.”
As always, we encourage those with a substance use disorder to practice harm reduction measures and to not use drugs alone, have a Narcan kit available and if you are on the site of an overdose to call 911.
(BINGHAMTON, NY) For the third year in a row, the Broome County Dog Shelter is hosting a Hockey Night with the Binghamton Devils. The event will take place on Saturday, March 21.
The Devils game starts at 7:05 p.m. at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Broome County Dog Shelter will have dogs for adoption at the game. There will also be information about the needs of the shelter, volunteer opportunities and donations.
The Devils will be giving away four tickets to each family that adopts a dog from the shelter throughout the month of March.
There is a ticket special available for the game. Tickets are $18.00 with $2.00 to be given back to the dog shelter.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (607) 722-7367 or visiting this link: https://binghamtondevils.formstack.com/forms/broome_county_dog_shelter
The Broome County Dog Shelter is located at 110 Cutler Pond Rd., Binghamton, NY 13905. The shelter is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The shelter is promoting Adoption Awareness Month, which raises awareness of adoption of dogs, and during that time will be honoring the more than 50 volunteers for all their hard work.
Additionally, the shelter wants to extend a thank you to American Food and Vending, as well as the Binghamton Devils, for their generous donations for this event.
The dog shelter is supported through contracts with ten towns to house stray adoptable dogs and puppies, as well as through redemption fees, adoption fees and donations to the trust fund.