Updated Media Advisory: State Health Commissioner to Visit Fifteen Counties During National Public Health Week to Highlight Local Public Health Activities, H1N1 Response Efforts
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 1, 2020) - During National Public Health Week, April 5-9, State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., will visit 15 counties across the state to observe local public health activities focused on protecting and improving community health. Dr. Daines will also present Recognition Awards to honor county efforts in the response to H1N1 flu. All local health departments in the state will be receiving these awards, but Commssioner Daines will present them in-person to public health directors in the counties he is visiting.
MONDAY, APRIL 5
| Troy, Rensselaer County |
| 9:00 a.m. |
DRINKING WATER TASTING CONTESTCONTEST/H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines participates in Rensselaer County's water tasting contest, with the winner qualifying for the title of best drinking water at the 24th annual New York State Drinking Water Taste Test at the State Fair in Syracuse. He also will present an H1N1 Response Recognition Award to Rensselaer County Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas. |
| Location: Rensselaer County Department of Health, 2nd Floor, Ned Pattison Government Center, 1600 Seventh Avenue, Troy, NY 12180 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| 10:00 a.m. |
OFFICIAL KICK-OFF OF PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK: Commissioner Daines officially kicks off National Public Health Week in New York State with a tour of the Capital District Community Gardens' programs, where he will focus on healthy eating and obesity prevention. In addition to observing the Community Gardens project, he will learn about the Produce Project and Veggie Mobile. Joined by elected officials, Capital District Community Garden Executive Director Amy Klein, and Troy High School students. |
| Location: GardenCapital District Community Gardens' 8th Street Urban Farm, 277 8th Street, Troy NY 12180. |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Catskill, Greene County |
| Noon |
HEALTHY EATING INITIATIVES/H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will participate in "Just Ask Us" program at MOD Café in Catskill, which educates restaurant customers about the willingness of restaurants to modify recipes and portions to help customers follow a healthy diet. He will also present an H1N1 Response Recognition Award to Greene County Public Health Director Marie Ostoyich. He will be joined by Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Kerry Miller, and Melissa Scheriff of the Healthy Weight Initiative. |
| Location: Greene County Health Department, Suite 300, 411 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Catskill, NY 12414 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Cairo, Greene County |
| 1:30 p.m. |
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Commissioner Daines will tour the Greene County Emergency Operations Center. He will be joined by County Emergency Coordinator Kerry Miller and Public Health Director Marie Ostoyich. |
| Location: Greene County Department of Emergency Services, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 25 Volunteer Drive, Cairo, NY 12413 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Cobleskill, Schoharie County |
| 3:15 p.m. |
PREVENTION AGENDA INITIATIVES/H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will learn about Schoharie County's public health prevention activities, view displays that highlight specific activities in Schoharie County, and tour the Schoharie County Emergency Preparedness trailer utilized in the county's H1N1 response. He will present an H1N1 Response Recognition Award to Schoharie County Public Health Director Kathleen Stack. He will be joined by staff from the County Department of Health, Cobleskill Hospital, Community Prevention Agenda committee members, and County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Eva Gigandet. |
| Location: Cobleskill Regional Hospital, 178 Grandview Drive, Cobleskill, NY 12043 |
| OPEN PRESS |
TUESDAY, APRIL 6
| Norwich, Chenango County |
| 8:00 a.m. |
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER AND COMMUNITY GARDENS SERVICES: Commissioner Daines will tour Norwich High School's School-Based Health Center, which provides medical and dental services to students. After the tour, he will visit Norwich Community Gardens and discuss the importance of healthier eating in preventing obesity. Joined by Chenango County Public Health Director Marcas Flindt, Cindy Hill-Fink of the School-based Health Center, and representatives from the Norwich Community Garden (Cornell Cooperative Extension). |
| Location: Norwich City High School, 49 Midland Drive, Norwich 13815 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| 9:30 a.m |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will present an H1N1 Response Recognition Award to the Chenango County Public Health Director Marcas Flindt. |
| Chenango County Public Health Department, County Office Building, 5 Court St., Norwich 13815 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Cortland, Cortland County |
| 11:30 a.m. |
TOBACCO AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION/H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with Cortland County Health Department staff to learn about the county's Tobacco and Environmental Health Programs, and will then meet with Community Partners to discuss community collaboration and learn about the SUNY Cortland Health Education Program. Commissioner Daines also will present an H1N1 Response Recognition Award to the Cortland County Public Health Director Catherine Feuerherm. Joined by Susan Eoannou of Cortland Regional Medical Center, and Bonnie Hodges and Jeanette Dippo of the SUNY Cortland Health Education Program. |
| Location: Cortland County Health Department, 60 Central Avenue, Cortland 13045. |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Auburn, Cayuga County |
| 2:00 p.m. |
PREVENTION AGENDA COLLABORATION AND H1N1 RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with Cortland County Health Department staff and Community Partners to discuss local public health initiatives and will present the H1N1 Response Recognition Award to Cayuga County Director of Health and Human Services Elane Daly. Joined by Cayuga County Health Department staff and Mary Beth Hogan of the Cayuga County WIC. |
| Location: Historic Post Office Building/County WIC program, 160 Genesee St., Auburn, NY 13021 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| 3:15 p.m. |
DAIRY FARM TOUR: Commissioner Daines will participate in a walking/riding tour of dairy operations at the WW Patterson Dairy Farm, which features a state-of-the-art manure digester. He will be joined by farm owner Connie Patterson. |
| Location: 1131 A-S Townline Road, Auburn, NY 13021 |
| OPEN PRESS |
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7
| Waterloo, Seneca County |
| 8:30 a.m |
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND RENEWABLE ENERGY: Commissioner Daines will tour the Seneca Meadows Landfill and Seneca Energy operations and observe operations to convert landfill gas into renewable energy. Joined by Seneca Meadows Landfill Site Manager Don Gentilcore. |
| Location: 1786 Salcman Road, Waterloo 13165. |
| OPEN PRESS |
| 10:40 a.m. |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet witSeneca County Public Health Director Vickie Swineheart to discuss local public health initiatives and present her with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award |
| Location: 31 Thurber Dr., Waterloo, NY 13165 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Dundee, Yates County |
| Noon |
IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD SELF-RELIANCE/H1N1 RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with members of the Dundee Neighborhood Project. Funded through the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, the Dundee community development project seeks to improve physical, social and economic health of the area. Following this meeting, he will meet with Yates County Public Health Director Deborah Minor to discuss local public health initiatives and present her with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award. Joined by Beth Harper, Director of the Dundee Neighborhood Project. |
| Location: Dundee Neighborhood Project, 15 Main St., Dundee NY 14837 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Watkins Glen, Schuyler County |
| 4:00 p.m. |
PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING: Commissioner Daines will meet with members of the Schuyler County Commission on Underage Drinking to learn about their efforts to reduce youth alcohol use. Joined by Schuyler County Public Health Director Marcia Kasprzyk and Commission members. |
| Location: Schuyler County Home Health Agency, 106 S. Perry Street, Suite 4, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| 5:00 p.m. |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with Schuyler County Public Health Director Marcia Kasprzyk to discuss local issues and present her with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award. |
| Location: Schuyler County Home Health Agency, 106 S. Perry St., Suite 4, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Montour Falls, Schuyler County |
| 6:30 p.m. |
RABIES PREVENTION AND TREATMENT: Commissioner Daines will visit the Montour Town Barn to observe pet Rabies Clinic operations. He will be joined by Public Health Director Marcia Kasprzyk. |
| Location: 135 Havanna Glen Rd., Montour Falls, NY 14865 |
| OPEN PRESS |
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
| Belmont, Allegany County |
| 8:30 a.m. |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will discuss local public health initiatives with Allegany County Public Health Director Lori Ballengee and present Director Ballengee with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award |
| Location: 7 Court St., Belmont NY 14813 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Wellsville, Allegany County |
| 9:15 a.m |
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES AT WIC CLINIC: Commissioner Daines will visit a WIC clinic with a focus on good nutrition for pregnant women and children as well as other public health activities and services, including H1N1 and seasonal flu shots. |
| Location; WIC Clinic, 3453B State Rt. 417 East, Wellsville, NY 14895 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Olean, Cattaraugus County |
| 11:15 p.m. |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Kevin D. Watkins, M.D., to discuss local public health initiatives and present Director Watkins with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award. |
| Location: 1 Leo Moss Dr., Olean, NY 14760 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Gowanda, Cattaraugus County |
| 12:45 p.m |
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Commissioner Daines will tour areas of Tri-County Hospital that were impacted by the 2009 flood. |
| Location: Tri-County Hospital, 100 Memorial Dr. Gowanda, 14070 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| 1:30 p.m. |
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Commissioner Daines will tour the Village of Gowanda Water Treatment Plant. |
| Location: 1 Industrial Pl, Gowanda, NY 14070 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Silver Springs, Wyoming County |
| 3:30 p.m. |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with Wyoming County Public Health Director Gregory J. Collins, DO, to discuss local public health initiatives and to present Director Collins with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award |
| Location: 5362 Mungers Mill Rd., Silver Springs, NY 14550. |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Bliss, Wyoming County |
| 4:15 p.m |
AIR QUALITY AND GREEN ENERGY: Commissioner Daines will tour a wind farm. Joined by Town of Bliss Supervisor Joe Kushner. |
| Location: 3468 East Main Street, Bliss, NY 14024 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Batavia, Genesee County |
| 6:15 p.m |
PRIVATE WELLS: Commissioner Daines will visit a private well in Genesee County. |
| Location: Batavia, NY 14020 |
| CLOSED PRESS |
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
| Albion, Orleans County |
| 8:00 a.m. |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with Orleans County Public Health Director Paul Petit to discuss local public health initiatives and present Director Petit with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award. |
| Location: 14012 Rt. 31 West, Albion, NY 14411. |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Waterport, Orleans County |
| 8:45 a.m |
MIGRANT HEALTH: Commissioner Daines will tour two migrant worker camps. |
Location 1: 12889 Stillwater Rd., Waterport, NY 14571
Location 2: 13804 Kendrick Rd., Waterport, NY 14571 |
| OPEN PRESS |
| Lyons, Wayne County |
| 12:30 p.m. |
H1N1 RESPONSE RECOGNITION AWARD: Commissioner Daines will meet with Wayne County Public Health Director Diane Devlin to discuss local public health initiatives and to present Director Devlin with an H1N1 Response Recognition Award. Followed by a tour of the Wayne/Rushville Dental Site. |
| Location: 1519 Nye Rd., Suite 200, Lyons, NY 14489 |
| OPEN PRESS |
