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Bronx Politics and Community events
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Brigadier General Denise Donnell, a Clifton Park Resident, Assumes Duties After Change-of-Command Ceremony
Major General Timothy LaBarge, a Tupper Lake Resident, Retiring After 39 Years
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Brigadier General Denise Donnell, a Clifton Park resident, is taking over duties as the commander of the 5,900-member New York Air National Guard, the aerial militia arm of the New York National Guard. Donnell follows Major General Timothy LaBarge, a Tupper Lake resident, who is retiring after commanding two air wings and leading the New York Air National Guard since 2018. The change of command ceremony took place this afternoon at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.
"This is a proud day in New York to recognize the achievements and leadership skills of a woman who has risen through the ranks to serve as a model of selflessness for all New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "The National Guard is made up of New York's finest and is always there when crisis calls. I salute Brigadier General Donnell on this promotion and thank Major General LaBarge for his 39 years of service."
Adjutant General for the State of New York Major General Raymond Shields said, "I've always said our most valuable resource is our people. Without our service members, we simply cannot be successful. This change of command between Major General Tim LaBarge and Brigadier General Denise Donnell demonstrates our military's ability to smoothly transition leadership from one senior leader to the next. I am so pleased to welcome Brigadier General Donnell to her new role leading the New York Air National Guard, while also wishing the very best to Major General LaBarge and his wife Petra as they begin a new chapter in their lives. Tim, you will be missed. Thank you for leaving the 5,900 members of the New York Air National Guard in capable hands with Denise."
Brigadier General Denise Donnell, who served in the United States Navy from 1993 to 2002, is a command pilot with over 4,400 hours of flying time, including 280 hours in combat. She has flown the Navy's P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, the Air Force's C-5A Galaxy, LC-130 Hercules "Skibird" and the C-17 Globemaster III, and has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels. As a naval aviator, Donnell served as an evaluator pilot, mission commander, and quality assurance officer assigned to Patrol Squadron 46, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Prior to joining the New York Air National Guard, she served as operational test director assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
Donnell is a graduate of Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Foreign Service. She is also a graduate of the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, and a Distinguished Graduate with a Master of Science degree in Government Information Leadership from the National Defense University.
Major General Timothy LaBarge graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. in 1983 and received his Air Force Commission from the Officer Training School in 1984. He served eight years in the active Air Force and joined the New York Air National Guard in 1991. He has served in a number of leadership positions, including command of the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia from 2010 to 2012 and command of the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh from 2012 to 2016. LaBarge was promoted to Brigadier General in 2016 and promoted to Major General in 2018.
April 1, 2022
“Dear Fellow New Yorkers,
I must inform you that over the past 24 hours, I experienced what I believed to be cold symptoms but after being tested was determined to be COVID-19. I am generally feeling okay, which I attribute to being fully vaccinated. It is important to remember that we are still in a pandemic, as deemed by public health professionals. While we are thankfully in a different place than at the worst of this pandemic, it is important to continue taking the necessary steps to protect ourselves and each other. I encourage anyone who has not gotten vaccinated to do so. The research and real world evidence show that vaccinations provide important protection against serious illness. We will eventually overcome this pandemic, but in the meantime I encourage everyone to remain vigilant and continue to take the necessary precautions.”
Starting today, the New York State COVID-19 Update press release will be issued Monday through Friday. Daily data will continue to be available at the New York State Department of Health's online COVID tracker: ny.gov/covid19data
12 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.
"Our best weapon against this virus is the vaccine, so if you haven’t, get your vaccination and make sure to get boosted for additional protection when you’re eligible," Governor Hochul said. “If you have any symptoms or feel unwell, get tested. If you are positive for COVID-19, talk to your physician about treatment and limit your exposure to others. Let’s all continue to do our part to move forward safely through this pandemic.
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
Borough | Tuesday, March 29, 2022 | Wednesday, March 30, 2022 | Thursday, March 31, 2022 |
Bronx | 1.00% | 1.03% | 1.10% |
Kings | 1.76% | 1.84% | 1.88% |
New York | 2.52% | 2.74% | 2.81% |
Queens | 1.55% | 1.68% | 1.78% |
Richmond | 1.92% | 2.14% | 2.34% |
“New York was among the first states to ban foam take-out containers and packing peanuts because we’ve seen the direct impacts of litter in neighborhoods across the state and the ongoing, long-term damage created by microplastics on our environment,” Commissioner Seggos said. “The enactment of this common sense regulation and the new requirements for electronic waste builds upon New York State’s nation-leading efforts to reduce landfill waste and promote recycling.”
DEC recently adopted regulations related to e-waste management to strengthen and provide clarity to the State’s 2010 Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act. The regulations increase consumer recycling opportunities, emphasize producer responsibility for covering costs associated with the implementation of their own electronic waste acceptance programs, and improve overall collection of e-waste and recycling program performance. The full text of the regulations, which go into effect for existing regulated entities on Jan. 1, 2023, can be found at https://www.dec.ny.gov/
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is a major contributor to environmental litter, causing negative impacts to wildlife, waterways, and natural resources. EPS foam is lightweight, breaks apart easily, and does not biodegrade, rendering it persistent in the environment and susceptible to becoming microplastic pollution. In addition, EPS foam containers and loose fill packaging are not accepted by most recycling programs in New York State because the foam is difficult to recycle, easily contaminates the recycling stream, is often soiled, and has low value.
DEC adopted regulations to help implement New York’s polystyrene foam ban, known as the Expanded Polystyrene Foam Container and Loose Fill Packaging Ban, that began on Jan. 1, 2022. The new regulations provide clarity regarding the ban on expanded polystyrene foam containers and loose fill packaging (commonly referred to as packing peanuts); establish prohibitions related to its sale, offering for sale, and distribution; explain the financial hardship waiver application process; give cost comparison analysis for alternative packaging; provide definition of the terms "comparable cost" and "undue financial hardship"; and criteria for hardship waiver approval, renewal, and denial. The full text of the regulations can be found at https://www.dec.ny.gov/
The two measures build upon New York's environmental leadership in preventing litter and reducing waste through measures such as the ban on plastic carryout bags, the bottle bill, and food scrap recycling and food waste prevention efforts.