(WBNG) – NYSEG says it expects tohave power restored to its customers by 10 p.m.Tuesday after abundantsnowfall Monday caused trees and power lines to be down. Updates will be provided on thecompany’s Facebook and Twitter pages. NYSEG says heavy, wet snow brought downtrees which caused damage to powerlines and other equipment. The company says the Southern Tier wasone of the “hardest hit” areas. They say more than 55,000 oftheir customers lost power. As of 12 p.m. Tuesday, they say morethan 6,000 customers are still powerless. They say in some of the more remoteareas, repairs will require special equipment.
Month: December 2020
Vestal Public Library gives out back-to-school fall survival kits
VESTAL (WBNG) — The Vestal Public Library wants tweens and teens to go back to school safely, so they gave away survival kit bags. In each bag there is an age appropriate book, bookmarks and other goodies to make the return to school easier. Bags we’re available on a first come, first serve basis and were limited to one per child. “We shifted our focus on events that people could come in at their own time, pick them up and then leave,” Lake said.
The library hands out grab and go kits next week geared for home schooled kids. Anna Lake, youth services librarian, says the library wanted to do something since they weren’t able to have their in-person programs. 
How SUNY Broome is tackling mental health
Dr. Michael Lavin, a psychiatrist at Lourdes Center for Mental Health and Director of Psychiatry, says the impact of the pandemic has significantly impacted people’s mental health across the board. And just last week, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras announced a new initiative called ‘Reach Out,’ which is aimed to be a resource to aid in mental health challenges for all SUNY students. “Social isolation turns into depression and anxiety very quickly, so one of the other things we’re doing proactively is wellness check in calls,” said Shelli Cordisco, Interim Associate Vice President & Dean of Students. SUNY Broome says tackling mental health issues is a top priority. They say they have seen an increase in students seeking help, and they stress the importance of checking in with their students. (WBNG) — In a time where people are encouraged to self-isolate and social distance, the actions may have negatively impacted people’s mental health.
And college students, in particular, are feeling the ramifications — at a time when they’re supposed to be the most social, they are, instead, adapting to their virtual realities. Cordisco adds that the check in calls will be a way to reach out to students one on one and candidly see how they are doing. For more mental health resources you can visit the Lourdes Center for Mental Health Site here.