Coronavirus Update, October 5, 2020
Northeast Pizza and the Scale House Brewpub at the small mall in Lansing has closed its doors for business. Luke Fazzary, son of the restaurant's founder, Stephen Fazzary, has decided not to continue operating the eatery and brewery.
Stephen Fazzary managed the Lansing business until he passed away earlier this year. His son found it increasingly difficult to maintain the operation, according to the Ithaca Times. Luke lives out of state, but manages a branch of the business in Hector.
His father's passing and difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic have left the Northeast Pizza location untenable. Fazzary says that the limited indoor space, need for new equipment, problems hiring delivery drivers, and pandemic-caused uncertainties in planning for the future, led to his decision.
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Looking at the local COVID-19 caseload, the latest numbers from the Tompkins County health department, indicate that there are 10 additional positives reported as of Monday, and no new recoveries. According to the County Health Department, that leaves 32 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins.
In Schuyler County, there are now 6 new cases of COVID-19 reported as of Tuesday, bringing the number of active cases to 8. The Schuyler Health Department notes on their website that while some of the recent cases in Schuyler had known contact with positive cases or identified clusters in neighboring communities, many did not. They ask residents to take extra caution when deciding to go out in public, and residents should consider limiting their social bubble and staying home as much as possible to help slow the spread of the virus.
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For the seventh time, NY State Attorney General Letitia James has suspended debt collection of state-owned medical and student debts.
Other debts owed to the state can also be appealed, reports the Times-Union. The suspension will stay in effect until November 3rd. Attorney General James stated that she is continuing the suspension because financial burdens caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still affect many New Yorkers.
To ensure that New Yorkers will not suffer penalties for availing themselves of the suspension, the action also suspends accrual of interest, and the collection of fees on outstanding debt.
Contributing writing by WRFI News Volunteer Joanne Izbicki