Mayor Don Hammond conducting Village of Nyack business via zoom

by Don Hammond

As Nyack’s Mayor, I am asking that all residents continue to observe Governor Cuomo’s March 22, 2020 Executive Order that closed non-essential businesses and limits our outdoor activity. I am now asking everyone who does venture outside for essential health or nutrition needs to follow the Center for Disease Control’s April 4th, 2020 recommendation and wear a cloth face covering.

Nyack Mask Makers co-founders Donna Timm and Bill Batson

I am proud to be working with a volunteer organization, Nyack Mask Makers, created by two residents, Bill Batson and Donna Timm to make it possible for everyone in Nyack to have a mask. After organizing over 300 volunteers to make 5,000 masks for health care workers, primarily at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, in two weeks, NyackMaskMakers is now helping us provide #freemasks4all in Nyack.

In this message, I will direct you to information to either:

• make your own cloth masks at home for yourself, your family and your neighbors, if you are so inclined
• Request a free cloth mask – as supplies allow

I would like to emphasize several points:

• Your mask keeps people safe from you. Many transmissions of the virus are from people who have no symptoms and don’t know that they are sick. Your neighbor’s mask keeps them safe from you.
• Wearing a mask alone does not prevent transmission. You should still stay home and only venture out for critical needs. Practice six feet of social distancing when you are outside. Wash your hands vigorously. Keep a distance from anyone who is sick and distance yourself if you feel the onset of symptoms.
• Repeatedly reusing a single-use mask is not advisable.  Please make or obtain a free cloth mask by visiting nyackmaskmakers.com, and wash it regularly with soap.

Making a Cloth Mask

Nyack resident, Mario the Maker Magician, has made a video showing you how to transform a piece of cloth into a face covering. So easy! Thank you Mario! A flyer with Mario’s instruction is below. And thanks to Lisa Jenner of the Quilt Tree for access to fabric.

How to get a free cloth mask

• Call (845) 288-3186 and leave your name, address and the number of masks you require for your family. Speak slowly and clearly a Village of Nyack employee will arrange delivery.
• Visit Nyack Mask Makers and complete the free mask request form  a Village of Nyack employee will arrange delivery.

What I find most amazing about these challenging times is how much public work everyone is doing. The only way to defeat COVID-19 is for everyone to do their part. The only way to flatten the curve is through universal action.

• Staying home is public work
• washing your hands in public work
• wearing a mask is public work

It will truly take the whole village to bring our health and our economy back. I am humbled by the responsibility of being your Mayor at this time. If you are in the position to donate time or resources to the effort to provide #freemask4all in Nyack please visit the Nyack Mask Maker’s.

Stay #NyackStrong! Stay home or wear a mask when in public – we can do it!