Yorktown To Reopen Town Hall, Library, Nutrition Center

YORKTOWN, NY — The town of Yorktown will begin reopening some of its facilities thanks to the decreasing number of coronavirus infections.

Town officials said Town Hall, the John C. Hart Memorial Library and the Senior Nutrition Center will reopen for in-person visits Monday.

Supervisor Matt Slater said the online COVID-19 dashboard shows a dramatic decline in new cases over the past week, as has been seen statewide.

"This very positive trend allows us to responsibly reopen our pubic buildings and programs," he said. "We expect our visitors to exercise respectful vigilance and follow our rules for entering municipal spaces."

According to the town's online coronavirus tracker, new cases fell to 49 on Tuesday, a significant decline from the town's all-time high of 599 new cases on Jan. 2.

In adherence with Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive order, masks are required at all times in municipal buildings.

Yorktown suspended access to municipal buildings Dec. 21 in response to the rising COVID-19 infections attributed to the omicron variant. The town's services continued online and by phone, officials said.

Library Director Yvonne Cech said, when the library reopens, porch pick-up will continue to be available on request by calling the library.

"Our library is an essential resource for many children and adults who rely on our computers, Wi-Fi and reference materials as well as books," she said, "so we are very happy to resume in-door service."

The closure of the Senior Nutrition Center didn't keep the staff from serving their clients, said senior services Director Noreen O'Driscoll.

"We continued delivering meals and checking on the welfare of our elderly," she said. "Nonetheless, there are important social and mental-health benefits to our in-person services."

Town officials said recreational programming will also resume at the Albert A. Capellini Community and Cultural Center including bringing back individual senior clubs in February.

This article originally appeared on the Yorktown-Somers Patch