Yonkers Insider: Westchester County Board of Legislators, Chair, Ben Boykin: County Gyms and Fitness Centers Can Reopen 8/24; Bowling Alleys to Open at 50% Capacity.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY GYMS AND FITNESS CENTERS CAN OPEN AUGUST 24TH Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that gyms and fitness centers can reopen in New York starting August 24. Facilities that reopen will be subject to rigorous health and safety standards. All gyms and fitness centers in Westchester County can open on 8/24 with the requirement that they must follow the detailed guidance provided by New York State. This includes: Capacity: 33% occupancy limit. Access: Sign-in with contact information and health screening required. PPE: Appropriate face coverings required at all times. Distancing: 6 feet of separation at all times. Hygiene/Cleaning: Cleaning and disinfection supplies made available to customers; shared equipment cleaned after every use; staff must also be available to clean and disinfect equipment in between uses; rental equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between customer use. Classes: By appointment/reservation only; maximum class capacity capped at number of people that can adhere to the 6-feet social distancing rules, but in no case more than 33% of the typical class size (i.e., leave stations, cycles, etc. vacant); classes should be scheduled to allow additional time for cleaning and disinfection in between each session. Amenities: Water bottle refill stations permitted, but not shared water fountains; communal showers are closed, but individual showers/stalls can remain open so long as they are cleaned in between use. Air Handling Systems: Should operate at MERV-13 or greater; if they are unable to operate at that level, they must have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional document their inability to do so and adopt additional ventilation and mitigation protocols from American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Affirm that they have read and understand their obligation to operate in accordance with New York State's detailed guidance. Complete the business compliance form. Develop and implement a business safety plan following the NY Forward Safety Plan Template. Inspections of gyms and fitness centers in Westchester County will be conducted by a partnership of the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection, the Westchester County Health Department and the local governments. Once a facility has met the criteria above and is ready to open, they should contact the County Health Department at 914-813-5000 or e-mail jhjj@westchestergov.com to schedule an inspection. GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES BOWLING ALLEYS CAN REOPEN AT 50 PERCENT CAPACITY Bowling alleys throughout New York are allowed to reopen with the following strict safety protocols in place: Bowling alleys will be able to operate at a 50 percent maximum occupancy limit. Face coverings and social distancing will be required at all times. Every other lane must be closed. Patrons need to stay with the party at their assigned lane. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of shared or rented equipment between each use will be required. All food service must follow all state-issued guidance. Due to restrictions on indoor dining, food and beverage service will not be allowed in New York City bowling alleys. Read the complete press release here. Employment/Training Opportunities Check out the NYS Department of Labor to find their current listings of job openings throughout the region. Visit https://labor.ny.gov/jobs/regional.shtm Enroll in free online training! Westchester residents can complete online classes, explore career pathways, obtain a skills gap assessment, and prepare for industry-recognized certifications to learn new skills. The access will be valid until October 1st and residents can complete as many courses as they would like. The Metrix E-learning system has a catalog of over 5,500 courses. Visit http://yonkers.skillupamerica.org or email carol.holman@yonkersny.gov. Upcoming Events HVDEC Presents TIME TO DINE: A Two Week Culinary Event Created to help support local restaurants as they begin to reopen, TIME TO DINE is a two week culinary event that started August 17th until August 30th. Nearly 200 restaurants that had been scheduled to participate in the Spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, which was postponed due to Covid-19, will be showcased along with a daily photo contest offering diners the opportunity to win a variety of prizes.  TIME TO DINE will offer area residents the opportunity to help support local restaurants as they work to reopen. Visit Valley Table for a complete list of participating restaurants. For additional information contact Barbara Begley bbegley@westchestermagazine.com, 203-940-1465 60 Hour Entrepreneurial Training Program Don't miss out on this 60 hour training program. WEDC’s professional trainers will assist you with navigating all aspects of starting, running and sustaining your business; hence, helping to create your roadmap for success. Date: Classes start virtually September 15. Register Here To see our list of upcoming events and recordings of prior events, go to Westchestercatalyst.com/events Sources of Information Westchestercatalyst.com/coronavirus-updates Westchestercatalyst.com/recovery Employment Opportunities Check out the NYS Department of Labor to find their current listings of job openings throughout the region. https://labor.ny.gov/jobs/regional.shtm Here is a list of many restaurants by municipality that are open for delivery or takeout, or have special offers. (You may need to copy and paste the link from the file.) Check out some of our restaurants with outdoor dining. Visit the Westchester County Ice Cream Page.