Re: Increase Access to Child Care in Essex County
Wonderful! Here's the link to ACAP's Facebook post about the series https://www.facebook.com/631375050274188/photos/a.850996561645368/4569327419812245
Wonderful! Here's the link to ACAP's Facebook post about the series https://www.facebook.com/631375050274188/photos/a.850996561645368/4569327419812245
Job Description For Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain Steward
Attend scheduled orientation/ training days in mid-late May, early June.
Receive, store, read, understand, and utilize educational materials in the Friends’ resource library.
Perform minor trail maintenance on both trails, as needed, cleaning water bars, brushing in over-trafficked areas, etc.
Maintain the summit area in a pristine condition. Place and manage “Hello Hikers: Please Remain on Rock Surfaces” signs and borders. Keep trail register stocked with interpretive fliers.
Carry out needed cleaning and minor maintenance of the fire tower.
Assist with Friends’ scheduled work projects. Attend Friends’ meetings.
When on summit duty, present a clean, neat personal appearance, including wearing Friends’ hat/shirt. Present a friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic, polite personality.
Greet, engage, educate the hiking public regarding the cultural and natural history of fire towers, the trails, Poke-O-Moonshine, the local area, and the Adirondack Park. Educate on and encourage respectful and sustainable use of all of these.
Gently police fire tower access and any hikers who are behaving inappropriately: overly loud voices, rowdy behavior, playing music loudly, running, stepping or sitting on the restored summit grassy areas, leaving trash, throwing rocks, breaking branches, making campfires, etc.
Invite highly interested visitors to sign up for the Friends’ mailing list; direct them to our newsletters placed in the two trailhead registers..
Pass out signed “Summit Cards” to interested hikers; these certify that they have climbed the mountain and they share our contact information. (Not applicable during Covid restrictions)
Communicate with The Friends’ Coordinator at least once per week, as a regular up-date and regarding any questions and issues. Follow applicable DEC procedures.
If applicable, perform all duties required by Environmental or Expeditionary Studies or related college course work and supervisor.
The work week is 40 hours, Thursday–Monday, mid- May – late August or through Labor Day; the duration of employment will be 10-15 weeks . Pay for 2023 is $15/hour
The application contact is the Friends’ Coordinator, David Thomas-Train at friendsofpoko@gmail.com , and the application deadline is March 1, 2023. Our website, www.pokeomoonshine.org provides additional information. Please include cover letter, resume, and at least two references. The successful candidate will be hired by April 1.
Qualifications:
Upper-division college undergraduates or graduates with appropriate field(s) of study, and strong interpersonal and public speaking skills. Knowledge of and commitment to the Adirondacks and Adirondack Park is very important. Candidates must be physically fit and able to work alone in a remote location under adverse weather conditions, and have the willingness and experience to relate with people of all ages and backgrounds. Basic Red Cross 1st Aid/CPR and Leave No Trace certifications preferred. Candidates must provide their own transportation. Candidates should be familiar with The Friends of Poke-O-Moonshine and its work.
Location: Essex County, Town of Chesterfield, Taylor Pond Wild Forest.
Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain is located near the northeast end of the Adirondack Park, west of NYS Route 9 and the Northway.
Poke-O-Moonshine Trail - 1.5 miles from Ranger Trailhead to fire tower and summit and 2.3 miles from southerly Observer Trailhead to junction with Ranger Trail.
Vertical ascent, 1,280 feet. Two routes up the mountain converge at the site of the Observer's cabin ruin. The older route, known as the Ranger Trail, originates at a trailhead in the former Poke-O-Moonshine Campground. The old jeep road, known as the Observers’ Trail, follows a meandering route of gentle ascent beginning one mile south on NYS Route 9. The two trails meet high on the mountain at a leanto site.
Trail register figures range from 3,000 to 5,000 visitors a year.
Summit is tree-covered with open rock areas with views. The tower stands alone in a clearing on exposed ledge at the summit. The east face of the mountain has 1,000 feet of cliffs that are popular with rock climbers. Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains are to the east. Deerfield Mountain can be seen in the southwest and beyond it the open ridges of the Jay Range. Additional views to the southwest include the High Peaks and Whiteface Mountain. Parts of the Adirondack Northway are visible to the north and south.
The lean-to is situated approximately 180' south of the cabin site at the junction of the Observers’ Trail and the Ranger Trail.
COVID Safety Protocols: ( to be reviewed for 2023) The Steward will follow all conventional Covid safety practices, including wearing a face mask when interacting with the public and maintaining a distance of at least six feet, not share any equipment, food or other materials, keep sanitizer on hand and use as needed; limit fire tower access to single unassociated hikers or to groups of three associated hikers at any one time.
Attend scheduled orientation/ training days in mid-late May, early June.
Receive, store, read, understand, and utilize educational materials in the Friends’ resource library.
Perform minor trail maintenance on both trails, as needed, cleaning water bars, brushing in over-trafficked areas, etc.
Maintain the summit area in a pristine condition. Place and manage “Hello Hikers: Please Remain on Rock Surfaces” signs and borders. Keep trail register stocked with interpretive fliers.
Carry out needed cleaning and minor maintenance of the fire tower.
Assist with Friends’ scheduled work projects. Attend Friends’ meetings.
When on summit duty, present a clean, neat personal appearance, including wearing Friends’ hat/shirt. Present a friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic, polite personality.
Greet, engage, educate the hiking public regarding the cultural and natural history of fire towers, the trails, Poke-O-Moonshine, the local area, and the Adirondack Park. Educate on and encourage respectful and sustainable use of all of these.
Gently police fire tower access and any hikers who are behaving inappropriately: overly loud voices, rowdy behavior, playing music loudly, running, stepping or sitting on the restored summit grassy areas, leaving trash, throwing rocks, breaking branches, making campfires, etc.
Invite highly interested visitors to sign up for the Friends’ mailing list; direct them to our newsletters placed in the two trailhead registers..
Pass out signed “Summit Cards” to interested hikers; these certify that they have climbed the mountain and they share our contact information. (Not applicable during Covid restrictions)
Communicate with The Friends’ Coordinator at least once per week, as a regular up-date and regarding any questions and issues. Follow applicable DEC procedures.
If applicable, perform all duties required by Environmental or Expeditionary Studies or related college course work and supervisor.
The work week is 40 hours, Thursday–Monday, mid- May – late August or through Labor Day; the duration of employment will be 10-15 weeks . Pay for 2023 is $15/hour
The application contact is the Friends’ Coordinator, David Thomas-Train at friendsofpoko@gmail.com , and the application deadline is March 1, 2023. Our website, www.pokeomoonshine.org provides additional information. Please include cover letter, resume, and at least two references. The successful candidate will be hired by April 1.
Qualifications:
Upper-division college undergraduates or graduates with appropriate field(s) of study, and strong interpersonal and public speaking skills. Knowledge of and commitment to the Adirondacks and Adirondack Park is very important. Candidates must be physically fit and able to work alone in a remote location under adverse weather conditions, and have the willingness and experience to relate with people of all ages and backgrounds. Basic Red Cross 1st Aid/CPR and Leave No Trace certifications preferred. Candidates must provide their own transportation. Candidates should be familiar with The Friends of Poke-O-Moonshine and its work.
Location: Essex County, Town of Chesterfield, Taylor Pond Wild Forest.
Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain is located near the northeast end of the Adirondack Park, west of NYS Route 9 and the Northway.
Poke-O-Moonshine Trail - 1.5 miles from Ranger Trailhead to fire tower and summit and 2.3 miles from southerly Observer Trailhead to junction with Ranger Trail.
Vertical ascent, 1,280 feet. Two routes up the mountain converge at the site of the Observer's cabin ruin. The older route, known as the Ranger Trail, originates at a trailhead in the former Poke-O-Moonshine Campground. The old jeep road, known as the Observers’ Trail, follows a meandering route of gentle ascent beginning one mile south on NYS Route 9. The two trails meet high on the mountain at a leanto site.
Trail register figures range from 3,000 to 5,000 visitors a year.
Summit is tree-covered with open rock areas with views. The tower stands alone in a clearing on exposed ledge at the summit. The east face of the mountain has 1,000 feet of cliffs that are popular with rock climbers. Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains are to the east. Deerfield Mountain can be seen in the southwest and beyond it the open ridges of the Jay Range. Additional views to the southwest include the High Peaks and Whiteface Mountain. Parts of the Adirondack Northway are visible to the north and south.
The lean-to is situated approximately 180' south of the cabin site at the junction of the Observers’ Trail and the Ranger Trail.
COVID Safety Protocols: ( to be reviewed for 2023) The Steward will follow all conventional Covid safety practices, including wearing a face mask when interacting with the public and maintaining a distance of at least six feet, not share any equipment, food or other materials, keep sanitizer on hand and use as needed; limit fire tower access to single unassociated hikers or to groups of three associated hikers at any one time.
Please take a moment to help inform the strategic planning process for Essex County's farming and food system work. The surveys are tailored for three different Essex County audiences:
Farmers and farmland owners: the goal is to reach every farmer and farmland owner in the county. If you own farmland, even if you are not leasing to a farmer or farming yourself, your perspective is needed. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Start the survey here: https://forms.gle/dxpPyxWfz6mmde6b6
Restaurant, catering, and food service chefs, managers & owners: This survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Start the survey here: https://forms.gle/5D9RxK2LSN2cSWde6
Residents: All Essex County residents are invited to take the survey, including farmers, farmland owners and food service affiliates who also take the other surveys. This survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Start the survey here: https://forms.gle/P8HhERqLUD6maTjT6
If you are part of the food system and not included in the surveys above, for instance, a value-added producer, co-op or grocery affiliate: we would like to interview you. Please contact CCE Essex to set up a time.
Agriculture and the food system was one of the only growing sectors in the North Country economy over the past 10 years, according to the North Country Regional Economic Development Council 2018 report. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased interest in local food production and awareness of the need for resilience in our food supply. Essex County’s last strategic plan for agriculture was written in 1997 and can be found at the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Essex County’s Farmland Protection page: http://essex.cce.cornell.edu/agriculture/farmland-protection
The strategic planning process is supported by a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets farmland protection grant and by the Essex County Board of Supervisors. The process is a collaboration among various organizations, led by CCE Essex, Essex County Community Resources, and Adirondack Land Trust. If you have questions, comments, ideas, or would be interested in being interviewed, please contact Carly Summers, Cornell Cooperative Extension, at cfs82@cornell.edu or (518) 962-4810.
Essex Swcd
Adirondack Land Trust
Essex County Farm Bureau
The Hub on the Hill
Farmers and farmland owners: the goal is to reach every farmer and farmland owner in the county. If you own farmland, even if you are not leasing to a farmer or farming yourself, your perspective is needed. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Start the survey here: https://forms.gle/dxpPyxWfz6mmde6b6
Restaurant, catering, and food service chefs, managers & owners: This survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Start the survey here: https://forms.gle/5D9RxK2LSN2cSWde6
Residents: All Essex County residents are invited to take the survey, including farmers, farmland owners and food service affiliates who also take the other surveys. This survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Start the survey here: https://forms.gle/P8HhERqLUD6maTjT6
If you are part of the food system and not included in the surveys above, for instance, a value-added producer, co-op or grocery affiliate: we would like to interview you. Please contact CCE Essex to set up a time.
Agriculture and the food system was one of the only growing sectors in the North Country economy over the past 10 years, according to the North Country Regional Economic Development Council 2018 report. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased interest in local food production and awareness of the need for resilience in our food supply. Essex County’s last strategic plan for agriculture was written in 1997 and can be found at the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Essex County’s Farmland Protection page: http://essex.cce.cornell.edu/agriculture/farmland-protection
The strategic planning process is supported by a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets farmland protection grant and by the Essex County Board of Supervisors. The process is a collaboration among various organizations, led by CCE Essex, Essex County Community Resources, and Adirondack Land Trust. If you have questions, comments, ideas, or would be interested in being interviewed, please contact Carly Summers, Cornell Cooperative Extension, at cfs82@cornell.edu or (518) 962-4810.
Essex Swcd
Adirondack Land Trust
Essex County Farm Bureau
The Hub on the Hill
The Division of Local Government Services would like to make you aware of cybercriminal activities that we have become aware of in New York State. This article contains information on particular scams and how to report your concerns if you feel you have been targeted.
Scammers Renew Scheme Targeting Payroll and HR Professionals
Cybercriminals posing as company executives are emailing payroll and HR professionals to request lists of employees and their personal information. This time, the scammers are expanding their reach to other industries, including school districts, tribal organizations, and nonprofits.
These emails may appear legitimate because they contain the name of the company’s chief executive officer. However, if you receive such an email, don’t include any payroll data, such as W-2 forms and Social Security numbers, in a response.
The Tax Department is aware of at least 37 businesses with New York employees that have fallen for this scam and believes more than 5,000 Social Security numbers may have been compromised. The Tax Department is in contact with those businesses and is working with them to protect their employees.
If you’re an employer that has been a victim of this scam and, in response, released any payroll data, such as W-2 information and Social Security numbers, see NYS Department of Taxation and Finance webpage entitled Guidance for employers affected by a W-2 phishing scam for instructions.
Spear-Phishing Scheme Targeting Practitioners
This scheme is represent throughout the tax practitioner community. It’s committed by scammers who represent themselves as Fastsupport.com or Onlyforsupport.com. They’re contacting practitioners after they’ve identified which IRS-authorized e-file provider, or Electronic Return Originator, the practitioner uses to transmit returns.
The caller, falsely claiming to work on behalf of the ERO, suggests the need to reinstall or correct problems with the practitioner’s software. The caller asks the practitioner to connect to their website and provide the passcode and access to the practitioner’s computer. If the practitioner complies, the scam artist can steal sensitive client information to commit fraud.
An ERO is an e-file provider authorized by the IRS to submit tax returns for processing.
Cybercriminals Pose as Clients to Solicit Services from Tax Professionals
In a nationwide phishing scheme, scammers are targeting tax professionals to obtain their preparer information and prepare fraudulent returns. These scammers typically send tax professionals two emails: in the first, a “client” requests tax preparation assistance; in the second, the scammers provide a link or attach a PDF that contains a link that allows them to steal the tax preparer’s email address and password.
If you receive a suspicious email, such as one from am unknown sender, don’t select any links or open any attachments contained in the email. This is the scammer’s entry into your computer, exposing you to malware. This could allow the cybercriminal to capture sensitive information without you even knowing that you’ve been compromised.
Phishing Email with the Subject Line “Mails on Hold!” Targets Tax Professionals
Some tax professionals have received emails that appear to be from the IRS or the IRS e-Services team with the subject line “Mails on Hold!” These emails may include references to IRS personnel or PTINs, but they aren’t from the IRS.
If you receive an email with this subject line, don’t select any links or open any attachments contained in these emails. Again, this could provide access into your computer, exposing you to malware and leaving private information vulnerable.
Protecting Yourself and Your Clients
Tax professionals must protect their clients’ personal information by only providing it to trusted sources such as the IRS and the NYS Tax Department. This includes shredding documents containing private data before discarding, and filing a client’s tax return early to reduce the timeframe an identity thief would have to claim a fraudulent tax refund using their information.
The NYS Tax Department and the IRS will never make threats over the phone and will never request personal or financial information by email.
Report It
If you’ve been contacted by a scammer posing as an IRS agent, you must contact the IRS. Learn how to report the incident by visiting IRS webpage entitled IRS Identity Theft Victim Assistance.
If you’ve been contacted by a con artist claiming to be from the New York State Tax Department, visit the Tax Department’s Report fraud, scams, and identity theft webpage to learn how to report it. The Tax Department promptly reviews each complaint and takes corrective action when appropriate.
Scammers Renew Scheme Targeting Payroll and HR Professionals
Cybercriminals posing as company executives are emailing payroll and HR professionals to request lists of employees and their personal information. This time, the scammers are expanding their reach to other industries, including school districts, tribal organizations, and nonprofits.
These emails may appear legitimate because they contain the name of the company’s chief executive officer. However, if you receive such an email, don’t include any payroll data, such as W-2 forms and Social Security numbers, in a response.
The Tax Department is aware of at least 37 businesses with New York employees that have fallen for this scam and believes more than 5,000 Social Security numbers may have been compromised. The Tax Department is in contact with those businesses and is working with them to protect their employees.
If you’re an employer that has been a victim of this scam and, in response, released any payroll data, such as W-2 information and Social Security numbers, see NYS Department of Taxation and Finance webpage entitled Guidance for employers affected by a W-2 phishing scam for instructions.
Spear-Phishing Scheme Targeting Practitioners
This scheme is represent throughout the tax practitioner community. It’s committed by scammers who represent themselves as Fastsupport.com or Onlyforsupport.com. They’re contacting practitioners after they’ve identified which IRS-authorized e-file provider, or Electronic Return Originator, the practitioner uses to transmit returns.
The caller, falsely claiming to work on behalf of the ERO, suggests the need to reinstall or correct problems with the practitioner’s software. The caller asks the practitioner to connect to their website and provide the passcode and access to the practitioner’s computer. If the practitioner complies, the scam artist can steal sensitive client information to commit fraud.
An ERO is an e-file provider authorized by the IRS to submit tax returns for processing.
Cybercriminals Pose as Clients to Solicit Services from Tax Professionals
In a nationwide phishing scheme, scammers are targeting tax professionals to obtain their preparer information and prepare fraudulent returns. These scammers typically send tax professionals two emails: in the first, a “client” requests tax preparation assistance; in the second, the scammers provide a link or attach a PDF that contains a link that allows them to steal the tax preparer’s email address and password.
If you receive a suspicious email, such as one from am unknown sender, don’t select any links or open any attachments contained in the email. This is the scammer’s entry into your computer, exposing you to malware. This could allow the cybercriminal to capture sensitive information without you even knowing that you’ve been compromised.
Phishing Email with the Subject Line “Mails on Hold!” Targets Tax Professionals
Some tax professionals have received emails that appear to be from the IRS or the IRS e-Services team with the subject line “Mails on Hold!” These emails may include references to IRS personnel or PTINs, but they aren’t from the IRS.
If you receive an email with this subject line, don’t select any links or open any attachments contained in these emails. Again, this could provide access into your computer, exposing you to malware and leaving private information vulnerable.
Protecting Yourself and Your Clients
Tax professionals must protect their clients’ personal information by only providing it to trusted sources such as the IRS and the NYS Tax Department. This includes shredding documents containing private data before discarding, and filing a client’s tax return early to reduce the timeframe an identity thief would have to claim a fraudulent tax refund using their information.
The NYS Tax Department and the IRS will never make threats over the phone and will never request personal or financial information by email.
Report It
If you’ve been contacted by a scammer posing as an IRS agent, you must contact the IRS. Learn how to report the incident by visiting IRS webpage entitled IRS Identity Theft Victim Assistance.
If you’ve been contacted by a con artist claiming to be from the New York State Tax Department, visit the Tax Department’s Report fraud, scams, and identity theft webpage to learn how to report it. The Tax Department promptly reviews each complaint and takes corrective action when appropriate.
