ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a law creating a statewide alert system for Alzheimer's patients and other vulnerable adults who wander off and get lost.

The system is similar to the nationwide Amber Alert program for missing children. It will use the same mechanism to provide rapid public notification regarding missing adults who suffer from dementia or cognitive impairments that put them at risk.

A number of other states have similar laws to protect vulnerable adults.

Assemblyman William Magnarelli of Syracuse was a co-sponsor of the bill. He cited the case of Frank Wlosinski, a man with Alzheimer's who wandered away from his Fairmount home in January 2010 and was found dead in Onondaga Lake.

 (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

A water main break in Catskill has prompted a boil water advisory.

Residents in the village are asked to boil water before drinking until further notice.

The Public Works Department is in the process of repairing the water main break.

The American Red Cross New York-Penn Blood Services Region has issued an appeal for blood donors of all types due to a critical blood shortage across our nation.   While demand for blood products remains steady, donations to the Red Cross this summer are the lowest the Red Cross has seen in over a decade.  All types are needed, but especially O negative, which can be used to treat any patient.  There are many contributing factors that make collecting blood difficult in the summer months.  Many donors are busy or traveling and school is out of session. 

The Red Cross has responded to more than 40 major disasters in more than 30 states over the past three months alone – delivering help and hope to people affected by floods, tornadoes and wildfires. But there’s another, more personal, kind of disaster which can happen to anyone at any time if blood is needed and it’s not available.

Everyone who comes in to donate blood in July at a Red Cross blood drive in New York will receive a coupon for a free carton of ice cream, redeemable at any participating Friendly’s restaurants.

The American Red Cross will hold several community blood drives during the month of July.  All eligible and new blood donors are encouraged to give blood.  Blood donors are needed everyday to ensure an adequate blood supply for patients in need.  All presenting donors will receive a coupon for a free* carton of Friendly’s Ice Cream.  To make an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or log onto redcrossblood.org.

The upcoming blood drives taking place in Greene County are listed below.