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Barclay

Allowing Youth Firsthand Experience in Government Empowers Future Leaders

I am often invited to speak to school-aged kids and during these visits a common question kids have for me is what does it means to be a good citizen. The question itself is inspiring because it means they are searching for ways to be good citizens. What is even more inspiring is without realizing, many kids already know the answer and work to make an impact on our communities each day.

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Barclay

Youth Big Game Weekend Provides Guided, Hands-on Learning Opportunity

Upstate New York has some of the best hunting, trapping and fishing in the country with thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and millions of acres of forest and open space that are rich in wildlife. Those who venture out to hunt and fish tend to appreciate and often help conserve our areas’ natural resources. About 2 million people hunt, fish and trap in the state ranking New York third in the nation for the number of sportsmen obtaining licenses and permits. Locally, Oswego, Onondaga and Jefferson counties are among the top 10 counties in the state for total hunting and fishing license sales.

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Report Shows Shrinking Labor Force in Upstate; More Business Friendly Policies Needed

Unemployment rates are often viewed as an indicator of how the economy is doing. While these rates provide valuable insight on economic activity, because of how the unemployment rates are calculated, they should not be the sole assessment in determining the health of the economy. The current unemployment rate in New York State is 4.9%. From a statewide perspective, this is good because it shows a measure of economic growth since the recession when the rate was almost 9%.

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Barclay

New Bill Aims to Reduce Liability for Agri-tourism

Agricultural tourism is a growing component within New York’s $6.36 billion agriculture industry. More and more farms are inviting the public to have a firsthand experience on the farm and hosting farm tours where visitors can learn about farm operations. Agri-tourism businesses, many of which can be found in our backyards, have increased in recent years.

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More Outdoor Recreation in Schools Would Improve Children’s Health and Access to Hunting and Fishing

A few years ago I had the opportunity to chair the Assembly Republican Hunting and Fishing Task Force. During that time, the task force held forums and listened to outdoor enthusiast throughout the state. A primary objective of the task force was to examine how the state could encourage new opportunities for hunting, fishing and outdoor sports and it was determined that engaging youth was key to its growth. One solution that came out of this task force was to lower the hunting age, which we were successful in doing.

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State Fair Promotes Agricultural Traditions and Family Fun

The Great New York State Fair will once again kick off on Aug. 23 and run until Sept. 4. Last year, more than 1 million people attended the fair which features animal exhibits, concerts, horse shows, the famous butter sculpture, history, youth exhibits, rides, and agriculture contests. Mixed with these traditional attractions are usually a few new exhibits.

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529 ABLE Savings Accounts Available Now to Individuals, Families with Disabilities

Individuals with disabilities and their family members now have a new way to save and plan for future expenses. New Yorkers can now open a tax-deferred 529 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account. The accounts are a savings option for families and money earned through the fund is tax exempt if it is spent on qualified expenses. Similar to the 529 College Savings accounts, contributions to the account may be made by anyone.

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Craft Beverages Given More Support in State Law

The craft beverage industry is among the fastest-growing industries in New York with nearly 900 licensed manufacturers in the state. Part of this growth has to do with the state’s focus in recent years on trying to make it easier for craft beverage producers such as beer, cider and liquor producers to do business in New York.

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Resources Available for Homeowners to Protect from Scams

A home is one of the biggest investments a family can make and with homeownership, repair projects are inevitable. In some cases, homeowners can perform the work that needs to be done but in other cases, hiring a contractor is necessary. Unfortunately, unscrupulous contractors sometimes inflate costs or do not complete the work that was promised which can lead to delays and costly problems for the homeowner. Senior citizens are often targeted by what amounts to a home improvement scam.

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Infrastructure Dollars Help Upstate with Road, Bridge Repairs

With the warm weather here, local highway crews are out working on road repairs and construction projects. There are approximately 114,000 centerline miles of highway in the state and local governments are responsible for the maintenance of nearly 85% of them. Accordingly, they need assistance meeting the repair demands, especially considering the snowfalls in our area.

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