Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

First Day Hikes are designed to encourage people to begin the New Year by reconnecting with the outdoors and to help people keep the common New Year’s resolution to be healthier. More than 50 First Day Hikes are being held in New York State. Fort Ontario will host its third annual First Day Hike and guided tour on New Year’s Day.

Uber and other ridesharing services are unavailable not only in Buffalo but in all of Upstate New York because state government has been unable to agree on a regulatory scheme to govern ridesharing companies and their services. Ridesharing companies, or as perhaps more appropriately named ride-sourcing companies, match people who need transportation with drivers by means of an app on a smartphone.

The Governor recently signed a bill that will reform the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) to potentially expedite the process of obtaining public records. The measure passed with unanimous support in both the Senate and the Assembly in June and will become effective in the spring of 2017. Our Freedom of Information Law is a tool that anyone can use. The legislation establishing the FOIL process was passed in 1978.

A recent report published by the New York State Department of Labor indicates that employers are facing labor shortages as they seek workers to fill skilled trade jobs. The report states that these shortages are mainly due to baby boomers retiring. The demand for skilled labor represents a good opportunity for high school graduates and individuals seeking a career change to enter these fields and train for what are often high-paying jobs

As the year draws to a close, it is time for those in State Government to begin thinking about the state budget. Each year, New York State passes a budget for its fiscal year which begins April 1 and ends March 31. The budget process begins in mid-January when the Governor submits his budget proposal to the Legislature.

With the holidays upon us, many community activities are in the works that will brighten the season. Volunteers and community organizations are planning to cook and serve warm holiday meals, coat and mitten drives are being organized, and others are coordinating the delivery of gifts to families for Christmas who are in need, to name a few.

On Nov. 18, nearly 600 people are expected to gather for the National Adoption Day Celebration at the OnCenter in Syracuse. This annual event draws people from throughout Central New York and is expected to finalize 55 adoptions. Family court judges from Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga, Jefferson, Oneida and Herkimer will preside over the adoptions of residents from their respective counties.

The day was originally known as Armistice Day because it marked the end of hostilities of World War I – supposedly the war to end all wars. However, in 1954 after World War II and the Korean War, Congress, at the urging of veterans’ organizations, passed legislation to change Armistice Day to Veterans’ Day. It was envisioned that this day would be a day to honor America’s veterans for their love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory and behavior. While it mostly affects older adults, it can appear in people who are in their 40s and 50s. It is estimated that approximately 5.3 million Americans suffer from this terrible disease. It is a progressive disease, in that it worsens over time.