Politics

In recent years, great strides have been made in the areas of early detection and treatment of breast cancer. In addition, many women diagnosed with the disease are living long and healthy lives. During October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women are encouraged to consult with their health care providers to learn more about the disease and develop a proactive plan for breast cancer screening because in many cases, early detection can save lives.

After seeing firsthand, the devastation along the shorelines of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, it is impossible not to think of those who are still picking up the pieces. My heart goes out to each and every person affected by this historic flooding. It is now critically important to provide our region’s struggling homeowners and business owners with the resources they need to start down the path of recovery.

It won’t be long before we put on our walking shoes, or even pack up the car, and head outside to see the colorful works-of-art that trees become in the fall. Those bright colors and that crisp air are what make autumn such a wonderful time of the year in our region. Speaking of crisp, fall is also a great time to head to our local apple orchards to handpick some of the freshest – and best-tasting – apples the nation has to offer.

The bell has rung and students all over Central and Northern New York are getting back into the swing of things at school. As a mother and grandmother, I know that “back-to-school” isn’t just exciting, it is also a time when we need to take extra steps to make sure children stay safe in the coming months, especially when they are traveling to and from school.

In an effort to lend a helping hand in the recovery process, I was pleased to cosponsor legislation that established the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway Flood Relief and Recovery Grant Program, which provides $45 million in funding to impacted homeowners, including seasonal homeowners, farms, not-for-profits, small businesses and municipalitie