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.
Bees, both wild and managed, play a key role in our state’s agriculture industry, helping crops of all kinds thrive. However, these powerful pollinators are under attack by parasitic mites. The varroa mite, a tiny parasite that attacks honey bees, has infected 90 percent of the bee colonies surveyed this year.
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.
For this month’s “Community Spotlight” I am showcasing an event that countless people across our region and beyond look forward to each and every year – the city of Oswego’s Harborfest, which runs from July 27 to 30. Every year, more than 100,000 attend this free festival, which has featured hundreds of national, regional and local performing artists since it began in 1988. In addition to live music, Harborfest also boasts activities for children, including a children’s parade, a midway, vendors, local food and so much more.
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.
For the past several months, I have heard from hundreds of property owners, small businesses and communities throughout our region who have been struggling to recover from this year’s crippling flooding. I am pleased to report that help is finally here. Legislation, which I was proud to cosponsor, that establishes the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway Flood Relief and Recovery Program was just signed into law and provides $45 million in funding for recovery efforts.
Pursuant to our state’s constitution, every twenty years a referendum is required to be placed on the ballot asking New York State voters whether New York should convene a constitutional convention for the purposes of amending our State Constitution. The last time the question was on the ballot was 1997 and at that time it was rejected by 62% of the voters. This year, voters again will have the opportunity to vote for or against a convention.
As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am always working to find new ways to support our state’s and especially our region’s hardworking farmers. One of the easiest ways you can join me in the effort to boost our local agriculture industry is by visiting the many farmers’ markets across Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Oswego counties.
We are fortunate in this area to have access to so much homegrown produce, from maple syrup to onions, to fresh peaches and sweet corn. This time of year there are many opportunities to take advantage of the local harvests at farmers’ markets. Fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, and cheese can all be found nearby and in usually in abundance.
As a mother and a grandmother, I know how important it is to safeguard our children from harm and to deter them from picking up habits that could negatively affect their health. That’s why I’m pleased to report that legislation that I sponsor that bans the use of electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes, on school property is now headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
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