Politics

When the calendar turns to August, there are a few certainties, back-to-school shopping, soaking up the last days of summer and of course, the great New York State Fair. This year’s State Fair kicks off on August 25 and runs until September 3 in Syracuse. For more than 175 years, the Great New York State Fair has drawn millions of people to Central New York.

Just recently, I had the opportunity to take part in the 56th annual Ogdensburg International Seaway Festival Parade, an event that celebrates the local community, and the North Country region as a whole. This year, the parade’s theme was “There’s No Place Like Home” – a sentiment that rings true for me, and for so many others who have built their lives in the Central and Northern New York.

Today, more and more women are stepping up to the plate and taking on leadership roles in their personal and professional lives. At the same time, they are also inspiring and empowering those around them. Last month, nearly 200 women came together to hear motivating personal stories from leaders on their roads to success at “Ladies Who Lead,” an event I hosted that was sponsored by the Upstate Women’s Leadership Council.

Recently, I had the honor of recognizing many of our “hometown heroes” at my Veterans Hall of Fame ceremony, an annual event that pays tribute to the sacrifices of men and women who have served as members of the United States Armed Forces, and have gone on to make a difference in their communities in their post-military lives.

If there’s one food that screams summer, it’s ice cream. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream Month and in turn, encouraged people across the country not only to enjoy this delicious treat, but also to celebrate the hardworking people responsible for producing it.