Last week, Central New York received great news when, at its meeting in Albany, the state Public Service Commission adopted a plan to help Upstate New York’s struggling nuclear power plants. As most people in Oswego County know, our nuclear power plants (FitzPatrick and Nine Mile Units 1 and 2) have been struggling economically because of low natural gas prices.
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.
With summer well under way, many have had the chance to enjoy a summer sport or activity and for many Central and Northern New Yorkers, the sport of choice is fishing. This region contains many lakes, rivers, streams and ponds to cast a lure and enjoy the outdoors with some time away from home or the office. Besides providing a great way to enjoy nature and have fun, fishing is also beneficial to the local and state economy.
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.
Earlier this month, it was reported that more than 130 people overdosed on K2, a synthetic drug, in New York City. Emergency responders and eye witnesses stated people were lying on the sidewalks and leaning up against trees and shaking due to the effects from the drugs. While the news media hasn’t reported an outbreak of this magnitude in some time, synthetic drugs are clearly still an underlying problem in communities across the state.
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.
There are an estimated 15,000 women diagnosed each year with breast cancer in New York. According the American Cancer Society, an estimated 90 out of 100 women survive breast cancer for five years or more after being diagnosed but we need to do more to improve those rates with early detection. In this legislative session, we passed a bill that will increase access to screenings and remove financial barriers.
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.
This year’s maple syrup production season broke a 70-year-old state record. Maple producers recorded collecting more than 700,000 gallons of maple syrup, which was an 18% increase over the harvest in 2015. Warmer-than-normal temperatures extended the maple syrup season and the number of taps also increased. In fact, producers recorded the most taps since 1947.
From boating and fishing to camping and hiking, there’s nothing quite like summer in Central and Northern New York. But, it’s important that as we enjoy all our region has to offer, we take steps to responsibly have fun. Keep your family safe this summer by following these tips:
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