Politics

Whether it’s picking up fresh produce at your local farmers market, or eating at a “farm to table” restaurant, people are becoming more aware of the benefits of eating foods that are grown and produced by farmers and agribusiness owners in our region and beyond.

Here in New York State, apple growers harvest a whopping 29.5 million bushels of apples annually, making New York the second-largest apple-producing state in our country. Apples are more than just the key ingredient of fall favorites like cider and apple pie.

From advances in medicine to an increased awareness about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, there are a number of reasons people are living longer and more active lives. In fact, over the past two decades, global life expectancy for men and women has increased roughly six years. In an effort to help seniors improve their well-being, this year I’m once again hosting my annual Senior Health and Wellness Fairs in Oswego, St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.

We’ve all seen them – piles of waste tires in yards and roadways. According to the EPA, roughly 290 million waste tires are generated annually. Not only can these waste tires be unsightly and expensive to dispose of, they present health and environmental hazards, too. Here are a few of the ways that waste tires can put your health and the health of others at risk:

This year, the average family is shelling out $70.93 per elementary student for school supplies. The amount is even greater for older students, with the average cost of supplies for middle school totaling $91 and high school reaching $157. Combine costs for supplies like paper and pencils with other items students might need, such as new clothing, sneakers, backpacks and more and totals for most families can be hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.