Oswego County TodayPoliticsFREE Independent News for Oswego County

Child Advocacy Center Invites Community to Be the End

May 4, 2015 Contributor

The Oswego County Child Advocacy Center recently held its annual meeting. One of the best takeaways from the event was learning from the executive director Karrie Damm that the annual meeting has grown over the last three years from an intimate gathering to a packed dining hall. About 150 people from throughout the area attended the event appropriately titled “Be the End” on April 24. This was great news in it of itself that so many individuals, professionals, and organizations have committed to Be the End.

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Waging War On Synthetic Drugs

April 28, 2015 Contributor

As we’ve seen on the news and in the media, these substances, which are sold as alternatives to cocaine, heroin, marijuana and other illegal drugs, have the power to cause such side effects as hallucinations, kidney failure, extreme paranoia, violent behavior and even death.

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Blood Donations Help Cancer Patients And Many Others

April 27, 2015 Contributor

I am teaming up with the American Red Cross and the Rural Health Network of Oswego County to host a blood drive on May 1 in Oswego. The blood drive will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oswego Elks Lodge, 132 W. Fifth St. If you are able to donate, please call my office at 315-598-5185 to make an appointment. We are encouraging everyone who is able to donate. You never know whose life you can help save. In anticipation of our upcoming blood drive, I want to share some facts about blood donation.

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Libraries: They’re More Than What’s On The Shelf

April 22, 2015 Contributor

Visit any library throughout Central and Northern New York, and you’ll see things have changed. Today, our libraries are so much more than books. They’re offering, and doing, so much more for those who utilize them, and continuing to evolve to keep up with the demands of today’s consumers.

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CNY in Good Position for State Economic Award but Cutting Taxes Would Benefit All

April 21, 2015 Contributor

There are a lot of things to be positive about in Central New York. Unfortunately, the economy is not one of them. Over the last decade, job growth in the Syracuse area has been anemic. The lack of jobs, among other things, has caused an outward migration of population which, in turn, places additional stress on our economy. We are not alone.

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Go Green And Celebrate Earth Day

April 14, 2015 Contributor

Fresh air, clean water and unpolluted land. These are things that often times, we take for granted. Keeping the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land we live on free from pollution is a team effort, and on Earth Day, we celebrate our planet and make an extra push to keep it clean, as well as preserve it for future generations.

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So-Called ‘Landmark’ Ethics Reforms Continue to Fall Short

April 13, 2015 Contributor

Because I am not an expert on the ethics laws of other states and because neither the governor nor the legislature has held public hearings regarding what needs to be done to strengthen the state’s ethics laws, it is hard to opine as to the veracity of the Governor’s statement. I am skeptical of the claim however in light of the fact that we have passed “landmark” ethics reform in the recent past and yet ethical lapses by elected officials continue to occur.

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Building A Brighter Future For New York State

April 7, 2015 Contributor

For the past several months, my colleagues and I have been working to deliver a new State Budget that creates more and better opportunities for all New Yorkers. The result, is a plan, just approved last week, that holds spending growth below two percent, provides new tax relief for hardworking families, includes record funding for agriculture and makes major, much-needed investments in education, job creation and efforts to strengthen our economy.

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State Budget Increases Aid for Schools But Treats Teachers Unfairly

April 6, 2015 Contributor

At approximately 3 a.m. on April 1, the New York State Assembly passed the last of 12 bills that make up New York’s 2015-16 budget. The state Senate had passed the legislation about four hours earlier. While technically not on time (pursuant to our state constitution, the budget is required to be completed before April 1) for all practical purposes, New York has its fifth timely budget.

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A Special Salute To Those Who Served

March 31, 2015 Contributor

It’s one of the most iconic images of World War II, a group of five United States Marines and a United States Navy corpsman, raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. This month, dozens of United States veterans made the journey back to that same island, marking the 70th anniversary of one of the most iconic battles of World War II. I’m once again calling on people to nominate those who have served to the New York State Senate’s “Veterans’ Hall of Fame.”

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