Politics

This time of year, get-togethers are not only a great way to spend quality time with family and friends, they are also an opportunity to treat ourselves to our favorites, whether it be Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, mulled cider, eggnog or any of the season’s specialties. Much of the food and drink we enjoy during the holidays (and in fact year-round) is produced right here in New York.

From shopping for gifts and decorating the house from top to bottom to parties and visiting loved ones, it’s easy to get lost in the busyness that is the holiday season and forget that there are many people who are going without the things that make this time of year so special.

With decorations up and festive music dominating the airwaves, it’s no secret, the holiday season is in full swing. The same goes for the gift-giving season. According to the National Retail Federation, the average American shopper will spend $737 this Christmas. That translates to a total of $602 billion spent nationwide during the 2013 holiday shopping season.

How does hundreds of extra dollars in your pocket each year sound?  If you’re a homeowner, that’s what you could be receiving through the state’s STAR program, which provides 2.6 million homeowners in New York State, including nearly 85,000 in our region, with savings on their school property tax bills each year.

From 1941 to 1945, more than one million New Yorkers served in the military and each and every one of them has a story to tell. That’s what I discovered through my “Veterans Voices” program, an initiative designed to preserve veteran experiences for future generations and create a permanent record of service.