Invasive species have been around since people began to travel. Some species have been around for over a hundred years and we’ve largely learned to live with them. Others pose a more serious threat and have eradicated crops or species of domestic trees or pose health risks. In some cases, however, we’ve had success containing or eliminating them.
It’s hard to believe that students are gearing up for the start of another school year full of fun and new challenges. Just like students who will be studying hard, I’m working hard to ensure our children are getting the quality education they deserve and that parents and taxpayers receive the value they expect. A big part of working to improve educational opportunities is listening to your opinions and ideas when it comes to our schools.
As summer draws to a close and students return to the classroom, many turn their focus towards getting back to the books. Between the back to school shopping and first-day jitters, it’s important to remember to make use of one of our area’s biggest educational resources, our libraries.
In this year’s enacted state budget, changes were made to the STAR program that requires Basic STAR recipients to re-register. It became clear that the state needed to make changes to the program after a Comptroller’s audit found some property owners were abusing the system. By requiring people to reapply, the state can weed out any duplicate applications and stop people from trying to double dip.
After studying 90,000 Americans over an 18-year period, Harvard University researchers concluded that as a population, elderly people are remaining more healthy into their later years. While the findings don’t determine what’s at the root of the improved well-being, there’s reason to believe that staying active, eating right and keeping good health-related habits could be the cause.
There is a new water level plan proposed for Lake Ontario that will threaten shoreline property, recreational activity, and damage public infrastructure. Plan 2014 has been proposed by the International Joint Commission. The IJC is comprised of six members from Canada and the U.S. It was created to help handle issues in shared waters, such as the Great Lakes. Proponents of the plan say Plan 2014 will return the lake levels to a more natural state, and therefore, create higher highs and lower lows, depending on the time of year.
With an estimated 1.88 million anglers, fishing is one of New York State’s most popular pastimes. This past weekend, I was able to join many of those fishing fans in St. Lawrence County for the Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament. This extravaganza, known as the “Evan Williams Bourbon Showdown at St. Lawrence River,” attracted the country’s top anglers and thousands of fishing enthusiasts to Waddington.
College orientations are under way this time of year. Many of you may have children, grandchildren or relatives who are embarking on higher education in the coming weeks, or even in the coming years. In April the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 66% of 2012 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities. Paying for tuition and college costs is on the minds of many students and parents of all ages.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have less stress, lower blood pressure, a more positive outlook on life and improved social skills? For many, these things, along with an overall improved quality of life, can be obtained by owning a pet. Time and time again, studies have shown that there are a number of proven health benefits for people who own animals.
Typically, a lot of bills pass the state legislature at the end of session. Once the legislature adjourns for the year, the Governor reviews the bills and determines which ones he wants to sign into law. In this column, I highlight a few bills of interest that I was pleased to see signed into law.
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