KEUKA LAKE--Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted fiscal year 2025 budget investments in the Southern Tier during a visit to Binghamton University last week. The town of Urbana and village of Hammondsport will receive $4.5 million as this year’s Southern Tier region NY Forward winner. Fourteen Southern Tier localities, including Urbana/Hammondsport, join 143 localities statewide in launching applications to become pro-housing communities.
WATKINS GLEN—Schuyler County officials are joining government agencies nationwide to commemorate National Consumer Protection Week. The Schuyler County legislature has proclaimed the week of March 3 through March 9 as National Consumer Protection Week to provide information of interest to county consumers. In addition, the Schuyler County Office for the Aging and Schuyler County Attorney will be providing tips and resources relating to consumer protection information to protect residents from falling prey to scams, fraud, and identity theft.
FINGER LAKES--Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted the fiscal year 2025 budget investments in the Finger Lakes region during a visit to Monroe Community College last week. The governor announced $50 million in one-time Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding to support locally driven anti-poverty initiatives throughout the state, including $25 million for Rochester; the creation of the One Network for Regional Advanced Partnerships to create workplace development centers in four high-impact locations across upstate New York; $13.75 million in capital improvements at Monroe Community College, including $10 million for the Applied Technology Center STEM addition; and $30 million to expand intensive treatment opportunity units at the Finger Lakes Development Center.
NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced state parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation saw a record 84.1 million visits in 2023. Total visits statewide surged by nearly 4.7 million, a 6 percent increase, compared to the previous record year in 2022. Watkins Glen State Park saw an increase from 995,377 in 2022 to 1,234,805 attendees in 2023 (24 percent growth).
The Schuyler County Legislature, in partnership with Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development, is now accepting applications for the final round of the Downtown and Business American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Program, aimed at downtown revitalization with a match grant program to assist with building façade improvements. This program has already invested $280,000 in matching grants for building owners for façade improvements to commercial and mixed-use properties in Schuyler County.
NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Kathy Hochul announced actions to protect against untrustworthy and fraudulent uses for artificial intelligence in New York as the state continues to build and embrace the future of responsible AI. Hochul’s actions include new legislation, presented as part of her FY 2025 Executive Budget, which would add a misdemeanor for unauthorized uses of a person’s voice; allow for a private right of action to combat digitally manipulated false images; update the Penal Law to account for unauthorized uses of artificial intelligence; and require disclosures on digitized political communications published within 60 days of an election.
The Schuyler County legislature met for the regular monthly meeting, Monday, Feb. 12 in the legislature chambers at the county office building. During the meeting, all resolutions were passed including the opposition of the current application to operate a gravel quarry in the town of Dix. An expansion project has been announced by It’s Greener Now Inc., at the facility Padua Gravel Pit, 3362 State Route 409, Watkins Glen. Plans call for expanding the existing 14.33-acre mine by approximately 60.95 acres and operating for 20 years. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation held a virtual public comment period also on Monday night with an in-person event at the Watkins Glen Community Center, Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Whichever direction you take coming into—or leaving—Watkins Glen, you’ve likely noticed new masonry, the occasional piece of large machinery, and people working in all weather, sometimes under a tent of plastic sheeting to cut the wind. The construction began looking modest, then grew to something more monumental as a stone facing, similar to the stonework seen at Watkins Glen State Park was added, then the sub-structure for sculpted sailboats added atop most of the signs.
NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new consumer protection law that went into effect Sunday, Feb. 11. This new law amends and clarifies New York’s existing credit card surcharge law. The New York State Division of Consumer Protection assists aggrieved consumers in the marketplace and the New York State Attorney General and local governments have the authority to enforce the credit card surcharge law.
FINGER LAKES--According to a report on the New York state Tobacco Control Program (TCP), for every $1 invested in tobacco control between 2001 and 2019, the state spent $11 less in healthcare expenditures attributed to smoking. During discussions with Senator Pamela Helming and Assemblyman Brian Manketlow, representatives with the Tobacco Action Coalition of the Finger Lakes (TACFL) addressed local tobacco control program successes and emphasized efforts to address high smoking rates among certain demographic groups.
The Schuyler County District Attorney’s Office announces that District Attorney Joseph G. Fazzary was presented with the Frank S. Hogan Award from the District Attorney’s Association of the State of New York Friday, Feb. 2, at the Intercontinental Barclay Hotel in Manhattan. The award was presented to DA Fazzary by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick at the winter conference for the district attorney’s association.
SCHUYLER COUNTY--An expansion project by It’s Greener Now Inc. at the facility Padua Gravel Pit, 3362 State Route 409, Watkins Glen, will be the topic of a legislative public comment hearing Monday, Feb. 12 and Tuesday, Feb. 13. According to the department of environmental conservation, “the applicant proposes to expand the existing 14.33 acre mine by approximately 60.95 acres, resulting in a total life of mine affected area of approximately 75.28 acres. The mine will continue to operate as a traditional surface extraction of unconsolidated sand and gravel...
NEW YORK STATE--State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report, Monday, Feb. 5 detailing the trends of sales tax collection statewide. Local government collections in New York totaled $23 billion in calendar year 2023, up 4.2 percent, or $919 million, from 2022, largely influenced by growth in New York City sales taxes.
When someone you care for gets injured or ill, getting medical help for them seems like a no-brainer. But when the sick individual in your household is your new-ish pet and you don’t yet have a family veterinarian—that can be more complicated than persuading Spot or Fluffy to get into the crate for the car ride of doom.
FINGER LAKES—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) is seeking nominations for the New York State Senate’s “Veterans Hall of Fame,” an online tribute to the military service and civilian lives of distinguished veterans from the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions. O’Mara is currently accepting nominations for the 2024 inductee to represent the 58th Senate District at a ceremony in late May.
FINGER LAKES--The VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System announced the grand opening of its Veteran-focused food pantry, Friday, Feb. 2. Food insecurity in America is quite common, especially in the rural Veteran population. According to Feeding America, one in nine working-age Veterans are food insecure, and 24 percent of active-duty service members were food insecure in 2020.
DUNDEE--The eighth Dundee Winter Concert, presented by Our Town Rocks, is returning after a three-year hiatus. The concert will feature Randy Knapp, a local favorite, opening for the Old World Warblers on Friday, Feb. 2 at Tin Barn Brewing in Dundee. Tim, Hannah, and Scott will also be performing a combination of original songs and covers that blend elements of folk, blues, bluegrass, and Irish music.
NEW YORK STATE--Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) joined Assembly Republican colleagues to voice opposition to the proposed reduction in funding for some New York schools made by Gov. Kathy Hochul in her executive budget proposal. The governor has proposed ending ‘Hold Harmless,’ a policy that ensures school districts don’t see a reduction in their education foundation aid compared to the previous year. Under Gov. Hochul’s plan, more than half of the school districts located within the 132nd assembly district will see a foundation aid reduction.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the March 6 newspaper sports reports for Dundee-Bradford and Watkins Glen.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Feb. 28 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Feb. 21 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Feb. 14 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Feb 7 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Jan. 31 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Jan. 24 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Jan. 17 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Jan. 10 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Jan. 3 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Dec. 20&27 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Dec. 13 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
VERONA--Four-time Section V champion cross country runner JD Tette competed at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association state championship, Saturday, Nov. 11. The meet was held at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill high school and featured the best runners from New York state.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Nov. 8 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Nov. 1 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Oct. 25 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Oct. 18 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.
FINGER LAKES--Click the image above to see the Oct. 11 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.