On New Year’s Day, First Day Hikes are being held across the nation in collaboration with state parks and the National Parks Service. First Day Hikes are designed to encourage people to begin the New Year by reconnecting with the outdoors and to help...

A recent report published by the New York State Department of Labor indicates that employers are facing labor shortages as they seek workers to fill skilled trade jobs. The report states that these shortages are mainly due to baby boomers retiring. The...

With the holidays upon us, many community activities are in the works that will brighten the season. Volunteers and community organizations are planning to cook and serve warm holiday meals, coat and mitten drives are being organized, and others are coordinating...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I—Pulaski) and Assemblyman Bob Oaks (R,C—Macedon) applauded the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) for approving the sale of FitzPatrick today. “I am glad the PSC approved the sale. The approval reaffirms...

On Nov. 18, nearly 600 people are expected to gather for the National Adoption Day Celebration at the OnCenter in Syracuse. This annual event draws people from throughout Central New York and is expected to finalize 55 adoptions. Family court judges...

November 11th is Veterans Day. The day was originally known as Armistice Day because it marked the end of hostilities of World War I — supposedly, the war to end all wars. However, in 1954 after World War II and the Korean War, Congress, at the urging...

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory and behavior. While it mostly affects older adults, it can appear in people who are in their 40s and 50s. It is estimated that approximately...

To the Editor: In August, the NYS Public Service Commission adopted the Clean Energy Standard which included, among other things, subsidies for the Upstate nuclear plants. Since that time, the anti-nuclear crowd has ramped up their criticism of the...

The Public Service Commission's newly adopted Clean Energy Standard is a smart solution to a complex problem and with its adoption, it institutes a good public policy that will provide economic and environmental benefits to all New Yorkers for years to...

As fall weather settles upon the area and the colors change, for many that means one thing: the opening of hunting season is here. Upstate New York has some of the best hunting, trapping and fishing in the country with thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers,...

Individuals with disabilities and their family members will soon have a new way to save and plan for future expenses with the creation of the 529 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program. The ABLE program is similar to the successful 529 College...

A number of years ago, when asked about an ethics overhaul of the State executive branch, Governor Cuomo responded that such an overhaul wasn’t necessary because the ethical problems were in the state legislature. At the time, one could say that was...

Last week, the NYS Comptroller released a report that indicates that over the past decade, student loan debt for New Yorkers has grown by more than $10,000 for the average borrower. According to the Brookings Institution, Americans now owe a record $1.3...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I--Pulaski) recently presented an Assembly Resolution to Alan “Dick” Deline of Fulton, who was honored as the 2016 Veteran of the Year by the Fulton Veterans Council. Earlier this year, the New York State Assembly unanimously...

September is Suicide Awareness Prevention Month. This month, community residents and organizations are working to raise awareness about suicide, to educate people about the signs and symptoms, and encourage people to reach out before it’s too late....

“It is difficult to believe that today is the 15th anniversary of the tragic events that occurred on 9-11. While time has passed, we need to continue to remember the lives lost and the families who were so deeply affected by those losses. We should...

One of the biggest legislative challenges in Albany is to make sure that there is parity in state spending between Upstate and Downstate New York. This is particularly challenging when it comes to transportation spending Downstate New York relies on mass...

Each school day, approximately 2.3 million students ride to school on some 50,000 school buses across the state. With the start of school this week in most Central and Northern New York communities, drivers are encouraged to slow down and to be on the...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I—Pulaski) said today he is pleased that the federal government designated Oswego and Onondaga counties as part of a natural disaster area due to the summer’s drought. The designation will make farm operators eligible...

Recently, my office was contacted by a family member of a decorated soldier who had retired after serving 20 years in the Army at Fort Drum. In addition to serving the Army with distinction, he found the time to take college courses, earn a Bachelor’s...