“I was pleased to hear the Governor wants to complete an independent study on the I-81 project because the redesign of this highway will influence Syracuse and the suburbs for years to come. We need to consider all of our options carefully before building....

The 2017 legislative session is underway in Albany. Pursuant to the state constitution, the Governor is required during every session to communicate to the legislature the condition of the state. This, in the modern era, has been known as the Governor’s...

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) recently announced that his office is again assisting in the collection of gently-used shoes and boots now through December 15. Barclay said that in years past the shoe drives have resulted in thousands of pairs...

The Governor recently signed a bill that will reform the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) to potentially expedite the process of obtaining public records. The measure passed with unanimous support in both the Senate and the Assembly in June and will...

Looking back at 2016, there are many accomplishments worth noting and other items that remain on the to-do list. FitzPatrick to Remain Operational After a tumultuous year, the community finally received good news August 9 that FitzPatrick would remain...

Last September in Baltimore, Buffalo Bills players Jerry Hughes and Zach Brown missed the team bus for their game at M&T Bank Stadium. To make the game on time, they used Uber a ridesharing company they accessed with an app on their smartphones. Following...

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...