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VIEWPOINT: Road-Salt Reduction Bill is a Win for Adirondack Region
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has recently signed legislation (A.8767a) that will create the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force and a pilot program to establish alternatives to road salt to preserve drinking water and protect the environment in the Adirondack region. Studies show that road salt on state roads has created an unacceptable risk to both the […]
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo has recently signed legislation (A.8767a) that will create the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force and a pilot program to establish alternatives to road salt to preserve drinking water and protect the environment in the Adirondack region.
Studies show that road salt on state roads has created an unacceptable risk to both the environment and public health in the Adirondack region.
As a cosponsor of the Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act, I’m thrilled to see the governor sign this legislation into law. This bi-partisan environmental bill provides common-sense solutions by listening to input from local highway superintendents and has the potential to save money for our community.
Our residents deserve clean, safe drinking water and we need to ensure that our Adirondack region is preserved for generations to come. By reducing the use of road salt, we have taken a step in the right direction to protect our public health and our environment.
Robert Smullen is the Republican representative of the 118th New York Assembly District, which encompasses Hamilton and Fulton counties as well as parts of Herkimer, Oneida, and St. Lawrence counties. This article is drawn from a news release his office issued on Dec. 3.
OPINION: Shop Local this Holiday Season and Support Community Small Businesses
[This year’s] holiday shopping season will undoubtedly look different from those in years’ past as normal commerce and retail activities have been disrupted to a significant degree. For this reason, my colleagues and I in the Assembly Minority Conference are making a special push to remind shoppers of the value and importance of shopping local
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[This year’s] holiday shopping season will undoubtedly look different from those in years’ past as normal commerce and retail activities have been disrupted to a significant degree. For this reason, my colleagues and I in the Assembly Minority Conference are making a special push to remind shoppers of the value and importance of shopping local and supporting small businesses.
We have always believed in the importance of supporting community businesses and have proudly stood up for them through the myriad challenges facing New York state’s economy. This year, though, these challenges hit a little differently. A recent report indicates a staggering 28 percent of the state’s small businesses have not opened their doors since January of this year (See: https://nypost.com/2020/11/29/nearly-one-third-of-ny-nj-small-businesses-closed-in-2020-report/). Storefronts are shuttering, restaurants are closing, and many of the unique, niche businesses that comprise the fabric of our communities are disappearing.
Sadly, the frustrations and anxiety surrounding COVID-19 and its economic impact have recently boiled over in some areas. In Staten Island, an unfortunate situation played out where a tavern owner was arrested on his own property for defying lockdown orders and trying to keep his business afloat.
Numerous regions across New York state are experiencing a rise in COVID-19 rates. The possibility of more lockdown orders is once again a serious concern. Steering even a few more holiday purchases toward a community establishment this season would make a big difference for those who are still fighting for survival. Situations like the one in New York City are indicative of the urgency of the matter and the need for immediate action.
During the coming weeks, all of us can do our part at the local level to help small-business owners. Albany must contribute as well. Earlier this year, the Assembly Minority Conference presented recovery proposals that include a number of provisions aimed at helping the small-business community. Our “Jump-Start New York” plan called for financial and regulatory relief for job creators, and we will continue to refine and advocate for measures that help small businesses recover.
Together, with an emphasis on state-level support, additional federal funding, common-sense safety measures that do not place an undue burden on already-struggling businesses, and a concerted effort to inject a little extra holiday shopping money their way, we can help save New York’s small-business community. These are trying times; please consider ways you can stretch the impact of your holiday budget and shop local this winter.
William (Will) A. Barclay, Republican, is the New York Assembly Minority Leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact Barclay at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us
OPINION: The Pandemic Lays Bare Our Information Problems
When the history of this era is written, special attention should be reserved for the prominent U.S. politicians who dismissed or misrepresented the COVID-19 pandemic for political purposes. The coronavirus has wreaked untold suffering and damage to this country, and it has been able to do this because we had a major failure of government.
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When the history of this era is written, special attention should be reserved for the prominent U.S. politicians who dismissed or misrepresented the COVID-19 pandemic for political purposes.
The coronavirus has wreaked untold suffering and damage to this country, and it has been able to do this because we had a major failure of government. To be sure, at the state level many governors have conducted themselves with forthright attention to the risks to their populations. But at the federal level — with the notable exception of the effort to fast-track research and production of a vaccine — we mostly failed to mobilize resources and take the measures necessary to combat the virus.
Instead of a comprehensive, federally led nationwide strategy, President Trump repudiated and disregarded the advice of experts and health officials and offered a misleading narrative about the spread of the virus abating in the spring. His misinformation was picked up and amplified by news outlets and by politicians. Americans were fed bad information at a time when high-quality information was necessary to stem the spread of the virus and limit the number of deaths.
The result has been devastating, and not just to our public-health efforts. We are weaker on the world stage than we were a few years ago, and especially since the start of the pandemic.
The problem with reaching this point was summed up cogently back in October by John Halpin of the Center for American Progress, as part of a study looking at the alarming rise in Americans’ willingness to believe conspiracy theories, unfounded rumors, and already-disproven claims. “If we cannot agree on basic facts about what is going on in our country,” he wrote, “there is little hope of generating consensus on what needs to be done to control the pandemic and fix our economy. Rebuilding public trust in major institutions, and the information they provide the public, is now a national priority.”
I agree. Today, people stick to the news sources they agree with, creating a muddle of American public opinion, and making it extremely difficult for policy makers to find the common ground needed to accomplish difficult and ambitious policy goals. This is a significant challenge for the U.S., and we have got to get on top of it sooner rather than later.
Lee Hamilton, 89, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south central Indiana.

Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Syracuse University
EBONI BRITT has joined the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Syracuse University as executive director of strategic communications. She became a permanent member of the team after completing a special assignment earlier this year with the office in which she served as the project manager, assisting in the organization of listening and dialogue sessions,
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EBONI BRITT has joined the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Syracuse University as executive director of strategic communications. She became a permanent member of the team after completing a special assignment earlier this year with the office in which she served as the project manager, assisting in the organization of listening and dialogue sessions, the Campus Climate Pulse Survey, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion audit as commissioned by the Board of Trustees’ Special Committee on Climate, Diversity, and Inclusion. Prior to her current role, Britt oversaw a strategy team in the Division of Marketing and Communications and had previously worked in the university’s Office of Human Resources. Britt has worked in marketing at a variety of organizations in the region, including Mower, Kodak, and POMCO. She earned a master’s degree in public relations from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at SU.
MELANIE DOMANICO has joined the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as equal opportunity and accommodations specialist. A vocational rehabilitation counselor, Domanico has more than 20 years of experience assisting individuals with disabilities with securing and maintaining gainful employment. She joined Syracuse University in 2017 in the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services. In her role as the equal opportunity and accommodations specialist, she coordinates accommodations for faculty and staff, and partners with the ADA coordinator to improve campus accessibility. Prior to joining SU, Domanico worked in both public and private-sector vocational rehabilitation since 2000. Her experience includes facilitating accommodations and development of return-to-work programs for many employers in the areas of short-term disability, long-term disability, and workers’ compensation. Domanico earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling from Hofstra University.
EBONY KING has come aboard as diversity and inclusion specialist, and also serves as the Posse program liaison. King previously served as the senior director of diversity and inclusion at Buena Vista University. She has more than 14 years of experience in student affairs in various roles in multicultural engagement, international student services, student activities, student organizations, Greek life, and diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives. King is a Syracuse University alumna with an undergraduate degree in social work from the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and a master’s degree in higher-education administration from the School of Education.
LASHAN LOVELACE has joined the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as director. He previously served as director of the center for diversity and inclusion at Radford University. During his time at Radford, Lovelace served in multiple capacities within the academic and student affairs divisions. He has more than 10 years of student affairs, higher-education management, and diversity, equity, inclusive, and accessibility experience.
MALLORY MITCHELL has joined as program coordinator for the Posse program. She transitioned from the same role as Posse program coordinator from the Office of Community Engagement. Syracuse University partners with the Posse Foundation to admit high-school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential from Miami. Mitchell engages with Posse Miami scholars, mentors, and staff to facilitate the various programs for scholars throughout the year. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music from the SU College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education and performs in a string quartet. After several years teaching music in a public school, she attended Northeastern University to earn a master’s degree in education in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in 2011.
WILLIAM MYHILL has come aboard as interim director and ADA/503/504 coordinator. He is a disability-rights advocate, administrator, teacher, trainer, researcher, and writer who has worked in the fields of education and law for, with, and among the disability community for 30 years. He joined the university in 2005 and served as director of legal research and writing for the Burton Blatt Institute until 2018, at which time he was appointed the university’s interim director and ADA/503/504 coordinator. In this role, Myhill provides disability leadership, guidance, and consultation to remove and prevent the barriers in the community that impede persons with disabilities from full participation in the fabric of university life. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Texas, and a juris doctorate from the University of Iowa.

S.E.E.D. Planning Group has hired JEFF CHASE as a wealth manager in its Syracuse office. He will be working with financial-planning clients, as well as providing financial education and guidance to 401(k) participants in S.E.E.D.’s SUITE(k) division. He has more than eight years of experience as a financial planner.
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S.E.E.D. Planning Group has hired JEFF CHASE as a wealth manager in its Syracuse office. He will be working with financial-planning clients, as well as providing financial education and guidance to 401(k) participants in S.E.E.D.’s SUITE(k) division. He has more than eight years of experience as a financial planner.

ANNELIESE R. ALIASSO has joined Hancock Estabrook, LLP as an associate. She will practice in the firm’s litigation and startup & emerging business practices and will focus her practice on commercial litigation. Additionally, Aliasso assists women and minority-owned businesses with the preparation of various diversity-certification applications, including the New York State MWBE Program, Department of
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ANNELIESE R. ALIASSO has joined Hancock Estabrook, LLP as an associate. She will practice in the firm’s litigation and startup & emerging business practices and will focus her practice on commercial litigation. Additionally, Aliasso assists women and minority-owned businesses with the preparation of various diversity-certification applications, including the New York State MWBE Program, Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, the City of Syracuse MWBE program, and the Port Authority of the State of New York and New Jersey MWBE program. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Cazenovia College and earned her juris doctorate from Albany Law School of Union University.

Vera House, Inc. has announced that RANDI BREGMAN and ANGELA DOUGLAS are serving as co-executive directors effective Dec. 1. Bregman was appointed executive director of Vera House in 2001 and has been with the agency since 1990. During her first 11 years at Vera House, she served as the coordinator of the Syracuse Area Domestic
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Vera House, Inc. has announced that RANDI BREGMAN and ANGELA DOUGLAS are serving as co-executive directors effective Dec. 1.
Bregman was appointed executive director of Vera House in 2001 and has been with the agency since 1990. During her first 11 years at Vera House, she served as the coordinator of the Syracuse Area Domestic Violence Coalition. Over the last 19 years, she has overseen the everyday work at Vera House and is responsible for administration and financial management, supervision of staff, fundraising and fund development, community education and professional training and program development for the agency.
Douglas left her role as executive director of Mercy Works to join Vera House as associate director in the fall of 2017. She had also served as the executive director and founder of Visions for Change, another local human-service agency. Douglas came to Vera House having served on several nonprofit boards and with extensive experience as a consultant on leadership, conflict resolution, and board development. Bregman and Douglas will formally share leadership of Vera House in partnership with other executive leaders. Both will be actively engaged with the board of directors and foundation board of trustees, and will play key roles in budgeting, program development, and fund development.

MICHELLE L. MONNAT was recently named CHJC’s (Children’s Home of Jefferson County) chief financial officer (CFO). Since beginning her CHJC career 12 years ago, she has served in several agency leadership roles. Working in a variety of departments including residential, non-secure detention, and the community clinic, she has extensive experience with all aspects of CHJC
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MICHELLE L. MONNAT was recently named CHJC’s (Children’s Home of Jefferson County) chief financial officer (CFO). Since beginning her CHJC career 12 years ago, she has served in several agency leadership roles. Working in a variety of departments including residential, non-secure detention, and the community clinic, she has extensive experience with all aspects of CHJC programming and operations. Most recently, Monnat served as CHJC’s director of systems administration, with responsibilities including the oversight of the information technology and marketing/public relations departments. She also assisted with the coordination of, and the recent transition to, the agency’s new Empsall Building location. In 2014, Monnat served as the primary developer for CHJC’s Therapeutic Crisis Respite Program (TCRP), and for several years, led operations of this innovative, short-term youth and family crisis program. She also coordinated the agency’s transition to the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). Monnat received both a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in mental-health counseling, from St. Lawrence University. Since 2017, she has served on the national Family Focused Treatment Association (FFTA) board of directors. She is also a graduate of the Greater Watertown North Country Jefferson Leadership Institute.

Mets announce Syracuse and Binghamton as affiliates under new MLB player-development structure
The Syracuse Mets and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies are among the Minor League baseball teams that will be affiliates of the New York Mets under

Rome Memorial Hospital seeks retired health-care workers for help with virus patients
ROME, N.Y. — Rome Memorial Hospital (RMH) is encouraging retired health-care professionals who are interested in rejoining the workforce “temporarily” to contact its human-resources (HR)
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