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Excellus awards North Country hospitals funding for improvements
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced it has awarded three North Country hospitals and five in the Utica–Rome area a total of $1 million in quality improvement incentive payments in 2019. They’re among 36 upstate New York hospitals and health centers that were awarded nearly $30 million in the nonprofit health insurer’s hospital-performance incentive program. Eight hospitals […]
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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced it has awarded three North Country hospitals and five in the Utica–Rome area a total of $1 million in quality improvement incentive payments in 2019.
They’re among 36 upstate New York hospitals and health centers that were awarded nearly $30 million in the nonprofit health insurer’s hospital-performance incentive program.
Eight hospitals in the North Country/Utica/Rome region participated in the program in 2019, sharing $1 million in quality improvement incentive payments. Participating hospitals included Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown; Adirondack Medical Center-Saranac Lake; Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh; Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown; Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica; St. Elizabeth Medical Center, also in Utica; Oneida Health Hospital; and Rome Memorial Hospital.
In addition, Central New York region hospitals that participated in this program in 2019 shared $6.1 million in quality improvement incentive payments. The participants included Upstate University Hospital’s sites in Syracuse and the town of Onondaga, Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, Oswego Hospital in Oswego, St. Joseph’s Health Hospital in Syracuse, and Guthrie Cortland Medical Center in Cortland.
Since 2005, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s program has paid out more than $311 million in quality improvement incentives. Excellus is Central New York’s largest health insurer.
Areas targeted for 2019 improvement included clinical processes of care, which were focused on improvements in follow-up after hospitalization, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), surgical care, and other measures unique to each participating hospital.
The areas also included patient safety, centered on reductions in hospital-acquired infections, readmissions, and other “adverse events or errors” that affect patient care.
They also included patient satisfaction, which involved the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. It’s a national, standardized, publicly reported survey of patients’ perspectives of hospital care, Excellus said.
In addition to meeting required clinical and patient safety measures in 2019, other nationally endorsed measures and target outcomes were jointly agreed upon by each hospital and the health insurer using benchmarks established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and others.
New $2.9M gondola opens at Lake Placid’s Olympic ski-jump complex
LAKE PLACID — The new “SkyRide” gondola attraction at the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex is now open to the public, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced in mid-January. The SkyRide is a six-cabin gondola that can carry as many as eight athletes, coaches, officials, visitors, and items of equipment per cabin. It travels from the
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LAKE PLACID — The new “SkyRide” gondola attraction at the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex is now open to the public, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced in mid-January.
The SkyRide is a six-cabin gondola that can carry as many as eight athletes, coaches, officials, visitors, and items of equipment per cabin. It travels from the complex’s base lodge to the 90-meter and 120-meter ski jump towers.
“The SkyRide gondola is the latest piece in our continued effort to modernize the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex for not only the world-class athletes that train and compete there, but for the thousands of guests that visit the complex year-round,” Cuomo said in a release. “With this new gondola, the Olympic Regional Development Authority will continue to attract and support large-scale, global events at this facility.”
The SkyRide gondola was supplied and installed by Doppelmayr Garaventa Group, which is based in Switzerland. The $2.9 million project was completed in less than one year, the state says.
Other recent additions to the ski-jump complex include new top-speed frost rails in both the 90-meter and 120-meter outruns, a multi-color LED system that tracks jumpers as they descend, and a new communication system connecting event officials, judges, and the public-address announcer during training and competition.
The state says a new zip line adventure ride for all ages is under construction and expected to be finished this summer, along with a series of site work that will make snowmaking on the venue more efficient.
The Olympic Jumping Complex is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The governor says he has committed nearly $240 million in funding to support the state’s Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) properties since taking office. The funding on capital projects is improving the infrastructure of Olympic venues to ensure they continue to attract and support large-scale, global events, and operate as year-round attractions.
Established in 1982, the ORDA was created by the New York State to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates the Whiteface, Belleayre, and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic sports complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval; Olympic Jumping Complex; and Lake Placid Olympic Center, which includes the Herb Brooks Arena. As host to international and national championships, the ORDA says it has brought millions of athletes, spectators, and participants to the region, resulting in “significant economic development.”
Ogdensburg realtor, Stevenson, installed as new NYSAR president
Jennifer Stevenson, of Ogdensburg, recently took the oath of office as the 2020 president of the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR), the organization announced. The association’s inauguration ceremony was held in conjunction with its business meetings at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany. A realtor for nearly 30 years, Stevenson is
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Jennifer Stevenson, of Ogdensburg, recently took the oath of office as the 2020 president of the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR), the organization announced.
The association’s inauguration ceremony was held in conjunction with its business meetings at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany.
A realtor for nearly 30 years, Stevenson is the broker/owner of Blue Heron Realty in Ogdensburg, which offers both seller and buyer representation throughout St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Franklin counties. She founded Blue Heron Realty in 1999.
Stevenson served as NYSAR president-elect in 2019 and is a past president of the Housing Opportunities Foundation as well as a graduate of the 2012 NYSAR Leadership Academy. She has previously served as chair of the NYSAR Investment Committee, Budget Finance Committee, Global, Resort & Second Home Markets Committee, and Fair Housing & Cultural Diversity Committee. In addition, Stevenson has been an active member of numerous other committees including Professional Standards, Multiple Listing Issues & Policies, Legislative Steering, and more.
She is an active member and past president of the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors and is also an active member of the Northern Adirondack Boards of Realtors. In addition to serving as a director, Stevenson has chaired both the MLS and Fair Housing committees.
NYSAR is a not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 59,000 of New York state’s real-estate professionals.
North Country CBIT lays out 2020 plans for helping transitioning businesses
SARANAC LAKE — The North Country Center for Businesses in Transition (CBIT), now in its second year, says it will again offer programs and resources to transitioning businesses in 2020. The CBIT is a collaboration of regional organizations and leaders whose goal is to support existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in developing successful business-transition
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SARANAC LAKE — The North Country Center for Businesses in Transition (CBIT), now in its second year, says it will again offer programs and resources to transitioning businesses in 2020.
The CBIT is a collaboration of regional organizations and leaders whose goal is to support existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in developing successful business-transition strategies.
Following its annual gathering of lead partners and representatives at the Porcupine Inn in Saranac Lake on Jan. 17, CBIT announced an updated slate of community liaisons, topics for its 2020 workshop series, and other ways the group will expand its programming to meet the needs of those seeking its services.
In 2019, 88 North Country business owners reached out to CBIT for assistance, tapping into a network of “useful tools, learning opportunities, and knowledgeable professionals,” the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) said in a Jan. 28 news release.
“The Center for Businesses in Transition is making great strides in expanding economic opportunity across our region through its developed network of professional resources and services, connecting businesses and entrepreneurs,” Victoria Duley, executive director of the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), contended. The Saranac Lake–based AEDC joined the CBIT this year as a lead partner.
Community liaisons
More than 98 organizations and community leaders throughout the 14-county North Country region support the partnership, Danielle Delaini, business transition program coordinator at ANCA, said in the news release.
In 2020, 10 designated community liaisons will play a role to help navigate successful transitions through options including open-market sales, intergenerational family transitions, and conversions to worker-ownership models.
The center’s new and returning community liaisons include Kylie Peck, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce; Brittany Davis, Lewis County Economic Development; Mike Besaw, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce;
Kelsey O’Shea, Cornell Cooperative Extension North Country Regional Ag Team; Russ Kinyon, Franklin County Industrial Development Agency; Christy Wilt and Rachelle Martz, Hamilton County Economic Development; Patrick Murphy, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce; Matthew Courtright and Erin Mullen, Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce; Victoria Duley and Stephanie Donaldson of the AEDC join the project as a lead partners.
In addition, Angela Smith of the SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Clinton Community College and Carol Calabrese of the Essex County Industrial Development Agency are returning as lead partners for the second year of the initiative.
“Returning to the CBIT partnership for 2020 is important to the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce,” Michael Besaw, assistant director of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, said in the ANCA release. “Last year, we broke ground by sharing information and resources with our business community. In 2020 we look forward to meeting with more businesses and connecting them with experts who can aid in their transitions.”
Workshop series
The CBIT will host its second annual workshop series to address topics relevant to transitioning businesses. These six morning workshops, hosted by partner organizations throughout the region, are scheduled for April, May, and September of 2020.
Each of the workshops are scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
April 23: “Business Transitions Overview: Where Do You Start?,” hosted by Lewis County Economic Development/IDA
April 28: “Mentoring a New Owner: The First Year,” hosted by St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
May 6: “From Hello to Key Transfer: Communicating During the Transition Process,” hosted by Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce
May 7: “Marketing Your Available Business,” hosted by the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the County of Franklin Economic Development/IDA
Sept. 23: “Determining Value: Perspectives from Buyers and Sellers,” hosted by Hamilton County IDA
Sept. 24: “Your Best Possible Successor is Already Working for You,” hosted by Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce
After receiving positive feedback about different participation opportunities offered in 2019, community liaisons will again offer remote viewing sessions for those who are unable to attend workshops in person. Workshops will also be recorded so that interested business owners can view them at their convenience and as needed in the future.
The CBIT will sponsor additional 2020 programming developed by regional partners, including a forum on strategic planning for small businesses, farm transitions and other topics related to business transitions and succession planning.
“In 2019, 56 percent of retiring business owners and 71 percent of aspiring entrepreneurs who reached out to CBIT are just starting their journeys,” said Delaini. “There is much work to be done. Transitioning a business takes an average of three to five years to complete, and there are many variables to work through.”
All materials developed by the partnership are available for other organizations to use to assist businesses. Economic-development staff who would like access to these tools are invited to contact the center. The partnership is also seeking co-working spaces and event partners to assist with workshops and other events.
North Country business owners looking to transition their operations to new owners or a new ownership model — along with aspiring entrepreneurs looking to take over an existing business — are invited to contact the center at transitions@adirondack.org or (518) 891-6200 for more information or to be connected with a community liaison.
Information about the center and its programs can be found at www.adirondack.org/businesses-in-transition.
North Country Farm-to-School projects win state funding
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Feb. 18 announced that New York State has awarded $1.5 million to 16 Farm-to-School program projects to increase the use of New York farm products in schools and boost the state’s agricultural economy. As part of Round 5 of the Farm-to-School program, the projects will benefit more than 120,000 students
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Feb. 18 announced that New York State has awarded $1.5 million to 16 Farm-to-School program projects to increase the use of New York farm products in schools and boost the state’s agricultural economy.
As part of Round 5 of the Farm-to-School program, the projects will benefit more than 120,000 students in 144 school districts across the Empire State.
Funding recipients will use the funding to hire Farm-to-School program coordinators; train food-service staff; provide nutrition education in classrooms and cafeterias; buy equipment to support food preparation; and support the purchase of more local farm products, such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, and beef to be served in school lunches. The organizations receiving Farm-to-School program grant funding include these two in the North Country:
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County (CCE Lewis): Received $99,849 for the Farm-to-School program launch in Lewis County. The project will allow the hire of a Farm-to-School program coordinator to implement the 3 Cs of Farm-to-School: the cafeteria, the classroom, and the community — benefiting 3,957 students in five school districts.
• St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES: $99,980 for the St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Farm-to-School Program. The project provides value-added processing, technical assistance, and product distribution to 21 schools — benefiting 25,000 students.
Other Farm-to-School projects in upstate New York receiving funding included the Broome-Tioga BOCES Farm-to-School Warehouse Initiative and the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Farm-to-School: Increasing Capacity and School Engagement project, according to the state.
The Farm-to-School program increases the volume and variety of locally grown and produced food in schools, provides new markets for New York’s farmers, improves student health, and educates young people about agriculture, the state government contends.
Sometimes, you just need to step back. The political conversations I hear these days are strikingly negative, dominated by what’s amiss in Washington, by the deep divisions in the country, by President Trump’s actions and the aftermath of his impeachment, and by the difficult problems we face but seem to make little progress toward resolving. There
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Sometimes, you just need to step back. The political conversations I hear these days are strikingly negative, dominated by what’s amiss in Washington, by the deep divisions in the country, by President Trump’s actions and the aftermath of his impeachment, and by the difficult problems we face but seem to make little progress toward resolving. There is a lot of discouragement out there.
I have done my share of carping, too. But at times like these, I find it helpful to draw back and look for the positives, as a reminder not to lose sight of the benefits we all share as Americans.
For one thing, in the great game of world politics I’m pleased to be able to identify with the United States. We are not always right as a nation, though often we are. We have an economy that remains the envy of the world. Even if it’s not the record-breaking marvel the president claims, we’ve enjoyed economic growth over a long period, and despite our problems with wage stagnation, inequality, and rising concern about affordability, our overall performance — both political and economic — holds up well against our chief global rivals, Russia and China.
That is why our economy continues to attract outside investment and why our shores remain a top destination for refugees and immigrants. And it is why, quite remarkably for a superpower, we have friends, allies, and partners whose ties are voluntary, based on shared ideals and values.
We can always do better, of course. Some of our alliances have become frayed of late. And it may be that we’re no longer at the pinnacle of global power we once enjoyed. But we’ve been able to protect our standing without descending into outright war. Though our global challenges are sobering and we have to appreciate the constraints on our power — we’re not going to make every country in the world peaceful, prosperous, and democratic — we can still have a profound influence for the better on the world around us.
This is in part due to the nature of our democracy. I don’t buy into the view that our country is collapsing. Yes, I understand that we have a vigorous public debate that goes on between the right and the left, and that as progressives, conservatives, and moderates all compete aggressively for power, sometimes the competition gets out of hand. It’s not a perfect process, but it has served us well on the whole. Most notably, we have a longstanding tradition of free and fair elections, a free press, separation of powers, the rule of law (though some of these are under stress right now), and an active civil society.
All of these produce a feature of our democracy that constantly impresses me: our capacity for reform. Our freedoms give us the capability to stand back, watch the process unfold, search for the truth, try to understand what’s happening in the country and the world, and then make decisions based on the information we have in front of us. If we make a mistake, which is hardly uncommon, we have the ability to correct it — usually by working through the system to change course. True, popular protests in this country occasionally turn violent, but more often than not we sort out our problems peaceably by working together.
This is why I don’t share the gloom I see in a lot of the predictions about where we’re headed. Since our founding — in fact, it’s right there at the start of the Constitution — we have striven to achieve “a more perfect union,” and though that goal has suffered setbacks and at times seemed beyond reach, over the course of our history we’ve always been able to advance toward it. It takes hard work to overcome the challenges and to bounce back, but our capacity for self-renewal is strong and no less vital now than it ever was. We should remember that.
Lee Hamilton, 88, 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.
AAA Western and Central New York has hired DEANNA TAYLOR as a new international travel consultant at the AAA Camillus Travel & Insurance Center. She comes to AAA with more than 20 years of serving the Auburn community at the former Auburn Travel downtown location. DeAnna will meet with clients in Auburn or Camillus.
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AAA Western and Central New York has hired DEANNA TAYLOR as a new international travel consultant at the AAA Camillus Travel & Insurance Center. She comes to AAA with more than 20 years of serving the Auburn community at the former Auburn Travel downtown location. DeAnna will meet with clients in Auburn or Camillus.
What channel is the Syracuse basketball game on at Miami?
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Syracuse basketball (17-13, 10-9 ACC) looks for a second straight win to close out its regular season, when the Orange visit
Here are some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, tax, technology, and HR tips. SBA @SBAgovAs the old saying goes: “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Are you saving enough for a rainy day? This FREE training course has plans and strategies that can help you weather
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Here are some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, tax, technology, and HR tips.
SBA @SBAgov
As the old saying goes: “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Are you saving enough for a rainy day? This FREE training course has plans and strategies that can help you weather the storm! — http://ow.ly/IM1n50y3IK3
Small Business Trends @smallbiztrends
Does Your Small Business Create a Personal Prison or Provide Financial Freedom? http://sbt.me/cq8 By @barrymoltz
BMH Accounting & More @BMH_Accounting
In the infancy of your #smallbiz, you may have managed or monitored every aspect of the business. While this may have been a necessity early on, this do-it-all mindset could actually become a negative as your business grows. https://cnbc.com/2020/02/19/dont-let-this-mindset-ruin-your-chances-for-entrepreneurial-success.html
Lucie Bland Editing @LucieMBland
Do you sometimes wish you could press ‘Ctrl Alt Delete’ in real life! 5 easy steps to reset your business! Read more: https://lttr.ai/NkCn
The Bonadio Group @bonadiogroup
Do you still need to reduce your 2019 tax liability? Eligible gains that are reinvested into a Qualified Opportunity Fund (“QOF”) within 180 days of the gain being recognized can provide significant tax benefits. Download this post, learn more at http://bit.ly/2Pa4d4A
IRS Small Biz @IRSsmallbiz
#IRS offers tips to face a growing wave of ID theft attempts against small businesses. http://irs.gov/smallbiz #TaxSecurity
World Economic Forum @wef
Which countries tax their citizens the most? http://bit.ly/3bJkHdw #Economy #Taxes
TreehouseIT @treehouseIT
Why Cybersecurity is Important for Small Businesses https://jumpcloud.com/blog/cybersecurity-small-business/
MAKERDEMY @makerdemy
Cybersecurity attacks on mobile, IoT proliferate: Will 5G make it better? https://zdnet.com/article/cybersecurity-attacks-on-mobile-iot-proliferate-will-5g-make-it-better/
KingsleyGatePartners @kingsleygate
#AI is quickly permeating every industry; however, there is a reported shortage of AI talent globally. This report presents our findings of the common backgrounds and what to look for in identifying prospective AI leaders. https://bit.ly/2T3Q1uY
Jumbiz @JumbizNews
10 Must-Follow Company-Onboarding Techniques http://dlvr.it/RQH2Zh
Lolly Daskal @LollyDaskal
7 Valuable Skills That Top Leaders and High Achievers Have Mastered @LollyDaskal http://bit.ly/2HAJjVG #Leadership #Management #HR
Phidelia Johnson #HRPro @JohnsonPhidelia
#Leaders: Effective leaders ensure they have the right people with the proper mastery on their team to take the organization forward. For employees to consistently complete tasks with maximum efficiency & integrity, you must foster a culture that gives strategic guidance. #HR
Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
Leaders are their most powerful (& credible) when they routinely convey:
Hope over doubt.
Trust over suspicion.
Optimism over negativity.
Patience over agitation.
Love over fear.
David Green @david_green_uk
How Your Hiring Process Could Predict Unethical Behavior http://ow.ly/GxOt50ynAst
Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
Want a Successful Executive Job Search? Run It Like a Small Business @MegGuiseppi – Executive Career Brand: https://executivecareerbrand.com/want-a-successful-executive-job-search-run-it-like-a-small-business/
Syracuse Airport says it’s monitoring coronavirus situation, operating normally
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) is “closely monitoring” the situation involving the coronavirus, which is also known as COVID-19. As of
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